Project Runway - Season 10

[HMN]

It's time for Season 10! Premiering Thursday, July 19 at 9ET, 8C on Lifetime.
Season 10 was filmed in NYC and brings back the usual judges, and our beloved Tim Gunn!

This season's cast includes the following designers:

Alicia Hardesty
Andrea Katz
Beatrice Guapo
Buffi Jashanmal
Christopher Palu
Dmitry Sholokhov
Elena Slivnyak
Fabio Costa
Gunnar Deatherage
Kooan Kosuke
Lantie Foster
Melissa Fleis
Nathan Paul
Raul Osorio
Sonjia Williams
Ven Budhu

Here's hoping to a good and competitive season, with more talent than drama!

[Goddess_Clio]

Excited to get things started!

[freelantzer]

Yeah! Can't wait for the new season!

[HMN]

Really?

I totally disagree with the person who was sent home. The second to last should have definitely been booted. Tulle is nearly impossible to make look good - unless you're a ballerina, a bride, or in costume. Sorry, but it's the truth.

Overall, I liked the episode. I watched it online this morning, and I think I'm going to have to keep with that trend. It's an hour straight through instead of the hour and a half. And I forgot it was going to be an hour and a half! Halfway through I started thinking that they should be doing runway and then I realized they had a lot more time so they're slowing it down. I think I like the hour better, but this didn't seem to drag that much.

I also didn't agree with the winner, but I though his gown was nice. I'm having a hard time getting past the Michael Costello-ish-ness about him, but when he made the "Toddlers and Tiaras" comment, I decided I liked him flat out.

I think Mr. Japanese is hysterical, and I hope he shows us some awesome stuff.

I'm posting a pic of all the designers so I can remember who I'm referring to throughout the season.

Img from Reality Nation.com:    

---

[Spacecadet]

I really liked the first episode. I think there are some really strong contenders already. I don't necessarily disagree with who they sent home, but I'm not sure she should have been first. But I think she probably would have gone home in the first few weeks, so I'm not overly upset. I loved the winning look, that dress was fabulous. And its so good to have Tik Gunn back! YAY!

[Goddess_Clio]

Originally Posted by HMN

I totally disagree with the person who was sent home. The second to last should have definitely been booted. Tulle is nearly impossible to make look good - unless you're a ballerina, a bride, or in costume. Sorry, but it's the truth.

I disagree about the tulle. I thought Austen's gold dress with the black tulle in the Allstars season was nice and it didn't look cheap or costumey.

As for the one sent home, I could have gone either way with the bottom two. I wasn't impressed with the knit girl's pieces and the one piece of hers that they liked (the grey dress) was really ugly to me. I make knit dresses all the time, almost exclusively when I'm fashion sewing, and even without a pattern I could have come up with something that looked better than that drab thing.

The stylist girl's tulle dress was ugly, though. The snake print down the front as a big looked thrown on at the last minute like it was crazy glued on right before she walked onto the runway.

I'm really iffy about the Japanese guy; is he this season's Elise? The crazy, cooky designer who has such a wild asthetic and personality that he just can't get it together for the show? His non-show piece (those overalls) were cute in a "a cartoon character threw up on me" kind of way. I didn't like his second piece though.

I'm not impressed with the guy who just decided not to like the guy that won. (I'm really sorry I don't know everyone's names yet!) Cattiness is to be expected on any reality show but in the first episode? Already? Chill out, dude!

Overall, my impression of the show was somewhat underwhelming. I don't really recall any of the pieces (like I remember Jillian's Twizzlers dress, Mondo's Jackie O look and his smoking jacket from allstars, like I remember Christian and Kris's avant guard dress and Anya's dresses... because they all looked the same... [but were all still gorgeous]) so it's hard to really say how good of a season I think it will be. I'm glad to have Tim back but I'm missing Georgina and Isaac a little bit...

[HMN]

Originally Posted by Goddess_Clio

I disagree about the tulle. I thought Austen's gold dress with the black tulle in the Allstars season was nice and it didn't look cheap or costumey.

but Austin's look was done with tulle for a reason. It was supposed to be a showpiece, and that's why it worked. But it just doesn't on an everyday gown.

I'm really iffy about the Japanese guy; is he this season's Elise? The crazy, cooky designer who has such a wild asthetic and personality that he just can't get it together for the show? His non-show piece (those overalls) were cute in a "a cartoon character threw up on me" kind of way. I didn't like his second piece though.

He clearly has sewing skills, and while kooky may actually come up with something interesting. But I don't think he'll make it past the midway point - his aesthetic is just not what the judges are looking for.

I'm not impressed with the guy who just decided not to like the guy that won. (I'm really sorry I don't know everyone's names yet!) Cattiness is to be expected on any reality show but in the first episode? Already? Chill out, dude!

Yeah, we all know he's going to be on way longer than he needs to. He didn't make it last year, so he stepped up his personality and thinks that is what the cameras want to see. An annoying kid who is trying too hard. I think he's this season's Josh.

[Goddess_Clio]

Originally Posted by HMN

but Austin's look was done with tulle for a reason. It was supposed to be a showpiece, and that's why it worked. But it just doesn't on an everyday gown.

Maybe it's just me, but most of the stuff on this show is not "everday" wear. To me, most of the stuff on this show is stuff celebrities would wear for the talk show circuit or to press events or socialites would wear to the opera or out to dinner in NYC or stuff normal people would only wear to special events and occassions... There isn't a whole lot presented on this show (as far as dresses go, especially), IMO, that would directly translate to everyday-wear, including the tulle dress with the snakeskin bib - that's not an everday dress to me. That's an "I'm going to a wedding" dress or "wouldn't this be fun for my office christmas party" dress. Only very occassionally do I see something that I think "oh! I love that! I'd wear it right now! I'd wear it every day if I could" and honestly the only moment I can think of right now where that happened was the activewear challenge in Gretchen/Mondo/Andy's season with Mondo and Andy's looks.

He clearly has sewing skills, and while kooky may actually come up with something interesting. But I don't think he'll make it past the midway point - his aesthetic is just not what the judges are looking for.

Yes, he does. He also has a very quirky, cartoony, over the top aesthetic which will be fun and interesting for a couple of weeks but, as the judges said, the first time he has to do something really restrained might prove to be his downfall. I did really like those huge, pink plastic buckles on his overalls, though. Really cute but so not something I can see anyone I know wearing.

Yeah, we all know he's going to be on way longer than he needs to. He didn't make it last year, so he stepped up his personality and thinks that is what the cameras want to see. An annoying kid who is trying too hard. I think he's this season's Josh.

Unfortunately that might be the case. The producers want drama and excitement so they'll choose cast members whose personality they think will butt heads. It's like Hell's Kitchen, they don't necessarily keep the best chefs around each week, they'll keep the one who creates the drama on until the final five or final four so they can keep their ratings up. Hence the disclaimer at the end of a lot of shows saying, effectively, "the producers have a say in who stays and who goes."

[HMN]

First off, I was walking home from dinner and I'm half looking in all the shop windows. This dress in this little shop just catches my eye. It's red and bright and full of texture. So I look at the name of the shop and what do you know - it's Christian Siriano's shop. Of course! I didn't know he had his own storefront. Good for him! I took a picture - will have to post later.

And onto the episode... I am just not agreeing with these judges in general. I really think the producers are much more heavy handed as these seasons go on.

I think Ven and Sonjia are definitely in the top, but I don't think that annoying boy should be. There were designs that were much better than his.

And for the worst - I think there were others that were worse than Elena's. Lanti - they should have eliminated her last week, and this proves it. It's too bad they gave her a second chance and she didn't go anywhere with it.

Originally Posted by Goddess_Clio

Maybe it's just me, but most of the stuff on this show is not "everday" wear. To me, most of the stuff on this show is stuff celebrities would wear for the talk show circuit or to press events or socialites would wear to the opera or out to dinner in NYC or stuff normal people would only wear to special events and occassions... There isn't a whole lot presented on this show (as far as dresses go, especially), IMO, that would directly translate to everyday-wear, including the tulle dress with the snakeskin bib - that's not an everday dress to me. That's an "I'm going to a wedding" dress or "wouldn't this be fun for my office christmas party" dress. Only very occassionally do I see something that I think "oh! I love that! I'd wear it right now! I'd wear it every day if I could" and honestly the only moment I can think of right now where that happened was the activewear challenge in Gretchen/Mondo/Andy's season with Mondo and Andy's looks.

You are totally right. The outfits they come up with - and the judges expect - are all special occasion wear. I think it would be more interesting if the challenges were more specific, and not just make a pretty dress challenges.

[Spacecadet]

I love the nonconventional challenges and I think for the most part everyone did a good job. I 100% agree with Ven winning and them eliminating Lanti. The only thing I didnt agree with was Andrea not being in the bottom three. I think she should of been there in place of Buffi. That dot paper dress with the bustle was hideous! I think Ven is going to be one of the favorites this season though.

[HMN]

Originally Posted by Spacecadet

I love the nonconventional challenges and I think for the most part everyone did a good job. I 100% agree with Ven winning and them eliminating Lanti. The only thing I didnt agree with was Andrea not being in the bottom three. I think she should of been there in place of Buffi. That dot paper dress with the bustle was hideous! I think Ven is going to be one of the favorites this season though.

I liked the dot apron dress - I thought it was quirky and I liked the surprise bustle in the back.

I personally thought Alicia with the caveman half overall look should have been in the bottom over the warrior dress by Elena. But that's just me.

[Spacecadet]

Originally Posted by HMN

I liked the dot apron dress - I thought it was quirky and I liked the surprise bustle in the back.

I personally thought Alicia with the caveman half overall look should have been in the bottom over the warrior dress by Elena. But that's just me.

Yea that one wasnt one of my favorites either!

[Goddess_Clio]

Originally Posted by HMN

I liked the dot apron dress - I thought it was quirky and I liked the surprise bustle in the back.

I personally thought Alicia with the caveman half overall look should have been in the bottom over the warrior dress by Elena. But that's just me.

I thought Alicia's look was more fashion-y than the polkadot thing with the bustle. That looked like a serious craft project. She didn't, to use the judge's word, transform that candy, she left it on those sheets and just sewed the sheets together into a giant sheet and then wrapped the giant sheet around her model and then made the totally weird tacked-on bustle because she needed something to cover the back. The front and the back didn't go together at all, it was like the front of one outfit was used and the back of a 1880-sdress -on-acid was used. (Don't get me wrong, I love me a good bustle, but not like this.)

I appreciate the idea of the apron but the outcome was awful so while the one-shouldered overall thing wasn't that great, either, it seemed to have more thought put into it. I didn't like the bra top though. I got over that in the Allstars season.

I wasn't a huge fan of Elena's warrior dress but I didn't think it was as terrible as the judges made it out to be. I do think it probably deserved to be in the bottom three (it did look like a cardboard box with noodles glued to it...)

Ven was a much deserved win but I didn't get what the judges loved about Sonjia's dress (is that how you spell her name?). I liked the idea of the gummy sharks and the color scheme was nice but overall it looked like a blue and white dress with gumballs glued to it and a butt flap / mermaid tail hemline that I know I wouldn't be caught dead in.

Gunnar was also a bit of a mystery. I liked the Russian/Ukrainian/ballroom dancer guys' little black dress with the candy beading much better than Gunnar's - though it did look a touch like a ballroom dancing dress one would wear in the latin rounds. Gunnar is just plain annoying, though. I hope he curbs the attitude or, like Lantie, gets the boot.

Overall, I'm really glad Lantie was called on her $#!^ - she had a bad attitude and a lot of excuses. There was no way she was making it on this show.

[Spacecadet]

Originally Posted by Goddess_Clio

I thought Alicia's look was more fashion-y than the polkadot thing with the bustle. That looked like a serious craft project. She didn't, to use the judge's word, transform that candy, she left it on those sheets and just sewed the sheets together into a giant sheet and then wrapped the giant sheet around her model and then made the totally weird tacked-on bustle because she needed something to cover the back. The front and the back didn't go together at all. (Don't get me wrong, I love me a good bustle, but not like this.)

I agree! That was one issue i had was that there wasnt much design in it. She didnt transform anything and she really in my opinion used materials that were close to fabric despite the candy being on the dress. Plus the front and back didnt go together at all. It was an interesting idea but it was not well executed and the shape of the dress was extremely unflattering. I think her construction and the shape of her clothes will be her downfall. This isnt a child's romper where you want tons of extra fabric, women's clothes should be flattering.

[HMN]

This week's challenge was clearly a dud. Again, I don't agree with the judges and I'm tired of the producers putting up top scores that clearly do not have the best designs.

That white dress was so cheesy I can't even talk about it.

[Spacecadet]

Originally Posted by HMN

This week's challenge was clearly a dud. Again, I don't agree with the judges and I'm tired of the producers putting up top scores that clearly do not have the best designs.

That white dress was so cheesy I can't even talk about it.

I actually didnt mind the white dress, but in terms of designing and good designs there really wasnt a lot of that this week. and Andrea needs to go home... like yesterday. And they need to stop bringing Kenley around she grates on my last nerve!

[Goddess_Clio]

Originally Posted by HMN

This week's challenge was clearly a dud. Again, I don't agree with the judges and I'm tired of the producers putting up top scores that clearly do not have the best designs.

That white dress was so cheesy I can't even talk about it.

I was shocked that that dress was in the top. Mostly because I want that Gunnar guy gone. He's so cocky, arrogant and annoying I can't stand him. I was actually rooting for Kooan but only because he was partnered with Gunnar and was humble enough to give credit where credit was due - even though I don't agree that the credit Gunnar was due was enough to get him second best design.

Originally Posted by Spacecadet

I actually didnt mind the white dress, but in terms of designing and good designs there really wasnt a lot of that this week. and Andrea needs to go home... like yesterday. And they need to stop bringing Kenley around she grates on my last nerve!

I agree that there wasn't a very good showing of interesting looks; they all looked really boring. The one I actually liked was... Valerie's? The gold sequiny dress. It was very safe as far as Emmy dresses but at the same time it was really the only one that looked like it should be within 10 miles of the Emmy red carpet. Van's look for Kenley was cute but didn't look Emmy's to me.

The one I was most surprised by was the dress for April. I thought that I would like it more but I just didn't like the cut, the sleeves, the neckline... really anything about it. Except the color. It was an interesting color.

And poor Mila! She wasn't ever a favorite designer of mine but man I felt bad for her in that dress! She's a lot more edgy than that sad black dress, and she looked sad wearing it. The only thing I liked about it was the cutout in the back but it wasn't finished well at all so it looked terrible.

I liked the idea of Anya's dress but Christopher and Andrea were such a dysfunctional team it just fell apart. I felt bad for Christopher - and bad for Andrea a little, too, but more bad for Christopher.

If you want some behind the scenes dish check out Laura Bennet's blog on how the dresses looked in real life.

[Spacecadet]

This week I agree with the judges. Sonjia deserved the win and buffy needed to go home. I also really liked gunner's look. I love the skirt and top. I can't remember which designer it was but that boxy jacket was horrible, it was way to big and not flattering at all!

I couldn't believe all the people that left on their own. Although Andrea and Kaun(sp?) wouldnt have been around much longer anyways so it wasnt a huge loss.

Looks like there will be a ton of drama next week!

[Goddess_Clio]

Wow, couldn't have telegraphed the bottom two more in this episode! You'd have to be blind not to realize that Gunnar and Eddie Munster were going to be on the bubble this week.

As far as the teams ending up in a tie, I was surprised. The Chiffoniez team - Team 5, officially - didn't really have much in terms of work-wear that I would even consider. The exception was Christopher's look, which the jacket, the white shirt and the cute patterned skirt. The other team, on the other hand, had lots of things I would wear and that I felt I could have mixed and matched into my own wardrobe to create even more looks for myself. I loved Alicia's pants, I loved the Ballroom guy's graphic dress, I liked but didn't love Melissa's blue dress (that collar was ridiculous, I'm sorry; I'd rather it have been more of a cowel than that), Sonjia's blue pencil skirt was adorable and so definitely something I would wear every week... Even Crazy Ukrainian Girls' soft, drapey jacket thing was cute.

I was so not impressed with the guys' team; silk chiffon? Really? For work? Maybe it is just me but I like easy to care for fabrics, ones that don't require me to make special trips to dry cleaners and I would be terrified of washing any of those silk outfits at home! Maybe I also just think the fabric is impractical because of the field I work in. I need to look much more structured than their looks for work, and the clients I work with are far too conservative for me to be able to wear those outfits - and client meetings are really the only reason I wear my really nice work clothes.

Overall, I thought this was a good episode. Entertaining, though the constant drone of "this is what I want to do and I'm not going to compromise my aesthetic" got old.

Glad Eddie Munster got the boot again.

[mirrormere]

Eddie Munster? Lol!

Christopher reminds me of Terk from Tarzan (1999).