On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were taken to Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, where circus performers put on a show just for them. They were then asked to create a design inspired by the circus, with a warning to make their look more high-end than costume-like.
Full disclosure: I’m one of those people with mixed feelings about the circus. It’s not the clowns; clowns don’t really bother me. I just feel a little icky about training animals to perform for our amusement. I get that same icky feeling at amusement park animal shows. At least in reputable zoos and aquariums, where an attempt is made to create natural habitats, I feel a little better about the animals.
However, I can enjoy the spectacle of the ringmaster and the human performers, who are there by choice and are paid for their work, so I kept my focus on that circus feature.
It was also refreshing to get this photo from Summer. She’s back home preparing her VERY well-cared-for horses for a special occasion at which they only have to look pretty.
A new model was waiting in the wings to help me present the…greatest show in this journal entry.
For Rachel, I wanted a look that was mostly tailored, with a little bit of whimsy.
Pants of toffee silk are cut into a look that’s a little equestrian, a little safari.
The high waist is balanced by a loose belt of gold chain.
The gold is repeated in buttons on back of the tail coat, a modified version of a classic equestrian coat.
The sheer red mesh of Rachel’s top provides a splash of color.
The same red fabric is used on the coat collar and to embellish the tail of the coat.
See you next time…
This was the last challenge of the regular season. I’m not sure what I’ll present next week, but my final collection will be ready in two weeks. Don’t forget to come back!
For my previous looks:
PR 7:11-Sew Much Pressure
PR 7:10-Hey, That’s My Fabric
PR 7:9–Takin’ It to the Street
PR 7:8–The Elements of Fashion
PR 7:7–Hard Wear
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
Coat fabric and red fabric gift of Lynne. Boots by Mattel for Harley Barbie, gift of Linda.
SPOILER
Tim Gunn is an advisor, or is on the board of PETA, and he asked the producers that they NOT have animal acts, I think it’s nice that they honored his request.
Having said that, I liked Emilio’s dress the most this time around, although the red could have been a bit brighter. I hate saying that because Emilio is a little assier then the others. I think that Jay was blinded by the acrobats chests, and forgot all about the circus, because why else did he design for a bullfight? I liked Seth Aaron and Mila — but really, how many times is Seth Aaron going to redesign that jacket… it’s very similar to three other of his looks And Mila… well it was a little Seth Aaron to me … over all, not impressed… I can’t even address Anthony’s Except for Emilio, blah …
Now on to you, VERY EQUESTRIAN — and you did something the contestants did not! I thought several of their looks were too costumey, I feel that you captured the feel, but didn’t veer into circus freak! I really like it!
Re: SPOILER
I agree with you about Emilio. His attitude gets in the way of me truly liking his work, no matter how goos it is; but you’re right, he had the best dress this time. However, Tim was right he coulda used more color. (Can you beliee he dissed Tim AGAIN in the “confessional”?) I find Mila equaly assy and often redundant in her designs. Seth Aaron is probably my favorite at this point. Jay is talented, but sometimes I wonder “Were you even listening to the specs for this challenge?” Regarding Anthony, all I say is what any polite Southerner would say when there was nothing good to say,”Bless his heart.”
Re: SPOILER
I think Emilio’s attitude toward Tim is one of my chief reasons for disliking him. Even if designer/mentor don’t agree, show the man respect. That friction reflects far more poorly on Emilio than on Tim.
Re: SPOILER
I was glad not to see animals–and had no idea that Tim Gunn was responsible for that. Yay, Tim Gunn!
I agree with all that you said about the designers this time.
And thanks for liking mine. It made me sad that the final design for this season was one for which I felt so little inspiration, but I did try to create something different from the PR designers–often a little bit of a challenge in itself.
Though I could have just stuck a bunch of models in a clown car!
I like it!
Thanks, Mark!
I like the color of the silk for the pants. I agree with Marika about yours being less costumey than the real contestants…but I’ve often been more impressed with yours than theirs. Have you looked into when “auditions” for next season are? =0)
Thank you. I really felt like the top three designs, including Emilio’s, which I liked, were very costumey.
Regarding next season, I’ll compete only if they let me design for Barbie–they can even give me 1/6th of the Mood money for 1:6 scale.
Good morning, Becky! You made mine good. You are doing SUCH GREAT JACKETS this seaon! I’ll have to go back over your oeuvre [!] to see if you’ve done these all along and I wasn’t paying atten-shun!
One thing that’s impressing me right now is a sort of masterly mixture with fabrics. I always respond to that in clothes, respect it. It’s done beautifully here!
I’m eager to see your final collection. I always am, because you always excel like hell.
And Figaro wants a couple of horses, too. One she’ll name Tally, and the other… well, I’m sure someone will tell me what the other one’s called. : )
Let’s see.. have I made a HUGE enough comment? I could write a couple more paragraphs, perhaps?
Oh how you do run on.
I like it.
Thanks for all the praise–made MY morning even better.
wouldn’t she call the other Essense …. Ha Ha get it Tally Essence
I don’t get it.
Tally Essence asa play on Taliesin — Frank Loyd Wright … Mark likes his style?
Okay–I’d have struggled all day and never made that connection.
I can’t believe no one fell for my ho joke. : )
(that’s my new Saying I Want On My Tombstone for this week, by the bye….)
I love this color combination. And the pants (For some reason I want to call them trousers!) are fantastic.
I love the word “trousers.” Thanks!
Ambiguous
I don’t know how you could feel “ambiguous” about the circus. Ambivalent maybe?
I’m not too fond of this one… just my opinion. I guess that’s because I like last weeks much better still. 🙂
Stunning!
(Don’t know why it’s taken me so long to see this; I guess I haven’t gotten on the laptop much this week.
Thank you! And where are you truckin’ to?