I still get excited looking at all the Project Runway originals we have in our office. Some of the designers were innovative in their design and execution of their garments from the first challenge, promising much talent for future challenges.

We put Terri’s garment on the mannequin–it has been one of the few that has been big enough to actually fit our bust form! Terri used safe materials to create her garment: a red plastic tablecloth for the skirt and mops for the halter top. Even though the materials were ordinary, Terri’s execution of detailing and construction were well done. She made a simple a-line skirt, but added ruffles to the back to add interest and create volume. The skirt had seams to make it fit well, but it didn’t have any closures, so I’m not sure how it stayed on the model. It was obvious Terri spent most of her time creating a braid pattern for the halter; the pattern was intricate and well designed. My favorite part was the open structure of the back–very sexy. This was sewn onto the model, so we had to use a rubber band to dress our mannequin. Even though Terri played it safe in design and fabrication, her work was solid. In last week’s auction, her dress was continually bid on by three persons and went for $70.

I also got to examine Wesley’s paper tablecloth dress–which had been completely cut off of the model! This dress was among my favorites as it was with viewers. In last week’s auction, this was one of the top dresses, with a max bid of $115. The same bidder nabbed both Terri’s and Wesley’s garments. Wesley, like many of the designers, played it safe with a paper tablecloth, however, his keg cup and flyswatter flowers added a pop quality to his design. Wesley used a muslin base for his dress, allowing him to create a good shape and movement.  Most of his time was spent cutting out individual petals for his flowers, but his craftsmanship and attention to detail were evident. The rubber gloves were interesting–they were tacky in design, but on trend in design conception. Wesley used rubber kitchen gloves adorned with a smashed keg cup. This dress was good, but the color is what made it standout on the runway.

Make sure you place your bid in this week’s auction and I’ll keep you updated on all the dirty design details! Â

At SeenON!, we just can’t get enough of our favorite TV shows–especially Project Runway. Today, I was able to take a closer look at more Project Runway garments from Episode 501, the first challenge. It is so interesting to see everything in person–especially the detailing, construction, and artistry.

Blayne’s fiesty personality was evident in his “Girlicious” romper, which was topped out with a $60 bid in last week’s auction; the winner was a fierce battling “Blaynesmom.” Hmmm…if it really was his mother, is she going to be buying everything?! The romper wasn’t very attractive, but it was definitely innovative–as the judges noted.  Blayne used charcoal grey and white shelving liner for his design, which created a heavy, rubbery garment. Down the front of the design, Blayne create a net pattern with gauze, basketball netting, and shoelaces. He also used bright teal, pink, and green “No Fog” mitts to create a voluminous halter neckline for the romper. The romper was hand-stitched together with a lime green floss-like thread. This was another garment that they model had to be sewn into and cut out of! While the “Girlicious” idea was debatable, Blayne’s overall garment was well made, creative, and interesting.

I also got to peek at Jerell’s design–a colorful dress with flower detailing. In last week’s auction, this dress raised only $50. Jerell used a mesh laundry bag to create the bodice of his dress; the princess seams were well constructed, bringing shape to the garment. And, like everyone else, Jerell used a lace tablecloth for the skirt; however, he did dip-dye the skirt in fruit punch to give it more color and a stiff texture. Across the asymmetrical neckline, Jerell cut up a Hawaiian floral garland to create individual flowers. Lastly, on the shoulder, Jerell used a bright blue Koosh ball, which made the garment really heavy. The dress was pinned together in the back, so Jerell must not have had time to finish it! While I didn’t find Jerell’s garment to be anything stellar, it was well made.

If want to be able to see a Project Runway original, make sure you bid on your favorite design at our Episode 502 auction. If you are curious to see more inside details about the designs, check back as we will keep you updated.

Working at SeenON! is so exciting because you never know what might be happening around the office. Not only do we have access to exclusive photos and videos from Project Runway, but this week, we have the designs from the first challenge of Project Runway right here in our office! We are getting ready to send out the designs to the highest bidders from last week’s auction, so I took a moment to examine the different designs. It was such an awesome opportunity to see all the detailing, stitching, and overall aesthetic up close in person.

Of course I had to see last week’s winning design–Kelli’s vacuum cleaner bag and coffee filter creation. What amazed me most about this design was it’s creative pattern, from the bleach. It is evident Kelli focused most of her time on getting the pattern perfect for the bodice and skirt. Her hems, stitches, and finishing was efficient. She creatively used notebook wire (see picture above) to create hook and eyes to fasten the dress. Kelli used a whip stitch to hem the top of the skirt and attach the straps, coffee filter top, and skirt altogether–and she must have been pressed for time! Overall, it was evident the creative patterning and use of materials made this dress the winner.

I also had to peek at Leanne’s luscious candy creation, one of my favorites from the challenge. Leanne conservatively chose a bubblegum pink tablecloth for her main material, but her use of candy and coffee filters made her dress stand out. My favorite part of this design was the silhouette–the deep v neck and bubble skirt are very trendy and fit the candy ideology. Leanne also created ruffles with her white coffee filters. While the candy was adorable on the runway, it might not stay preserved for long! This design was also so tiny that it wouldn’t fit on our mannequin! Overall, I was impressed with how well Leanne’s garment was constructed under the time constraint.

If you are just dying to be able to see a Project Runway original firsthand, make sure you place your bid for this week’s auction at ProjectRunway.com. You don’t want to miss out–its going to be hot!