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Under the Gunn, Ep. 9: Trouble in the Lounge

misslinda — Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:51:31 +0000

Now that we have the unconventional materials challenge out of the way, let’s sew some clothes.

This week on Under the Gunn is product placement! Have you ever walked into a room and it smells like synthetic orchard? Does that make you think about transitioning from day to evening? Because the challenge is to design an outfit that takes a woman from day to evening, and something about air fresheners.

There’s going to be a lot of jackets-over-dresses…and Tim Gunn scolds Nick for designing Oscar’s outfit. And oh look, a cape over a dress, and a vest over a pant, and is that a jacket over a skirt? Truth talk: women don’t really do the whole day to evening outfit thing. Either we bring an entirely different outfit to work and change in the bathroom, go home after work and head out much later, or we just unbutton the top two buttons on our blouse, slip on some heels, and we’re good to go. Stop trying to make day to evening happen!

Anyway, Natalia’s crying again. “I don’t think I can handle being in the bottom emotionally?” Everyone is so over it and Nick basically tells her to shut up and work, and stop dripping on her fabric. Then there’s Michelle, whose shoulder pads “are not looking as awesome as I imagined them.” Shoulder pads? Shoulder pads. Ugh. Other than that, boring, boring, boring.

Anya’s “flustered” over a cummerbund Shan is designing and Mondo’s trying to save Michelle’s ill-advised shoulder pads. Is the entire workroom going to the prom in 1986? Oh ha, Asha calls Natalia’s dress “a bodycon dress you can get at Forever 21.”

To the runway! The judges are Jen Rade, Rachel Roy, and guest judge Macklemore.

Shan’s houndstooth daytime dress is frumpy, and the transition is awkward. Blake’s daytime pants suit is kind of slick, but then the model has to take her pants off and the shirt is a too-short skirt? No. Natalia’s daytime dress is a knit cowl weirdness and the evening look really is Forever 21 cheapo street clothes. Oscar’s daytime look is a little nighttime, and the nighttime look is a little deigning women. As Michael Kors would say I question his taste level. Asha’s daytime look bulges in some weird places and the nighttime look bulges in even more. Michelle’s daytime look is a frumpy parachute, and I almost miss the shoulder pads. A few straps turn it into a straight jacket. Sam’s daytime look is a cute summery dress. Then, she rips her top off and attaches it to the belt for a bizarre but perfectly adorable evening cocktail dress.

Sam is safe, and everyone else is the best and worst. The judges are impressed with Oscar’s cape and “high fashion” night look. I don’t know. I’m a business woman, and I wouldn’t be caught dead walking into an office in a cape and skirt with slits up to here. Asha’s flapfest is a fail. “It’s not a flattering shape.” Really? You think? The judges enjoy Shan’s zippered transition dress with the world’s first tear-away cummerbund. Next, Michelle. Who picks blah brown fabric? That’s the kind of fabric you buy when you have to make a potato costume. Natalia’s dress is called “super classy” by someone who has a very different definition of “super classy” than the rest of the planet. “This is elegant to me.” Oh goodness. Blake’s bellbottom suit is called “boring,” even though the model totally took her pants off for you.

Backstage, Anya and Mondo let it all out. They don’t think Natalia has any business being in the top because she has “uncompleted ideas” and is a poopy poopyhead crybaby. Bicker, bicker, bicker, and it turns into “your mom didn’t raise you right.”

Asha and Shan are safe. Blake and Michelle have the bottom two looks, and the judges send Michelle home. It was the right choice, that fabric was unforgivable. Oscar is the winner of the challenge, and Nick is like a proud mamma. But when Natalia goes back to the lounge, silence. It’s clear that nobody thinks she should still be in the competition. Then, Mondo tells the judges that he is disappointed, and Anya says that the judges will regret their decisions because Natalia is, as discussed, a poopy poopy head crybaby. The judges explain that they liked Natalia’s idea, and that Michelle’s outfit was conceptless. But whatever. I would’ve sent everyone home this week.

Next week, it’s a team challenge and nobody wants to work with Natalia.

Reprinted from HauteTalk.com

Under the Gunn, Episode 7: Steampunk Chic

misslinda — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 21:19:05 +0000

Another episode of Under the Gunn, and we have yet to whittle down the designers to a manageable herd. This week, the dead weight has got to go.

The designers meet Tim Gunn in Travel Town as inspiration for an avante garde look in the steampunk genre of design. Oh, barf. Tired, overdone, so five years ago. They have two days to complete their garments, and can grab as many pieces of machinery, baubles, and bits that they can carry.

Anya tries to explain Steampunk to Shan, but she doesn’t have the right words other than, “It’s, like, the 1800s?” Both designers and mentors visit Mood for fabrics, and Oscar is freaking out Nick with an idea of a crown, a pole, a mask, and mesh. As if that isn’t enough, he plans to paint the word “revolution” on the back of the fabric. Oof.

In the workroom, lots of people are taking apart lots of clocks. The fact that there are more than one disassembled clock ought to be an indication that this challenge is a snore.

Stephanie has leather cutouts, and it’s blah. Tim and Nick let Oscar know that writing on his dress is unsophisticated. But you shouldn’t have to tell that to a designer, you know? Natalia is trying to build a pulley system for her dress, so that the model can wind up her dress. That’s a gimmick, not a design. And Nick recommends she just show the look already transformed.Mondo’s group is doing well, so we’ll ignore them for the moment. Asha and Tim approach a very dejected Shan. His design is unresolved, and he doesn’t know where to go with what he has, but Tim suggested separates so he’s going to try to bang out a jacket. Another lost soul is Blake, and instead of helping him Anya tells him that she’s frustrated. “Just shut up and sew, Blake!” Nicholas hasn’t even started sewing, so Tim and Anya are befuddled. “You’re making it hard for me to help you, Nicholas. Did you think about me? Huh? Gosh, you’re so selfish, Nicholas.”

Later that day, Tim totally rats out Nicholas and smugly tells Anya that he’s “having a lovely lunch.” WTF, Tim? He’s not allowed to take a lunch break? What kind of sweatshop are you running? Anya intervenes and lets Nicholas know that he made her make a terrible decision to send Brady home and questions whether he made the pieces in his portfolio. “You have to prove to me that I made the right choice.” Me, me, me, me, me. I know most things are, but this isn’t about you, Anya.

With one hour until the runway, Anya’s still busting Nicholas’s chops. He’s got a dress, it ain’t bad, he doesn’t want your help, so leave him alone. Ten minutes left, and she’s still haranguing the poor man.

The judges this week are Jen Rade, Zanna Robers Rassi, Rachel Roy, and guest judge Georgina Chapman. To the runway!

Anya’s Team

Nicholas’s gold leather and charcoal grey jacket dress is…okay? Blake’s dress is too flowy to be steampunk, despite the gears on the belt. Shan’s badass vest and pants are amazing, with an open back and open knees. Open knees! Who knew?

Nick’s Team

Oscar’s dress is much prettier than I thought, but it’s just so costumey. Stephanie’s black pouf dress is okay, but its long lace bottom is confusing. Natalia’s dress mechanism works, but is silly since it reveals nothing good.

Mondo’s Team

Asha’s tartan origami gown is big and bold, but I don’t like the lace underneath. Sam’s big old quilted jacket looks sloppy and confusing. Michellse’s Victorian gown is fairly nice, with a dramatic collar and unexpected tails.

Asha, Sam, and Michelle are safe. That’s Mondo’s entire team, which is weird. The rest are the best and worst.

The judges pretty much hate Stephanie’s dress, to the point where it’s called a Disney costume. Oscar’s dress, however, is not costumey, so who the heck knows what these judges are seeing. They adore his dress…and then he goes and shows them the “revolution” painted on the inside and everyone pretends like they didn’t just see what they definitely saw. Natalia blathers on about time travel, and I’m not sure why the judges are using the words “love” and “brilliant” to describe this dress.

Blake’s bland blah does not impress the judges. Shan’s outfit is a hit, though on closer inspection the craftsmanship seems…off. And finally, Nicholas. There’s some good, and some bad. It’s missing the wow factor, but there’s something nice in the simplicity.

Between Nicholas, Blake, and Stephanie, the judges let Stephanie off the hook. Blake has no taste, and Nicholas has no oomph. The judges let Anya decide, so duh, Nicholas is going home. Big shocker there. Before he leaves, Anya gives Nicholas some advice: Let the potential to change the way you do things actually come to fruition. That doesn’t even mean anything, Anya. You’re, like, missing a verb. Anyway, Shan’s the winner, so congratulations to him.

Next week, its an unconventional materials challenge at the beach.

Reprinted from HauteTalk.com

Under the Gunn, Episode 4: Unconventional Vampire

misslinda — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 04:12:37 +0000

It’s Product Placement Week on Under The Gunn, with a vampire-themed challenge. The designers are lost in a foggy graveyard and must gather up to five bolts of fabric and as many unconventional materials as they can grab in ten minutes. Ooh! Spooky!

Kooky Cuckoo is so in her element, as is Michelle who’s a little goth. “This glitter’s about to be everywhere.” “I’ve been cutting the wings off so many bats!” Asha has a beautiful red birds nest bodice in the works, but it’s looking a little sloppy. Maybe when she adds feathers and berries it’ll be better? I don’t know. It has potential. When in doubt, add feathers. Mondo’s sort of blah about his team’s decisions and can’t even relate to Sam’s design which involves a whole lotta bat wings.

Brady has something pretty planned with sequins and tooth spikes, but Anya says he has a tendency of going too junior, so he should smatter it with sophistication. Nicholas has a chain thing happening and it’s just sort of stupid and craft store.

Nick tries to reign in Oscar, who’s going full Rihanna. Kooky Cuckoo is smushing fabric on a form and despite Nick’s repeated efforts, she just looks confused. “We’re not flowing in the same ocean.” Her “signature” look is pointy hips, but ladies don’t like their hips to look big. So there’s a battle over hips. Hungry, hungry hips.

Oh that feathery dress Asha is pasting together? It’s pretty freaking cool. She added a royal purple jacket and it’s making the crimson feathers look classy instead of crafty. Back to the hips. Isabelle and Nick are still fighting over the shape of the dress, and there’s really no resolution. She’s out of control, and Nick should just let her do her thing and get it over with on the runway.

Speaking of the runway, it’s time…for everyone except Isabelle, who is still sewing her dress. Tim Gunn yells at her in the hallway yet again. “No, no, no Isabelle!” It’s like the Lifetime Network gifted the workroom with an unruly baby goat.

The judges this week are Jen Rade, Zanna Roberts Rassi, Trina Turk, and, Zoey Deutch.

Nick’s Group

Natalia’s red dress is sort of hot, until you see it up close. Stephanie’s white dress is weird…it’s poorly constructed and strangling the model. Isabelle’s dress is confusing and crafty. Oscar’s jumpsuit is freaking me out because his model weighs next to nothing.

Anya’s Group

Brady’s cute dress and jacket is definitely wearable, but way too young and safe. Shan’s badass outfit is very wearable. Nicholas’s dress is ordinary, and the chains don’t dress it up very much at all. Blake’s black dress looks bad girl at the prom.

Mondo’s Group

Sam’s cocktail dress looks like a tablecloth at a hoedown. Michelle’s angular outfit is just what this challenge is supposed to be—odd, and eerie. Asha’s feather skirt is fabulous.

The judges love Oscar’s jumpsuit. For Brady, they’re annoyed at Brady’s boring outfit. Asha’s feather skirt is actually crimson red hay. It’s a hit. Hey! Nicholas’s nothing dress with blah chains is a serious snore. Michelle’s dress is simply beautiful. And now, Kooky Cuckoo. The judges think, “welcome to the mothership…like Lady Gaga but not in a good way?”

Kooky Cuckoo is off the hook because “at least you were creative.” Wow, setting the bar pretty low there, eh? Macaroni art is creative, too. The elimination is between Brady and Nicholas. Since they are both on Anya’s team, the judges let Anya decide. She gets rid of Brady, and I get the sense it’s because they just don’t hit it off personally. Anya seems to like people who like Anya. Oh, and the win goes to Michelle.

Reprinted from HauteTalk.com

Under the Gunn: Red Carpet Regurgitation

misslinda — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 22:37:08 +0000

On this week’s Under the Gunn Zanna Roberts Rassi explains the very simplistic challenge: create a Hollywood-inspired red carpet look. Blah. Boooring. Where’s the challenge in that? Well, they only have one day to work on it, so maybe that’ll keep things interesting.

Sketching is done on a tour bus, and Anya gives her team super duper deep advice to “do something that excites you.” Then, Tim Gunn kicks everyone off of the bus so that the designers can shop at Mood. Kooky Hat Lady uses her precious Mood minutes for a bathroom break, and is that pink and black zebra print? Now that is a challenge. Camila is wandering around the store in a fuzzy sweater that I think needs to be fed after Tim Gunn already calls time, and can you people stop pissing off that sweet old man!?Ten hours left and I’m seeing metallic, sheer, lots of origami folding, and in walk the mentors. Tim Gunn notices that Nick is being a control freak. He’s sketching, he’s draping, he’s pattern-making, he’s on the floor drawing on the muslin….Tim puts the kibosh on the hands-on “mentoring,” but Nick doesn’t seem too inclined to listen to Papa Gunn. Ugh. Always listen to Papa Gunn! Ooh, look at Shan’s tuxedo blazer in the crazy black and white print! I kind of love it and I hope he makes wild lapels. Meanwhile, Michelle’s diamond-seamed red dress is tortured and tragic so I look forward to seeing how that pans out.

With just over two hours until the runway, the mentors come in to assist with styling. Umm…Shan’s outfit is boobalicious, and there’s no way those things are staying put on the runway. Sigh. More hands-on from Nick, to the point where I wonder if this entire episode isn’t just one big advertisement for his new label, Help From Nick.

To the way-cooler-set-than-Project-Runway runway! The judges are stylist Jen Rade, Zanna Roberts Rassi, and Rachel Roy.

Anya’s Group

Brady made a silky patterned look that’s very young and boring. Blake’s blue and yellow and grey patterned dress is pretty and has flow and movement and style. Nicholas’s black dress is okay…but there’s almost too few fringe. Shan’s tuxedo barely conceals a plastic surgeon’s handiwork.

Mondo’s Group

Sam’s metallic grey jumpsuit is very hip and chic and badass. Asha’s white dress is tragic. Poorly constructed, shantung disaster. Michelle’s red diamond dress is terrible, she just took on too much sewing in too little time. Camila’s white dress is actually kind of cool, until the model turns around and you see how tossed-together it really is.

Nick’s Group

Isabelle’s gold gown is elegant and modern. Natalia’s black gown is gorgeous, with unexpectedly offset straps. Stephanie’s green gown looks like a sale rack prom dress. Oscar’s jade green halter gown is ill-fitted and ill-advised.

Camila, Sam, Michelle, Shan, Blake, and Stephanie have the highest and lowest scores. Michelle’s critique is as expected, she took on too much, it’s got a diamond on her hooha, and it’s boring. Shan’s suit impresses the judges. Sam’s metallic overalls are a hit. Blake’s silky, watery gown is a pretty pastel that is called extra special words like “stunning.” Camila gets a dressing down for her poorly constructed dress. She rambles on about not having a lot of fabric choice in Venezuela, and also having to work in centimeters is hard. Or something. Stephanie’s dress is just the worst, and Rachel Roy calls it “tragic.”

Between Camila, Michelle, and Stephanie, the judges send home Camila. Which is only fair since it appears that she spent her time on the show murdering a muppet, skinning it, dyeing it purple, and stitching herself a sweater. The winner is Sam with his crazy metallic jumpsuit.

Next week, Vampire Land and unconventional materials.

Reprinted from HauteTalk.com

Under the Gunn Episode 2: The Mentor Face Off

misslinda — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:58:49 +0000

It’s the second round of a schoolyard-ish pick, and the numbers game dictates that two of the remaining seven designers will go home. Mondo and Nick need two designers, and Anya needs one. The challenge is for the designers to grab as much fabric as possible in thirty seconds and make a garment in six hours that shows their point of view. Ready…go!

The designers begin their challenge by inspecting the fabrics they selected, and there are quite a few disappointments. With four hours left, outfits start to come together and Tim Gunn checks in with the mentors and sends them in to meet the designers.

Nicholas has a geometric dolman-sleeved dress even though his work is all menswear. The boxy shape is reminiscent of menswear, and the designers respond really well to the aesthetic. Sam has a charcoal grey raglan tunic sweater and a circle skirt that could be totally cute. Anya is blown away by his vision, which is a strange reaction to a shapeless sweater. It’s time to meet Hot Mom Amy. Nick and Anya call her dress “refined,” but Mondo thinks it’s a little safe. Kooky Hat Girl Isabelle speaks Mondo’s language: “Okay I just kind of create the whole shape in my head then cut it, cut it, cut it, then put them together, the shapes.” Asha works in three-dimensional shapes and is draping wine-colored fabric into a shadowy dress. Rey is designing a blazer with pants, and he is so confident that it’s more than a little off-putting despite the dated design and safe fabrics. Stephanie and Mondo know each other from Denver, which is weird. She’s making a boring dress, and she doesn’t seem ready to make it anything more.

It’s the final model fitting and Rey’s pants are looking really sleek, and I’m so glad he ditched the blazer. Stephanie’s dress is prim and proper, and Isabelle is running everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Oof, Amy’s dress turned out to be a snore, but maybe a good runway stomp will give it some attitude. With ten minutes left, Nicholas puts the final touches on his hospital smock and Isabella tries to find her marbles. Tim Gunn has to tear Isabelle away from her sewing machine, and it’s not going well. Wow. It turns to scolding real quick. Why do you make Tim Gunn yell, Isabelle? Stop touching your model! The producers finally shoo her away, and it is just about the nuttiest backstage moment I’ve ever seen.

To the runway!

Stephanie’s dress has a much better silhouette than I thought; it didn’t have that pouf in the workroom.

Amy’s dress is just weird. Those giant slit pleats are really bizarre, unwearable, and unattractive.

Sam’s grey outfit is “slouchy chic,” and I would so wear it.

Isabelle’s black sparkle dress looks really beautiful considering she didn’t finish it in time. The shape is interesting and innovative.

Ooh, Rey’s pants are gorgeous but the sweater is very cat lady.

Asha’s dress is confusing. I don’t know if it’s the skin or the metallic color, but it just does not look tasteful.

Nicholas’s shapeless blob is extremely subtle in its elegance.

Nick goes first and chooses Sam. Anya and Mondo want him as well, so there are decisions to be made. Sam decides to be on Mondo’s team. Aww, poor Nick. Anya picks Nicholas, and both Mondo and Nick jump aboard. He chooses Anya, and Nick is ready to go all Tonya Harding on the other mentors.

Anya’s team is now full, and Mondo gives his turn to Nick who chooses Isabelle? I’m so confused. Mondo uses his noodle and passes on this wackadoodle. Mondo wants to work with Asha because she has an organic, sculptural approach. His team is now complete, so Nick gets to pick one of the remaining three designers. It’s a tough decision since each one of these designers borders on mediocrity, but Nick needs a team and this is his talent pool. Nick goes with Stephanie, which means Rey and Amy go home. Tim Gunn talks them off gracefully before heading backstage to toast the twelve designers.

Next week, no, no, no, no no!

Reprinted from HauteTalk.com

Under the Gunn, Season 1, Episode 1: Who is Under the Gunn?

misslinda — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 19:05:57 +0000

Tim Gunn is back! And past Project Runway winners will act as mentors. Ugh, Anya? She still hasn’t learned how to wear a proper bra. Mondo! Whee!!! And Nick… He’s the one from that episode with that guy, right?

The designers converge on a park-like location in Los Angeles, and Tim explains that the show is all about mentoring. The mentors will each choose four designers who will compete as individuals. Each week, one designer will be eliminated. When a mentor no longer has any designers in the competition, the mentor is also eliminated.

To give the mentors an idea of how everyone works under pressure, there’s a first quickie challenge. Oh, and three people will be eliminated. The first group of designers follow Tim into the workroom and do a patented Tim Gunn Gather Round®. Everyone gets three yards each of six fabrics, and the designers must create a look that represents themselves…in six hours. Polka dots, flannel, gold lamé, a horse pattern, and oh thank goodness, black knit.

The mentors pop into the workroom for a look-see. Brady impresses Mondo with his mix of fabrics and youthful edge. Oscar is making the first of what is likely to be the bazillionth gold and black dress, and Mondo points out that it’s lacking the element of surprise. Melissa is doing just awful things with polka dot fabric. Michelle, oof. She’s an unfortunate girl, huh? But Anya responds to her tenacity, so who knows. Camila is making the second of three gold and black dresses and shows the mentors the same slashed fabric that litters her portfolio. Boooring. Blake is sticking to black fabric to avoid going trashy, but it might be too reserved for the judges. Shan’s bomber jacket impresses the mentors, but will he have time and fabric for a dress to wear underneath? Doesn’t matter, Nick wants him for his team. Natalia is a disaster wrapped in a train wreck. She’s got nothing other than the ability to talk speedy words fast.

The models arrive and Michelle has nothing but a sleeve, and even that doesn’t look so good. With one hour left, Natalia starts braiding fabric, which should be a good outlet for her nerves. Then, Tim announces that the workday is over, but everyone will be back tomorrow. The next morning, straps get sewn, stitches are stitched, hair and makeup, and the saddest little accessory wall ever.

To the first runway!

Michelle’s gold and black dress looks a little Hot Topic, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Brady’s look is fresh and cute and so juniors, using all of the fabrics provided.

Melissa’s polka dots sure are polka-dotting themselves down the runway, and not in a good way.

Blake’s simple black halter dress is chic and stylish.

Natalia’s black and blue dress is showing a bit of cooch and looks a sloppy mess (the dress, not the ladybits).

Shan’s bomber jacket covers up a sleek black dress and it is adorable.

Oscar’s gold glitz gown glides down the runway. Blech.

Camila made kind of an ill-fitting black and gold dress with an oddly long length that brings the whole thing to Frumpytown.

It’s time for the mentors to choose their designers. If more than one mentor chooses a designer,The Voice rules apply, meaning the designer gets to choose the mentor.

Mondo chooses Michelle first, which just blows me away. Then Anya and Nick toss their hats into the ring for her. She goes with Mondo because Mondo is awesome. Anya and Nick pick Shan, and he picks Anya. Nick selects Blake, and so do Mondo and Anya. He decides to be on Anya’s team. Then Mondo chooses Camila for her artistic voice and Nick jumps on board. She leaves Nick high and dry and goes with Mondo. Poor Nick, he’s got nobody. Anya picks Brady, but Nick really wants him on his team, too. And he chooses Anya’s team. Oh man. Nick. He needs a hug and a half.

There are three designers left in this group, and seven that the mentors haven’t yet seen. Nick selects Oscar despite his insane lamé disaster. Everyone else passes, so Nick has his first team member. So…Melissa. Nobody wants you, goodbye. With nothing left to lose, Natalia makes Tim Gunn cry because she is awful and essentially begs for a spot on a team. Mondo offers her a spot, and so does Nick. She selects Nick because he can teach her technical skills. Whatever. I don’t like her, but I’ve been wrong before. Just once, though.

Next week, the remaining designers dance for a spot on a team.

Reprinted from HauteTalk.com