Runway Monday: YOU Choose Your Materials! (PR 12:5)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a luxurious, high-end mini collection of three looks. If they chose, they could get their inspiration from the Lexus 2014 IS sedans they drove through the city to pick up their unconventional materials. These materials came from four disparate merchants, including a store that sold vintage wallpaper, a specialty food store, and a combination home goods and party store.

For my model, I chose Esperanza, because she’s Mattel’s Speed Racer Trixie Barbie. For my materials, I chose from beads and ribbons at a fabric store, waxed paper from a craft store, and a fabric remnant from a discount retailer.


Esperanza’s hat and blouse are made from waxed paper that reminded me of the checkered flag used in auto racing.


The embellishment on the hat, a red bead pinned inside a silver loop that resembles a gear, were evocative of the Lexus’s lights. The red circle is repeated on her earrings and on the button on the back of her belt.


Esperanza’s shoes, from Mattel, made me think of silver rims and tires.


Cutting the checkered fabric into circles, then using the polka dotted fabric for the slacks, indicates movement.


I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s design. See you next time on the runway!

Previous designs this season:

Episode 12:4: Tie the Knot
Episode 12:3: An Unconventional Coney Island
Episode 12:2: Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

11 thoughts on “Runway Monday: YOU Choose Your Materials! (PR 12:5)”

    1. When PR provides me with a car and a budget to travel all over Houston to find unconventional materials that will work at 1:6 scale, I’ll be delighted not to be limited by time, money, and transportation to using what I have available.

  1. What a gorgeous outfit, but my first thought echoed Marika’s. “Becky did not heed Tim’s tirade on the losing team.” Point taken in your response, though. I honestly thought they would send both Sue and Ken home last week.

    1. Thanks!

      I can believe the eliminated designer is able to sew very well by hand. But I don’t get how anyone would come onto the show not understanding that time constraints mandate using machines. At 1:6 scale, I can often sew an outfit faster by hand, but that doesn’t work on real-life sizes. Before you go on the show, at least learn to thread the machine, deal with bobbins, and adjust tension and stitch size. Even if you can’t find a store for a demonstration, there are online tutorials for Brother machines. I’ve watched some of them myself.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *