Tag: entertainment

Runway Monday: The Art of the Matter (PR 9:6)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers created paintings with students from Harlem School of the Arts. Each designer then had to design an avant-garde look inspired by the painting.

Marika suggested that I draw my inspiration from “Stravinsky,” by Gilbert Ruiz. Here’s his painting.
Photograph and painting copyright Gilbert Ruiz, 2011. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

I love the colors in the painting, as well as the contrast between the bold geometric shapes and the delicate lacy colors. I was inspired to return to one of my favorite looks to create, what I call the “tattered princess.”


Christine, with her two-toned blonde and brown hair, is the model I chose. Since Gilbert’s painting is alive with multiple layers and textures, that’s how I wanted to create Christine’s look.


The doll Christine is based on Debbie Harry so…New Wave meets Gaga. Both women have been among their generations’ avant-garde performers.


The skirt is made of black, white, and green lace, red mesh, and turquoise net.


Underneath: Black and white tights, to reflect the foundations of Gilbert’s painting.


The bodice is also multiple layers: a white knit bandeau top, covered by black lace, with a top layer of the red mesh.


I used cut-outs of the white lace to embellish the hat.


Detail of the skirt layers.


Something photos can’t show you is the movement of the skirt’s fabric. This was important to me because Gilbert’s painting is so fluid, as of course it must be when sharing a name with one of the world’s greatest and most innovative composers.


Hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s look. See you next time on the runway!

Some of the fabric for this week’s challenge was donated by Timothy J. Lambert.
To see more of Gilbert Ruiz’s work, check out his Flickr photos at this link.

Previously this season:
9:5 Off to the Track
9:4 All About Nina
9:3 Go Big Or Go Home
9:2 My Pet Project
9:1 Come As You Are

Runway Monday: Off to the Track (PR 9:5)

Oh, Heidi. You’re at it again. On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a look for Heidi Klum’s New Balance line to be sold on amazon.com. You might remember that during Season 8, one of the challenges had the designers creating looks for Heidi’s activewear line to be sold on Amazon. Here’s what I did for that challenge last year:

This year, the designers had to make suede or denim part of their looks to go with the sneakers in Heidi’s New Balance line. They were warned to keep fashion in mind; Heidi wasn’t looking for workout clothes.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the New Balance shoes in 1:6 scale. But here’s the first shoe I designed for, made of denim and tan suede:


I dressed Ellison in a blue suede dress and gave her a clunky necklace to make the look more casual and sneaker-friendly.

The second sneaker is made of black suede with wine-colored accents.


I dressed Jillian in a shorts-dress of black suede with a wine-colored gathered bodice.

The third sneaker is black fabric with brown suede:

I chose to dress Heidi in a black suede vest with a pair of brown-patterned slacks.

The overall looks for New Balance:


See you next time on the runway!

Ellison’s beads are a gift from Marika.

Previously this season:
9:4 All About Nina
9:3 Go Big Or Go Home
9:2 My Pet Project
9:1 Come As You Are

Runway Monday: All About Nina (PR 9:4)

In the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a look for PR judge and Fashion Director of Marie Claire magazine Nina Garcia. Nina made it clear that she didn’t like loud prints, lots of volume, or too much color in her fashion choices. She also wanted a look that would transition from her work day to evening, when she might have industry meetings or events to attend. I selected Justine as my model because she has features and coloring similar to Nina Garcia’s.


I chose to create separates for Nina, because she seems to appreciate their versatility. I picked a chocolate silk for Justine’s slacks.


For the jacket, I chose a print that I thought was muted enough to add interest without putting Nina off. The jacket is trimmed with power-color-red braid and finished with red-bead buttons.


This is one of my favorite of Mattel’s shoe designs–a style that works for day and night. The gold and red compliment the colors of Justine’s jacket and jewelry.


Removing the jacket transitions this to an evening look.


A gold taffeta top and a sheer red belt make Justine shimmer.


The stone on the necklace I designed adds to Justine’s touches of red from head to toe.


A delicious silhouette for nighttime.


See you next time on the runway!

The fabric for Justine’s jacket was a gift from Marika. The fabric used for the runway was a gift from Lindsey.

Previously this season:
9:3 Go Big Or Go Home
9:2 My Pet Project
9:1 Come As You Are

Button Sunday


I’m not sure where I got this button. I do know why. The 1980s were kicked off by the celebration of the preppie, or preppy, when Lisa Birnbach released The Official Preppy Handbook in 1980. I still have my copy:

Most recognizable logo–in fact, often cited as the first logo to be displayed on clothing: the Lacoste crocodile.


On the button, he sings his revenge against the pink-and-green-clad, Sperry-Top-Sider-wearing preppies.

Of course, he owes his ditty to one of the most celebrated icons of the 1970s, B. Kliban’s cat, as seen here on my old checkbook cover.

Do people still need checkbook covers?

Runway Monday: Go Big Or Go Home (PR 9:3)

In the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a look for stilt walkers.

Though I’m getting tired of the gimmicky beginning-of-season challenges, Tim Gunn finally took everyone to Mood to choose their fabrics. This gives me the chance to show you a gift Marika sent me months ago: my very own Mood shopping bag!

For this challenge, I chose one of my favorite models, Tabitha, because I knew I wanted to create a look with a late 60s-early 70s vibe (surprise!), and being able to put her hair in a high ponytail gave the illusion of height from the waist up, important to balance the length of her legs on stilts.

Does she look tall? How about when she’s standing next to Heidi?

The use of vertical cords as part of the bodice also adds length to Tabitha’s torso.

Stilt walkers, don’t try this at home.

I do love this silhouette, and using the black cord as a fringe down the back seams of both legs added playfulness and movement.

Talk about bringing sexy back.

The beautiful fabric used in this full-legged jumpsuit was a gift from Timothy J. Lambert.

Gotta stilt on out of here! See you next time on the runway.

Previously this season:
9:2 My Pet Project
9:1 Come As You Are

Runway Monday: My Pet Project (PR 9:2)

In the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a look using supplies they could get at a pet store. They were also given muslin and some trims and embellishments to complete their looks.

I purchased a dog toy and some greenery designed for use in an aquarium.

Using the fabric from the dog toy, I gave my model, Louise, a sexy little top. Then I fashioned the greenery into a short, puffy skirt.

I accessorized with a silver clutch and embellished the shoes with green and silver trim. The skirt may look sharp, but the plastic is so soft it’s completely comfortable against the skin. (I should know, since I made three versions of the skirt before I was satisfied.)

A closer look at the shoes.

Just for fun, I added a shrug using the same fabric as the top.

Hope you’ve enjoyed my Pet Shop Model.

See you next time on the runway!

Previously this season:
9:1 Come As You Are

Runway Monday: Come As You Are (PR 9:1)

The ninth season of Lifetime’s Project Runway kicked off with a challenge to the designers to create a look using their pajamas (or whatever they slept in) and one sheet from their bed. They were also given some trims and dyes they could use to alter their fabrics. Working at 1:6 scale, I could have just used cotton fabric and painted or dyed it. I certainly wasn’t going to use my recently-purchased Eileen West nightgowns–I’m not that dedicated to the show. I remembered that I’d cut off the bodice of an old nightgown and stored it with my fabrics, but I couldn’t find it when I went looking. However, I did find one of my mother’s pale green nightgowns that I’d stored in my fabric bins a couple of years ago.

If you recall, Lindsey modeled Tim’s shorts for me last year when I used them for Season 8’s first challenge. She was here for Craft Night anyway and agreed to be my model again. Thanks, Lindsey, for being a good sport.

In examining the bodice of the gown, I knew the look I wanted to create: something that would marry a modified 1920s silhouette with the pastels of a Southern belle. The model I chose, Gail, is named for a girl I knew in South Carolina in elementary school who could easily have grown up to play Scarlett O’Hara, she was so gorgeous. With all that in mind, here’s how Gail’s dress turned out:


Form fitting with no waist, gathered just above the knee, then flaring out to the hemline.


I added the beading to help transition from Gail’s vivid lip color to her muted dress color.


It was a bold move to leave a lace panel all the way down the back of the dress. Is it a nude illusion because of lining? I’ll keep you guessing.


Detail of the embroidery on the dress.


A last look at the silhouette.


I hope you enjoyed my season debut. See you next time on the runway!