by Gina Scarpa

Before the premiere of Project Runway season 6 tonight on Lifetime, the network aired a special all-star challenge, which brought back designers 8 from the first 5 seasons for a second chance to impress.  They are: Daniel Vosovic, Santino Rice, Mychael Knight, Jeffrey Sebelia, Korto Momolu, Sweet P Vaughn, Uli Herzner, and Chris March.  For their challenge, they’ll have to design and create a mini-collection involving three looks.  The winner will receive $100,000 courtesy of Garnier and L’Oreal.  Wow.  One chance… one challenge… and it’s worth $100K.  That’s some pressure.

While everyone is sketching away, Chris is actually sleeping!  He wakes up just in time to head to Mood for a 45 minute shopping spree.  On a side note: I started watching the show in season 4 and am very sorry that I missed out on Santino’s antics during the second season.  He should have his own reality show.  Korto is not amused by him and from the minute she walked in the door, she had a bad attitude.  She feels she should’ve won last season, instead of Leanne Marshall but you know what?  It’s been a long time since then.  You’re back on tv, competing for $100K, and showcasing your work to millions of people.  Shut it and slap a smile on your face.

Tim interrupts work time to show a quick video to the designers from none other than Nicole Kidman, who gives them one of the looks for their collection.  They’ll have to design a red carpet dress for her upcoming movie premiere.  Tim makes the rounds to check out what everyone is doing.  Uli has dropped patterns from her design, which was one of her staples.  Korto doesn’t get much feedback, which does nothing to wipe that puss off her face.  He’s concerned that Sweet P’s look is too ordinary while Santino is convinced that Tim likes his taste the best.  Of course he is.  I happen to love where Chris is going with his dress… perhaps that nap provided him with some great inspiration!

Tim surprises the designers out at STK restaurant, located in the Meatpacking District of New York.  Everyone is hoping to relax but he has other plans.  They’re going to have to create a fourth look.  For the raw materials, they must use items in the restaurant but can also use 25% fabrics.   Suddenly, the room goes from relaxed and fun to complete madness and chaos!  Chairs, drapes, lighting fixtures, and more are just flying everywhere.

The day of the runway show, guess what?  Chris is sleeping again!  How can someone nap under this kind of pressure?!  As the designers are prepping their models, I’m getting more and more excited to see how they have evolved over the last few years and what they’re going to present tonight.

TIME TO GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!  Dian von Furstenberg is on hand as tonight’s guest judge.  Santino’s up on the runway first and, in many ways, he’s too out there for me but I love his restaurant look.  Mychael is next and all of his looks are strong – there’s not one I don’t like.  Uli, who had to deal with a model dropping out last minute, decides to show something else besides prints in her looks.  I love that she decided to take a chance and show the judges that she is more diverse than they may have thought.  I like some of what Korto does but her attitude has turned me off to the idea of rooting for her completely (and I liked her a lot last season).  Moving on…

Chris, who is awake for the show, hits the runway and admits that, as a costume designer, he hasn’t been one to make clothes for people to wear on a daily basis.  Two of his designs seem too similar to me but the guy can make an outfit, okay?  Daniel’s up next and there is definitely an obvious theme to his looks, in the style and in the color scheme.  It’s a very cohesive collection.  Jeffrey’s designs are up and I like his edgy, rock star kind of look.  He is who he is, always has been, and I appreciate that about him.  Last up is Sweet P and I just love her restaurant look but the others are a little boring to me.

The judges like that Mychael always knows how to make a woman look good but he may have gone a little TOO sexy in some of his looks.  Nina appreciates Uli’s sophisticated look but misses the spirit that they once loved about her.  Michael didn’t feel that Jeffrey’s designs were polished enough and was left wanting more than he got.  Santino is criticized for perhaps playing it too safe and using too much of the same fabric.  They are all eliminated from the challenge.

Chris is overwhelmed and pleasantly surprised to find himself in the top half.  The panel loves what he’s done but Nina thinks his red carpet look may have been a bit too over the top.  Um, this is Chris March we’re talking about.  What else did you expect?  Heidi tells Daniel that his collection was one of her favorites of the entire evening.  Korto’s restaurant dress, made from placemats, is unbelievable.  I have to give it up to her and the panel does, too.  Diane likes Sweet P’s looks calling them sweet, just like her name.

After deliberating privately, Heidi and the judges reveal the results of the Project Runway All Star Challenge.  Chris is out but very pleased with how he did.  I love him.  Sweet P is also out but is overjoyed by the fact that Diane von Furstenberg liked her work.  So it comes down to Daniel and Korto.  I’m happy to say that the winner is DANIEL VOSOVIC!  He is such a great guy and a great designer.  I couldn’t be happier for how this turned out.


(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

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