Katherine Gerdes

Season 4: Episode 9 “Even Designers Get the Blues”

30 January, 15:52 - thus far 3 insightful comments have been made

I was really intrigued when I heard about this challenge, because I had just recently finished up working on a project for DIFFA Dallas. Each year DIFFA Dallas has a big fundraiser/charity event where they ask designers and artists to work with a denim jacket and transform it to whatever they want. The only requirement is that there is some portion of the original jacket in the final piece, other than that, it’s totally up to the designer what to do with it. Back in Dec, I posted this about what I was working on and this week’s PR challenge inspired me to post the finished dress (I had been meaning to post it, but had been falling behind on everything!).

Anyways, just thought it was funny that I had finished a denim “makeover” and then find out that Project Runway did the same thing!

Thanks again to BPR for pulling the pictures together! Click on the image for a larger version.

Christian: I thought Christian did a great job re-inventing a pair of jeans and the detailing at the knees (front & back) is really cool and unique. I also loved how he used the sleeves at the bottom and think he was successful with that because it doesn’t just look like sleeves attached to some pants! Although the skinny jean is not very flattering on 99% of the population, they definitely worked on the runway and it was a fresh twist on something almost everyone owns and wears. At first I wasn’t a fan of his jacket, but the more I look at it, the more I think it might be the styling that makes it unflattering… that white tee shirt underneath and the big belt seem to give his model a bit of a gut (and I’m pretty sure that it doesn’t really exist!). If you take that out of consideration, then his jacket is pretty interesting and well made (even if we have seen a few ruffled, puffy sleeved jackets so far).

Chris: Although it’s a bit plain, I don’t think I have as big a problem with Chris’s dress as the judges seemed to. I do agree that it looks a bit dated, but I think that’s coming from the fold over part on the bust (what would you call that… a lapel? I don’t know…). I have to disagree with Tim on his dislike of the piece that wraps from the side up to the halter straps. I really like the shape that it creates and think it give the simple dress some unique detail. Was there a pocket where the piece hits on the waist? If so, that’s awesome! If not, he should have totally put a pocket!

Rick (WINNER): First off, was M.Kors really complimenting Ricky for styling his model like Amy Winehouse? Are we really supposed to look up to her as a style icon (note: I don’t know her music and am not questioning her talent… just style)? Personally, I thought his styling choices made his design look cheaper than if it had been paired with some nice heels. Anyways… congrats to Ricky for not only making it out of the bottom, but also for actually winning a challenge! This was definitely the first time that I felt like Ricky’s lingerie background was shinning through. It’s not the design I would have picked for the win, but I thought he did a pretty good job and was definitely in the top 4. I like the dress a lot from the hips up; the fit is really good and there’s a lot of interesting detailing/seaming going on. I also like the button “fly” down the front and think that detail brought the “iconic” bit into the dress. I’m not into the ruffle at the bottom and think it cheapens the whole look. It’s a young look, but the ruffle brings it down to a cheap mall feeling and I think the bodice had a lot more potential.

Rami: Rami was definitely my pick for the win this week! I think he successfully made a full denim outfit look modern and chic. I loved how he used all the trims and the zippers-as-piping was a perfect detail for this challenge. I thought the pleating at the sides of the skirt was really unique and created a flattering shape. I also really liked how he paired the asymmetrical top with the (very symmetrical) skirt. Asymmetrical stuff is really easy to go over the top with and I thought the way he designed it was interesting, but still very wearable and not too crazy. The only negative thing I can think of at all is that I hate the shoes Rami picked, but now that I look more closely, I really don’t like any of the shoes this week!

Victorya (OUT): I wasn’t a huge Victorya fan, but I’ve always thought she’d make it to the finales. With that said though, I can’t really think of anyone they could have kicked off this week over Victorya and not have a crazy fan revolt! I think it was Nina who said something about Victorya not being inspired at all and I really have to agree. I’m not sure if she wasn’t feeling this challenge or if she hit the wall of fatigue that is PR? Either way, it’s hard to disagree with the decision to send her home. Even on the not-so-successful designs, the other designers at least tried to create something new and unique from the denim materials they were given. I liked Victorya’s concept of creating an iconic trench coat, but really wish she wouldn’t have stuck so closely to the existing jean jacket.

Sweet P: Way to listen to Tim Sweet P! While I’m not totally on the “Tim Gunn is ALWAYS right” bandwagon… I do think he makes a lot of good points and I’m really glad Sweet P listened to him on this challenge. I thought she was a goner when she started telling Tim about her denim wedding dress, but then she dropped that idea and made a super chic, very cute, color-blocked dress. I love the way she used the different washes of denim to give the dress a graphic look and she did a great job in placing the different shades (the dark denim is very flattering on the sides of the bodice). The only complaint I have, is that I wish she had done a better job lining up the seams for the different colors of denim. It would have made the dress appear even more graphic and clean if the seams had matched.

Jillian: Regardless of the outcome of Jillian’s design, I couldn’t stop asking myself why she was creating such a similar coat to last week? There are other designers who do similar styles a lot, but that avant-garde coat was such a specific look, that it was hard to see her design this week without thinking of it. That said, I liked the direction Jillian was heading, but think the execution and time threw her off. I kind of liked what she was doing on the shoulder with the Levi’s tags and thought that was a unique idea. It created an interesting texture and tried to bring some color into the challenge. I also don’t mind the ruffles coming out of the sleeves and the super big collar is dramatic. I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I hate, hate, hate light denim, so I can’t help but think her coat would have been much more successful with all dark denim instead of the miss-matched denim she used.