Mondo Guerra Recaps ‘Project Runway All Stars’: Flapper or Flopper?
[Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen Thursday’s episode.]
The all-stars revisit a decade of glamour and decadence when they’re asked to create modern looks inspired by the Roaring Twenties. And just to keep things interesting, the designers are pitted against each other in a fashion face-off.
With only six all-stars left, there’s no more middle of the pack — you’re either in the top or in the bottom. It will take everything these designers have to make it to the finish line.
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In the Workroom
It’s Uli vs. Laura Kathleen in the category of evening social soiree. Fine-feathered (and fringed) Uli is in her element again this week. Her knack with trims and embellishment continue to impress the judges. Laura Kathleen thinks Uli is more of a stylist than a designer. But Laura Kathleen has a secret weapon of her own — fur.
Joshua squares off against Emilio in the category of afternoon garden party. Emilio decides to modernize a vintage silhouette via print, but Joanna thinks it looks like granny’s sofa. Meanwhile, Joshua is hoping his fresh approach to a draped, dropped-waist dress will stand out.
Ivy takes on Anthony Ryan in the category of after-hours speakeasy. Anthony Ryan gets the feeling that Ivy is watching his every move. Joanna is crazy about Anthony Ryan’s feathered capelet, but Ivy isn’t impressed by what she sees. When Joanna asks her to rate his design, Ivy gives him a five out of 10.
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On the Runway
Guest judges actress Gretchen Mol and designer Jenny Packham join the all stars speakeasy this week. Then it’s show time!
Here’s what I thought of the looks on the runway:
Joshua: Love the colors and spirit of this dress. It’s a very wearable piece and had great movement on the runway. Where Joshua fell short this week was in the styling. He HAD to put that darn broach on!
Emilio: It’s a fine dress with some special details, but it didn’t look very ’20s to me. This design in general just wasn’t very memorable. Emilio is an extremely talented designer — I wish he would have dug deeper into his costume background and give us more wow moments.
Uli: This fringed frock had Uli’s signature all over it. The combination of textures was interesting and exciting. My problem is that it reminds me of her looks from past challenges. ANOTHER white dress?? Can she surprise us with something unexpected?
Laura Kathleen: Another soft, feminine look from Laura Kathleen. But, again, haven’t we seen this silhouette from her a few times already? The fur piece was the most ’20s-inspired element of her design but it lacked impact.
Ivy: I loved the unexpected use of leather in this dress and how ambitious Ivy was to create the chevron design with such challenging fabric. For me, the hem was too long though. A shorter dress would have been more youthful.
Anthony Ryan: A simple yet dramatic look. I thought this was a very modern interpretation of the ’20s. This design struck the right balance between flirty and in-control. His girl was conservative but still sexy.
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The Judges’ Decisions
Anthony Ryan danced his way to another win while Laura Kathleen was kicked out of the club.
Did the judges get it right this week? Sound off and speak your mind in the comments below!
Denver fashion designer Mondo Guerra earned a runner-up finish on Project Runway season eight then went on to claim victory on the debut season of Project Runway All Stars. In addition to an upcoming guest editor position at Marie Claire, Mondo has also launched I Design, a new HIV/AIDS education campaign with Merck. To learn more about Mondo, visit mondoguerra.com.
