| Season AS2 | Episode 3 | Aired on 11.08.2012
The designers have to go to Long Island City and learn how to make graffiti art. Then, they have to make graffiti print that they have to use for a garment. They only even get a few minutes at Mood and 50 dollars. Laura Kathleen has alienated everyone by being a stupid big mouth. She feels it too. There’s a moment where Kayne of Many Colors tells Ivy that LK is always talking about her granny took her to expensive department stores and gave her tons of jewelry then cried and said something like, “I must have been a saint in a former life because I’ve been given so much in this one.” That sounds familiar, but I don’t know if I was as annoyed by it before. That’s a crazy thing to say though.
Everyone LOVES to criticize the other designers in this one. LK talks about how Althea stole her color story. She also thinks that Andrae’s look is gross. Emilio hates Rayon’s work. Joshua thinks that Ivy is repeating herself with her jacket from the first challenge. Rayon, of course, has plenty of nice things to say about Rayon, but that’s only to be expected. When the models come in for their fittings, several of the designers have to make huge alterations.
Uli makes a joke about how someone wearing aerosol can apparel would go up in flames at a club. Ivy is starting to get a lot credit from her fellow designers. Anthony Ryan too is kind of inching forward as the one to beat. We finally learn the name of the hot make-up daddy! It’s Scott Patric. Cyberstalk in good health.
On the runway, Carolyn is wearing something graffiti-inspired. The guest judges are Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra, fashion designers who are apparently favorites of Anna Wintour’s. AND, they look like gay Swedish lumberjacks and it’s so freaking amazing that I might have to do that. Seriously, 2013? Welcome to your time with me. It’s going to look like Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra. I’m not even kidding except for just a little bit. Anyway, my heroes make clothes that are graffiti-inspired, the idea being that the clothes should look great in both a runway and an art gallery.
The show begins and it’s really interesting. The silhouettes are wild to match the wild prints. I have to say, his aesthetic is not mine, but Kayne of Many Colors makes a strong impression. LK almost shows her models tootie. Anthony Ryan’s dress is actually fantastic. You know, these guys didn’t fuck this up as much as I thought they would. I’m not wild about Emilio’s colors, but it’s so well made. Rayon’s is a little off, but it’s hard to put a finger on. Ivy does another translucent skirt. Joshua’s is maybe my least favorite.
Anthony Ryan, Emilio and Ivy are in the top. Kayne of Many Colors (don’t actually agree with that), Rayon and LK are in the bottom. Emilio wins the challenge! LK is safe. That means Kayne of Many Colors and Rayon are in the bottom. Rayon is eliminated and Carolyn is so sweet to him that I almost thought she would cry. He calls himself “daddy cat” on his way out and I died. I’m dead now.
Previously: The designers create disco-inspired looks to complement some shoes. Uli won the challenge with a completely un-disco look, but hey. Wendy Pepper was able to successfully redeem herself for her crappy earlier behavior, though she was unable to make an outfit that didn't get her eliminated.
The designers are in Long Island City, which is right over the East River in Queens. Rayon tells us that they approach a giant wall covered in "aerosol art." I know that's what I call graffiti. I'm really happy that the rest of the world appears ready to open their minds a little and give aerosol art the real credit that it deserves. How dare you call that spray paint? How dare you, sir. Carolyn greets the designers just as they notice that part of the wall is decorated with the title of the show Project Runway: All-Stars. She jokes that she painted the wall, then retracts. She says that they are standing at the largest collection of legal aerosol art. I still feel the need to put quotation marks around that but I'm not going to. She let's us know that they arcane name for aerosol art is graffiti. Thanks for that. The stuff that they show is all really cool though. I don't take away from the quality, but, let's be real, talented or not the majority of the graffiti artists make their mark without permission. Are they really going to be all, "This word 'graffitè,' I find it offensive. Think of something else to call me."
Carolyn points out three different aerosol artistes who are making something on the walls. They are apparently the best in the world and have collaborated with Louis Vuitton, Missy Elliot and Robert DeNiro. There's some sort of powerful vortex in the center of a Missy/Bobby/LV triangle. When they stand close to each other, anything with a trucker hat or ironic tee is sucked into the ether and gone forever. Rayon has obviously never been near them when this happened, nor has Ashton Kutcher.
Now, the designers will be working with the graffiti people. Joshua seems forced to say that he's excited that their challenge will be surrounded by aerosol art. Ivy thinks that this challenge may help her think outside of the box. Laura Kathleen says that she doesn't do graffiti, however she does like to spray paint old furniture. I've spent a lot of time thinking about why that is so obnoxious to me and the answer is every reason. Carolyn says that they will be creating their own patterns using... spray paint. Why that was a major reveal that required that she lift a black veil from a stack of crates of spray paint? Not sure. Rayon announces that "[his name] has never in his life held a can of spray paint, so this is going to me a MAJOR CHALLENGE." I mean, he's got to know, right? How ridiculous he sounds? Is he trying to join the circus after this? Be a clown? What's just bewildering and grotesque about Rayon is the utter earnestness of his delivery. Inside of him is a true commitment to presenting this...thing. Like, he has had conversations with himself and is like, "I mean, how am I going to stand out to the people at home? Rita from door in this pay-by-the-week hotel where I live in Los Angeles, she used to hang out with Margot Kidder and Karen Black in the '70s and she says that you gotta have a gimmick if you want people to remember you. Which is why she has magenta hair even now and she's in her late '60s. It really makes an impact. She did like three episodes of Ve$as and says that she saw Robert Urich changing once and his tan lines are still in her spank bank. I mean, she's seen it all. So, that's why I'm working so hard on this incredibly current and modern look that I've got going and I'm also going to refer to myself in the third-person at every opportunity so that people know how seriously I take myself. Then, I'll look like the touched artist that I really am. These many bracelets alone make me sooo... wait, make that make Suede so freaking cool. Wait, make that coolorama." It's like, have a little fucking dignity, would you? He seems perfectly nice but I can't help but hate him a little for how dated his ideas about image and branding are. LOOK AROUND YOU! Some of these people are actually doing this correctly! Yes, you will be able to say that you hold the distinction of being the only person who refers to themselves by their own name or who has purple hair, but that's not something to be proud of. It's fucking embarrassing. Ugh. I want to say that Rayon should live in some second-tier metropolitan area where his thing would seem more original, but I don't want to insult even Tampa, at least not this way. Also, they have the internet in Tampa. It used to be that Rayon and his sort of dulled edge thing would seem a lot sharper in places the farther away from the cultural centers you got. But, now every kid in Fargo can crib the style of the coolest kids immediately. It's all online. So, put it all together and he's evil and must be destroyed.
| Season AS2 | Episode 3 | Aired on 11.08.2012
The designers are going to get seven yards of fabric (cotton or chiffon), a crate of spray paint and two hours to create what they want. They will get 50 dollars and 15 minutes at Mood later to get the rest of what they need. Althea says that she creates prints for her own line, so she's excited to get creative for this challenge as well. Laura Kathleen says that she didn't wear the proper attire for this challenge because her shit's expensive. She is getting more boring almost every time she opens her mouth.
Kayne of Many Colors interviews the graffiti artists because he wanted to know what inspired them. Ivy decides to go with a "girl power" theme, which needs to take a nap to Rayon's look because they are both so tired. Anyway though, she seems confident with it and says that she's going to make a suit because it reminds her of a superhero revealing that they are not ordinary under their clothes.
Meres One, an aerosol artist, shows them some different techniques for manipulating the spray cans. Sen 2 and Zimad also pop in and give some hints. Andrae thinks it's exciting to learn the tricks of the trade. They all get started and Laura Kathleen is insulted that Althea is using the same colors as her. Boring. Then, Ivy helps out Casanova because she has free time and he helped her during the last challenge. Laura Kathleen also has a problem with this. More boring.
They go to Mood and have to dash around like crazy. They've only got like a few pennies and eight minutes. It's terrifying. And, that's all they do for that day. Seems like they could have given them a little more time at Mood. Whatever. The morning at the Night Hotel, Althea tells Laura Kathleen that she feels Rayon may be making his print too busy. Laura Kathleen adds that Kayne of Many Colors has created a print with words on it and it sort of looks like patchwork. In the guys' room, Josh says that he feels like this challenge is going to get personal, because the prints are from them. He likens it to someone criticizing your personal appearance -- you can't do anything about it. Then, he admits that he could in fact pluck another eyebrow.
Back at the workroom, Emilio discovers that his fabric is stiffer due the paint that he used on it. So, he wants to make an exaggerated denim jacket. Kayne of Many Colors interviews that word has gotten around that Laura Kathleen has offended everyone on the premises. He and Ivy are in the break room eating and he tells her that Laura Kathleen is always talking about how her grandmother took her to Neiman's and Sak's when she was a little girl. And that bit about how her high school cost more than her college. Gross. He says that he has heard her say so many things related to money. Ivy thinks that is weird because she never says anything like that around her, to which Kayne of Many Colors responds that it's probably because she would tell her that she's a selfish bitch. This gets a big laugh from both of them. Then, he says that once she said that she must have been a saint in a past life because she's been given so much in this one. That really gets them and they're laughing hard when Laura Kathleen walks in. They pipe down but start giggling once she sits down, which is pretty rude. Laura Kathleen says that Ivy is being mean to her and Ivy does that, "You're entitled to your opinion" thing, which is so passive aggressive. It's just this mind fuck that you're not allowed to do anything about. Laura Kathleen interviews that Ivy is not the Zen lady that she has painted herself t be this season. Scary. Then, Kayne of Many Colors tells Laura Kathleen that she should think more carefully about the things that she says, because some people can take them the wrong way. I don't think that's very sincere advice, however, I have to say that Kayne of Many Colors has never been more compelling than he was sitting there shit-talking with Ivy. It really brought something interesting out in him.
| Season AS2 | Episode 3 | Aired on 11.08.2012
Back in the workroom, Kayne of Many Colors is working and Laura Kathleen says that it looks like "circus rainbow." She feels like he hasn't organized the panels in his look properly. Joanna comes in and begins her consultation. She starts with Althea and notes that the pattern looks like the very one that she is wearing. She says that she's wearing one of her own prints, but was playing around with the techniques that she learned from the aerosol artists. Joanna seems a little critical of the look.
I can't tell what she thought about Emilio's look. Kayne of Many Colors describes his look to her and she says that he must ask himself whether it's fabulous or hideous. Do you really have to ask yourself that? Wouldn't you just know? She goes to Anthony Ryan and he explains that he used to be a graphic artist. Kayne of Many Colors says that he feels like Anthony Ryan's look is cheap and simple. He says that he didn't want his look to be too "Over the Rainbow." Casanova is making a dress and Joanna says that she loves it. She tells Uli that she loves color palette. She asks her if she had much access to art when she growing up in East Germany. She says that she didn't. She left as soon as the Berlin Wall came down, because she was afraid it would be rebuilt. Joanna points out that the Wall was covered in aerosol art. It seems kind of forced to make that point. Andrae tells Joanna that he is a big fan of conceptual art. Joanna remarks that his pattern is very pretty, but is it wearable art. I guess she's trying to say that his look would work on a runway but not in an art gallery.
Joshua says that he is familiar with aerosol cans because of spraying the shit out of his hair every morning. Rayon tells Joanna that he was inspired by earth and sky and stars. So, just about everything. He was inspired by everything. He says that he's making this dress that has some skin showing but can still be worn with a bra, which we all know makes Joanna very happy. Casanova interviews that Rayon's look is a total mess. She talks to Laura Kathleen about who she thinks shouldn't be in the competition. She says that everyone here can sew, so it will really come down to taste levels. Ivy says that she was inspired by pop art, which is promising because her earlier ideas really do look great through that lens. Joanna asks her how important she feels taste is in the competition and she says that Vivienne Westwood once said that you either have good taste or you don't. Laura interviews that she feels like Ivy is attacking people. Did she say anything meaner than the stuff that Laura Kathleen said? Don't answer that. I know the answer. I felt like Ivy's answer was fairly politic. Laura Kathleen says that she can compete without being a bitch. She should try that then.
| Season AS2 | Episode 3 | Aired on 11.08.2012
Before she leaves the workroom, Joanna says that she is very moved by some of the work she has seen. Althea is worried about the critique, but she says she has to work with what she has. The models come in for fittings and there are problems. Kayne of Many Colors' dress is too long, by eight inches. Joshua says that he likes how graphic Ivy's jacket is, but it's the same shape as the jacket she made for the first challenge. Anthony Ryan feels that the liner to his dress makes it too heavy, so he decides to remove it. Uli cracks that she could see someone wearing one of their designs to a club sometime and going up in flames when someone lit a cigarette near their aerosol art clothes. Anthony Ryan says that, by the time the competition is over, someone will be going up in flames, which makes all of the girls in the sewing room go, "Ooooh!"
The morning, they have a few moments to scramble. Kayne of Many Colors is concerned because he was in the bottom last week. Rayon says that he has a lot to do. He's cutting out all of these little circles of fabric and putting them on his look. Anthony Ryan says that Ivy is doing really well and he didn't realize that she would be as much competition as she has been. Emilio notes that Ivy and Kayne are both using text in their garments, but he feels that Ivy's look is at a higher lever. Uli says that Anthony Ryan's dress is beautiful and very graphic.
The models come in for their fittings. Josh is still sewing a skirt when they get there. So, they go to hair and make-up and hot make-up daddy is there and he is NAMED. Scott Patric is what he is called. Let the games begin. So, I stalked him for a good three minutes and here's what I know. He does make-up. I know, I'm really good at this. But, also, he was featured in an iconic photograph that Terry Richardson took of him in a Batman costume and another guy in a Robin costume and they're kissing. So, yeah, what I'm trying to say is this Scott Patric character is my hero.
Back in the workroom, everybody's doing that smack talk thing. Althea thinks that Kayne of Many Colors' dress looks like a kid made it. Kayne says that Rayon's look is the worst. Funny, for a second, I thought it was Rayon saying that because of the way he always addresses himself. Casanova thinks that Laura Kathleen didn't really answer the challenge. She made a nice little dress but not wearable art. Laura Kathleen thinks that Andrae's look is fucking gross. That's right, she doesn't have to be a bitch to be competitive.
| Season AS2 | Episode 3 | Aired on 11.08.2012
Carolyn greets the designers on the runway wearing a dramatic dress with a large painted swoosh on the front. She introduces Georgina, Isaac and guest judges Jeffrey Costello and Robert Tagliapietra. They make one-of-a-kind pieces and apparently Anna Wintour loves them. They also look like Hansel and Gretel's gay, hipster uncles. I LOVE THEM.
The show begins with Andrae's dress. It's a sleeveless dress that is flared in the skirt. The skirt is spray-painted a sort of Monet flowery print and it climbs up the back of the dress, while the front of the bodice is white. There is (of course?) some organza at the waist, tied like a belt. It's not the worst. He says that he feels like his model looks like a girl who is in on the joke. I'm not sure it's the wisest thing to do to consider this a joke. is Uli's dress. It's all oranges and purples and it's fitted with these like fin things at the shoulders. Very futuristic and cool. She likes it but doesn't think that it stands out enough for this challenge.
Kayne of Many Colors' girl comes out . It's a long fitted gown with a train. He made panels with the words that he aerosol arted and the panels are separated by black strips of fabric. Laura Kathleen's look is . She made a fitted cocktail dress in yellows and purples. The hem of the dress, which is already short, peaks upward in the center of the gown. It puts us in danger of seeing entirely too much tootie. Laura Kathleen notices and thinks that the mistake may have put her in the bottom.
Anthony Ryan's dress is and it's so cool. It's a short cocktail dress with a flared skirt. The graphic is just squiggly lines of blue and black in little blocks. There's something about the line that has the confidence of Keith Haring's work. Like, even though it's just a bunch of straight lines, you look at it and recognize it. He says that it makes him smile. Casanova's dress is and it looks really special. It's a halter dress in chiffon. The tones are all sort of peach based. He has used panels as well and each panel has a different series of stencils and adornments. It's very unusual and cool. He thinks that the look is harmonious. Emilio's look is and it is polished. All fire colors, she's wearing a red halter top and a tight multi-colored skirt. A voluminous jean jacket like coat matches the skirt. It's gorgeous.
Rayon's look is and he thinks his girl is super-smoldering and hot. She is not. This dress looks worse than a lot of stuff we've seen. It's black and gray, with a one-shouldered clothed part. The skirt is like layers of handkerchiefs and he has applied these little circular things to the entire bodice. There's something about the fit at the waist that is really vague and wrong too. This look isn't finished. Althea's look is . It's a fitted dress with a gentle graffiti power in the center and black fabric at the sides. It's super figure-flattering, but it's not wearable art. She says that she realizes it's not the loudest in the show. Ivy's look is and, honestly, I kind of hate it, but I also really appreciate it. The model is wearing a jacket in fire colors with words written on it. Right now I see "passion." The skirt matches to about the knee where it blends into an asymmetrical handkerchief. I really hate that skirt. Josh's is last. It's a sleeveless cocktail dress with a small skirt at the waist. I don't love the colors, but the dress is beautifully made. I can buy the wearable art aspect as well. There's something a little bit childish about the colors though.
| Season AS2 | Episode 3 | Aired on 11.08.2012
After the show, Carolyn tells everybody that she's proud of them. Then, she calls Ivy, Emilio, Anthony Ryan, Rayon, Laura Kathleen and Kayne of Many Colors. They are the top and the bottom scorers. As the safe designers are leaving the stage, Isaac tells them that they loved their clothes. Anthony Ryan says that he was inspired by the graffiti wall. The judges love dress. Jeffrey thinks that the print is maybe too young for an art gallery setting. Laura Kathleen describes the technique she used for her dress. Georgina thinks that the skirt is too short. Isaac likes the idea of the fringe on the back, but in execution he was not a fan. The guest judges think that she made a mistake peaking the hem. Carolyn is not a fan of the fringe on the back. Georgina says that she likes that Rayon took a feminine approach to the challenge, but she thinks that all of the cut-out elements make you lose the spray paint quality necessary to fulfill the challenge. Isaac throws some Phi Phi O'Hara shade at Rayon and tells him that the dress is looking very Party City. Carolyn says that she likes the whimsy of the dress and imagines going to a black light party in it. Wow, she's really sweet, because damn that's a stretch. She's not a fan of the paillettes though. Jeffrey doesn't like the waistline.
Emilio says that he remembered the bold colors from the early days of hip-hop. Carolyn loves it and wants to wear it. Georgina is a fan too, but thinks that his belt could have been a little bit wider. Robert feels that the piece is really honest. His only problems are the width of the belt and he also wishes that the zippers were brass. Georgina says that she likes Ivy's girl. She's modern and sensual. Isaac thinks that she should stay away from the word "tenacity" on the garment because he only saw "city." He loves the cut out in the back though. Jeffrey was not a fan of the white slip at the bottom of the dress, but his problem with it was that it was white. Kayne of Many Colors explains that he was excited to show the judges art. Isaac thinks that it was dramatic but jarring. Robert thinks that the black straps make the dress unflattering. Georgina wonders if maybe there were too many ideas happening.
The designers leave the stage and the judges confer. They all love Anthony Ryan's dress but wonder if he didn't push himself. Isaac loved Emilio's look, but they really do give him grief for the belt on his jacket. They all love Ivy's jacket, but wonder if they have seen it before. Georgina thought that there was too much going on with Laura Kathleen's dress. Carolyn and Isaac say that they didn't even get graffiti from it. Isaac says that there is always something a little bit tacky about Kayne of Many Colors' work. Robert felt like you could see Rayon's nuttiness in his design. So, they posed the question, would they rather eliminate someone who was nutty or tacky?
| Season AS2 | Episode 3 | Aired on 11.08.2012
The designers return to the stage. Ivy is safe. The winner of the challenge is... Emilio! Carolyn tells him that his outfit was spectacular. Anthony Ryan is in. Laura Kathleen is in. That means it's down to Kayne and Rayon. And, Rayon is...out. Rayon hangs his head in a genuine moment. Carolyn, who is seriously just the sweetest, tells him that he's so creative and he needs to harness just a little though they love who he is. He goes backstage and hugs everyone. He interviews that his interpretation of his elimination was that he's too creative. Yeah, that's the problem. He's sad to be leaving this soon, but he's still an all-star and all that. He says in an interview that all of the designers should rock the runway and make "daddy cat" proud. I'm not sure that I will ever really get over hearing that.
Jeff Long is a performer/writer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.