S18.E05: She's Sew Unusual

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Quote

Singer Cyndi Lauper inspires and guest judges a team challenge; the designers must create cohesive mini-collections paying homage to Lauper's 1980s fashion style with a modern take; Christian throws out a mid-challenge twist that changes everything.

Original air date: 1/9/20

Edited January 5, 2020 by ElectricBoogaloo

[Emmeline]

Call me crazy but I never thought of Cindi Lauper as “punk”.  That seems a little bit darker than, Time After Time and Girls Just Want to Have Fun.  Her music was lighter and fun.

[acrumbaugh]

I need to know where Brittany got her colorful, matching skirt/top combo!

[susannot]

She did have  a fun punkish style esthetic though.  I don't know how else to describe it.

[TexasGal]

Maybe they will bring it together with the styling but I got neither 80s nor punk nor Cyndi from the stripe team. The safety pin styling is sort of generic punk I guess.

15 minutes ago, susannot said:

She did have  a fun punkish style esthetic though.  I don't know how else to describe it.

Agreed.  She was a pop-ish punk.

[Straycat80]

I thought punk was 70’s not 80’s so much. These looks look too polished to me. 

[slensam]

They're confusing punk with new wave. 

[TexasGal]

Yeah team stripe was not the winner to me either.  Cracked me up how sure they were that they were the winners though.

[Toodleoo]

This episode is boring and made me hate everyone, so I enjoyed the look of shock on team stripe haha!

 

Edit: and I LOVE Cyndi so it made me sad it was a snooze.

Edited January 10, 2020 by Toodleoo

[Thumper]

7 minutes ago, TexasGal said:

Yeah team stripe was not the winner to me either.  Cracked me up how sure they were that they were the winners though.

Especially Sergio.  He was so smug.

—- MERGE —-

OHHHHHHH!  He (Sergio) did NOT just say that!  (Not his problem if they didn’t like it.)

Edited January 10, 2020 by Thumper

[Straycat80]

 Sergio can’t take constructive criticism and just put his foot in his mouth. Ouch. 

[susannot]

Will Sergio FINALLY get his well-deserved auf?  Stay tuned!

 

[Mindthinkr]

I may be standing alone on this but...when Victoria’s model was going down the runway it looked (the rear view) that the white lining was a piece of toilet paper that got stuck while she was in the loo. It was a nice outfit, but that detail bugged me. 

After that comment by Sergio, I’m sure he is going good bye. 

[Archer27]

4 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

I may be standing alone on this but...when Victoria’s model was going down the runway it looked (the rear view) that the white lining was a piece of toilet paper that got stuck while she was in the loo. It was a nice outfit, but that detail bugged me. 

After that comment by Sergio, I’m sure he is going good bye. 

I wish, but I think Melanie is going. 

[Thumper]

Yay, Jeffrey!  Loved his backstory too, although it was sad,
 

Victoria is beautiful but her look was the same.

[Toodleoo]

Brandon hits Jeffrey for repetitiveness but gushes over Victoria’s DittoDuds? Come ON. So glad Jeffrey won anyway.

 

Was very amused at the editing showing Sergio confidently declaring that Brittany had the strongest look while the judges were bagging on it. Too bad he’s staying.

[susannot]

I thought the same thing about Victoria and thought for sure that Brandon would comment on the piece of toilet paper trailing behind her dress, but no.  Other than the toilet paper, it was awesome.

[TexasGal]

I’ve been under the weather today, so I’m gonna blame that for tearing up with the  Geoffrey win and hug.  

3 minutes ago, Toodleoo said:

Brandon hits Jeffrey for repetitiveness but gushes over Victoria’s DittoDuds? Come ON. So glad Jeffrey won anyway 

For a split second I thought Nina was going to say that.  Nope.  Not yet anyway! 

[Adeejay]

I thought Sergio extremely rude to Miss Lauper.  Based on that, the cocky SOB should have been sent home. 

[MerBearStare]

So happy Geoffrey won, not just because of what Cyndi means to him, but because he had hands down the best outfit. 

I was with Brandon on Brittany's outfit. I hated it. Hated the mauve-y pink. Hated the corset over the work wear outfit. It seemed like something the female boss in a porno would wear.

I hope Sergio continues to get smacked down by the judges. Cyndi looked at him in disgust when he said that thing about designing for women over 40. Um, guy, Cyndi is over 40! So is Nina! And they hate your shit.

You knew Melanie was out when Nina said she couldn't remember anything she made in the competition. <Tim Gunn voice> Don't bore Nina! </Tim Gunn voice>

Edited January 10, 2020 by MerBearStare

[Straycat80]

I didn’t really like anything team stripe did either, it wasn’t 80’s or Cyndi to me. I didn’t think Marqis design was that bad, the jacket was cute. I wish Sergio got the boot because he’s an ass  but Melanie’s was pretty bad. Whoever advised her to cut up the bottom that made it look like a car wash really sabotaged her. 
 

Team Chaos was more 80’s. I’m glad Geoffrey won. Victoria’s design looked the same as last weeks and the week before, and yes the back white ruffle looked like toilet paper. I’m glad Brittany didn’t win, she’s annoying and I don’t like the way she treats Nancy. 
 

I was disappointed by this episode. They could have pulled so much more from 80’s fashion and they didn’t do it. 

[Nordly Beaumont]

Girls just wanna have... a nap? Don't get me wrong, I love Cyndi - and I'm 60 so I get that energy isn't what it used to be. But she still performs, so why so low energy? 

Sergio designs for women over 40 with money - who does he think Cyndi is? That coat or whatever looked just like his animal print "street" look, even the neck embellishment was the same. Stupid then, stupid now. At least he got called out for the ugliness this time.

[raven]

23 minutes ago, Mindthinkr said:

a piece of toilet paper that got stuck

I thought "she's pooping fabric" (thank you Michael Kors, I think said it).

Once Delvin said the stripes made him think of Beetlejuice, I couldn't unsee it, LOL.

Speaking of Delvin, I would have put him in the top over Brittany - I thought her pink monstrosity was the worst of the winning team, though her model almost saved it.  I'm also enjoying Delvin's side snark.

I was very happy for Geoffrey winning though I hate to admit that this was the first of Victoria's outfits that I really liked, so I could have seen her winning.  But yay Geoffrey!

I definitely agree that Chaos was the winning team, the striped outfits were not good, except for maybe the short dress.  I love Chelsey and her various glasses but her pants outfit was bad, though not has bad as Sergio's - which was hahahaha just awful - or Melanie's, which didn't even look designed, it was so blah.

I didn't think Cyndi Lauper really wanted to be hugged at the end of the episode, so that was gracious of her, plus she was a decent judge.

 

[Ashforth]

This was pretty much the shitshow I expected. It was a crap design dictate to start with, I guess Cindy Lauper is a cheap celebrity "get" these days. There is no need for a fashion challenge based on what she wore 30 years ago. That being said, none of the garments had the joy and exuberance of the Lauper 80's style. Who decided that 80's pop+lite punk= black and white stripes? WTF? Lame on top of lame.

In other news, how many times will Victoria send the same dress down the runway before the judges call her out for it?

6 minutes ago, raven said:

I thought "she's pooping fabric" (thank you Michael Kors, I think it said it).

It may have been Kors, but I think it was Heidi. Whichever, it was a classic PR moment.

Edited January 10, 2020 by Ashforth

[Archery]

Cyndi is always that mellow off stage. She was exactly that way on Celebrity Apprentice. 
 

I love Delvin. He is not trying with the drama. 
 

Sergio, like Tyler, has committed to his carefully constructed TV character and took it too far in this ep. You can’t show the judges that. 

[Ellaria]

1 minute ago, raven said:

Once Delvin said the stripes made him think of Beetlejuice, I couldn't unsee it, LOL.

Speaking of Delvin, I would have put him in the top over Brittany - I thought her pink monstrosity was the worst of the winning team, though her model almost saved it.  I'm also enjoying Delvin's side snark...

...I didn't think Cyndi Lauper really wanted to be hugged at the end of the episode, so that was gracious of her, plus she was a decent judge.

 

Agree on all counts about Delvin, especially about his Beetlejuice comment. 

To my eyes, Victoria makes the same outfit each week with slight variations. However, she appears to be heading towards winning this competition

I really liked Geoffrey’s design and I’m glad that he won. I also liked Delvin’s work. Everything else was either dull or ill conceived. Sergio exists in a parallel universe because that was hideous.

Cyndi was a gracious judge. I loved her advice to Melanie.

I am becoming more disappointed with each passing week. This isn’t a particularly talented group of designers and the challenges have been gimmicky, for the most part.

[raven]

3 minutes ago, Ellaria Sand said:

To my eyes, Victoria makes the same outfit each week with slight variations. However, she appears to be heading towards winning this competition

Though I thought this week she made something that worked, I definitely agree with this.  Victoria herself even stated it.  Her looks are finished well, which the judges like.   She reminds me of Irina, who won years back, I think she made a lot of the same looks.

No one is wowing me like Sebastian last season.  I think Geoffrey has had some good looks.  I really can't remember much beyond this week and last week, not a good sign.

[SailorGirl]

As soon as I saw Geoffrey's outfit, I knew their team was the winning team -- whomever said Team Stripe looked like Beetlejuice was spot on -- that's what I was thinking with Sergio's pants. His look was just . . . not good. Whatever he had on top looked like a sheer bathroom robe from the 60s/70s -- the one that had the matching fluffy kitten heels and was worn over the shorty-short nightgowns. . . . it was not a look. I was cracking up when he was getting smacked down. Even though he knew he was in the bottom he was still acting like he knew better than everybody, telling the blonde girl hers was the best and most represented the merging of the 80s into a more modern look. 

Yay for Geoffrey -- there was no beating that top especially. . . . well over Victoria sending the same thing down the runway week after week. 

I watched the after show with Melanie -- she was super down to earth and was able to be objective about why she got eliminated. There's no persona there -- she just is who she is. 

Think Sergio will be humbled at all after his smackdown??? yeah, me neither. Arrogant asshole can go any damn time. 

Edited January 10, 2020 by SailorGirl

[njbchlover]

39 minutes ago, Thumper said:

Yay, Jeffrey!  Loved his backstory too, although it was sad,
 

Victoria is beautiful but her look was the same.

I was surprised that Victoria's look was in the top three again.  So much more of the same, same, same.  I'm glad she didn't win.

This is one of the things that bothers me about the judging - it's so inconsistent.  Victoria gets praise for her outfits, which are similar to past looks, but other designers in past seasons get lambasted for sending the same look down the runway week after week.  

Happy for Geoffrey though - I thought his look was definitely the best, and it screamed modern day Cyndi Lauper to me.

[LennieBriscoe]

Well, after hearing Geoffrey's background, I think it would have bordered on show cruelty had he not won!

Good for Nancy for stubbornly surviving! 

Sergio is an arrogant ass, but Delvin is a close second. 

As for Cyndi's being a "get" of less than top tier, whattaya gonna do? Madonna is busy! 

[Ashforth]

37 minutes ago, Ellaria Sand said:

I am becoming more disappointed with each passing week. This isn’t a particularly talented group of designers and the challenges have been gimmicky, for the most part.

I think it's possible that the designers have a lot more to offer than they have been able to show because of the constrictions of the crap challenges. At this point, I'm not willing to blame them instead of the show for the lackluster garments. Time will tell.

[LennieBriscoe]

So I waited too long to edit my above post.....

But looking back on what I remember about her outfits and style, Cyndi would never have worn all black, well-done or not. She originated the wacky and bright color combos. Now, Chrissie Hynde, OTOH,....

[Showthyme]

51 minutes ago, Ellaria Sand said:

To my eyes, Victoria makes the same outfit each week with slight variations. 

Victoria’s design aesthetic has gone from interesting to boring in just a few weeks. I hope there is an avant-garde challenge with no black or leather allowed.

Edited January 10, 2020 by Showthyme
.

[CoyoteBlue]

1 hour ago, Toodleoo said:

Was very amused at the editing showing Sergio confidently declaring that Brittany had the strongest look while the judges were bagging on it. Too bad he’s staying.

Of course he loved it. It was a pantsuit, the hallmark of old ladies. I can't believe he takes such immense pride in designing for old ladies. (And I say that as someone right in his demographic - that is some fugly old lady shit.)

[answerphone]

Why did I find this episode so boring?

I fast forwarded thru part of it, so I could watch Married at First Sight.

That's not saying much for this season's Project Runway.🤔

[njbchlover]

15 minutes ago, CoyoteBlue said:

Of course he loved it. It was a pantsuit, the hallmark of old ladies. I can't believe he takes such immense pride in designing for old ladies. (And I say that as someone right in his demographic - that is some fugly old lady shit.)

I agree - I am also in his demographic, but I, for one, would not be "paying his bills", as I find nothing about his clothing appealing.  

I also find Sergio to be immensely condescending.  He's one of those people that come off as caring, sweet and kind, but it seems very insincere to me, especially when his other comments constantly show he has a much higher opinion of himself than he does of anyone else.

When he made that comment about only designing for the 40 and over set so it's going to be more sophisticated, you could see Nina and Cindy raise their eyebrows in disbelief - mainly, because that schmata he sent down the runway was one of the least sopisticated things I've ever seen, so they probably thought the same, but also because, again, Sergio was being a condescending, conceited know-it-all.  

[nb360]

I can't put my finger on it, but I think there is an element of misogyny in Sergio's conception of the "over-40" crowd he designs for, as if younger women aren't tasteful or classy enough to wear his clothes. There's more to it than that, but this is the only way I can explain it at this moment. 

[GaT]

3 hours ago, susannot said:

Will Sergio FINALLY get his well-deserved auf?  Stay tuned!

 

 

49 minutes ago, nb360 said:

I can't put my finger on it, but I think there is an element of misogyny in Sergio's conception of the "over-40" crowd he designs for, as if younger women aren't tasteful or classy enough to wear his clothes. There's more to it than that, but this is the only way I can explain it at this moment. 

Sergio is such an asshole. He doesn't care about fashion, he cares about rich old ladies that he can get money from. He doesn't think younger women aren't as tasteful or classy, he thinks they aren't as rich & that's all that matters to him.

2 hours ago, Ellaria Sand said:

To my eyes, Victoria makes the same outfit each week with slight variations.

I agree, didn't we just see this same outfit in all white?

Anybody else get weirded out by Cyndi Lauper's psoriasis commercial complete with Project Runway outfits?

[pasdetrois]

Sergio wants rich older women's money, but he doesn't respect their age. He's smug and condescending about the people who line his pockets.

Edited January 10, 2020 by pasdetrois

[Ms Blue Jay]

3 hours ago, TexasGal said:

I’ve been under the weather today, so I’m gonna blame that for tearing up with the  Geoffrey win and hug.  

LOL, I cried a few times!  Don't feel ashamed!

What on g*d's green earth does Sergio mean "If you don't like it, it's not my problem"?  It is literally his problem as they are the judges on the show and can kick him out?  LOL?  Unless he was actually saying he doesn't care whether he's on the show or not?  Which… well ok.  Good for him.

A lot of good looks this week I thought, but all on Geoffrey's team.  I really like Da'Young so I'm happy she was mercifully saved by being on the good team.  Her look?  Oh boy.

Delvin's look was so hot this week.

I still have a conspiracy that this new version of PR will not allow the same designer to win two weeks in a row, and the pattern is still going strong (Did Victoria win last week?).  I thought she could have won over Jeffrey.  I think Cyndi put his over the top for the sentimental value.  It was hilarious when she said "Any woman can wear this" and I thought she had a point about plus size women but instead she said "Short OR tall".  LOL!!!!!!!!  The full gamut of woman!

Did the designers get an 80s lookbook or something to look through?  I thought that the framing of this challenge was disastrous.  It's a miracle that Geoffrey's team pulled off what they did.  80s punk but make it modern?  Do you know how difficult that is?  I've been obsessed with fashion since I was a kid and I really don't know 80s fashion.  It was majorly rejected as soon as it ended and I think it was only brought back first maybe in the 2000s?  Although, I would die for a 90s grunge challenge because that I could understand.  LOL.  A lot of these designers are younger than I am so I think a lookbook would have been nice to peruse.

Edited January 10, 2020 by Ms Blue Jay

[30 Helens]

Me and the 29 other Helens also saw Beetlejuice, toilet paper poop, and DittoDuds (love that term, @Toodleoo), so why didn’t the judges?

I think the real problem with this iteration of PR is the judges.  There’s always been inconsistency, and I’ve often disagreed with past judging panels, but what I’m really missing is the bluntness and sharp wit of a Michael Kors or a Zac Posen.  Even Nina seems to have dulled her edges.  

As for Sergio: I don’t know what sophisticated, wealthy 40+ women would buy your New Clothes, but I suspect they’re related to a certain Emperor.  At least Melanie had the humility to know her crap belonged at Mervyn’s.

[PhoneCop]

Considering Cyndi's original style was new wave in aesthetic but thrift store in execution, I wonder why they didn't have her judge the Goodwill round. (Dear Magical Elves: Make this aging Gen-Xer very happy and bring in a member of Toto Coelo to judge an '80s-themed unconventional materials challenge.)

I usually pride myself on knowing names and faces by the second episode, but Melanie has to be one of the lowest-profile contestants I've ever seen on the show. The PR version of a Purple Edit, I guess.

[Tabbygirl521]

1 hour ago, nb360 said:

I can't put my finger on it, but I think there is an element of misogyny in Sergio's conception of the "over-40" crowd he designs for, as if younger women aren't tasteful or classy enough to wear his clothes. There's more to it than that, but this is the only way I can explain it at this moment. 

I am so very old that, to me, 40 is young. My son is 41. When I think of the clothes his friends wear, I laugh at Sergio. People still want to have fun with fashion well past their 40s - and they’ll pay for it, too. They don’t seem to go for chiffon peignoirs or whatever the hell that was. 

[HunterHunted]

3 hours ago, MerBearStare said:

I was with Brandon on Brittany's outfit. I hated it. Hated the mauve-y pink. Hated the corset over the work wear outfit. It seemed like something the female boss in a porno would wear.

It looks like a rejected first pass sketch from Jean Paul Gaultier for the Blonde Ambition Tour.

[Ms Blue Jay]

 

3 hours ago, njbchlover said:

This is one of the things that bothers me about the judging - it's so inconsistent.  Victoria gets praise for her outfits, which are similar to past looks, but other designers in past seasons get lambasted for sending the same look down the runway week after week.  

The judges don't care if you repeat yourself week after week, as long as they like that repetition 😉

We'll see what happens with Victoria next week.  They might finally get tired, who knows.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Gawd, I hate team challenges. I watch this show to see what people can create, not to fast forward through endless bickering and whining.

Team Stripe:

I liked Marquise's jacket, but was it really punk or 80s? The plain pink shirt was forgettable and I didn't like the white shorts. His model was doing her best to sell that look though.

I have to agree with Chelsey's assessment in the work room - her striped jumpsuit looked circusy. I also did not like the pink droopy boob outline.

Melanie clearly hated the 80s aesthetic (because she wouldn't STFU about it all episode) and it showed in her outfit. Look, you can not like something and still design something appropriate for the challenge. But this? No. A simple pink tube dress with bunch of sheer layers on top? I hated whatever that jacket or overlay was supposed to be.

Shavi's striped dress and corset look was cute. I liked that it clearly referenced the 80s without being an exact duplicate of something Cyndi had worn before.

I couldn't believe that Sergio's look was supposed to be the showstopper. It was ugly and not 80s or punk at all. I hated how stiff the sheer black fabric was which made it look ill fitting. And what was that huge ruffle in the back? I had to pause the episode because I was laughing so hard when he tried to defend his look by saying that he designs gowns for 40+ women so all of his stuff looks "more sophisticated." Honey, Nina is 54 and Cyndi is 66 and they ain't buying what you're selling. Judging by Karlie's stank face, she didn't like it either (but I guess her opinion doesn't count until she's over 40). I totally cracked up when they cut to the designers' lounge and Dayoung said, "I think he should stop talking." And that was before he said, "If you don't like it, that's not my problem." Well, you're in a competition and they're the judges so it kind of IS your problem if they don't like what you've made.

Team Chaos:

I've been rooting for Dayoung since her panic attack/trip to the hospital but girl, that was the dress you wear to work when you know you're going out clubbing that night and don't have time to go home in between so you just throw a blazer on top and hope that your coworkers don't realize what you're actually wearing.  Outlining the model's boobs with zippers didn't help matters.

Brittany's look was another office look. I mean, WTF did she think was punk or 80s about that look? It looked like a power suit with a black corset on top. Although I didn't like this look at all, it was kind of worth it just to see Sergio looking so pissed when the judges said it was in the top.

Delvin's look was, say it with me, not punk or 80s. I'm sensing a theme with Team Chaos. The thing is that I wouldn't mind too much that they completely failed at the actual challenge if they had made interesting or good looking outfits, but they all made such boring, uninteresting clothes.

Victoria made the same damn thing again. I laughed when Brandon said that in every challenge, she stays true to herself. If by "true to herself," you mean "makes the same outfit," then yes, you are correct, sir. That skirt was a centimeter away from being too short (and as it was, the poor model would not be able to sit down without having her bare ass on the seat). That white strip of fabric in the back made it look like she accidentally tucked toilet paper into her underwear.

Geoffrey's black spiked top was good. It fit his model well and I liked that his look referenced the 80s but it didn't look super dated.

Nancy's look wasn't punk or pop or 80s. That big poufy shrug/wrap looked like something a 60 year old woman wears over her dress when she goes to the opera.

I would have been fine with not having a winning team this week because there was a lot of fug on the runway.

When the judges were debating between Geoffrey and Victoria and Brandon said that he's seen a version of what Geoffrey made but what Victoria made was new and fresh, I couldn't believe my ears. Have you not been sitting on the runway the last few weeks when Victoria made the same damn outfit?

And then Sergio's delusional declaration to the other designers that when you make things that confuse people, it means you are changing the world? BITCH, PLEASE. Or it just means you made a super fugly outfit.

[jacksgirl]

Agree the talent seems to be lacking this go round. Also, they editing monkeys made it so clear Team Chaos would win. Lastly, I do love Christian as a mentor  and I get we don't see all he does, but he really saved Team Chaos IMO

[Aulty]

Picking a beetlejuice fabric should result in instant elimination.

[Corgi-ears]

6 hours ago, LennieBriscoe said:

As for Cyndi's being a "get" of less than top tier, whattaya gonna do? Madonna is busy! 

Well, Madonna was there in spirit, in the sense that Brittany's design was basically the "Express Yourself" outfit, but make it pink.

[Koalagirl]

Yay for Brandon with his clapback to Sergio’s “it’s not my problem” statement. I am not a huge fan of Brandon’s but when he told Sergio that he willingly signed up for this show and everything that goes with it my icy heart melted just a wee bit.