MELBOURNE: “A frumpy, unflattering and in no way fashionable” three-piece collection has seen the exit of Queensland fashion designer Mark Neighbour.
The 42-year-old became the latest designer to be evicted from reality television show Project Runway Australia 2 after failing to impress in the latest round of judging aired last night (26 August).
Despite the fact Neighbour is a part-time design school tutor, he failed to adequately muster a trio of first-year design students he had hand picked to assist him in the toughest challenge of the series thus far.
The contestants had just 12 hours to create three ready-to-wear womenswear outfits for summer 2010.
Each ensemble had to include a pant, blouse and jacket.
The designers had just 10 minutes to choose three assistants from a gaggle of first-year Whitehouse Institute of Design students and a further 10 to choose three models from the same group.
In a final twist the designers had to entrust one of their team to buy all the fabric for the challenge.
Anthony Capon most impressed the judging panel of host Kristy Hinze, buyer Sarah Gale, designer Jayson Brunsdon and guest judge, designer Aurelio Costarella, to win his third challenge.
The 25-year-old Victorian design assistant created an edgy collection featuring salmon-hued pants, and skirts with golden glitter trim and jacket.
Gale praised Capon’s bravery for pulling off what could have been “a complete train wreck” and for using a male model in a womenswear line.
Four contestants now remain in the running to win the event and the prize pool of car, a six-page spread in Madison magazine and a $100,000 cash injection to invest in showing their label at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week.
The contestants still vying for the title include Capon, Ivana Stipicic, 40-year-old William Lazootin and Lauren Vieyra.