Project Runway Recap: Gunn's Goin' Off!
Emilio
"Disagreeable Emilio." Does that rhyme? I thought of it and want it added to common parlance. What about Disagreelio? Perhaps "I got a warm case of the Disagreelios today"? Go on! Take it! It's for the people.
Tim met Emilio in his New York apartment by the George Washington Bridge. The two have had a hostile courtship, and according to most of the other designers, it's due to an abstract concept called "Emilio sucks." More baffling than his surly, arrogant demeanor, though, is his collection up to this point: A sloppy melange of dowdy, upchuck-colored scraps that wouldn't flatter even the most ferosh of hos. Tim prepared himself to comment.
"Emilio, I know you have a strong vision of what you want, but how shall I phrase this in a way that won't compromise your artistic -- EFF IT, YOU BLOW. You blow. This is a collection of blows. Your grandmother would wear that olive-colored blow to the market. That jacket-shaped blow belongs on a lesser member of Parliament Funkadelic. It's a blowvalanche! Take cover."
So ended Tim's critique. Emilio was perturbed, but maybe for the first time ever, he ended up following Tim's advice. Tim also called the collection "old and drab" which must've hit Emilio where it hurts -- in one of his stupid hats.
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Seth Aaron: I love Tim and truly believe that designers ignore him at their own peril (Christian Siriano and that Henley woman are notable exceptions). But, I would want to murder him for telling me to throw away everything I've labored over because it's too expected. Too me. I don't know about the judges wanting something evolved. I remember them showing no interest in Santino's beautiful collection because it was just too lovely, and too different from his glued on pants fiascos. And poor Uli, she made a respectable collection in the sham Project Runway All Stars (alt title: "Michael Kors: How Can I Give an Award to My Dreamboat Protege?"), and the judges couldn't forgive her for not doing her signature "two wild ass prints that somehow go together" summer dresses.
Emilio: When I saw his entire collection online, I thought: "That's great for… Barbara Walters." That whole collection was made for very chic women… of retirement age. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It was Emilio's model from Models of the Runway who made the most enlightening comment about how she couldn't really tell what his design style is because he adapted to the challenges too well. Now we know, he's Ungaro from the block.
Mila: Her collection looked a lot better close up than online. It's good, but it seems like… Sonia Rykiel went back in time and found herself designing for an Ann Taylor Loft in 1981's Tokyo.
Jay: His collection looked more interesting on the runway (kind of old school Tron) but damned impractical up close. Just a lot of straps and snaps for no reason. I'd say he should make accessories, but no woman wants her tampons falling through all those holes in her purse. Nina's "overdesigned" is correct. Also, why did he cling to his horrible Barbazon school model? She actually walked like a barbie doll with perpetually bent arms. Further signs of his questionable taste.
Jay,
SYFY wants you to design on their 'MODELS FROM THE FUTURE" movie.
What an exceptional comment. I can only break this down with dashes and hyperbole.
- The Project Runway All-Stars challenge may have been the official shark jump. Uli killed it with that du jour metallic melange, and Daniel's collection was discordant, gimmicky, and banal all at the same time. It ran a gamut of amateur design mistakes, seemed to me. Almost impressively unsuccessful -- not to mention indicative of the judges' weird obsession with him.
- Emilio's adaptive abilities have flown under the radar, but man did that wool lift from my eyes when his aggressively old-fashioned colors, silhouettes, and concepts came to the fore after the wide-open Bryant Park prompt.
- Maybe it's just the editing, but Seth Aaron has seemed like the clear winner of the season for weeks. He's just the type of winner they want -- a likable, distinct character who represents a stylistic upheaval of last season's winner's lush, bitchy streetwear. (That's not an indirect appraisal of Irina, I swear; the clothes were bitchy by definition! And impeccably so!)
- As for Mila, I respond positively to most of her work. For all of the judging's screeching that her aesthetic is limited, it's also instantly recognizable -- the hallmark of success on this show. The best contestants on Project Runway make clothes that reconfirm and strengthen your opinion of them, and I always end up liking Mila more after seeing her work -- narrowly defined as it is. That may sound weak, but I can't argue with her design that I posted here. Ann Taylor isn't exactly off the mark though, I'll give you that.
- I thought Jay's collection ruled. The heavy runway impact and luxurious textures did me in. Also: He's way fun to talk to. (See also: I'm a sellout.)
All I can say is that I wanted to freeze-frame and print a shot of Tim on the trampoline. The look on his face as he was flat on his back was priceless. The man works hard for his money.