Project Runway's Mondo Guerra

Anyone see last night's Project Runway? I just watched it, and man, I was fighting back tears the whole time!! Geez, that was emotional! (Episode 10)

I want to praise Mondo for his courage to reveal one of his deepest secrets. For those of you that don't know and didn't see the episode, the design challenge was to create an original fabric pattern that represented a moment in the designers' past. Mondo's pattern featured plus signs, something he wouldn't tell the other designers or Tim Gunn the meaning behind.


Everyone was unsure of his inspiration and it seemed like that was going to end up hurting him when it came to judging. On the runway, he decided to explain that the plus signs symbolized that he is HIV positive and has been for 10 years. He had been keeping it a secret, even from his family. Everyone on the show was touched by his bravery and he ended up winning the challenge. He spoke about "how good it felt" to tell someone and how "free" he felt afterward. He was glad to think that his story and design might help others in his situation.

I think everyone can learn from Mondo. What I can take from his experience is the lesson that no one should be hiding who they are. You shouldn't have to close yourself off and bury the things you don't want people to see. Don't allow the fear to overcome you and eat at you. The ones who love you the most will accept you and still be there for you in the end.



Good for you Mondo!

You can watch the episode here on Lifetime.

XOXO,

Courtney

Photos are property of Lifetime.

Inspiration - Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl

Oh Blair. If you have ever watched Gossip Girl or caught a glimpse of Leighton Meester's character somewhere else, I'm sure you've noticed that Blair Waldorf has got style.

Blair's wardrobe has gained a lot of media attention in the few years that Gossip Girl has been airing. Glamour magazine named Blair one of the best-dressed TV characters of all time, for example. In 2010, Miss Selfridge created a collection inspired by four popular characters of Gossip Girl, including Blair (it has since sold out).

This character has inspired me from the very beginning. When the show first started, my 17 year old self was in awe over her sense of style and love of headbands.

Blair's wardrobe is preppy, posh, classic, and very thought out and polished. You'll never see her wearing sweatpants and tennis shoes! Her outfits usually always include lace, ruffles, or bow details. She loves skirts, dresses, flashy tights, tailored pieces, and a great pair of heels or flats. And you can't forget her headband addiction! She's the only "person" I've ever seen who has a larger headband collection than me.

I love her girly sense of style, her tights and accessories. And how she regularly adds a bright colored tight or accessory for a pop of color. She is definitely one of my (fictional) style icons. I'd die to raid her closet!












Does anyone watch Drop Dead Diva? My mom and I always watch it together and lately my dad and one of my younger brothers have caught an episode or two here and there. My mom and I watched the season finale last night and to our surprise, my dad and brother were disappointed that we didn't watch it with them too! Haha. I find it pretty hilarious that they now like it too.

In a previous post, I mentioned how I had just discovered that I produce kidney stones. Tomorrow morning I am going to have a couple procedures done to help break up the stones currently stored in my right kidney. I'm not sure how the procedures will effect me so I might not be posting anything for a few days if I'm not feeling very well. Sorry guys! I'll try though! :)

Thanks to my new followers!!! And thank you for all your comments!
I appreciate it more than you know!!! :)

XOXO,

Courtney

Sources: All photos belong to and are from the CW.

My Great Grandma Ruth & Project Runway

I've never talked about this before, but I love to sew. It's nothing new, I always have. My mom and grandma taught me at any early age. I started practicing on construction paper at about six years old, lol. I come from a family where sewing is in the blood. My great grandma, Ruth, was featured in Time Magazine for her sewing and also featured in a 1949 issue of Life Magazine as one of the top ten fashion seamstresses of the time. She was Miss Singer for Singer sewing machines two years in a row, and also sewed President Nixon's daughter, Julie Nixon's wedding dress! She also modeled and did commercials for Wells Fargo.
She was a very talented lady, someone I wish I would have been able to get to know better (I was a child when she died). Her sewing skills were taught and passed down the family line. She taught my grandma, "Nan" everything she knew. My Nan makes everything: curtains, chair cushions, pillows, clothes, wedding dresses...you name it! She made me Halloween costumes growing up and yearly birthday and Christmas dresses. She has taught me a lot and even bought me my first sewing machine. My mom is also handy with a needle and thread.
I hope to one day be a great sewer too, like the women in my family before me. I've always been interested in sewing and designing so Project Runway is inspiring to me.
The new season just started late last month, but already it seems like the the judges are going to have to make hard decisions to chose the winner. I really think everyone has good ideas.
Initially from the beginning, my favorites were Gretchen and Valerie. Both their ideas and creations were more appealing to me. I was scared Gretchen was going to be voted off last episode. I like her designs, but personally, I hate her attitude. She's too full of herself in my opinion.

My favorites of Gretchen's designs:


I love this dress. I love the sequin shoulders and the overall cut of the whole design. I really love the back. It's elegant but a bit sexy. And she made it all in five hours!


I want this jumpsuit!! SO BAD! I think it's adorable. I love the color, the deep V neckline, and the small details like the ties on the back of the calves and the white trimmed pockets. It looks comfortable too. I like how flowy the top part is. In my opinion, flowy = comfort. It's a look that can be casual or dressed up. An exposed back is always sexy too. I must say, this model does not know how to stand. The back shot is just terrible, lol.


In the first look, I think Gretchen did a great job making all the pieces. This was the challenge were the designers had to make an outfit solely from items sold at a party store (episode three). The jacket and top were from made from paper and the skirt from string plastic fringe. The only thing I don't like about the look is the boots she picked to pair with the outfit. I just don't care for them. I think the second look is classy and sophisticated. Something I'd wear to work if I worked in a nice office.

My favorite's out of Valerie's designs:


This look was constructed completely out of napkins. How amazing is that?!


I think Valerie is really good at creating something that looks great on the female body. These dresses look perfect on the models. I also love how she makes feminine pieces, but adds some edginess to it, like with the visible zippers.

Other mentionables from the season so far:

Peach is probably one of my least favorites, but she surprised me with her design from last night's episode. I really like it.
The judges hated it, but I love the color palette Ivy used to create her look from last night's episode. I love the combo of the burgundy, olive, and brown.


Casanova has had a rocky start so far on the show, but this look he pulled together in last night's episode is so pretty. I love the top. The back is gorgeously cut and made! And the man knows how to make pants! I love the gold buttons he did all the way down the outside seam of the legs. He was so upset that Tim Gunn said it looked like an old woman's top, but I like it! I like elegant, dressy pieces once in a while. I'd wear it!


I really like A.J.'s outfit. I die for shirt dresses! I love the whole look, but I don't care for the camel inner panel of the leggings. I think he should have kept them the solid burgundy. They remind me of a jester outfit, lol.
Michael C.'s look is from episode three, I believe he made it mostly out of tissue paper? I'm not 100% sure.


I love these outfits. They were also apart of the party store challenge (episode 3). Andy's look was made from different types of ribbon and ribbon he hand braided. It's so cool. I don't recall what exactly April's design was made out of, sorry.
If you guys haven't seen the new season, but are interested in watching it, all the full episodes are available for a short time online at Lifetime.com.

XOXO,

Courtney

Sources: All photos were taken from Lifetime.com and are property of Lifetime.

Inspiration - Pretty Little Liars

Anyone watch Pretty Little Liars?
I have to admit, at first, I was a bit skeptical if the show was going to be something I liked. I stopped watching it after the second episode. But after a night of boredom, I caught up on all my missed episodes. I was willing to settle for it after that. The show is my guilty pleasure for the summer when most of my other shows are on break. It's like if Gossip Girl and The Vampire Diaries had a baby, only with a murder, lies, and secrets molding the plot and like real life, vampires don't exist. It's young and filled with drama, but pretty entertaining none the less. And I always like to gain some inspiration from the wardrobes. The characters, Spencer, whose style is preppy and vintage (signature pieces: blazers, button ups, ruffles, and romantic tops), and Aria, who embodies edgy and dark (signature pieces: lace, chains, black, leather jackets, dresses, fabulous flashy tights, and boots), have the best wardrobes in my opinion. There's also some eye candy in the form of Ian Harding. Hehe.

Here's some photos:


I couldn't find many pictures online, which was a huge disappointment, but trust me, there's definite fashion inspiration in this show. If you've watched it, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. I'm sorry to say that tonight's episode is the show's season finale. I hate finales. I hope they don't leave it with a cliff hanger ending, I REALLY hate that! Lol. If you've seen the show, let me know in the comments if you find the show inspiring and which character's style you like most?
Outfit post tomorrow! Have a good night everyone! :)

XOXO,

Courtney   
All photos in this post belong to ABC Family.