This week on Project Runway: resort wear!
Poor little Mondo is confused by this, because apparently he doesn’t go on vacation: “vacation for me [is] I wake up late and walk around in underwear and a t-shirt. That’s resort for me.” Yes, but surely you’ve heard of resort wear, maybe seen a few photos? In Project Runway history, when a designers claims to know nothing about a challenge, they usually don’t. This is the opposite of when a designer has a breakdown and convinced their garment is absolute crap, then the judges love it and they win. If a designer doesn’t understand the reference, they don’t understand the reference. In fact, based on the garments that came down the runway, not many of the designers understood resort.
There also a twist in this challenge. Tim chooses a partner for each designer, and that teams must the designer/sample maker relationship. Given that being a a real-life designer is nothing like being on Project Runway, I appreciate this bit of reality. But the designers don’t. Especially Ivy, who must rely on Michael D. to make her clothing. She doesn’t trust his ability, so instead of designing something wonderful she dumbs it down, and then breathes down Michael D.’s back while he’s working. Poor Michael D.
I’m filing this week’s garments into two categories: resort and non-resort. Spoiler: the judges and I did not agree on what constitutes resort wear. Also, Kristen Bell as a judge for the resort challenge?! They couldn’t get somebody who has actually been photographed at a resort? On to the clothes!
Michael C; Miami Beach anyone? Ibiza? Roberto Cavalli’s yacht? I haven’t been to any of these places (I’m assuming Roberto Cavalli has a yacht), but if I went I feel like this outfit would be entirely appropriate.
Andy; top 3, but not the winner. How is he not the winner?! The color, texture and feel of this outfit are dead-on for resort wear. I love the sandal he chose, and he even made a bathing suit. How this did not win, I don’t know.
Christopher; this is less “resort” and more “picnic”, but close enough. At least it feels light.
Mondo; this is more “day at the water park” than anything else, but at least it conjures up the idea of summer. The judges hated it and poor Mondo is in the bottom three.
Ivy; resort wear, but just barely. She has light, flowy, fabric but absolutely zero personality. Resort wear is fun and vibrant, not dull and lifeless. In the bottom three, she tried to blame Michael D. and the judges totally didn’t buy it. I really wouldn’t mind if Ivy got booted in the next episode.
Michael D; in the top three, nothing about this dress says resort to me. Only in that it looks like a dress a rich person might wear to a fancy art event, and rich people also go to resorts.
Casanova; the loser! His resort wear was like Michael D’s, in that this looks like something a rich woman would wear, and she might also go to a resort, but not in this. She might wear this to meet with her travel agent, because she so rich she probably doesn’t need to book things over the internet. Casanova’s constant complaining was annoying me so I’m happy to see him go.
April; the winner?! How is this resort wear? Sure it’s light and short, but where’s the fun? Where’s the color? Where’s the sense of summer? This looks like a resort the Addams family might frequent.
Valerie; I dig the shorts, but that’s it. The top is so… blah! Even if she had just done it in white it would have at least had some geometric pop.
Gretchen; oh Gretchen, how far you’ve fallen. You rode so high the first few episodes, but now Ivy is far meaner than you are, and your clothes are just boring. Please come back and be interesting again!
What did you think of the resort outfits this week? Do you think the right person went home? Do you think people will ever stop hating on Michael C?
What's your opinion?