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Lifestyle // Women's

Project Runway All Stars – Week 1 Recap

This recap contains spoilers! Stop reading if you don’t want to know who won or lost. The premiere opens with fans’ favorite runners-up and kooky characters reuniting in New York like old friends, setting the stage with hugs, bombast and giddiness. Then comes a period of eye and ear adjustment, as the roles of Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn are filled by model Angela Lindvall and Marie Claire’s Joanna Coles. (Isaac Mizrahi and Marchesa‘s Georgina Chapman round out the bench in the judging phase.) Angela says the prize package is the biggest in franchise history. It includes the opportunity to be carried in Neiman Marcus stores and online — WOO HOO! — a spread and guest editorship at Marie Claire, and gear and cash for a total value over $500,000. Cut to jaws dropping. They launch into the classic, materials-from-the-99-cent-store challenge. There’s a mad scramble for mops, laundry bags, etc. In the workroom, everyone wonders if Elisa Jimenez will mark her fabric with spit again. Austin Scarlett’s rogue glue gun damages his dress. The editing of this episode, because there are so many contestants at this stage, is SO fast paced. Already they are pulling from the Neiman Marcus Accessory Wall — WOO HOO! — then they’re off to the catwalk. Neiman Marcus Fashion Director Ken Downing — WOO HOO! — is the guest judge. As usual for this challenge,  some of the designers work miracles with 99-cent dreck, while some of the results look closer to 45 cents. Rami Kashou’s exuberantly structured skirt suit, made from laundry bags, is the winner, edging out a sassy black, ruffled number by Mondo Guerra. Elisa’s hot pants and cape get her eliminated. As usual, Mondo’s tweeting fans are outraged. Where to turn? Go to NeimanMarcus.com/ProjectRunwayAllStars and Shop. Vote. Win.