Project Runway 2014 | Challenge 6

SEASON SIX | EPISODE 6 | LIGHTS, CAMERA, SEW! Designers were assigned a movie genre to be inspired by, and had to create a look and a character that would fit into that world. This challenge, the models were not limited to female, nor to adults. Description counts.

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ABOUT MY DESIGN

(Assigned Genre: Noir)

My main inspirations for my design were the use of light, shape, and shadow in the noir films. Instead of just going for black and white as expected, I used black, light blue, and the different shades of black sheer fabric to mimic the stereotypical "shadows from the blinds" effect you see. The neckline and silhouette were drawn from the genre's time, and the gloves mimic sheer stockings.

The character I was going for with her is a woman who is a sort of Jekyll and Hyde: an heiress who intentionally removes herself from social circles, and who doubles as an infamous jewel thief.

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  Bryn Poliwczynski (c) 2014 | Artwork and designs belong to me. All rights reserved. Any use/reproduction of my artworks or designs is prohibited. | Project Runway belongs to Lifetime and its respective owners.

Project Runway 2014 | Challenge 4

SEASON FOUR | EPISODE 6 | EYE CANDY Designers must create a look using the candy and other products available in the Hershey's Store.

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ABOUT MY DESIGN

Since I also did a candy challenge for Season 10, I wanted to try to veer away from what I did last time as so not to fall back on the previous design; I feel like everyone opts for a dress, and it seems a bit of a cop-out, so this time I went for a really casual, overall shorts and cropped "hoodie" because I wanted to intentionally clash the stereotypical "sweet" connotation of the candy with really relaxed and rebellious attitude. I also feel that last time, I didn't really take advantage of the wide variety of candy and candy-related products, so I tried to incorporate the wrappers and other things as well.

I was stoked to find that my absolute favorite chocolate was in the Hershey Store, and so I used the Cadbury Roast Almond/Milk Chocolate Bar pieces on a muslin base to create the overall (where the thighs meet, the chocolate is shaved thinly, to prevent it rubbing together). The cuffs and the rosette "buttons" were created using the foil wrappers from the Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate with Caramel, and the Kisses design was made with one of the magnets from the Contemporary KISSES Chocolates Magnet Set.

The cropped, hooded jacket was made using the unfolded wrappers of the Hershey's Symphony Milk Chocolate Bar Almond Toffee, which I chose for the design to create a pinstripe effect as well as the blue script, which I used as decorative scrawl.

CHALLENGE RESULTS

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Placement: Top Look

Points: 21

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  Bryn Poliwczynski (c) 2014 | Artwork and designs belong to me. All rights reserved. Any use/reproduction of my artworks or designs is prohibited. | Project Runway belongs to Lifetime and its respective owners. | Hershey's and the side, reference image belong to its respective owners.

Project Runway 2014 | Challenge 2

SEASON TWO | EPISODE 2 | CLOTHES OFF OF YOUR BACK Designers must create a completely new look using the current outfit they are wearing, with an additional 2 yards of plain muslin as material.

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ABOUT MY DESIGN

Fortunately for me, we've been having an odd streak of chilly days recently, so the day the challenge was posted, I just so happened to be wearing a warmer shirt with more material (thank goodness, because all I've been wearing is tank tops and shorts lately). This is one of my favorite shirts, which I bought last year, solely for the drape of the fabric; I also intentionally bought this shirt in a larger size, so I've got plenty of fabric here.

I've utilized the natural hang of the fabric with the dress by doing a few gathers, and then letting it fall in all its glory. The bust is reinforced beneath by a layer of muslin, because I didn't want it to cling to the body, but I left the bottom as one layer so there was no bulk or interference with the movement.

I was set on the idea of a vest with that frayed denim "fringe", and I kept playing around with longer and shorter designs until I settled on a combination of both: the front is short and the back is long with tail-coat tails. The buttons from the jean fly and pockets are used on the vest, and the jean zipper is used on the hip of the dress.

The song "All That Jazz" was stuck in my head at the time, and I ended up using it in my inspiration for the overall look; the styling and makeup reflects the image I had in my mind--I was going for pinup girls and that sort of "fabulous glamour" feel.

RESULTS

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Placement: Top Look

Points: 22

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  Bryn Poliwczynski (c) 2014 | Artwork and designs belong to me. All rights reserved. Any use/reproduction of my artworks or designs is prohibited. | Project Runway belongs to Lifetime and its respective owners.

Project Runway 2014 | Challenge 1

SEASON ONE | EPISODE 5 | MODEL CLIENTS Hosted by the fashion-oriented group Catwalk Challenge on deviantART.com comes Project Runway 2014, in which challenges are pulled from the episodes of previous seasons. Starting off the competition is a rewind back to PR's very first season. During the show, designers were assigned models and asked to create their dream wedding dress on a $300 budget; for this online version, designers can either choose to be the client, or appoint someone close to them. With an "imaginary" budget of the same amount, they must create the make-believe bride's dress to her true desires. Detailed description of the inspiration, the model's "must-haves", and so on count into the scoring.

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ABOUT MY DESIGN

I've actually already designed my "dream" wedding dress before, many years ago, but I still chose myself as the client because I've grown and changed a lot since then and the things and dreams I have in life has as well; I was interested in sitting down and rediscovering what that image would be now...and it has completely changed (meaning, this is a completely new design, don't worry).

Where before, I would have made it solely about the elaborateness and beauty of the look, now my focus is comfort--both with myself and the clothing--and the importance of the clothing working with the individual, while having a more elegant beauty, as opposed to an embellished beauty. The top is an ode to that penchant for decoration, but I cut it back so it doesn't overpower the shape of the dress: just some beading and embroidery. The neckline is a shape that I find is most flattering on me and has little peacock flower clasps. The beading on the shoulders is for show rather than function since a) I hate sleeves, and b) the bodice will be sturdy enough to stay up without slipping, while simultaneously not being so tight as it's uncomfortable.

My inspiration was Alphonse Mucha's (my favorite artist) drawings and the art nouveau style, so the bottom of the dress is one piece gathered accentuate the curves of the body before letting the fabric's movement and shape fall into it's own place. The front split in the skirt removes the potential for the clumsy bride to trip, as does the concept of a barefoot bride, since she hates things touching her feet, but still adds to the look I was going for.

The image that came to mind while coming up with the concept was something of old paintings of nymphs and elves in the woods or meadows making flower crowns, so the color of the fabric is more of a pearl white or a faded parchment sort of color with gold accents, like the gold edging of old books. (An image might I add, really reflects me.) This also soothes my itch to not have a white dress because I find it boring to be like everyone else, yet still keeps with the idea of white, purity, and virtue, which I do like.

The styling and makeup only strengthen the naturalness of the piece. The crown of the veil is made of gingko leaves and the veil itself is sheer, hanging low from the back of the head. I feel that the bride wearing makeup is pretentious; you should come as yourself to the alter, not some facade you've created, so makeup would be preferably nonexistent. (However, since my best friend is an artist in said area, and I love her dearly, I may let her have creative freedom...just because it's her.) The hair would be free-falling in its natural wave-curls (the length depends on how impulsive I am with the scissors before this point in my life).

RESULTS

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Placement: Top Look

Points: 17

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  Bryn Poliwczynski (c) 2014 | Artwork and designs belong to me. All rights reserved. Any use/reproduction of my artworks or designs is prohibited. | Project Runway belongs to Lifetime and its respective owners.| Ginkgo image (public domain).

Project Runway Competition FAQ and Directory

What is the Project Runway competition?

As art is its focus, the website www.DeviantART.com is host to many groups that focus on a certain medium or field to gather those who share that interest in one place. #CatwalkChallenge is one of these, centering around fashion, its sole purpose to provide challenges to both inspire and help improve artists. One of the biggest challenges this group hosts is the one that follows the hit TV show Project Runway, where designers compete to showcase their work in New York's Fall Fashion Week. 

As the designers on the show are given their challenges, online designers in the #CatwalkChallenge group also do their best to create designs for the same challenges, of which some aspects are modified for online participation, although they do not actually make these designs, for practicality (rather, they must submit fully illustrated designs with descriptions). Designers are given a deadline (via a clock that counts down on the group's front page) in which they must upload and submit their designs into the group. Late entries are eliminated. At the end of each round, the submissions are voted on, much like in the show, first by the judges, and second by other members who are following the competition, but not participating. The designs are scored, and given points and judges comments. Just like on the show, designers can gain immunity and/or be eliminated through rounds, competing for the spot as top designer.

The top designer(s) could be awarded prizes such as DA Points (can be used for DA Store purchases, commissions from other artists, etc.) and multiple Features to promote their profile and artwork.

What is Project Runway 2014 and why are there no updates?

Where #CatwalkChallenge's "Season Ten Series" followed Project Runway's tenth season, in order as it appeared on TV, the "2014" series pulled episodes, in random order, from multiple seasons of the show to run as one, long competition during the year 2014. While I loved participating in these competitions, there was a very real stress involved. Many contestants, such as myself, had to work around school and/or work, and the competitions were a long-term commitment (as they ran for many months). 

After the conclusion of the Season 10 Series (I was first runner-up), I feel that many of the more dedicated designers like myself where exhausted and wanted to take a break. However, shortly afterwards was the launch of the 2014 competition, and most of the veteran designers didn't return, causing a shortage of contestants. The result was that when PR2014 finally began, my competitors were mostly younger, less committed artists. Most dropped out immediately, and the rest stopped submitting without explanation, leading to their elimination. This eventually snowballed to a complete halt in the competition with the lack of entries, and it's ultimate cancellation.

Why is there no Challenge 5 entry for Project Runway 2014?



The fifth challenge was pulled from Project Runway's Season 5, Episode Six, in which the challenge was to design a garment for a drag queen. Because it is against my believes to promote this subject, I chose to pass on this challenge and let the administrator know. I was allowed to do so, with the understanding that I could still be subject to elimination; my past designs where strong enough that I was still able to pass onto the next challenge.

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