Menswear impaired

Dear Tim,

In past Project Runway challenges, it seems like menswear is the most difficult to sew and yet looking at it from the outside, men’s clothing do not have a lot of variety. They’re either long or short sleeves, button-up or polo shirt style. Pants are either flat front or pleated, cuffed or not cuffed.

I must say that the difficulty of this challenge made it so funny to watch. Poor Sweet P I couldn’t bear to look at the TV when her model started walking down the runway. I mean, the model looked like he had a mummified neck with the unfinished collar unsuccessfully hidden with the tie. And Carmen, I totally agree with Michael Kors when he said he can’t judge based on “what could’ve been”. The scarf-turned-shawl was an ingenious workaround, but you can’t hide the bare skin underneath it for long! But honestly, I wasn’t ready to see you go so early in the game!

I really liked Kit’s design. The fleece jacket looked suprisingly good and comfy! But props to Jack for editing his design and creating two finished pieces instead of being ambitious to do 3 or 4, which was the mistake for most designers.

By the way, Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping was so-so. This year, retailers are just not throwing enough discounts and coupons to entice me to buy much. Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I’m about 30% done, and proud to say that I’ve started wrapping them up as well!

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!

Bitten doesn’t mean you should be spitt’n!

Dear Tim,

I’m sorry but I have to switch to high school mode – EW EW EW! Who SPITS to leave their mark? Cats and dogs leave their pee to mark their territory, but that’s because they can’t use tools like chalk or signage!

But that’s not gonna ruin my show! When I saw SJP (that’s Sarah Jessica Parker for us non-Hollywood citizens) walk in the design room, I was beyond ecstatic! I almost teared up when I saw Chris tearing up! She is absolutely my fashion icon in my generation.

So this is what I think of our designer’s performance in this challenge:

Kit (with Chris) – LOVE it! I would buy that sweater in a hearbeat!

Victorya (with Kevin) – Love the dress and the side pockets but again, you need to incorporate color in your designs! [Congrats on winning the challenge!]

Rami (with Jillian) – It’s a little ordinary looking.

Christian (with Carmen) – No, no, no. It’s back on 80’s dance floor with a space cadet jacket! See what happens when you don’t listen to Tim?

Ricky – Well done! But you have some waterworks issues you need to work on!

Marion (with Steve) – Can anyone say Welcome to Thunderdome? [Sorry to see you go Marion, but your design really just was too sad and dirty looking).

Well, I hope you’ll have a lovely Thanksgiving! To keep this fashion related, is it appropriate to wear boots in 80 degree weather? I’m planning to wear a boatneck dress with tights and boots at our dinner tomorrow, but now I’m rethinking my choice of footwear. I may have to just re-work the outfit and wear ballet flats instead.
Hopefully I’ll score some fashion finds this Friday that I can share with you!

No time to settle in

Dear Tim,

I couldn’t help but cringe when I saw Elisa rub that fabric on grass! Granted, it’s Bryant Park grass, but it’s still grass! If you can’t respect the material, then the material won’t respect you! No wonder her dress came out looking like a pile of rags (and it does not have “sculptural quality”)!

So here’s my take on our designers so far:

Carmen, gorgeous girl, reminds me of Kelis. I hope her personal style shines through the clothes that she will make.

Chris, not so fond of your fabric choices, but maybe you can work some miracles with it.

Christian, you shouldn’t have turned your nose up on those tent fabrics. Your ego will bite you in the a**!

Jack, very kind of you to lend your scissors to your competition. Bonus points for that.

Jillian, loved the side pockets on your culottes outfit. Kinda short but cute.

Kit, not very memorable for me. You do remind me of Kate Hudson for some reason though.

Kevin, looks like you can sew well.

Marion, you look like the quiet type.

Rami, yes you can drape but that shape and style is not unique at all.

Ricky, you definitely tailored that baby doll dress well.

Simone, so you may need to practice on your sewing skill, but that pop of canary yellow belting between the salmon pink and the silver with the brocade jacket is brilliant in my book. If you don’t win this season, head over to Anthropologie for a job. [addendum: Elisa should've been kicked out!]

Steven, you’re always smiling when you talk which is endearing.

Sweet P, loved that you took off your shoes and gave your all to get to those fabrics!

Victorya, you remind me of Vera Wang. I wish you didn’t pick black fabric though.

I wished Simone didn’t get kicked out so early in the competition. Elisa reminds me of Angela, really, she’s just too out there!

Dear Tim: My blog needs a little stylin’

But that’s because momma got no money to get myself my own hosting.  No matter, this works for now. It’s understated, minimalistic, and serves the purpose. 

So I haven’t seen you in a while! Well, that’s a lie, really. I saw your show. It’s not horrible. I just haven’t warmed up to it. I saw one episode, and I thought maybe it will get better. Veronica’s not a bad sidekick. And you’re still a counselor of sorts in the show. But I feel that you’re so much more than that. And although the show focuses on helping women change their lives through the acceptance of one’s self through fashion, I find it a bit boring and predictable. Sorry, Tim.

 On the bright side, Project Runway season 4 starts tonight! I ate dinner early, washed the dishes, and ready to hit the couch after my DVR records a half hour worth of the show. So see you soon, and hope this season’s a good one.

Carry on, J