PRJNCT: Challenge 3

Last week, the designers mourned the loss of Ryan, knowing that with his absence, the chances of having a cupcake feast are now very limited.
This week, the contestants gathered on the internet to hear their latest challenge:

Make a 'business to evening' look using office supplies.

The designers had to create ONE look that was appropriate for the office as well as a night out on the town.

Fashion guru Polt Gunn gave the designers fashion advice:

Hello, designers, may I have a moment of your time? This challenge, a business to evening look, is in some demand now. The hip, cosmopolitan working girl of today doesn't have time to go home after work to change clothes for a night out on the town. She needs something versatile that works in both settings. Something to take her from the briefcase in her office to her disco ball nightlife. And do it seamlessly. But unless her day job is a stripper, I'd steer clear of Post-It note miniskirt with just a rubber band tube top. I'll just relay to you the best advice Mama Polt Gunn ever gave me: Son, don't ever let the hemline meet the neckline. Now get back in there and show me whatcha got!

Contestants sketched, then ran to the local Staples (or stole supplies from work) and got started on their designs.

Stevie/Belinda Cosgrove's designer chopped off her hair, forgetting that she has a rare disease that prevents hair regrowth.

While the model drama was not as prominent this episode, Tam was in for a nasty surprise when she got a letter in the mail from an old friend....

It read:

Dearest Tam,
I know why you're doing this. You want to get famous, gain power, then tell the dean about our little affair in the past. Well, guess what sister? If you continue on in the competition, I might accidentally upload those photos that I took of you and your ex-boyfriend and they might accidentally make their way around the internet!
Now, I know you are a semi-bright young lady (considering the methods you chose to get good grades in my courses, maybe you aren't....) so I assume you understand that your involvement in this competition must end... now! I've attached a photo of your ex-boyfriend to remind you of the 'feel' of our photoshoot....
Peace out b*tches!
- Prof.

Tam never thought her old professor would contact her and remind her of her shameful past! When she searched the envelope again, she found this picture of her ex-boyfriend....

If Tam remained in the competition, would her professor leak the other photos and disgrace Tam even further??

Enrico took a page out of the Tam handbook and decided to get a little 'extra help'.... No, not that kind!
Threatened by Daisy's designing skills, he decided to contact a former contestant who just might help in removing Daisy from the competition....

Meanwhile, the other innocent contestants worked hard on their designs and eventually watched their models walk the runway! (Click to enlarge)

"Chlamydia is ready for her day job at a Marketing Agency and ready for a summer evening on the town with friends or that special someone."

Model: Chlamydia
Materials: Top - Hot pink Post-it notes
Skirt - Screen wipe, Pendaflex file folder (belt and buttons)
Jacket - Bubble wrap
Bag - Lime green Post-it note (hot pink button closure, not visible)
Shoes - Pendaflex file folder

This outfit is meant to be a comfortable yet classy merging of the professional and social worlds. The vest provides a certain level of formality that can be removed for more casual gatherings post-work day. Topping everything off is the hat that brings both dignity and playfulness to the ensemble.
Model: Bambi DuJour
Materials: Skirt - Yellow Post-Its, glitter glue, black tape
Shirt - Yellow Post-Its, white index card
Vest - Designed envelope, black tape, staples
Hat - Styrofoam CD divider, black tape, pencil lead
Bracelet - Spring from clicky pen
Shoes - Black tape

"After a long day of filing TPS reports and dealing with corporate ***holes (not to mention her 5 martini lunch wearing off) Malaria is ready to unbutton her blouse and let her hair down. By the way, that is NOT coffee in her cup. Working sucks."

Model: Malaria
Materials: Skirt - Vinyl from 3 ring binder
Blouse - Glue mixed with white out, spread on wax paper and then peeled off when dry. Stripes are ink.
Flower pin - Velco cable tie
Boots - Sharpie caps and leftover vinyl
Jewelry - Brads
Briefcase - Index cards and leftover vinyl
Glasses/coffee cup - Index card
Martini glass - Clear file envelope, tape, index card

In this business to evening look, I designed a dress that is both elegant and appropriate for the workplace, yet also summery and fun for a nice night out. Belinda would feel equally comfortable leading a meeting at work, or dining on the terrace at an exclusive country club in the evening.

Model: Stevie/Belinda Cosgrove
Materials: Dress & Shoes - Hanging File Folder & White Envelopes
Purse - Hanging File Folder, White Envelopes & Paper Clip
Necklace - Staples

My design was chosen to give Xy the option of going straight from the office out for dinner with her rich, powerful lawyer boyfriend. By removing the pashmina she can reveal her arms in her sleeveless top, the wide belt adding interest and drawing attention to her minuscule waist. The skirt is conservative enough for her job as an architect but shows enough leg to keep the boyfriend interested. The pashmina is also handy in the office when the bosses turn up the air conditioning on cool days and the temperatures drop lower inside than an igloo in Anchorage.

Model: Xylophone
Materials: Skirt - packing tape (design - sharpie)
Top - graph paper
Pashmina - carbon paper
Belt - Report cover and map pins
Shoes - masking tape
Portfolio - Report cover, Liquid Paper decoration
Earrings - map pins
Necklace - paper clip

Tandi's outfit is suitable for any workplace. The pencil skirt is the perfect length for the office, but still shows off her gorgeous legs. Whether angling for her next promotion or her next date, this outfit can carry her through any day.

Model: Tandi Dupree
Materials: Top - Post-its
Vest - Vinyl from binder
Skirt - Pencil shavings

I looked for colors that were professional, yet not boring. The contrast of conservative brown with the colorful circles allows it to be fun enough for an evening out. The jacket is business-like, but fun enough to wear out, or you can remove the jacket for a sexy strapless look. Everything is sewn and completely rearrangeable -- just like a real Barbie outfit!

Model: Tawna
Materials: Dress/Jacket - Palm Pilot case
Belt - Employee ID lanyard
Shoes - Employee ID lanyard

Lola likes to go to the office being chic and confident! She's always ready for an after work drink with the girls or a client!

Model: Lola LaRue
Materials: Skirt - Black tape
Buttons on skirt - Laminated paper
Top - Tape and White-Out
Shoes/watch - Black tape
Flower on top - Black Sharpie

Being professional shouldn't mean being boring, so for this design I went with a classic, simple look that wasn't too drab to wear after work. The skirt is not too short for work or too long for the nightlife. The scarf and belt are simple accessories that add a touch of class to the look. And should her hair be up or down...? I went with a half-up, half-down hairstyle that's appropriate anywhere!

Model: Clifford
Materials: Skirt - Book cover
Top - Dried out monitor wipe
Scarf - Book cover
Belt/heels - Dried out monitor wipe and gray marker

And that's the end of our challenge 3 runway show!
Discuss!

Won't You Take Me With You To The Sky

All the best blogs have weekly features (Monday Muse, Teach Me Something Tuesday, Wednesday Tent Pitch, The Friday Five) so I guess I can do one too.

So here is the first installment of my yearly feature, Monday's Music Moment! (What?! Twitter basically does this already?? Oh well.)

The whole 'weekly feature' thing is just an excuse for me to share this amazing video I found.
I know my blog readers don't have the same music taste as I have (as my music entries are often ignored), but I feel compelled to share the amazingness found in this video.

Below you will find a live version of "Rhiannon," which is possibly my favorite song by Fleetwood Mac.
This version is special for a few reasons.
- Stevie sings the alternate lyrics in it ("Once in a million years a lady like her rIses!" etc.)
- The instrumental break around the middle of the video is amazing. I don't love Lindsey's harmonies on the chorus, but his guitar playing is great as usual.
- And my favorite thing about it is Stevie's ad lib around the end (around 4:45).



I feel like when I watch live performances lately, the singers are so concerned with the 'performance' part of it that the song is kind of lost. They are so into the extra stuff (see Katy Perry's distracting stage props, Lady Gaga's outfits) and aren't into the song as much. And of course many performances are lip-synced, so actually singing the song isn't a concern at all!
Stevie is clearly INTO "Rhiannon" here. I love how the music seems to possess her. I so wish I could teleport to the 70s and watch this performance live.

PRJNCT: Challenge 2 Results

In the latest installment of Project Runway JNCT, the remaining 10 designers created summer dresses using candy wrappers.

Based on those designs, one designer will be eliminated and one will win the challenge, obtaining immunity for challenge #3.

Let's get to the results!
The top 2 and bottom 2 included:

Clifford, Bambi DuJour, Malaria and Cecy Elegans.

Here are the judge's thoughts on these four designs:

Clifford: Judges thought this dress made the model look sexy and highlighted the female form, which is what good clothing does. The material/color palette was also applauded, as it made the model look like a gorgeous 'lady in red.' But some judges thought the 'samurai hat' was not as successful as other hats made for this challenge, as it didn't seem to fit properly.
Mom says: "It's pretty and elegant."

Bambi DuJour: Judges saw potential in this design but were disappointed by the 'disgusting construction.' They thought there was way too much going on with the outfit; the belt was viewed as unnecessary and the use of more than one brand of candy confused the judges, frazzling one judge's brain. The length, design, and fit were not flattering for Bambi DuJour. Perhaps the biggest complaint from the judges was in regard to the shoes, which one judge said look like 'clog shoes' that 'belong in the Alps' and another commented, 'it looks like she chose to wear the shoebox instead of the actual shoes.'
Mom says: "It's ugly and horrible. It's done poorly. The back looks unfinished."

Malaria: Judges thought Malaria's 'classic summer silhouette' was neatly constructed, chic, sexy, flirty and perfect for any occasion. Judges could 'totally see some over privileged white woman wearing this to the country club or on her yacht.' The materials were used in a creative way that reveals that the designer put a lot of work in creating an outfit that did use candy wrappers, but was not a walking advertisement. The hair, purse, and shoes all added to the look of the outfit. However, some judges thought the design was too safe. While it looked great, it did not really show innovation on the designer's part.
Mom says: "It's beautiful. Hay que lindo! I like it because you could go out in it and it's practical. Es mi favorito."

Cecy Elegans: Judges were most baffled by the material choice in this design. While most candy wrappers are bright and colorful, the designer chose materials that were 'depressing, dark and bland.' The dress looked suited more for space than summer, and the aluminum foil bodice was seen as a torturous design choice meant to make the model roast in the summer sun. The dress was also seen as unflattering as it was too short and it's cylindrical shape hid the model's shape.
Mom says: "It's pretty but the back is ugly."

After a record-setting number of votes were called in, the model with the highest number of votes and the winner of challenge #2 is...

Malaria's designer!

Congrats anonymous designer!

Clifford had the 2nd highest number of votes and is safe.

And the designer going home this week is....

the designer of nematode Cecy Elegans, Ryan.

Adios Ryan! You will be missed in the competition. And hey, at least you made it to the 2nd round of competition! :D

Let Freedom Ring

Happy 4th of July everyone!!
Today, we gather in the streets of our town to watch parades, we barbecue our own food instead of visiting restaurants and giving our waiters (me) huge tips, and we set off explosives in our backyards.

But the day is actually quite important, as we celebrate an crucial moment in American history: July 4, 1842, when Washington crossed the Delaware blue with his three ships, the Nina, Titanic, and Santa Maria and discovered America (and Puerto Rico).

Or something like that.

Here is my favorite song that is about this important holiday, including a video of one of my favorite historical figures (I wonder if Washington spotted her while crossing that river!)

Fresh Outta Elle Magazine

Last season on Project Runway TCNJ, Christie won the title of best fashion designer at TCNJ (tying with Enrico, of course). Because she won the competition, her model also won something: a spread in Elle magazine.

Here are the pictures of Chloe's photoshoot.

Congrats Chloe! Now don't end up like every model that wins America's Next Top Model Project Runway and fade into obscurity!