Southern Style - My Project Runway Doll Project Season 12 Episode 9

The designers on Project Runway were somewhat stumped this week when asked to design a look for the modern southern woman. Since I've been living in the south for the past, wow, 24 years, I hope I did a little better understanding the client. Although in this weeks episode the two "southern designers" were both in the bottom.

When I went shopping for fabric this week Ron and Brodie went with me and they both gravitated to this blue and white print that gave me a real Nautical feel. I don't know if my Virginia Beach roots leads me to connect the south with the Navy but I instantly thought of updating a sailor suit dress for the modern southern woman.

I wanted it to be something she could wear to church, because we all know dressing for church in the south is important, they don't call it the Bible belt for nothing. I still wanted it to be fun and flirty enough though for an afternoon event so I opened up the back, which i thought was kind of different in the realm of sailor suits. The other twist was I kept the classic knot but modernized it by moving it up to the shoulders. Of course it has pockets.

The original design was going to be double breasted with buttons but Ron, my personal Tim Gunn, stepped in and told me to use an editing eye which inspired me to go a different direction. So here's how it wound up:

What do you think? Would this work for the Belk customer? Would Heidi be impressed? Would Zac think it's too much? Do you like my new model? Let me know your feedback in the comments below!

Make it Work Out Wear - My Project Runway Doll Project Season 12 Episode 8

In this week's challenge Heidi asked the designers to make active wear that would be sold in connection with her New Balance clothing line. I'm not the type to just run, on the road or the treadmill, so that wasn't where I went with my design this week. I thought more about sports like gold or tennis and went with a design that could work in the gym or on the green and designed a skort with pockets of course, a tank with a shelf so no  boob flattening sports bra is necessary and a light hoodie for the to and fro time to the gym or courts.

I stuck with fabric similar to what Heidi was offering in her line and I pieced it together with a stained glass effect that incorporated her initials. Here's what I came up with, try to spot the HK in the shirt :)

 

See what I did there? What do you think? Would you work out wearing something like this? Would Nina want to wear it to the grocery store? Let me know in the comments below... am I in or an I out?

SHOES!!! - My Project Runway Doll Project Season 12 Episode 7

This week on Project Runway the designers each picked a pair of shoes for their inspiration and made a garment that highlighted the shoe. I wish I had access to the doll equivalent to the Marie Claire closet but I'm a little limited in the fashion forward footwear department when it comes to dolls so I worked with what I had. I picked a pair of purple cowboy boots I'd bought to send with a birthday present to one of my little friends because they were the most "out there" shoes in my stack at the moment. I also picked them because I wanted a little but of a challenge since personally I would never, ever wear cowboy boots.

Inspired by the boots I made an outfit for a country girl going out with friends, on a casual date, or to a music festival. Instead of a little black dress I went with a little white eyelet dress and popped in colors through a southwest-inspired printed belt that I made. She also has a bolero/poncho hybrid shrug. Figure you always have to have something to cover your butt when wearing white, just in case you sit in something. Here's how it turned out...

So what do you think? Cute or kitschy? Would Heidi, Nina and Kaley Cuoco all want to wear it? Let us know in the comments below and follow My Fair Brainchild on Facebook at facebook.com/MyFairBrainchild.