Project Runway’s Seth Aaron safe under Sew Much Pressure
April 2, 2010 by karenvitt
Filed under Neat STUFF
By Erin Flesch, NEAT contributor
Bombs were dropped last night on Project Runway 7. The aptly titled “Sew Much Pressure” episode was in no way short on drama. The pressure, in fact, proved too much for youngest member Maya Luz and she threw in her fabric shears for good at the start of the episode. Instead of going big, she went home.
As we watched Luz explain her reasoning, we were incredulous that she would give up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As soon as we let our inner judgment monster loose however, Portland area designer Seth Aaron Henderson quickly popped up on screen and defended Luz’s honor, citing the constant work and extreme demands of the show. We believe his exact words were “F*ck you, you come here and try it.” Touché Seth Aaron. Shame on us.
The challenge of Episode 11 was to create a red carpet look for a notoriously “difficult” celebrity. Apparently in Project Runway world, that means Heidi Klum. Hmm… okay. That’s kinda cool, but, um, didn’t they already do that challenge? Ya know, the one that Miss Klum is currently wearing on the cover of this month’s Marie Claire magazine. We know Project Runway is a little light on the ratings this year, but it seems they should at least be able to book some other celebrity in addition to their own host.
Oh yeah, something else happened. They brought Anthony Williams back! After his elimination last week, they brought back his delightful Southern drawl once again to fill Luz’s shoes. Hey, we can’t hate. Williams’ is definitely one of the most watchable contestants of the season, second only to local fave Henderson.
The biggest difficulty of this challenge clearly was surmounting the weeks of all-work-and-no-play that lead up to it. The designers were flat out exhausted, and the fact that it was a one-day challenge only exacerbated the contestants’ fatigue. It was like kind of like watching underfed zombies attempt to design red carpet gowns.
So who pulled it off? Emilo Sosa scored another win with his impeccably formed and fitted sequin gown, which was shockingly not-tacky and quite gorgeous (if a bit too similar to Cate Blanchett’s 2007 Armani Oscar gown). Heidi approved Sosa’s gown, and she’ll surely look amazing in it.
Williams earned his right to be back in the workroom by designing a beautifully elegant black and white gown (top) that the judges loved unabashedly and unanimously. Guest judge Jessica Alba wanted to borrow it, and in a twist she asked Williams if she could do just that, making him the second winner of the night. (Why wasn’t the challenge to dress Alba, by the way?) Henderson was given the okay and will be safe for next week. His full-length, off-the-shoulder black gown, while pretty cool, did seem to lack the requisite wow factor of a red carpet dress.
Mila Hermanovski offered up another unstylish, ill-fitting gown, yet managed to once again avoid the bottom two. We learned that while Jay Sario “likes big butts,” the judges do not. His bottom-heavy cocktail dress failed to impress Heidi & Co. It was not as bad, however, as Jonathan Peters painfully shoddy, last-minute attempt to make a wearable outfit. The third time was not the charm and he was given the boot. Farewell Jonathan. Your attitude had gotten pretty sour over the last couple weeks, so maybe this was for best.
Meet Seth Aaron Henderson in person! With just five designers left and Bookmaker betting on Henderson to win, our fella will be the highlight of tonight’s First Friday party at Anne Bocci boutique. Stop by the shop from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight (7824 S.W. Capitol Hwy. in Multnomah Village) to meet Henderson and check out all the new spring Suzabelle pieces, plus save 20 percent on Christa Taylor dresses when you mention The Neat Sheet. We also landed Henderson to design an outfit for the mystery pet on the runway at the Boutiques Unleashed people and pets fashion show coming up on Friday, April 9. Reserve your tickets here so you can be among the first to see Henderson’s the mystery pet outfit – will the critter be covered in zippers and studs?! We dare to dream.
Watch extended judging of Seth Aaron Henderson’s smoke-black evening dress in Episode 11:
Project Runway Poll! The votes are 67 percent YES vs. 33 percent NO over whether or not Portland-area designer Seth Aaron Henderson has what it takes to win Project Runway Season 7. Cast your yes or no vote now in our poll in the right sidebar of The Neat Sheet’s home page. Also, don’t forget to join The Neat Sheet for Project Runway viewing parties and cocktail specials at Tanker Bar every Thursday.
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