Project Runway Recap | Season 14, Episode 9

 (For those unfamiliar, every year Project Runway has a sponsor that provides accessories (shoes, bags, jewelry) for the designer's looks.  This year's sponsor is JustFab, and for this challenge the designers had to create a ready-to-wear look to be reproduced and sold at justfab.com.

The designs had to fit in with JustFab's "style profiles," and Candice, being the winner from last week's challenge, got to choose the profile for each designer.

The judges were in SO much disagreement over which looks they liked and disliked that there were no top and bottom scores until the very end, when a winner and loser had to be determined.  Fortunately, I'm more decisive than Heidi, Nina, and Zac.

My Top Three

1. Edmond Newton (Bombshell)

WOOO!  This.  Look.  Was.  Perfect.  Edmond hit this challenge out of the park.  He totally mastered his "bombshell" profile, his styling was flawless, and he absolutely deserved the win.  He created a dress that every woman would want to wear and that JustFab would have no problem selling.  Well, well done.

2. Kelly Dempsey (Trendsetter)

The judges were in major disagreement over this look, and I can understand why.  It's not something everyone is going to like, but for the "trendsetter" design profile, I totally think it works.  Her combination of prints was really well accomplished, her vest (while, granted, a little Muppet-y) added a healthy dose of chic-ness to an otherwise very sporty look, and her styling was impeccable.  The judges are always looking for designers who aren't cramped inside a box, and Kelly is anything but within a box.  I think it was a win.

3. Ashley Nell Tipton (Girl Next Door)

Ashley's look definitely fit the "girl-next-door profile", but she struggled with defending herself and really showing her work to its potential.  The top was fitted beautifully and had cute detailing in the back, but her model never took the jacket off so the judges didn't know about it.  HAVE CONFIDENCE, ASH!!!  The fabric choice was love it or hate it, but the overall look could have been really sellable to the JustFab customer...if only she had SOLD IT.

Honorable Mention: Merline Labissiere (Femme Nouveau)

I got where the judges were coming from with Merline's look.  "Femme Nouveau" is supposed to be modern, but flirty and feminine.  Merline went modern and sporty.  Even though she had some construction problems, I did really enjoy the dress, and it's something I'd probably wear.  It simply didn't suit the challenge.

My Bottom Three

1. Candice Cuoco (Trendsetter)

I really couldn't hate this look any more.  Candace has been all over the road for me all season, but particularly after last week's high point, this was particularly disappointing.  Her profile was "trendsetter."  What trend is this setting?!  The trend of grandma-esque built-in scarf lapels?  The trend of pleather dust ruffles around one's butt?  Sorry, but I don't see any of those trends taking off.  In addition, the challenge was to create a look that could be reproduced and sold to a mass market.  This can accomplish neither.  If she hadn't had immunity, I don't know where she would have ended up.

2. Laurie Underwood (Modern Classic)

Laurie's concept fit within the "modern classic" realm.  That said, her top was poorly made and not remotely able to be reproduced, and after her boob issues from last week's challenge, she shouldn't have gone with a braless look again.  It really wasn't up to par with the other designs in the group, and I understand why she was sent home.

3. Swapnil Shinde (Bombshell)

This really wasn't a bad dress overall.  If Swapnil hadn't been determined to made a sculptural cover-up and if he hadn't included the metallic butt-flap, he might have fared better.  I don't really know why he struggled with making a bombshell dress, since that's what he makes on the regular, but the judges are picking up that he isn't working to his full potential, which is bad news for him.  Better luck next week, Swapnil!


The disappointing aspect of this challenge is that the reproduced version of Edmond's dress that's available online is...awful.

The neckline is wonkey, the ruching is concentrated on the hips and the butt instead of allover, the hemline is too long.  It's now a cheap, tacky dress instead of the beautiful bombshell Edmond created, and if I were him I wouldn't want my name on it.

This has happened before to Mondo and Anthony Ryan when their looks got reproduced, and I'd really like Project Runway to do better on that front.

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All photos from www.mylifetime.com and www.justfab.com
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