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Still wondering who these people think is going to buy their clothes?
February is, I think, Heart Health month or something like that, so I'm seeing lots of random references to people wearing red. As in the Go Red program from the American Heart Association. This week red took over Project Runway as Campbell's Soup sponsored the episode to celebrate their "hearty-healthy" soup line. In addition to having to repeatedly see an odd commercial with chefs dressed in red performing a drumline, combined with Ziegfield-like camera shots from above (all a bit surreal, frankly), the challenge for the week was for the designers to create a signature red dress for a gala event that somehow incorporated Campbell's branding.
Of course branding like that has been incorporated into art before...although typically as more of a meta-statement on art and culture, or at the very least with a sense of irony. This was more of a serious endeavor, then turned maudlin by the introduction of their models for the episode: "Thirteen women whose lives have been impacted by heart disease."
[Cue scary music!]
Real women? Oh nooooooes!!!
As Seth Aaron said, this was "the largest challenge he had ever faced a a designer." Get it? "Largest". Oh Seth Aaron, you're high-larious. Once a season you get to hear the word "flattering" repeatedly thrown around on Project Runway, and this was that day.
The designers were randomly assigned to their real women, some of whom had congenital heart issues, some of whom had more diet-and-lifestyle-type heart issues, some of whom we never really heard much from. This prompted the designers to share every passing experience they had had with heart disease in their lives...tears were shed, people.
Visiting RealMood was a flurry of red, and you just knew that some of the red fabric chosen was going to be tacky, tacky, tacky...but whose? Thank you, RealMood!
This was the first episode where all of the designers seemed to be a bit freaked out, and afraid of not finishing. Probably because, you know, the outfits took so much more time to make because they had to be built for those scary real womens! [Cue scary music!]
As EvilWillow would say, "Bored now", so let's move on to the runway show. [Why yes, yes I am mixing my pop culture metaphors ( or similes as the case may be). After all, isn't Tim Gunn just Giles...without the British accent, or the demon-fighting skills, or the guitar?]
For the show, our judges are, of course the MagicallyPregnantHeidi, MK, ninagarcia and one of the co-founders of Marchesa, Georgina Chapman.
As always, click on the link under the designer's name, and you can see a picture of their design.
1. Jonathan kicked it off with a dress right out of "Gone with the Wind", or perhaps more out of the Carol Burnett show. Seriously, I'm shocked this wasn't Bottom 3. It was this big red monstrosity. Strapless and sleek on top (although it somehow made her breasts look like they were down at her waist), but then this big three-tiered flouncy ballgown skirt. A the very least it was more debutante ball than gala event for adults. Blech.
2. Emiio made something cute again, a strapless dress with an empire waist made of Campbell's branding and flouncy skirt. I didn't notice it earlier in the episode, but I'm pretty sure his model was not only "real", but also actually pregnant. If not, he just made something that looked like a maternity dress. I'm guessing the former, or he would have been called out for being "unflattering."
3. Maya was the only one who went for the least little bit of visual interest, with swirls of red and gold fabric applied to a basic sheath dress. She got rewarded for being different, even though the dress wasn't actually pretty. And even though she barely gave a nod to part of the challenge...incorporating the Campbell's branding into a little clutch purse you could barely see, instead of the dress. Usually that would be the kiss of death, but not this time.
4. Anthony had a dress with a red skirt and Campbell's brand halter top, Unfortunately it was paired with this big, shapeless, wrinkly bolero jacket. I wouldn't say it screamed "gala event" to me, and I thought it might have Bottom 3 written all over it, instead of Campbell's.
5. Amy went for a simple idea, but executed it really really well. It was a strapless gown
