Project Runway Week 6
Posted: 8/25/2008

Last week's episode of Project Runway was, in a word, fabulous. The designers were surprised by eleven drag queens and they each got to choose one to be their model. The challenge was to create an over-the-top look that fit each one’s well-defined personality. It would have been a tough choice to make, with such great girls as Farrah Moans, Sharon Needles, Miss Understood, Hedda Lettuce and Acid Betty, just to name a few.

Once each designer was paired up, it was off to Mood where they bought anything and everything stretchy, shiny and sparkly. It was interesting to see the theme of each person’s outfit. Kenley went with old Hollywood glamour for Farrah Moans, creating a floor-length liquidy silver gown complete with large black and white boa. Leanne created an edgy cocktail dress with origami-like structures, perfect for her model, Sharon Needles. I’m not sure what Stella’s theme for Luisa Verde was, but she went with a stretchy black/pink tartan fabric and seemingly arbitrary grommets and lacing to create an odd-looking dress with a train. Daniel decided to dress Annida Greenkard in a simple, floor-length strapless gown. True, it was brightly colored and had a strange print, but there was nothing about it that said “drag queen.”

Keith created yet another fringe dress, this time in black, grey and white for Sherry Vines. It looked sloppy and Michael Kors compared it to a “sad, molting chicken.” Oops. Another runway blunder was the “under-the-sea” inspired dress from Jerell made for LeMay. It had a strange collar, but other than that, it didn’t look over-the-top enough- especially for Jerell. There was some conflict between Suede and Hedda Lettuce when she accused him of being lazy when he opted for full-length gloves with baby bib lettuce embellishments, instead of sleeves for the green printed jacket, which was paired with a strapless green dress. I felt his look definitely corresponded well with her personality (not to mention her name.) Suede refused to give in and in the end, he had quite a look. Korto’s theme was “woman in heat,” which she used as inspiration to create a very theatrical red gown. Apparently the embellishments were supposed to look like fire, but I thought they looked more like a jester. Oh well, at least she was having fun.

Joe and Varla Jean Merman worked together to come up with a Love Boat-themed pink sequined nautical cat suit. The fit was excellent, and I loved the “candy”-hiding belt. Terri’s theme for Acid Betty was “geisha-on-acid.” She created an extremely interesting, busy ensemble- pretty much exactly what you would see in your head if you imagined a scary geisha on acid. Blayne’s look this episode was hilarious. Tim Gunn described it as a “pink pterodactyl from gay Jurassic Park.”  It was a pink and blue sleeveless dress with black accents and sharp pink wings with streamers. It was so ridiculous it was funny. And my personal favorite moment of the night was when the models were sent in sans-hair and make-up and Blayne noticed with a look of shock that his model was, indeed, “a boy.”

In the end, Daniel had to leave when the judges realized that he was unable to design anything but pretty cocktail dresses. It was almost Keith who went home with his fringe disaster. Perhaps it’s time to try something new, Keith? Terri, Korto and Joe were in the top three, and Joe was named overall winner. Yay, Joe!

-Alli Bement
Alli@detroitfashionpages.com.

 

 

 

 

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