THE REMAINING NINE (back row from left to right) Jeremy, Brandon, Alexander, Alexandria (front row from left to right) Kate, Ken, Dom, Helen, Justin
Heidi: “Are you impressed that you’re still here?”
All of the designers: “Yes!” *nodding their heads*
Southern style brunch on Project Runway Season 12 Episode 9.
Hey y’all!–imagine my saying this in my most genuine Southern Belle accent–Are y’all ready for the VIP’s weekly recap of Project Runway?
Tim Gunn: “She is a modern Southern woman…She is the Belk customer…She dresses vibrantly and impressively. She is always fashionably put together. She knows how to use accessories, and she loves color and anything with feminine detail.”
Me: “Mom, I think Tim Gunn just described me perfectly!”
Mom: “Sweetheart, he just described every true Southern lady perfectly.”
Ken purchasing his fabric at Mood with his GoBank card. Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
After their classy Southern brunch and thirty-minute sketching time, the designers were given thirty minutes in Mood to find their fabric and were given a suggested GoBank spending budget of $200–$250. Wouldn’t it be fabulous to have a $200–$250 GoBank shopping budget at Belk? I can imagine myself walking out of those doors with bags of fabulous attire, accessories, and sweet high heels. Do I have a shopping addiction? Sure, some would call it that…now, back to Project Runway!
With one day to create their looks, the designers were antsy about creating something that a modern Southern woman would wear.
Helen: “I do not design for the modern Southern woman…this is way out of my comfort zone.”
Alexander: “I do not dress like a modern Southern woman…just like a modern 80s woman.”
When time was up in the workroom, Tim Gunn (looking dashing as always) escorted the designers and models to the runway.
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The winner of this challenge was Brandon. I liked the concept of his design; however, I am not too crazy about the plaid. I can definitely see this dress in vibrant colors and a pretty, flowy fabric…perhaps then…the true modern Southern woman would snatch it off the rack at Belk. Kudos for the fabulous design concept, Brandon! Boo on the plaid!
Heidi: “We think you all did not fully understand the concept of this challenge, and you all could benefit from a little bit more time…For the first time in Project Runway history, I’m going to send you back to the workroom. Right now—you will have one hour to work on your look, and to give you a little help, each of you can choose one fellow designer. You have access to all of the fabrics in the workroom….”
So…Designers Dom, Jeremy, and Ken were sent back to the workroom…all I could think was good luck, my darlings!
Designer Dom’s second look. The second winning look of this challenge. Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
I LOVE THIS DRESS! Just so all of you know….when this dress arrives at Belk, I will be running to get it!
Designer Jeremy’s first look. Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
Bless his heart…Despite Jeremy’s valiant effort, he was sent home. I was very sad to see him go because I am going to miss his wonderful designs and especially his British accent.
Ken Laurence’s first look. Image provided by The Weinstein Company.Ken Laurence’s second look. Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
After watching Episode 9, I chatted with Ken about the challenge and his two spectacular garments.
Me: “If you could have created a completely new garment, what would you have created?”
Ken: “I would have created the exact same dress in a different fabric. My goal was to find a lighter, more flowy fabric, but I ran out of time in Mood…and the color was most important.”
Me: “What was the concept behind your first design?”
Ken: “I wanted to design something that I witnessed selling on a day-to-day basis when I worked as a stylist at BCBG–before Project Runway. Southern women came in looking for maxi dresses that were simple, easy-to-wear, and could be accessorized for all occasions. Another factor I tried to think about was the climate here in Alabama, and that was why I wanted to go with a lighter fabric.”
Me: “What was your goal when you went back to the workroom to modify your look?”
Ken: “My main goal was to just have a dress…I was not thinking about the modern Southern woman anymore…I was just thinking about giving the judges a different look. In my original sketch, I actually created a silhouette similar to the one in my second look so I just went with it.
Personally, I loved designer Ken’s first look the most! I loved the fact that it could be easily accessorized…we all know how much the VIP loves her accessories!
Phew…this episode was quite the humdinger! I cannot wait to see what Episode 10 has to offer!
Don’t forget to live tweet with YOUR favorite designer by using the hashtags below!
Hello, my fabulouses! Today on the VIP blog, I am going to chat about Project Runway Season 12 and contestant Ken Laurence, who is a talented fashion artisan from Birmingham, Alabama. Out of the four fashion designers from the great state of Alabama that have competed on Project Runway in past seasons, Ken Laurence is one out of two designers who has successfully made it past the first challenge. Other Project Runway stars from Birmingham include Heidi Elnora Standrige Baker (2005), Anthony L. Williams (2010, 2012 “All Stars”), and Amanda Perna (2011). Congrats, Ken! The VIP is cheering for you!
To see the VIP’s interview with Ken Laurence, please click here.
To learn more about Ken Laurence, please visit the VIP blog post here.
When Heidi Klum announced that the designers were going to be creating evening gowns to showcase 30 million dollars worth of shimmering jewels from the Diamond District…my jaw dropped. I knew right then and there that Episode 2 of Season 12 was going to be absolutely fabulous!
As Ken Laurence was choosing the fabric for his garment at Mood, I immediately fell in love with the emerald green. Ken went with a Satin fabric made up of 80% Polyester, 20% Nylon which was only $8.00 a yard. I kept thinking to myself, “I hope he chose the emerald green! I hope he chose the emerald green!”
BAM! When Ken’s model appeared on the runway sporting an emerald green gown and strutted it gracefully down the Project Runway catwalk…the VIP was mega happy! He had picked the green!! It was beyond breathtaking…and the fact that he only used $75.00 out of his $4,000 season GoBank budget made my jaw drop even more! Ken’s emerald green gown is a fine example of the design over the dollar. It is not about how expensive the fabric is…it is about the designer knowing how to make something look like a million bucks! Ken Laurence definitely did that with his gown in the second challenge of the season. Fabulous, fabulous, FABULOUS job!
The Diamond District jewelry that Ken chose looked beyond glamorous with his evening gown. “It is sexy, classic, sophisticated, but at the same time there is a wow factor that is breathtaking and demands attention. I am extremely confident,” said Ken Laurence on Season 12, Episode 2 of Project Runway on Lifetime.
Oh, I am so ready for episode three next Thursday…I do not think I can wait that long….
Come back next week for another VIP blog about Project Runway! Whoo hoo!
On Saturday, July 20, I attended the first annual Local Fashion Advantage event by renowned fashion designer Hilton Hollis in Carthage, Mississippi. The proceeds from LFA [Local Fashion Advantage] were donated to The Leake County Foundation and The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi. “My father passed away from complications due to diabetes, so I wanted to give to a group committed to bettering the lives of people with diabetes. In addition, I wanted to give back to my community of Carthage by helping to save our old elementary school, which was almost in ruins before a group took the initiative to begin renovating it,” states fashion designer Hilton Hollis.
Hilton Hollis attended elementary school at “The Old School” and was devastated when he received word of its possible destruction. The school is such an important staple in Carthage, so Hilton took action. This event [The Local Fashion Advantage] was arranged in conjunction with The Leake County Foundation to help save the school, which is a basis for many of the fashion designer’s earliest childhood memories.
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Hilton Hollis brought New York City runway fashions to the small town of Carthage, Mississippi as he showcased his Fall 2013 collection on the LFA catwalk. “High energy runway fashion paired with local talent from around Mississippi. I had models from all over the South walking in the event,” says Hollis.
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In addition to the showing of Hilton Hollis’s Fall 2013 collection, local shops and boutiques styled fabulous outfits that were modeled on the LFA runway. Fantastic fashions for a great cause–it does not get much better than that!
To see the runway show of Hilton Hollis’s Fall 2013 collection, musical performances at LFA, and highlights of the entire event, please visit the Local Fashion Advantage YouTube videohere.
Do not forget to like the Local Fashion Advantage on Facebook to keep up with press and the annual event! Click here.
For more pictures from this event, please visit the VIP Facebook page here.
Hello, my fabulouses! This week’s Weekly Whistle is super special because it includes a precious fashion designer friend of mine, Hilton Hollis. I attended his Local Fashion Advantage event in Carthage, Mississippi which benefited The Leake County Foundation and The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi.
Shhhh….no more chit chat about the event! I do not want to spoil all of my blogging fun for the VIP event coverage of the Local Fashion Advantage…so, today, y’all just get to see what darling royal blue dress I sported. Without further ado, let us see what the VIP’s outfit of the week is!
Cameron Hinkle and I looking absolutely fabulous at the Local Fashion Advantage event in Carthage, Mississippi!
Renowned fashion designer and the VIP at his Local Fashion Advantage event in Carthage, Mississippi.
I was so delighted to meet and interview Project Runway Season 12 Contestant Ken Laurence at his Project Runway Premiere Party. Ken Laurence is a true Southern gentleman with a fabulous passion for creating gorgeous and flawlessly tailored garments. The more I chatted with Ken–the more I fell head over heels for his design aesthetic. I was so inspired by his love for Christ, his passion for fashion design, and his determination to follow his dreams no matter what! Ken Laurence, you are an inspiration.
As I watched the first episode of Project Runway season 12, I held my breath a lot. Just in case some of you have not watched the first episode…I do not want to spoil the fabulousness….BUT I will tell you that Ken Laurence’s dress was absolutely positively breathtaking! Good job, Ken!
To learn more about Ken Laurence, please watch Abby Hathorn’s interview video with Ken Laurence here.
Posing with Ken Laurence’s t-shirt, designed by the designer himself.
Come back each week as I blog about my favorite designer from Season 12 of Project Runway! You will not want to miss all of the fashionable fun!
Ken Laurence tweeting live from his Premiere Party!
To see more photos from Ken Laurence’s Premiere Party, please visit the VIP Facebook page here.
Stay tuned for more coverage of Ken Laurence’s Premiere Party on the VIP blog and www.thisisrealmedia.com
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