Project Runway 4, Episode Seven
Manolo says, savor these words, dear internet friends: “New Jersey High School Prom.”
Such delicious and horrifying images are conjured up, no?
And yet, for the most part, the young women who were selected to be the “clients” were smart, and sophisticated, and somewhat knowledgeable about fashion. And they seemed to provide enough guidance to the designers so that some of them were able to produce attractive and flattering gowns.
Undoubtedly, some of this precocious knowledge is attributable to Project Runway, itself, for it has popularized the production of fashion like nothing before it. Certainly, the fashion blogs also deserve much credit here, as they have demystified fashion and made it accessible, so that for the first time the voice of ordinary enthusiasts can be heard and respected.
This is all so encouraging to the Manolo, who hopes for nothing less than the complete democratization of fashion, in which talented young peoples in New Jersey, and Manitoba, and Minas Gerais, and Botswana can produce beautiful clothes and sell them to people on the other side of the world.
But back to the Project Runway, and to the designers who were confronted by these young women who had definite ideas of their own. Predictably, Christian, who is the most immature of the designers, had the most difficulty adjusting to the demands of his outspoken client.
Yes, this girl had the difficult personality, and was misinformed as to her own competency, but had Christian been more mature, and less of the cry baby, he could have ameliorated the situation. In the stead, he sabotaged himself, producing the gown that was unsuitable for this girl’s shape, and then attempting to shift the blame for his failure.
As for the result…you may remember the Manolo saying this last week…
The most satisfying moment occurred when the little boy Christian was sent off the stage in the first round with the okay-but-not-great finishers. One could tell that he was crushed by the knowledge that his outfit was not judged among the best. Oh, such deliciously sweet and nougaty schadenfreude! The Manolo would go into diabetic shock if this puffed-up pipsqueak were to ever land in the bottom two.
Ayyyy! It was true, the relegation of Christian into the bottom two was more delicious and wonderful than the Manolo could have imagined.
Sadly, he was joined on the platform of ignominy by Kevin, who designed the horrible object of cheapness. This was too bad, because Kevin does have talent and is the stand up sort of guy. So, of course, he had to go, because Christian must be kept around for dramatic purposes.
The Manolo agrees that Kevin’s red dress was far worse than Rickey’s wan sack, but still, the Manolo had hoped that Ricky would be sent away this week. He is tiresome. (Although, at least his tears seemed far more genuine than those of the certain unnamed person who also should have been sent into retirement this week. )
The Manolo loves Rami, and thinks he will win the competiton, but the less said about his gown the better. The “risk” he took was that he produced the exact dress he would have produced if left to his own devices. And it was far too old for this young and lively girl, and his petulant response when this was pointed out was unsightly.
As for the winner, the Manolo felt that Sweet P’s classical gown was the best, indeed it was vastly superior to Victorya’s be-yoked blue dress. Likewise, the Manolo also preferred Chris’s green floor-length gown. But, the judges are the judges.
Perhaps, the Manolo is living in the distant past, but aren’t prom gowns supposed to be floor length?
It was so long ago, when the Manolo stood outside the gym, his nose pressed against the rain-slicked glass, watching the beautiful girls in their long gowns and the handsome boys in their powder blue tuxedos. Let us just say, that those long-ago prom goers were lucky the young Manolo had failed, despite repeated and earnest attempts, to fully develop his telekinetic powers.
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Comments
valawhoo 14 years ago
Ah, the Manolo! Your snarky (and yet dead-on) comment regarding misty-eyed unnamed persons gave me a thought… for their next challenge, why not have the PR designers come up with outfits for the campaign trail? I’m sure they could do wonders with tinfoil hats.
milky 14 years ago
i love it when Tim Gunn uses the term “Flotsom and Jetsum”…i dont know how to spell that or what it means…but it works!
Melissa B. 14 years ago
Marvelous recap as always! I’m glad I’m not the only one who preferred Sweet P’s and Chris’s gowns to Victorya’s winning design. Victorya’s designs just leave me cold — shapeless sack after shapeless sack.
I was scared for a while there that Rami would get the boot. I love Rami, but his design this week was a mistake, and the styling made it ten times worse. Whose idea was it to pile all of his client’s hair on top of her left ear? It made the look even more matronly.
Lisa 14 years ago
Ugh, Rami. How does he even qualify for this show? He is already an established designer with his OWN STORE. Isn’t PR about discovering? He is discovered! Also, he is a male Uli — making the same garment over and over again. I want him auf.
daisyj. 14 years ago
This week’s Important Life Lesson (courtesy of Ricky, in one of his few tearless moments):
If your prom date makes your dress, then you are probably not going to need any of the condoms they’re handing out in the nurse’s office.
The More You Know!
khazar 14 years ago
Rami had immunity.
Girls want dresses that are sexy, revealing, flashy, princessy, and demure. I hated Ricky’s dress–it was cocktail length at best & a harsh color for the girl. The hem was uneven & the overall look unflattering.
Sweet P had the only true prom dress, with Chris a close second. VictorYa had a lucious color to work with, a tall skinny girl, and she managed to make the kind of dress Mom says is OK.
I found Nina’s whining about the age-appropriateness of the girls and their dresses disengenuous at best. How old does she think models are? 30? Hardly. What got here was seeing real people in clothes, real girls the same age as the models she picks for shoots in Elle without the anorexia and chain smoking. Yes, Nina, this is what buys your magazine.
JK 14 years ago
Yes, Victorya’s dress was chic and “now” but it was not appropriate for Prom. Maybe for homecoming, but not for Prom, which is the dressiest party many girls ever attend. The other downside to that dress is it would be hard to accessorize appropriately–definitely no necklace, it would be hard to find matching earrings. Cute dress but just not Prom material. Sweet P’s dress was more of the Prom gown of dreams.
The Diva 14 years ago
Once again the Manolo’s recap of PR is as entertaining as the show itself. I was captivated by SweetPea’s stunning dress and also marveled at the folds and tucks in the flowing green gown created by Chris. I was hoping either of them would win, but the target market was not present to judge. And one judge (Nina?) said the reason they chose Victorya was because “I think it’s just what a prom dress should look like.” I am still wondering what qualifies Marc and Nina to instill their opinions in this particular arena?
gemdiva 14 years ago
I must agree that, although I find Sweet P’s personality annoying, her gown was to die for and, along with Chris’ gown, the stuff of which prom dreams are made. I know Rami had immunity, but that’s no excuse for making a dress with enough fabric in it to make slip covers for your grandmother’s sofa – Ugh! Victorya’s dress was just comical and did nothing to compliment her client. Bad judges, bad, bad!
And yes, Kevin’s dress was a blue light special, but it was waaaaay better than Ricky’s. His client looked like she was wearing an inverted trash bag. She resembled something pale and bloated from many fathoms below the ocean where the sun does not shine. She was an attractive girl and he just made her look beyond blah. Ricky should have been aufed & Kevin should have had his hand smacked and lived to sew another day.
wannabe 14 years ago
Amen to the talent of the Manolo, one of the few recappers who gets to the substance of the episodes without deadly dull reconstructions of each moment.
And yes, Kevin, the straight man, lost to the clowns. Terrible, considering he had repeatedly produced worthy garments. And Vayaya, well, I don’t get it. A good look for a 6th grade graduation dress, but most immature for prom. Where is the Kayne or the Uncle Nick to judge such difficult things as the balance between “design” and the fondest slutty desires of a teenaged heart?
Joyce 14 years ago
Manolo as always gets it correct! I agree that Ricky’s outfit was worse than Kevin’s. I note that they didn’t ask kevin’s client if she liked the dress. I think she did! Also, speaking of hems – Ricky’s dress was far worse. I guess I am old school too because I thought Sweet Pea or Chris should have won. In real life, Christian would have been fired for behaving that way with a client. But alas this isn’t real life since Christian and Ricky are still on the show. I think Rami will ultimately win but I think he made a rare bad move in ignoring Tim and making an inapprorpriate dress. I am not sure if Vicky’s client could stand up straight and still cover her “parts”. the dress was cute but not for a prom (speaking of what is appropriate). Actually most prom dresses I see at the mall are much like Christian’s rag. it’s very predictable who they will auf – I knew Kevin was history because they needed whiny Christian (who they will never let win the whole thing because of his immaturity). They won’t let Sweet Pea win for whatever reason. I think that already know who will be aufed. next week, I predict Ricky or Sweet Pea.
Joyce 14 years ago
Its Flotsam and Jetsam.
Cassie 14 years ago
I spent the ENTIRE judges’ panel discussion ranting. Nina Garcia, someday I will see you somewhere, and I will be forced to smack you for being such a doofus. The things most prom-going girls want are 1. to look hot, 2. to look older than they actually are without being confused for their mothers, and 3. the ability to move in their dress.
Whose dresses managed all three of these? Chris, Sweet P, and Kit.
Whose dresses were funky in ways that are not good? Rami, Kevin, Christian.
Jillian’s dress appeared to fit funnily around her model’s boobular region, which threw me off, but it was still a lovely dress. Victorya . . . I hated it, but that may just be me.
What today’s teenager needs, NINA, is not big, ugly, cheap plastic gems on a BUBBLE DRESS, but clothing that accentuates the positive without looking trashy. I almost swore to start trying to design myself after this episode. So frustrating.
Sevelina 14 years ago
Thank Manolo.. last night’s episode had me on my toes the entire time.. I couldn’t believe it!! Kevin is out.. there goes one.. thank god there’s Rami still who’s dress I actually liked but was too fashion forward for prom.. still elegant is better than cheep or fugly.. Chritian’s I thought was a hot mess.. just like him.. It’s time he gets an attitude adjustment and I hope this time he will tone it down on the bitchiness. Sweet
Sevelina 14 years ago
Sweet P should have won because Victoria’s dress looked like something on the racks of 4EVER21
g-dog 14 years ago
I thought Victorya’s dress was horrid – it emphasized that the client was flat chested, to the point that her chest almost looked concave!, it made this tall skinny girl look dumpy and unbalanced, and it made her look like she had no neck. She was wearing a blue bag with big sequins on it – big deal.
Sweet P’s dress was gorgeous, as was Chris’s.
I hated Rami’s dress this time – because he always makes the SAME dress, as noted by others, and, in this case the draped region made the poor girl look like she had one, really long boob on one side – eeewww!
KM 14 years ago
I am no big fan of Christian and the Maddie experience may have given him a slice of humble pie. But, I was very embarrassed with the behavior of Maddie. Out of all the girls she posed the most difficult. She had the least to offer with looks and shape. I am no perfect model size but she chose the wrong type of dress for her shape. The shape of the dress was made for a girl with a waist and less poof. Christian should have created a semi fitted dress with a full bottom that flowed. No tulle and no satin. Being a designer you have to listen to your clients and then use your skills to persuade them to accept changes for the better. It was a disaster.
MercyX 14 years ago
The Manolo disappoints me with his stinging disdain for those whose main fault is too much bravado that is brought about, most likely, by insecurity. Witness Sister Christian and the diner weeper. Surely a man who once pined for a powder blue tux of his own even while his shook his fist at it’s tawdriness can muster some compassion for the conflicted?
Besides, if not for Christian’s barbed comments I might sleep through some of these episodes. Admittedly Chris and Sweet P seemed to have the best designs, but the proportions on both seemed a little off. Chris’ bodice had the terribly distracting number of gathering around the breasts, while Sweet P’s dress had strange darts at the hips that broadened her client for seemingly no reason. Bizarre output by everyone this ep.
mamacita 14 years ago
“Oh, such deliciously sweet and nougaty schadenfreude!”
mamacita 14 years ago
“Oh, such deliciously sweet and nougaty schadenfreude!”
Would that I could embroider that on a pillow.
Alan Scott 14 years ago
Manolo, it’s good to see that I’m not the only one that relished seeing pipsqueak Christian getting a good taste of humble pie. It’s unanimous that Maddy had a difficult personality but any of the other designers (including auf’d Elisa and Steve) could have worked with her, making her a gorgeous outfit. But as always, Christian thinks she’s the best and its her way or the highway, and she was finally knocked down a notch or two.
I thought Sweet P and Chris’s dresses were by far the best and either one of them should have won. The baby doll dresses from Victorya and Ricky were not really prom dresses at all and just plain ugly. I agreed that Kevin’s dress was bad but compared to some of the other rags on the runway, not bad enough for him to be auf’d.
P.S. Manolo, when you do develop your telekinesis, don’t waste it on a prom. That would be so 1970’s, just like powdered blue tuxedos. :)
shuzluva 14 years ago
mamacita – that is a GREAT idea! I may actually do a needlepoint pillow with that on it! Of course, schadenfreude is one of my all-time favorite words.
Kudos to the Manolo – Victorya did not deserve this win. The dress was cute, but it really wasn’t “prom” and even looked a bit cheap, especially in comparison to Sweet P and Chris’ creations. I was surprised and disappointed that Chris wasn’t one of the judges top choices. The dress he made was stunning and only a half-step behind the goddess-dress Sweet P created.
I was so sorry to see Kevin go. If only he had taken the dress slightly further into “Seven Year Itch” territory, and hadn’t used such a harsh red. I hope he doesn’t stop designing.
For those of you that hope Christian got has been taken down a peg and won’t be so arrogant and bitchy, I think you’re going to be severely disappointed. But will continue to be entertained by his antics!
valawhoo 14 years ago
Now that I have finally seen the episode, I didn’t mind Victorya’s dress as much as some others here. But it’s a philosophical disagreement – I went to Prom in the late 80s, and my first Prom dress was a bubblegum pink number with a bubble skirt, not entirely unlike what Victorya produced. It was young and fun. And I did my hair almost just like her model’s (but with a pink bow). Yes, Sweet P and Chris produced gorgeous dresses – much prettier than what Victorya produced, all around – but they looked like red-carpet-glam dresses. Which could lead me into a long and pointless ramble about kids these days and how they are trying to grow up too fast and when I was a kid, we didn’t pay attention to awards shows and red carpets or get our hair, makeup, and nails done for Prom and what is this world coming to, but no one really wants to hear all that.
Kevin seems like a good, down-to-earth, normal guy (in spite of the tattoos and weird facial hair) who was totally intimidated by designing for a 16-year-old girl. As well he should be. I could almost hear him thinking, “No daughter of MINE would EVER leave the house…”
14 years ago
I’ve noticed a pattern with the eliminations over the past seasons of project runway. The person eliminated always says something about having experience with the topic of the challenge (e.g. Andre of Season 2 boasted about his skills as a florist and was then eliminated in the flower challenge). Kevin said he was from New Jersey and knew the look of that kind of prom, and then he gets eliminated.
Anyway, I saw it coming about halfway through the episode and I almost wanted to turn the TV off when I saw that Ricky was safe.
Victorya cannot last. She may have won a couple of times, but her reign has to end soon.
I liked Chris’ dress best, because it looked like a prom dress and fit his model well. I’m a high school teacher (not in New Jersey, but close by) and have chaperoned the prom a few times, and none of these other dresses meets the level of formality I’ve seen.
It’s sad because as soon as I saw the challenge I was so excited, only to be disappointed by the loss of Kevin and yet another win from Victorya.
Annoula 14 years ago
I’ve noticed a pattern with the eliminations over the past seasons of project runway. The person eliminated always says something about having experience with the topic of the challenge (e.g. Andre of Season 2 boasted about his skills as a florist and was then eliminated in the flower challenge). Kevin said he was from New Jersey and knew the look of that kind of prom, and then he gets eliminated.
Anyway, I saw it coming about halfway through the episode and I almost wanted to turn the TV off when I saw that Ricky was safe.
Victorya cannot last. She may have won a couple of times, but her reign has to end soon.
I liked Chris’ dress best, because it looked like a prom dress and fit his model well. I’m a high school teacher (not in New Jersey, but close by) and have chaperoned the prom a few times, and none of these other dresses meets the level of formality I’ve seen.
It’s sad because as soon as I saw the challenge I was so excited, only to be disappointed by the loss of Kevin and yet another win from Victorya.
jelo 14 years ago
Flotsam and jetsam is the garbage, foam, and other detritus that floats on top of sewage, gutters, and canals.
Elinor 14 years ago
A prom is a girl’s dream of a Cinderella ball. She should wear a gown, not a cocktail dress. Although in the dark ages when I was prom age: the Senor Junior Prom shorter dresses were worn and the Senor Senior Prom, long gowns.
I thought Kevin was one of the most talented. Up until his prom dress I liked everything he made. I loved both Chris’ and Sweet P’s dresses. I think Chris is starting to learn to tone down his creations. I’m waiting for Syndrome the Fierce to be eliminated.
Moxie the Maven 14 years ago
The prom (in NJ, no less) was not SO so long ago for me, and it was still very much the evening of every girl attempting to out-red-carpet each other. We all tried to look like we were at the Oscars or something. That cocktail dress thing just does not do it for the most glamorous occasion of one’s life so far. Sweet P’s dress, on the other hand, would have been a hit.
roz 14 years ago
This San Franciscan is rooting for native son Chris, and I LOVED his green gown. Kudos to Chris, and to the young girl who wisely selected him as her designer.
Stephanie 14 years ago
Can we talk about WHERE the fabulous red shoes that Victoria’s model (in the blue dress) was wearing? Those outstanding, gorgeous red strappy heels??? Were those Manolos??