Project Runway All Stars Season 4 - Episode 11: Always the Bridesmaid
Before watching this last episode of PR All Stars I thought they were going to design a bridal dress, not a bridesmaid dress! And we all know that danger is always behind the corner when someone talks about bridesmaid dresses!
We were right: all the designers made a mess this episode. A total train-wreck.
Except for Sonjia. She was again my favourite, and really, I’m absolutely stunned at how she works, because she basically never designs, she basically always doesn’t have a clue about what she’s going to do, and then, like a magician, she pulls out something amazing from her magic hat. The fabric choice was really smart, because apart from the amazing colour - it’s not too bright, so it doesn’t outshine the bride, but at the same time it’s not dull either - it was a kind of jersey which was perfect for draping. Differently from Georgina, who said that the front of the dress was too busy, I think everything in this dress is superbalanced, the draping was just perfectly done, the back was really sexy, I loved the fact she kept the sleeves long and it’s really smart because I can totally see it worn at a wedding as well as for another occasion. At the beginning I thought the belt she inserted was going to appear out of place with that dress, but again Sonjia proved she has great taste. She definitely deserves to get to the finale.
Fabio found himself making another mistake and this time was inevitable for the judges to send him home. I agreed with them. Probably Michelle’s dress looked even worse than his outfit, but in that case it was just a problem of fitting; Michelle’s idea was a good one - even if I was really skeptical at the beginning, I thought it was going to read really cheap and tacky - while Fabio’s was just…boring. Apart from the fact that, if there’s another event for which you can wear such a dress I guess it’s a funeral, that fabric was just horrible. It was absolutely cheap, it looked like a dress you can find on a rack in a Chinatown store, it was ill-fitting, I didn’t get those shoulders… A mess. I know I was rooting for him to get to the finale, but he made a terrible mistake this time, and when you make a mistake in Project Runway, you should go home.
I was shocked at the fact Helen won. First of all, it was pretty obvious to me that if someone had to win, it was Sonjia. But even if the judges didn’t like her dress so much as to let her win, then just don’t let anyone win, because really NO ONE deserved it. And Helen was even worse than Dmitry (who made just a normal nice dress). That black dress was matronly. And it’s the second time I say it during this season: Helen’s designing for my grandma.
Next episode will be the last one before the finale, I think I can say it’s basically sure Sonjia and Dmitry are going to the finale, so it’s between Michelle and Helen. I would like to see Michelle among the top three, because she’s the only one, together with Sonjia and Dmitry, whom I’ve never judged as worst. But after all, we all know the win is between the first two.
I finally get to talk to you about the last collections presented by the three finalists of Project Runway All Stars. Needless to say that Dmitry was the - deserving - winner, followed by Sonjia and, as second runner-up, Helen - we all knew she wasn’t going to win. I have to say I couldn’t decide between Dmitry and Sonjia as the winner, but after thinking about it Dmitry’s collection was much more mature and ‘ready’ for the fashion business, much more than Sonjia’s, that anyway had a really marketable and wearable collection, young, hip and fresh. Let’s see the three finalists one by one.
HelenAs she did on the episode before the finale of her Project Runway season, she spoiled it all. The collection was completely uninspired, not cohesive at all, not interesting. Some single dresses were nice - I really liked the champagne little dress with the thin straps - and some materials were top choice - loved the black and white print and the furry-plasticky fabric of the white separates - but in general it wasn’t all stars at all. She put some red just because Zanna was worried about her collection only being black and white, and anyway this pop of colour wasn’t relevant and, in my opinion, it was visible that she added after conceiving the whole collection - just like a patch you sew on your old jeans to cover the holes.
SonjiaShe did a great job during the whole season, and this time as well she proved she has a great eye for colours and exciting and new materials. I usually don’t like pencil skirts with ruffles tail, but the papaya yellow she sported with the navy blue bouclé top was just so cool I couldn’t help falling in love with it. The multicoloured print inspired by Ancient Egypt was perfect for her young, hip style and was enhanced by the silhouette of the jumpsuit. In general it was an exciting collection, where she also found space for a beautiful bikini - even if it was too similar to the swimsuit challenge they had during this season.
DmitryHe is a master, we all know this, and this collection stated this fact again very strongly. It was conceptual, it was all about form, very artistic, and yet it felt wearable anyway. His manipulation of print is just exquisite, and I loved the fact he experimented on very simple and basic pieces, like a sweater paired with a pencil skirt, making colours and print as the focus of the whole look, rather than concentrating on the clothes in themselves. Asymmetry was there to serve as a signature feature of his aesthetic and I could totally see the woman he wanted to depict: a strong art lover who likes collecting unique pieces of clothing. His clothes were absolutely unique, just like his point of view. In his clothes I see something which only great artists can achieve: self-confidence, he doesn’t feel the need to show he’s good, because he knows he is, and that’s all. His clothes speak for themselves.
I say bye to my readers for having been with me during this season of Project Runway All Stars, and I can’t wait to start again, maybe with the new upcoming season of PR :D Auf Wiedersehen!
Project Runway All Stars Season 4 - Episode 12: Some Like it Hot Dog
Is it just me or the episode titles are getting worse? Jeeeez.
Anyway, I was really excited to see what this challenge was about as I didn’t understand anything from the preview the week before, and I was happy to see that they had to design a look for a Gala event such as the Oscars - the fact they were inspired from Marilyn Monroe was just an excuse to talk about the new film being released on Lifetime, wasn’t it?
A pretty safe choice from the authors, as you usually take some shimmering lace, cover your model, leave her back naked and you have an amazing Elie Saab sort of gown - I just realised I perfectly described Michelle’s dress for this challenge.
But first, in the workroom they had a really stupid mini-challenge which didn’t have anything to do with the main one and which only served to give Michelle her only win before being eliminated. They had to make, in a very short time, some dresses for dogs getting their inspiration from film genres. Michelle won the chance of being artistic director for a dog clothing collection of I don’t know what. It was all pretty out-of-place, TBH.
Dmitry of course blew me away. It didn’t even surprise me as I’m so used to getting amazed by what he and Sonjia do. From the choice of tea dying the fringes to give that antique look, to the sheer lace he chose - very Dmitry style! - and, omg, the invisible straps - I agreed when one of the judges said she’s never thought about invisible straps as a sophisticated detail, and yet in this dress that was one of the most exciting aspects. Yes, it was perfect, and I can see tons of stars catfighting to have that on their next red carpet apparition!
It was hard to choose between Helen and Michelle but I opted for the former, not because I can’t stand her - even if it’s true that I can’t - but because after all, Michelle’s dress had more thinking behind it. I appreciated Helen went for something really minimal, it looks a little bit 90s, which can be a good thing as the 90s are back in fashion - even though I’m seeing this trend disappearing more and more. I still don’t know if I liked the colour and the beading, I don’t understand if I find it very matronly or very fresh. One sure thing is that it was too long. Anyway, all these doubts about it are nothing good, and between her and Michelle I would have gone for Michelle all the way, I was curious to see if she could pull off an amazing collection - which I didn’t expect from her - just like in her PR season.
Michelle didn’t have a good dress, everything, from the silhouette to the sleeves, looked way too long, and I would have completely avoided that cheap chain behind it - Zanna told her during the critique, but she couldn’t just get over those f****** chains! I didn’t mind the fabric, in general it was a predictable evening gown which you can see in every red carpet, that’s why I wasn’t excited about but at the same time that’s why I wouldn’t have sent her home.
The judges had another mini challenge for the bottom two girls, where they had to pick at least three of the eliminated looks from this season to create a new garment. Of course you can’t do much in one hour, so they came out with some very shitty outfits - even if the judges were all saying how gorgeous what they made was. I mean, of course it was pretty amazing in one hour to pull off those things, but it was nothing special, come on. Helen did something very basic, maybe too basic, and even if Michelle’s look was possibly uglier, at least there was something in it - but you also have to consider she used only two from the past looks and she realised it only after they finished. Anyway it seemed pretty obvious to me that the judges wanted Helen to go to the finale, so she could even came up with a fig leave over the model’s patsy, they would have chosen her anyway.
One thing I couldn’t stand was her crying and saying for the 100th time how miserable it was to go home just before the final in her season and no, no, I don’t want this to happen again, oh my god, how can I do…. Really girl, SHUT UP.
She’s going to make some cape dresses, some total red look and screw everything with choices she thinks are outside the box and instead it’s only crap. I’m sure of this.
When a dove is in love with a doll of a dove He is out all night, coo, cooing When the owl’s on a prowl or a feminine fowl He goes out all night, woo, wooing
Every bird and bee has its lunacy In the way he works his dream off But when I feel high, here’s the way That I like to get my kind of steam off
Owls hoo, hoo, others sigh Doves coo, coo, ah, how I
I could go on singing till the cows come home And the rooster starts to crow, crow, crow When I see your eyes, I go all out I must vocalize till you shout, “Enough already”
I could go on singing till the moon turns pink Anything from Faust to Ink-a-dink-a-dink Love does funny things When it hits you this way
I must keep on singing, like a lark, going strong With my heart on the wings of a song, singing day
Between Violet and Pearl it’s a close race. But sadly as much as I do actually enjoy Ginger Minj I can’t see her taking the crown, but be given an honourable place in the top 3.
Why Trixie, Katya and Max for Miss Congeniality? Because as a lot of us felt they are #teamrobbed . One of them I can clearly see winning this title.
Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: Looking ahead
For this challenge I was attempting to obtain an optimistic forward looking perspective as this season ‘life’ of Square Carousel comes to a close.
But every artist and illustrator that has been a part of this collective has inevitably come through this ‘reborn’ and better than before.
I believe myself to be a little bit of a thinker and I rather enjoy the idea of dueling contrasts. Beginning/ending. Life/death. Happy/sad. Student/master. I just believe these things are incredibly powerful and beautifully signify the human condition. Not necessarily literally but on a deeper level. The level the presumably separates us from other animals on this planet. In our minds. We have the opportunity to make the decisions that directly affect how we pursue each of those contrasting pairs and an endless amount more.
If I wake up tomorrow, I am reborn to a new day. The me of yesterday has presumably died through the slumber and there is a brand new me that gets to live in the here and now. And maybe that is naive and optimistic but I live to think of it as inspired.
Which is where I come around to the real point I believe I am attempting to make, the impact of Square Carousel.
I dont know what inspired the idea of Square Carousel for Elizabeth and Caitlin but if there is such a thing as karma, they have paid that inspiration and those kinds of ideas forward, tenfold.
When transitioning this idea from a thought to an action, the idea wasnt to spark unlimited sources of inspiration. In fact, id guess that it was to create inspiration amongst a small group of individuals. But sticking to the road that this idea paved, created compound interest that i feel needs to be put into writing and conveyed to both Elizabeth and Caitlin and anyone other person who may be reading this.
I have decided that there is no possible way I can come up with numbers for my little experiment of how Square Carousel has impacted the world. Better yet, ill let your mind go down this rabbit hole as mine obviously already has.
As I continue to type, I have realized that this will be my long winded way of saying ‘thank you’.
Back to number of people impacted and hopefully in a cliff notes version. Caitlin and Elizabeth have a network of ‘x’ people when starting this venture. As they began following through with this, the 2 of them started learning new things. Ever wonder how it is managing a bunch of artists? Go ahead and reread this long post and see what kind of shit show is going on in my mind. Now multiply that by a handful of artists. So, Caitlin and Elizabeth’s network reaps the benefit of them learning all this knowledge that is doubtfully super fun to go through but when they start taking on all of the artists that will be a part of this collective they then impact all of the artist that they are taking on and those artists network as well. But wait there’s more. as the world wide internet grows along with social media, all of the above continues to be impacted but now everyone involved is growing their network. And as you are growing your network, people continue to be impacted by these initial steps of creating this collective. Now, since these are all artists and are creating work, what about the viewers of the art that has beern directly affected by this? Then what about the people who become impacted by these items and then go on and impact others. Yeah, this gets out of hand quickly… That’s cool… Now multiply that by 10 years. Fucking nuts.
Elizabeth and Caitlin, thank you for letting me be a small part of this impact you have created. I apologize for the pain in the ass I can be, but respect you both so much. I hope that with the time that the both of you are gaining without having to manage this, the next venture is just as fruitful.
Sayada, obviously you deserve a little individual call out for bringing me on board. Awesome for me but probably regretful for you. Thank you. It sucks that there arent any words that I can come up with fully encompass my appreciation for you and what you have done for me by inviting me to join Square Carousel for the time that I did. Congratulations on your recent Childrens book and I am hoping there is plenty more where that came from. Thank you again.
This is crazy long and will give high fives to all the artists that have been part of this collective during the time I have been on here and I appreciate the feedback and optimism shared with me to get stuff done!
I graduated from SCAD in March 2012.I am currently coming to terms with what I enjoy making and the processes that I enjoy working in and I have been really steering towards making more gallery art and hope to really start reaping the benefits of that soonish. 10 years from now I see myself continuing to draw and paint nonstop while hopefully using it as a pretty big part of my life and continue to use my art to impact others.
Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: The Perfect Homestead Studio
I relocated to SCAD in 2010 at the beginning of the new year and graduated November of 2011. Having transferred blindly as a Junior totally relying on that “good feeling” alone SCAD and all its resources, as well as the town of Savannah, had exceeded all my expectations so much so I now call it my second home. I’ve met some beautifully talented people at my time there. Feeling the creative energy that flowed in the city and around my fellow classmates and professors every day I finally felt I was where I was suppose to be. The only two things I regret is not taking licensing classes, since this is what I have done since graduating and absolutely love, and not being able to afford to come back to Savannah to attend my graduation that Spring. Despite my financial struggles after graduating, what has happened since each step of the way has only prepared me for success, gave me confidence as an artist, a professional, and as a person to become stronger and better at what I do, and helped me learn not take anything or anyone for granted.
Square Carousel has been my push, my drive, my focus, and in some cases my savior for my mental and professional sanity. This amazing group of individuals, who I consider family, has helped my art and style grow from the uncontrolled random mess it used to be and continued to challenge my abilities with super cool projects and challenges. This is something I’ll truly miss, but not as much as I will my fellow SCAD Illustrators. There’s always something special about a group of people who “get it”. Who come together to help solve design issues, who support one another as much as we do, who have “been there done that”, and who are an understanding reliable shoulder to lean on during the more difficult times as a working illustrator. Being a part of Square Carousel has been such a pleasure and is something I’ll always be grateful for having experienced working with such talented beautiful people. I wanted to give a special big thank you to my girl Sayada for bringing me into the Collective, and for everyone else being so amazing over our years together. For all our Christmas card swaps, all of your friendship and support, and having watched many of you grow as creatives over the years, I will continue to follow and support you all in your creative and your life journeys. I am forever grateful for all of you, and I cannot wait to see what life has in store for all of us in the next 10 years! You guys…we’re so going to crush it!!!
For our last and final challenge I wanted to illustrate something truly special to my heart. Ever since I saw the 1990s TV show The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends, I wanted my own home/cottage to mirror the spirit of that of Beatrix Potter. In this homestead I dream of looking out my studio window as I create for a living to support my future family, and seeing my animal friends happily playing outside in the garden. Over the years this vision has stayed the same, but having since adapted a vegan eco-friendly lifestyle, volunteering for rescues and creating content for those types of animals, and the way I see my garden have changed a bit to accommodate how I now want to live and use my art to give back. Now I see this whimsical space not only giving me creative inspiration and a meditation space of my own, but also a land that has a productive purpose to give back to our animals and our environment who need it the most. My new cottage, now with a greenhouse studio, consists of self-sustainable practices such as solar windows, surrounding myself with plants that keep the air clean, converting part of my studio to a foster space, organic gardening that attracts healthy pollinators, and animals that I hope to rescue/foster to help give them new homes and a better quality of life. Though I look forward to this studio and space coming to a reality, I’m still not quite sure where I want this magical space to be located or how it’ll turn out….which makes this vision all the more exciting.
Here’s to the next 10 years and the start of our many new adventures. Salute!
Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: Artist Explores the World
When I first applied to Art colleges around the country I felt like Animation was the more realistic approach to getting a job in the “art” industry. I knew I was an okay small town artist, but felt like my artwork was never good enough to be a full time illustrator. While attending SCAD I couldn’t help but double minor in Sequential Art and Illustration because that’s where my heart was.
After graduating SCAD in 2013 I immediately got a job working in my field of 3D video game development- only to find that I absolutely hated it. By late 2014 I had quit my job to travel the world.
I formed Artist Explores the World LLC and over the last 7 years I have poured my heart and soul into videos, photography, jewelry making, illustration and fine art. Only after taking the leap have I learned that my art is good enough, all on it’s own.
It’s now my full time job.
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have joined in with this collective so full of very talented people. In many ways, especially as the clock sometimes struck a midnight deadline, I’ve wondered if I even really belonged in such a group. I’ve been genuinely honored to be here. The amount of support and growth I’ve felt as both a guest artist and member has been incredible and I’m so thankful for everyone who built this beautiful project. Thank you <3
As my husband and I get closer to finishing our new Skoolie, and prepare to set sail on the next big phase of our lives, I felt my old logo needed a bit of an update. I started with a fresh logo update (the plane of my old is now a bus <3) and then a portrait of the two of us. I hope to have my kitties and maybe a little one in tow - but who knows what the future will hold. Since there was an extra week on this challenge I also spent time updating the animation on my new logo as well. A fresh intro for my new vlogs.
In the next 10 years I hope to be even more traveled, even more confident, and more able to help others to achieve their dreams. I’ll still be free, wild, independent and creative all the while running my own company, my way, and with all my heart.
Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: In Gardens We Trust
Spring is definitely my favorite season–it always brings me joy to see everything bloom and start afresh. I’m an avid gardener myself and I always look for ways to be more environmentally conscious and sustainable. I’m hoping that in 10 years, everyone on Earth has been working together on building a more sustainable future for us all.
On a separate note, I absolutely cannot believe it’s been ten years! (which means it’s been ten years since I graduated undergrad–sheesh!) I want to say a heartfelt congrats to all the original members of SC still here–I still remember the day when we all sat together in Gallery Espresso with cut pieces of paper with random words on it to decide on our collective’s name :D You guys did an amazing job keeping the collective going for the past ten years!
✿ SCAD 2011
✿ Assistant Professor at Towson University + Children’s Book Illustrator
✿ I imagine I’ll be doing the same thing I’m doing right now, but with more expertise and wisdom (hopefully)^-^
Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: Coffee Breaks
I wanted to depict a calm moment, where we’re both happy, healthy, safe, and just better versions of our current selves. I’d like to think I’ll get better at giving myself time off and not feeling guilty for it. That we won’t have to schedule time to hang out because I’ve convinced myself I need to work every moment of every day. Here’s to hoping in 10 years, I’ll have perfected my work/ life balance.
In general, I’m pretty sure my partner Greg (They/Them) will have better hair and make-up skills then I ever will!
Speaking of hair, at the rate I’m greying, there’s no way I won’t be a silver fox by then (Finally achieving my hair goals without the assistance of bleach) ;D
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♡ Graduated from SCAD in 2011.
♡ I’m currently freelance: Mainly working on private commissions, followed by comic covers, and comic pin-ups.
♡ I’m hopeful that in ten years time that my current situation will flip. That the majority of my freelance work will be covers/ pin-ups, with just a few private pieces here and there. OH, and that I’ll have about 20 cats XD
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It’s not lost on me how incredibly lucky I am to have had Square Carousel in my life these past 10 years. It’s allowed me to grow as a person and as an artist. Pushing me to illustrate things that weren’t necessarily in my wheel house and broadening my visual language. I had to take a few work related breaks through out the years, but I always looked forward to the day I got to jump back in and get to work with my fellow members/friends.
As silly as it sounds I don’t really think I can properly articulate how much love and admiration I have for my fellow members (especially the admins/ ESPECIALLY Caitlin). They’ve been a rock in my life when I needed it the most (whether they know it or not). ♡
Lastly, a big thank you to all the people who supported S.C. through out the past 10 years! Whether you’re a former member, an amazing guest artist who contributed, or just someone who’s liked our work, it has meant the world to us!
Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: Sunset Vista
In ten years I want to be very well traveled, so for my piece I wanted to do a beautiful view of a seaside town in a foreign country with a glass of wine and my sketchbook in the foreground. I’ve struggled with my relationship to art and illustration ever since graduation, and since leaving Square Carousel and taking a break to focus on my graphic design career I’ve been slowly dipping my toes back in to the lovely art water. It turns out the only way for me to make art is to not take it seriously at all. Otherwise, I paralyze myself with expectations. Lately I’ve been getting back into painting with acrylics and have been experimenting with using the same super saturated colors I like to use when painting digitally. Do I need a lot more practice? Yes. Do I need to draw in my sketchbook more? Yes. And did I have fun with this piece anyway? Yes! It’s all about placing fun colors next to each other for me.
- I graduated from SCAD in 2013 - Today I am the Creative Director at a local Austin marketing firm - In ten years, I hope to be living my cottage core dream life when I’m at home, making stunning visuals at work, and having unforgettable experiences abroad every chance I get.
Thank you so much Square Carousel for all the artistic growth you’ve helped me achieve! Love you guys <3
Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: Bright and Shinny Like The California Sun!
I relocated from NY to LA in 2019 and I’m loving it the outdoors, the cactuses, the people and skateboards! This piece is originally created for Airbnb but I feel like it illustrates my current life and the life I look forward to so I’d like to share it with you all!
✿ SCAD 2012
✿ Illustrator at Tiktok creating effects while freelancing for fun gigs.
✿ I love what I do now and hope to continue the journey with passions, sparks and playfulness. For something slightly different and fun, I’d like to start our own lines of products.
-Julia Yellow
See more work here: Website | Instagram | Facebook
The theme, “10 Years, Looking Forward” can be interpreted many ways. You could illustrate something personal, about where you see yourself in 10 years, or perhaps where you see the future of our world in a decade. It can optimistic, pessimistic, scientific, emotional, humorous or anything else. This is our last challenge so we’re giving it our all!
With the castle protected and Terryn gone, the founders now all have a moment to decompress. None of them have spoken much since Terryn left, but Godric can’t hold it in anymore.
Seraphine:What?
Seraphine: You didn’t have to. What are you hiding?
Seraphine:Rowan.
Seraphine: Excuse me?
Seraphine: Let him explain.
Seraphine: Watch your mouth, Godric Gryffindor. You said it yourself, we’re a family. This is a discussion, not a trial.
Seraphine: Then you shouldn’t have lied.
Seraphine: You’re not helping.
Seraphine: Rowan, what else do we need to know.
Outside the castle, Rosalind and her companion have finally arrived, they pause to look up at the castle and then over to each other.
The boy: Are you ready?
Rosa nods and the boy knocks loudly on the castle door. Helga opens the door, but all four of the founders are there to make sure that it isn’t anymore unwelcome surprises.
Rowan pauses for a moment to consider what she means, but the fact that Rosalind showed up without her mother gives him a slight clue as to how she came to lose it. He offers her a sympathetic smile.
Seraphine: Well then, we know Rosalind. Who are you?
Si salutarono cordiali, senza un abbraccio, senza sorridere. Lui uscì e non pioveva. Lei rimase al suo posto nell’angolo defilato, a guardare come ipnotizzata, attraverso la vetrina, il grigiore della strada.
Fuori, il pomeriggio si faceva scuro. Passavano auto con i fari accesi. Gente nel locale? Poca.
Sola, disorientata, non le veniva in mente dove andare.
“Come si fa a vivere così lontano dal mare?” Ecco. A questo pensò.
