Project Runway - The Hershey Challenge
Let’s dish on Project Runway a bit for a moment, shall we? This week, the contestants were asked to make complete outfits in one day from items they gathered in five minutes from a Hershey’s Chocolate store.
Really? I mean…REALLY?
I know the Project Runway is a challenge…but this episode grated on my nerves a bit. What, exactly, did this tell us about the designers? I felt like it was, in part, a challenge about luck and fast-thinking, two traits that, frankly, you don’t need to be a great designer. I was uninspired.
Plus, my main concern is that few of the outfits created were wearable in an everyday setting. Sure, designing fanciful outfits is sometimes needed, but overall, I always want to know what their designs mean to me. How will the winning designer contribute to the fashion world? How will he or she influence what I buy? I need more than a point of view. I need a real understand of the business world, even if that world is crazed by fashion.
This brings me back to the genius that was Chloe Dao. Other contestants *cough*Santino*cough* called her a pattern maker, but what she understood was that HIGH fashion isn’t the only kind of fashion in the world. The rest of us don’t want weird fabric choices and strange colors. We want to look good.
And you can’t look good wearing candy. You just can’t. Not a single one of those models was wearing something that actually will be mass-produced so that someone like me can buy it.
In the end, Rami was the winner…and I called that after watching the first few moments of the show. his construction was flawless, and even I have to admit that good construction is commendable. Our dear Elisa bit the dust….and oh, Bravo, I wish you’d lay up on the foreshadowing a bit.
January 4th, 2008 at 8:32 am
I don’t have any problem with the ‘weird materials’ challenges - they make really good TV, and that’s what it’s all about. I love watching the creativity (remember Cloe’s leaf skirt? Beautiful!) But this week brought us something I’ve been waiting for all season: some Chris lovin’ from the judges! I adore Chris, and this week he seemed so tired and so sad. It was wonderful to hear Michael Kors and the other judges praise him! I think he really needed it. His dress was really nice, too. I could see someone wear it (I have someone in mind - she’d wear anything to get attention!)
BTW - I hate the foreshadowing, too. I told my husband right away Elisa was gone. Just once I’d like to hear a sob story and have that be the winner. Just. Once. It’s not like we vote on these things, so they need our sympathy. C’mon Bravo, give us a break!
January 4th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Nice review! My first thought was “oh, okay, so Hershey wanted PR and was the only store that would let them ransack the place.” This episode was all about sponsorship and who would give it up for free.
AND I agree with Mary about Chris - I was so glad that Michael Kors jumped in when Zac Posen started to be negative.