Tag: fashion

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were given a chance to provide free labor to Heidi’s sweat shop create high-end performance-wear for Heidi Klum’s New Balance line. The winning design would be sold at select stores. Fortunately, I didn’t have to compete in field day-type challenges like the designers, but I also didn’t get access to Heidi’s fabrics. With Top Model Abby ready to help me on the runway, I improvised with fabric remnants from previous seasons’ challenges.

I wanted to create an outfit that could be used for all kinds of workout activities.

The loose fitting knit is great for going to and from a workout, or just for power walking as a day’s exercise. Along with the jacket sleeves, the yoke of the pants gives a pop of color and meshes elements of a yoga pant with a harem pant. To take the look from walking/running to gym machines or yoga, the jacket can be removed.

And underneath is a cropped red tank with capped sleeves.

I accessorized with a Mattel for Target scarf to hold back Abby’s hair in style. Of course, the Chucks are also from Mattel.

The complete look:

Heidi wanted to bring the runway to the treadmill–and I think Abby looks just as fashionably sporty leaving as arriving. See you next time on the runway!

Previous designs this season:

Episode 12:7 Shoes First!
Episode 12:6 Let’s Go Glamping!
Episode 12:5: YOU Choose Your Materials!
Episode 12:4: Tie the Knot
Episode 12:3: An Unconventional Coney Island
Episode 12:2: Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

In this week’s episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were allowed special access to Marie Claire magazine’s shoe closet. They each chose a pair of shoes to use as the basis for a new look. I went into the Becks doll closet and chose these shoes to inspire my design.

For my model, I selected Maia. I knew she’d look great in a plaid I’ve been saving for a long time from a Harumika kit.

However, unlike the PR designers who used red plaid, I didn’t want my design to evoke a holiday look. I wanted it to be a summer-into-fall outfit that could be worn to an afternoon business event.

The belt is from Mattel.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s look. See you next time on the runway!

Shoes a gift from Mark G. Harris. Fabric for skirt donated by Kathy S.

Previous designs this season:

Episode 12:6 Let’s Go Glamping!
Episode 12:5: YOU Choose Your Materials!
Episode 12:4: Tie the Knot
Episode 12:3: An Unconventional Coney Island
Episode 12:2: Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

Apparently “glamping” (glamour + camping) is a thing now, and that’s what the designers did on the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway. After spending a day and night outside the city in nature–in fancy tents, with wine and food prepared for them, and marshmallow roasting added to adventures like zip-lining and a bit of mild whitewater rafting, they returned to Manhattan with ideas for their designs inspired by their time outdoors.

No one took me glamping, but I faintly recall days outside that weren’t soul-killingly hot and filled with mosquitos. What I remember loving best is the play of sunlight on water. I used those images to create a high-end look for Barcelona.

Barcelona wears an overdress of net, sequins, and ribbon over a green-glittered sheath.

Her cascading hair and the epaulette effect on the shoulders of her dress mimic water falling.

Her Mattel shoes pick up the green and gold colors of the fabrics.

Detail of the glittering overdress. This fabric really shimmers when it moves under lights.

A glistening water nymph.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s look. See you next time on the runway!

Previous designs this season:

Episode 12:5: YOU Choose Your Materials!
Episode 12:4: Tie the Knot
Episode 12:3: An Unconventional Coney Island
Episode 12:2: Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create a luxurious, high-end mini collection of three looks. If they chose, they could get their inspiration from the Lexus 2014 IS sedans they drove through the city to pick up their unconventional materials. These materials came from four disparate merchants, including a store that sold vintage wallpaper, a specialty food store, and a combination home goods and party store.

For my model, I chose Esperanza, because she’s Mattel’s Speed Racer Trixie Barbie. For my materials, I chose from beads and ribbons at a fabric store, waxed paper from a craft store, and a fabric remnant from a discount retailer.

Esperanza’s hat and blouse are made from waxed paper that reminded me of the checkered flag used in auto racing.

The embellishment on the hat, a red bead pinned inside a silver loop that resembles a gear, were evocative of the Lexus’s lights. The red circle is repeated on her earrings and on the button on the back of her belt.

Esperanza’s shoes, from Mattel, made me think of silver rims and tires.

Cutting the checkered fabric into circles, then using the polka dotted fabric for the slacks, indicates movement.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s design. See you next time on the runway!

Previous designs this season:

Episode 12:4: Tie the Knot
Episode 12:3: An Unconventional Coney Island
Episode 12:2: Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were challenged to tie together a design based on a bow tie from Tie the Knot, an organization founded by actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita to advocate for the civil rights of gay and lesbian Americans. Tie the Knot’s designs are created for the organization by neckwear industry leader The Tie Bar.

I didn’t have access to a table full of bow ties from The Tie Bar. In fact, on my shopping trip, I found exactly two bow ties: one so ugly that not even Barbie could have made it look good, and a wool bow tie from Tommy Hilfiger that I believed had promise.

The white lines in the plaid pattern stand out as repeating equal signs. As longtime readers know, I’m ALL about equal rights, particularly marriage equality.

One huge advantage I have over the PR designers is that I can work at 1:6 scale. In this case, the shape of the bow tie is exactly what I wanted to create an hourglass silhouette to show off Fallon’s figure.

A closer look at the neckline.

Mattel’s shoes, naturally.

One last look.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s design. It was created without any of the drama we saw on Project Runway, which is just as well, since I don’t have a Nina Garcia to enthrall with diva meltdowns. See you next time on the runway!

Previous episodes this season:

Episode 12:3: An Unconventional Coney Island
Episode 12:2: Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were taken to Coney Island. First they had to go around with vendor carts, giving samples of Yoplait Frozen Yogurt to the crowd on the boardwalk. The Yoplait taste testers then gave them words describing the frozen yogurt they’d eaten.

After I flew to Coney Island I asked Tom to buy himself some frozen yogurt on one of his trips to the grocery store. It was a big sacrifice for him, but nothing’s too challenging for fashion, right? Here’s the flavor he picked:

A delicious spoonful:

Like the designers, I could choose only three of the descriptive words I was given: “sweet, light, and pink.”

The next step of the challenge involved the designers playing carnival games at Coney Island to win prizes. Guess what I won? NOTHING. I wasn’t at Coney Island, you crazy people. I did, however, manage to procure similar prizes at a local business.

A pink dolphin and a toy cheerleader’s megaphone and pompons.

These prizes had to be deconstructed for yet another unconventional materials challenge, and here’s the look I created as modeled by Ellison.

Showing a little shoe in the second photo. Thanks, Mattel.

Don’t worry about modesty: along with the skirt and asymmetrical top, Ellison is wearing a pair of fluffy bloomers.

Sometime in the dead of night after I finished my look, a design elf infiltrated my workroom. Apparently someone’s (cough–Tom–cough) frozen yogurt experience inspired him to go into the model selection room, grab Lacy, and put her in this look.

I don’t think this design can be considered competition because he failed to use either the Mattel or Belk accessory wall wisely. If the first episode of this season taught us anything, it’s that the judges don’t like seeing models walk the runway without shoes.

My shoe-adorned models and I will see you next time on the runway, where hopefully I’ll create something in a color that’s not pink!

Previous episodes this season:

Episode 12:2 Million Dollar Runway
Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

On the most recent episode of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the designers were asked to create looks inspired by more than 30 million dollars of precious jewels. I guess the armored truck couldn’t find The Compound, so I had to depend on High Fashion to provide my precious jewels along with my fabric. This look’s model is Dallas, who came from Mattel with earrings that inspired the jewelry I created for her.

A choker with two strands of “diamonds.”

Since the jewelry is relatively simple, I decided to keep the design simple and choose a busier fabric. Here’s a detail of the hemline. You can see her gold slipper peeking out, too.

And here’s a full view of Dallas’s look:

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

Previous Episodes:

Episode 12:1: Sky’s The Limit

Lifetime’s Project Runway is back for their twelfth season, and though I wasn’t sure whether I would participate again, I found the lure was too great to resist. On the debut episode, skydivers arrived with the fabric the designers would be using for their unconventional materials challenge: colorful parachutes!

Tim Gunn parachuted into The Compound so I could have fabric.

I kid.

Fortunately, I was able to find ripstop nylon at High Fashion, and with Gail as my model, here’s the look I created. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to see it in these photos, but the fabric does have a faint design of squares.

Shoes and styling by Mattel, of course.

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

As promised, I’m presenting a final collection of twelve looks to meet Lifetime’s Project Runway challenge. But first, a look back at my designs for Season 11.

Now: the Summer Fun Fall Collection: Black and White and Red All Over, designed for Model Muse Summer’s fashion line. The designers were asked to include outerwear as part of their collections, so I’m beginning with Top Model Summer herself wearing a red vinyl modified trench coat. Enjoy!

Over a black knit dress with a cowl scarf.

DJ in a party dress.

Noelle in a jumpsuit.

Amelia in a 1920s inspired design.

Louise in a swing coat and textured vinyl dress.

Jillian in polka dots.

With a surprise: cutout sleeves and a chevron back.

Tabitha’s look has been finished since it was shown last week, with black ribbon around the trouser cuffs and the pleats put in the trousers.

Laurel models a red carpet look.

Juliet wears a dressy look for daytime.

Barbie is the hostess with the mostest.

Esperanza has a mod workday dress.

Fallon wears a look for evening: a silk dress with a cutout suede overdress.

One last look at the complete collection. I hope you’ve enjoyed it! Thanks to everyone who followed along this season and offered comments and encouragement.

Thanks to Lindsey, who asked for a trench coat and provided some of the fabric for Jillian’s look; Tim, who provided a camera when mine failed and donated the fabric for Barbie’s skirt; Tom, who helped with the staging; Pat, who provided the sequins on Fallon’s cuff bracelet (all other bracelets are from Mattel and the necklaces are all designed by me); Lynne, who provided the ribbon and tulle on Laurel’s dress. All shoes are by Mattel except Esperanza’s boots, which were a gift from Mark G. Harris. Esperanza’s and Noelle’s belts are my designs; DJ’s belt and Barbie’s belt and clamdiggers are from Mattel.

To see previous designs from this season:

Episode 13: Finale Part 1
Episode 12: Europe Here We Come
Episode 11: Finally On My Own
Episode 10: The Art of Fashion
Episode 9: He Said, She Said
Episode 8: Take It All Off
Episode 7: A Sticky Situation
Episode 6: Senior Fling
Episode 5: A Little Bit Country (A Little Bit Rock ‘N Roll)
Episode 4: The Ultimate Hard and Soft
Episode 3: Surprise Me
Episode 2: Spin Out
Episode 1: There Is No I In Team