Portland wins + loses Project Runway 7, episode 6

By Erin Flesch, NEAT contributor

Last night, Portland-area fashion designers Seth Aaron Henderson and Janeane Marie Ceccanti represented the best and worst of episode six, “A Little Bit of Fashion.”

The excitement that came with seeing one of our designers finally nab top honors on a challenge was quickly quelled by news that the other would be gone. Yes, Janeane Marie Ceccanti is out. Her “cheap mall outfit” (Heidi Klum’s words, not mine) was too under-designed and “blah,” which is the Project Runway sound of the death rattle. Henderson, deservingly, won this week’s challenge. And thus goes the Project Runway circle of life: Portland edition.

This week’s designer challenge was to create a fashionable children’s wear look. The models were 11 super sweet first grade girls. Some designers (like Henderson) were excited to work with the kiddies, while others were more than a little horrified at the prospect. Anthony Williams bemoaned their prepubescent lack of curves (really?), while Jonathan Peters claimed he was outright “scared of children.”

The mini models didn’t get any say in what they wore, but Henderson, having an 11-year-old daughter of his own, knew exactly what girls want. He instantly went to task creating a cool houndstooth hoodie with pink accents, and paired it with a fun dark denim skirt with hardware cutouts around the bottom. To seal the deal, he made his model a mini purse to carry as well. Say it with me: Super cute.

After the first day, Tim Gunn surprised (well, not really) designers with an additional challenge to create a second contemporary look for their adult models. This resulted in some of the most standout looks of the season thus far, and one pair of completely bonkers circus pants, courtesy of the usually top-ranked Amy Sarabi.

On the runway the kids and their “mom” models walked the runway hand in hand in their complementary looks, and it was quite adorable and fun to watch. Henderson nailed both looks completely. His black-and-white fitted jacket for his adult model was called “the best-tailored garment we’ve seen this season” by Michael Kors. Ceccanti’s looks this week however, truly were auf’d worthy: Too simple, poorly tailored and unfashionable. As she cleared out her space, Ceccanti vowed she would keep on designing, even if “Heidi Klum wouldn’t wear any of my clothes.” Atta girl. I’m sure we’ll see her on the local fashion scene again soon.

On a side note, the Project Runway season finale was taped last Friday in NYC, hidden under the hallowed tents of Bryant Park. In order to keep the final winner a secret, ten of the show’s designers showed collections, including Ceccanti and Henderson. At least both of our Portland designers made it to fashion week, eh? Now that we’re down to one… team Seth all the way!

New Project Runway Poll! Do you think Portland-area designer Seth Aaron Henderson has what it takes to win Project Runway Season 7? Cast your yes or now vote now in our new poll in the right sidebar of The Neat Sheet’s home page. Also, don’t forget to joing The Neat Sheet for Project Runway viewing parties and cocktail specials at Tanker Bar every Thursday.

Watch Seth Aaron Henderson’s video blog from Episode 6:

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