Project Runway Episode 9: Image is Everything

First, I would like to welcome the Stylin’ News & Observer readers to the Project Runway Studio 109A blog. I am skipping the Project Runway Episode 8: What Women Want Challenge (for now). I do have a client for the What Women Want Challenge and am in the process of working on very special design, which I will reveal in November. For now, however, it is on to the next challenge, Episode 9: Image is Everything, a.k.a. The Men’s Wear Challenge.

 

Episode 9 finds the designers creating a look for an up-and-coming band, The Sheepdogs.

The Sheepdogs are the first unsigned band to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

“Though the Sheepdogs’ groovy, harmonic, neo-psychedelic sound is easy-going and relaxed, the guys have struggled in their quest to break out of their native Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and into the big time,” says a Rolling Stone spokesperson.

With over 1.5 million votes cast online, the band beat out 15 other bands for Rolling Stone’s Choose the Cover Contest’s top prize, which not only included the August 18th cover, but also a contract with Atlantic Records. [For more, or to hear The Sheepdogs music, visit the Rolling Stone Choose the Cover Contest Page]

My inspiration for this piece came from a comment Sheepdog Guitar Player Leot Hanson made to the designers.

“I have been looking for like red jeans forever,” he said.

Project Runway Season 9 Designer Laura Kathleen couldn’t find red denim at Mood Fabrics in New York, so she dyed the denim she purchased red. I, however, was able to find red denim on a recent visit to Mary Jo’s Cloth Store in Gastonia, NC.

Red denim in hand, I was left with the challenge of creating a men’s accessory. According to Askmen.com Contributor Maggie Kalogeropoulos, men’s bags are masculine, attractive and ideal additions to any contemporary wardrobe. She writes that there are six types of men’s bags: the briefcase, the messenger bag, the hold all, the camera bag, the tote, and the newsboy bag.


Since none of the men in my life, would be caught dead with a men’s bag, I opted for a vest, my first garment.

Since the idea of a vest made entirely of red denim seemed a little effiminate to me, I decided to use the red denim on the front of the vest and pair it with black corduroy for the back. The end result is a somewhat military inspired, lined vest, which considering it is my first garment, I am happy with.

The vest, and all of the Project Runway Studio 109A accessories, will be on display this Friday during the First Friday Gallery Walk in Studio 109A at Artspace in Downtown Raleigh’s City Market.

Until next week, auf wiedersehen.