Hello, my fabulouses and welcome back to the blog! Today, I want to chat about Project Runway Season 12 Episode 8. How did the designers start off the challenge? Well, with Tim Gunn waking them up in a referee outfit! What? Tim Gunn in a referee outfit rather than a tux? Let me tell y’all, Tim Gunn worked that referee outfit like a pro!

Tossing on some snazzy sports apparel, the designers were off to have a Project Runway field day with the winning team being rewarded with one extra hour of sewing and first pick at fabric.

Project Runway added a new twist to the show this week by asking the designers to create performance wear for Heidi Klum’s New Balance collection that was not only fashionable but functional. The winning runway look was to be manufactured and sold at select New Balance stores under Heidi Klum’s collection. Phew…talk about motivation!

With a $50.00 GoBank spending budget, designers Dom and Justin had first pick at fabric because they won the Project Runway field day challenge.

After the designers chose their 10 yards of fabric and paid with their GoBank mobile phone apps and debit cards, it was time to head back to the workroom! Go, team, go! Give me a P-R-O-J-E-C-T  R-U-N-W-A-Y…What’s that spell? PROJECT RUNWAY! Go, Team!

Lessons I Learned From the Workroom on Season 12 Episode 8:

• Secrets and Name Calling are Never Good:

Secrets and name calling are never good…especially in high-pressure situations. “Pressure pushing down on me. Pressing down on you, no man ask for under pressure…” (Under Pressure by Queen)

• It is good to have a mentor, spiritual mom, and/or Tim Gunn to talk to and give you advice.

D. Green (Ken’s mentor/spiritual mom): “You can’t give up now. Do you hear me?”

Ken: “Yes, ma’am.”

D. Green: “Ken, you were born for this.”

Tim Gunn (talking to Ken): “You wouldn’t be here, if we didn’t believe you’ve got the stuff not just to sustain this but to win.”

Ken: “Yes, sir.”

• Pep talks refresh the memory.

Ken: “After speaking with Tim Gunn, it refreshed my memory of why I am here and, in that moment, I just really needed to hear that.”

• Nonverbal actions speak just as loud as verbal actions…sometimes louder.

• When under pressure, it is not uncommon to lash out at someone and say things one later regrets.

• Some people will do anything to win…even ruffling a few feathers.

Helen: “It is a competition. I cannot comprehend what set Ken off. This is all about strategy; and if you’re going to win this competition, like I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to ruffle a few feathers.”

• Don’t judge.

Ken: “You should never actually judge a person because you don’t know what they are going through….That struggle [see explanation below] has made me a very, very, very independent person.”

In an exclusive interview, Ken and I chatted about his struggle and how he arrived to where he is today.

Ken: “I have been designing clothes since I was about 10 years old…and the dream has come true with Project Runway….I have been homeless before…having to live in my car…and all of the struggles I have been through have made me into the person I am today. I am very independent because of what I have been through. If there is one thing I have learned from these struggles is that it is important to have faith in God that your dreams will come true…don’t let the distractions stop you from reaching your dream.”

• It takes a strong person to apologize.

Ken (talking to Helen): “I’ve been frustrated all day–”

Helen: “I know.”

Ken: “–I like you, and I flipped out on you for no reason, honestly.”

Helen: “Okay, no worries.”

Ken: “I just needed to apologize. Can I have a hug?”

Tim Gunn: “I feel like a proud dad!”

Designer Dom (commenting on Ken’s apology): “It felt genuine. I think he just got really stressed out.”

Okay…that’s enough with the life lessons. Let’s get back to the runway!

What do you wear when you work out? Are you sleek and chic or comfy and casual? I completely understand what Heidi Klum’s vision for this challenge was…but when the VIP works out, I like to dress very basic and carefree. I do not care if my outfit could hit the runway after an hour of booty-kicking Insanity with Shaun T…Oh, Shaun T is such a motivating cutie.

Designer Ken’s athletic wear outfit is something I could wear during my work out–while being covered up and feeling confident. I like the approach with the longer shirt because let’s face it…we all worry about what our booties look like when we are running or doing squats in front of an entire gym of hot guys.

Designer Ken’s look was basic and wearable for the everyday woman; however, Helen took home the win with this challenge because her performance wear jacket exemplified Heidi Klum’s concept of bringing the runway to the treadmill.

Man…Episode 8 was quite the doozy! Now, I feel like I should go throw on my slouchy work out clothes and go for a run with my precious Giant Schnauzer, Ziva! See y’all next week for yet another VIP Project Runway recap post!

Stay Fabulous,

Abby Hathorn