| Season AS1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 03.01.2012
OK, this is weird, I mean, “unique.” The designers have to use technology to make an avant garde look. Like, lights and stuff. The guest judge is Pharrell Williams! I'm OBSESSED with this guy's style, so that's really freaking cool. I also have a story that I will tell later. About him. Mondo, of the constant quips, informs us that Austin has become a high-maintenance prima donna. I'm not sure how much I trust his opinion. They go to a special effects showroom to choose their lighting. How does Austin grow a mustache this quickly? He was clean-faced during the last challenge, right? Is it fake? Oh God, if he's wearing a fake mustache I will never stop loving him. He looks like a cross between Claudette Colbert and Errol Flynn.
Michael is really out of his element for this challenge. Both Jerell and Mondo give Kenley a hard time about using the same silhouette as before. I guess Isaac (who I saw last night at the premiere of the Mark Morris piece that he costumed -- costumes: meh/ dance: MEH) opened the door to criticize her in that way. That said, Mondo actually compliments her design during his interview. Austin Skypes with his mother and she tells him that her house in foreclosure, which is seriously horrible. He tells her that he won't let her down. So, there's proof that Austin was actually born and didn't spring fully formed from the forest morning dew. Mondo has a lot of technical problems during his fitting. Austin comments that Mondo's look doesn't really say avant garde, which is interesting because his natural style is usually pretty cutting edge.
Pharrell is awesome. The show is interesting. Mondo's look is indeed pretty simple. Jerell's look is certainly him, but I wouldn't say that's a great thing. Kenley made this lattice jacket that is different than anything she's done. It's really cool. Austin made this dreamy thing that he's in love with. I think it's swell. Michael made this samurai glowing thing. Seriously. I mean, who can argue with that? The girl's face is covered. Isaac commends Kenley for stretching herself. Isaac compares Mondo's look to Teletubbies, which he reveals is his favorite, favorite thing. Georgina is enchAHnted by Austin's dress and I've never heard a word so delightfully pronounced. Pharrell thinks that Michael's look is better suited for Comic Con than a runway. Heh.
Mondo is safe. The winner is either Austin or Kenley. And, Austin wins! Seriously, he's awesome but shouldn't Kenley have won SOMETHING by now. But, in light of what is going on with his family, this is nice to see. So, we're down to Jerell and Michael. Jerell is...out. The only thing that's surprising about that is that Michael is still there. But, that ninja shit was sick.
It seems that since the designers are more familiar to us and to each other, the preferred jab in interviews is to talk about how they're repeating themselves. There's a lot of, "Oh here's blank making his same ol' blank again." Stands to reason that everyone kind of makes the same thing a lot of the time (especially under pressure) and maybe everyone should just lay off that insult and just talk about each others' personalities. Or personal style. Or hair.
So, Angela, whose personal charms are not diminishing for me at all, comes onstage and tells the designers that the challenge will test their skills like nothing before. Michael and Jerell are like, "???" She says that fashion is just as much about technology as it is about thread and fabric. She says that they'll be using both as they light up the runway with their designs. Bonfire? She snaps her fingers and the lights go down and we see that there is something illuminated in her skirt. This is helpful when you can't find the remote control in the dark. Austin is thrilled. Michael says that he's never worked with electricity before. She snaps again and the lights come up. Grab your glow sticks ravers, the runway is going to black lit for this challenge. Their challenge is to use technology to create an avant garde look. Austin says that he's psyched because he is often inspired by the avant garde, because you can take stuff to another level. She goes ahead and tells us that the guest judge is style icon Pharrell Williams! That guy is such a badass. It's funny, when he was first coming on the scene, he stayed at a hotel where I was working. I remember witnessing this flirty exchange that he had with my co-worker. She sort of poked fun at him about how nice his luggage was (it was really nice) and he was really cute about it. Anyway. Now, he's the best-dressed man in the world and guest judging Project Runway! He's going to incorporate the winning design into a project with one of his artists. They'll go to a special effects store, then to Mood. Kenley says that she has never worked with lighting either.
They head to the lighting store. Michael seems confounded by all of the different names for the lighting. I admit that I'm right there with him. Jerell goes for some fiber optic stuff that he says reminds him of what he used to get from the ice cream truck. Austin grabs some fairy lights and the coincidence is not lost on him. He's very excited to be in the lighting store and Mondo, the freaking dark prince of reality fashion, says that Austin has become very high-maintenance. Maybe that's stuff that we don't see. He says that he's a prima donna. Austin interviews that he is smitten by the fantasy in fashion -- he likes to create with drama and imagination and whimsy. This confession is accompanied by the plunky music that's supposed to indicate that what the person is saying is silly, but I think that's a beautiful sentiment. I think Mondo's a really fantastic problem-solver and does some extraordinary work, but I frankly prefer the joy that you can see in Austin's work. Fine, the atomizer that he employs while at Mood may be a bit much, but I think it's clear that his process, however precious it may be, is effective. I guess this is my roundabout way of saying that Mondo can go fuck a duck. Seriously, he's going to talk about someone being a prima donna when he sulks harder than Angela Chase? Kenley has to think creatively because her initial idea is too expensive. She decides to make a plaid out of glow tape. At Mood, Michael grabs some stiff fabric, which worries him. Mondo is going to trust his instincts. Jerell goes with an unexpected mix of prints, or so he says.
| Season AS1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 03.01.2012
Back at the workroom, they start sketching, which seems a little backwards, doesn't it? Austin says that he is trying to envision a starry sky and he is using a black organza as the background for his lights. The fancy folks at PR have created a makeshift darkroom for the designers so that they can test their lighting! How fun! Jerell is using some funky supplies, ya'll. Like feathers that glow and stuff. Sounds scary. He thinks that's true to who he is. I agree. Michael says that he's going to push himself and see what he can come up with. Mondo is in a pickle. This is not a great medium for him, because the special effects can so easily seem forced. So, he's trying to let the fabric speak to him. The fabric is very quiet right now. I wish I had that problem. My clothes won't shut up.
Kenley is working on making a plaid and asks Mondo if he likes it. He responds that he's not the right person to ask. Not incredibly generous, but whatever he's entitled to that, I guess. Then, Jerell says, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't tell Kenley anything." But, seriously, what have I missed? She sticks to her guns design-wise, but she's so much more respectful than she was during her original season. Mondo cracks that she's really stretched herself this time. So, that part where Michael said that he was going to push himself? Psyche! He's actually going to do something that is super comfortable for him, but he's just not sure what yet. He goes to the dark room and Mondo says that he's playing seven minutes in heaven with himself. Ha, Mondo. Well, maybe being alone means that it's actually a lifetime in heaven and isn't that fantastic and maybe we don't NEED another person to make life special? Ever thought of that? Maybe Michael's got his own 401k and friends and pets and lots of, LOTS of things that are super fulfilling in his life -- like that band he's about to start, and maybe French lessons -- and why does everything have to be about another person? Wait. Breathing. So, Michael is concentrating on what he will do . He has commitment issues regarding fashion. Breathing.
Jerell reiterates the challenge for us and it seems that he is really focused on the avant garde portion of the requirements. He wants to make something that the judges have never seen before. Austin tells Michael that his work is looking beautiful and has a Judy Jetson feel. Michael (maybe defensively?) says that he loves that comparison and Austin says that he loves it too. A few minutes later, Mondo looks over and Michael is working on a new dress. Michael interviews that he doesn't want to play it safe. Jerell says, aloud in the workroom, that it's no secret that Michael can turn out beautiful dresses in the time that it would take Kenley to learn to tie her shoes. Sweet.
| Season AS1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 03.01.2012
Joanna comes in and says that this is the most avant garde challenge in the history of Project Runway. She likes to make grand statements like that, doesn't she? She says that they need to make dresses that really stand out. She starts with Kenley and tells her that she's very excited that Pharrell is the guest judge. She says it as almost a threat. Joanna seems to really dislike Kenley. She asks her what she's going to do to woo Pharrell and she shows her the plaid she's creating. She's also using this basket weave fabric that is usually used (and unexposed) in upholstery. Joanna seems intrigued. Mondo interviews that he actually really likes Kenley's design and thinks it was very smart to create her own plaid, except he doesn't consider glow tape to be lights.
Joanna tells Jerell that his dress looks like Kenley's, except smaller. He explains his design to her and she cautions against anything that looks like a Christmas tree. He interviews that he thinks that Joanna seemed intrigued by his design, but that his look could turn out "fabulous or fugly." He giggles and says that fugly would be fine, but that's not really true. Fugly would be a problem. Austin really just has the foundation for his dress in place and Joanna thinks that it looks part-alien/part-Elizabethan. What people don't realize is that Queen Elizabeth I is Ziggy Stardust's traveling companion, so, Joanna, you don't even know how right you are. She asks Austin if he's worried that maybe his look is too romantic for Austin and he says that he thinks there's a lot of drama too his look, but ultimately he has to be true to his own aesthetic. She tells him that he has to make sure that his design stands out amongst the other designers and he looks around and kind of laughs. I'm not sure if it's a laugh that means "Lady, I'm doing something that I've never done before -- get off my back with that standing out noise" or more of a "Have you looked at the other designs? I'm not worried about standing out."
Michael meets Joanna in the dark room and I think we can safely say that, at that point, the room ceases to be anyone's idea of heaven. He shows her two looks, unless this is just one really elaborate look and I don't think that's the case. Joanna's excited that there doesn't seem to be any draping present in the stuff that he's showing her. There's a headpiece that he's made that has a hole at the top for a long ponytail and is illuminated. Joanna says it's "very Lady Gaga" and he corrects her -- "it's very Michael Costello." No one told me there a difference. Another look that he shows employs glow tape, but it has puckering and he's not sure what to do. Joanna tells him that he needs to consider the construction problems keeping the judges from appreciating the idea behind his design, an idea that she seems to appreciate when it's Michael's and not Kenley's.
| Season AS1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 03.01.2012
Joanna talks to Mondo, who has ideas but not a lot to show her at this point. They discuss the stress involved with the challenge and Joanna recommends that he bring a "Mondo-like focus" to his process. That's actually a very nice compliment. Joanna leaves and they all race to finish. Jerell is in the darkroom with his concoction, which is looking very sea anemone right now. Kenley says that she loves it and it makes her smile. I do not feel this way. Jerell notes that he's the only person to use fiber optics and it gives the garment a lot of movement.
The models come in for their fittings and Mondo still doesn't have anything to put on his girl. Austin says that Jerell's look is weird and poorly constructed. Michael fits his girl with the hood and Mondo says to his model that it looks like he's turning her into an Ewok. Kenley notes that Michael always pounds out like six looks then decides which one he wants to use, while she could never do that because her work needs to be perfectly constructed. She's mostly done with her look and everybody seems to admire it, though Mondo points out that it's still the same dress. Whatever. It's also got this coat element that completely changes her typical silhouette. Mondo is so DARK this season.
Austin Skypes with his mother and she tells him that she likes his mustache. Is that thing real? Is he wearing a fake mustache? Folks, I think Austin may be wearing a fake mustache. Well, doesn't that take the biscuit? Who in the hell is wearing fake mustaches for fun these days, nay, EVER? So, his mother tells him that her house has is in foreclosure. Austin explains that she is a real estate appraiser and the recession hit her very hard. He's mortified that his mother is essentially homeless at this point. He tells her that he won't let her down nor himself, but she says that he could never let her down. She promises to be cheery for her. He tells us that he wants to win this competition for her and their family.
Finally, Mondo finds his inspiration and starts moving forward with energy and passion. That night, they file into Flatotel and talk over wine. Jerell explains some things he wants to do with his look and tells us that he needs to pull some stuff out to compete with the talented designers who remain.
The day, everyone works to finish their pieces. Michael still hasn't really applied lights to his look. Austin says as he's gluing lights to his dress that this must be what God felt like when he was creating the heavens. Mondo is kind of stumped again and Austin says that he doesn't feel Mondo's look is very avant garde. The models come in for their fittings. Michael tells his girl that she shouldn't sweat, otherwise she might get electrocuted. Michael thinks that Austin's dress is too simple and that he's going to go home! Maybe I'm just a snob for saying this because Michael is not terribly cool -- I did defend him a lot during his initial season, though I'm wondering if maybe that was because I was just offended by everyone's mean-spirited attacks on him -- but I just feel like it's some weird mistake that he has made it this far on the show. I don't know what it is. He's a good technician, but I don't trust that he has any aesthetic at all. It's like he designs by a process of elimination -- he doesn't do things more than he does things. Right? To clarify my point about the cool thing, I wonder if I would be as suspect of his process if he were hip. But, has anyone else made six looks and you know he's just looking around to see which gets the best response from the other designers?
| Season AS1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 03.01.2012
It's onto the runway! Angela, looking lovely as always, greets the designers then introduces the also always lovely Georgina and neon yellow-shirted Isaac. I guess he's dressed for the occasion. Then, she introduces Pharrell, an actual style icon and personal crush object since the days of Britney being a slave 4 us. I think the actual crack that my friend made was something to the effect of "Worried about your Louis VUITTON (drawn-out pronunciation) getting dirty?" This was met by a sly smile that sort of admitted how actually absurd it was for a guy his age to be sporting around luggage that expensive. At least that's what it felt like. And, his smile is cute. Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream are his fashion lines.
The black light comes up and the show begins. Mondo's look is first. It's a short strapless dress with tracked panels that protrude vertically from the dress. The panels are lit and give the dress a 3D effect. It's not terribly flattering, but it's fun to look at. Mondo thinks it's a love it or hate it look. Kenley says that it's like looking at the sun.
Jerell's look is . No. First, it is true to Jerell's aesthetic, but I think it's all wrong. It has the tribal aspects of a lot of his work. The fiber optic-laden skirt and collar resemble some sort of native Polynesian costume. Under those things, he has a black skirt and long black sleeves. It almost feels like she's wearing a fashion version of a green screen. The other clothes seem like an afterthought.
Kenley's look is . It's a cute short dress with flared skirt and the plaid on it is brilliant. She topped it with the upholstery fabric in a boxy coat/shrug. It creates a super modern silhouette that I personally love, especially considering the dress is much closer to her classic silhouette. The only thing I don't love is the Nicki Minaj pink wig that she used on the model. Something about it looks really cheap and forced to me.
Here we have Austin's look. It's black tulle with starry lights wrapped from bottom all the way to a circle around the face of the model. He loves the fantasy of the look and thinks it's one of his best ever creations. I have to say, it really is lovely. Seeing it creates a visceral reaction. You're sort of swept away with the romance of it and the lights actually make you feel differently about what you're seeing near the model, like when Cybil Shepard was shot through cheesecloth for Moonlighting. There's a haze about her.
| Season AS1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 03.01.2012
And, we finish with Michael. You know, this shit is over-the-top. Michael went FOR it. What we have is a black dress with an a-line skirt. At the bodice are two protruding loops that flare at the shoulders and create a V at the waist, which is actually very flattering. There is green glow tape along a lot of the dress, all of it slimming in its shape. AND, the model's face is covered like a ninja. I approve. Michael is very happy with it.
After the show, the lights are dimmed again and the models return to the stage. They start with Kenley and she says that she wanted to push herself ("Isaac!") as she had been told to do. Pharrell loves that the lights are draped around the grid coat, liked barbed wire. Isaac loves it, particularly because there is volume at the bottom and top but the girl doesn't look huge. Georgina likes Mondo's dress, but feels that he could have placed the tracks in a more flattering way. Isaac wonders if it's actually avant garde and they start listing the things that it resembles: vintage Cadillac wings (Pharrell), Madonna/Gauthier (Georgina) and Teletubbies. Isaac thinks it looks like Teletubbies. Angela's on board immediately. Isaac loves Teletubbies. I don't understand. No, he lives for Teletubbies. How can you live for Teletubbies? Angela probably watched them in high school, so it's sentimental for her. But, Isaac Mizrahi? Living for Teletubbies? Maybe he just likes that the one had the purse. Seriously. I don't get it. They're French though, right? Maybe I get it.
Jerell explains that he was drawn to the movement of the fiber optics. Georgina agrees that the movement was nice. She was reminded of a tribal rave. Isaac liked the lights but didn't like the black dress underneath. Angela didn't like it either. Pharrell thirds the hate. They lift the dress and like it much better.
Austin explains that he was shooting for a heavenly look. Angela says that she would like for the lights to have been more spread out, but the others absolutely love it. Isaac thinks it's mysterious.
Michael really gets slammed for his construction. Isaac thinks that the tape on his dress looks like tape and the chaser lights inside of the bows are too busy. Georgina has problems with his construction too. Pharrell is reminded Mortal Kombat meets Grace Jones, which is a good thing.
The designers leave the stage and the judges confer. Angela appreciates that Mondo's look was well thought out. Angela loved the look of Kenley's outfit. Georgina repeats the praise that it was very flattering. Everyone was crazy about Austin's look, though Angela wanted the lights to be inside the dress. They were all disappointed in Jerell's look. The long dress was a bust. Isaac doesn't think that Michael's look was pretty at all, but Georgina thinks it was definitely strong. Pharrell points out that his girl looked like someone who could kick some ass. They have made their decision!
| Season AS1 | Episode 9 | Aired on 03.01.2012
The designers return. Mondo is safe. The winner is either Kenley and Austin. Pharrell announces Austin as the winner. He seems thrilled and Pharrell tells him that he's a star. It makes him teary in his interview, coupled with winning when his mother is going through a difficult time. That means that the bottom two are Michael and Jerell. Jerell is going home. Michael covers his face in horror, which is getting a little old now. Angela gives him a big hug. He goes backstage and gets more hugs. Jerell is a sweet guy. He interviews that he's not going to beat himself up and is ultimately proud of what he accomplished.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.