by Todd Betzold

 

The designers are lighting up the runway this week on Project Runway All Stars as things get electric on the runway.

 

We meet the designers and Angela on the runway this week. With only five designers left, Angela says this is the hardest challenge ever on Project Runway. Innovation and technology are as much needed as fabric and thread in designing today, so the challenge this week will be to create an avant garde look using lighting technology to create a look we've never see before on Runway. Also, the runway will be lit by blacklight, creating an extra fun touch to the show. Singer/producer/fashion designer Pharrell Williams will be guest judge this week and the winning designer will get their look featured in something produced by Pharrell.

 

The designers head over to Barbizon to shop for some lighting to add into their design. Mondo says that Austin is becoming more and more of a prima donna...and we are focusing a lot on Austin, so he will probably be headed home this week. Kenley struggles with buy the lighting within the budget, but she survives. Now time to shop for fabric.

 

They have set up a dark room in the workroom, so the designers can see what their designs look like under the lights. Michael is doing a different look this week....he wants to push himself. Mondo is struggling coming up with an idea for his design.

 

Kenley is cutting out stripes to make a plaid ball gown...no polka dots (for now). Michael is switching all over the place with what he is going to go with this week...he decides to go with Plan B. Michael is switching again, but as Jerell said he can put out a gown as fast as Kenley can learn to tie her shoes.

 

In comes Joanna: she liked Kenley's look and the plaid concept. For Jerell, she said it could go either way based on how the design ends up. She questioned if Austin's look would be too romantic for Pharrell. She has Michael freaking out about his look and tells Mondo he just needs to bring the Mondo-like focus to his design.

 

Jerell was the only designer that used fiber optic light and it gives it a light, bouncy look...I enjoy it. Mondo doesn't have anything to put on his model...he is way behind schedule. Austin skypes with his Mom and learns that her house went into foreclosure, so he is trying to win this to help her out. Mondo finally gets inspired as the night ends, so he gets pumping out his design before they head home for the night.

 

It's the day of the runway, so designers to freak out while they finish their looks. Mondo can't get the lights to work and Austin says he doesn't see much avant garde in Mondo's look and he is disappointed. Austin is the only designer to not use neon...he would never use neon. Mondo can't get his lights to work, so we shall see if they work on the runway.

 

Time for the runway show: the judges this week will be Angela, Georgina, Isaac and of course, guest judge Pharrell Williams. My likes this week: Kenley (love the plaid with the neon tape...looks like Nikki Minaj). My dislikes: Jerell (too much light going on and not cute), Austin (just looks like he threw things together for a design with lights) and Michael (she looked scary and like a ninja).

 

Time for the judges' critique: They love Kenley's look and say she did stretch herself. For Mondo, they liked the look of technology, but questioned the avant garde part of the challenge. Jerell: they didn't like the long skirt and said she had a Grandma look to her. Austin: Isaac loved it and thought something mysterious about it and Georgina questions if it is just a nice dress with lights put on it. Michael: Pharrell said she is more fit for Comic-Con and they didn't like the tape on the look.

 

The results this week: Mondo is safe, so either Kenley or Austin will win. The winner this week is Austin (I was wrong with him going home and I think Kenley should have won), who Pharrell happened to say is a star. Kenley is safe, so that leaves us with Michael and Jerell...one of them will be going home. And on that note, Michael is safe, so Jerell will be going home.

 

Project Runway All Stars airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Lifetime.

 

(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

 

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