Previously on “Project Runway All-Stars”: we met all of the designers who decided to return for the “first” all-stars season on Bravo. I was fooled by a preview so the last episode didn't actually have any action in it. It was all introductions and then the reveal of the challenge: redo your worst outfit from your first season. We ended the episode right before any work was done. (click for more)
Christian reminds them that they don't have to use the same fabrics or silhouette, but they do want to see the “spirit”. He also declares a twist and then says “OK I'll see you at Mood bye!!!” Just to fuck with everyone.
During sketching they all discuss what models they got. Hester says a bunch of stuff to Kara Saun, which I think boils down to Hester wanted a model with a buzz cut who was more androgynous, but also if Kara Saun wants to trade if she has a plus-size model then Hester is up for trading? I don't know but it does serve to remind me that Kara Saun was on before they ever had plus size models. Prajje's losing look was one he made out of bar napkins and doilies, I think, that is a wide column and looks terrible. It's all white with some pink at the bottom and he's ready for a bunch of color blocking. Viktor is still looking for stilts or some kind of technology. Bishme is being put back to where he was when he was eliminated, which is an emotional place and being worried about his sister. Nora hasn't sewn anything in a while. Bishme is just going to sketch until he gets something he likes.
Christian is waiting at Mood with $600 each and 45 minutes to shop. People change shoes. Brittany used a big pink coat and dress with plastic butterflies the first time. I think she's just making a better dress. Prajje already has zippers and fabric ready to cut after five minutes. Christian can't believe it, and Prajje says that dress has haunted him for a year, don't you think he's already thought long and hard about how to fix it? And Christian is like “well you had orange zippers so IDK”. I missed Christian's shady comments. Anna's look was for one of those reunion shows, but she's going to do the same shoulder and change the print. Kayne had to do a black and white dress and the only white was a string in the back, like, lining the open back of the dress. He says that he's going to do a little black dress but with “a little Kayne pizzazz”. I think he says “pizzazz”. Nora is somewhere and Christian says “this is silk. Get out of this aisle. Unless you're the best seamstress I've ever seen and I don't think you are.” Nora has to redo a wedding gown, with fake red rose petals sewn into the hem. The redesign is a short dress but still with flowers.
Nora and Kara Saun talk and Kara says that Nora has not changed. This is said as Nora is knocking a mannequin over. Kayne discovers he is missing fabric. Like, a mesh that he bought and of course it is the main part of his look. In an extremely amazing shot, we flashback to Kayne leaving Mood and leaving this fabric on the counter. They even label it for us. Korto tells Rami she got into draping after watching him. I'm not sure how much time they had today but no one is very far along and now they have 30 minutes left. Fabio's look didn't have tailoring, so he's keeping the same look but having more structure. Laurence had a T-shirt and capris, which was boring. Somehow she's going to make a leather jacket. Mila had the circus challenge, and she tried to do the ringleader with stripes and pink pants. Honestly I don't think it's that bad but I could see that it was costumey.
Kara Saun is going on to Nora about how she had this image in her head about her mom and she wants this look to honor her mom and how she would really like an African-American model. This story is to pressure Nora into switching models. On the one hand, I get wanting a model that looks like you. But the challenge is not to honor your mom or family members or anything like that. It's to fix your worst look, and Kara Saun's worst look is that dress over wide leather pants that was supposed to be for someone to wear to do red carpet coverage for E! Not anything to do with how her mom spent all her time at the beach. Is that why Hester was going on about buzz cuts and androgynous models? Because Kara Saun asked them to switch and got rejected? I mean in the end it's on Nora. OH and then they show the models, and Kara Saun now has Liris. OK so it's not because she was trying to dodge a plus-size model. Nora should have kept Liris. Liris is amazing. Also Kara Saun acting like this wasn't exactly what she wanted to have happen. It just...from here it felt calculated.
Hester's losing look involved pasties, which they now claim is very common. It's not common. Also they aren't lime green pasties under a sheer mock turtleneck in cream. Now they're making a convertible skirt but I think maybe still pasties.
Everyone heads to the hotel and takes over the lounge area to drink. Kayne tells everyone he's missing fabric, and claims that production sometimes takes your bag and puts stuff in or takes stuff out. This is true; when they leave Mood, production collects all the bags and gives them back later. So I guess he's asking if someone else ended up with it? Or maybe when they were moving bags around it fell out and it's in the van or something. Nora says something about “Maybe next time...but I also lost a calculator.” and then she goes to bed. Somehow he's irritated about “the game” but he just promises he's going to make a better design.
Day 2, 12 hours to work. Kayne is in a better mood about not having the fabric. He thinks the fabric he has is beautiful on its own. Kara Saun tells us they were all allowed to bring fabric from home, so she's using some of hers. Nora is too short to get to the top of her mannequin and they all giggle about it.
Christian Time! Brittany does more activewear now. Christian liked her original coat. He doesn't approve of some of her fabric, and then says that none of this is any activewear, which is Brittany. Showing off the body, that's the new Brittany. “Don't make me use my Save on you again.” Fabio is sharing the table and says “Oh so there's a save?” and Christian says there's ALWAYS a Save. True. Kara Saun hasn't been sewing recently either, because she's got a team. Christian says maybe don't get rid of the pants, maybe not a skinny pant maybe a wide pant. OK but the wideness of the pants is what made it terrible the last time. A dress over tight skinny leather pants would have been better. Dress over wide pants is weird. Nora reveals she still has the sign for her workstation and the key to the apartment. Heh. Nora is using the petal part of her original design. Korto's dress was a sheath dress but with the seams on the outside, and then she didn't trim them, so they looked like fins. Christian says to be extreme. Rami and Christian have a slightly awkward greeting. His original dress with draping was too boring so now it's neon green. Bishme is pretty subdued, because he's going through it, and Christian offers a hug which was really sweet. Eventually Christian says it's so exciting in here and he can't wait for his twist! He's such a troll and it's so much fun.
So it's 6 hours left, and time for the twist. There is no immunity this season. Now the good news! You can still win prizes and “advantages”. This week the prize is $10,000. Oh so that's the twist. That's not bad.
Nora last made a gown 9 years ago. Viktor wants to be inspired by a traumatic event, which was being attacked by a guy with a machete and being unable to walk for six months. Geez. He just sewed in that time to get it out. Christian returns with models. Bishme hasn't really started on the top of his outfit. He's not inspired. Viktor has a lot of straps and rivets. Christian says to do some more work. Prajje says his model has a small problem, which is that her ass is hanging out so much they had to blur it. Fabio flips his look around to show off his pants more, I think. Bishme is really not doing well. A producer comes to talk to him and he says it's too soon. His sister has been gone for two months, and seeing the old garment has put him right back to her being diagnosed and his fear of losing her. The producer basically tries to get him to see it as honoring her. I don't mean to imply the producer is unfeeling or an asshole about it or anything. I don't blame anyone; it's just a bad situation all around.
Runway Day. The older competitors don't know Elaine and Brandon so they don't know what to expect from them. They will have two hours today. A producer stops Viktor to tell him his model hasn't shown up so they have an alternate. Viktor immediately starts panicking. Like he is freaking out and needs to use his inhaler. The producer promises the replacement is a similar size and has long hair also, but this is a huge blow to Viktor's calm. Bishme is in a much better mood. The models don't show up until they've been working for an hour. Viktor loves his new model's look but she's taller so now he's got to adjust the whole thing. The hair salon is branded but Christian does not mention the makeup is Bobbi Brown.
They make everyone walk out onto the runway and sit on the benches. The guest judge is Alicia Silverstone. She is so cute about being here. Anna: a long gown with a sequined bodice, with pointed shoulders and long sleeves. It's in a dark purple sort of color, and then the skirt is all tulle ruffles. I'm not sure how far down the sequins go, because I think the tulle is sewn onto the sequins, at least at the waist. The model also has some of the tulle over her head like a veil. Maybe there is some tulle on the bodice also, because when she turns around you can kind of see it. You can also see from the back that there is a high slit, so you can see her legs and the ankle boots. Prajje: a very slim backless dress with a deep V in the front down to her waist and cap sleeves. The skirt is a pencil skirt that hits just below the knee. The top is pink and flesh-toned, and the skirt is a black and tan print? Of the Leaning Tower of Pisa? But the whole dress seems to be pleather or some other shiny material. As she walks the top bunches at the waist because of the backless nature.
Laurence: a black leather jacket with pointed shoulders and an open back. The back is an inverted V and just a waist band, and there are black studs/bumps on the shoulders. Then there are shiny white pants with some pleats in the front. Like a fold that runs diagonally from near her navel to the hip on each side. The jacket is cropped but everything looks like it fits. Rami: a draped dress, obviously. It's gathered at one hip and the skirt is longer on that side, but it looks well-made. It's a bright green, and over this is a knee-length coat in purple with a matching green print. I think the dress is attached at the neck to a collar necklace, but the back looks good.
Kayne: the top is black with long sleeves and a diagonal slash at the top. So a leaf-shaped cutout over her collarbone. I think there are also no shoulders. The skirt is a miniskirt that is slightly asymmetrical. Then over all of this is just a giant pile of white ruffles. I don't know what is going on with this coat other than that it's very large. He's put tall black boots with this look. Then as she walks she just drops her arms, and the coat is actually the train of the skirt. It's a mullet hem with ruffles and a train. The sleeves on the top either include gloves, or he's matched gloves to also cover her hands. Nora: a beige sleeves shift dress, just above the knee, with a vague flower look. Basically you know when you used to draw flowers by making a bunch of curvy lines so all your flowers had round petals? So imagine that in different shades of beige, in different sizes, stacked up and sewn on the dress over one side. There is a high neck, I think, but it's hard to tell because it blends in with the model's skin. Also the seams I can see look terrible. It's all puckered and because the “flower” isn't attached all the way around from some angles it looks like an apron. Also there are platform sandals with this which is just not the right choice.
Fabio: a sleeveless top with a high crew neck that hits at the hips, in a striped fabric. It looks very tailored. There are also long gloves, or what might be essentially leg warmers on her arms. The pants are wide black pants that are kind of shiny, but not stiff. The back is also tailored, but there are also wings. From the front it almost looks like he took a rectangle of fabric and attached it to her shoulders and let it drape, but from the back you can see its all sewn down her back and pleated to nip in at the waist. Korto: a strapless top and shorts, in white. It might be a romper. There's a gold belt, and then a floor-length coat with wide sleeves in a mustard color. The coat is lined, at least the bodice part is, with a print that goes with the belt and there are matching strips along the pockets. The shorts fit really well, and the coat has something going on at the top because there are folds and a lot of extra fabric, but I'm not sure what exactly it is. Maybe it's wide lapels.
Viktor: so it is basically leather panels held to her body with straps. Like the legs have a front and back panel, and then thinner straps to wrap around and hold everything together. The bodice is the same, mostly straps and rivets. Over this is a pink metallic fabric making a bandeau top and wrapped diagonally from her waist to the opposite hip. There are some straps or strings at the shoulders. Honestly it's not bunching weirdly or anything, even if the fabric seems like an afterthought. Bishme: black pants and a hot pink coat. The coat has some volume but it's not quite a puffy coat. There are huge puffy leg-of-mutton sleeves that end at her elbows, and then it looks like a coat with a zipper and flap pockets near the bottom and a hood with drawstrings. When the model gets closer I think it could just be long ruffles at her shoulders, as opposed to sleeves, and the pants look like they have cargo pockets. But it looks finished.
Mila: a black leather top that is basically a wide strip wrapped around her boobs. High waisted brown pants, with some kind of treatment on the sides of the legs. Maybe ruffles? Tabs? There is also a fairly shapeless big black shirt with leather trim on the lapels, like a cardigan. But I haven't heard two words out of Mila all episode so I'm guessing she'll be safe. But it's boring. Kara Saun: a long gown in a mottled blue fabric. The bodice is one shouldered, and there is a cape or train sewn to that one shoulder that hangs to the floor. On the same side, the skirt is slit up to her waist. She's got fringe of sequins or maybe beads hanging off random places, and I am pretty sure those are added and not part of the fabric. But it's like, six-inch strips of fringe here and there. I'm not mentioning shoes a lot but I will when it matters and this gown is paired with thigh-high white patent leather boots. This skirt is also unlined.
Hester: first of all you must remember Hester liked the original outfit. A black crop top that hits just below the bust, like a bra strap. The top is sheer, with long sleeves and a high neck. There are still pasties. The skirt looks like the model put on a waist trainer and some panties, and then they attached some black netting over it. Also combat boots. I think the skirt has more structure than just being wrapped around the model, like the fabric is in bunches. Brittany: long gown in what I think is a beige and pink floral print. It looks like a brocade kind of print but on a lighter fabric. The reason I'm not sure is the bodice is for sure a pink bandeau top with the beige running up to a high crew neck, so where there's pink in the skirt I'm not sure if it's an overlay or not. There are hip cutouts and a thin pink belt, and little butterfly or flower appliques sewn over the bodice. OK I think it's a pink bikini and a sheer beige floral lace. She's saying she incorporated activewear so I think the pink is that and then lace over it.
Viktor, Nora, Bishme, Kayne, Fabio, and Kara Saun are the top and bottom. I told you Mila would be safe. Bishme is in the top! He wanted an elevated version of the hoodie dress he tried to make. He tells the judges about his sister and how this was difficult. Elaine says this is what this challenge was about. It's a real elevation and it's really him this time. Modern and joyful. Kayne is also in the top. He's so relieved. Alicia wants to wear this dress which of course he can make it happen. But he has to make a “clueless” joke. Nina remembers how the first look didn't have white and now it's the focus. He also has tall boots but it's clean so it doesn't interfere with the skirt. The skirt has drama and Elaine loves it.
Nora is in the bottom, and she didn't want to make a wedding dress. It's a fabric that puckers and the color shows everything. It's too close to the model's skin tone. Alicia has changed her mind and thinks maybe it's kind of pretty? Viktor is on the bottom. Aww. He used the leg harnesses to kind of look like the stilts, but that was hard to see with out explanation. Nina thinks this was also creative. Brandon goes into a very long cheese metaphor to say that maybe just one thing here. Like focus on the grommets and rivets and not the pink fabric wrapped over the top of the harness.
It's down to Fabio and Kara Saun, and Brandon says the next design has a low score. Fabio prays “Jesus please be on my side” and lo and behold! It's Kara Saun's look. She says she kept the asymmetrical part of the dress. Nina says it is now too in-your-face. Huh? The beading takes it off the rails and it needs editing. OK I feel that but I'm not sure “in your face” was the right descriptor. It's formal and maybe a little dated. This means Fabio had a high score. All of his fabrics are inside-out, which I really couldn't tell. He's used the backside of everything. The textures are wonderful and Elaine says she'd buy this right now.
Kayne had such wonderful drama. Nina says this is restrained for him and shows growth. Bishme took a terrible look and really fixed it. Fabio's look was so sophisticated but also fresh. Brandon says that Kara Saun stressed him out. The beading goes down the skirt and it's too much. Nina says if she shortened the skirt but kept the cape long it would have been much better. Nora's dress is just poor execution. Can she keep up? Sewing is so important. Viktor has a lot of skill but there are too many things going on. Brandon says he knew the harness was supposed to be the stilts but the skirt was too much.
The winner successfully changed history and had a modern, dramatic look. The winner is Kayne. He does a double take. Bishme and Fabio are also in. Brandon tells the bottom three they should be proud of coming back and trying again. Viktor is in. Kara Saun honored her mother but her look needed editing. Nora has a great point of view but terrible execution. Nora is out. Yeah, I don't think she can keep up. She doesn't seem super devastated, and I think she's fine because she jokes she'll see everyone in another 18 years. She says just do that thing you're thinking about doing.
Next week: FAO Schwartz, unconventional materials. I'm sure also this will include running around and breaking things with hammers. The real question is, will someone skin a bunch of stuffed animals to make a garment?
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