On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to choose from one of five film genres: film noir, period piece, western, sci-fi, or action-adventure. They had to create a look for their model as if she were an actress cast in that genre. For the first time, it was okay for the designers to create a costume.
Of course, I was horrified. Come up with a character? A story? What?!? Oh, yeah. That’s what I do, isn’t it? I knew exactly which of my models to use for this challenge: Meggie, because her original name, Maggie, came from one of the first characters I created when I was but a ‘tween, who just happened to be–an actress!
I decided to cast her in a period piece with equal dashes of romantic comedy and fantasy.The story: Meggie plays a young woman living in present-day Manhattan. The child of a family of over-achievers, including three older siblings, Meggie can’t seem to figure out what she wants to do with her life. She has a bohemian spirit.
After another disappointing family gathering, she leaves her parents’ Upper East Side apartment. She’s so busy texting her BFF that she doesn’t see what the camera sees: She’s stepping directly into the path of a man on a restaurant delivery bike.
BAM! Meggie falls in slow motion, hitting her head on a little iron fence surrounding a tree. When she opens her eyes, she has to focus hard to distinguish a face among the leaves of the tree overhead. It belongs to a handsome man with a concerned expression as he calls for her to wake up. The twist? He’s one of a group of late nineteenth-century Roma families somewhere in Europe. They call themselves Travellers (you may be more familiar with the name they no longer use, Gypsies). Though what they own is meager, they warmly welcome Meggie into their lives. One of the first things the women do is pool their bits of fabric, from the most treasured to the lowliest scrap, to make Meggie’s first dress.
Here’s how she looks.
A dress of silks, crepes, and tulle embellished with sequins.
Even her stockings were sewn with the same tulle used on the skirt.
A costume gold necklace emphasizes Meggie’s beautiful long neck,
while the sequins on the skirt are repeated with her earrings.
Maybe you’ll see the rest of Meggie’s story some day on the big screen. Meanwhile, see you next time on the runway!
To see my previous designs for this season:
6:5–Fashion Headliners
6:4–What a Woman Wants
6:3–Rumble on the Runway
6:2–We Expect Fashion
6:1–The Red Carpet
Love the story, love the dress – and Maggie looks like Megan Fox.
Thanks! (Though Megan Fox is not a favorite of mine, she’s undeniably pretty.) This was a fun challenge.
I hoped you’d pick period or film noir. What a gorgeous look. Love the plot for her costume.
“Maybe you’ll see the rest of Maggie’s story some day on the big screen.”
Or in a novel?? =0)
Thank you! Probably not a novel. Historical fiction = too much research.
How come your dresses are always so much more interesting
than the ones on the actual show? Really!
Ha! Maybe because I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Thanks!
I love the dress! Though I couldn’t help my first thought as being, “Califonia gold rush! Immigrant asian madam in California’s wild west, running her local saloon after several of her suitors have mysteriously died after discovering an active gold mine.”
Hey, if it inspires you to create your own story, that’s a win as far as I’m concerned! And such a tantalizing story.
Thanks!
I thought you’d go for film noir!
Stunning frock, though! Very bohemian – and a touch Spanish.
I was tempted by film noir, but I attempted that last season and was shamed for my black cape. (Mean judges.)
Thank you for the compliments–and Tom also thought it had a Spanish influence.
Funny I think the judges were spot on with their judgement of capes. Superheros, dogs and Liberace.
Let it go. My holding on to The Great Cape Debacle is enough for all of us.
Gorgeous! Those colors are perfect for her hair.
I had other plans for the fabric I used on the skirt, but this challenge screamed for it, so I gave in.
Thanks so much!
To quote the always quotable Thelma Ritter, “What a story! Everything but the bloodhounds snappin’ at her rear end.”
And what a dress!
And what a dress!
Now David, I’m a Southerner, and Southerners are sly devils when it comes to giving a compliment. We know that “What a baby!” means, “Hon, somebody switched your infant with the offspring of Jimmy Durante and Phyllis Diller. You might want to check Bubba Junior’s DNA.”
Still, as a Southerner, I’m also bound to say, “Thank you.”
When my grandfather delivered a really ugly baby, when
they asked him what he thought he always said, “Now THAT’S
what I call a baby!”
Sometimes I believe tact is a lost art. And at this point, Jim would be saying, “There’s Marla Hooch! What a hitter!” (A League of Their Own)
Bahahaaaa! I love that movie with all my heart.
Yowza! And they call us New Yorkers cynical!
Allow me to tell you a little story…
When I was a freshman in high school I appeared in the drama club’s spring production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. I played the part of the Maintenance Man, and my one and only line came just after the office tramp – Hedy LaRue – appears on stage in a “Paris Original” gown. The girl playing Hedy stood center stage, hands on her hips, blowing kisses at the audience, as I entered from stage right, carrying an aluminum bucket. Upon seeing Hedy my character froze, dropped his bucket, and exclaimed “What a dress!”
When I said “What a dress!” I meant WHAT A DRESS!
THANK YOU! I was just pulling your leg. Besides, we’re both too young to know who Jimmy Durante and Phyllis Diller are.
Hey, wait. Did you just call Maggie a tramp? Is this leading toward some Cher reference?
That dress is a dream. You’re a dream-maker.
Bless you for not calling it a nightmare. THANKS!
These Teresa dolls are so beautiful, aren’t they?
eek My comment vanished!
I was saying that that dress is in no way a nightmare and it makes me anticipate even more your final collection.
Also, I agree completely about these Teresas. I found out they’re using the Lara face on these, and it’s an alluring sculpt!
crossing my fingers this reply doesn’t go off into the netherworld
success!
Yay! I wonder how many more challenges there are before the final collection?
I miss seeing what you and Tim design for challenges. I suspect y’all don’t miss it at all.
Have you seen that challenge Tiny Seams is doing? http://www.couturedoll.com/index.html
Whoa, I had no idea about that couturedoll challenge! Thank you! I wonder how much time they have to work on their designs? Stunning. And what a neat first challenge, about Austin Powers’ first lady.
And yeah, I don’t envy you some of your challenges (pregnancy? yikes!) this season. This one looks like it was cool for the imagination, and the paper dress challenge looked like that would’ve been fun. I’d be like, “We only get to do one paper dress? Rats!”
I’m not watching the show, but I get caught up on it very nicely when I see your Monday entries, so thanks. : )
Also I just realized, last year we had from Wednesday night to Sunday night to think up a design and cut it out and sew it, so you’ve really got it tough this season, short a day, since the show airs on Thursdays.
It hasn’t been so bad. Acquiring some sewing skills made all the difference.
Mad skillz. Are you going to do a photo-visit to High Fashion this year, or do I have to start whining like a pup?
Maybe I’ll save that for the final collection. Although the dogs are already circling the house with signs that say, “More food! Less fabric!”
I love the boots with the fishnets — that was one of my
favorite Poptart looks!
Fishnets are fab. =)
Whoa, I would so join a band of gypsies if I could dress like that! And I have to say, you picked the perfect barbie to model the dress. I can’t wait to see what you do next! 🙂
Thanks! Designing keeps my spirits up when we suffer week after week without snark and truth from Nina and Michael.
(And you should totally see the Birthstones in their new threads–but I won’t be publishing them until late October.)