On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway All Stars, the designers were asked to create a couture look. To help inspire them, the show flew them to Paris, where they visited the Valentino atelier and showroom, had dinner on a boat traveling the River Seine, saw the new Valentino haute couture runway show, shopped for couture-grade fabrics, and sketched on their HP/Intel Tablets while staring at the Eiffel Tower.
And guess what? I got to do all those things, too! Well, I saw the Valentino designers, atelier, and runway show on TV and shopped from the fabric bins in my guest room. But I sketched on my iPhone in front of the Eiffel Tower at my dining room table after dinner! Close, right?
For this challenge, I chose Nefera de Nile because she’s taller and bolder than the other Monsters; couture seemed to demand this. Inspired by my glittery Eiffel Tower, I selected printed metallic georgette silk. Here’s a close up so you can get some idea of how much it sparkles. It also left about a pound of glitter in the dining room, so our food and coffee, as well as the dogs who hang out under the table, will all shine for a while.
I created a tea-length gown, first making a shredded underskirt, not only because the silk is semi-transparent, but because the strips of fabric moving beneath give the dress a look of constant, shimmering motion.
The dress is accessorized with a beaded wraparound girdle just above the waist.
The shoes are from Mattel. Though you may be unable to tell in this photo, the stitching on the hemline is silver, not white, thread.
Hope you’ve enjoyed the couture challenge. The next time we’re on the runway, I’ll be showing a final collection!
To see previous designs on All Stars Season 2:
Episode 10: All Stars and Stripes
Episode 9: There’s No Business Like Sew Business
Episode 8: Flapper Fashion Face-Off
Episode 7: An Unconventional Nightmare Before Christmas
Episode 6: Green Dress for the Red Carpet
Episode 5: You’ve Got Male
Episode 4: Made in the USA Today
Episode 3: Up Your Aerosol
Episode 2: Put On Your Dancing Shoes
Episode 1: Redemption on the Runway
Wonderful, as ever. Lovely fabric.
Thanks, Mark!
Dazzling, dahling, just dazzling! Or maybe I should have said tres chic.
Merci!
I quite agree! This is good!
Thank you!
First she is lovely! As is the dress … and if there were an accordion playing in the background I would be in heaven
wait what’s that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QN4NyD6l8A
Thank you.
And OMG, that video. All of Joan is there, and it breaks my heart. Her pig of a husband–this scene has its opposite in Don’s smoldering wife.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyy8roNU060
and once again we clash on tv ..I watched 6 episodes hated it.
It made me uncomfortable in the beginning. A few episodes in, I felt like something clicked, and I realized my discomfort is an important part of why I keep watching. There’s a lot of social and economic reality disguised as entertainment there.
but I do love a lot of French music , which is not very German of me ….
which for absolutely no reason other than the theme music always sounded French to me, but it isn’t … I have a tv recommendation — after West Wing, of course … Dead Like Me. It’s by the same man that did Pushing Daisies, which we both know was cut off before it’s time.
I loved Pushing Daisies! I actually bought the complete season DVD to see the episodes they never ran.
Wonnerful, wonnerful!
Did you see bubbles floating around you when you said that? 😉