Tag: fashion

Runway Monday: The Rainway (PR 13:8)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were challenged to create avant garde looks that would be able to stand up to the elements, especially the rain. In fact, the runway was transformed into a “rainway” and the designers had to use waterproof textiles in their looks.

Okay, some points.

I’m not letting it rain on my computer, which serves as the backdrop to my runway.

Currently, I have almost zero time to design anything, much less an avant garde look.

Fortunately, I can’t be eliminated! And I have the most beautiful model and muse in the world, Summer. She’s helping me prove a point. There really is a woman who can make a trash bag look like fashion. Thanks, Summer!


See you next time on the runway with–hopefully–a more fashionable design.

Black bag used for dress from Murder By The Book. Boots and belt by Mattel.

Previous looks from this season:

13:7 Priceless Runway
13:6 Rock the Wedding
13:5 The Klum of Doom
13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: Priceless Runway (PR 13:7)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers got a taste of luxury when they were allowed to choose a piece of Chopard jewelry to base their designs around. Tim also took the contestants to the Charles James exhibit at the Met for more inspiration.

Apparently they forgot to send me a piece of jewelry for my look or take me to a museum for inspiration, but I’ve been improvising despite their snubs since 2008. I chose one of my most stunning models, Meggie, and a necklace of cascading pearls to be the focus of my design.

Such an elaborate piece of jewelry deserves an understated silhouette. I chose the reverse side of a red print fabric for the bodice and one of my favorite fabrics, a crinkle chiffon, in red, for the skirt.


A peek at Mattel’s gold sandals.


The flowing A-line skirt mimics the necklace.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the look. See you next time on the runway!
Belt by Becks. Necklace gift of Lynne.

Previous looks from this season:

13:6 Rock the Wedding
13:5 The Klum of Doom
13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: Rock the Wedding (PR 13:6)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, inspired by the new trend in untraditional wedding dresses worn by rock stars on their big day, the designers were told to wow the judges with their own version of an unconventional wedding dress.

The wedding dress I designed a few seasons ago remains my favorite, because if you’ve followed this blog at all, you know the only thing I love more than 1960s inspired looks is what I call the “tattered princess.” There’s always room to update that concept. I’ve had a shimmery plaid fabric I’ve been wanting to use and thought it would make a great unconventional bodice. I invited Noelle to the workroom and here’s the bridal look I created for her.


A closer look at the bodice. I love the way the netting of the skirt shimmers around Mattel’s flirty pink sandals.


Here comes the bride!

It’s a great day for a silver wedding. See you next time on the runway!

Previous looks from this season:

13:5 The Klum of Doom
13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: The Klum of Doom (PR 13:5)

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the competitors were tasked with designing a red carpet look for Heidi Klum to wear to the Creative Arts Emmys, held a week or two before the live, televised Emmy awards. Once again, I’m convinced “Project Runway” is really a way for Heidi to get free fashion inside her closet.

Here’s what I created for her–a look that’s appropriate for a pre-Emmys award ceremony recognizing key technical disciplines and behind-the-scenes crafts essential to television production. I’m lucky enough to have Mattel’s own version of Heidi Klum to model my creation.

Hope you think Heidi’s wearing a red carpet winner. See you next time on the runway!

Jewelry by Becks from beads donated by Timothy J. Lambert. Fabric gift of Timothy J. Lambert.

Previous looks from this season:

13:4 A Suitable Twist
13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: A Suitable Twist (PR 13:4)

For the fourth challenge of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the previous week’s challenge winner paired the other designers with vintage menswear suits. Each designer had to combine part of the suit fabric with additional fabric bought at Mood to create a new high-fashion look for his or her model.

Here’s one of Mattel’s interesting looks for Ken pictured with my extra fabric:

My model Grace is wearing it just for fun.

Here’s the look I created for her.

The pink at the pockets, mimicking men’s pocket squares and made from the shirt, pulls in the color of Grace’s Mattel shoes.

This was a fun look to do. Hope you enjoyed it, too. See you next time on the runway!

Previous looks from this season:

13:3 Welcome to the Future
13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: Welcome to the Future (PR 13:3)

In the third challenge of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the show celebrated fashion magazine Marie Claire’s twenty years in business. The designers were asked to take a look back at where they were twenty years ago and create a look inspired by something from that time that was relevant today and might also be fashionable twenty years from now.

Twenty years ago I was doing a job I loved working with a few people who became real friends, including Amy. She had a couple of dresses that always cheered me up when she wore them, and I told her if she ever decided to get rid of them, I wanted to use the fabric to cover pillows. Guess what? Yes, I still have those dresses today; they’ve been hanging in storage in my garage since 1997; you can see the two of them pictured on the left.

I can think back in twenty year increments since long before I was born, and one thing has remained a constant. A girl in a pretty dress makes people smile. Whether or not I’m alive in twenty years, if that has changed, then fashion is dead. I used one of Amy’s dresses for fabric to create a look in a timeless silhouette for Noel.


Necklace by Becks. Shoes by Mattel.


Looking forward to the future when I’ll see you again on the runway!

Fabric donated by Sweet Lil’ Amy Sue. Doll donated by John and Matt. You might remember that Noel is not a Model Muse but a standard Barbie who came all the way from New York after a visit to Mood. A classic never goes out of style.

Previous looks from this season:

13:2 Unconventional Movie Night
13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: Unconventional Movie Night (PR 13:2)


In the second challenge of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were taken to Manhattan’s Village East Cinema and told they could remove whatever they could carry from the theater’s props and concession items to create an unconventional materials look. They were working in teams, and I don’t have one. Though I’m still looking for workroom elves who don’t want to be paid. I have plenty for you to do.

If I’d only watched this episode a day or two earlier, I could have snagged some things from the Alamo Draft House Cinema. Instead, I found candy with film-themed wrapping. This is what I used to create a fabric for a movie-inspired dress for my model Caprice.


Can you see the reels of film winding around each of her shoulders?

Hope this look makes you want to pop some corn and watch your favorite movie. See you next time on the runway!

Caprice gift of Timothy J. Lambert. Shoes and jewelry by Mattel. Belt by Becks.

Previous looks from this season:

13:1 The Judges Decide

Runway Monday: The Judges Decide (PR 13:1)

It’s the thirteenth season of Lifetime’s Project Runway, and like a big dumbass, I’m doing the challenges again! But I swear you won’t see any endorsements for refrigerators on this blog (unless they pay me), or Mary Kay Cosmetics (unless they pay me), or Phillip B. hair products (unless–you get the idea).

This week, the designers were to create a look that would give the judges a glimpse of how their spring collections would look if they presented at New York Fashion Week. The catch: they could select only fabrics found at their work stations. In an attempt to parallel the designers’ limited options, I restricted myself to fabrics that I received on my birthday.


Tim Gunn and Astrid, my model for this week’s challenge, show the fabric selection and welcome you to a new season!

I chose the sheer floral and Hello Kitty fabrics. Lest you think Hello Kitty is just for kids, here’s a look at the window of the Hustler Hollywood adult lingerie shop in New Orleans. Check out the bottom left corner.

Here’s the spring look I created for Astrid.


Hello Kitty peeks over the black band of the empire waist.

Hope you enjoyed the look. See you next time on the runway!

Astrid and the fabrics gift of Timothy J. Lambert; Mattel shoes gift of Matt and Johnnie. Black ribbon and sewing supplies from Lynne. Hello Kitty paid me nothing. Freeloaders.

Button Sunday

Happy Pride weekend to those celebrating it across the country. I walked to Houston’s Pride parade last night. Though there’d been rain during the day and I feared the humidity might kill me, there was actually a breeze blowing so it was almost pleasant. I don’t know how we used to endure the heat during midday parades.

Though I haven’t gone to the parade for the last couple of years mostly because of the heat, this year I was more motivated. Tim made me aware that designer Mondo Guerra, “Project Runway” veteran, was the parade’s celebrity grand marshal. As much as I enjoyed Mondo’s creations on PR, I most admire him for his HIV/AIDS awareness advocacy.

I was able to get a good couple of photos. In addition to his bold designs and activism, Mondo (in the red slacks) has quite a collection of eyeglasses. Last night’s frames sparkled.