PA: Crystal Blue Persuasion

Posted on Nov 4, 2011 in Fashion

The less said about that horrifying hour-long car crash known as Project Runway: Behind the Seams the better. And could that not have been a more Lifetime-y movie title? Project Runway: The Day the Sewing Stopped. We’ve always maintained Lifetime should take the franchise over to their TV movie division and produce such soon-to-be classics as Mother, May I Sleep with Scissors? and Not Without My Daughter’s Picture, Which Has a Mustache Drawn On It By Some Creepy Asshole: The Wendy Pepper Story.

Anyway.

The problem with this challenge (and perhaps with the show generally) is that it was too complicated for its own good. We’re not liking the show’s tendency to ask the designers to make a bunch of different accessories for each challenge. We’d rather see them assign one per challenge. “Design a shoe to go with the little black dress” was almost enough on its own. But they insist on splitting the designers’ focus and forcing them to churn out sub-par work by assigning multiple accessories per look.

And then there was the added Swarovski twist, which was one step too far. Although if they had kept the Swarovski aspect to a shoes-only challenge, it would have been quite the clean, simple, easy-to-understand challenge a just-starting reality show should be shooting for. “Make a show to go with this piece of jewelry and this dress.” Perfect.

And we’re sorry but it has to be said: Eva Lorenzotti is off-putting. She’s just not television-friendly, for whatever reasons. It’s very early days, so we’ll see if she gets a little better on camera. She’s not stiff, but it’s like she’s got a wall around her.

Anyway, Congrats to James. It would be fair to say we do not agree with this choice.

Because we’re sorry, but that shit is FUGLY. Cheap ’80s fugly. A headband? Seriously? And that cuff is for some drag queen’s Pride parade Wonder Woman costume. Great for throwing candy and rubbers at the crowds, but not what one would call chic. Or even well-designed. To our eyes, a distinctly unsophisticated set of pieces.

Brian and Nicolina rounded out the Top Three. Let’s discuss.

Brian

He’s got a point of view; we’ll give him that. We think he has a tendency to overdo it, though. We liked where he was going with the crystal wedge, but when we saw the final product, we were disappointed. Too black and heavy. And we dislike how overly coordinated all three of these pieces are.

Nicolina

Crazy-eyes makes a comeback! But kept the crazy eyes! Her shoe was, by far, the most chic and best designed of all the entries. We watched the show with Laura Bennett last night and she rightly bemoaned that no one so far is really doing anything very modern-looking. Still, it’s a great, classic shoe. Love the necklace too. The cuff, not so much. A bit crafty-looking. Still, she would have been our pick for the win.

This concludes the congratulatory portion of this blog post. And now, losers.

David

The fact of the matter is, there’s a hair’s breadth of a difference between the top and bottom looks. That shoe is a tragedy and we don’t like the jewelry even a little bit, that’s true. But look at what won.

Adrian

Couldn’t even complete the challenge by making the second piece and churned out a very basic ribbon shoe that wasn’t even all that well executed. It’s a mystery to us why he was kept in the game.

And it’s Seeya to Kelly. It would be fair to say we don’t agree with this decision either.

It’s true, those shoes were a horrifying disaster, but a lot of that had to do with execution. She was working on some fairly strong design elements that could have made for a very strong and interesting shoe. The earrings aren’t bad, either (although not particularly forward-looking). We thought she had a strong enough point of view on display here to keep her in the game. Especially when she gets eliminated over the guy who couldn’t even complete the challenge and made a very basic shoe.

[Photo Credit: myLifetme.com]

Tags:

Project Runway Accessory Season 1

Anonymous

Dear Bad Mommy: can you please consider your own line of accessories? Love, a Bitter Kitten who still swoons over the shoes from your final PR collection. Besos!
- MilaXX
  
  oh dear loard, Laura has to recreate that mess!
  *off to the Lifetime website*
- Rand Ortega
  
  An entire collection similar to your final collection would sell out in minutes! Online? Please?
Joe J

Not feeling this show. Hate the staging, hate the judging, and do not understand the logic behind keeping the guy who DID NOT DO THE CHALLENGE, even from a producer manipulation standpoint. Also, I find James and David majorly smarmy. Every time I listen to either of them gush about their work, it makes me want to flick their ears. With something flaming.
- http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
  
  Yeah, they should have ditched the runway for a different presentation method. It would have allowed for smaller, more intricate pieces because the judges could have gotten closer to them.
  - Anonymous
    
    It would be nice, for once, if the judges actually examined the construction, Oh, here’s an idea, with their HANDS, and not just their EYES. Actually didn’t the show on that other channel, Launch My Line, have hands-on inspection by the judges?
    
    This is one of the most boring things about this show, the slavish re-creation of PR Schtick.
    - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QFW22QV426LUOEPGASPZJWJMDE MishaFoomin
      
      Photos on the PA website show the models lined up on the runway while the judges get up close, personal and touchy-feely with the accessories.
      - Anonymous
        
        Good to know.
- Anonymous
  
  I think one time listening to David burbling about his women being a goddess/on a spirtual journey was enough for me. You’re making accessories, for God’s sake, not implements for holy rites.
  
  Definitely thought all of the armbands/cuffs were sci-fi material. I was rather hoping for a Wonder Woman cameo.
  - Anonymous
    
    I’m willing to bet he was going to be offed until he opened his mouth and the producers heard all that cray-cray come out. Reality TV 101: be crazy to stay on the show.
    - Anonymous
      
      Word. He probably bought at least one to two more episodes with that spiel.
http://twitter.com/susanpcollier Susan Collier

Mother, May I Sleep with Pattern Books?
- http://twitter.com/ILikeShiny Cindi Williams
  
  Ask Keith Michael.
https://profiles.google.com/104791269167429064986 Judy S

I continue to assume that reading your comments is much more entertaining than watching the show….
- Elizabeth Briggs
  
  Agreed. I can’t stand to watch this show, but I love reading the commentary about it!
- Now I am The Bee
  
  You betcha! I didn’t even see the show, and the T&Lo analysis is mui entertaining!
scottyf

Dear Massas Bunim/Murray

I’s make this brief because I’s needs to be gittin’ back to the fields. I knows you has to get rid of us darkies befo’ you kin git down to the REAL competition, but, beggin’ y’alls pardon: I’s think ya got the order mixed up. Adrian (who, while he gits my fish to jumpin’ and my cotton high) ain’t complete the task. Since you GOTS to send us home first, why din’t you go wit him instead o’ Kelly? Now I knows you White Folk know better ’bout these things, but it seems to me that if the challenge be making TWO accessories and someone shows only ONE dat would automatically disqualify dem.

And I’s SHO understan’ why you couldn’t git rid of Mistuh David–even tho his shoe was borin’ and poorly made, an his cuff was mo suited to plow the North 40 than be on somebody’s arm. But he a–how y’all say it?–”conventionally attractive white man.” So he ain’t goin’ before a colored.

So I wanna thank you for one more week of Chunky Chocolate befo’ you sends him packin’, I jus wanted to make sho that someone up in the Big House knew what was goin’ on.

Yours in servitude,
scottyf
- Anonymous
  
  Jesus, I’m gonna pee on myself!
  - Anonymous
    
    Project Accessory has made itself worthwhile because it gave us Scottyf’s brilliant missive…and I’m thankful I’d just hit the loo before reading it!
- http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
  
  First, I must applaud the writing here, Scotty! It’s damn hard to write in a specific dialect or style and do so convincingly — well played.
  
  Also, I really liked the master stroke of your quote next to your screenname coming from “Gone with the Wind”. While a personal favorite of mine because I saw it while young enough not to understand the racial problems with it, the symmetry is fabulous!
  - Leslie Streeter
    
    And it’s crazy, because House of Dereon is a thing. Not a thing I wear, but one that makes a lot of money. Lots of girls like their butts accentuated. And big prints and scarves.
    - http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
      
      Now, I know this is a stereotype, but I don’t care…
      
      After I had my daughter, my thyroid crapped out, and I gained 80 lbs in 9 months. (And I wasn’t tiny to begin with:) For another year, weight would NOT come off no matter what I did because we still had to find the right balance for my meds. It was very hard on my self-esteem (part of my intense dislike of the fashion industry comes from that period.)
      
      Black men were my saving grace. Bless each and every one of their hearts, the extra weight was not a problem in their eyes, and the fact that my curves — always fairly extreme by nature — just got curvier with the extra weight was a bonus. They would hit on me, politely as a rule, and every time it bumped my self-esteem right back up.
      
      So when they say that “no woman wants ‘x’” I can tell you from personal experience that there are women who are wanting that, and for good reason!
- Anonymous
  
  I don’t watch the show but have read TLo’s recaps, and I noticed that, too.
  
  This, btw, is priceless:
  . . . while he gits my fish to jumpin’ and makes my cotton high. . .
  - http://twitter.com/urban_gypsy Urban Gypsy aka Tess
    
    That may be my all time favorite Scotty line. Jesus, I’m still snorting over here.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QFW22QV426LUOEPGASPZJWJMDE MishaFoomin
  
  Ah, I so wanted to write like this on this very same subject. I hope Adrian makes it past next week. “Chunky Chocolate,” indeed.
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks for nailing this so brilliantly.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FBVC5LBEOWEHBYYCH3A2IZGZHI Anonymous
  
  I also was surprised at all the black people in the bottom of the pack the first two weeks of the show and the dismissal of the two black females right away. Kelly’s shoes had style and were attractive at a distance even though the model had trouble walking in them. I thought David would be gone because he didn’t make anything that was fun to look at.
  
  I admire what all of these designers can do. I can’t believe that every single one of them except for David made either a credible or interestingly designed shoe.
  - http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
    
    I know! They had such great bios and resumes… so sad…
- MilaXX
  
  Just when I was trying not to channel my inner Angela Davis and mention that they are sending all the black ppl home first, you go and post this.
  You bad.
  - Leslie Streeter
    
    My sister said the same thing – “Well, one more black person gets sent home!” The irony is that I, like a lot of other sistahs, love, love, love the accessories, the bolder the better. These shows…Yeesh.
- Leslie Streeter
  
  Oh, my darling. The chutzpah you have. You make me snort Diet Coke Cherry out of my nose and make me look tacky. God bless you.
  And why won’t Chunky Chocolate bust out a church hat! Just get his Miss Patti on!!!
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002673395871 Roadkill Writer’s Camp
  
  Bunim/Murray = Ofays Are Us Plus the Kardashians
  - Anonymous
    
    Thanks for making me gigglesnort…glad I’m the only one home!
  - Anonymous
    
    The Weinstein Company is producing Project Accessory.
    - http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
      
      PR is a Weinstein product as well.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002673395871 Roadkill Writer’s Camp
      
      Thanks for the oops alert. Although BM is still pretty colorless, the bitter truth admittedly lies far beyond the failures of one set of producers.
- Anonymous
  
  love you scotty!
- Rand Ortega
  
  Can’t! Stop! Laughing!
- BuffaloBarbara
  
  Scotty, you slay me. I saw the bottom three and thought surely David was going home. At least Kelly was attempting something. (I admit, I’d have kept Adrian, too, with some half-assed excuse like, “I’ll call the dress embellishments the added accessory,” but that’s because I want him around when they get to hats. But Kelly wouldn’t have been my other low-ranker. I’d have had it a choice between Adrian and David, and David would be so far gone we’d need the Hubble telescope to find him.)
  
  But yes… sheesh, Lifetime. What’s with the whole “liminating of melanin theme? I’m apparently in your target demographic (middle aged white woman, and I assure you, I’d have no problem with a black winner. If you were wondering. And frankly, though I’m sure James was kept in so he could teach the others how to make shoes this week, he should have gone home WAY before Cotrice. So seriously… what’s up with that?
  - Anonymous
    
    Word.
    
    You hit all my talking points.
- Anonymous
  
  Oh, Scotty. I am alone in the house, laughing my head off. I nearly spit my drink all over the keyboard. That is a brilliant piece of writing. Well played.
- Anonymous
  
  Thank you so much for all your wonderfulness!
- http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
  
  I’m remembering that SNL spoof from a couple weeks ago (go on Hulu and look for Anna Faris’ episode if you haven’t seen it). “Lifetime. Television for Women… White women.”
  - Anonymous
    
    I thought that too!
    
    Scotty, as usual, you are brilliant.
- Anonymous
  
  Scotty, I just wanted you to know that my mind read that in Bernie Mac’s voice, and it was masterful!
  
  Oh, and thanks for the weight loss….I just laughed my ass clean off.
- http://twitter.com/karenwalsh Karen Walsh
  
  Scotty, i don’t knows u, but i luves u!
- suzq
  
  Brilliant.
  
  Imagine Korto in this competition. No one would be left standing.
- Anonymous
  
  THANK YOU. This REALLY bothered me.
  
  P.S. I thought you might like to know that I always enjoy reading your comments.
- Anonymous
  
  The crazy white man with the “nude” shoe got to stay. SMDH.
  
  Does the phrase “nude shoes” bother anyone else?
  - http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
    
    I always think of my Vibrams — they’re close to being barefoot, which is what “nude” referring to feet should mean.
  - Anonymous
    
    Yes! I get pissed off because the term “nude” is clearly only with respect to people with light skin. ”Nude” shoes never describe a shade that could match a person of color: they’re always this light, pinkish beige. Then again, they often have a weird gray tinge to them as well, and God knows, I’ve never seen anyone look like that without being seriously ill. Whoever chose the term “nude” knows some really weird looking white people; maybe they have scurvy or something. Drink some OJ and it’ll all be okay, guys. We’ll get you off the ship alive, damn it!
    
    Anyway, bandaids are the same way (“Skin colored?” Uh, depends on whose skin you’re talking about) except their baseline is a bit darker. Infuriating.
    - Anonymous
      
      Exactly. (Band Aids and nude shoes are both too dark for my see-through self.)
      
      “Nude lip” doesn’t bother me b/c it refers to makeup in the context of someone’s face. Lipstick labeled “nude” in the tube would piss me off. (Unless it was dark, and then I would find it refreshing for a change.)
      
      But shoes come in a box in a set color and I’ve never seen dark shoes labeled “nude” and hence I am annoyed.
      
      When Kelly started getting the loser’s edit early on in this episode, I was like, WTF? Neither Kelly nor Cotrice were the worst. Far from the best, but not the worst at all. And it’s not just this show. Seems like most of these reality fashion shows (The Fashion Show, PR, PA…) have a token AA or two and off them quickly and illogically.
      
      Prove Kimberley from PR right, why don’t they?
- Now I am The Bee
  
  Wow–I am so impressed!
- http://asskickingadviser.com/ Ass Kicking Adviser
  
  Oh scottyf, you make me laugh so hard! Don’t ever change.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Nasser-Shaheen/100001316048618 Nasser Shaheen
  
  Chunky Chocolate Brown Bear is the only reason we’re still watching this show. If he goes, we go.
http://visceralresponse.com Dina dV

Those crystal wedges would have looked much better if the heel were about 2″ higher and it was a platform, because that much detail on a wedge needs a lot of wedge to support it.

James’ shoes were well made, but I thought they were hella ugly. The whole look was clownish, but I think the safety pin on Nicolina’s unnecessary cuff did her in.

And, yeah, not completing the challenge, especially since part of the reason was because you were too busy bedazzling the dress, should have eliminated Adrian. But Kelly’s shoes were tragic.
- Anonymous
  
  I totally agree about the wedges. I was kind of excited when they were showing the creation process, because they looked pretty amazing. But a total clunker on the runway. A couple more inches of height would have made all the difference.
http://twitter.com/VicksieDo Vickie Lord

Aww, I liked Adrian’s the best. I counted the bling on the dress as an accessory
- oohsparkley!
  
  I thought the bling on the dress should have counted too. Didn’t he have the earring at the table and just not put them back on? What was Kelley’s second accessory?
  - Anonymous
    
    It looked like they were missing earwires, so unless the model held them to her ears while she walked, they weren’t ready.
    - http://twitter.com/VicksieDo Vickie Lord
      
      The bland mentor didn’t like the fabric part of the earring I think, and he ran out of time to get some wires on them. He should have just left them as is, that mentor doesn’t seem like an expert to me!
      - Anonymous
        
        that mentor doesn’t seem like an expert to me!
        
        Well, she is the founder and CEO of a highly successful Internet fashion/accessories site.
      - Anonymous
        
        Highly successful? Uh….no. It’s a joke.
    - Anonymous
      
      It takes less than 30 seconds to make an earwire, even if you are a hat maker. Less time if you have one and just need to reattach it.
  - http://twitter.com/VicksieDo Vickie Lord
    
    I don’t remember about Kelley…sowwy
http://www.facebook.com/quicksilverjenna Jenna Thomas-Mckie

So glad I didn’t waste my time watching this.
http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart

This show is going right where I feared it would: Etsy.

Now, Etsy has some cool stuff, but if I’m giving up that much of my time each week to a show on fashion and accessories, I would like to see some professional work. While it’s all well and good that Laura is giving instructions on how to make a piece from each week, I don’t want to watch pieces I can make. Granted most of what is seen on PR, I can also make but that’s because I can sew and have for a long time. However, I have never made shoes so I don’t want to see a pair that could be my first attempt on my TV — I want to see Jimmy Choos, dammit!

I don’t like the “crafty” vibe the show has going at this point. (That may have something to do with my watching S3 of PR right now with Angela’s crafty horrors!)
- Anonymous
  
  Yes. I saw part of this last night, but abandoned it to go home. I have to admit they’re not (yet) hitting the depths of dreadful I anticipated, but why, oh lord WHY pick people with expertise developed over years at significant expense of time, effort & probably money – and MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. At which they can’t help but struggle?
  
  David’s cuff wouldn’t cut it at even the smallest Holiday Bazaar & Craft Show (‘Tis the season guys!) at even the tiniest church hereabouts.
  - http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
    
    I’m okay with that — if you want to build a brand and a business around accessories, you really do have to be able to do multiple categories. For me, it’s more “why do a show about accessories if you want to treat them like clothing designers in the presentation?” I mean, think how much better it would be if the models walked out individually and took a place on a small platform, and the judges could move around to each model and really look at the pieces — right now they almost have no choice but to make huge pieces or cluttered shoes.
Sobaika Mirza

His cuff belongs on Wonder Woman.
- Anonymous
  
  It was the headband that sent me to Amazon Island.
- http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
  
  That’s the only nice thing I could say about it. I kinda dig comic books:)
- Anonymous
  
  Ya know, I really HOPE he’s (he being Mr. Gunn) off to the bank. That he got a decent deal. ‘Cause I’d hate to think that he’s adopted this “all hands go down with the ship” attitude for a relative pittance.
  - Anonymous
    
    I would hope that our Tim is now set for life as a result of bowing to the evil empire that is Bunim/murray
    - Eclectic Mayhem
      
      I misread that as ‘BLOWing the evil empire that is Bunim/Murray’ but he pretty much did blow them with that godawful show…
      - Anonymous
        
        I almost spit out my coffee! Sad to say, that was a low moment for our Tim.
        I suppose it’s possible that Tim has developed a genuine fondness for PR, in addition to the financial considerations, but still….
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_QFW22QV426LUOEPGASPZJWJMDE MishaFoomin

Has the PR Judges’ Crack Pipe been transferred to the new set? Are the judges forced by the producers to smoke it?

I like Brian’s earrings a lot.
Anonymous

Not Without My Daughter’s Picture, Which Has a Mustache Drawn On It By Some Creepy Asshole: The Wendy Pepper Story.

Hahaha!!!
- Anonymous
  
  Lifetime would probably do that as a mini-series!
Anonymous

We ought to be used to crazy ass judging by now, but noooooo, second verse, same as the first.

I agree with you guys on Kelly. It was the only shoe all night I kept hoping would succeed. I thought it would be nonsense to ask designers who have never made a shoe in their lives to make one in two days, along with the accessory, and I couldn’t have been more right.

Was James the only one with the skills as a shoemaker? Because it was obvious they expected him to win. I hated not only his cuff, but the overly-designed shoe and the huge ridiculous inspiration Swarovski pendant necklace.

Nicolina had the prettiest shoe, but I detest the crafty bracelet and what she did to the original necklace.

David’s cuff was truly a lethal weapon.

And again with the overly large accessories, almost everyone. This show makes me sigh, almost no one with my taste.
Anonymous

David’s shoes look straight out of Buffalo Bill’s basement. Seriously nightmare-inducing.
- Anonymous
  
  It puts the lotion on its skin…..or, in this case, its shoes….
Anonymous

I would have sent David home. His story alone made me want to smack him. And can’t they get better lighting in the workroom? Makes me feel like their feet are chained underneath the tables.

TLo, can you at least share a little of what Laura had to say about PR?
Anonymous

Project Runway: The Day the Sewing Stopped
Love it. I have been amazed they haven’t integrated Lifetime more into the PR challenges. Design a look for Drop Dead Diva. Create a “day in court” ensemble for the working woman who has to testify against her lying, no-good husband with another wife and kids upstate. It had to cross their minds.
- http://profiles.google.com/shannonlstewart Shannon Stewart
  
  Well if it didn’t, you certainly planted it now! If I see challenges like this next season, I’m gonna know who to blame:)
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EDI2DLE7DE3YPW2ONIHBWOVHMA ecallaw
    
    Didn’t they do that already on PR? It was for that show Lipstick Jungle–or was it Cashmere Something-Or-Other? There were two Sex and the City wannabes that came on network tv at the same time, and it was for one of them, and one of the stars was a guest judge. Dangit, who was that? One of them had Lucy Liu, but it wasn’t her.
    - Anonymous
      
      Brooke Shields was the star of whichever SATC wannabee show. Was it Season 5 or 6 of PR?
      - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EDI2DLE7DE3YPW2ONIHBWOVHMA ecallaw
        
        I looked it up, Season 5, Episode 5.
      - http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
        
        But nyah nyah, show was cancelled before she got to wear the dress. What a prize!
      - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EDI2DLE7DE3YPW2ONIHBWOVHMA ecallaw
        
        Ha! That is so wrong. Didn’t even realize that because (I guess like everyone else)_I didn’t watch that show!
Melanie S.

I think I had a more interesting show experience trying to figure out who Nicolina reminded me of (Jayma Mays) than I did trying to care about the accessories.
- Anonymous
  
  Yes, I can see Jayma Mays.
Sobaika Mirza

Molly Sims seems devoid of personality, although is a serviceable host/judge. Ariel Foxman is neither here nor there. And I’m surprised at how grumpy Kenneth Cole seems. He was my commencement speaker – Northeastern University, Class of 2009 whaddup!! – and he was much more affable and articulate. Obviously it was a prepared speech, but it looks like he’s realizing what a mess this is and wants out. At the very least, I would have liked to hear some constructive feedback on the shoes. That’s his thing, right?

You know what this show needs? A quippy bitch. Someone to say, “I think he looks like Pocahontas.” Or the accessory equivalent of “The crotch is insane.”
MilaXX

I think the reason they have them make a specific piece and then another of there choosing is an attempt to level the playing field. I would hope that the second piece would then carry as much weight as the assigned piece. It’s just that it get complicated when the challenge is sponsor driven (Swaroski) and you add in a theme (LBD).
I think James won solely for the shoes which was a no brainer since he’s a shoe maker.The rest of his work was gaudy and fugly. No body is wearing a headband like that in 2011.
As for the bottom feeders. I would have sent David home. All 3 of his pieces were butt ugly. Beige shoes, and ugly bracelets & necklace. Kelly’s shoe may not have been that great but her earrings weren’t bad and she at least tried to do something interesting.

So far I cannot stand the mentor. She seems like she’d rather be anywhere but there. Judge wise, I think Ariel was a bit better this week. His comments made sense and he appeared a little more animated.
Anonymous

I really loved everyone’s inability to pronounce Swarovski. And I’ve have sent David home.
Anonymous

I like James’ shoe. For the rest? Ugh. Re the show: mkay. And Molly Sims depresses me. Knock knock girl … anybody home?
Terence Ng

From the look on Kelly’s face, it seems that she knows that this show is a steaming pile too and is glad to be done with it.
- Anonymous
  
  hahaaa :^)
  Last evening I used your exact phrase on TLounge. I haven’t paid attention, is B-M behind this show too?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-Harris/1358701372 Linda Harris

He He He ” The Wendy Pepper Story”
Anonymous

“Tlo said: The less said about that horrifying hour-long car crash known as Project Runway: Behind the Seams the better.”

Actually, there are just two words to say about that Behind the Seams special: Damage Control.

And where the fuck did they find those dumb-ass ‘fans’ on the street to interview?

–GothamTomato
- Anonymous
  
  I’m wondering if B/M sent out some gofers with gift cards or free Starbucks coupons to give to their candid interviewees.
- Now I am The Bee
  
  ITA! Wasn’t that whole thing just embarassing to watch?? Cringe-worthy.
  - Anonymous
    
    But Anya’s SO PRETTY! This is clearly a good reason to win a design competition!
    
    /giggle hair flip uncomfortably long vacant stare
    - Anonymous
      
      She’s so pretty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and I just know we’d be bestest friends forever if we met…..gag me with a spoon!
Anonymous

Didn’t Bette Midler wear the winning shoes and cuff in “Ruthless People”? IN 1986?!?! I am so glad I am not watching this, it all looks horrible, dull or tasteless.
- http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz
  
  Yes! Bette Midler 80′s fashion! How I miss that.
  - http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
    
    i looked at as much of this as i could tolerate before i started crying cos almost everyone i know is dead.
    if i still had the money, i would buy the divine miss m dress:
    http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2011/bette-midler/index.html
- Anonymous
  
  You took the words out of my mouth. I had just found the vid.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU5i6k4Web8&feature=related
- Now I am The Bee
  
  Yes–after the weight loss, right?
Mariah J

…I’m glad I’m not watching this show, these accessories look either totally fugly or like something I’ve already seen.
Anonymous

I feel like this show might be finding it’s legs. I agree with just about everything that was said here, though I did like the shape and colors in James shoes. They looked delicate and sexy compared to all the hideous hooves and open-toe booties on offer lately. Over-bedazzled, sure. The cuff was a nightmare.

I liked the harder music they used in the workroom this episode and how much they are showing the process, because the process is much more varied than all sewing, all the time. Too many elements to the challenge but I feel like things are headed in a good direction (and Molly is warming up). I also appreciated the cameraderie between contestants, all the talking and helping back in forth is miles more interesting to me than catfights.
Anonymous

I couldn’t join in the love for James’ shoes; they just seemed tacky to me.
- Anonymous
  
  I rather liked James’ shoes, but then he put the crystals on them, and my tacky-meter started squealing.
- Anonymous
  
  Tacky AND dated.
  
  Winning combo, fer shure.
  - Anonymous
    
    hey, tacky and dated got Josh to the finals on PR. so apparently someone thinks that’s a winning combo.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_EDI2DLE7DE3YPW2ONIHBWOVHMA ecallaw

I didn’t watch the show, but looking at these pictures, I would have picked the winner to go home–so tacky! I would have picked Nicolina for the win and the one that went home in second. The close-up of Nicolina’s necklace is different than it is on the runway. i wish I could see the runway version close-up.
oohsparkley!

One thing I did find interesting was seeing how they were making the shoes. I thought that was going to be almost impossible to do. I’m a crafty type person but I don’t know if I could pull of making a pair of shoes. So they provided them with lasts or forms (whatever they call them) and of course glue and machines that can sew leather. I was still impressed with most of the shoes. Kelley’s shoes were a mess but I could see where she was going with them. I expected more of them to be un-wearable. I was surprised that whiny crazy eyes was able to pull it off after all her drama.
- Anonymous
  
  SHE HAS BACHMANN EYES
  
  I’m sorry for bringing politics here, but it had to be said.
Anonymous

Not to be bad rude and combative but actually, no, the more you have to say, TLo, about Behind the Seams, the better. I don’t much care about PA and will most likely not be watching it but the combo of the clusterfuck of the PR finale, the weird-ass new Tim Gunn, and the business of the two of you beloveds sitting down to watch Project Hiccup with Laura Bennett, veteran of PR happy days, is just too much. What on earth is going on?
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FBVC5LBEOWEHBYYCH3A2IZGZHI Anonymous
  
  It’s feeling like the old George W Bush days when inexplicable unprecedented things were happening. And no one was talking and we were left to discover much later that it was all about the money and the power.
  
  I think there is something new going on at PR and we are the ones to discover what it is. Someone mentioned in another TLo blog about PR following the runway trend of celebrity branding. PR is trying to regain luster by sponsoring a pop culture player. And Anya had the looks, style, and BUDDING BUSINESS EMPIRE to make herself and PR a real brand. And to make people money by designing cheap-to-produce clothes for a “world” market. She’s the mastermind, all she needs is an eye and innate sense of style. All the old rules–good construction, sophisticated design– are out the window.
  - Anonymous
    
    i’d say no kidding, no?, but i’d kind of love to see what happens next if folks saying sweep the bracelets aside for the moment and let us know what the deal is — even if we do already know
  - http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
    
    that is the closest thing i’ve seen to what i think, but have not been able to articulate, is going on w/ anya.
    
    B R A V I S S I M O
  - Anonymous
    
    For some reason, I just thought of the worst case scenario combining your two paragraphs.
    
    New wars! Shitty muumuus! Horrible grammar! Politicians are so pretty that no one ever questions anything! Abstinence only sex education and mandated partial head shaving (it happens at the same time)!
    
    The world would be a scary place. Also, I really don’t want to shave my head; damn it, I LIKE my hair, Anyabush.
    - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_FBVC5LBEOWEHBYYCH3A2IZGZHI Anonymous
      
      We certainly have a crop of pretty politicians running for president. It’s almost a requirement to be matinee-idol handsome or botox hot. I digress, though.
http://jessieliz.wordpress.com/ Super Red

I actually really enjoyed this episode. And while I don’t disagree with your points about splitting the focus, I like that they have multiple accessories to make— For someone who has never made a pair of shoes before, they’re at a distinct disadvantage in a challenge like this (and I think it’s different then a menswear challenge on PR… making shoes requires a skill level that a jewelry designer has likely never even contemplated) and allowing them to make another accessory helps even the playing field just a bit.

I don’t disagree with the winner or the loser. I wouldn’t necessarily purchase what James made, but from a point of view perspective, execution perspective, and overall look, he put a very solid look together. Nicolina’s shoe looked hideous to me, so I didn’t get all the love on that, but whatevs. Kelly was definitely going somewhere, but I’m not sure where. The earrings were fine, but nothing particularly special, and having seen what Adrian did for the earrings and how he changed the dress, I’m glad they kept him in. I loved his shoes (granted, I adore ribbon shoes inthe first place) and it all tied together very well.

And WAY refreshing to see the designers being helpful on basic techniques that they’re skilled in. Good on them.
http://twitter.com/GAgal28 Kristin .H.

Omgosh I agree with you guys! I have to say I thought James’s work was VERY super hero like, especially that cuff which was TOTALLY Wonder Woman. Next year’s Halloween costume jewelry right there… POW! Loved Nicolina’s work this week, & Adrian should’ve been gone. He couldn’t even complete the challenge.
Anonymous

TLO i do wish you WOULD say something about the behind the seams, since we were all tortured together. WTF.
anyway, i did not like the winner. shoes were so tacky. i thought rock n roll girl deserved the win. i find the show could be more interesting if it wasnt WORD FOR WORD etc like PR.
http://twitter.com/thedogsmother thedogsmother

Lifetime – you need to LISTEN to Tom and Lorenzo! And then do what they say. Now.
My stomach dropped when I watched them rampage through the crystal store. I am getting tired of giving people no time at all to do complicated things. These people have power tools. What is to say some production assistant mysteriously disappears half way thru the season.
And, oh Tim! I loves you dearly but OH! That show last night. Will get my Tim Shrine back out and sacrifice a couple wooly balls to it.
Anonymous

Oh, you’d better have something to say about Behind the Seams!!! I’ve stopped watching the show, but I love your commentary. Not even one little bitty Nina Cap??? Please??
Ledasmom

Brian’s shoes looked like the poor model stepped in a hedgehog.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-Stephens-Bassett/1503492602 Karen Stephens Bassett

After reading this and seeing the garbage these folks produced, I am really thankful I removed this show from my season pass. Not gonna miss it one bit!
Anonymous

I did not care for the winner’s look, in part because of the color story, but also because each piece pulled attention equally – the shoes were bold, the cuff was bold, the necklace was bold – and they weren’t complementing each other. My eyes can’t settle anywhere. Not harmonious. I thought the Wonder Woman cuff was going somewhere, but the proportions were off. The fellow who didn’t finish his challenge should have gone, but they have to keep him so he can make a hat – like the shoe guy. I hope this shows finds its footing. I am not the least bit crafty so I get a big kick out of watching these folks fire up power tools, hammering things together, etc.
- Anonymous
  
  You make a very good point-that necklace was bold enough that I think in real life a woman would choose to wear it with some understated accessories so that they wouldn’t distract from it.
  
  Since Scottyf’s Chunky Chocolate does hats, I hope they do a hat-themed challenge soon. Church hats are absollutely amazing and I would love to see this guy turn out something that would just stop the show in its tracks.
  - Anonymous
    
    I just hope he won’t have to spend half his challenge time as James did, teaching everyone how to make a hat.
  - Anonymous
    
    I want to see a hat-themed challenge! I friggin’ love hats. I want to live in a constant state of Royal Ascot festival.
    - Anonymous
      
      Several years ago we attended a wedding, and the bride was from Scotland-several of her relatives came to the States for the wedding, and they wore glorious hats-I was just enthralled!
Anonymous

So I am guessing no ripping, wailing, or gnashing of teeth over the PR wrap up? I am actually curious to hear what you would say about Tim and his Koolaid drinking.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_ZBFH32YG44LIIZYLSQPMBXMYCU Sarah

David should be out today based on the sheer idiocy of his incredibly inane narrative regarding his hiddy shoe and his completely-unrelated-to-the-necklace crap jewelry. It was all so ugly as to be cringe-worthy, and then he got up there and said some stupid crap that made the judges visibly squirm in their seats. I loved Mr. Foxman’s “Everyone loves a piece with a narrative, but…” I mean, I can talk a good game to sell myself, too, but “I went simple on the shoes to hold that goddess up” made me physically gag. AUF, sir!
Anonymous

The “too many twists” problem seems to be one across both PR shows. It seems like the craftsmanship is taking a back seat to making things dramatic. It’s too bad. It just detracts from both shows.
- Anonymous
  
  Nicolina is only a nano second away from a breakdown…she could be the triumph though adversity for PA…
Anonymous

I haven’t watched the episode yet and probably won’t have time to do so. James’ stuff is seriously ugly–Wonder Woman indeed. WHAT is that necklace all about? And a headband? Yikes.

And Brian’s shoe looks like the model stepped in a pile of asphalt.
- http://twitter.com/karenwalsh Karen Walsh
  
  James didn’t make the necklace. That was the Swarovski inspiration piece he was working with. He used the colors of that piece to make his other pieces.
  - BuffaloBarbara
    
    I think that was part of the problem. We were supposed to be marveling at the beauty of these professional pieces, but they were all as gaudy as the stuff the contestants made.
Anonymous

Such a good point about the challenges, multiple assignments and amount of time given to complete the look. It is making the PR shows worthless to watch. Tim Gunn mentioned on the “Seams” show last night the fact that the designers aren’t given enough time to finish garments with appropriate closures, etc., opting for the glue gun out of necessity. Hate to see the accessory show go down the same road. I for one, would rather see one spectacular design than a bunch of partial ideas spread across a bunch of subpar items in a look. Some of the PR accessory designers seem to have really interesting ideas, and it would be GREAT to actually see something in a somewhat completed form. I like the idea of accessory designing as a competition, but there is just something missing in the formula of presentation with this show. The look on David’s face was totally PRICELESS when the judges were commenting on his designs. Not sure if that was disdain, confusion, or dismissal.

Poor TG for having to present that useless “Seams” show. Still LUV him though.
- Anonymous
  
  “Poor TG for having to present that useless “Seams” show.”
  
  I just can’t help pointing out that Tim Gunn did not HAVE to present that show. He CHOSE to participate. He CHOSE to say whatever the producers wanted him to say and act as the producers wanted him to act. And cash the big check they gave him in return.
  
  Tim Gunn used to be–and might still be, in some circles–much adored and respected. If he had walked away from BM when they started screwing up PR, it would have made huge headlines, and some other network or production house would have snapped him up in one second flat.
  
  He has chosen to stay where he is and do what he’s doing. It’s time to get over the denial. Shame on him.
  - Anonymous
    
    I’ve been watching my DVD for season two of PR this weekend, and Tim was so much more enjoyable to watch as opposed to this lamentable season….
BuffaloBarbara

I agree that James’s stuff was ugly. I expect that they saw it was difficult to put the shoes together, and maybe heard that he spent half the challenge, apparently, teaching all of the other contestants to make shoes. So maybe he got the win for not burdening the show with insurance costs for models with broken ankles.

I sort of wouldn’t mind headbands making a comeback. But as they haven’t and show no signs of it, it did look very silly. Plus the whole shtick about wanting to do something “tribal” was, erm, er, well…

WTF? Which tribe? Hell, which part of the world? TRIBAL? What the hell is “tribal”? Do you know how many tribes there are? Apparently, in fashion, we’re talking about a tribe of costume designers…
Aimee koester

I’ve been reading for a
http://twitter.com/MandySCG MandyJane

So glad crazy eyes pulled it together in time. I was sad to see Kelly go. Also, I totally agree about allowing them to do one design at a time, especially if they have to make shoes.

I skipped Behind the Seams in protest. I’d rather go on thinking of Tim Gunn as someone with integrity.
Anonymous

I didn’t watch this show. I changed channels halfway through Behind The Seams because the drivel Tim Gunn, TIM GUNN was spouting made me ill. I can no longer watch this disaster of a show. Maybe I’ll read the recaps if TLo decide to keep blogging about it,
- Anonymous
  
  Agree–Behind the Seams was an embarrassment, and this Accessory show, so far, is simply boring.
http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz

Sounds like they already got the shark-jumping out of the way with this show. Smart thinking to start with such a low bar.
Anonymous

Yeah, I didn’t know that cuffs counted as jewelry?….Hated every single cuff out there last night. I thought crazy story David was going to go home, actually. I was sorry to see Kelly go because she did have a good point of view, it just didn’t come out in the best kind of form. I was OK with James’ win even with the colors, though rock-n-roll girl’s shoes were much better.
http://profiles.google.com/sara.e.munoz Sara Munoz

Brian’s shoes- concept is there. But in execution, it just looks like she stepped in wet tar.
Anonymous

Winning shoe: dreadful bad tacky 80′s parody. Cuff: worse.

Much is inexplicable.
Anonymous

ten pages ago
Anonymous

Is the runway so far from the judges so that the contestants must make ugly giant accessories just to be noticed?

To wear a complete matching set of accessories is very old fashioned.
http://twitter.com/karenwalsh Karen Walsh

Brian is the most interesting to me so far. I agree the overall look was too black, but ya gotta love how he made those crystal wedges.
Anonymous

Shoes? They make them design shoes…in stupidly short TV competition time? I wonder if they take out additional insurance for those poor models made to walk in them – unless – all they do is stand there and try not to fall down. Not watching this show…can you tell? Love the recaps though!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Micaela-Cannon/1465504041 Micaela Cannon

Are there any black women left on this show?
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326120071 Gaby Ripoll
  
  No. There aren’t. I’m getting pretty fed up.
Anonymous

“Tlo said: And we’re sorry but it has to be said: Eva Lorenzotti is off-putting. She’s just not television-friendly, for whatever reasons.”

Yes, she is. But working with and talking through the camera is an art in itself and doesn’t come naturally to most people. She really needs a coach.

Some of the most horrible people you’d ever want to meet seem very friendly and approachable on-camera; the opposites of their real personalities. They can just fake it very well. And some people who are really nice come off sounding awful on-camera. Being able to look into a camera and relate to the invisible people on the other side of it is a talent that a lot of people underestimate.

–GothamTomato
- Anonymous
  
  That’s the thing. Not only does she lack TV skills…she has no right to be mentoring designers. Tim Gunn is a design educator. Eva has maybe “designed” a few accessories for sale in her catalog, but she wouldn’t know the first thing about producing them. It’s like getting marriage advice from Kim Kardashian.
  
  Oh, and she is indeed off-putting in person.
http://twitter.com/MandySCG MandyJane

I hope crazy eyes captions happen someday.
http://twitter.com/foodhussy foodhussy

I haven’t seen this show yet (and with those looks – I doubt I will) – what in the hell do they do – give them normal shoes and a bedazzler??????
- BuffaloBarbara
  
  No, they made the shoes from scratch on shoe lasts, though apparently they were given heels that they could use in lieu of making heels, if they were so inclined.
Anonymous

Haven’t been watching yet, but wanted to share some of the work of the great Gaza Bowen. She was part of the “Art to Wear” movement and made non-wearable shoes (some out of household cleaning products. Here is a link to the shoes in her on-line gallery

http://www.gazabowen.com/gallery_ss.htm

No bedazzler there!

Enjoy!
- http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
  
  i know her stuff.
  
  she isnt on this show is she? she cant be. was she the guest judge? i will have to watch it, i guess, to find out.
  - Anonymous
    
    Sadly, Gaza Bowen has passed on.
    - http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
      
      i’m sorry. i didnt know that. she mustnt have been that old. i think of her mostly as like an 80s person? but i could be wrong. i have a huge number of books [which i guess makes sense to anyone who has listened to me ramble here or elsewhere] & she is in some of the most fabulous books on art-to-wear.
      
      when did she die?
- Anonymous
  
  I did enjoy. Amazing!
  
  I copied from her website some of what was required/involved in her beginning shoe class. [She no longer teaches.]
  
  SHOEMAKING INTENSIVE I offers the opportunity to build one pair
  of fully lined leather shoes in six days. [Emphasis mine]. These will be a relatively
  simple one or two piece pattern shoe. Attention is given to the
  beginning development of good craftsmanship and traditional skills such
  as knife sharpening, skiving, and finishing.
  
  Students will customize a pair of lasts and draft patterns for
  this low heeled shoe. We will cover the proper use of hides as we cut
  out the uppers and linings, skive the pieces, and sew them together to
  form the upper. You will learn to build and attach toe boxes and counter
  stiffeners as you form the upper to the last. Shanks will be inserted,
  outer soles attached and heels of the proper height built.
  
  Information includes:
  
  measuring the foot
  choosing and customizing the last (shoe form)
  pattern drafting
  upper cutting (clicking)
  knife sharpening
  skiving and sewing (closing)
  forming (lasting)
  toe box and counter stiffener construction
  making and attaching outer soles
  building a heel of the proper height and balance
  use of hand and power tools
  sources for all materials
  a bit of the history of shoemaking
  
  The class (limited to three students) is taught in Gaza’s Santa
  Cruz studio.The six day
  class is scheduled for three two-day weekends or two long three-day
  weekends. We’ll be working from 9:30 am to about 5:30 PM.
  
  The $1200.00 tuition includes a workbook, two basic knives, two
  sharpening sticks, the use of lasts, hand tools, power equipment and all
  materials used in constructing the shoes. Sources for tools, equipment,
  and materials will be given.
  
  I knew that making shoes was a special art/craft, but I had no idea everything involved. Imagine that this show put total novices in such a difficult situation! No wonder James needed to help everyone out, and graciously, I might add.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_KEYJDIENR5MRK2NXJYKNOLWDFE Alexandria

James creeps me out
- Anonymous
  
  Aw. I like him. He’s very skilled and helpful too.
https://www.facebook.com/kjarnsaxa kriselda jarnsaxa

I think the main reason they’re doing the multi-item challenges is that if they were to say “pick a necklace and make a pair of shoes to go with it and an LBD,” anyone who has little-to-no experience with making shoes is going to be at a huge disadvantage.

I think that’s probably going to be the most difficult thing about how the producers handle the show in general. On Project Runway, there may be thousands of different styles for which challenges can be created, and some designers are likely to handle some of those styles better than others. In the long run, however, they’re all going to have pretty much the same basic skill set: The ability to come up with a design idea, sketch it, know enough sewing to construct it, fit it properly and so forth.

PA is a very different beast, however. The skills needed to make jewellery are different from those used in shoe making, and those are somewhat different than what’s used in making purses, and so on. My guess is that this is why they’re going with the whole “one assigned challenge” and “one item of your choice” format. It makes sure everyone is having to compete on one similar item each week, so they can’t keep doing the same thing over and over, but also allows them a chance to compensate for their weakness in a particular kind of accessory by allowing them to pick an accessory type they’re more comfortable working with.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326120071 Gaby Ripoll

I might be done with this franchise. I hate to keep flogging the race card, but the first two eliminated were black women? Really?
- Mary McClelland
  
  I know… in the first and second challenge? C’mon… that’s odd. I mean there were far more ugly items on that runway. Kinda lame PA!
  - http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
    
    from what i see here [& even last week] this makes no sense at all. this one’s problems were entirely w/ shoe construction– i think she has the most interesting shoes here, other than that.
    
    how are they eliminating people at all? theres no more difference between the bottom & the top contestants than there were during so many of the challenges on the just ended season of PR.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326120071 Gaby Ripoll
      
      Yeah, I actually liked Kelly’s shoes more than anyone else’s on the runway. If that heel had been more stably attached, I’d wear them myself – I think they’re killa and they totally fit the spiked necklace. Also, I wanted to smack the Swarovski judge for making a big deal that Kelly saw Grecian goddess in the “clearly Victorian” necklace. iirc, Victorians wore lace collars, not spiky jeweled ones; I saw the Victorian inspiration when she mentioned it, but to act like it was a no-brainer pissed me off; I thought that Kelly was seeing the spiky collar and seeing a divine warrior, which worked perfectly for me.
      Also, is it just me or is Eva a terrible mentor, generally? I feel like every time she has advised anyone and they took the advice, those people have ended up in the bottom.
- http://twitter.com/evergreen_g G and G
  
  Not being a viewer of PA, I have to say that I made the same observation.
- http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
  
  i think it’s even weirder, actually, that all of the judges & mentors are white, or nearly so. unless i am missing something?
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1326120071 Gaby Ripoll
    
    Well, that’s not that uncommon. I don’t really think Nina Garcia adds a minority perspective on PR proper (she’s a wealthy international, not someone who grew up in the US as a minority or an immigrant; she’s much closer to a WASP than any American immigrant communities); there’s Iman, I suppose, who probably has a strong understanding of what it means to struggle as a minority in a very white, mainstream industry, but she’s sort of the exception that proves the rule: she’s the all-powerful IMAN, so who’s going to give her shit about voicing her opinions (Kelly Rowland could have provided that perspective, but unfortunately was trampled by Isaac’s attention-whoring, which may be shades of the problem on another level…) I AM a little disappointed that the panel is so male, because it seems like Molly Sims doesn’t really have a strong voice yet, which may explain some of frivolity and arbitrariness of the choices and the disconnect between mentor and judges, but that’s just my perspective.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1344922354 Eric Scheirer Stott

Laura Bennett’s do it yourself take on the winning shoe is actually much better.
- http://profiles.google.com/trashilove { edi } ilovetrash
  
  you are right, it is.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WOM6YR4RJ53AF77MUUZ62J33WY Anonymous

I’m really not loving the format of this show. I just think it doesn’t translate as well as the original. The designers are all so varied on what their specialties are, it just doesn’t seem like an even playing field. I think it would be better to not eliminate anyone on a weekly basis, but rather run it like a point system. Everyone has to make something for every challenge, and then at the end of the season, the top three point winners have a showdown. It just doen’t seem fair that a hand bag designer who has never made a shoe before gets auf’d for making a poor shoe. I do not want the person who specializes in church hats to get auf’d before there’s a hat challenge! Also agree with others who have said that one distinct piece whould be more fabulous to see than three crappy ones, as well as doing away with the runway aspect. I feel a more intimate interaction between the judges and the accessory is called for. A gallery showing like presentation would be far more beneficial, I believe. They need to take this show back to the drawing board.
- Anonymous
  
  Wonderful ideas! I love the point system concept and have suggested it myself for project funway.
- Anonymous
  
  Since I don’t watch this–or any other BM–show any more, I have nothing invested in how PA works. But I must say, you make a lot of sense. A whole lot more sense than the BM producers–Oh, *there’s* a shocker! When we first heard about this show, I remember a lot of comments on this blog wondering how they were going to deal with having hat designers competing with handbag designers competing with jewelry designers. I wondered too.
  
  Apparently, the answer is: Not very well. I gather that the designer who went home this week went because she couldn’t make a shoe. Even though she’s not a shoe designer. And has never made a shoe before. This makes zero sense.
  
  The only problem I have with your idea is that you shouldn’t be giving it away to BM for free. If they’re too stupid and uncreative to be able to figure out how to run a show like this, and you have the answer, you should be paid for it–out of the vast subterranean cavern filled with piles of money they’ve made from fucking up perfectly good shows.
  - Aimee koester
    
    I know during auditions you were supposed to be able to or at least have a moderate experience in shoes, handbags, and jewelry. In the NYC auditions, they weren’t sending anyone on if they didn’t. Apparently, they just opted to have designers with good resumes and lots of personality instead.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_WOM6YR4RJ53AF77MUUZ62J33WY Anonymous

Why isn’t there a picture of Kelly’s second accessory? What did she make again? I’m so not in love with this show I don’t even remember.
Julian Betkowski

Was anyone else horrified when Swarovski lady said, basically, “How dare you look at that necklace and think Grecian! It’s actually obviously inspired by Queen Victoria!” Aside from the fact that torcs weren’t even terribly fashionable in Victorian England, there’s nothing about that necklace that references Victorian design.
Anonymous

I can’t comment on the specifics of the show because I’m not watching PA, but your ideas for improvement seem sound. How could you ever judge a piece of jewelry from 10 or 15 feet away or however far away the judges are sitting from the runway? That makes no sense whatsoever.

And having the contestants make two or three items may seem like it levels the playing field, but only because it reduces the quality of what’s produced. The notion that the contestants have to work in the same medium for at least one piece highlights a basic problem with the show. People here make different kinds of things. They’re all called accessories but they’re very different. PA should be structured more like WOA where the contestants mostly get to pick the medium they want to work in. Assign the outfit (a LBD for example) and let them make the accessory they’re good at and then judge everyone on that one item. If the judges can’t pick a winner from among shoes, jewelry, belts, etc, they need to just abandon this concept altogether.

Abandoning PA is okay with me because I’m not watching anything BM produces anymore. Not even PR All Stars. The Weinsteins, BM, and Lifetime have eviscerated everything good about PR in the name of broadening the audience. All that’s left are the bloody entrails (where’s Kathleen when you need her?). Heidi, Michael and Nina and even Tim can pretend they don’t notice, but that doesn’t make it any less true. It merely chips away at their credibility in the fashion world. At some point, one or more of them is going to see that and jump ship. I’m betting it’s Kors because he needs PR the least.

And sorry for making this post mostly about PR, T Lo. But if you’re not going to do a PR post mortem on the season beyond what you’ve already said (which you have every right to do because it’s your blog), I don’t know where else to say this.
Anonymous

I half-watched this during a partial power outage…And, um, I cared more about the game of Angry Birds I had going. And I’m an accessory slut.

I don’t love the over-use of safety pins, Nicolina. It’s very “craftsy”. I have a small jar of safety pins that I use…To hold things together while they’re works in progress, or when I want to re-work a scarf into one of the the looped-around-itself types…And I work it so you don’t SEE the safety pins. Because I have to look at least sort of like a grown-up, and visible safety pins are the opposite of that (though I can get away with feather rings and black or grey nail polish, because they can be subtle).
Anonymous

Scottyf rocks my socks.

Pick a Swarovsky piece for inspiration and make something of your choosing to compliment the LBD. That would have been the perfect challenge. Then James wouldn’t have made the cuff and headband and Adrian would have made a hat and Kelly would have been safe. Cohesive challenge with contestants making what they’re good at making. Just a thought.
Anonymous

Okay, I just watched the Project Runway “Behind the Seams” episode, and you guys weren’t joking. I cringed in embarrassment for Tim Gunn as I watched. He was TERRIBLE. And AWKWARD. Why was he talking to another camera for half the time? And why was the editing and transition so horrible? And they didn’t have Josh, one of the final four, on it, but they had the other three? It has to be seen to be believed for how truly weird it was.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_43X2PZXOLWAYPJJRBLB5I3AMNE jean

amazing how nobody (hosts included) can pronounce swarovski. what a train wreck of a show. really.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_43X2PZXOLWAYPJJRBLB5I3AMNE jean

judges are not very articulate. and molly sims is totally channeling heidi klum, but as a pale imitation. i hope this show improves…
Anonymous

So, are you NOT going to blog about Behind the Seams, then? Because I could not bring myself to watch it, yet was hoping to suffer vicariously through your pain.
- Anonymous
  
  Yeah, me too. Everyone keeps talking about the train wreck, but those of us who weren’t near the tracks don’t have a good frame of reference for the awfulness. We need them to help the gawkers out!
Anonymous

Adrian or David should have gone home, no doubt about it. But come on, Adrian didn’t even complete the challenge. Easy out in my book. Can’t stand Crazy-eyes (keep her away from the espresso) but she should have won. Still hate the tricked out runway and while I’m not crazy about the judges I really don’t think this is the gig for Molly Sims. I’m assuming they’re just having her work off of a script, which is annoying, but wow is she stiff and dull.
Anonymous

That reunion show was painful, I only made it halfway through. Tim, Tim, Tim say no once in a while. As for the accessories I agree that they keep piling on too many layers with the challenges. The fact that each person made one good piece, at most, is evidence of that. Nicolina and James made the only decent shoes and I hated all the jewelry, and I am an accessory girl. It is all so big and crafty looking.
Anonymous

Am I the only one not at all bothered by the mentor? But I am seriously annoyed by Molly Sims’ blatant imitation of Heidi. Minus the charm. And ita with you about the win – Wonder Woman castoffs. And a little bit of the real Tim did pop out during Behind the Seams. When he said if it were up to him Anya would never have made it past the auditions.
Anonymous

Hah, this review is hilarious and I totally agree with everything! Here’s mine if you’re interested: http://www.dismountcreative.com/projectaccessory-recap-episode-two
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1378740171 Arthur Lipp-Bonewits

Two of the people who ended up in the bottom were there in part because they took Eva’s advice. If she hadn’t said “scrap the earring,” Adrian would have completed the challenge. And Kelly was encouraged to make a shoe that she didn’t know how to make, and it ended up showing.
yuju ti

Brian’s wedges looked a lot brighter and shinier and prettier in the working process. I guess he killed it when he tried to paint the wedges in black.Silver might be the better way to go.
Adella Thompson

As an accessories die-hard, I really want to like this show. But I cannot muster up the energy to pay attention to it – the lack of charisma in the judges/mentor/host and hollow echoes of PR doesn’t help. I’m dutifully giving it a bit more of a chances, but man so far the judging isn’t really making me any more likely to want to keep watching. What was that fugly 1980′s sci-fi-fantasy movie crap that won?
Anonymous

Eva has to go. And I agree that the challenges should focus on one item. Had they focused on one item, namely the shoe, Kelly would have gone home anyway. Those shoes were insanely bad. I wish Brian’s wedges would have turned out better. I think the idea behind them was quite creative. I give James credit for introducing color. Almost all the other entries were black or some other neutral. And his execution of the shoe was flawless as one would expect from someone with his background. I like the show. I will like it a whole lot more when Eva gets the boot.
http://asskickingadviser.com/ Ass Kicking Adviser

You watched the show with Laura B.? I’m jealous. I want to watch PR with Laura B!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nasser-Shaheen/100001316048618 Nasser Shaheen

Wow, Swarovski makes some really butt-ugly stuff. That necklace James chose was just…I do not understand it. Those shoes were terrible. And he should have gone home for that stupid headband. As I said to the husband while we were watching, who the f wears a headband except Olivia Newton-John in 1981. Unless you are ONJ in 1981, no to headbands. He said Wonder Woman wears one but she wears a tiara and she’s a princess, different thing altogether.

Overall the issue everyone is having is editing. Less, less, less would have gone a long way this week. Less crystals especially.

I don’t get this show, are they meant to be making stuff that is wearable or ‘fashion’ stuff (ie. arty stuff no one would ever wear but would look nice in a display case)? Because Crazy Eyes had the only items this week that were remotely wearable.

Also, can someone please identify which of the men are gay – I guess James, David and Pocket Bear Brian are straight (rats about Brian). Actually I really just want confirmation that Adrian is gay – because Chocolate Chunk Brown Bear is fine and I do like at least one piece of gay eye-candy on these shows. They need to be gay before I can find them attractive…don’t ask me why but no matter how hot they are if they’re not on our team I just can’t feel the love.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Lucía-Gavello/1253586868 Lucía Gavello

Does anyone else think that James’ shoes would go perfectly with Bert’s jumpsuit for the avant garde challenge… “What are you dressing as for Halloween? The eighties on a blender”
Anonymous

This show is so confusing! The challenge: create jewelery inspired by….other jewelry. Also add that jewelry to an already over-accessorized ensemble so we can’t tell what you designed and what was the “inspiration” piece. Also this woman with hair that Joan Collins would have turned her nose up at in the 80′s will be walking around and gazing meaningfully at you but she will not say anything coherent and will suddenly leave mid-sentence. Also! There is no clear objective for judging your work; commercial, editorial, avant-garde? Who knows? Who cares! We’ll be judging and dismissing you based on your skin color, ahem, urban-ness anyway so it doesn’t matter if you make a sagging mustard pump or fasten your cuff with safety pins. If you are creep with floppy hair or a bug eyed LA stylist you will be safe, as long as you stay white. Carry on!
Laura Lee Washburn

I was a little troubled to see the black women leave the show back to back. I was also rooting for the guy that didn’t complete the challenge though. I liked what he did with the dress and I thought it was as good as an accessory. I think that the no matchy match rule is getting a little too lawlike, and it strikes me that if you’re working on an accessory collection things are going to match even though you might not expect your customer to buy all the pieces.
Anonymous

Ugh, James is so creepy and I really can’t stand him. Just the way he speaks, and how he describes his work, just makes him so unlikeable. Especially after he should’ve gone home last week…what the hell was that shell/flower combo? It looked like something from the luau section of Party Fair!! I think they only kept him around because he’s a shoe designer and they wanted to see how he’d do in a shoe challenge. He also goes way too far with the accessories….what the hell was that headband?! He needs to tone it down in my opinion
http://www.facebook.com/people/Anthony-Cady/741359257 Anthony Cady

I’m going to go out on a limb here – I’ve taught accessory design at both FIT and SCAD – the quality and finish of these designs is amazingly bad. They need to retool challenges or timing so that the quality of the work improves. There is potential for a really good show here but not in this format. A cookie cutter copy of Runway won’t work here.

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