Project Runway Season 9 Episode 1 _"Come as you are"

One of my favourite shows on television, I love Project Runway @projectrunway I have watched every season and it gets better and better.  Hence my excitement when the Jamaican version Mission Catwalk @mission_catwalk had their first season this year with the winner Sheena and runner up @yannizle.  Caribbean talent at its best.  I digress.  Now for my review of Project Runway Season 9, looks like it will be the best season yet, I agree with Tim Gunn.

Watching the talent of 16 designers that made it to the show in both the casting special and episode one for the most part I am impressed.  So apart from being one of my favourite shows you know it got even better when I heard that one of our Caribbean Queens was on the show.  A Queen not because she was Miss Trinidad and Tobago 2008 but a strong talented Caribbean woman is always royalty in my book.  Her name is Anya Ayoung_Chee @AnyadeRogue  #PR9Anya.  Who by the way you can vote for as the fan favourite on twitter but typing #PR9Anya in your tweet.  With that unapologetic bias aside here is my unbiased review of Episode 1 in a nutshell.

Tim woke up the designers at 5am and the challenge was to "come as you are" and carry the white sheet on their bed.  Challenge was to design an outfit from what they were wearing (sleepwear) and the sheet as their fabric.  What they came up with showed their talent.  Think about what you slept in last night, what would you design using just that and a white sheet as your fabric and you will have a greater appreciation of what these designers did.

My favourites are as follows:

• Bias aside Anya's clothes I would wear in a heartbeat.  There were 4 pieces that I want like now.     (1) Loved the white and black romper jumper she wore in the casting special.  That with a chunky piece neckpiece and a pair of Bridget Sandal @bridgetsandals and I am dressed and out the door.  (Check our recommended websites).  Actually that could be said for all my favourite pieces.

          (2) and (3)Obviously the top and the pant that she did for the challenge - just WOW!  and 

          

          (4)  That long bronze skirt that you had at the casting special and had on the rack at the final interview

               Wish I got a better look on it but my eyes were drawn to it.

• Bert oh Bert my second star, the simple but classy cuts I love.  The day to evening pieces that should be in every woman's closet.  I like that his clothes just look easy to wear.  The just slip it on and you are dressed.  The cuts have that edge to them that I love, a few more inches in length.  I can't wait to see what else he has in store for us. #PR9Bert  

• Fallene is that touch of crazy that I love.  I would have worn that white and black dress with the clown over the toilet.  She is one of my overall favourites between the casting and the challenge.  I preferred Bryce's and Cecile outfits in the challenge.    #PRFallene

Now for my least favourite category:

• Not surprised Rapael got the boot because not only was his hair A HOT MESS but so was that outfit. I can't say there was any piece that I saw in the casting special or episode 1 that I would wear

• All the judges seem to be in awww of Oliver and I am just not getting it.  His clothes just don't speak to me at all.  It is still early days so maybe my position on him will change.
• And Viktor I don't get it either.  I just can't see the vision.  The clothes in the photos from the casting special looked nice but the actual pieces not so much.  I am just not clicking with his work.

I have my eye on Becky I liked what she carried to the castings but on the runway no so much.  I see her cuts as fantastic and that pop of colour in the lining.  I love it.  It was the opposite for Cecilia didn't like what she carried to the castings but liked what she had on the runway (just a little more length to the skirt).  And I loved Bryce's outfit on the runway,  the pieces from the casting are not my style but I appreciate his work.

All and all I am excited about the new season and I can't wait for episode 2.  I already watched episode 1 twice for today.  You can watch the full episodes on the Project Runway website (click on link)

Good Job Guys

The Caribbean, long referred to as the West Indies,includes more than 7,000 islands; of those, 13 are independent island countries and some are dependencies or overseas territories of other nations.

In addition, that large number includes islets (very small rocky islands); cay's (small, low islands composed largely of coral or sand) and a few inhabited reefs: See Belize.

In geographical terms the Caribbean area includes the Caribbean Sea and all of the islands located to the southeast of the Gulf of Mexico, east of Central America and Mexico, and to the north of South America. Some of its counted cay's, islands, islets and inhabited reefs front the handful of countries that border the region.

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos are not considered a part of the Caribbean, however, we show them here because of their cultural, geographical and political associations with the Greater Antilles and other Caribbean Islands.

At the beginning of the 15th century the population of the Caribbean was estimated to be nearly 900,000 indigenous people immediately before European contact.

Then in 1492, Christopher Columbus, the Italian explorer began his exploration of the Caribbean, becoming the first European to venture into the area.

After reportedly landing in the eastern Bahamas, Columbus named these islands the Indies, because he thought he had finally reached Asia (and the East Indies).

Numerous explorers followed in his path, then tens of thousands of settlers arrived from the Americas, China, European countries and India. Included in that mix were religious outcasts and a small army of pirates. 

Across the Caribbean, slaves from Africa were imported in great numbers to work the sugar and tobacco plantations.

By then the indigenous populations of the islands were in severe decline as exposure to disease and brutal genocide wiped out much of their number.

Great military powers continually fought for control of the islands, and finally, a blended mix of African andEuropean cultures and languages transformed this large group of islands and its peoples into one of the premier tourist destinations on the planet.

Long called the West Indies, the overall area is now commonly referred to as the Caribbean, a name that became popular after World War II.

Over the last few decades legions of travelers have journeyed to the Caribbean to enjoy the amenities. They frequently arrive in cruise ships that sail in and out, from ports in Florida and Puerto Rico.

Overall the Caribbean is a magical place of palm trees, white sand beaches, turquoise waters and sunshine, all blessed with a climate that consistently offers a much-needed break for those stuck in the cold weather doldrums of the north.

If you haven't been, you should, and if you've been here more than once, you will come again, as these islands, these beach-ringed, jungle-covered rocks are home to thousands of historical surprises and activities galore.
So, come dance, come drink, come eat and sleep under the stars in the Caribbean. You won't be disappointed.


Source of post : World Atlas

CARIBBEAN INFORMATION

AREA

The Caribbean is the 2,500,000-sq. km (965,000 sq. miles) of the Caribbean Sea and the countries in it. The nations making up the region have a surface area of 90,000 square miles. This region is bounded by the Greater Antilles (larger Caribbean islands) in the north, by the Lesser Antilles (smaller islands) in the east, by the coasts of Venezuela, Columbia and Panama in the south and by the eastern coasts of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and the Mexican Yucatan peninsula in the west. By this definition, countries such as the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands are not in the Caribbean as they are in the Atlantic . They are, however, considered part of the Caribbean for reasons of similar history and culture.  

POPULATION

The Caribbean region consists of 26 islands, with a total population of approximately 38 million people.  

LANGUAGES

Four main languages are spoken: English, Spanish, French and Dutch. Currently, University of the West Indies is conducting an initiative to have Creole included as one of the region’s main languages.  

NOTE:  Excerpt from the International Association of Caribbean Organization website