PROJECT RUNWAY.....Season 11 Project Runway Recaps: Miranda Lambert Challenge

A Little Bit Country and A Little Bit Rock N Roll..and A LOT of Fringe!

Were they designing for:

 Tina Turner, or for...

 Miranda Lambert?

Why do I ask? Because, it seems that this past week Lifetime Network's Season 11 Project Runway caught the Fringe Virus while designing stage and red carpet looks for Miranda Lambert. I think the designers must have somehow heard "Tina Turner" as opposed to Ms. Lambert. Keep reading and you'll see what I mean...

Heidi, Tim and The Bag: Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn began the episode with the dreaded Button Bag, and by announcing that there will no longer be two multi-designer teams but the designers would be coupled up. Each designer took the task of creating one "Performance" look and one "Red Carpet" gown/outfit for the Country & Western Star. The new 2-designer teams were:

 Layana and Patricia

 Michelle and Matthew

 Tu and Kate

 Samantha and Daniel

 Amanda and Benjamin

 Richard and Stanley

First, let's discuss what Miranda Lambert actually wears...on the Red Carpet and On Stage--at this year's Grammy Awards a couple of weeks back:

Miranda Lambert in Roberto Cavalli black plunging neckline chiffon gown (left) and onstage in Jovani gold and silver sequined satin mini dress (right)

Now, onto the "Fringe Happy" Tina Turner-like Creations on the Runway from Season 11 designers:

Patricia Michaels--Patricia created copper and gold brocade strapless princess seamed dress with a fringed holster! Yes, I said a FRINGED HOLSTER.

Michelle Lesniak Franklin--Michelle created this leather vest, denim fitted floor-length skirt ensemble, finished with...a FRINGED neck-piece

Amanda Valentine--Amanda made this jersey dress with gradated fringe. As a "stage" look, I could have totally seen Miranda Lambert wearing this.

Richard Hallmarq--Richard's black fringed dress was eventually the one Miranda Lambert chose--out of all the other fringed dresses as the Winning Dress. Miranda also said that she would wear it...Stay tuned to see if she does.

  
Here were some of my favorite "Red Carpet" creations by the designers for Miranda Lambert:

Kate Pankoke--Kate designed this red leather and chiffon fit-and-flare gown. I think the color was great and although others disagreed, the silhouette could be flattering for Miranda. The only "but" if there is a "but" is that it needed a plunging neckline or bust revealing detail. It seems Miss Miranda loves her cleavage...and especially showing it.

Stanley Hudson--Stanley's gown shape was good for Miranda. He thought about accentuating the waist with the paillete detail as well as creating a plunging neckline so the "sisters" would be happy. I get that maybe the gathering at the waist might have been a little too shirred and might have made Lambert look wider "down there". This was Miranda and the rest of the judge's biggest complaint with this dress but I really liked it.

The No-No of the night:

Matthew Arthur--Matthew's black one shoulder-esque bustier with "witch"-like pointed hem and basic pleated skirt was deemed the worst by the judges--including Miranda Lambert. He just gave up, in design, in creating...and was so "done", he couldn't even stand up for his design during judging time. It wasn't a bad look he designed and made--it was just un-creative and so not worthy of being on Miranda Lambert on stage in front of thousands of people. This was an outfit Michelle Williams might have worn back in the Beyonce's-mom-is-making-this-for-Destiny's Child Days. Seriously.


And now, here's my Recap for this episode--Enjoy! And PLEASE don't forget to let me know what you thought!

Country Couples

 "A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock N Roll"…that’s the name of this episode, but it easily could also have been titled "A Little Messy, A Little 80s, Little Self-Confidence and LOTS of Miranda Lambert’s Boobies"! When we last left our designers, Tim Gunn had made an announcement as he waved adieu to bespectacled cat sweater-lovin' Joe, saying that there was still "some business to be taken care of." I fantasized that maybe there would be a revolt of angry cats outside of Parsons, or better yet, someone had cheated and put extra fertilizer spray on their flower creations. Alas, none of that…

No More Teams!

As the designers gather at the foot of the runway stage, Tim and Heidi come out with the dreaded button bag. They announce that there will be no more teams (cue the SCREAMS of delight!). Instead, each designer will be paired up. Samantha chooses Daniel; Richard goes with Stanley; Patricia picks Layana; Matthew is with Michelle; Kate goes for Tu and finally Amanda and Benjamin are left as the last couple standing. With that, it’s back to the Atlas apartments to get some sleep.

Line Dancin' & Tequila Shots (NOT!)

The following day, the coupled designers make their way to Johnny Utah’s Bar, a Country & Western establishment. Tim is waiting and again, in my fantasy episode, he’s there to teach the designers how to line dance and down tequila shots. But no, he's there to announce their next challenge: to design for country music star Miranda Lambert. Each two-designer team must design 2 looks—a performance look and a red carpet ensemble. With that, they’re off to Mood with a whopping $400 per team ($200 each) to gather supplies for their looks. PS: I am now officially really envious of all the money they are getting as compared to what we got back when the show had NO MONEY!

Budget Envy

Now, speaking of money, some of the designers didn’t even NEED all that money. Benjamin comes in way under budget when he goes to check out at Mood. Then there's "Team Richard and Stanley" who again, had money left over and (wisely as it turns out) decide to buy "Thank You Mood" t-shirts. Back in the workroom, after several hours of designing, Tim finally returns from his Boot-Scootin'-Boogie Line Dancing Class at Johnny Utah’s (my fantasy bonus episode), to make his visit. One designer from each pairing takes the "Performance" look while the other takes the "Red Carpet" and all of them discuss with Tim what they are creating.

Gaga for Tu

There's lots of leather, denim, some lace and curiously enough, a "Fringe Virus" attacking the workroom. Amanda, who lucky enough lives in Nashville, is hand-cutting jersey fringe for her "performance" look and Richard is also making a fringed "Tina Turner"-looking creation. Of note, little Tu is getting...

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