PA: Salute to Cameltoe!

Kellie Osbourne did bring some much needed life to the judges’ panel. When she called David’s get too much Euro Trash than she can handle, I seriously cracked up

I’m gonna miss Nicolina Royale (change that “l” to a “t” and you’ve got a great name for a chainsmoking drag queen, am I right?). It’ll be good, though, to see the camera time spread about more equitably. I had some hopes for her, thinking of leathuh Stella on PR, but she never really delivered.

For all her rock’n'roll bravado, it cracked me up when she had to switch to a demure whisper when talking to Eva about crotches. She didn’t speak of the feet of desert animals, and I think she even used the term “lady area.”

Oh, David. That hat. I know what he had in mind with the outfit–skiing made sense to me–but…oh, no. Even the model couldn’t sell it; her facial expression suggested a very reluctant mail-order bride.

I don’t know what to do with myself.

A Design competition that actually CARES about design. What a pleasure to see people go home that actually didn’t measure up to the task. Thank God. Because Nicolina’s eyes were starting to give me some really Dali-esque dreams.

Though I haven’t been watching the show, I gotta say, it doesn’t look all that bad.

It also seems that crystal jewlery is another accessory form of an LBD.

David: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! I loved that Kelley Osbourne was pointing out how ridiculous and useless your accessories were. The child of Ozzy was the voice of reason. Legwarmers and open-toed shoes. Has this guy ever even seen a picture of Colorado? Can he find it on a map?

One thing I will say about Eva — her comment to Nicolina about the belt was right on target. N was so worried about covering up the model’s crotch that she ended up making it the focus. Point a great, big arrow at it and then hang strings off of it so that the conversation immediately goes to tampons. (By the way, that was exactly what I was thinking, too, when the model came out on the runway.) That said, if what’s-his-name shoe guy hadn’t had immunity, I think that Nicotina would still be in the running.
 
The funny thing is that the winner combined the concepts that went into the two losing entries but did them in an understated, tasteful way, rich woman on vacation at a resort with some long thing hanging off her belt to draw attention away from her crotch. This judging was about successful execution of an idea, and it was so refreshing to see that after the travesty of PR this time around.

Ugh I didn’t like this challenge at all. Not necessarily because of the bodysuits, but just because the challenge was “make it look wearable for everyday”. Seriously?! I loved Christina’s look, but there’s no way I could see anyone walking down the street in that.

And WHY did they need to send 2 designers home?!?! I can see if at the end of the judging, there were 2 clear losers of the challenge, and they decided to just send both of them packing. But why decide before the runway show?! And I just realized that David is always carrying a stachel during the runway show….what is that?

And I agree, I’m surprised Crazy Eyes was kicked off!!! I really thought Shea would be sent home just because Crazy Eyes is reality tv gold. So glad Shea was safe, I’d like to see what she does in future challenges.

And OMG James’ look was absolutely horrifying!!!! I think they should’ve rescinded his win from last week, because he should’ve been sent home. I’m glad Molly pointed out that he was lucky to be safe this week, he’s so cocky and I don’t think he has any idea of what’s tasteful.

Aaand my last point haha…Eva is a terrible mentor. When you’re used to someone like the incredible Tim Gunn, Eva falls so flat. She seems to have no emotion or attachment to the designers, and all she says is “Think about that…” and walks away. Umm yea, I’m sure they’re thinking about a lot of things. Great advice, thanks so much. And when the designers get sent home, notice how she’s not in the room to say goodbyes and give hugs like Tim? Not saying that’s her choice, probably a choice of the producers, but it would seem like she had more of an attachment to them if she were there.

I’m glad Nicolina went home.  Anyone who thinks pubic dreadlocks are a good way to hide (possible) camel toe needs to skedaddle.

This was the first episde I’ve watched all the way through.  Nicolina was so entertaining–I am surprized she was sent home.  I kinda liked the necklace–I will be making one very soon.  Anyway–I’m happy the judges were allowed to send home someone who, while may be good TV, didn’t have the chops to make the cut.  it shows some integrity on the part of the producers, IMHO. 
I am not surprized that David went home–those legwarmers were laugh-inducing.  Plus, he seemed way to quiet and nice for reality TV. 
Absolutely loved the big crystal ring that Rich made.  And I disagree with you here, gentlemen, as I loved the big purple belt.  What I did not love whas the huge mohawk.  What the heck? 

To be fair, a black bodysuit is going to look instantly more chic than a hot pink one. I’m not surprised that the top looks featured two dark bodysuits and the bottom featured two bright ones. 

Here’s what bugs me about this show…they do not make it clear, what each contenstant made and is being judged on versus what they grabbed from the accessory wall.  When Christina’s model walked out, they showed photos of the belt, the earrings, and the cuff.  Had she not specifically said “I made the turban” I would have thought that came from the eBay fashion accessory wall (and I won’t even begin to address how strange that phrase is).

I’ve seen it happen in previous episodes too.  Just pointing out how annoying that is.

This is the first time I’ve watched PA, and I thought both the show and the challenge have some serious flaws.  I doubt it was coincidence that the winning and second place looks were both based on a black bodysuit.  That’s so much easier to make chic than the hot pink.  Anyone with the hot pink should have been encouraged to hack that suit as small as possible because having it was a serious disadvantage. Even the guy with immunity would have been on the chopping block with his pink look.

I agree that Eva isn’t fun to watch and she doesn’t fit the mentor role.  But I think the bigger issue is that forcing the contestants to make 3 or more accessories every time leads to the mediocre, and a fair amount of sameness.  Everyone is making a cuff because they’re faster and everyone is making crystals because of the bins of them.  I’m already kind of bored with what they’re producing and I’ve only seen one show. 

Kenneth Cole is kind of cranky but I loved the look on his face when both Kelly and Molly said they loved dangerous jewelry.  The disconnect is that both of those women wear borrowed jewelry to be photographed in and care about camera appeal more than anything.  They can take it off as soon as the cameras are gone if it hurts.  The women who are actually going to buy jewelry and wear it multiple times aren’t going to be happy with something that’s uncomfortable.  Kenneth is a retailer so I’m not surprised he was perplexed by their answer.  It’s the wrong one for retail. 

I don’t know who Kelly Osborn is, but she had exactly the same reaction I did to David’s work:  “Who wears leg warmers with open-toed shoes?”

Yeah, every time they adapt the underlying garment, I get annoyed. It really breaks the conceit of the show that it’s the accessories that make each look distinct. I actually thought this was most egregious in the blue jeans + t-shirt challenge, because they did an unholy mess of shit to a classic pairing that should have been a testament to how versatile such a pairing can be with accessories, but that was me. 
Still really bored with the show (not because of the people but mostly because I can’t even get an idea of what the hell they’re working on half the time; accessories not being on dressforms, generally, it’s very muddled and confusing to watch. Also too many damn people at the moment). Wish it didn’t have a runway, because I can see jack shit of what’s going on most of the time, much like WoA. I think it’d be funny if they sent the models down a conveyer belt doing their best mannequin impressions – the outfit would be important, but also the styling of the general tableau (the way accessories are generally marketed, from what I see, especially what with the general focus in advertising on accessories since that’s what big brands make their big bucks from) would be important. How does your model pose to best showcase the pieces? What can you downplay, what can you upsell, what can you imply from the character you’ve created? 
That’s me though.

this show should be called Project Cuff. That’s all I see; huge chunky cuffs. Gross.

I really wish I had time to watch this. It looks fun and like everyone’s (mostly) an adult. But i’m swamped with work and also participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month, for those not in the know), so my time is just evaporating. I hardly have time to check this website! But thanks for the posts and maybe I can rent the series when my life calms down a bit, say, in about 20 years.

Edited to add: I LOVE the winning earrings. I would totally wear them. Can’t do a cuff because I have short arms and it would reach up to my elbow. And I’m not wearing a turban–it would flatten my bangs! Although I do have one of my mother’s from the 1960s.

I tended to get a whiff of the Bert Syndrome with Nicotina, where the “older person” is just seen as too outspoken and wacky by everyone. Granted, she was no where nearly as talented as Bert but there still was this sense that at Thanksgiving dinner she would be the one expected to drink too much and go on about wanting to schtupp Iggy Pop and then take off her caftan and just sit and eat in her bra. Meanwhile, the younger folk are simply outraged – outraged, I tells ya! – with all her talk of the camel’s toe and what not, probably code words for food rationing during the war. 

I don’t like the clothes transformation either. There should be a rule! One designer made a skirt, which is wrong, and looked awful to boot. I really didn’t like the humongous belts that were custom designed for use with a bodysuit. Christina’s belt was a little too “blousy” to be used with anything that wasn’t a body hugging shape. But the turban was pure genius!

Several of my former students from FIT and SCAD design for Kenneth Cole.   Which is at 603 West 50th.    Hmm…

I am loving this show.  I would have rejoiced if Shea had rather than Nicoletta because I hated every single piece Shea created and I hated the pieces together even more.  A white bodysuit with those cheapy black accessories?  Really?  It just reeked of the 80s including the model’s styling.  I loved Rich’s necklace and ring and…hear me out…I think David deserved brownie points for attempting to make something other than the standard belt, necklace and ring.  This is Project Accessory contestants, not Project BeltRingNecklace.  I want to see more of the contestants think outside of the box and really wow us.  Maybe Kelly can join the dais permanently.  As the only real consumer voice up there, she is a needed dose of reality. She was funny, honest and perceptive. 

I too was surprised they sent Nicolina home because of her reality star quality.  But I was proud of them for doing so.  The mentor on this show (Eva?) – is terrible!  She is NO Tim Gunn.  Not that anyone could ever be Tim – but she’s not even close.  There is no love, no support.  It’s like she’s walking around just to be an authority or something.  Not a good choice at all.  Don’t like the judges either.  Nor the host, too stiff.  But I like the show.  But who knows, maybe they’ll all warm up after doing it for a few weeks.  

I liked Nicolina’s belt. I don’t think she should have been auffed because it was turned the wrong way when the guy who made a skirt was in. I also think nobody with the neon colors was able to “transform” their body suit only those with the muted colors were told they did. Picture Nicolina’s belt on a black body suit and she also would have been “fashion forward for including brown” 

And I liked Nicolina’s necklace the best. I also liked the big triangle necklace, it was edgy and different and hated the copper clown collar. That looked costume-y and crafty to me.