(I can do that, too, Mark G. Harris.)
This week on Bravo, the Project Runway designers were challenged to design a cocktail dress with their models as their clients. Their task was to use green textiles; that is, textiles that are environmentally responsible: no synthetics, no poisonous dyes and that, when appropriate, were organically-grown. The other part of the challenge was that the models, not the designers, went to Mood to pick out the fabrics. EEK!
If you think the PR designers were a little freaked, imagine the reactions of the Runway Monday designers, Mark G. Harris, Teej, and me–our models are made of PLASTIC. What do they know about green?
My fears seemed justified when Summer presented me with:
dark green satin and a bundle of raffia ribbon. RAFFIA?
I could have thrown the raffia in the trash, but since Summer picked it and I was designing for her, I simply considered it another part of my challenge. I envisioned her attending a Manhattan cocktail party hosted by Al “King of Green” Gore and his wife, Tipper, to honor several dignitaries from Madagascar, the Philippines, Cameroon, and Nigeria, where the raffia palm grows and is an important part of the countries’ cultures.
When Summer mentioned Grace Kelly as one of her fashion icons, I knew immediately how I wanted to dress her. Her instinct about fabric color that would contrast with yet complement her hair and skin was good. My design evokes 1940s understated glamor with its scooped neck, cap sleeves, and peplum waist over a three-paneled pencil skirt. Using the organic raffia ribbon–with a little drama in the back–to cinch the waist and to accent Summer’s shoes brings the design a twenty-first century global sensibility.
A small slit up the back seam of the skirt allows Summer to walk comfortably.
A playful effect with the raffia keeps the belting from blandness.
A clutch purse in the same fabric doesn’t distract from the dress and has a raffia catch.
Summer’s cocktail dress is proof that it IS easy being green.
To see last week’s design:
Chic, feline and with great first-impact that lasts upon repeated viewings! I like the silhouette and colors, Becky. I’m nervous about the decision.
Thank you. So far, the camaraderie of the designers is lovely. Our models, however…
Yeah. : )
That back V makes her neck look like a swan’s. Kudos.
I didn’t see any feathers.
Next time!
I agree with Mark; it’s a very classic and classy design. Summer looks great.
Thank you so much. =)
bravo, Becky! Very classy, like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” meets “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Thank you, Chris. So I’m thinking Al Gore will like it. 😉
Hi, Summer!! Peace-out! Oh my God, that guy in the TRESemmé hair salon is, like, totally mad at you ’cause you haven’t returned his back hair trimmer, yet. What’s up!!
Oh, look. It’s Figaroper.
LMAO!!!!
EEEK! POLYESTER!!!
You should see the pics of you Summer took with her camera phone and sold to Perez Hilton.
Question for Summer
Summer, was this the dress you wanted?
Re: Question for Summer
It’s perfect! Okay, it turned out to be wool satin, but it was nothing an oatmeal bath didn’t take care of–and I was the one who picked the fabric! If Becks hadn’t used it, I’d be walking down the runway in all raffia.
Re: Question for Summer
Was that bath with or without raisins?
Re: Question for Summer
Eeeewwwww.
Very classy, Becky!!
Thank you, Gary.
Ohhhh… I love this color on her!! And the skirt makes it appear that her legs go on forever. The front of the dress is all classy and sleek while in the back the deep V up top and the slit down below are all about the sex. Great job!
Thank you, Mary. I hope the new guest judge agrees with you.
Wow! Love the bag, love the shoes, it all works. And it’s green too! Natalie Portman would be pleased, I’m sure.
Harrumph. After she forever ruined Star Wars, who cares what that little tramp thinks?
You can’t blame her for that. Three words: Jar Jar Binks. ‘Nuff said.
Jar Jar showed more emotional range than that little tramp.
Merci beaucoup, David. PR’s guest judge Natalie would probably look better in this dress than Guest Judge TJBTimmy–it would clash with his eyes, I think.
I love the silhouette!
Thank you so much. =)
Ha! I just took a look at your user pic.
IS that slit in the back straight?
As straight as you are, Judge Miranda Priestly.
(Greg, however…)
Or as straight as the lines on Heidi Gunn’s mirror.
Damn. Good one!
You thought of everything with this dress!
A small slit up the back seam of the skirt allows Summer to walk comfortably.
She’s probably walking more comfortably than Nikki is with her broken hip.
Thank you.
Poor Nikki!
Or Figaro with her alcohol problem…
…AND her trick pelvis.
[breaks from character]
You gotta love a model with no brains and a trick pelvis. And by “gotta,” I mean “everyone should.”
More like ‘everyone has.”
I do love the v back … very stylish… in fact I love it all except for the Joan Collins wing hips.
I think we should talk about it, because the other two designers are getting WAY more comments than I am. And I don’t even have a malfunctioning “captcha” thing like that other web site where I just tried to leave a comment, like, ten times. When they get it fixed, probably every one of my comments will show up, and I’ll look like an idiot.
Unlike Summer, who looks MARVELOUS.
Have you resulted to noting yourself?!
Half their notes are trash talking model, be glad that Summer at least pretends to be a lady.
Pretends being the operative word there.
I have it on reliable authority that all the pics and gossip on Perez Hilton and TMZ about Figaro and Nikki came from Summer. SO diabolical….gets a thumps up from me!
You and Heidi Gunn are my Gurus of Evil.
If one must learn, might as well learn from the best.
your 7 notes behind … LORD!!
I am trying to catch her up, but I can’t do it alone.
It doesn’t help that one of my readers is getting some kind of gross medical procedure done today. I neeeeeed her.
(Hope all went okay. I’d call you, but I don’t want to interfere with the good buzz you got from the anesthesia.)
Was Figarotten behind this?
Figarotten.
Giggle.
from Jim
Nicely executed Beck… haven’t seen the others yet, but yours is much prettier than I pictured from what you described to me over the phone…. (which also wasn’t bad)…
love the V in the back.. for “Very Distinctive”….
Re: from Jim
Thank you so much, Jim. =)
My favorite color! The green, that is. You should get a prize simply for great use of raffia that didn’t involve Martha Stewart.
Thanks! That is a GREAT point about Martha Stewart. Although with the extra raffia, I can always weave some placemats.
Top marks for inventive use of raffia . . .
Especially on the shoes!