Project Runway All Stars episode 2 recap: Distressed fashion inspiration

Tackling a fashion trend can be a fashion don’t for some designers. In Project Runway All Stars episode 2, distressed fashion causes designers fashion stress.

Some designers like to push the envelope, embrace trends and be fashion forward. Other designers prefer classic elegant designs. When designers are pushed out of their comfort zone, the resulting designs can be fabulous or extreme flops. In this week’s Project Runway recap, everyone seemed to be feeling stress, or distress.

Even with all the destruction, the chaos created a beautiful runway show. Each of the designs had to incorporate two distressing techniques. Options included burning, bleaching and other forms of destruction.

Taking a blow torch to a design can at first be difficult for a design, but can become liberating. The key to this challenge was finding destruction that has purpose. No one wants to see a bunch of burnt edges, over embellishment or mis-matched pairings that looks haphazard.

Even with all the initial difficulties, the judges said that the runway was on fire, in a good way. There wasn’t a boring look in the bunch, even though a few looks seemed a little lacking in taste.

The top looks for this round Project Runway All Stars were Ari, Merline and Anthony. Two of the three designers were top choices from last week. These three looks made the post-apocalypse world look like a chic oasis.

Merline was on top again. Her 3D design was very unusual and a judges’ favorite. The simple dress was taken to another level by adding elements on top of the dress. Even with the additions, the dress appeared to be melted in areas. It was as if armor melted onto the model. The look was fierce yet feminine.

Project Runway All Stars season 6 episode 2 official photo. Image via Lifetime.

Anthony’s look was the most dramatic. Even with his distressing techniques, the gown looked like it could be worn to the Met Ball. The over the top look was impressive. Given Anthony had extreme difficulty with this challenge, it was impressive that he was a top designer.

Project Runway All Stars season 6 episode 2 official photo. Image via Lifetime.

Looking at Anthony’s design and creation stress, the resulting gown shows that pushing boundaries can be a breakthrough for a designer. Anthony definitely went beyond his comfort zone, and the result was impressive. Even the judges applauded his breakthrough.

The final top look was Ari’s gown and jacket. Although on the losing team last week, Ari was a judges’ favorite. This week’s gown was equally impressive. As it walked the runway, the distressed holes seemed to take on life. It flowed and fluttered as if it was a new form of lace.

Like Anthony’s gown, Ari’s look could be worn to any major event. Her designed proved that distressed fashion isn’t just a good storyline for Project Runway All Stars. When done well, the look can be found on pages of Marie Claire.

This week’s winning look was Anthony’s gown. The drama and grandeur set his look apart from the other designers. He was definitely ecstatic to win.

Unfortunately, three designers didn’t find their passion in the distressed fashion. The bottom designers were Char, Stanley and Kelly.

Char’s design was definitely confusing. While her story was about a futuristic fire fighter, the look was more costume than high fashion. The wording on the back completely lessened the look. While the judges loved the pants with a train, that aspect was the only interesting element.

Project Runway All Stars season 6 episode 2 official photo. Image via Lifetime.

Still, who would want pants with a train? Can you imagine trying to walk down the street without tripping? Of course, these looks may not be what people wear to work. But, there needs to be an element of practicality or believable. Then again, when pants with a train are in stores next year, people probably won’t be shocked (although would you wear it?).

Kelly’s look was extreme. While her own textile was very creative, the look was strange. The fur/glitter top was intricate, but the double fishnets as a pairing just didn’t work.

Truthfully, the look overall was over-accessorized. The headphones pushed the look too far. It was almost as if the design jumped off the pages of a bad comic book. Kelly needs to go to an over-accessorized help group.

Stanley’s look was also a miss. While the gown could have been a lovely juxtaposition of glamour and destruction, it fell a little flat. The color didn’t help either. A drab color can either be a huge win or a flop. In this case, the color did little to highlight the burning effect. If the gown had been in a white, or other light color, the burning effect could have been quite lovely.

The designer going home was Kelly. Since her look suffered from over-embellishment, she couldn’t be saved. Like that old rule, look in the mirror and remove an accessory before you leave the house, Kelly should have removed about five embellishments from this look.

Next: Project Runway All Stars premiere recap

Another week of Project Runway All Stars has come to a close. So far, these designers have shown some impressive looks. What will next week’s runway hold? Check back to see more.