Project Runway Recap: Season 9 Premiere
Hi Project Runway fans! Remember me? I recapped seasons 6 and 7 in a little show called After the Runway with my pals Terry and Vanessa and I'm happy to be back, video-less, but recapping nonetheless. I missed Tim and Heidi, Nina and Michael, did you?
After the usual montage of designers arriving at their new home at the Atlas, we get right to it -- Tim Gunn arrives at 5am to wake everyone up for the first challenge. Everyone freaks out, of course, and after they walk past Bryant park (foreshadowing!) and through Times Square, the challenge is revealed in the workroom at Parsons: create a look from just your bedsheets and PJs. I loved the challenge right away because it would take sewing skill and a stylish eye to make something beautiful.
I love how they feature certain contestants right off the bat and others you don't see or hear until the runway (hi Cecilia!) There was an awful lot of Anya and her lack of sewing skills, which, if you've watched any reality shows, you could easily figure out that she was going to rock it. It didn't hurt that she had a beautiful kimono-style nightie to work with.
We also meet Bert, who at 57 may be the oldest contestant the show has had in a while, and his boxers (I laughed out loud at Kimberly's mention of "nut juice"!) The editing was also setting him up, but like Bryce, I was being age-ist and I thought for sure he'd go down.
Finally, the other designer with mega-screen time was headscarf-wearing, Andre 3000-channeling Rafael. Anyone else prefer his kicky scarf to his pre-Selena Bieber sweep?
Check out all the designers in the gallery below. NOTE: We are airing the one-hour version of the show, but in the United States, the show is 90-minutes. This won't be an issue going forward, but it was confusing this episode as we missed the back stories of the designers and the first cut from 20 to the 16 below.
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Runway time! The guest judge this week was Christina Ricci and I enjoyed her attempts to say something nice, even when the garments were truly terrible. ("That looked like it took a long time to do," she said about Rafael's halter top with scalloped layers at the back.)
I wasn't too blown away, but mildly pleased with the first five looks, but when Anya's model stepped out in those amazing bed sheet pants and cute kimono halter with the very sexy back, I wrote in all caps LOVE. I knew my girl would pull it out and for having never sewed pants or silk before (!!), it was a throw down to the other contestants that Anya, as Michael Kors called her, is a wizard.
I also liked colour-blind Anthony Ryan's top, but wasn't impressed with his short skirt. Bert's boxer dress was the most interesting outfit, though he showed his age with that lame styling (and got called out for it by the judges). My personal favourite, besides Bert's, was Cecilia's. I loved it from head to toe, the striped top, the bright skirt (though it did pouf funny in the front, hey no one is perfect) and the the little jacket. I was surprised when she didn't make it in the top 3, but then again, we hadn't seen her all episode, so I guess it just wasn't her time to shine.
Top 3: Bert, Anya, Anthony Ryan
Bottom 3: Rafael, Joshua C., Julie
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So who had to pack up and hit the road? Rafael's truly terrible top and leggings got some harsh reactions from the judges. Heidi summed it up with a "She looks awful!" and poof -- auf wiedersehen to Rafael.
What did you think of the premiere? Is Bert going to be the dark horse, or was this truly valiant effort a one-off? Anyone else love listening to Anya's Trini accent?
Watch the premiere in the Video Centre
Project Runway airs Mondays at 10pm ET -- check the schedule to find out about repeats.
By Runway Diva