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make it work
January 20, 2012

Project Runway All Stars Recap: Putting Lipstick, Louboutins, and a Cocktail Gown on a Pig

By Alex Rees

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Photo: Lifetime

Last night, the Paley Center for Media kindly held a special Project Runway viewing party. They screened this week’s episode a few precious hours early, and followed the show with a panel discussion featuring five of the all-star lineup — Austin, Kara, Kenley, Michael, and Mondo —  along with all three judges and mentor Joanna Coles acting as moderator. Watching the episode here meant we were enjoying all the cast’s bitchiness and quips from guest judge, the honorable Miss Piggy, to the tune Kenley’s raucous laugh. More importantly, Miss Piggy doubled as the designers’ client in a challenge that required the contestants to create a “headline-making” cocktail dress for her to wear in promoting the new Muppets movie. The terror in most of the designers’ eyes at this prospect mollifies when host Angela explains they’ll get to present their designs on a regular model body. Goodness knows these designers hate curves more than the show’s curveballs.

With neither Gordana nor Mila receiving much of an edit in this season’s prior two episodes, the immediate focus on their designs after returning from Mood doesn’t seem to bode well (at the end of this recap, you’ll realize why). Gordana’s floaty pink fabrics read more pre-teen than Piggy; Mila’s reluctance to deviate from her sixties aesthetic seems very much at odds with the task at hand. Of course, as Austin notes, it’s difficult to infuse humor in your designs when you come across as wholly humorless.

The first spat in the All Stars workroom occurs over elbow-length gloves. Very “apropos,” as guest judge Eric Daman might well say, but why was everyone so into them this week? The almost-fighting happened twice: First, both Mondo and Kara tried claim the same hot-pink pair, but Mondo (even with some passive-aggressive gum chewing) loses; later, Kara manages to lose the gloves, as well as her chosen heels and pearls, to Austin, only to whine until she got them back — but not without with harsh words and a glare from Austin so withering it killed a potted plant in our offices. Silly drama between Mila and giggly BFF duo Karley (that’s Kenley and Kara, whose names are naturally ripe for blending) also seems to be brewing. Mila finds their co-dependance cloying and outlandish. After the panel, we asked Kenley where she thought the tension came from and she said: “jealousy.”

Joanna Coles talked a lot with her hands this week — perhaps to try to add some gravitas to critiquing designs for a pig puppet. It’s surely not easy to ask, “how does a pig feel about wearing a giraffe-print?” with a straight face, but she manages; though, sadly, the question is never answered. Miss Piggy does like the print, though, enough to propel Kenley into the top three. Alongside her were Rami (who knew Rami could have so much over-the-top, flouncy fun?) and Michael, who wins the challenge for his sophisticated, eighties-tinged glam look that, in true Miss Piggy style, read as “keep the Mai Tais coming or I’ll set your lapels on fire, Mr. Waiter.” Indeed, Piggy’s attitude permeated the entire judging session just delightfully, from her long, prying head-to-toe stares to the Kung Fu beating she inflicted on her fellow guest judge, Gossip Girl stylist Eric Daman — he’d made wisecracks (cracklings!) about her ears one too many times. Poor Eric had also forgotten to button his shirt up for the cameras, or tie his kerchief for that matter.

In other styling mistakes, Austin’s oversize bows and overworked bodice saw him fall to the bottom three, with, yes, surprise, Gordana and Mila! And though Mila’d clearly made no effort to incorporate Piggy-chic into her baggy ice-hockey player’s jersey of a look, Gordana got the boot. Someone give the lady a break, please — because it’s certainly not going to be the Project Runway team.

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Anthony Williams These kinds of dresses are Anthony's Thing, and he certainly did a nice enough job doing his Thing this week— though we couldn't... Anthony Williams These kinds of dresses are Anthony's Thing, and he certainly did a nice enough job doing his Thing this week— though we couldn't help wishing there were more originality in the look, as Miss Piggy's sense of style is unique to say the least. And she's likely to leave plumage to Big Bird, or a feathery Muppet we don't know about. Or Etro.
April Johnston April worked quietly and efficiently in the work room this week, producing a look that's both quiet and perfectly sufficient. With... April Johnston April worked quietly and efficiently in the work room this week, producing a look that's both quiet and perfectly sufficient. With this simple look, she avoided a repeat spot in the bottom three, and perhaps time in front of the judges at all. But everyone knows the middle of the pack is not a place you want to stay for long on Project Runway, because the panel has a short memory.
Austin Scarlett — Bottom Three Despite labeling himself and Miss Piggy as kindred spirits, Austin really wasn't working on the same design wavele... Austin Scarlett — Bottom Three Despite labeling himself and Miss Piggy as kindred spirits, Austin really wasn't working on the same design wavelength as the sassy puppet sow. His look was overwrought and would have absolutely taken the focus away from Miss P herself — totally unacceptable. Austin's lucky his bows didn't lead to his bowing out, which is the punch line Michael was clearly looking for in his sassy "Austin might be out" confessional. Of course, if this had been a Jessica Rabbit–themed challenge, Austin would have won.
Gordana Gehlhausen — Out  This wouldn't look out of place on a Blugirl runway, and the judges rightly applauded its frothy cuteness. But in atte... Gordana Gehlhausen — Out  This wouldn't look out of place on a Blugirl runway, and the judges rightly applauded its frothy cuteness. But in attempting to reach Piggy level of glamour, Gordana couldn't overcome the problems her fabric choices had saddled her with. Joanna noted the worrying resemblance to a chaste teen's nightgown, but we thought Gordana had worked some of her seamstress magic with this dress, jazzing it up with some jewels and ruffles. There was effort here. (You know, in comparison to Mila's stock stripy design.) It was, sad-salmon pink sadly, not to be. But at least Gordana's All Stars ouster was cushioned by platitudes from Piggy, a much nicer way to go than her egregious late-game season six exit.
Jerell Scott While Miss Piggy describes Rami's look as an "explosion in a candy store," this was the design that, to us, seemed like on... Jerell Scott While Miss Piggy describes Rami's look as an "explosion in a candy store," this was the design that, to us, seemed like one big saccharine mess. While both Georgina and Isaac acknowledge at the Paley's panel that they'd often turn a blind eye to some construction issues given the All Stars' time constraints, Jerell's gown's bodice seemed baggy and badly fit, past the point to which a pass should be given. His color palette seemed gaudy, his fabrics read cheap, and oh, the frippery! Will Jerell ever see a tassel he doesn't drape on a shoulder?
Kara Janx This was a sexpot (roast) of a look indeed for Miss Piggy, and perhaps lost only for being too raunchy in the context of Piggy's new fa... Kara Janx This was a sexpot (roast) of a look indeed for Miss Piggy, and perhaps lost only for being too raunchy in the context of Piggy's new fashion editor role. Kara took on a dark and shiny houndstooth print (perhaps explaining some more why Mondo got grumpy) and tailored it just perfectly for a dress that seemed to just drip off her model's body. But the sunglasses were completely misguided.
Kenley Collins — Top Three Using a pink, giraffe-print, upholstery fabric for a cocktail gown is a bold choice, even for a costume-savvy client. ... Kenley Collins — Top Three Using a pink, giraffe-print, upholstery fabric for a cocktail gown is a bold choice, even for a costume-savvy client. Fortunately, what's Kenley if not bold? While she said April's criticisms that she's just showing the same silhouette over and over are untrue (shouting out as much during the episode's screening), there were similarities between this look and her first's bust line and circle skirt, and similar construction issues, too. But then she made a hat by sticking her model's head in a cotton candy machine, and surely that's worthy of the win alone. Though it wasn't quite enough for the judges, as Miss Piggy said, headwear that can double as a pot scourer has mad potential in the burgeoning kitchen couture market...
Michael Costello — Winner This look came out of nowhere and staked quite the claim for the win, which it deserved and yet didn't at the same time... Michael Costello — Winner This look came out of nowhere and staked quite the claim for the win, which it deserved and yet didn't at the same time. Because a sophisticated dress that would yield mass-market appeal, however high-end, surely isn't quite right for Miss Piggy. Her wardrobe stands alone. And while guest judge Eric had been slapped into leaving the ear question alone, would the big, bouncy headpiece Michael made really flatter Piggy's pointy pair?
Mila Hermanovski — Bottom Three  What's black and white and entirely boring? Not just college stats textbooks, but also Mila's look this week.&n... Mila Hermanovski — Bottom Three  What's black and white and entirely boring? Not just college stats textbooks, but also Mila's look this week. When she latched on to the assertion that because high fashion designers hadn't changed their aesthetic for Miss Piggy, she wouldn't either, she really gave up. (She also got it wrong, because the designers certainly brought fun and whimsy to their Piggy-fied looks.)  Though if nothing else, the look gave Miss Piggy the opportunity to channel Michael Kors with her critique that this seemed best suited for a sixties Halloween party. Between Mila and Mondo below, Miss Piggy's getting quite the retro capsule collection together for herself. "When Twiggy Met Porky" — we've just pitched a Piggy spinoff.
Mondo Guerra When Miss Piggy's next headed to a sixties-themed party, she'll give Mondo a call for this look. Otherwise, it seemed to take period... Mondo Guerra When Miss Piggy's next headed to a sixties-themed party, she'll give Mondo a call for this look. Otherwise, it seemed to take period inspiration a little too literally for a contemporary cocktail dress. Mondo's misstep is surely a one-off?
Rami Kashou Well, Rami's certainly showing a broader aesthetic this All Stars season — a smart marketing move, even if the appeal of gaudy flamen... Rami Kashou Well, Rami's certainly showing a broader aesthetic this All Stars season — a smart marketing move, even if the appeal of gaudy flamenco gowns is, thankfully, going to be rather limited. It seemed Rami had gone polka-dotty for most of the episode, and designed a "festive" (his words; an understatement) costume better suited for season two's Barbie challenge than for Miss Piggy's refined silhouette. But thanks to nearly faultless construction, the look's unabashed gaudiness worked in its favor — Miss Piggy has a knack for making the wrong seem so right, and Rami tapped into that aesthetic just perfectly.
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