Spoiler
Project Runway – Live from the Fashion Week Finale!
The remaining five Project Runway designers showed their collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Bryant Park this morning. Rumors were swirling that in next week’s episode, not one but two designers will be eliminated. It didn’t really matter today, though, because Sweet P, Chris, Jillian, Rami and the Cockatiel all showed their collections and tore it up!
To say that the finale was hands-down the best EVER would be an understatement. Nearly everyone I spoke with after the show agreed and couldn’t stop raving about the construction and the intricacies of the collections. More on that later...
The show itself started almost 40 minutes late while the 900-plus guests found their seats in the main tent. All guests got some swag from the various sponsors – a March 2008 Elle Magazine, TresSemme styling mist and hairspray, a large Hershey’s bar, a Blockbuster gift card, some Loreal makeup, a flash drive on a Saturn keychain and a $30 gift certificate to Bluefly.com. Score!
Not surprisingly, you could hardly move without tripping over the army of Bravo network stars of past and present – Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford of "Make Me a Supermodel," Jeffrey Sebelia (Season 3 winner), Laura Bennett (looking impeccably classy), Michael Knight, Malon Breton, Chloe Dao (Season 2 winner) and Jay Carroll (Season 1 winner), all of the booted contestants from this season, Padma Lakshmi (wearing something that looked like a mauled sheep) and various past contestants from Top Chef. Also spotted were Meryl Streep, Lindsay Price (currently starring in the new "Lipstick Jungle"), Harvey Weinstein and lots of other people who looked familiar but whom I couldn’t place. Sorry there, pseudo-famous people.
Front and center were judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and the special guest judge – Victoria Beckham. OMG. The room was already buzzing, but when she appeared there was audible amazement. I know I said I was over the term "fierce," but seriously, Posh may very well be the real-life Ferochia Coutura. She looked fantastic (and not a little tantastic) in a bright low-cut orange wrap-style dress.
Okay, so Heidi was rocking the bangs, a shiny gold top, jeans and some incredible patent yellow heels. Nina Garcia looks much younger in person than she does when she’s not making that puss face on TV. Michael Kors was clad in a black jacket, black scarf and large black sunglasses. I didn’t spy Tim Gunn, but I like to think he was backstage helping everyone get ready for the show, blurting out things like "Rally!"
I’m pleased to report that there were no skirts resembling maxi-pads, Happy-Hands-at-Home-Granny-Circle pieces, sca-la-la-rah-la, accidental deaths by barfness, or shrieks of "JAY-sus!" coming from backstage, so the show appeared to go off without a hitch. Several of the models were recognizable not only from Project Runway, but from past seasons of America’s Next Top Model (Bianca, Jaslene and Danielle for starters).
Sweet P was the first to show (R). She came out in a black sparkly dress and a side ponytail and was so overwhelmed by crowds and cheers that she got choked up and could hardly speak. Three cheers for Spread Eagle! Her collection was ah-MAZING, especially considering that I don’t think she’s given us anything that particularly memorable all season long. She used lots of variations on purple, with plums and lilacs, paired with mustards and bright yellows. Her dresses were beautiful, and she had tears in her eyes as she walked out with her model at the end of the show.
Chris March got some chuckles, quickly followed by cheers, when his round figure appeared behind the Project Runway backdrop. He was very gracious (and teary-eyed as well) in introducing his collection (L) and thanking the guests and appeared to have gotten a haircut. It’s nice to see him out of that enormous blue robe he slothed around in at the designers’ apartment. Unfortunately, I can’t give too many props to his collection. I’m just not into crushed velvet and what appeared to be horse hair, and there was a lot of it. There were deep reds, dark blues and a fair share of black. It was not surprising that his models wore heavy dark makeup and frizzy coifs. It was reminiscent of that one time that I was in an enchanted Bavarian forest and all these pissed off costumed models surrounded me and then put on a little theater production. Look, what he created was incredible – and it’s so much more evident when you see the fabrics and the construction in person. Bravo, Chris, with not a hint of irony.
Next up was Jillian (L), who was simply adorable in a buttercream strapless sweater dress with a brown belt and buttons down the back. She introduced herself and said that she hoped her "very first collection" demonstrated the "passion, heart and soul" that went into it. Of all the collections, Jillian’s appeared to be the most ready-to-wear. She makes phenomenal jackets – one in particular, which was a gray military-style jacket with a hood and red details, was outstanding. In the words of dear Tim, "I want to assert that this coat is fabulous." There were a lot of knits, including several sweaters, although her pants tended to be a little blah. Her construction and detailing overall were impeccable. And her models wore what looked like riding or military hats with crazy plumage running from front to back. All the designers had a thing for hats this year.
Rami, who looks thinner in person and appeared to be wearing a see-through button-down shirt, explained that his collection was meant to "celebrate women," who "should be cherished and treated as beautiful muses." Holla! That means you, Jillian. Rami draped it. A lot. Beautifully done, of course – it's what we expect from Rami. (R)His outfits ranged in color from a deep teal to maroon to that miserable olive from which he made that prom dress. A highlight for me was a floor length gown with a satin woven bodice and then some draping that went from one shoulder down to the opposite side of the floor. Rami got a lot of props from his fellow designers after the show, including little Mr. Bedazzler himself, Ricky, who felt he could easily be the winner.
In my opinion, they saved the best for last with the Cockatiel.(L) Christian came out and said thank you and that the show meant so much to him. He also said that everyone in the audience looked fierce, and I wasn’t even annoyed! He got some cheers for that. Way to suck up, birdboy! The Cockatiel’s collection was heavy, and I mean heavy, on the black and cream. He is soooo high-fashion. With one dress, it was literally difficult to see the model’s face because she was sporting a large-brimmed black fancy hat and many delicate cream ruffles at her neck. He got every little detail right. He built on the couturish dress he made for the "hair-inspired" challenge and showed several looks with layers upon layers of organza and fabrics I can’t even begin to describe. The last few dresses put him over the top – cream and brown vertically layered fabrics... and to my delight, feathers. MACAW! He is so the winner – I’m calling it now.
After the show, I got to chat it up with HeteroKevin, who said the entire event was great and that it was among the best finales ever. He felt that the designers had "kicked it up a notch," and while Jillian got high praise, he also felt Rami and the Cockatiel might be duking it out for the win. I also spoke with Elisa, who had showed her own collection earlier this Fashion Week. Before she even knew I was "press," she was inviting me to her next show. She was really nice and didn’t even spit on me! I took it as a compliment. She gave what she described as her stock prediction for the winner, which was essentially that she refused to predict a winner.
I also spoke with Ricky, tiny little sprite that he is, who was sporting a patent maroon cap (thankfully, no faux jewels or truckers were sacrificed for this look). I’m pleased to report that he was not weeping whatsoever despite the fact that he was just one win away from showing a collection. He admired the "strength" and the "craftsmanship" of the designs shown this morning. Turns out Ricky’s got a lingerie line that just hit Neiman Marcus and will also be in select Nordstrom stores, so we have to give him some props. Little man knows undergarments.
Ricky also said he's got a swimwear line in the works. I asked him if he got a head-start on that with last week's WWE challenge with his orange one-piece, which proved to be his downfall. "At least mine was pretty," he quipped. Such a sassy little bugger. He also had kind words for his Diva, Layla. "Isn't she gorgeous?!" (Not for nothing, but I did spot Sweet P's Diva, Miss "Robe and Reveal" herself, at the show but I didn't get to see her signature move.
So to sum it up, the finale was crazy fierce (I’m a convert, what can I say), and I while I think that the Cockatiel has this all wrapped up, you never really know what will happen. Each of the collections was cohesive, and it was hard to believe that these are, by and large, fledgling designers. I’m calling Sweet P the dark horse! You heard it here first. Back for the final "regular" episode next week. See you then.
The remaining five Project Runway designers showed their collections at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Bryant Park this morning. Rumors were swirling that in next week’s episode, not one but two designers will be eliminated. It didn’t really matter today, though, because Sweet P, Chris, Jillian, Rami and the Cockatiel all showed their collections and tore it up!
To say that the finale was hands-down the best EVER would be an understatement. Nearly everyone I spoke with after the show agreed and couldn’t stop raving about the construction and the intricacies of the collections. More on that later...
The show itself started almost 40 minutes late while the 900-plus guests found their seats in the main tent. All guests got some swag from the various sponsors – a March 2008 Elle Magazine, TresSemme styling mist and hairspray, a large Hershey’s bar, a Blockbuster gift card, some Loreal makeup, a flash drive on a Saturn keychain and a $30 gift certificate to Bluefly.com. Score!
Not surprisingly, you could hardly move without tripping over the army of Bravo network stars of past and present – Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford of "Make Me a Supermodel," Jeffrey Sebelia (Season 3 winner), Laura Bennett (looking impeccably classy), Michael Knight, Malon Breton, Chloe Dao (Season 2 winner) and Jay Carroll (Season 1 winner), all of the booted contestants from this season, Padma Lakshmi (wearing something that looked like a mauled sheep) and various past contestants from Top Chef. Also spotted were Meryl Streep, Lindsay Price (currently starring in the new "Lipstick Jungle"), Harvey Weinstein and lots of other people who looked familiar but whom I couldn’t place. Sorry there, pseudo-famous people.
Front and center were judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and the special guest judge – Victoria Beckham. OMG. The room was already buzzing, but when she appeared there was audible amazement. I know I said I was over the term "fierce," but seriously, Posh may very well be the real-life Ferochia Coutura. She looked fantastic (and not a little tantastic) in a bright low-cut orange wrap-style dress.
Okay, so Heidi was rocking the bangs, a shiny gold top, jeans and some incredible patent yellow heels. Nina Garcia looks much younger in person than she does when she’s not making that puss face on TV. Michael Kors was clad in a black jacket, black scarf and large black sunglasses. I didn’t spy Tim Gunn, but I like to think he was backstage helping everyone get ready for the show, blurting out things like "Rally!"
I’m pleased to report that there were no skirts resembling maxi-pads, Happy-Hands-at-Home-Granny-Circle pieces, sca-la-la-rah-la, accidental deaths by barfness, or shrieks of "JAY-sus!" coming from backstage, so the show appeared to go off without a hitch. Several of the models were recognizable not only from Project Runway, but from past seasons of America’s Next Top Model (Bianca, Jaslene and Danielle for starters).
Sweet P was the first to show (R). She came out in a black sparkly dress and a side ponytail and was so overwhelmed by crowds and cheers that she got choked up and could hardly speak. Three cheers for Spread Eagle! Her collection was ah-MAZING, especially considering that I don’t think she’s given us anything that particularly memorable all season long. She used lots of variations on purple, with plums and lilacs, paired with mustards and bright yellows. Her dresses were beautiful, and she had tears in her eyes as she walked out with her model at the end of the show.
Chris March got some chuckles, quickly followed by cheers, when his round figure appeared behind the Project Runway backdrop. He was very gracious (and teary-eyed as well) in introducing his collection (L) and thanking the guests and appeared to have gotten a haircut. It’s nice to see him out of that enormous blue robe he slothed around in at the designers’ apartment. Unfortunately, I can’t give too many props to his collection. I’m just not into crushed velvet and what appeared to be horse hair, and there was a lot of it. There were deep reds, dark blues and a fair share of black. It was not surprising that his models wore heavy dark makeup and frizzy coifs. It was reminiscent of that one time that I was in an enchanted Bavarian forest and all these pissed off costumed models surrounded me and then put on a little theater production. Look, what he created was incredible – and it’s so much more evident when you see the fabrics and the construction in person. Bravo, Chris, with not a hint of irony.
Next up was Jillian (L), who was simply adorable in a buttercream strapless sweater dress with a brown belt and buttons down the back. She introduced herself and said that she hoped her "very first collection" demonstrated the "passion, heart and soul" that went into it. Of all the collections, Jillian’s appeared to be the most ready-to-wear. She makes phenomenal jackets – one in particular, which was a gray military-style jacket with a hood and red details, was outstanding. In the words of dear Tim, "I want to assert that this coat is fabulous." There were a lot of knits, including several sweaters, although her pants tended to be a little blah. Her construction and detailing overall were impeccable. And her models wore what looked like riding or military hats with crazy plumage running from front to back. All the designers had a thing for hats this year.
Rami, who looks thinner in person and appeared to be wearing a see-through button-down shirt, explained that his collection was meant to "celebrate women," who "should be cherished and treated as beautiful muses." Holla! That means you, Jillian. Rami draped it. A lot. Beautifully done, of course – it's what we expect from Rami. (R)His outfits ranged in color from a deep teal to maroon to that miserable olive from which he made that prom dress. A highlight for me was a floor length gown with a satin woven bodice and then some draping that went from one shoulder down to the opposite side of the floor. Rami got a lot of props from his fellow designers after the show, including little Mr. Bedazzler himself, Ricky, who felt he could easily be the winner.
In my opinion, they saved the best for last with the Cockatiel.(L) Christian came out and said thank you and that the show meant so much to him. He also said that everyone in the audience looked fierce, and I wasn’t even annoyed! He got some cheers for that. Way to suck up, birdboy! The Cockatiel’s collection was heavy, and I mean heavy, on the black and cream. He is soooo high-fashion. With one dress, it was literally difficult to see the model’s face because she was sporting a large-brimmed black fancy hat and many delicate cream ruffles at her neck. He got every little detail right. He built on the couturish dress he made for the "hair-inspired" challenge and showed several looks with layers upon layers of organza and fabrics I can’t even begin to describe. The last few dresses put him over the top – cream and brown vertically layered fabrics... and to my delight, feathers. MACAW! He is so the winner – I’m calling it now.
After the show, I got to chat it up with HeteroKevin, who said the entire event was great and that it was among the best finales ever. He felt that the designers had "kicked it up a notch," and while Jillian got high praise, he also felt Rami and the Cockatiel might be duking it out for the win. I also spoke with Elisa, who had showed her own collection earlier this Fashion Week. Before she even knew I was "press," she was inviting me to her next show. She was really nice and didn’t even spit on me! I took it as a compliment. She gave what she described as her stock prediction for the winner, which was essentially that she refused to predict a winner.
I also spoke with Ricky, tiny little sprite that he is, who was sporting a patent maroon cap (thankfully, no faux jewels or truckers were sacrificed for this look). I’m pleased to report that he was not weeping whatsoever despite the fact that he was just one win away from showing a collection. He admired the "strength" and the "craftsmanship" of the designs shown this morning. Turns out Ricky’s got a lingerie line that just hit Neiman Marcus and will also be in select Nordstrom stores, so we have to give him some props. Little man knows undergarments.
Ricky also said he's got a swimwear line in the works. I asked him if he got a head-start on that with last week's WWE challenge with his orange one-piece, which proved to be his downfall. "At least mine was pretty," he quipped. Such a sassy little bugger. He also had kind words for his Diva, Layla. "Isn't she gorgeous?!" (Not for nothing, but I did spot Sweet P's Diva, Miss "Robe and Reveal" herself, at the show but I didn't get to see her signature move.
So to sum it up, the finale was crazy fierce (I’m a convert, what can I say), and I while I think that the Cockatiel has this all wrapped up, you never really know what will happen. Each of the collections was cohesive, and it was hard to believe that these are, by and large, fledgling designers. I’m calling Sweet P the dark horse! You heard it here first. Back for the final "regular" episode next week. See you then.
http://blogs.nypost.com/tv/archives/200 ... unway.html
Five designers showed this past Friday, but, as we know, 2 designer get aufed this evening!
I have my fave...but, will wait til the finale airs to give you my thoughts!
fuzzy
