Enter the Brother Fashion Sweepstakes to win a trip to NYFW

How do you enter? Simply upload a photo of your dream design sketch with the hashtag: #SewYourDreams. Be sure to include a brief description of the project and your dream behind it!

One lucky individual will win a two-night stay in NYC during New York Fashion Week this September and work alongside Project Runway All Stars Anthony Ryan Auld and Joshua McKinley to turn their dream design into a reality! Together, they’ll shop for supplies at the Project Runway source store, Mood, and enjoy a full day of sewing to create the dream design. To celebrate the finished design, the winner will kick back and enjoy a lovely dinner out on the town accompanied by Joshua and Anthony Ryan.

Plus, the winner will receive our Innov-ís NQ1300PRW sewing machine to continue to sew their dreams.

Enter now through August 9, 2015

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

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Stars & Stripes on Project Runway All Stars

Project Runway

must have heard me.

Last week

I said that the only way

Joshua McKinley

would stay on would be to win

this

challenge... WTF! He did! I didn't see it coming, did you??

Last week's Project Runway All Stars proved that the military needs its gays! The All Stars worked with service women in need of a little tlc is the fashion and style department. It was a tender and emotional challenge. Truly one of my favs.

This dress is classic Uli! The dress was flowy and flattering. It was so feminine and you could tell that the client/model felt great wearing it. Uli is a winner, whether it happens on Project Runway or not!

Emilio got nailed for his craftsmanship. There were fit issues and sloppy construction. He's great at what he does but just need a little more time to "make it work." I love the style and color of the dress probably as much as the client/model did. I wonder if in these type of challenges where a "real" person is involved and the dress isn't "perfect" if the designer fixes it or makes another dress? Would you want to wear a dress out in public that was on national tv and major fashion designer judges pointed out all that was wrong with it?

Golden Boy tarnished. Well, not really because gold doesn't tarnish, but he did get a slap on the wrist for not designing for real women! Anthony Ryan made a skinny girl dress. I loved his fabric choice and to be fair, the dress itself is beautiful, but as the judges pointed out, it accentuated the areas that the client/model wanted to hide. Like Emilio, if Anthony Ryan had just a bit more time, he would've gotten it right.

The big surprise came from Joshua McKinley winning since he has been in the bottom consistently. He really connected with his client... and what about that precious service dog!! The outfit was a total winner. It was cute, sassy and the client/model owned the runway. Congratulations Joshua!

[For me] the biggest surprise was yet to come... With Joshua's winning the challenge there was no way he was being sent home. [Yet] Carolyn Murphy stated "because this is Project Runway All Stars someone needs to go home..." So who was left? Emilio and Anthony Ryan who were both in the bottom two... and there was No way they would be sent packing...  a few minutes of real suspense on Project Runway...  Who would be sent home??? Try: no one! At the end, ALL four moved on to next week, which btw, will take place in PARIS!

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Speakeasies, Soirées & Garden Parties; Project Runway All Stars

[caption id="attachment_18549" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Golden Boy Anthony Ryan in the Project Runway workwroom."]

[/caption]

Kudos Project Runway for conceptualizing a great challenge. This was a creative and truly competitive one, fitting of an All Star. The inspiration was 1920's. The categories were "Speakeasies, Soirées & Garden Parties." How the challenge was detailed is where it got good... the designers were paired off to compete against each other per category. A fashion "face-off!" The 1920's served only as inspiration for the final design which had to be modern, not '20s! The designers were given $250 and went shopping at Mood. As much as I enjoyed the episode, I

do

have a bone to pick with you Project Runway... 

[caption id="attachment_18550" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Emilio Sosa"]

[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_18551" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Joshua McKinley"]

[/caption]

Emilio Sosa and Joshua McKinley "faced-off." Emilio's design was the judges pick but I think it was very close to a tie. Their category was Garden Party. The judges liked both dresses very much but felt Emilio's seemed dated. Joshua's brooch was a fail and the judges felt his dress didn't take a big enough risk. At this point in the competition the remaining designers are all so skilled and talented that the judges (usually) have little choice but to be extra picky.

[caption id="attachment_18552" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Uli"]

[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_18553" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Laura Kathleen"]

[/caption]

Uli's and Laura Kathleen's girls went to a soirée. The judges loved both looks. They felt Laura Kathleen's was better without the fur vest and they agreed that this was a challenge made for Uli.

[caption id="attachment_18554" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Ivy"]

[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_18555" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Anthony Ryan"]

[/caption]

There was no competition between Ivy and Anthony Ryan. In the workroom, mentor

Joanna Coles

asked them to rate one another on a scale of 1-10. Golden boy gave Ivy a strong 7/8 and she gave him a 5! Seriously Ivy? Well, that made for good TV because Anthony Ryan won the overall challenge and Ivy was in the bottom two. The feather caplet, btw, was fabulous!

Here is the issue I have with the show... Feels like Project Runway is up to their dirty tricks again... When you compare the criticism given to Ivy and to Laura Kathleen, who was the loser, it was a no brainer that Ivy had the weakest design. Clearly Ivy should have gone home on the basis of her critique. Did you notice Ivy's facial expression when she realized she was safe? Even she thought she was being sent home. The only reason I can imagine the producers kept Ivy is for ratings. I bet she'll have a meltdown which Project Runway will sensationalize and capitalize on... ahhh... "reality" TV!

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Project Runway All Stars Episode 1 Team Challenge

Meet the Cast

of Season 2 of

Project Runway All Stars

. The first episode started with a pretty serious, All Star-worthy challenge to design and create a mini-collection based on "attitude." For this, the designers split into two groups:

Team Bold

and

Team Confident

. The creations were a reminder that some designers got their a

uf wiedersehen

prematurely, while others made you wonder why they were asked back on the show. And speaking of coming back, I was happy to see

Joanna Coles

return to "mentor" and whip these designers into shape and though she is no longer with

Marie Claire

, and is now editor of

Cosmopolitan

, both publications are a part of Hearst Magazines - so it's still all in the family. Equally happy to welcome back

Isaac Mizrahi

and

Georgina Chapman

as judges. The new Heidi is '90s model

Carolyn Murphy

. (I've always liked her!)

[caption id="attachment_17786" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Joanna Coles & the Project Runway All Stars."]

[/caption]

So, let's have a look at the triumphs and trainwrecks of the first episode: 

TEAM BOLD:

WTF is this???

Andrae

, you are so lucky Project Runway knows you're good for ratings which is the only reason your ass is still in the competition. So what if this is a dog of a dress? Surely Andrae will have multiple meltdowns and outer body experiences throughout the season, making for fun entertainment.

This had the potential to be a good dress but apparently Project Runway designer

Emilio Sosa

confused the chosen "attitude" of "Bold" with "Whore." I don't know any stylish women who would wear this stupid dress.

One of the better looks from Team Bold came from

Joshua McKinley

. Okay, I'm not crazy about the exposed midriff, but everything else works. I especially like the rocker gloves. I'll admit to you right now that I'm a little biased. I like Joshua. I know, I know... he was a big bitch season 9. He bullied others and made girls cry BUT I believe he recognized that behavior and changed it. Our twitter interactions have been super sweet. So Joshua, don't be a bitch, except to Ivy!

Laura Kathleen

had the highest score for Team Bold which really isn't saying much. Laura, I like you, but if you give us Peplum all season like your first time around, I will hate you.

And then there was

Suede

... the Project Runway All Star whose design is as confused as his personal style. The shoulder cups, really? The napkin skirt? Yuck! Suede, dear, yes you are at Parsons but you are a designer on Project Runway NOT a fucking student!

The judges made cobbler out of

Peach Carr

. The horrified reaction from Joanna Coles upon learning that Peach is a tennis clothing designer was priceless! The judges hated this dress and while I won't disagree with them, in my opinion, Andrae's and Suede's designs were much worse. Peach was sent home.

TEAM CONFIDENT:

There are good elements to

Althea's

dress and some that need improvement. The shape, hem line and lace placement all work to flatter the design. I wish the black lace around the neck and shoulders weren't so wide and I hate the slit out front. Not a big fan of the black tights as well.

Guest judge and first season All Star winner

Mondo

, felt that

Casanova's

dress was a little boring. That it's strongest quality was it's tone on tone. The judges pointed out that the hem was longer than it should have been. Overall, it was a good design and everyone liked the leather & lace juxtaposition.

And next up, ready to "Lip sync for their life" is

Kayne

. Oops! Sorry, wrong reality series! Kayne, girl, this ain't no drag competition...

I love this jacket by

Ivy Higa

. The judges did too. The leather shorts, not so much. I'm with

Michael Kors

and would have paired the jacket with a skinny white pant. Ivy is clearly talented but wicked. Has she changed her ways? Time will tell.

Uli

has to be one of the most memorable Project Runway designers. This is a fabulous dress. The only thing I am concerned about is that we may see this dress throughout the season. The sophisticated maxi style dress is Uli's signature, I get it, but I hope she also gives us sleeves, separates and slacks.

The only thing troubling me with

Wendy Pepper's

dress is it's length which may be an indication of her styling aesthetic. Not good. However, the architecture of the top is fantastic and I even like the bow around the waist. Too bad the skirt's so short. What's that rufflely, shredded stuff at the crotch?!

Winning the challenge was

Anthony Ryan Auld

with a very wearable ensemble. It was good and the back lace surprise was great. The judges loved the lace back. I believe that's what got him the prize because it sure wasn't the baggy crotch. It was a smart move.

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Meet the All Stars; Project Runway new season...

Last night's premiere episode of Project Runway All Stars was a reminder of why so many of these designers were NOT winners! I'm not going to hold back, but for now, let's get reacquainted with the All Star designers... [My] episode 1 review is coming soon... [Missed Project Runway? Click Here: www.mylifetime.com] Meet the 13 Project Runway All Stars from seasons past: 

 



Althea Harper Season 6 ... Andrae Gonzalo Season 2



Anthony Ryan Auld Season 9 ...  Casanova Season 8



 

Emilio Sosa Season 7 ...   Ivy Higa Season 8

 



 

Joshua McKinley Season 9 ...   Kayne Gillaspie Season 3



Laura Kathleen Season 9 ...   Suede Season 5

 



Uli Herzner Season 3 ...  Wendy Pepper Season 1

Peach Carr Season 8

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