Every season, the designers do avant garde, and this was the challenge of the week! Alyssa met the designers at a planetarium, asking the designers to draw inspiration from the solar system, create designs based on the cosmos. She urged each designer to push the boundaries of creativity, to go above and beyond. This would be a 2 day challenge, with a $350 Mood budget.
Getting back to the workroom, starting the 1st day, Joshua was experimenting with a hot glue gun technique. Not much excitement on day 1, but day 2 was of course filled with model fittings and Anne’s check-ins. Anne was loving everyone’s inspirations, but she was seeing that the stories weren’t necessarily translating into the garment.
The morning of the runway, I noted that pretty much every designer was in a crunch for time! And as it turned out, with a major prize on the line for the week, every second counted! The winning look would receive Marchesa shoes (Georgina Chapman’s line) for their next professional collection. This week’s guest judges were RuPaul and actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson.
I think the safe looks for the week were definitely just that — SAFE! I was in pretty much agreement with the top/bottom 3, except Merline should not have been there, but in reality, she should have already been gone period! My winner would have been Anthony. I loved the color palette of his “Milky Way” look — definitely the embodiment of wearable art. I was wowed!
SHOUTOUTS — Rodial & Umberto Bevely Hills on the far out, runway glam/hair looks!
The judges picked Stanley for the win with his “solar eclipse” look. His piece was definitely great as well, very much a show piece, perfect for the runway. It did have great proportions, but I agreed with one note given that it might be too wearable. The mask, overall styling, was what amped it up a bit to the avant garde level, but standing alone, I’m not so sure.
SHOUTOUT — Another standout Umberto hair look with this extravagant updo!
Annoyingly, Merline landed in the top because of her one trick she can apparently do so well. Why the judges choose to keep around a one trick pony, beyond me?!? And I disagree, I don’t think she does her one trick so well, especially in this “Orbit” look! She basically does well every once in awhile, and it makes the judges forget of all of her mistakes and mishaps.
Fabio finally landed in the bottom 3, narrowly escaping the bottom 2. I actually really liked his color choice and the movement of his “Neptune” look. The braiding work was also a standout aspect. The judges’ notes were that it wasn’t very attractive and it needed some resolution. I thought the look just read way too boxy. I also don’t think it was the most avant garde concept for a look.
Joshua landed in the bottom 2, and it might not have been just his “Pluto” inspired look that put him there. He definitely was having a moment during his critique, little testy with the judges. His look did have a lot going on, but when I think of avant garde, I think intrigue. Joshua’s look definitely intrigued me. And the icy glue tactic he did was pretty cool.
Kimberly was the one to go this week. She is not the worst designer, but I am not a big fan. Nothing she has done all season has really stood out or been too memorable. And this week, her “Neutron star” look was great up top, but had nothing going on at the bottom. It needed more. For avant garde, 2 days, larger budget, I expected more.
SHOUTOUTS — Love the Beauty look from Rodial, Killer heels from Intermix, awesome braided do by Umberto
Until next week….
