There was a lot of pressure on Project Runway Season 12 Episode 11 because the remaining seven competitors had to design their own textile prints inspired by next generation innovators for the HP/Intel Textile Challenge.
As the designers were creating their prints on the new HP Rove…I could not help but flashback to my time at the Auburn University Project Design Week 2012 where I had the opportunity to experience some of the classes of a fashion design major. During fashion camp, I got to play around with draping, making prints on the computer, and participating in lots of other fun activities! I would love to go back–the VIP had so much fun at Auburn Project Design Week! Whoopsy….I guess I got a little distracted there. Let’s get back to Project Runway!
Once the designers had their textiles designed, they embarked on their usual trip to Mood where they had a suggested GoBank spending budget of $100. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a GoBank card, an HP Rove, AND a Belk accessories wall?! Oh…it most definitely would! Okay, Birthday Fairy and Santa, why don’t y’all get on that for me *wink wink*
Time to Hit the Runway:
As soon as Dom’s model hit the runway wearing the brightly colored garment inspired by Premal Shah…I just knew that she was the clear winner. Dom truly grasped the object of this challenge and DOMinated it! See what I did there *wink, wink*
Call me crazy, but I actually liked this look by designer Alexander. I thought it was very artsy and futuristic chic; however, the judges disagreed. I was so sad to see Alexander go home because of this garment. “I guess I should not mix religion and cake together anymore…except for at a wedding,” said Alexander jokingly on Episode 11.
I am choking up just typing this…I was literally crying when they sent Kate Pankoke home. No, the garment was not very well executed…but Kate is talented and fabulous. Kate, keep reaching for the stars!
Phew…Episode 11 was quite the humdinger! I cannot wait to see what the designers will be bringing to the table on the next challenge!
Hello, my fabulouses, and welcome back to the blog! Today, I am going to chat about Project Runway Season 12 Episode 7, and the absolutely breathtaking and “man-eating” LBD that designer Ken created. Come on, let’s get to conversing about Project Runway!
When Heidi Klum announced that the designers would be taking a field trip to the Marie Claire fashion closet…my jaw dropped because I wanna go to the Marie Claire fashion closet!
Upon their arrival, Tim Gunn and Anne Fulenwider (Editor-and-Chief of Marie Claire) informed the designers that they were to pick a pair of shoes from the closet to be their inspiration for this challenge. Sounds simple…what’s the catch?
Designer Dom: “What are those buzzers for?”
Me: “Ah…there’s the catch.”
Yep, you guessed it…a fashion quiz. When the designer that pressed the buzzer answered the question correctly, he/she got to choose his/her favorite pair of shoes from the pre-selected group.
“As a self-taught fashion designer against all of these educated individuals, I’m very nervous, and hopefully I’m not the last person to pick my shoes,” stated Ken Laurence on Episode 7 before the fashion quiz began. Now…what was the first question…and who answered it?
Anne: “Christian Louis Vuitton’s famous red shoe soul was inspired by one of his employee’s what?”
Ken: *clicking his buzzer quickly* “fingernail polish”
Me: *shouting at the television* “WHOOP WHOOP! Way to go Ken!”
Occasionally, I do yell at the TV while watching Project Runway…my neighbors probably think I am crazy…or perhaps they just think I get excited about the 9 o’clock news. Speaking of news, the new weather guy is a cutie….Anyway, back to the recap.
After all of the designers had shoes in hand, they were given twenty minutes to sketch their garments.
Ken: “I feel like for these last challenges I keep referring back to the same silhouette. So, I want to switch it up and sew something completely different. I plan on creating this jacket dress with volume around the hips and in the sleeves.”
Fashion Quiz passed: Check.
Shoes picked: Check.
Garment sketched: Check.
Now, off to Mood!
Designers using their GoBank smartphone apps at Mood! Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
With a suggested GoBank spending budget of $250 and thirty minutes to shop, the designers raced to find fabric. Man….I would love to have to have a $250 GoBank budget to shop at Belk…Mhmm…every Southern fashionista’s dream.
Tim Gunn made his way around the work room talking to each designer about his/her garment. Every episode…I fall more and more in love with Tim Gunn’s fabulous fashion taste…I love you Tim!
Ken: “These are the shoes I picked.”
Tim: “Yes, they’re great!”
Ken: “I love them…So, the first thing that came to my mind was this coat dress…it’s going to be fitted and balloon out towards the bottom.”
Tim: “Here’s what concerns me–it is looking dated.”
Ken: “I’m taking Tim’s advice.”
Even though I loved Ken’s original design concept (I am a sucker for anything big and overstated…my hair is a prime example of this); however, taking Tim Gunn’s advice was the best thing Ken could have done.
Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
When designer Ken’s model hit the runway…I yelled at the TV once more.
Me: “OH MY GRACIOUS! It is so very perfect! I need this!”
Mom: “Abby, calm down. You’re going to disturb the neighbors.”
Me: “Maybe they should watch Project Runway…they would also yell at the TV.”
After I calmed down, I had to rewind to see what designer Ken had said about his design–thank goodness for DVR.
Ken: “I just want to scream at the top of my lungs because it’s perfect for the shoes I chose…it’s bon chic. I love it.”
Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
Ken played a magnificent wild card in the Uno game of Project Runway by making his LBD modern and sleek with a little touch of sultry mystery. The textured fabric and oversized peplum were his garments powerful weapons on this challenge.
Ken’s “man-eater” dress impressed the Creative Director AND the Editor-and-Chief of Marie Claire magazine…talk about a hard thing to do. Even if Ken did not take home the win for this challenge, those compliments are trophies in themselves.
Maria: “You struck a great balance here!”
Anne: “She can take over the world in that dress!”
I have to agree with Anee…if I had that magnificently constructed LBD in my wardrobe…I could totally rule the world. *cue Beyoncé’s “Run the World”*
To conclude this VIP Project Runway recap blog, I ventured into the Twittersphere to see what positive things people were saying about #DesignerKen…
Phew….can you believe it? Episode 8 is almost here…Oh, I just cannot wait to see what fabulous things the designers will be bringing to the table!
Hello, my fabulouses! Who does not love Tim Gunn and bowties? Silly people, that is who! I was totally pumped when Tim Gunn revealed on Project Runway Season 12 Episode 4 that the inspiration for this challenge was bowties–but not your average Ralph Lauren bowties…nope, nuh-uh! The fabulous bowties to be used for this challenge were sponsored by Tie the Knot, which was founded by Jesse Tyler Ferguson (cast member of Modern Family) to benefit and support marriage equality. Oh, y’all know how I am about fashion for a cause…I am all over that like butter on a homemade biscuit! Did that sound too Southern?
Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
For the “Tie the Knot” challenge, designers were given a suggested spending budget of $200 to purchase their materials at Mood. As the competitors whipped out their GoBank cards and used their GoBank smartphone apps, I could not help but ponder the thought of what it would be like to have my own GoBank card…with an unlimited spending budget…at a ginormous shopping mall….that could be dangerous….I would be armed and fabulous just like Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality 2…the only difference is that I would have a shiny new GoBank card rather than a firearm…
Image provided by The Weinstein Company.
Not only is GoBank a new cast member of Project Runway Season 12, but the mobile baking system is also the exclusive financial sponsor challenging the competing designers to manage their spendings throughout the entire season.
“Creating GoBank, the world’s first bank account designed to be used entirely from a mobile device, has been a labor of passion for everyone involved in the project. GoBank seeks to reinvent the traditional checking account in two key ways. Firstly, GoBank is a feat of technology that brings traditional bank accounts into the era of the app. Secondly, GoBank is a feat of consumerism that offers consumers a wide array of features and services with fair, simple and transparent pricing. We’re very proud of the product and are hopeful that consumers will be attracted to GoBank’s high tech/low price proposition,” said Steve Streit, founder and CEO of Green Dot Corporation (GoBank’s parent company). (all credit in the paragraph goes to www.press.gobank.com)
This is the best season of Project Runway yet! I believe that the GoBank accounts add a new level of professionalism to the show as well as teaching the designers and viewers the importance of managing a budget. After researching GoBank, I realized that there is so much awesome information out there about this banking system…so, perhaps a GoBank account with no spending limit would not be the best thing ever for this fashionista…at least until I learn more about managing and budgeting my money:)
Y’all stay tuned for more GoBank information each week as I blog about Project Runway Season 12!
To learn more about GoBank and the possibilities this rocking banking system has to offer, please click here.
Look at my precious fan favorite, Ken Laurence, working hard on his “Tie the Knot” garment! “I’m very anxious to see what everyone does with their bowties,” stated Laurence on Episode 4. I must add that I absolutely love the way that Ken dresses–always splendidly classy!
Once again, when Ken’s model hit the runway…it took my breath away! I adore the way he incorporated the bowties into his garment without it screaming, “I JUST USED BOWTIES!” “I used my tie in the seams of the dress in a way that works with my aesthetic very well, and it doesn’t look like a costume. The only regret I have with my garment is the exposed zipper in the back–I do not like the effect it was giving, but with the time limit, I just made it work,” explains Ken Laurence.
As you may have noticed in my recap blogs of Project Runway Season 12, I have not reported on the drama, arguments, or losing garments…but today, I have to make an exception. When designer Sandro snapped at designer Helen, I became a tad bit appalled…*cue superhero music* designer Ken to the rescue! I was so proud when Ken put Sandro in his place. “There is a time and place for everything! You outta order, son,” shouted Ken at Sandro.
See what designer Ken has to say about this spicy fight on his Behind the Seams blog post “Drama Over Fashion? U Outta Order!!!” here.
Get your own “U Outta Order” shirt today for only $25.00! These fabulous shirts come in two styles–a fitted style for the ladies and a regular fitted style for the gents. Place your order by emailing designer@kenlaurence.com
Wanting more Ken Laurence? Check out his blog “Behind the Seams”! Click here.
Be sure to like Ken Laurence on Facebook to keep up with all things about the designer! Click here.
Vote for Ken Laurence to be Project Runway Season 12′s FAN FAVORITE here!
The VIP is super happy that designer Ken will be advancing to episode FIVE, and that designer Sandro stormed himself to disqualification…I honestly do not think I could have handled his high school girl drama much longer….
Episode five is going to be spectacular, and I cannot wait to see how the remaining designers will be using their GoBank budgets! I can barely contain myself…I wish there were a new episode every…single…day! Do not forget to come back next week for a VIP recap of episode five!
Like the VIP Facebook page for sneak peeks and blog updates here!
Hello, my fabulouses! Today on the VIP blog, I am going to chat about all things Ken Laurence and Project Runway Season 12, Episode 3.
Ken’s face was priceless when Heidi Klum woke up this group of designers!
“Heidi Klum doesn’t make house calls–this has to be big,” said designer Kate. “You’re going to Coney Island,” exclaimed Klum.
After arriving at Coney Island, Tim Gunn announced that the designers would be split up into teams of two for this challenge. He drew the names out of the button bag…I was sitting on the edge of the sofa “patiently” waiting to hear with whom Ken was going to be partnered…Phew! I was so relieved when Tim announced that Ken Laurence and Jeremy Brandrick were going to be partners for the challenge. Yay! Two of my favorite designers working together–FABULOUS!
Tim Gunn, looking totally dashing as always, announced that the teams would be giving away samples of delicious Yoplait Frozen Yogurts and asking the tasters to describe the yummy frozen treats. Each team of designers had to pick three words said about Yoplait Frozen Yogurts to determine the theme of their designs for this challenge. Sounds easy enough, right? Yeah…about that….
The looks on Ken’s and Jeremy’s faces were totally priceless when Tim said that the designers would not be shopping at Mood for their materials this week…they were going to play their luck at the Luna Park Amusement Park to win prizes which would in return be the materials used for their garments. How did Ken feel about the unconventional challenge…? Well….”This is out second unconventional challenge–everybody knows I hate unconventional challenges,” said designer Ken.
I absolutely LOVED the sketch of Ken and Jeremy’s three-piece garment! The concept = fabulously realistic and wearable!
On a side note…I absolutely love the way designer Ken dresses! He is always so fun and vibrant! Oh, and his variety of glasses! Ahh! LOVE!
When Ken and Jeremy’s model hit the runway…I was speechless–and I am still speechless! I would wear this entire ensemble in a heartbeat! Ken and Jeremy…I love y’all haha
“She is ripping the runway, and it looks fantastic! The look is very editorial and chic, and it’s making a statement. It is very much both of our aesthetics blended into one,” said Ken expressing his love for his and Jeremy’s fabulous design.
Wanting more Ken Laurence? Check out his blog “Behind the Seams”! Click here.
Be sure to like Ken Laurence on Facebook to keep up with all things about the designer! Click here.
Vote for Ken Laurence to be Project Runway Season 12’s FAN FAVORITE here!
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