Challenge 4: All About Nina-The Runway

I have to say, this dress turned out better than I expected. Some of the stitching/tailoring could have been a bit better, but altogether I like the outfit. These fabrics were difficult to work with, but after the pet store challenge, I'm happy as long as there is fabric involved.



I really like how the dress gives Katie a nice hourglass figure. As a doll, she's kind of lacking in curves, but the color-blocking makes her look rather shapely. I kind of want a dress like this in my size.



Here's Katie demonstrating how chic Nina would look wearing this look while telling PR contestants how poorly sewn their garments are.

This dress would be easy to dress up or dress down. It might not be a dress that anyone could wear to work, but a fashion director could probably get away with it. In the daytime I would keep it simple with a nice pair of pumps and a chic tote bag.
















In the evening, I would dress up the outfit with some Nina-esque jewelry, more dramatic shoes, and a nice little clutch.

Challenge 4: All About Nina-The Workroom

Well, I'm glad that Nina isn't really going to judge my design this week. I think I would wither like a little flower if I had to go through what the contestants did. It would not have been pretty.

Anyway, my design for this week is a chic color-blocked knee-length dress for our favorite fashion editor. I'm using a lilac-gray satin with black matte jersey on the sides. The neckline will be high in the front, with a deep V in the back, balanced with full cap sleves. The look will be sleek and modern, and hopefully will be just what Ms. Garcia is looking for.

Challenge 4: All About Nina-The Challenge

From Just Crafty Enough:

Create a look Nina can wear to work in the day and then to an industry event in the evening. She tends to wear classic with an edge, clean, stream-lined, tailored silhouettes. She does not like voluminous clothes, pleats, loud colors or load patterns. She does not want to see a bunch of grey garments going down the runway though.

Here is a look book of Nina’s style to give you a starting point.

(Photos from Lifetime. Visit there to see more Nina photos.)

Time Limit – You have 14 hours to complete this challenge

Challenge 3: Go Big or Go Home-The Runway

Here comes Katie, lurching along on her stilts.



She does her little pose on the end of the runway, trying not to topple over.



And she quickly goes back stage, trying to look as much like a model as possible with these god-forsaken stilts.



Nina liked the way I used the over-sized sleeve to play with proportions.
Michael thought it was kind of a fabulous evening gown.
Heidi liked the glitter and the bare shoulder.
Guest judge Kim Kardashian didn't say anything, since she was worrying that her skirt wasn't short enough.

Challenge 3: Go Big or Go Home-The Sketch

This week I will be attempting a stilts-length, one-sleeved evening gown. My inspiration was the long sleeves on a kimono, which I thought would be a nice way to balance out this week's extra-long legs. I'm also considering incorporating sequins. Because my designs so far have been lacking in sparkle.

Challenge 3: Go Big or Go Home-The Training

Katie is practicing with her new stilts, in preparation for the runway later this week. She's a little wobbly, but she's getting the hang of it.

Challenge 3: Go Big or Go Home-The Challenge

From Just Crafty Enough:

Create a look for a model on stilts.

For us, we will interpret the challenge with our dolls on stilts. It will depend on your doll, but for me, what worked was to use chopsticks. I taped chop sticks to her legs. Dowels or even sticks from the yard would work too

It looks as if the stilts extend the models about as far at from the knee to the foot. So if you are engineering stilts for your model think about making them about 1/4 taller.

Create a look that is eye-catching, imaginative and truly larger-than-life, but remember, the judges frowned upon “costume” looks, and responded favorably to the looks that would translate to the runway.

If you want to imitate this challenge even more, have your runway outside.

Time Limit – You have 14 hours to complete this challenge.

I guess I'm ordering Chinese takeout for dinner!