Under the Gunn

Under the Gunn is a Project Runway spin off featuring Project Runway's mentor, Tim Gunn as the host. Like it's mother program, Under the Gunn features up-and-coming fashion designers competing against each other for a fantastic prize package.  Gunn takes on 3 of his past PR proteges as mentors for the designers competing on this show: Mondo Guerra, Anya Ayoung Chee and Nick Verreos.

In the first two episodes the field of contestants gets whittled down from 15 to 12. First the designers are all presented with limited fabric choices and tasked create a look in only six hours in an effort to impress the mentors.Then the mentors make their picks based on these looks and the designers' portfolios. If more than one mentor picks a designer, the designer gets to choose among the designers who want him/her. Each of the mentors only has four slots to fill so the designers are understandably anxious during the final selection process.

I'm going to run through both episodes in this post. That's 15 looks! So this is going to be quick and dirty. Buckle up.

Michelle

Great use of the gold for accents. This looks like a fun party dress that girls would be happy to buy. Nothing inventive here but she did a good job. I'd pick her.

Brady

I love this look. He clearly has a vision for the girl he designs for and has an eye for mixing fabrics in an exciting way. I'd pick him.


Melissa

Well made but very boring. Not a top pick.

Blake

Very well made and chic looking but nothing exciting here. He's a maybe.

Natalia

Mess. Poorly made. Poor taste. Would not pick.


Shan

LOVE the jacket (minus the shoulder pads), great use of the fabrics. The dress was clearly a place holder to showcase the jacket but he still managed to put in a little style with the shoulder cut-outs. I'd pick him.

Oscar

Oscar is a costume designer and it shows here. His construction is impeccable though. Not a top pick.

Camilla

The detail on the front is interesting but after seeing it in her book so much I wasn't wowed and there was nothing else to the look. She's a maybe.

Stephanie

Interesting silhouette and details but overall underwhelming. She's a maybe.

Amy

Well made but devoid of style. The only interesting point is the slits/skirt/shorts overlay thing and I just generally hate that trend. I don't want to see your panties through your dress, woman. Grudging maybe.

Sam

Drab and ugly. He could have made it work by styling his model as a grungy, urban, hipster chick but he didn't. He gets a maybe for point of view.

Isabelle

Interesting silhouette and details paired with an eye catching fabric. Sloppy construction though. She's a maybe.

Rey

He chose and paired some really interesting fabrics to good effect. I like the retro look of the top but he should have cinched the waist more to give it a more modern shape. I'd pick him.

Asha

Risky fabric, love the top, hate the midriff cut-out, love the design details. I'm not 100% sold on the look but she used the opportunity to show something daring so I'd pick her.

Nicholas

Yawn. This is could be a sharp, chic filler look within a large otherwise interesting collection, not the piece you show to secure a spot in a competition. Would not pick.


Time to breathe. Next post I'll introduce the designers who made it.

My top picks are Brady, Shan, Rey and Asha. Who would you pick? You only have four choices.