Cat Préfontaine and mentor Aurora James in the sixth episode of Project Runway, which revolves around shoes.Crave/Bell Media/Supplied
Last week, we were making clothes with bathroom supplies. Now, we’re launching the latest challenge at the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto’s beloved shrine to fabulous and historical footwear. It’s a fashion roller coaster on Project Runway Canada, and we’re strapped in.
To kick off the episode, the designers meet Coco Rocha in the museum lobby, where she reveals this week’s challenge: create a complete look inspired by a pair of shoes of the contestants’ choosing. They’re given ample time (two days) and budget ($500), with no hidden curveballs this time.
Most designers manage to snag a pair that neatly aligns with their aesthetics and sensibilities – a Victorian bootie for Curtis Matysek, Mondrian-patterned kicks for Maya Ginzburg. The lone exception is Charles Lu, the last to choose, who is left with a fluffy boudoir kitten heel that he didn’t exactly have in mind. But easy enough, right?
Maya Ginzburg, right, chats with James.Crave/Bell Media/Supplied
Given the restrictions of last week’s toilet paper challenge, it’s becoming clear that some designers actually thrive under pressure. This week’s brief – simply to create a cohesive, high-fashion look – is such a blank canvas that it almost works against them.
After a season spent trying to fold her cowgirl proclivities into nearly every challenge, Cat Préfontaine finally lands the perfect muse in a pair of pink cowboy boots. Yet, she somehow ends up delivering one of the most nonsensical, objectively ugly looks of the season: a pink tweed mini jumpsuit with an explosion of floral ruffles bursting from every opening that completely overwhelms the design. The ruffles are so voluminous that they swallow the boots whole, rendering them invisible and completely disconnected from the look they were meant to anchor.
Leeland Mitchell, who has been cautioned more than once about veering too far into costume territory, leans all the way in. He exclusively opts for metallic patent fabrics to match his red patent knee-high boots, in a look best described as Moulin Rouge! meets Muppets from Space on Broadway. Mentor Aurora James is noticeably perturbed when he compares his outfit to Vivienne Westwood’s designs. “Must have missed that collection!” she exclaims. The look is well-constructed, though that almost feels beside the point. The judges, as expected, hate it.
Rome Ramsay works on his design inspired by a pair of holographic sneakers.Crave/Bell Media/Supplied
Rome Ramsay, meanwhile, creates a look that references his holographic sneaker in a more subtle way. That is, until he makes the fatal last-minute choice of pairing it with a vest that looks better suited to a high school production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The one bright spot of the week is Foster Siyawareva, who finally gets his first win with an extremely elegant take on black-and-white saddle shoes: a pinstriped blazer with red accents worn over a gorgeous draped skirt. Thank god he’s put us all out of our misery, because almost every other look this week is a flop.
The judges send both Préfontaine and Ramsay home in a double elimination. I hope it’s a slap on the wrist that motivates the designers to shape up next week.