Project Runway Season 9 Recaps: My myLifetime.com Recap for Episode 8-- "Double D Drama"!!!

First Things First, Project Runway Season 9 Designer Olivier "Madonna Accent" Green Doesn't Like Big Boobies or...

"Bigger Boys": Men who are not Man-o-Rexic (like the one seen above--"thicker" Vivienne Westwood model (and bodyguard) Sergio Lo Re)

Oh poor skinny Olivier. Last night on Project Runway Season 9, the kids (and Bert!) had to work with CLIENTS. At first, they thought it would be MEN--as the episode began with Heidi bringing in nine men of varying sizes, onto the runway stage. This is were the GASPS of "Oh No Child, I ain't working with the 'Fatties' " came out of Olivier's lips. Soon, though, it turned out that the designers were creating looks for the men's girlfriends/wives. And here again, Miss Olivier was having issues not knowing what a Double D meant, because that was his client's bra size. Oh Bless His Heart! As I say in my Recap (beginning at the end of this POST), he has BPB, Body Prejudicial Behavior , and it needs to stop.

Malin Akerman, actress...NIKOLAKI runway Model???

Actress and Project Runway Judge Malin Akerman (above center) and Model Malin Akerman (left and right images) at NIKOLAKI Fall 2003 Runway Show

Yes, kids, last night's "Guest Judge" was the beautiful actress Malin Akerman, who back when David and I debuted our NIKOLAKI Fall 2003 Collection 8 years ago at Los Angeles Smashbox Fashion Week, was one of our runway models!! And did a fantastic job, I may add!

Now, Let's Get To The Fashions:

This simple black dress--straight out of Ann Taylor or Nordstrom--WON. It was "Mean Girls" Joshua McKinley's design. It was made well and fit his client to a "T".

It was a very simple design--consisting of a CIRCLE SKIRT and a Princess-seamed bodice--but he was praised for it. Whereas his fellow designer Bert Keeder--who also did a simple sellable design--was not, and in fact ended in the bottom. I don't get it. OK, so he added the wide Horsehair trim at the hem, but...that's not so original, take a look:

John Galliano for Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall 2008

My Favorite was:

Viktor Luna's colorful, quirky, stylish look. I still do not know how he did not win. It was fashion-forward, extremely well made, and styled so right that it looked as if it BELONGED to her!!!

Another design that ended in the Top was Anya Ayoung Chee's one shoulder printed high-low gown/dress with a modified "kimono" sleeve. The judges LOOOVED it! It was as if it was the "Next Coming of Fashion Christ!". Not so much in my eyes. I know the client liked it but I was surprised it garnered such praise from the judges. Now, what I could imagine is...

If she was a Miss Universe contestant touring the nightclubs in São Paulo, then yes, totally, this is HER DRESS! It was very Beauty Pageant "Evening Gown Competition, the What Not To Wear" edition (see gowns above).

Kimberly Goldson's design for her client was um, TIGHT. As in fit. Kimberly seems to love doing those too-tight mini's. It's "her thang" I guess. I just don't know if a mini was the right choice for her client. But I did like the top's draping. Interestingly enough, she seemed to have been doing a completely DIFFERENT dress when she first began working in the Parsons Workroom:

I kinda like the one above better.

Now, back to Body Prejudicial Behavior Olivier: His outfit was a MESS and looked A LOT like what he always does! Somehow he ended up safe and in the "Middle". He should have been in the bottom with this badly-fitting pants ensemble. That too-tight one-shoulder top is SO NOT for a 40-something year-old woman who has Double D breasteses. She looks like one of those "Real Housewives of Orange County" sans the tan. Let me bring up "Old Man" Bert again: What he created was well constructed and flattered his client but he was penalized for basically doing the same thing week after week. In my eyes Olivier made a poorly constructed garment AND does the SAME THING week after week! The judges seem to "pick & chose" but we all knew that...

But the Worst Was:

Pepto Bismol Cocktail: Contestant Bryce Black created this pink sheath dress with too-low stylized outside pocket, straight out of my Helen Joseph-Armstrong "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" textbook from FIDM. The seams were all puckering and it looked very amateur. Another casualty of a person whom I feel was too young and not ready to be on Project Runway. Bryce was barely out of school for goodness sakes! Get some training, some years under your design belt and then do the show...He gives new meaning to the phrase "Not ready for Primetime"!!

And now...Here's My "Nick V" myLifetime.com blog for this week's Episode:

"DOUBLE D DRAMA"

Last night was the 8th episode of "Project Runway" Season 9. And Bryce was OUT …Yes, I just told you how it ends. Why? Because the editors ruined it for me too: The episode was barely 30 seconds in when Bryce laments that he’s never won a challenge — and in fact, has been at the bottom several times —and is wondering if he's the “Weakest Link.” Um, Ya Think So??? I immediately exclaimed (in my loud voice), “He's GONE!!” (Thanks, Editors). Oh, and did I mention Joshua won? Yep. Sorry to ruin that for you, but right as the nails were being pounded into Bryce’s "Project Runway" coffin, “Orange-ua Joshua” was stating how he was in a “Much better place today” ... Seriously, RIGHT AFTER Bryce. Thanks, Editors, Part Deux.

Body Prejudicial
Now that I got that out of the way, let’s talk about the rest of the episode. The nine remaining designers (can we just get to the Top 5 PLEASE???) are sitting there as Miss Heidi Klum brings in what they think involves their next Challenge: nine men. Immediately, the Gay Claws start coming out as several of the designers don't want to pick “the Fatties” (Yes, I am talking to you, Madonna British Accent Olivier!). Jeeeesus! Now even the men have to deal with what women have been dealing with for AGES from these “kooky” Fashion Designers; it’s a syndrome I call BPB, short for Body Prejudicial Behavior, and this group has it in spades...

Click HERE to read the rest of my Recap--and be sure to leave me your Comments!! I read ALL of them!!!! (of course!!!)

Project Runway Season 9--Episode 1--Nick Verreos MyLifetime.com Recap!!!

A Crotch KRAZEE Pajama Party!

This:

Equals This:

Dress from designer/contestant Bert Keeter, Project Runway Season 9--First Challenge

Last night was the Season 9 Premiere of Project Runway on Lifetime. It featured the MOST EVER contestants EVAAAH (!!) on any Project Runway season: Twenty. But then, after a "Showdown of Designer Musical Chairs Judging" by Miss Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Miss Nina Garcia and Michael Kors, 4 were sent home (or back to their "Hotel Hiding Place" to wait it out and be sequestered for a month of doing nothing).

Then the official 16 Designers got off-and-running very early the next morning with a 5AM Wake Up from Gunn. The Challenge was to create a look using what they slept in plus a bed sheet from their Atlas digs. The results of the Project Runway Pajama Party were lots of KRAZEE Crotch pant ensembles (somehow they all drank the Bad Crotch Pant Kool-Aid!) and yes, some decent looks. But, nothing extraordinary. Huney, give me a bed sheet and silk pajamas from China Town and I'll give you a one shoulder Grecian-Goddess draped gown!!!! Besides my favorite from the winner Bert Keeter--here were some that I also liked:

Fallene Wells: Such a cute, fun quirky dress. And so well made! Nice side invisible zipper darling and LOVE the drawstring hem!

Becky Ross: Well made, well fitted one shoulder dress. Love the baby blue color (I'm sure it was "too pastel-y" for the judges) and the details and styling (Gosh this model is GA-GA-Gorgeous!).

Olivier Green: I LOVED the suiting he showed in the "Road To Runway Special"! Incredible. And this jacket and skirt look were consistent with that. This look is very Alexander Wang-meets-Calvin Klein. Very New York City! The only thing I fear is the all-gray-all-monochromatic-simple chic aesthetic might end up "Too One Note" for the show and the judges. Time will tell...

But, now, let's go back to those CRAZY CROTCHES:

Designer Julie Tierney's outfit of a printed & color-blocked top with "Parachute"-looking wide-legged pants was a bad look strewn together from a Goodwill Store. The pants were a MESS. Julie showed some AMAZING outerwear during the "Casting Special" and so I assumed she would have done a FAB Cocoon coat out of all that poly-cotton bed sheet fabric...but nope, she did some FUGLY pants!

Next up on the Bad Crotch Alert: Joshua Christensen. Huney, those shorts were three sizes too small. Exhibits A and B: Notice the pulling "whiskers" on the crotch and the side pulling opening up the pockets and rising the outseam of the short. Classic Pant 101 signs that it is TOO DAMN TIGHT.

Someone who called in sick during "Pant Making Week" of Fashion College, was Laura Kathleen. Boy oh boy oh boy! First off, those pants are a NASTY shade of "Day After a Nuclear Explosion Gray". And then, again, we have a KRAZEE Crotch and too-tight waist. When you can make a size 2 model look "hippy" you know you've done something wrong! Notice the pulling of the darts and upper hip area. I'm getting the feeling that I may need to give a Fit Class to incoming Project Runway contestants. For a BIG fee!

Just-learned-how-to-sew Miss Trinidad and Tobago 2008 Anya Ayoung Chee's look, which was one of the judges faves (still don't know why), also was a victim of amateur pattern-and-fit education. Michael, Nina, Heidi--they all LOVED her pants but look above: I want to grab about FOUR inches off that saggy crotch!

Finally, skirts were not immune to fit problems last night. How designer Cecilia Motwani slipped past the judges "Worst List" is beyond me. If that model took one more step, we would have seen her BRITNEY! Not cute.

But the Worst Offender was Rafael Cox, who became the first official Season 9 Casualty (technically the FIFTH!). His was pretty BAAAD. Just for the plain fact that those gray leggings made the model look like a homeless Tranny going to the liquor store at 1:58am is enough to get the Auf Wiedersehen !!

Here's the "Intro" to My Recap of the First "Premiere" Episode:


Fashion Grand-Daddy Is BACK!

Gather your friends, uncork the red wine, get some crudités and put your best skinny jeans on. Why? HELLO: Season 9 of "Project Runway" is finally upon us! (Gosh, we missed you, Tim!) When we last left the "Grand-daddy" of Fashion Reality Shows, there was MAJAH drama: In case you forgot, the favorite of last season, Mondo Guerra, didn't win and instead the crown went to Gretchen Jones, who quickly gained the moniker of “America's Most Despised Woman on Reality TV."

Before you knew it, there were rioters with pattern shears demonstrating in front of Parsons and the Lifetime headquarters. OK, not so much. (I love to exaggerate!) Cut to nine months later, and the anger has subsided, and now, we're moving forward. New season and (I'm sure) new "characters" to love and hate. Oh, and yeah, there's the FASHION!

To Read my entire Recap--Click HERE on MyLifetime.com "Project Runway Blogs" and of course, PLEASE let me know your "Two Cents"!!! I LOVE reading all the comments!

Nick Verreos Project Runway Season 8 Recaps on MyLifetime.com: Episode 12: The Big Apple!

The "Dress To A Chic NY Funeral Challenge"?

The Funeral Brigade: Designs by (L-R) Mondo Guerra, Gretchen Jones, Andy South, Michael Costello, and April Johnston

This past Thursday was the 12Th (!) Episode of Season 8 of Project Runway...and the Theme was "The Big Apple". They had 2 days and $500...and all they came up with was a sea of BLACK!

Yes, New York City was the remaining designers' muse and they were "allowed" by the Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Distinguished Tim Gunn to use specific Landmarks: The Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and the Lower East Side as their inspiration.

Instead of a celebration of NYC and all its Landmarks, it became a FUNERAL. A very Chic one at that! (I never would have imagined I would have used BOTH a coffin AND a funeral reference when writing about Project Runway). If you had tuned in mid-way through, you probably would have thought that yes, in fact, the Challenge for this week was "Create a Look for a Very Chic Funeral". The designs the contestants created reminded me a lot of...

These looks that very chic and famous women (L-R: Supermodel Naomi Campbell, French actress Ariel Dombasle, Heiress Fashionista Daphne Guinness, and designer Stella McCartney) wore at recent high-profile funerals of Alexander McQueen and Yves Saint Laurent. Actually, I like these outfits BETTER than the ones I saw on Thursday night!

Here are some suggestions of what I would have rather seen--as creations inspired by some of those NYC Landmarks:

Central Park:

Andy South did an all BLACK (yep, no surprise) mini dress that was supposed to have been inspired by Central Park. There was NOTHING in it that said Central Park. I would have loved to have seen something with COLOR! Those gorgeous greens, something with texture. How about something along the lines of...

This Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture hand-woven dress from his "Mexico" Collection. I know, maybe take out the leaves on the hair but at least, it's A) Creative, B) Looks like it cost money and took a lot of work, and C) It has COLOR. Or maybe something like...

This colorful printed dress from Diane Von Furstenberg's Spring 2010 Collection. It may not be Andy's "aesthetic" but hey, it might be nice to see the more "softer/feminine" side of him.

Lower East Side:

Not-so-nice "Miss Critique Corner" designer Gretchen Jones picked the Lower East Side and created my LEAST favorite look of the night. It was a mess, looked off-the-rack, and didn't even go together. She was still safe, of course. Reality TV loves a villain, kids...But I wished I would have seen something more along the lines of...

This Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière denim-blue skinny pant and hoodie jacket ensemble with colored tank from his Spring 2010. Hot, edgy, and oh so "fashion girl living in the Lower East Side". But oh well, no such luck.

Statue of Liberty:

Michael Costello chose the fabulous Statue of Liberty and made a BLACK halter gown with a VERY HIGH side-front slit and VERY LOW back. There's a rule in design when it comes to these details: One but NOT both! Unless it's the Miss Universe Pageant! I would have been happier seeing a gown like...

This one above from Stephane Rolland Fall 2010 Haute Couture. It's got the one shoulder silhouette, the draping and even a bit of detail at the hem to suggest a bit of weight the you attribute to such a grand statue. Well, irregardless, Michael C. still won with this design leaving lots of people thinking "Say What??". Speaking of What the H***? , when asked what fabric was his dress, he didn't know. HE DIDN'T KNOW!!! It's not even cute.

Michael, I love ya, but I may have to give you an extensive course on Textiles in my Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM classroom, but first you have to register and enroll!

In the end, it was April Johnston who got the boot this week, with her almost-all BLACK asymmetrical dress with zippered corseted bustier. In my blog for MyLifetime.com, I admitted I kinda liked.
It reminded me of something along the lines of a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci , dark, Gothic, yet still feminine. However, the judges--and especially Michael Kors--thought it looked more like this:

Yep, a Witch! A pregnant one at that. Oh well, with that, April got on a broom and left the Parsons Workroom, sad but privately happy knowing that she still would show at NY Fashion Week--along with like 22 other "Auf'ed" designers...

Here's a Sneak Peak of my MyLifetime.com Recap of this Episode:

Witchy Vs. Bitchy
Gretchen should have been OUT. There, I said it. But she wasn't. I knew she was going to be in the "Final Four" since … well, since she uttered her first "I think EVERYONE ELSE'S designs SUCK!" critique. PLEASE, I'm too jaded. But still … What the heck did I just witness last night?: An uninspiring, off-the-rack outfit got put through by the judges, on "Project Runway." Do I sound frustrated? Yes. That's because I am. Last night's episode — and challenge — had such potential, yet I was — to quote Michael Kors — underwhelmed (by all the black) and unusually mad! What were the judges thinking? Well, let's find out …

Click HERE to read the ENTIRE Recap!!! And make sure to leave your Thoughts! I love reading them!

Nick Verreos Project Runway Season 7 Recaps: Little Fashionistas!

Project Gymboree!!!!!Heidi Klum in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul

On last week's Project Runway, the episode begins with Heidi Klum sauntering onto the runway (as she always does) and then inviting eleven of the cutest little girls to stand next to her. Posing there with all those little girls next to her, I had a vision of the most CHIC "Mother Gigogne from The Nutcracker" I have EVER seen! Well of course she was, because she was wearing one of my designs! Yes, to begin this delightful episode, Miss Heidi wore one of my NIKOLAKI silk jersey one-shoulder dresses and looked beautiful in it! But I digress. There was a reason why those little girls were there: The next challenge was to design a fashionable look for little girls.
It was cute watching all those precocious little girls invade the Parsons Workroom, annoying the heck out of some of the designers. Miss "Housewives Of Atlanta" Anthony Williams was the best, saying EXACTLY what I would be saying--and with the same Southern Belle accent! The designers got a late visit from Tim Gunn, where he announced a "twist": Not only were they to create a fashionable little girls look but a companion ensemble for their "Mommie" Models. I knew there had to be something else since the designers were almost done with those Little Girl's dresses, leaving them wondering "OK, what else do I have to do, 'cause I'm done!"Cut to the Runway and designer (and multi-million dollar brand) Tory Burch, this week's Guest Judge, was on hand to access the best Mini-Me and Mommie looks in the bunch. Who would not be able leave their "Designer Ego" at the Gymboree door and which designer would be able to marry the best of what a little girl would like AND add their own unique designer stamp to it.

My Faves:Mila Hermanovski's Mommie-Daughter Duo was one of my favorites, hands down. The minute the two stepped onto the runway, I also knew Burch would LOVE IT! The coat, the little girls dress was SOOOOOO Tory Burch! Both looks were polished, fun and fashionable and very Mila (Hello Color Blocking!).Surprisingly, Season 7's "Logan", Jesse LeNoir designed two great looks for his little girl client and his model. There was a bit of a Cartoon-y touch to both looks but somehow they worked. To be honest, I didn't "get" the askew/semi-twisted detail he did on the Little Girl's Dress; it looked like a mistake. I just wanted to run up onto the runway and shift the damn dress into it's proper vertical position!I loved the fitted day-to-cocktail dress Emilio Sosa created for my favorite model, Holly, it was very RM by Roland Mouret so it's no surprise Miss Heidi Klum also loved it (Heidi loves her Mouret's!). BUT....that little girls dress was a Communion Dress from Salvation Army! It was three sizes too big on her. And the length was too long, needing about 12" to be chopped off of it, like NOW!But the real Winning Duo was Seth Aaron Henderson's Mommy and daughter. First of all, I have to concur with THE Michael Kors: That jacket was FAAAAABULOUS! Add to it, the model's styling, hair and overall look and she was the most fashionable Mom on the Project Runway stage. And to be honest I haven't even noticed model Valeria Leonova until now! The little girls dress was a perfect complimentary to his rockin' chic mom.That jacket--with the star and "SA" patched back insignia--was stellar. The houndstooth fabric, the exposed zipper hardware; this was a little jacket every daughter of a "Hollywood Mommy" would want. I could totally see it at Kitson Kids and selling off the rack for $150, no problem!

The Not-So-Good:Amy Sarabi missed the mark this week. She has been one of my "ones to watch for" in this season...until now: What was she thinking? As she was cutting all those pieces up in the workroom, I wished I could have reached over through the TV screen and A) Snapped her out of this Arts-and-Craft nightmare and B) Taken all those cut-up pieces and dumped them in the nearest Parsons waste bin. There were elements of the Little Girls Look which were fun (the slouchy turquoise sweater, those flouncy leggings) but together, all the elements made her look like a little version of a tarot card reader on the Venice Boardwalk!
Amy's Inspiration?: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (left) and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (right)

And then, there was the Model/mom: Her outfit reminded me of a look that wouldn't even make the cut for "Muppet Dress" French Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac or even Spain's "Wacky" Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. The two looks lacked the directional elegant edge which Amy has been showing in previous challenges.

Next Up, Jonathan's Toilet Paper Dresses:
Oh Jonathan Peters, you slayed me with these two looks, and not in a good way. I get the "conceptual" vibe as judge and Marie Claire Fashion Editor Nina Garcia suggested, but I don't think this was the challenge to go Conceptual. The canary yellow and black-and-white colors on the Little Girl's Dress were great but where he went wrong was adding the bolero and rolled toilet paper organza center front accents. Then, he went on to add the rolled toilet paper motif all over his model's dress. All I could think of was Kors saying "Ohhhh, it looks as if TOILET PAPER threw up all over your dress!!!!" Even this "Toilet paper Gown" in the photo above looks better than Jonathan's dress. I was sure he would be "auf'ed" this week.

But, Instead , it was Janeane Marie Ceccanti's Time:
Let me be honest: I kinda liked these. I don't really know why the judges came down so harshly on Janeane Marie. Both outfits consisted of cute, very wearable clothes. The colors were fine and the proportions, just right. The little girl's ensemble was fine and I can see it at an upscale kid's store in Brentwood or the Hamptons. It was very Malia and Sasha Obama. Was the Model/Mom's look ultra fashionable? No. But I didn't think they were bad enough to be eliminated for. I really felt Jonathan's were worse. And Amy's was definitely less flattering to wear. But this was a case where those other two have been consistently better in previous challenges. She was at the bottom last week and therefore, I think it was "written" in the so-called reality show script, for her to be eliminated. Janeane, if somehow you can get the email of Michelle Obama's press and social secretary, tell her you would be happy to send the First Daughters some clothes--I think they would like them!
See you next week for another Recap kiddies! Ciao!