project runway recap: hats off to you

andy south * ivy higa

while most of us consider a hat too impractical for everyday, you have to admire the posh brits and stateside belles who love a playful chapeau when attending a royal wedding or opening day at the races. last night, project runway welcomed london milliner philip treacy who bestowed his fanciful constructions with a challenge to design an outfit to complement his couture toppers.

our hawaii designers both offered up ladylike pairings - a vibrant satin skirted set for lunching socialites by andy south and a demure gossamer duo inspired by a lovely parisienne . . . and the privacy curtains spotted by ivy higa during her unexpected trip to the er that opened the episode.

inside the designers' sketchbook

andy: make it work! | video diary

ivy: make it work! | video diary

and, find out what everyone really thought of this week's winner in the designers dish.

have you ever rocked a chapeau befitting a walk down the runway?

{photo credit: barbara nitke, lifetime television}

project runway recap: it's a party

party frocks by andy south & ivy higa

project runway presented its most playful challenge last night when the designers were invited to construct a look out of party favors, festive decorations, and the occasional de-stuffed animal. (click the link to stream this week's episode.) the latter was thankfully missing from the offerings of hawaii's two designers who showed an avant-garde origami beribboned lbd (andy south) and a garden party confection composed of paper napkin petals (ivy higa).

andy braiding ribbon * ivy's sketchbook

andy: make it work! | judgement day | video diary

ivy: make it work! | video diary

and, get the backstage skinny in the designers dish.

would you invite any of last night's looks to attend your next soirée?

{photo credit: barbara nitke, lifetime television}

project runway recap: larger than life

round 2: andy south & ivy higa

this week's project runway challenge tempted our designers, andy south & ivy higa, with the chance to have the winning look featured on a billboard in times square (fyi: click the link to stream the episode).

designer sketchpad

andy: make it work! | video diary

ivy: make it work! | video diary

and, of course, watch the always entertaining designers dish for the backstage take on the competition.

did you love the marie claire-inspired looks designed by andy and ivy?

{photo credit: barbara nitke, lifetime television}

project runway: and sew it begins

premiere style by andy south & ivy higa

did you tune into project runway last night to follow the design adventures of andy south and ivy higa? (if not, you can stream episode one online.) i will tap lightly on the keyboard to avoid playing the spoiler in case the show is tucked away on your dvr for weekend viewing, but will share that there was certainly lots of drama in the premiere . . . especially for one of the two local designers.

ivy sketching

andy working the muslin

if you really want to immerse yourself in the designer's PR experience, i poked around the website and gathered a few video clips:

andy: make it work! | video diary

ivy: judgement day | video diary

and, do take a peek at the designers dish to discover what the other contestants thought of their competition.

what did you think of the designs this week and did you agree with the judges?

{photo credit: barbara nitke, lifetime television}

aloha project runway!

project runway season 8 cast

the project runway premiere is just hours away and will be our chance to officially meet kama'aina designers andy south of waipahu and nyc-based ivy higa (who grew up in kona)! i have been a devoted PR fan since season one so you can imagine how absolutely thrilled i am to have not one but TWO hawaii designers who will be rocking the runway on tv's favorite fashion show.

this should be an exciting summer for the hawaii fashion community who are surely pinning their hopes that the PR spotlight will extend its glow across the pacific and prove to the rest of the world that island style has stepped into the modern day. of course, the h|h 'ohana already adores hawaii's style makers so let's have a look at the portfolios that impressed tim gunn to invite andy and ivy to join him inside the project runway workroom.

andy south fall 2010 ollection

ivy h. spring/summer 2010

gorgeous designs, no? in their casting sessions, andy showed a lovely coat with a collar referencing rice paddy workers and a blouse with a stunning sleeve detail inspired by chinese lanterns while the designs ivy presented were influenced by samurai warriors in both silhouette and pattern. it should be quite fun to watch both designers work hints from their pacific rim upbringings into their runway offerings!

let's just hope that michael kors reserves his witty zingers for the other designers and that heidi klum has no reason to "auf weidersehen" either andy or ivy off the runway. and, since hawaii always loves to cheer on our island friends, remember to check in every friday for an episode recap so we can talk story on how andy and ivy fared in the latest design challenge.

andy's links: casting video | closet tour | at home | photos

ivy's links: casting video | closet tour | at home | photos + website | facebook | twitter

project runway kicks off tonight on lifetime at 6p hst (oceanic channel 448) | 8p cst | 9p pst/est.

are you excited to follow andy and ivy this season?

{photo credit: 1/lifetime; 2/andy south; 3/eric hason}