{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} Challenge 5: Grandma's Best

Project Runway 5th challenge involved no models - instead family members of the contestants! 

The brief: design their ultimate outfit

It must suit them to a tea, fit them like a glove and fulfill their every fashion fantasy

Budget $100

Time limit: eight-hours

Introducing... Nanna Linda!

A little about Linda...
1. She was wearing black before black was the new black... she insists she was the first in Sydney to wear ALL black (and I am not inclined to argue);

2. She commutes several hours every day to visit my grandfather in his nursing home, every day of the week (no days off for Linda!);

3. Has no time to launder with care nor iron her outfits;

4. She is terribly interesting, rich in character and full of stories!

 This inspired the light, gauzy fabrics she can wear on her long walks and trips on public transport all this coming summer long.

Also, I made the design so it didn't need to be ironed - but still looks smart. I achieved this in two ways. First, I tried experimental ruching on the sleeves - to make a feature of the wrinkled look. Second, I placed the grosgrain ribbons down the front and on the sleeves to give the impression of clean lines - without having to iron.

 The textured fabric in the skirt plays to her quirky ways.

Linda is happy with the fit. LOVES the colour and is absolutely tickled to have a new outfit!

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} '70s dress

Week 4's challenge

100% merino wool jersey dress

ink navy blue and acid yellow

made within budget, within time frame

To brief: inspired by the 1970s

The dresses for the first two challenges were very runway - formal, glamorous affairs. Like wise the last challenge too glamorous for practical, every day wear. With this challenge, I made something to suit my corporate days. I have enjoyed the haute couture creations but this one is more ME!

Sturdily constructed with the over locker (and coverstitched cuffs) - this one is also built to last.

I switched over the lenses on my camera this week, so this time you can finally see the bottom of the dress (and my shoes!).

End with a bow!

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} Challenge 4

1960s (source www.carlazampatti.com)

Guest Designer: Carla Zampatti.

Take inspiration from 40 years of Carla's work- the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s

The brief:

Select your decade (lucky dip style) out of bag. Designers work in teams (well, in pairs) to a create two fashion forward looks - they pick a team leader. $180 in fabric store and 12 hours in total to complete!

1970s (source www.carlazampatti.com)

1980s (source www.carlazampatti.com)

1990s (source www.carlazampatti.com)

Random factoid: I attended first year Sydney Law School with Carla's daughter, Allegra!

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} glamourous thrifting

OK - running 60mins late... but here it is. On brief - made in under 8 hours. Voila

A modern day look for the glamorous girl around town. Made out of second hand clothes. Selected by someone else!

A tunic and skirt - makes for three different looks in one !!

1. Belted

2. Free (also great over leggings)

3. Tucked in

This third challenge of Project Runway Australia was hard. A refashion on its own is reasonable enough. Turning jeans or a shirt into a skirt is achievable. The hard part of this challenge was the "glamorous" brief. At best, second hand clothes are practical. At worst, unwearable. Seldom are they made of beautiful fabrics with which to create glamour.

This lined tunic top and skirt were each in their former lives a part of two terribly 80s/90s dresses. One encrusted with diamontes, the other emblazened with cheap gold buttons and admiral style pockets. urgh...

BEFORE - I achieved the challenge's twist by having someone else select the clothes for me

DURING - a little help from Dr. Livingstone. Not my cat, he just happens to call Livingstone House his home.

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} Challenge 3

 Follow a-long with Project Runway Australia. Do each week's challenge before the next week's episode. Grab the badge and join in!

The Challenge

Create a chic, expensive day look for the modern girl around town.
From
A truckload of second hand clothes, with three minutes to fill three bags full.

In

8-hours

The Twist?

Hand the bags of clothes you selected to the designer on the left.

Is there is a thrift store near you? Easy!
And how to simulate the twist? Ask the shop assistant to fill a bag for you? Or,  maybe fill one blindfolded!

I am excited by this sustainable design related challenge!

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} a dress to impress Dannii

Challenge 2

Completed within time limit (took 7.5 of the 8 hours allowed).

To brief: Clean simple lines with effortless glamour. Feminine, sexy, empowered. Quality and attention to detail.

Looking at Project D's sample dresses, there were many classically elegant looks (with seasonal interpretations). But they were missing one (this one!). I was careful not to make the design too fussy. I focused on simple lines that flattered. Another thing Dannii Minogue stresses to the contestants is that it has to be "commercial". So, my final design is one that is an 'easy fit' and can look great on lots of ladies (the sequins are on stretchable jersey around your middle). And, btw, Dannii LOVES Grecian (drape, drape)!

Details: floor sweeper dress, fitted sequined bodice with side zipper. All other fabric is silk. A gorgeous pale faille for luxurious drape on the skirt. And a lighter silk for a airier drape on the top.

I am really excited with how these challenges are expanding my skills. I made this entirely without a pattern or a toile. The first week's challenge was my own pattern which I made first in paper pattern pieces and then as a toile. This garment is again my own but is 100% free-form construction!

I even had time to make the perfect shrug - the pattern I credit to IchiGoGirl.

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} Challenge 2

This week's brief:

A dress for the spring/summer collection for Project D
Clean simple lines with effortless glamour. Feminine, sexy and empowered. Quality and attention to detail.
Eight hours to create it!
Fifteen minutes in the fabric store with just $80

Sound like something you could do? Come on, grab the badge, sew-a-long, upload here by this time next week!

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} the first dress

Finished - here's the first dress

Complies with project brief - single colour; in multiple fabrics; cocktail dress; expresses me!
Approx 11 hours - the designers on the show got 12 hours

The three fabrics are silk satin for the centre fabric. And silk organza has been layered over silk dupion to create the 'matte' side panels.

Like the designers on the show, the COLOUR I worked with is way out of my comfort zone. I haven't seen this much pink since BurdaStyle's Pink & Red Fashion Show .

Does it EXPRESS me? I like structured lines. It echoes the lines of my previous Time Traveller Airlines creation. It is modern classic.


In the SHOOT, (I only just realised) I failed to pan out so you could see the length! It sits just at the knee. And for the doubters - it's a complete garment. Hemmed. Lined. Fitted

 

Here's the rest of the competitors... do you think I made it through?

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} Challenge 1

The first challenge: a cocktail dress that expresses YOU as a designer

On the show, each designer is given a single stong colour to work with. Think red; yellow; peach; green; purple. Constraints foster creativity: maybe you have a bold colour in your stash? A garden party is an influence the designers were given at the challenge start (but is not an official part of the brief).

Are you up for it? You have until 8:30 next Monday 11th July. Upload at flickr.

Sew and create at your own level. Use a commercial pattern, make your own or free form.

Express yourself!

{Project Runway Australia Sew-a-long} Open Invitation

Project Runway Australia launches tonight at 8.30pm on Arena. Le Coutureve is hosting a sew-a-long! Each Monday night, after the show, you'll find the brief posted here. Opt-in and out as it pleases you. Design and sew to your own level.

Grab the badge and join in! Upload your finished garments to the FlickR group. And I'll feature you here, too!

Try and upload your artwork before the following week's show.

Fabriculicious: Project Runway launch party

I'm serving up an inside scoop for you.

The Launch Party of the  third season of Project Runway Australia hit a sweet note. And there is much to celebrate. With a new host - Megan Gale, the former face of up-market department store, David Jones -  and a new mentor - Alex Perry who says he believes in, "tough love".

But how unbelievable are the cupcakes! Noren Woo of Woo Cakes stole the show, don't you think? Look at the print on the tiny Louis Vuitton bags. And zippers, buttons and spools of thread! Make a note of her deets  for your next do!  m.0410 560 190 or norenwoo@hotmail.com

The series premieres on Arena, Monday July 4th at 8.30pm.