Unconventional Materials Challenge

For the second challenge of Project Runway Season 14, the designers were taken to a Hallmark Gift Card store and told to gather as many cards as they could in two minutes to use to create their next look. The only requirement was that it had to be mostly made from the cards. I was not about to go out and spend a bunch of money on cards to cut up. So I used some of my beloved Frankie Magazines.

I have a lot of these magazines, not only because I have a subscription but because whenever someone is giving them away, I grab them. They are beautiful magazines filled with quirky artwork and a lovely matte finish. I just love holding them. The articles don't impress me, but the look of the magazine is total eye candy to me. So I decided to use them for my paper. I have used them for other projects and they turn out so well because of the fine paper quality, colours, and matte finish. I decided to go for a flapper look and started making lots and lots of paper sequin.

Please excuse my toes!

Originally I was going to cover the entire dress with them. But it was taking forever and I wasn't happy with how it looked. I thought it looked too gimmicky really. Not sure what to do, I kind of just left it there, doing a couple of pieces of sequin at a time, feeling stumped. I thought about the design process and how the first thing a person notices is the silhouette, then the structure, then the technique. So I went back and looked at it and tried to figure out how to make the silhouette and structure more interesting. I looked at different references and all the sudden became very inspired. I cut up my favorite Frankie Magazine poster with this cat on it, and splayed it out like a fan, then made a drop ruffle waist with a sequin skirt. I thought I would just have fun with the back and put these pink and black stripes on them.

Lots of flapper dresses have low backs so I put that on there too. I am really happy with how this looks and I think the judges would have smiled when they saw it coming down the runway. I think Heidi Klum would have said that it was fun, flirty, and that she would want one for herself. I know if it was made out of fabric I would want one for me. Too bad Pearl can only really wear it once!