New Show Recap: Project Runway All Stars, 3.10, “For the Tacky Bondage Businesswoman in You”

Last night, the world crowned the all-starriest designer to ever Project Runway All Stars. Well, except for the last all-starriest designer. Or the one before that. But it was still very exciting.

Korto. Seth Aaron. Elena. Three designers would enter. One would cry. And only one would win.

The finale challenge was to design a six-piece collection in four days, a time constraint derived using lol math. Their inspiration was to use their own individual heritages — Ukrainian (Elena), Spanish (Seth Aaron), and Liberian (Korto). They were sent to the UN to gain worldly insight, meet with the delegates of their countries, and sketch.

Korto told the Liberian Delegate about how her family fled war and immigrated to the United States, and he encouraged her to return someday to the new Liberia and teach the children her skills. She already has held a fashion show in her own country, using Liberian women as models.

Seth Aaron had not been to Spain, but the Delegate told him that the soil in many places is bright yellow.

Elena emigrated from the Ukraine when she was ten, and found it hard to adjust to the US, where we worship the Big Mac and argue about whether poor people should be able to go to the doctor or not. I have no idea what confused her about America.

FYI, I am not bashing hamburgers as religion. I’m a Level Twelve Special Sauce Priestess in The Sacred Order of the Mac That is Big.

During sketching, Seth Aaron said it was architecture that inspired him, and then he drew a “fashioney” bullfighter’s uniform. Are we sure he knows what “architecture” means? Or “good taste”? Elena drew colorblocked versions of the only dress she makes. Oh, wait, they’re already all colorblocked. Korto chose two yellow prints, yellow like the sunshine she shines into my soul.

Not-Tim came to the work room. Seth Aaron told her, “I feel like this is the best collection I’ve ever made,” and Not-Tim replied, “But you’ve only made two pieces.” HA! Okay, Not-Tim, I’m gonna call you Zanna from now on, because you made me cackle.

Elena was finally fulfilling her dream of creating the collection she wanted to make in her season, and Korto really encouraged her, saying, “You go, girl! Do it!” Mostly because the judges in Elena’s first season didn’t like any of those ideas. And this is why Korto is queen of my heart.

“I just wish we had help!” said Elena. And, like a predictable reality TV show, it came to be! Christopher giggled into the room wearing a “Team Korto” shirt. And Viktor and Jeffrey came to assist Elena and Seth Aaron for twenty-four hours. They did not wear special shirts.

With two days to go, the designers were given a new challenge! Wow much surprise very gasp. They must create a seventh look made with scarves designed by Theodora and Callum. (They have a whole fancy caftan collection!) The scarves were inspired by countries of the world. Elena was frightened by a print as a child, so this task terrified her, and she cried.

The runway show was held at the UN, inside the big delegates room. Cool, right? The guest judges were designer Zac Posen and co-host of CBS This Morning Gayle King. You know, I really enjoy the fact that PRAS makes an effort to have layperson guest judges (as in not designers) and they’re not all skinny, young white actresses. Lots of women of all ages and colors are represented, and that’s wonderful to see.

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes!

I’m going to talk generally about the collections, and post a few pics from each one. I definitely suggest that you check out the runway shows if you missed them last night!

Elena

Elena came out on the runway and announced that her collection was “very emotional and deep.” I often find that when people tell me a thing is deep, it makes the thing that much deeper, man.

Her collection was very much about neon pops of pieced fabric; rounded, strong shoulders; and shapes hovering over an underlayer to make a multi-dimensional color contrast. It was fun. She did change up her silhouette for us a little with a new motif of miniskirt with a swing crop top that was very cute. Her color palette comprised of steel blue, grey, black, and neon yellow, a story that was both sophisticated and peppy, a cool line to tiptoe. The scarf dress turned out nice — she fashioned the tribal pattern in steel blue and neon yellow into a delightful swing bubble dress that meshed with the other pieces perfectly.

At the judging, Isaac called it sophisticated, and Georgina said there were touches of humor here and there, and I agreed. Alyssa thought that the tops got a lot more attention than the bottoms (they did). Zac said the work was difficult and well done, but imperfect in places.

Seth Aaron

Seth Aaron’s standout fabric was a diamond-embossed patent leather lambskin in black and wow, did it shine! He, too, got the evening’s memo and used a bright yellow — his second look was a yellow jumpsuit in some sort of poly with a flirty leather bolero over top in the same color. ME WANTY, I don’t even care that I’d look like Big Bird/the dirt in Spain. His scarf was used to much more blah effect than Elena’s — just a secretary blouse above a black pencil skirt, and a shift dress. The print (brushstrokes of dusky pink, red, and yellow-green on black silk) was gorgeous, though. The first four looks that came out had little to do with one another. The fifth was a pant suit made in black neoprene mesh, an outfit perfect for an event that does not and has not ever existed. The star was a red wool coat (his matador coat) draped with enough perfection to make a lady weep. I liked some of these pieces, but to call them a collection is a bit generous, I thought.

Georgina said his draping was marvelous, but she questioned who the woman was who would wear the mesh thing. Zac pointed out that all the trousers were too long, and what kind of flipping designer can’t put a break in a pair of pants?! Harrumph! Alyssa said they were architectural but feminine. Overall, it seems they were impressed.

Korto

Happy sigh. Korto opened her show with a drapey, silky maxi dress in a yellow and white flower/leaf (?) pattern, and while it may not be the most groundbreaking dress ever, I wanted to leap into it and never give it up. She edged the sleeves in white leather mesh, and who knew that that stuff would be such a go-to? Hrm. There was a flair of the 80s in her one-hip-peplums, high waists, and midriff baring. But then again, the 60s invaded her work, too, just as it had the others — the third dress was a yellow-and-white floral swing mini with enormous, circular shoulders that fluttered down into short sleeves; this overlay was made of white beads. Those sleeves, even larger, were repeated in a white pantsuit that practically screamed, “Korto!” Her finale strapless palazzo jumpsuit in the yellow and white was sexy as hell.

Korto has a new customer in Gayle, who wanted the maxi dress for her very own. Georgina loved that one, too, but did not enjoy her structured pieces as much. Alyssa said it all made her want to visit Liberia, and lady, I would like to tag along. Isaac called her the most inventive, and said that he loved it. I don’t really understand their hesitancy with the structured pieces.

Verdict, Verdict, Verdict!

Elena was the first to fall from consideration, mostly for repetition, which is what I said! I’m so smart.

The big winner was…Seth Aaron.

Seth Aaron.

Black-mesh-pleather-pant-suit-Seth Aaron. That one.

That is all I have to say about that.

What say you, Persephoneers? Was Korto robbed? YES YES YES I mean what do you think?