Project Runway Season 9--Episode 4 "It's All About Nina" --Nick Verreos MyLifetime.com Recap!

What Would Nina Wear?



Last night, on Season 9 Project Runway, the remaining designers had to create a look for Miss Nina Garcia, Style Diva, eyebrow-arching judge of the show, and of course, Fashion Director of Marie Claire. The results were, well, a bit Not Nina, but before I give you an Amuse Bouche of my MyLifetime.com Weekly Recap, I have some thoughts:



Would You Like Some Mustard with That Pencil Skirt: One of the contestants, Just-Learned-How-To-Sew Anya bought some mustard-colored silk fabric to make Nina her design. She was chastised for her color-choice by Nina--who asked "Do You Have a Plan B?" and Michael Kors who confidently stated "Probably the LAAAST color on the PLAAANET, that she would say ohhhh, give me that!"



So, Anya decided to change it and well kiddies, I went back into the "Nina Photo Vault" and found a little proof that Nina does wear mustard/yellow hues...and looks quite good in them.



The Top:

Anya: Speaking of Anya (who dyed her mustard fabrication into this olive/mud-looking color). Her design ended up in the Top 3 mainly because I think Nina was impressed with her ability to find a solution to her mustard dilemma. Sorry, but I really don't understand how this was in the Top. Really? Nina is going to wear this to the office and then to a cocktail party?! With that belt? This is better for a Jr. Marie Claire Assistant who's 23.



Viktor: Very nice dress. I give him props for really thinking about his client (seems as if most of the others DID NOT) but as Michael Kors said "It's a little now and Nina is about what is the next thing". It also looks VERY Kim Kardashian...



Kimberly: She definitely deserved the win. Totally Nina. She LOVES pants. She loves BLACK pants and the gold directional top is great for a billboard and editorial.



The Middle of the Pack:



Olivier: Sooooo Olivier. And so Nina (if you changed the pants to black). But it looks like one of the suits he brought to his Casting. But DUDE (did I just type "Dude"?): Add some color why don't you? Step out of your comfort zone, just once.



Anthony Ryan: He could have been in the top for me. If he had done black pants (here we go again!), I think he would have nailed it. Also, interesting how he self-analyzed and realized in his commentary that he hadn't pushed it quite far enough. This boy is going to the Finale ferrrr suuuuure!



Becky: Actually a very cute dress. Not totally "Nina" but it is well designed and well contructed. Safe.



Bert: Chic and impeccably made. It was just kinda BORING. Yes, this would be at a Macy's Dresses Dept, like tomorrow! BUT: Hello, this is a DESIGN competition! Bert needs to stop phoning it in. This will be his dismiss for sure.



Joshua: Really girl?! On Nina Garcia?! Since when is Nina going to see Lady Bunny DJ'ing at Club 57 in NYC? Clearly someone who has a hard time combining the UBER chic aesthetic of their client with their own style. Once again, this will do him in.



Laura Kathleen: Oh huney. This is SO Laura. Not Nina. I can see this at the St. Louis Magazine's Annual "A-List" party but not in Manhattan's Hearst Offices and then to a Fashion Party at the new Dream Downtown NYC. Nope.



The Bottom:

Danielle: Boy, she really got it wrong this week. This is Nina, after popping one too many prescription pills for depression. Yes, the green color is very IN this season, but well, not in this style of a blouse. And the wide hip-slung waistband pant. I think I did a pant like that for my NIKOLAKI line back in 2003. Just sayin'



Bryce vs. Cecilia: Bryce's Wonky-hemmed dress (and what's up with those really BAD armholes?) vs. Cecilia's one-shoulder cocktail look. Both are NOT Nina, and not so well made (Bryce's is WORSE!). I'm still perplexed at how Bryce didn't end up in the bottom--other than at least his somehow could be (a little) more appropriate for "business". I guess.



Bye Bye, and Thank You For Flying "Julie Airways":



A Coat-Dress. Yes. It's the LATEST thing! Didn't you hear? She looks like she's about to serve my warm nuts and Bloody Mary as I sink into my Business Class pod seat on a plane!



The color combination is so easyJet (right) and the styling is so Richard Tyler for Delta Airlines (left). Go figure.



And now: This Week's Recap:







Do You Have A Plan C?



Designing for a client: a rite of passage every fashion designer — amateur or established — must go through. The circus is gone (thank goodness), and this week it's all about designing for a REAL client: Nina Garcia. The Legend. The Diva. Born in Colombia to a wealthy importer (Wikipedia!). Attended an exclusive boarding school for girls in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Holds TWO bachelor's degrees, from Boston University and FIT, and (if that's not enough), she also attended the Ecole Supérieure de la Mode in Paris. Oh, and did I mention the woman has enough style and class to fill two football fields in Texas? ....



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Project Runway Season 9--Episode 2 "My Pet Project"--Nick Verreos MyLifetime.com Recap!!!

Puppy Pee Pee Pads, Bird Seed Couture and College Girls out for Happy Hour...Yep, it's Episode 2 of Project RUNWAAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!

What Do Puppy Training Pads...

College Girls at a Drinking Party...

And Bird Food...

Have in common? Read On kids...

Last night was the second episode of Season 9 Project Runway and the challenge this week was to create a look out of Pet Shop Supplies. Yes, in the infamous "Unconventional Project Runway Challenge". Some did AMAZEEEEENG work and well, as usual there were some Pet Poo Poo Train Wrecks. Let's begin with my favorite:

Anthony Ryan Auld--the "Southern Belle" of the bunch, created an outstanding and very chic mini dress out of a muslin base and bird seeds. The way he glue-gun'ed those sunflower seeds onto the neckline into a gorgeous degrade' effect...it was sublime. Not to mention the rest of the seeds on the dress looked like teeny-tiny caviar beading. Yes, it was a tad too short and I know there is chatter saying "all he did was glue seeds to a dress", but that is what is precisely so amazing! He was able to combine the conventional and unconventional into one AMAZING dress.

His creation was a "mini-me" of an Alexander McQueen dress, like the one above from the Metropolitan Museum's "Savage Beauty" Exhibition. He should have won but instead Olivier I-come-from-Ohio-but-sound-like-Catherine Duchess of Cambridge won after a little bit of a judges' dispute between Miss Nina and Heidi (Miss Nina won!).

Some of the others that I thought were really strong were:

Viktor Luna's Wee-Wee Pad Ruched dress was definitely one of the best. He was the strongest at making a dress that completely disguised his use of "pet products". I think he was not in the top because the judges viewed his silhouette as maybe not "chic" enough. PS: "Chic" is the new "Fierce". I think the styling didn't help him either, I get that he wanted to make it more edgy with the shoes and belt, but the necklace was way too "Real Housewives of the OC" for the judges taste.

This was a strong effort by Kimberly Goldson. It is a bold look, and the roping of that bustier was outstanding, but not memorable enough to get her into the Top 3. Joshua M.'s was better and if the judges were to pick one non-chic (directional) ensemble it wasn't going to be this one.

Speaking of Tan-o-rexic Josh: I didn't really agree with the judges on the dislike of styling with Joshua's outfit. I thought he really made a complete look from head to toe. Yes, she probably would have looked much better with clean, almost glossy make-up, but the shoes and rest of the outfit look like they could be right off the Versus Runway (like the look from Versus Fall 2010 above). Unfortunately, there in lies the problem...Nina and Michael have a fear of funky, edgy and color (see Mondo Season 8!) and therefore poor Joshua will go far but might not make it to the end. I would love to see a Finale Collection from him...I think it could be kooky, fun and, yes, maybe great! But soooo NOT "NY Fashion Establishment".

Anya Miss Trinidad and Tobago Universe 2008 Ayoung Chee, once again, put out a great outfit. It was colorful, creative and stylish. The girl definitely has a sense of style. Let's see if she can do anything else besides a halter top before I predict her ability to make the finals! But at least we know she can SEW, GLUE and thread rope!

The POO POO of the Bunch:

Bryce's was the worst of the night. This is a perfect example of a outfit that got derailed and the poor designer who didn't know how to get back on the tracks. It hit all the prerequisites for being eliminated: Tacky, predictable, HORRIBLE styling and bad fit.

It was a cross between a homemade Priscilla Queen of the Desert Costume and...

One of those tacky Heatherette dresses from several years ago (see above). It is amazing he made it another week, although in "Project Runway Land" boring usually gets you eliminated over crazy, so Bryce is granted one more week.

To me, designer/contestant Julie Tierney was lucky not to make it in the bottom 3. Yes, she used unconventional material and did her best to infuse her own style into the garment, but the point was to make the unconventional look wearable and this just looks like...

She's homeless and found paper bags in the garbage and decided to create a coat-dress out of it. Pobrecita, as my mom would say.

But now onto the Worst Poo Poo of this Challenge according to the judges:

First off (a positive!) Joshua #2 Christensen should really take stock in the fact that his garment was not that bad. In any other week he definitely would have been in the middle, but in a challenge in which "unconventional" is the key word, judge Michael Kors was right, this ensemble just doesn't cut it. Next to very creative (good or bad) looks, his well, looked like it was from the Deep Discount Rack at Century 21.

Besides being too "conventional", the silhouette seemed a bit dated (so 90's Spice Girl) and as Guest Judge "Alice + Olivia" designer Stacy Bendet also said: she could see this girl at a college bar. Ouch.

See the look of "Oh Dear!" the man on the left in the photo above has? Yep, that's the same look Nina had when she saw Josh No. 2's dress standing in front of her...

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Episode 2: Haute Pee Pee

Camel-Toe Nightmares
Last week, Season 9 of "Project Runway" began with a Pajama Party BANG, as the 16 contestants designed looks from their sleepwear and a bed sheet. For some reason, most of the designers drank the "Ugly Crotch Kool-Aid" and decided that somehow we would be impressed with the results. Not so much. Hoochie-mama-too-tight-leggings designer Rafael was sent home, and I was left with one too many bad camel-toe nightmares. But, it's a new week, and new nightmares. This time involving puppies and pee-pee! Intro Redux As this week's episode begins, I am struck by the new "Intro" showcasing Miss Heidi, Nina, Michael and our beloved Tim. It was a cute twist on previous season's intros, but I kind of miss the old style in which each designer was introduced with a "catch phrase." It always helped us identify who's who and would give us an amuse bouche of their personalities.....

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Project Runway Season 9--Guess Who Is Blogging the Recaps for MyLifetime.com?

Yep, me...

Returning Blogger: Nick Verreos, to blog Project Runway Season 9

I'm so excited to be joining designers Mychael Knight, Johnathan Kayne Gillespie (both from Season 3) and "Momma Peach" , Peach Carr (from Season 8) as a Recap Blogger for Lifetime's Website--MyLifetime.com. I am honored (sorry, I know, I sound as if I am receiving an award!!) to be a "returning Blogger" for Project Runway.

I will--as always--try to put my "Uncle Nick" twist on things, and see the episodes both as a Designer who owns a company for ten years, a Fashion College Instructor, as well as someone who has "been there/done that", oh and yes, be a little funny and sassy at the same time :) Just a little bit. I can't wait!!!

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Nick Verreos Season 8 Project Runway MyLifetime.com Blog Recaps: The Finale!

Mondo Wins!!! (Not so Much!)

Unhappy Threesome: Top 3 Season 8 Finalists Gretchen Jones, Mondo Guerra and Andy South

Thursday night was the Finale Episode of Project Runway Season 8. Yes, kids, it's OVER! And the outcome, well let's just say, didn't make too many people happy. It was a big shocker. Gretchen Jones, from Portland Oregon, who started out all "I love sustainable clothing...and I'm all about Granola-Crunch and sweet" but then before you could say "Camera's On!", turned into this season's Most Hated "character". It may not have helped that EVERY episode, she was giving her unadulterated opinion on all the other contestants designs...and they weren't so nice.

Pre-Argument Happy: Judges Jessica Simpson, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and Heidi Klum

This Final Episode continued where last week's left off, as the top 3 contestants faced their Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week "Close Up". But first: The yawn-inducing Reunion. It was a bore and a half, with no Ivy Higa Acting Foolish, or Michael Costello crying about how everyone thought he was useless, and so on. Nothing. I really wish they would bring back the liquor-induced fun Reunions of the past of season's past.

Season One:

Season One Contestant Vanessa Riley likes her Merlot, so much so that it lead to a "walk-off" and some spillin'...

Season 2 (my Season):

Cosmos at Parsons Y'all: Huney, I was THERE! And they had a whole bar set up AT PARSONS!!! (is that even legal?) Most of my comrades joined in on the celebration, but I refrained. My Momma didn't raise a fool! I knew what that was all about and I was looking at the m all like "You go ahead darlin' ". Fortunately for the viewers, Guadelupe Vidal had about FIVE cocktails and well, the rest made Project Runway Reunion History. I miss those good ol' days!

Now, it was Runway Show time: Andy South was first to be Auf'ed as he showed a rather boring collection of silvers, grays and apple green silk shantung and just didn't have any of that directional Andy "touch". I missed his Warrior Divas and so did Nina. Those celestial headpieces reminded me of a 8 year-old's ceiling solar system. His theme was Laos and Buddha but...

Some of his clothes were a cross between a high-priced Pattaya Bay "Good Time" Girl and...

Someone's rich aunt in Singapore: Elegant, nice and very Chico's Catalog, but not a NY Fashion Week Project Runway Winner. I actually thought what he was wearing was cuter and more innovative than anything in his collection. Now, let's discuss the Winner: Gretchen's collection was sooooo "Now", the judges argued. Well, not really, if you read HERE (and I agree!). It was very "Coterie Show in NY". Also, all 3 Finale Collections have been for sale on the SeenOn.com website and Mondo's ENTIRE collection is SOLD OUT while Gretchen has sold only one outfit!

Acceptable separates for the Contemporary Market. Her color--and print story--was so monotonous though. Take away the styling, the hair, the make-up, and I would never give a second look to this girl walking down the street. Never. And I'd probably say something mean about her shoes (AGH!!!).

The zigzag print was very Missoni-esque and I praise her for the bias-cutting and mitering. She's obviously talented and knows pattern technique. But...fashion should be aspirational. This wasn't. Speaking of aspirational...

Mondo Guerra's Collection was fresh, young, colorful and REALLY oh-so-now! The models were FAB, the make-up, the hair, the accessories, the details...pom pom shoes, graphic color-blocked tunics, prints a ga-ga, and stuff to make women smile! It was a fun combination of Betsy Johnson meets Christian Lacroix.

The fit on everything was superb. And he also matched those over-sized plaids beautifully! Those pants--if done incorrectly--could make even a size 0 model look like a Hippopotamus. But, Mondo did them right: It's all in the fit, the cut and color.

Mondo, you were my favorite and wish you all the best. You may not have won, but like I said in my MyLifetime.com Recap...well, never mind, just go ahead and read the WHOLE thing HERE...and make sure to tell me what you thought!

Byeeeeeeeee until next Season kids!