Make It Work
Am I the only one here obsessed with Project Runway? I didn’t think so. (If you want to talk about this season and whether you love or hate Elisa, Christian, and that one guy who looks like David Brent, we can dish in the comments.)
Lisa in Ypsilanti alerts us to the existence of Canadian Project Runway (please tell me this is out on DVD) and their recent very cool challenge: design two swimsuits, one for a plus-size model and one for a thin model. (To see the designs, click on Episode 8 in the Photo Gallery.)
I think it’s a great challenge, and a great way to incorporate plus-size design into the show. Knowing nothing about the designers and just going by the photo gallery, I think Stephen’s designs are a disaster. He appears to have merely swathed his models in sheets and gone back to bed. (Without sheets, I guess.) Kendra’s models both look like refugees from Moulin Rouge. And I enjoy Marie Genevieve’s superhero-themed looks. What do you guys think? Did any Canadians out there see the show?
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Fashion, Project Runway, TV
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Wow, after a brief look through some of the previous episodes, I actually like the Canadian designs better than some of what I’ve seen the American episodes.
I did notice that almost every single designer designed a two piece for the thin models, and some sort of cover-up and even a skirt for the plus-size models. They still seem to be operating under the assumption that you should overly flaunt thinness, and hide fatness.
I was pleased to see, however, that the plus-size models weren’t all size 10 or 12. Some were actually what I would consider truly plus-size.
I watched the episode when it aired (I’m Canadian) and I absolutely LOVED it.
It was quite interesting to see how the designers dealt with creating a plus size garment. Some had no problem and actually commented that they’ve done it before- a body is just a body. Others had a major problem with it, some almost resenting the fact that they had to create something for a larger woman.
I found that some of the designers did want to hide the “fatness”, however, others understood that strong women can carry off anything. Some of the designers really had no idea that what looks good on a woman with no body fat really doesn’t look good on a women with curves.
It was quite an interesting episode! You can actually watch it on the website. :)
Just a Note: All of the suits were based on a time period or aesthetic that was chosen before the design time began (eg: Grecian, British Punk, Marie Antoinette, Flapper). Just to make the challenge a bit harder :P
And didja notice not all of the models looked like they were 15?
I’m still seeing the notion that to be “pretty and fat” you need to have a thin-ish face and a thin neck.
OMG he does look like David Brent. All this time I’ve been trying to place him.
I’m hoping this year they do the “everyday woman” again. It was interesting to me how the women were chosen pretty much in the order of their size (smallest to largest) and then how the general solution to having a plus-sized model was “cover her up.” Not every designer did this though.
And Uli’s clothes could work in any size. Where are they btw?
I do like Elisa but I didn’t at first. I did like Christian but I like him less each week. Elisa seems flexible whereas Christian isn’t. But strong personalities and entertaining TV in any case ;)
I love that show – I actually have Season 1 on DVD headed my way via NetFlix today. In fact, if I left work early, it might already be there, waiting for me…. That is so tempting.
I think the swimsuit idea is fabulous and that they should absolutely do more plus-size fashion stuff – why is it only in Canada? The US is chock-full of fat people!
What a fantastic idea! What hideous swimsuits! :-) Would anyone really wear a white bedsheet swimming? It would be like bobbing around in a full washing machine with the extra fabric flapping around. I like that they actually used plus size models
I’m an Aussie who watches Project Runway Canada on YouTube. Hooray! I was totally loving the plus-size swimsuits last week, even though I was hating the way some of the designers were talking about having to do plus-size clothes.
(The reason they are all so random is because they had to choose a particular time period i.e. Stephen had Classical Greek, Kendra has ‘Marie Antoniette’ (which is not a time period and is definitely not ‘Edwardian’ or ‘Victorian’ as it was referred to in the show). It was a real hit and miss challenge but they woman up there was the absolute awesomest ever.
Totally love project runway.I know I couldn’t pull off have of what the make for people to wear, but I love the challenge of it all.
Haven’t heard about the canadian one, i must find this!!
They clearly have no idea how to design for larger bodies; i.e. what flatters. And, as others have pointed out, have just gone for the ‘oh, god, cover it up” look. That ‘grecian’ one? It just looked like a nappy (US translation = diaper). Totally unwearable.
You can watch PR Canada on YouTube. I love all the PR shows. I would totally wear MG’s suit (pictured above) and really appreciated Brian’s comments about dressing a woman. Slapped down the fat-haters very elegantly.
I am a big fan of PR Runway but have never seen the Canadian version. I would love to see the episode with the plus size swimwear. Does anyone know where I can view it ?
I didn’t see this, but I love project runway and I did see a mention of the Canadian version on Project Rungay ( http://projectrungay.blogspot.com/ ) and I really dig that Iman is hosting it- I love her to pieces, she’s so funny.
Some of those suits are just awfullll. Others are pretty cool.
Also this is a far better way to incorporate any sort of plus size designing than last year’s PR where they brought people’s relatives. I loved that they had such a range of sizes but I was a little pissed that the person who ended up with the most plus-sized model was the one who got kicked. I thought that was some old bullsh-t
when will they have an all plus-size Project Runway?
I’ve just sucked up all of PR Canada on You Tube…. IT RULES. I love Iman so much. I love how the judges disagree with each other. I tried to forget as I was watching it that I knew the names of some designers that had made it this far…. except then I was really confused when… well, that one episode. The opera diva dress elimination. I just saw this episode today and it was fantastic. I really did like MG’s the best in the episode too. She is awesome. MG all the way!