On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create an unconventional look using materials they could get from a trip to the hardware store. They also had to create an accessory to go with it. I went to Houston’s fantastic Southland Hardware. This is one of my favorite places–since it’s in a neighborhood full of old homes, we can always count on them to stock things for our eighty-year-old house–or know where we can get what we need.
Southland also provides little bags of popcorn free to their customers, and since Tim and his boss were with me for part of my shopping trip, I helped The Big H discover the delights of my favorite snack.
Then I picked up a few things:
Dry wall repair kit, skid-proof shelf liner, silver chain, furniture repair kit, paint cones.
I wasn’t too worried about coming up with a design. After all, I’ve used unconventional materials before, and Summer has always…
Oh, yeah. Summer. I heard from her and she said she’s so busy she’s barely keeping afloat these days. Translation:
Does anyone remember the second season of Charlie’s Angels? The first episode, when we find out Jill Munroe won’t be returning? Jill Munroe, who was played by the late Farrah Fawcett? The same Farrah Fawcett who was WRONGLY NOT INCLUDED in the tribute section of Sunday night’s Oscars?
But I digress. As the second season begins, although Jill will no longer be helping the other angels, she’s sent someone in her place: younger sister Kris Munroe, played by Cheryl Ladd.
No, Cheryl Ladd isn’t this week’s model. Ready to find out who is?
Meet Cassidy, younger sister of Summer and Lacy.
Because Cassidy’s got a bright, upbeat look, I wanted to dress her in something that was light and pretty.
I shaped her skirt out of one of the paint cones, cutting it short, and covered it with delicate, irregular strips cut from the shelf liner.
The loose weave of the material gives the dress an airy look.
I used very little material on the bodice, just enough to maintain some modesty. The belt is made of metal strips from the furniture repair kit and is the accessory I created.
I kept her back bare to make it more of a party dress.
Her shoes are silver to match the belt.
A final look.
Thanks, Cassidy, for being as good a model as your two older sisters and for having a little of that Farrah magic.
See the rest of you next time on the runway!
For my previous looks:
PR 7:6–A Little Bit of Fashion
PR 7:5–Run for Cover
PR 7:4–Design Your Heart Out
PR 7:3–The Highs and Lows of Fashion
PR 7:2–The Fashion Farm
PR 7:1–Back to New York
Summer and Ken’s boat is a gift from
Gorgeous! Why wasn’t that on the red carpet last night..?
Thank you so much! Shelf liner is obviously undeserving of being such an under-appreciated fabric among masters of couture. 😉
Isn’t Cassidy gorgeous! “She’s gorge!”
That dress is cute as heckfire.
Thank you very much. Want me to send you the leftover shelf liner? 😉
I’ve been lookigg forward to seeing that you’d do withthis challenge. As expected… Way cool. I love the summery feel of it. Unlike a lot of last week’s designers, yours is totally wearable and not costumey at all.
Becky, can you make a lifesize copy for Garry..?
I’d wear it…if I was a girl…and if I was pretty…and if I had the legs and boobs to pull it off. LOL
All you need is a razor and the right hormones. :o)
Fortunately, I can’t afford that. =0)
No, but I can send him the leftover shelf liner…
IT’S MINE
Thanks, Gary. My first version, which I threw away, was AWFUL. I liked this one much better.
What a fun party dress! I especially like the belt you made.
Thanks, Lisa. And thanks for the boat. I’m going to have to get more creative about props now… Though you DO have a dog who carries dolls around in her mouth. Hmmm….
What a fun dress! I love the color, and Cassidy looks great in it. ABFAB!
PS – Totally agree about Farrah Fawcett. The fact that she was a member of the Actor’s Branch of the Academy (her name is listed on the Academy’s “In Memoriam” page for 2009) makes her exclusion all the more puzzling.
Thank you, thank you very much.
I’m sure you, of all people, were distressed about the snub to Bea Arthur. What was WRONG with those organizers? Crazy.
And how ’bout the guy who got Kanye’d? I wish I’d known what Kanye’ing is before that night FARB snatched our award from us. Did you by chance read that the man’s mother allegedly stuck out her cane to keep the woman from getting to the stage? (And she wasn’t SUPPOSED to get to the stage. Apparently, this is a long and acrimonious story. Gotta love it when the curtain comes up to expose the uglier side of show business, huh?)
I saw that about his mother today, too. LOL
That was very strange. My first thought was “Security!Who’s protecting Meryl?!”
I was surprised they didn’t cut her off sooner than they did. She really looked crazed, like she didn’t care if she never worked in Hollywood again. But you know, she was right about the fact that the guy who spoke first took off like a bat out of Hell when “Music by Prudence” (which I am DYING to see now!) was named the winner. If you go back and watch the video you’ll see he is running down the aisle.
I was wondering what you were going to make — I was a little concerned that you weren’t gonig to be able to make something signature Becks (fun and feminine ) at a hardware store. Of course I had no need to worry — this is so adorable, and I love the belt especially.
Yes, the Farrah thing was disappointing, but what bothered me was … HELLO WE DON’T LET ROGER CORMAN SPEAK? Other then that I was pretty pleased, it was a good night for girls.
A good night for girls, but I also give props to Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. They had good chemistry and the interplay with George Clooney was funny.
Thanks for your comments on the design!
I think it’s a super fun design, and I love the way the color of that shelf liner seems to become something more than dull & drab that I always associate with the stuff.
But I thought during past challenges where the designers had to utilize unconventional materials the judges came down particularly hard on those who chose materials that were too reminiscent of being fabric. i.e. the table clothes that half the contestants choose in the Gristede’s challenge of Season 5, Episode 1.
Sadly, when one is working on 1:6 scale, there aren’t a lot of options without using something fabric-like. Very few things are pliable enough to fit a fashion doll Barbie’s size.
If there were cameras on me, as there are on PR, you could see this progression of my process:
Not only would most hardware damage the doll, but I’ve learned my weaknesses from previous challenges. Even if I bought the hundreds of tiny pieces of hardware that someone else might be able to string into a dress (Mark G. Harris, for example), beads have taught me that I’m no good at that.
In an effort to be true to the spirit of the challenge, I avoided easier things like rags and tape, which were plentiful. I also wanted to use something different from anything the PR designers used for this challenge. I could have braided exclusion tape, for example, to look like yellow leather, because I’m good at braiding, but Jay did that.
Finally, I handicapped myself by not developing a pattern and cutting the liner to that, as I would have with true fabric.
You are so clever with your creations, Becky 🙂
On another note, I can’t believe Farrah Fawcett was left out of the Oscars’ tribute. What were the organisers thinking?
I didn’t watch the show but earlier in the day I briefly envisaged both she and Patrick Swayze being honoured in that section. What a shame 🙁
I only hope her family weren’t too hurt by the omission.
Thanks, Christina! =)
Farrah deserved better.