'Project Runway': Designers dress Heidi for red carpet

Lifetime photos
Kini Zamora’s red carpet creation came close to winning.

‘PROJECT RUNWAY’ SEASON 13
Episode 5: The Klum of Doom

This week’s episode opens with a Heidi Klum photo montage and what the designers see is a red carpet rolled out on the runway and show host Klum strolling out in a trench coat because, she says, “I have nothing to wear.”

The designers are tasked with creating something for her to wear to the Creative Artists Emmy ceremony, and she explains she’s looking for something “unexpected, fashion forward and fearless,” adding that she doesn’t want to end up on the worst-dressed list. This is one of those dreaded challenges because she’s one tough customer.

The designers are given $250 to spend on materials. Hawaii designer Kini Zamora is excited because, if there’s anything a Hawaii designer can do, it’s evening wear. From prom to pageant to weddings, somehow, in the most casual of states, a gown is still associated with life’s special occasions. The special occasions also provide independent designers with a steady stream of work, and when clients are paying for something, they’d better be happy or word-of-mouth spreads fast.

Zamora is right at home and through each episode seems to be laughing his way through tasks that seem all too easy for him.

“I love making glamorous gowns,” he said, and once again, is finishing while the other designer seem to be just starting … or starting over. During the critique session, Klum likes what she sees of Zamora’s work, but hates nearly everything else. So much so that after exiting the workroom, she and the designers’ mentor Tim Gunn return, telling the designers that they will have an extra $100 to shop for supplemental or new materials at Mood. Designers who don’t need the extra boost can give their cash to the other designers. Sandhya Garg asks for Zamora’s share and gets it.

I don’t think co-host/judge Heidi Klum was thinking of how bulky the winning gown will look in red-carpet photographs.

It’s obvious the other designers are lost and their ideas of what a gown should be are several rungs below even the gaudiest pageant gown. I sewed all my own prom gowns and I’m not the best of seamstresses, but my high school creations were better than 80 percent of tonight’s runway.

During the judging, designer Zac Posen says of Zamora’s work, “This is somebody who has done red carpet before,” while pointing out horsehair in back that hold up to wear at a crucial moment. He adds that Zamora got his highest score and said, “This is someone who gets it.”

Once again, he is in the Top 2, but the final nod goes to Sean Kelly for an ombre fringe dress with a low-cut back. This was a tough call, but just as last week, I think I have to side with Zamora this week. His gown was elegant and classy—sorry, two words that don’t describe Klum’s style—and fit like a glove again, with slimming details on the side.

Kelly’s dress had nice movement but the length and bulk of the fringe made it look heavy, shapeless and Yeti-like, even on a tall, thin model! No one wants to photograph fatter on the red carpet.

Because of the poor quality of the work shown this week, two designers—Kristine Guico and Mitchell Perry—get the boot.

Kristine Guico easily had the worst dress of the evening and was sent home.

Mitchell Perry also struggled and was sent home.

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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.