Project Runway's Layana Aguilar Designs New Disney Princess Gown | Elena of Avalor

Disney has collaborated with Project Runway All Stars' Layana Aguilar to design the ball gown for Elena of Avalor, Disney's first princess inspired by diverse Latin cultures and folklore. Elena will make her debut in a TV series this summer on Disney Channel.

"Elena of Avalor" follows the story of Elena, a brave and adventurous teenager who saves her kingdom from an evil sorceress and must now learn to rule as crown princess until she is old enough to be queen. Elena's adventures will lead her to understand that her new role requires thoughtfulness, resilience and compassion, the traits of all truly great leaders. Aimee Carrero (Freeform's "Young & Hungry") stars as the voice of Elena.

Above are images of Layana and the ball gown that she designed, which also served as the inspiration for the dress that Elena will wear at Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort when she begins making appearances later this year. At Walt Disney World Resort, Elena will appear in the Magic Kingdom beginning in August. At Disneyland Resort, she will appear at Disney California Adventure this fall.

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Project Runway PARIS; Couture du jour.

[caption id="attachment_18924" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Uli in the Project Runway work room."]

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The last couple of

Project Runway

episodes have been terrific! Last week, the four remaining designers were treated to a day among the exclusive world of haute couture. The jet-setting Uli, Emilio, Joshua and Anthony enjoyed a first class one day, yes one day, trip to Paris where they were given a tour of Maison Valentino, sketched designs while over-looking the Eiffel Tower, ate, drank and shopped for luxurious fabrics. The designers created "couture-inspired" runway looks using the fabrics they bought in Paris.

Uli got grilled by the judges for the illusion lining she used throughout her dress. They felt it took away from the design. Isaac Mizrahi said the dress looked like a very expensive RTW gown rather than couture. Carolyn Murphy wasn't keen on the back zipper and heaviness of the trim around it. I don't entirely disagree with them but it's Uli who had the last laugh in a "fuck you" moment at the very end as pointed out by guest judge, designer Cynthia Rowley. And bleeped out by Lifetime.

There's a time to try out new things. A time to experiment on Project Runway... BUT this was not the challenge to go there as Joshua did. And it cost him dearly. The first problem I had was with the skirt fabric, aside from the hideous factor, who goes to Paris and comes back with a fabric that ugly with designs on couture?!!! I guess Joshua was inspired with Jekyll and Hyde because there were two polar opposite looks there. There's the black sheer top which was gorgeous and then we got to the cascading floral vomit. Like the judges, I get where Joshua was trying to go with this look. Too bad he got lost.

I'm exhausted. Anthony Ryan wins. Again.

This is the dress that should have WON! Emilio Sosa delivered such elegance and sophistication. The fabric was so amazing and the design was dramatic and show-stopping. The ONLY criticism he received was from Isaac Mizrahi who felt the dress should have been five inches shorter so you could see the shoes.

*I have a theory/fantasy about what may happen: Golden Boy frontrunner wins All Stars.  

OR

the producers/judges have been messing with us all along, leading us to believe Anthony Ryan will win and in a dramatic finale twist, he doesn't!  So do we go with the obvious or the twist? #TeamUli here.

Speaking of twists. The bottom two designers, Uli and Joshua, were given a new challenge and one hour to complete it. They had to reconstruct their couture gowns into something entirely different. Uli turned the unpopular lining into a dress and won the mini-challenge, hence safe and on to the big finale!

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Stars & Stripes on Project Runway All Stars

Project Runway

must have heard me.

Last week

I said that the only way

Joshua McKinley

would stay on would be to win

this

challenge... WTF! He did! I didn't see it coming, did you??

Last week's Project Runway All Stars proved that the military needs its gays! The All Stars worked with service women in need of a little tlc is the fashion and style department. It was a tender and emotional challenge. Truly one of my favs.

This dress is classic Uli! The dress was flowy and flattering. It was so feminine and you could tell that the client/model felt great wearing it. Uli is a winner, whether it happens on Project Runway or not!

Emilio got nailed for his craftsmanship. There were fit issues and sloppy construction. He's great at what he does but just need a little more time to "make it work." I love the style and color of the dress probably as much as the client/model did. I wonder if in these type of challenges where a "real" person is involved and the dress isn't "perfect" if the designer fixes it or makes another dress? Would you want to wear a dress out in public that was on national tv and major fashion designer judges pointed out all that was wrong with it?

Golden Boy tarnished. Well, not really because gold doesn't tarnish, but he did get a slap on the wrist for not designing for real women! Anthony Ryan made a skinny girl dress. I loved his fabric choice and to be fair, the dress itself is beautiful, but as the judges pointed out, it accentuated the areas that the client/model wanted to hide. Like Emilio, if Anthony Ryan had just a bit more time, he would've gotten it right.

The big surprise came from Joshua McKinley winning since he has been in the bottom consistently. He really connected with his client... and what about that precious service dog!! The outfit was a total winner. It was cute, sassy and the client/model owned the runway. Congratulations Joshua!

[For me] the biggest surprise was yet to come... With Joshua's winning the challenge there was no way he was being sent home. [Yet] Carolyn Murphy stated "because this is Project Runway All Stars someone needs to go home..." So who was left? Emilio and Anthony Ryan who were both in the bottom two... and there was No way they would be sent packing...  a few minutes of real suspense on Project Runway...  Who would be sent home??? Try: no one! At the end, ALL four moved on to next week, which btw, will take place in PARIS!

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Elie Tahari challenges Project Runway

[caption id="attachment_18626" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Joanna Coles and designer Elie Tahari are relieved to learn that All Star Joshua McKinley wasn't finished with the dress!"]

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From winner to loser, there were absolutely no surprises in last week's

Project Runway All Stars

. Nonetheless, it was a great episode. I love when the designers have to wear their business hats and consider marketability and manufacturing. A soft spoken and inspiring

Elie Tahari

delivered the challenge which had an amazing opportunity attached for the winner. The winning design will be sold in Tahari stores with proceeds going to the

Save the Garment Center

organization. 

The scoring placed Emilio Sosa in the bottom three but that was all. He was safe, whew. His dress lacked runway appeal, though it was well made. Emilio is great about listening to the judge's comments and is especially good about receiving workroom criticism. Perhaps it backfired this time because the original design featured color-blocking [way more exciting] throughout the dress which he changed based on Elie Tahari's feelings/comments.

Unless if Project Runway decides to host a top four in the season finale, Joshua McKinley is done. He would have to win next week's challenge to get in the top three. Maybe.

She loved the textile's pattern, as did I. It was gorgeous! But Ivy fell in love with it too much and wouldn't hear Tahari's advice to make it a short dress. After all, the winning look would be carried in his stores so he definitely gets a say so in the matter!

Anytime a Project Runway designer feeds you that bullshit about "staying true" or "being true" as a designer OR to their design, they are committing runway suicide. She was a goner... yet I'll give her props... Ivy left the show gracefully.

When

Tim Gunn

coined the phrase "

make it work

" he must have had Uli in mind. She is my fav and I want to see her win... Her biggest obstacle wont be the challenges, it'll be golden boy who can make a dress made of shit and the judges will say it smells like roses.

OMG! Anthony Ryan was the winner...

What a surprise!

NOT!!! I haven't figured out why I dislike him so much because Anthony Ryan is a very good designer. Perhaps its the judges I should be pissed with who are playing favorites? Or maybe its just his ridiculous hair style which I hate and I'm just being petty? Regardless of my feelings, when Anthony Ryan creates a good dress, I say it. And he did! Congrats golden boy!

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Speakeasies, Soirées & Garden Parties; Project Runway All Stars

[caption id="attachment_18549" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Golden Boy Anthony Ryan in the Project Runway workwroom."]

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Kudos Project Runway for conceptualizing a great challenge. This was a creative and truly competitive one, fitting of an All Star. The inspiration was 1920's. The categories were "Speakeasies, Soirées & Garden Parties." How the challenge was detailed is where it got good... the designers were paired off to compete against each other per category. A fashion "face-off!" The 1920's served only as inspiration for the final design which had to be modern, not '20s! The designers were given $250 and went shopping at Mood. As much as I enjoyed the episode, I

do

have a bone to pick with you Project Runway... 

[caption id="attachment_18550" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Emilio Sosa"]

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[caption id="attachment_18551" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Joshua McKinley"]

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Emilio Sosa and Joshua McKinley "faced-off." Emilio's design was the judges pick but I think it was very close to a tie. Their category was Garden Party. The judges liked both dresses very much but felt Emilio's seemed dated. Joshua's brooch was a fail and the judges felt his dress didn't take a big enough risk. At this point in the competition the remaining designers are all so skilled and talented that the judges (usually) have little choice but to be extra picky.

[caption id="attachment_18552" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Uli"]

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[caption id="attachment_18553" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Laura Kathleen"]

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Uli's and Laura Kathleen's girls went to a soirée. The judges loved both looks. They felt Laura Kathleen's was better without the fur vest and they agreed that this was a challenge made for Uli.

[caption id="attachment_18554" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Ivy"]

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[caption id="attachment_18555" align="aligncenter" width="478" caption="Anthony Ryan"]

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There was no competition between Ivy and Anthony Ryan. In the workroom, mentor

Joanna Coles

asked them to rate one another on a scale of 1-10. Golden boy gave Ivy a strong 7/8 and she gave him a 5! Seriously Ivy? Well, that made for good TV because Anthony Ryan won the overall challenge and Ivy was in the bottom two. The feather caplet, btw, was fabulous!

Here is the issue I have with the show... Feels like Project Runway is up to their dirty tricks again... When you compare the criticism given to Ivy and to Laura Kathleen, who was the loser, it was a no brainer that Ivy had the weakest design. Clearly Ivy should have gone home on the basis of her critique. Did you notice Ivy's facial expression when she realized she was safe? Even she thought she was being sent home. The only reason I can imagine the producers kept Ivy is for ratings. I bet she'll have a meltdown which Project Runway will sensationalize and capitalize on... ahhh... "reality" TV!

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THE Unconventional Challenge: Project Runway All Stars with Kylie Minogue

[caption id="attachment_18524" align="aligncenter" width="440" caption="Guest Judge KYLIE MINOGUE!"][/caption]

When host Carolyn Murphy announced the guest judge would be Kylie Minogue, did anyone noticed how giddy the Project Runway All Star boys got??! Of course,"all the lovers" couldn't have made the Uncoventional Challenge popular among the designers. [Though] WE the viewer, love it. The designers had somewhat of a double challenge this time. They made all their supply purchases at a Christmas store BUT their garments had to 1) not look like they used unconventional materials; 2) not look like Christmas! 



The boys struggled with this challenge. Emilio had me quite nervous. HE was quite nervous himself, feeling defeated by the challenge. And even though he didn't make it work, thankfully Emilio was safe.



Its fair to say the Laura Kathleen ran out of time. The top of the dress looks great but it is evident that from the waist down she hurried.



Dammit Joshua McKinley! The top is sensational. The judges said so... Its dynamic and different. Its innovative and well constructed. TOO BAD the opposite was said of the shorts. Joshua didn't think it through all the way. He poured all his energy [and talent] into making the top cream "Wow" that by the time he was ready to create the bottom, he was spent. No more time, no ideas, no materials. No luck... well, Joshua was safe, so I guess he had some luck!



This dress, by Ivy, has the opposite effect of a wow factor. DULL... I had to yell it... DULL... so I wouldn't fall asleep while writing about it. I kind of like the fringe on the skirt but it starts and ends there... everything else about Ivy's dress is a sleeper.



Golden boy, Anthony Ryan, as usual got his butt kissed by the judges. This Uli-look-a-like dress is pretty damn good. I'll give it him. But he didn't take the win!



Casanova, who looks more and more like present day Mickey Rourke, failed and was sent packing. Casanova never pulled it together with this challenge and it cost him.



Deservingly, the winner was Uli! She used her trim and embellishing talents to the max and created a beautiful dress.

I predict the top three will be Uli, Emilio and Anthony Ryan... What do you think?

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