It's back!!!

Project Runway is BACK and better than ever! I am SO happy! Tim, Heidi, Nina and Michael have all been sorely missed and they did not disappoint with this first episode of Season 6!

First, let's discuss the All-Star challenge. I was pleasantly surprised by several of the designers, particularly Uli. I love how she stepped out of her comfort zone and used solids with lots of structure. The result was beautiful dresses with feminine silhouettes and amazing craftsmanship. Another surprise was Daniel Vosovic, but for me it was a less positive one. I don't think there was a single piece of his that I would wear. I just don't have the body for his pieces, plus they really were not my style. I understand the judges' decision and of course I'm happy for him. He was my favorite designer in his season, but his final collection was ultimately a bit disappointing. I think the years between then and now have been good for him- he has truly found his esthetic. Santino was as hilarious as he's always been, so that was no surprise. Jeffrey made some beautiful pieces that I could have pictured him making in his season of P.R. Korto did a really nice job, especially on her red carpet dress. That was a dress I would DIE to wear! Sweet P's leather dress was stunning and a real surprise. I always liked her dresses on her season, but I never felt like they really stood out. That dress stood out! I was not a huge fan of Mychael's designs, but Chris March was a HUGE surprise! His red carpet gown took my breath away. It is true that he needed a VERY tall model to pull it off, but even so, you could clearly see where he was going with it and it was SPECTACULAR. In the end, I was happy for Daniel, of course. I think this show was a brilliant way for Lifetime to kick off the new season.

Next, I must admit, I was nervous that the show would change after moving to a different network, but I have to say that it felt NO different. The producers are obviously not trying to fix something that isn't broken, right? I think that it is bound to succeed even though it is no longer on Bravo because the style of the show remains the same and all the key elements are in place- Tim, Heidi, Nina, Michael, and of course very talented contestants. Also, the designers all seem SO nice. One of my issues with Season 5 was that there were a lot of designers who seemed to be trying to make a name for themselves through TV rather than through their work. Blayne was a perfect example of that. I was sick of his "licious" catch-phrases by the end of the first episode. Too bad his catch phrases never CAUGHT ON! Too bad for him, that is. Not too bad for the rest of the world!

Ok, let's talk about the episode!

WIN: Christopher Straub
AUF: Ari Fish

In a previous post, I said that I thought Christopher would be a top contender and he won the first episode tonight! Go Chris! I hope he continues to do well. I respect that he works with inexpensive materials and that he is self-taught. In tonight's episode, he mentioned his lack of a sewing vocabulary (smocking and godets were the terms he didn't know), but I think that you can be self-taught and still be very successful. In order to go really far, he'll eventually need to educate himself a bit, but his raw talent is definitely apparent. A lot of the designs tonight were very impressive and if tonight's episode was any indication of what we're in for, this might be the best season of Project Runway yet!

As for Ari, I understand where she was going with her design, but ultimately, I think the judges made the right decision. Conceptual design can be really tough and I absolutely think it has its place, I just don't know if its place is on a competition reality show. I think that given the freedom to just do her thing, Ari would probably make some really interesting fashion, but given the challenge, it just didn't work.

Now, for the drama: Am I a horrible person for thinking that Johnny was milking that former addict thing? I mean, breaking down, crying, talking about quitting- all on the FIRST challenge! I really feel for him as a recovering addict and I of course want him to be successful, but I thought that it was all a little dramatic for the opening episode. I guess that's what makes for great TV, right? And in the end, his dress was stunning, so maybe a little breakdown was good for him! And what about Mitchell and his naked model?!?! Ridiculous! I think he was an idiot to do something SO detailed on a model he had never seen. It seems as though her measurements were WAY off from what he was given, but he should have planned better. I just hope he learns from his mistake!

The personalities seem good without being too over-the-top. I like that. I like it when the show is mostly about the work. Big personalities obviously make for good TV, but to me they get so tiresome so quickly. As far as personalities go for this season, I think the most loveable is Epperson. He is absolutely charming and I love that he's a little older, but still in it to win it. I didn't love his dress, but that doesn't mean he won't win me over down the road, right?

Other runway favorites this week were Gordana, Louise and Shirin. Let's talk about Shirin for a moment- that capelet that fell back and draped along the back of the skirt was absolutely stunning. I would absolutely LOVE to wear that dress!

What about you? What did you think of the first episode of Season 6?

One day until PROJECT RUNWAY!!!

In exactly 24 hours, I will be watching the season premier of Project Runway Season Six! Will you? I can't wait! All week long I've been in rehearsals for a show that opens on Friday and all I can think about is how important it is for all of the wardrobe to be finished and for me to be home by 7:45 so that I can settle down and get ready for my night of high fashion competition! Let's hope I make it home in time because I'm ready to get me a little Gunn.

Shoesday Tuesday

Today I wore these shoes to work:I love these shoes. They make me feel like Dorothy in her ruby slippers. It was a day that I thought would be spent sitting mostly at a sewing machine and/or computer, but instead it was a day spent walking the halls, running up and down the stairs, standing in the wings waiting for a fitting, basically on my feet. All. Day. Long. I got a lot of comments about my shoes- compliments on them, yes, but also remarks on how I can wear them all day. And I wear heels to work a LOT. I used to suffer until I discovered a few tricks to help make it more comfortable to spend the day in high heels. Consider me your own personal Wizard of Oz for shoes. I hope these tips help you as much as they've helped me! First, stock up on the following items:

1.) Insoles
2.) Toe spacers
3.) Heel grips
4.) Moleskin

The sooner you start using these tools, the better, and I'm not talking about just day-to-day foot comfort. I'm talking about your overall health. Wearing cheap, ill-fitting shoes, or even just too many high heels can cause all sorts of health problems. Bunions, corns, bone spurs, and hammertoe are just a few foot-related problems that can develop. Bad shoe choices can also cause problems with your joints, back, and legs. Consider these shoe tips an investment in your health, not just silly tricks to get away with wearing fun and trendy footwear.

First and foremost, your shoes must fit well. If there is a little extra space, use insoles or heel grips (or both) to make sure your shoes are nice and snug. Also, take insoles, toe spacers and heel grips with you when you shop. Try them with a pair of shoes that are a half to full size larger than what you normally wear, or try them on with a wide size. If you go up a bit in size, you'll be able to fit more cushion inside the shoe.

Second, try to purchase shoes that allow enough room for a toe spacer. Toe spacers come in different sizes and when placed between your first & second toes, they help distribute the weight on your foot and stabilize it which helps with balance. Have you ever worn a pair of heels and felt like your big toe was pushed over into the other toes? It's common to feel that when wearing heels, but it's very bad, especially in the long run. The more your big toe is pushed to the side, the more likely it is to move out of its joint and that is what causes bunions. They are painful- trust me when I say you want to avoid getting them! Even worse than bunions are bone spurs- the short explanation of a bone spur is basically the wearing away of cartilage causing bones to rub together, which then causes a growth of more bone along the original bone. One word: ouch. There are surgeries to remove bunions and bone spurs, but wouldn't you rather not get them to begin with? That's what I thought. Try wearing toe spacers and see how much better your feet feel.

Finally, you're probably wondering why you need moleskin. Moleskin is available in different thicknesses and it has a soft, felt-like side with an adhesive on the other side. I like to line my sandals with moleskin. In the summer, when my feet sweat, the moleskin prevents them from slipping and sliding down the shoe. In addition, moleskin can cushion and protect your skin from blister-causing friction. Simply line the sides of your shoes with a bit of moleskin and instead of blisters, you'll have velvety-soft skin.

These are just a few basics- some things that one person might swear by won't necessarily work for someone else, so try different things and see what works for you.

Finally, take the time to pamper your feet- get a pedicure every now and then! You don't have to go to an expensive spa to get a pedi and feel pampered. A once-a-month pedicure is completely reasonable, especially in the summer. Your feet deserve it- they are literally the vehicle to your success throughout the day, so take care of them!

How long is too long?

I was at the Mt. Gretna Outdoor Art Show in Mt. Gretna, PA this weekend- it was a hot, sunny day, perfect for walking through a wooded area filled with booths of all kinds of artwork. I went to this show for the first time last summer and I remember being pleasantly surprised by a lot of the pieces I saw. So many times at various art shows, I feel as though I'm seeing the same paintings, the same photographs, the same ceramics over and over and over again. At the Mt. Gretna show, I felt like I was seeing innovative designs, mediums and subjects. You can imagine my excitement when I realized I was able to attend the show again this year. Once again, there was a decent variety of artwork to see, so it was definitely an enjoyable afternoon. There was one artist from whom I bought a print last year. It was artwork that really made me smile, and even laugh. I had a strong reaction to it and absolutely HAD to have one of his prints. There was a whimsical quality to his pieces that really spoke to me and I thoroughly enjoyed looking at each painting. He had a booth at the show again this year, so of course I looked through all his pieces again. I was disappointed to see not a single new piece. I understand that his particular style of painting is very time consuming, but at the same time I felt that after an entire year, he should have had at least one or two new pieces. It got me thinking about fashion designers as artists- they are expected to produces dozens of pieces each season- at the very least twice a year. If they don't, as Heidi Klum would say, they're "out." There certainly must be a tremendous amount of pressure and I'm sure that as a designer, you have to find the happy medium that works for you- producing enough new work to remain buzz-worthy while at the same time maintaining the integrity of your work. So am I being too hard on this painter from the art show? I was really looking forward to seeing some new works from him and it was ultimately disappointing to see that he had nothing new. I suppose that just because there was nothing new at the art show, that doesn't mean he didn't produce any new works this year, so maybe I am being too critical. After all, as an artist, you try to keep your fans happy, but they are not the reason for your work, but how long is too long to produce something new?

Three days to go!

Only three days left until the Project Runway Season Six premier and I'm DYING!!! I can't wait for it! I hate that they are making us wait until 10 PM, but I love love love that they are airing an "All-Stars" competition 2 hours earlier. There will be eight past PR designers competing- Mychael Knight, Daniel Vosovic, Santino Rice, Jeffrey Sebalia, Sweet P, Chris March and Korto Momolu- almost all of whom made it to fashion week in their respective seasons. Chris March and Sweet P are the two who didn't make it, but they were the last eliminated before the Bryant Park elimination. Remember Chris March's designs with all that human hair? It was a little creepy, but I admired his ability to make a strong choice and stand behind it. Anyway, I am just DYING for the show to air because it was been WAY TOO LONG since our last season of Project Runway. Also, The Fashion Show did NOTHING to fill the void, in fact, I think it was so terrible that it set the reality design competition show back indefinitely. Thank goodness we still have P.R.! So what are you looking forward to the most? The first episode of the season? The all-star competition? Seeing Heidi & Tim again? For me, it's all of those things! Bring it on, Lifetime!

Annoyed

That was me this morning- annoyed. I was watching the news on Better Philly this morning as I got ready for work and there was a segment all about quick fashion tips for busy women. The fashion "expert" giving advice was ok at first, but then something she said bothered me. She said that her advice to busy women is to remove one accessory before leaving the house in the morning. (This is advice I often give to my clients because women tend to over-accessorize, but I always tell them, "Coco Chanel once said...") In the Better Philly segment, it felt at first as if she was claiming this advice as her own, which is a horrible offense to being with! You should have seen my face! I was horrified! Then, the host asked for clarification and when she explained her logic behind giving that advice, she finished with, "one of the Hepburns said that- to always remove one item." I was happy she admitted it wasn't her idea, but again horrified that she got the credit wrong! This person is a presumed fashion "expert" who is not even aware of whom she is quoting! How embarrassing for her! If I was going on television for any reason, I would do my homework and be thoroughly prepared with all my tips. Maybe I'm being hard on her- do you think so? In any case, I hope you'll remember in the future that it was Coco Chanel who said that before she leaves the house, a woman should look in the mirror and then pick one item to remove to prevent over-accessorizing. Good advice for a lot of women if you ask me!

I couldn't wait...

... until Shoesday Tuesday to share these AMAZING booties with you:

Booties can be SO hard to pull off- the wrong ones cut you off at the ankle and are SO unflattering. Not so with these by Kelsi Dagger. The downward angle of the top of the bootie is SO flattering from ALL angles. Trust me, I tried them on and oh my gosh did my legs look amazing! And the flower detail is just bonus! LOVE them!