Thursday, July 28, 2011

You Reap What You "Sew" (Project Runway!)

"In difficult times, fashion is always outrageous." -Elsa Schiaparelli

Something "fierce" is returning to television tonight.

I am not a true fashionista, but I've enjoyed clothes since I was a teenager: wearing them, buying them, reading about them, and thinking about them. I might not always be able to fit in them, but I like fashion just the same.

While I don't enjoy reality programs that feature contestants eating spiders or jumping off of giant inflatables, I do enjoy the ones that showcase creative competition, as evidenced by my recent posts on Design Star.

I love the intricate choreography on So You Think You Can Dance (and, to some degree, Dancing with the Stars). I enjoy watching interior designers battle it out to construct rooms decorated with items from a grocery store on HGTV's Design Star. And I really really get a kick out of the fashion designers on Project Runway putting together lovely (and sometimes hideous) ensembles to hit the runway.

I am so thankful that my faithful DVR can download all of these wonderful shows and save them for me to watch after the kids are in bed. I sit in shock, amusement, and bewilderment as Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, and Nina Garcia judge the designers' work. And I fast-forward through all the commercials.

When I think of fashion, I always think New York, and Parsons The New School for Design is such a great back drop for the show.
Source: google.com via Amanda on Pinterest


It's so much fun to hear style guru Tim Gunn issue a challenge to the designers, and see them rise to the occasion. Gunn's "make it work" motto can apply to so many things besides fashion. It took me hours just to create a straight table runner, so I can't imagine coming up with an outfit made from auto parts and actually making it look good. (One contestant made a dress out of woven seat belts, and it was to die for!)

Since I no longer work outside the home, and I have two small children (who are so much cuter to dress!), I can't afford to go crazy in J. Crew anymore. I can get my fashion fix drooling over heavenly cocktail dresses on TV, and then go to Target and spend $15 on a new top.

I can make that work.

Project Runway premieres the new season tonight at 9 pm (ET) on Lifetime. Don't expect to see pieces you'd pick up at Macy's. Most of the designs are pure fantasy, and that's what makes this show so much fun!

Even though I'm out of town, I thought I'd go ahead and host our weekly linky tomorrow so you can network and show off your stuff. I hope you'll come back tomorrow to link up YOUR best post of the week to Weekend Bloggy Reading. Recipes, crafts, home decor, book reviews, funny stories, you name it. Come prepared to showcase your blog and find some great weekend reads.
Weekend Bloggy Reading


*This was an old post that I edited since I am out of town.

11 comments:

  1. I LOVE Project Runway! I think it might be one of my favorite shows! I love that I can DVR it too and I usually end up watching it during naptime the next day because Jason isn't a fan:)

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  2. I don't have any time to watch tv anymore since I started nursing school but I love a good fashion design challenge show. So instead of watching them, I read blogs about them. Dana from Made does a weekly re-cap of the show which is really cool. Hope you're having a great time on your vacation!

    Jessica

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  3. Thanks for the reminder! I really like watching Project Runaway! Michael Kors is the best, he is so funny when he comments weird designs! I'm not a big fan of Heidi Klum as a host...
    Too bad they are not doing Models of the Runaway again, the drama in that apartment was hilarious!

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  4. I completely agree with loving the design aspect not the drama! It is so fun to watch people create something fabulous (or even not). It makes me wish I was more crafty. And I totally get your drooling over designer dresses and buying shirts from Target. In college my favorite past time was watching Food Network while eating boxed mac and cheese I made in the microwave. Hope you're having a good trip!
    Cheers!

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  5. i rarely ever watch tv, but i love project runway. i haven't watched the past few seasons, but when i heard an ad for it on the radio earlier this week, i decided i want to try to follow this season. your post reminded me that it's on tonight!!!

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  6. oh my gosh! I use to be a hard-core Project Runway watcher- I need to tune in again! Thanks for the reminder!

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  7. Favorite show! So happy its on tonight. Kind of ironic that I just read your post as I was turning the tv on to watch it on TiVo (:

    Ps. When I was in new york 2 summers ago I BRUSHED SHOULDERS with Tim Gunn. Talk about pure fantasy. I couldn't believe it really happened! But it did...and my mom and I definitely overreacted (:

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  8. I love Project Runway!! I watched it on and off this week and then all day on Thursday while I cleaned. After watching last night's episode, I'm already looking forward to more. I loved what the winner created and completely agreed with who went home.

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  9. Loooooooove project runway! I didn't catch it last night but I hope to on DVR tomorrow :-) Hope you're having fun on vaycay! :-)

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  10. Amanda, I'll surprise you and tell you that I am no fashionista – and I don't think I ever was :-) and I heart what you wrote about being able to drool over the black cocktail dress – and then go spend $15 on a top that you will make work – and your kids being so cute to dress up – that – THAT is the heart of a mama who loves her babies – and that's one of the big, BIG reasons I read so many blogs written by Christian mamas. So much heart – so much heart. I walk away blessed by an article on fashion – who'd uv thunk!! God bless and keep you and each and every one of yours Amanda!

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