<p>This is one of my all time fav reality shows. Watched the “meet the cast” per show this week and was hooked- lots of interesting designers!</p>
<p>Love the new twists this season. The fabric budget - they all get a $ amount at the beginning of the season and have to make it last all season!</p>
<p>Tim has a judges save opportunity that can be used only once (a la American Idol)</p>
<p>Tim sits in on the judging panel but does not comment.</p>
<p>The runway show is anonymous - the judges do not know ahead of time whose design it is.</p>
<p>Part of the judging includes the models coming directly up to the judges so they can get an up close examination of the looks. Very interesting.</p>
<p>At first I thought I liked the sustainable guy but man he was over the top! Loved how Zachary Posen put him right in his place for burning the fabric!</p>
<p>The winning design deserved the win for sure. I thought the losing design should have been that zip up track jacket and whatever was underneath it- blah.</p>
<p>I think what happens is that they do there note taking and scoring not knowing who the designers are but then at one point Heidi says, “I now (have a list) know who each designer of each outfit is.”</p>
<p>I was quite surprised, yet humored, by Posen’s comment regarding the sustainable guy wearing the sparkly high heels. </p>
<p>I cannot believe that poor swimsuit model had to stand in front of the judges with her privates on display. What was that Russian designer thinking…yikes!</p>
<p>Based on the finished item, I believe the right designer was sent home.</p>
<p>I think the new rules are a great idea! The show was getting a little stale.</p>
<p>My favorite designer so far is the guy who used to be a dancer. I loved the flowing blue dress he made from the parachute, and I liked his collection a lot in the intro show.</p>
<p>Also a huge fan of PR! I think that the changes this season are all positives.</p>
<p>I hope it lives up to Season 11 - my favorite so far. I especially liked that there was very little focus on personality conflicts between designers and hope that continues this season, but I already suspect that will not be the case. </p>
<p>Does anyone else have any questions about why the judges didn’t seem to know that a major rule had been broken by Miranda (used primarily supplemental fabric in finished design rather than mostly parachute material) until after she had made it to the top 3?</p>
<p>I had so much hope for the sustainable guy (until he went so over the top). I
When I saw his work, I thought, yes, there should be a challenge using sustainable materials. I also like the changes have been made for this season.</p>
<p>Personally, they should have sent 2 people home and Miranda should not have been given a pass. The judges should have seen that she broke the rules the moment her model walked on the runway especially, when Heidi was there when they picked their parachutes and she knew that there were not any black parachutes.</p>
<p>Yes, I felt sooo bad for the model whose goodies were on display.</p>
<p>I’m glad they called out Miranda on that since Tim warned her. But I will say one of my complaints about show in past is how unevenly they judge on challenges…like unconventional challenges where they fuss at one designer for using something too “fabric like” but praise someone else who basically does same thing or when they stress innovation and put most innovative in bottom.</p>
<p>My cable box freaked near the end and I didn’t see the discussion …did Tim fill judges in on what went on in workroom and about Miranda’s design or do you think Heidi did it that way on purpose to make a point (ie put her in top then bottom due to breaking rules).</p>
<p>Some of designers look interesting, but most praised in interview process were ones that create fabrics and intricate treatments…doesn’t necessarily lend itself to short PR turnaround times. Was it sustainable guy that complained about having to work with the material…he should have loved the challenge.</p>
<p>Okay, so first . . . about anonymity: if each designer is assigned a single model for the season, the only runway show that could be anonymous is the first one. And they have already stated that “the model paired with the winning designer will also win . . .” So, where’s the anonymity???</p>
<p>Second, regarding Mr. Sustainable from Milwaukee . . . I’m sorry, but he really does have his head up his [fill-in-the-blank]. Unless he walked to NYC from Wisconsin, and then from the airstrip to the studio, he’s already violated all his principles. It’s great that he can make cool things out of recycled materials . . . but when principles take precedence over the final product, it’s time for him to go home. (And, yes, I’d like to see him get there by foot!)</p>
<p>I did feel kind of bad for him that his model turned on him and pretty much ignored all his directions . . . but it was his own fault for spending his time on choreography instead of on design!</p>
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<p>Absolutely. But I’d guess Mr. Sustainable’s model with no makeup probably would have traded places with her in a heartbeat!</p>
<p>Wasn’t there at least one season where the models got swapped around? The winner of each week’s challenge got to make a choice in the next challenge to either keep their original model or “steal” the one from the designer who went home. Of course, the judges would still be able to figure out who used which model. Maybe they have a different plan for this season. </p>
<p>I think Russian guy’s model should have refused to walk the runway. And I think it’s horrible that the producers allowed/forced her to stay in that outfit for the up-close inspection and even beyond. She was hired as a runway model, not a centerfold model.</p>
<p>I think sustainable guy’s model did the right thing. She was hired as a runway model, not an actress/dancer.</p>
<p>As far as actual design (or lack of), the right one went home. But I think it was completely unfair that Miranda got a pass. I liked her outfit, but everyone else would have had a much easier time if they had also totally ignored the rules. </p>
<p>Love PR. I think Miranda should have gone home, she was warned and basically thumbed her nose at the rules. They could have dropped two out and I would have been fine. I see lots of trouble in the future.</p>
<p>They’ve said the part about “model matched with winning designer” every season, even those where models were chosen weekly (and so some did change frequently until the end).</p>
<p>The do change up models using the button bag. This means that Heidi (only Tim), should not be there when they are doing the button bag for the anonymous challenge.</p>
<p>I love the addition of Zac Posen! And I think granola boy/performance artist should have gone home, or Miranda — I hate it when designers cheat but they kept her for the drama she’s gonna bring. I missed conversations about construction, but it’s early. Give me a hanging hem, a bad pant, or something! Ditto the fun with up close judging. Heidi cracks me up with how animated she gets. Fun stuff!</p>