There's No "I" In Teamwork And An Edgy Luxe Look

Raise your hand if you let out an audible groan along with the designers when it was announced that the latest “Project Runway” challenge was another team challenge. This girl has both hands up in the air! I’m having déjà vu. I’m pretty sure I’ve taken issue with too many team challenges before. Haha! Hearing their complaint fest every time they have to work together isn’t my idea of a good time. I must say, guest judge Anna Sui made an excellent point when she told them that it takes more than an individual to put together a collection. Just sayin’.

A certain team’s lack of cooperation with each other proved to be enough to send one of them home this week, but it wasn’t necessarily the team member who had the most trouble with teamwork.

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Elena and Dmitry were practically at each other’s throats from the get go and Alicia got lost in the fray. Sandwiched between two uber strong personalities, her aesthetic simply didn’t shine. She created two somewhat forgettable pieces that literally made Michael Kors yawn.

When I caught up with Alicia and asked if she thought things would have worked out differently if she hadn’t been paired with Elena and Dmitry, she responded, “Probably.  I think I was paired with two people who obviously didn’t get along from the beginning. It was a team challenge and I felt like I was always in the middle. It was just really difficult. What they focused on the most with our group was that the designs weren’t cohesive and we didn’t get along.”

Unfortunately for Alicia, it wasn’t her that was doing the bickering. Should she have inserted herself in the mayhem and insisted on designing a more dominant piece? Probably…but that’s just not her style. “I stand up for myself, but I’m not loud and bitchy about it. The louder people always get camera time,” she told us.

The structure of the entire competition didn’t seem to give Alicia much of a chance in that she struggled with constantly having to go against her inherent aesthetic in favor of more feminine pieces. “I would have loved to have had a menswear challenge in there…Something that would have allowed for a little bit more edge,” she said

Three cheers for edge! I enjoy a bit of edge inserted into my looks too! So, in honor of Alicia, I’ve styled this week’s episode inspired outfit based on Christopher, Gunnar and Sonjia’s camel coat and leather detailed ensemble. I think the faux leather leggings in my look definitely add some edge! There’s no reason us mamas can’t walk on the wild side!

Outfit Details: Asos chain drop earrings, Basarange crew neck sweater, Modcloth camel coat, Topshop faux leather leggings, SheInside black suede pumps