Project Stunway

What channel is Lifetime on?

2009-08-20T17:33:00.003-04:00

Wowza. Even though it feels like it's been a bagillion years since the last ep of Project Runway, it still seems like this popped up out of nowhere. I thought the show would be lost in lawsuit limbo forever, but then suddenly:

In four hours and twenty-eight minutes Tim Gunn, Heidi, MK, and NinaGarciaFashionDirectorOfElleMagazine are back in our lives. Yay!

It does not bode well that I have no idea what channel Lifetime is on my teevee. Also we have not had time to update the header of this here Project Stunway blog (clearly, we are now going to be sounding auf on PR6). But despite the rocky start, we are IN.

See you on the runway.

Saucer of Milk: Table Two.

2008-09-04T02:19:00.004-04:00

Raaaaaaaar!

If you saw more than 5 seconds of this week's episode, you KNOW Kenley was PMSing....but what's Heidi's excuse for the extra eye rolls?

P.S. I love how you can add, "but that's just me," to the end of any criticism, and it's automatically less bitchy. Let's try! "Heidi, I think you're a wee bit too old to wear as many sequined mini-skirts as you do....but that's just me..."

See?!

Spies Like Us

2008-09-04T01:28:00.000-04:00

First of all, I would like to assert my firm belief that Tim Gunn and Diane Von Furstenberg are, or were, at some point, involved in a torrid, romantic love affair. I know what you're thinking...but, excuse me, ALL human beings - straight, gay, young, old, fashion forward, or tranny mess - get aroused at the sight of a DVF wrap dress. That's just science. And the way Tim gazes at Diane, and the obvious degree to which he admires her talent (and by talent, I mean LEGS)...well, it's straight out of a romance novel.

(Watch those hands, Timothy!)

Now, what's straight out of a horror film, was my expression upon seeing most of the designers' work this week. Sweet Betty, designers...this is THE Diane Von Furstenberg! The only one who seemed to except the gravity of this challenge, whilst floating above the pressure, was, per ush, the darling Leanne.

Um, WOW. I have not pined for a dress this badly since the red, slinky number from Santino's final collection. And this one is available in mass production! For the bargain basement price of.....

$650.

Yikes. Moving on. The dress was a hit, for sure, and the jacket was cute, although, totally mis-matched. Don't get me wrong, it's adorable. I mean, if it weren't, would Jillian Lewis have worn the exact same thing on every single episode last season?!

Aha, Leanne! Thought you fooled us, huh? Everyone knows you just found Jillian's old sweater under your work table and threw it over your model's shoulders at the last minute! This would ordinarily be an auf-able offense, BUT, I may be willing to keep my mouth shut if you send me one of those dresses for FREE! K? Great. Deal.

I would've preferred Korto's jacket on Leanne's dress, but grey sweaters aside, the win was well-deserved. Still...where was the competition? Kenley's? Really?

Puh-lease. These two, with Joe's drag suit in the middle, look like a couple of extras from (insert flamboyant Broadway musical of your choice here). I'm glad, for Kenley's tear ducts, that Diane liked her dress, but I feel like Heidi made some good points. I mean...that's it? Just a dress...and kind of a simple one at that? It's cute, but...I'm underwhelmed. Let's cut down on the tears and beef up the talent next week, mmk?

Of course, I really can't complain about Kenley's dress without mentioning the absolute stink-bombs from Joe and Stella. Good God, they're downright offensive!

Ugh, I've just vomited in my mouth. The worst part of this whole monstrosity was Joe's enthusiasm for the look. False, the worst part of this whole monstrosity was the HOLE IN THE BACK...but his enthusiasm for such a heinous POS is stomach churning. And Stella? Come on guys, the giant clock on the workroom wall said it was definitely her time to jet. It was probably her time a few weeks ago, but I'm glad we got the chance to know her a bit more....I even have a new respect for biker chic now. Again, false....but she did turn out to be a sweetheart! (And if you want a pic of her losing design, get over to Bravotv.com....I am NOT putting that cape on this blog. Blech.)

Next week's order of business? Blayne and Jerrel. What on Earth are they still doing here? Both seem to subscribe to the philosophy of "If you can't beat 'em, make 'em laugh at the absurdity of your garment!" Exhibits A and B:

Haaaaaaa! Oh boys, you know I love you, but....clock's tickin'....

Live-Blogging in a DVF wrap dress

2008-09-03T20:52:00.036-04:00

Sike, I wish I owned me one of those. I'm wearing a lycra cotton blend dress from an Elder Beerman in Dayton, Ohio. Alright, let's do this.

8:54: Poor Utah. No more Keith!
8:55: Roommate is leaving to get papertowels from Target.
8:56: Last 5 minutes of Bones before we change this channel FOREVER. They are speaking in British accents and saying things like, "..., your grace." I thought this show was set in DC.
8:59: "Ew they were doin it and shit."-- Roommate Lindsey recapping Bones for me.
9:00: Project Runway. Oh, I forgot about the car guy from last week and his accent.
9:01: Leanimal go ahead girl!

"There is criticisms and there is insults. And then, there is Keiths."
9:02: Oh Gawd, Stella looks good in a bikini. Don't front like you wouldn't want to look like that at her age.
9:03: Suede is nervous about the first day with his new roommates. Suede doesn't like Suede's new roommates but Suede is glad to be stayin alive.
9:04: By the end of this season, Heidi will have worn enough fabric to make 1 whole outfit, if you combine all her outfits into one.
9:05: Leanimal: "Legend. That means old right?"
9:06: Blayne wants to marry Mary Kate? For real? Their babies would be awesome.
9:06: That entrance was legendary! Kenley is upset by the legendaryness of the whole thing!
9:06: DVF is confusing the designers with this challenge already. Tim sets everyone up for failure. Designers freak out, understandably.
9:07: Oh no, you have to have an American Express card to buy the winning dress. Presumably, an American Express card with some money on it because you all know that shizz aint cheap.
9:08: Kenley is just... she's tripping.
9:09: Designers are throwing DVF's "babies" all over the place.
9:10: Terri rocks. She makes some sick pants too.
9:11: Blayne looks for MKO in the lookbook.
9:11: Peanut gallery in my living room: "Yikes" re: Suede's sketch.
9:12: Blayne is talking trash about Terri's pants. He's obviously jealo because he has never worn a pair of "pants" in his life, and maybe wonders what it feels like to be in hot Terri pant.
9:13: Kenley is putting a lot of pressure on herself. We are worried.

9:17: Commercial. Back to Bones. They are apparently still hanging out at the British embassy in DC. Oh look there's Embassy Row.
9:18: Living Room re: Jerrell's sketch: "How hard is it to design a glamorous thing? Like, honestly."
9:19: Joe remembers what color won for him last time. Craziest hottest pink. Oh dear.
9:20: Leanimal reveals she has not traveled outside of Portland, AS HERSELF.
9:22: Tim tells Suede that "visually" he's not getting it. But he's getting it ... psychically? Make it work, Suede.
9:23: THIS JUST IN: SUEDE's GOING TO BRYANT PARK.
9:24: Joe's outfit so far... HATED IT.
9:25: Everyone in America is blinded for two seconds after seeing Korto's fabric in motion.
9:26: "This woman, she's traveling, right? She's a traveler right? She's from Paris? Ok?" Gawd, I love Steller.
9:26: Stella in her head: "What is bigger than big?" Outloud: "Huge."
9:27: Kenley agrees, through tears, that designing for DVF is "huge" compared to designing for KMart or Wal-Mart.
9:30: I'm not sure about Stella's outfit but her makeup looks really good under that interview light. I am a Stella convert.
9:31: Living room: "Look at all that leather, man." Yep.
9:32: Tim + DVF are BFF 4ever.
9:33: Lindsey wonders why she thought Kenley was 21 last episode because now she's 25.
9:34: Wow, models are like, really pretty.
9:35: Leanimal thinks, and we agree, that Joe forgot to make part of his outfit.
9:38: Kenley starts crying at the mention of DVF.
9:40: Leanimal's is beautiful, no?
9:42: Blayne is tan.
9:43: Jerrell's crazy hat makes it through to the next round.
9:44: Michael Kors asks Joe what was she thinking.
9:45: DVF likes Kenley's dress, Kenley doesn't hear her because she keeps asking DVF if she "nailed it."
9:47: Heidi likes Leanimal, is pulling for anyone but Kenley.
9:48: Not going to lie I kind of like Suede's jacket. Lindsey kind of likes, "none of it."
9:49: This living room likes Leanimal's the best, we think.
9:50: "Let's be honest," love that Michael Kors.
9:51: Commercial. DVF commercial is pretty-like! Living room wonders how old DVF is.
9:52: I bet this nice piano music plays whenever DVF enters a room. That's what legend means, people.
9:53: "My Best Friend's Girl" looks SO DUMB.
9:54: Living room asks what kind of world we must live in if Dane Cook gets to be a movie star.
9:55: Seriously, does anyone do those text surveys? Ok, fine, Venus Schnitzel!
9:56: Go ahead Leanimal! 2 in a row! Portland, USA!
9:57: Oh no, one of my favorites is going home for sure. Like every week on this show.
9:58: Stella or Joe Stella or Joe Stella or Joe.
9:59: STTTEEEEELLLLLLLLAAAAAA!
9:59: That WAS an ebullient departure, Tim. Bravo! See you next week when someone poops fabric. Can't wait.

Shameless Wonkette live-blogging rip-off, postponed!

2008-08-27T18:07:00.007-04:00

In honor of the hard-working, live-blogging talents at Wonkette.com -- the only people in the universe who can write things that will make me laugh at 9:45 in the morning -- I'm going to live-blog ~~tonight's~~ next week's episode. These are historic times friends, and I'm addicted to MSNBC.

Also, what can I say, them there time zones done confused me. Once I figured out what the hell time it was, I realized I'm too excited to see Bill and Biden speak to blog about how Joe's immunity will no doubt save him from otherwise certain doom tonight (I mean, I'm guessing).

Even still! I will see you on the Stunway!

But no seriously, this shit is funny. Hit refresh, biddies.

Whatcha know Joe

2008-08-22T08:12:00.034-04:00

"It's so far out of my realm that it takes me a good 10 minutes before I could really ... and still, I don't think I can get it really. I have to approach it as if I was making a Halloween costume for my daughters."

No offense, but are Joe's daughters 7-foot tall middle-aged male New Yorkers? Because he seemed to have no trouble with this challenge, despite his initial worries. At one point, it looked like his head may explode.

But we all know what happens, which is why we've gathered together today on Planet Blogosphere.

Marthe knows it's embarrassing. Suede knows it's embarrassing. But it's just something we've got to do, lambs. And, like horribly unfortunate photo montages at weddings and other family events, we should have known it was coming. Project Runway finally breaks the spirit of a good and decent straight man, and the moment must be recognized as an official Project Runway holiday. From now on, no school on August 20ths.

Ladies and gentleladies, I give you, the main event, Joe Detroit, a life in pictures.

Cracking up begins around 7:30 a.m.

Talking shit about Keith by 7:45 a.m.

Dancing in Ann-Margret's bra by lunchtime.

If one day we ever manage to get the image of a guy who looks a lot like our Dads dancing around in Ann-Margret's bra out of our heads-- we will have to give Joe his propers. He ends up having more fun than anyone, makes an appallingly ugly outfit, delights the judges, and wins!

Go ahead with yourself Joe!

But, sorry, I still think Terri got robbed. What does it take for a black woman to get ahead in America, people, for real?

All that and more coming up.

Oh, Rudy!

"I think I need those boots."

2008-08-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, a challenge such as making costumes for female wrestlers, or for not-so-female entertainers, makes the audience scratch their collective head and go, "But what does this have to do with fashion?" To those viewers, I say..."exactly!" It has nothing to do with fashion, mes amis. It's up to the designer to inject their aesthetic in to the challenge. Those who can, go on, and those who resist, are auf. The best contestants make us see something that we can appreciate or admire, even when it's draped around a 7 foot tall drag queen. For instance, Ann-Margret? I want that belt! And Kabuki princess? MK needs those boots, please.

I gotta say, I was impressed with a lot of the designers this week. (As previously stated, I swooned for Joe's jumpsuit.) But some of them? Notsomuch. Terri has become somewhat of an enigma to me. At first, I was screaming for the judges to recognize her talent. But over the past few weeks, they've heeded my calls, yet, I've quit, um, calling. I think she did a great job for her client (who was, by the way, kind of hot as a dude). But it's just....

It's not pretty! What's with the yellow strands? Why the slab of silver on one leg? I know, it's beyond me...because Nina lurved it, and MK thought it was Heaven...but I just do NOT get it. All the same, props to Terri, cuz it flew over my head and into the judges' hearts...

I also kind of hated Jerrell's, but, for different reasons. Mainly, that I have not seen one photo of his creation that didn't leave his queen looking like a munchkin:

SO not pretty.

And then, there's my girl Kenley, who played it pretty much safe this week. That's fine by me, but while I think she was going for Marilyn Monroe, she may have struck a chord closer to Rosemary Clooney....

Just saying.

And then, you have the three boys who have stuck to their guns from day one:

There's something to be said for continuity, unless what you're continually producing is neon, swatched, or boring. Fellas, the jig is up....and it ain't pretty. This week, Daniel, the repeat offender from the Republic of Cocktail Land, bit the dust...but if Keith and Blayne (yeah, I know he was safe this week, but that's only because Jerrell's outfit suuuuuucked) don't step outside their well-established comfort zones, they'll be next on the list...

The rest of the designers? They can keep on, keepin' on. Especially Miss Korto. Her skills for making people look like oversized produce came in handy this week, for real...

Loves it!

Hidden "Talent"

2008-08-21T00:56:00.005-04:00

I LOVE this.

Praise Jeebus for the burst of inspiration from Joe's model, because without his/her help, this pink jumpsuit was headed straight to the bottom three. But the sailor theme kept Team Joe afloat...with immunity to boot! And may I just say, well freaking earned! It's true, I'm partial to anything pink, and anything nautical....so a pink sailor suit is, well, my dream halloween costume, actually, but still, this is clever.

A LIFE PRESERVER BELT BUCKLE?!

And it hides the candy for Miss Marla! Fashion PLUS function! That's what it's all about, people.

Kudos, Joe. More recaps to come...

No, no...MY taste is impeccable.

2008-08-14T10:33:00.014-04:00

Ugh, what a load of crap. And I hate to say it, but Kelli's design belongs right there with 'em. Then again, so did, well, the rest of them. Except, of course, for Blayne's! Heeeere we go, kiddies....

First and foremost, good God, Kelli's outfit was heinous. Like, it was bad. Not bad as in good, bad as in skanky. And in NO way was it Daniel's fault. Is Kelli a better designer than Daniel? Yeah, probs, but dude....Daniel didn't put turquoise on your model's ta-tas. You did that! Perhaps oh ye of impeccable taste should have said something, but it's not like Kelli was listening to him, um, at all.

To me, this garment was beyond help - the flaws were not in the execution, but in the design. Number one: Brooke Shields mentioned that, well, she has hips, and we all know she's birthed a few kiddies in her day, so she probably wants to place the emphasis awaaaaaaaay from her mid-section, rather than having a jacket that lampoons out at the wasit, no? Beyond that, the top fit whore-ibly, the cuffs on the jacket looked silly, and, overall, I don't know what to tell you...it was just...ugs.

Don't feel bad, Kelli, you weren't alone up there! Unfortch, you were up there with the wrong people. Because, Blayne's design....bottom two?! P'scuse! That was cute!!! Yeah, yeah, too casual...WHATEVER. She had pearls on!

I guess I'm just mad because, in the last episode, we learned the lesson that it's perfectly alright to disregard the challenge, as long as your garment is cute in the end! Now you're telling me we have to listen to what the clients say?? How annoying! I feel like Blayne deserved serious props in this ep. HELLO -- this is the first wearable garment he's made! Holla atcha boi, Nina! No?

Well, fine, I'd have to assume a lot of people will disagree with me on Blayne's design, but can we all concur that Korto should have been taken to task for that pumpkin-hued Aladdin number she threw out?!

What the haze? That jacket was straight up stupid. And personally, I'd rather look like a slut than look like a sweet potato, but....perhaps that's just me.

My final comments go the the top two teams - for whom my praise is, um...restrained, at best. I didn't like Keith's skirt, but I have a difficult time criticizing Kenley, so I'll stop there. And I thought Jerella's design was a bit nuts, but if you're asking me if I could see this:

Wearing this:

The answer is, "BWAAHAHAHAHA! Um...yes."

You let it out, honey.

2008-08-14T10:32:00.002-04:00

Yeeeeaaah, but the primary hole in this argument is that DANEIL SHOULD'VE WON THE FIRST CHALLENGE.

One more reason to love Blayne...

2008-08-12T21:34:00.002-04:00

...and Kenley!

Back in the Game!

2008-08-10T19:57:00.015-04:00

I have a confession to make:
I'm obsessed with DVR.

I'm also unemployed. One of those may have some influence on the other, but, no matter. What does matter is that I, too, am back, darlings! And not only am I back on the Stunway - I am sans job, and avec a whole queue of DVR'd Project Runway! Bliss doesn't quite capture my emotional state...it's more like, ah yes, euphoria! And so, after my 17th viewing of "Rings of Glory," I have much to say...but let's start with this:

Hey, you! With the blue fauxhawk! Um, did you think we weren't going to notice this??

Um, no, honey...that's the same dress, with a different neckline. And it wasn't even as cleverly disguised as a Rami Kashou drape job, it was more like the slap-you-in-the-face, ohmigod-he-already-MADE-that variety, that we saw in last season's non-final finale...

Yeah, that's right, you hit us with the Chris March Madness! I guess it doesn't matter in the end, since Suede just joined the middle-of-the-pack desginers who completely blew off the challenge, but, still! Someone had to call out ol' diamond vest. So, I'm just saying, Suede...you're on notice.

The next notable designer, to me, is Kenley - that sweet, adorable hyena. I am the least mad at her for totally ignoring the challenge because A) duh, I friend crush her and 2) I loved her outfit! But...let's pause for a moment to imagine 250 of this walking down a track in China...

Ha! Oh, Ken, that would be ridic. I mean, not as ridic as Jerrell's, but....hey! That reminds me! Everyone back off of Jerell! I LOVED his skirt (HATED his belt, but LOVED his skirt), so let's just chill on the J-bashing, k judges?

Uuuunnnnless the J in question is Joe, because, nothing great was ever achieved by a man who loves skorts. And his slight hints of passive-aggressivo and homophobia are not making him any friends in the workroom (or the audience). So while he may have gotten a leg up through his dabble in sportswear, he earned a thumbs down for his workroom etiquette and personality en general. Plus, come on, this is reality tv...in the end, we can likely forgive a silly design more easily than a crappy persona...

Exhibit Blayne! Blayne has decided to use the exact same color scheme and shoddy, asymmetrical workmanship in every challenge, and yet...I love. He pouts better than I do (a feat to be marveled at!), he doesn't know who the Beatles are, and the more his skin fades, the more I find him adorable. B, you can stay. For now. Sorry, Ringo!

And finally, I have to hand it to Korto. She got the challenge, she used innovative materials, and she created a garment that made me proud to be an American. Dare I say it, I salute you, Miss Korto! Keep up the good work....

...but go easy on Kenley, cuz I won't have nobody talking smack on my homegirl.

WTF, USA?

2008-08-09T19:45:00.003-04:00

Lest ye assume that the Season 5 designers were the only ones missing the point of the Olympic Games, I give you, Ralph Lauren's Vision of Team USA!

(Complete with fearless leader, of course.)

So, to be clear, we are a nation of US Airways pilots, in, um, newsboy caps. And the one in the middle? He's in charge.

I'd like a one-way ticket to the Republic of Cocktail Land, please.

House of Plain

2008-08-09T19:00:00.002-04:00

I am personally offended by the following barrage of bland:

Ugh! I can't even say it's vanilla. It's the stuff they call "vanilla" when you get frozen kefir, but really, it tastes more like "plain."

In fashion (and in my opinion, in life) there is no greater sin than vanilla. The whole point of getting dressed each day, is to tell the world something about yourself with what you throw on. I mean, I guess there's also some utilitarian purpose to robing...like, to keep warm...or abide by laws and societal norms...but really, really, it's to broadcast. A designer should fundamentally understand that...and not just understand it, but encourage it! Unfortch, from day one, Jennifer has shrouded her model in loose fitting fabric, dowdy designs, and humble hues.

Sorry, Ringo, mais, putting a gorgeous girl with a perfect body in the outfits above is a traveshamockery of the worst degree. And, yeah, I guess her very first attempt was cute(ish), but I feel like, given more paper towels, she'd have made that lil' number floor length! Bottom line: There's a difference between working what you got, and hiding what you got...and Jennifer? She's been playing hide n' seek all season.

I will simply not have the rest of the world think that this aesthetic represents our entire great nation. Kudos to you, judges, for recognizing that it's better to walk out the door in a floppy, polka dot hat, than to never get noticed at all.

Kerri Strug can do it, so can you.

2008-08-07T08:14:00.024-04:00

I am not sure some of these designers had heard of "the Olympics" before last night's challenge, so maybe we should pause for a Merriam-Webster moment:

Olympic Games, pl.n.
1. A group of modern international athletic contests held as separate winter and summer competitions every four years in a different city.
2. A Pan-Hellenic-du-Blonde festival in ancient Greece consisting of athletic games and contests of choral poetry and dance, first celebrated in 776 B.C. and held periodically until A.D. 393 on the plain of Olympia in honor of the Olympian Zeus.
3. An ancient ritual involving old Romanian dudes and freakishly tiny American girls with sprained ankles and great attitudes.

I mean, I guess I can see how this could be confusing. Maybe our designers ... didn't own TVs during those years ... or ... don't live in cities with TVs in every building ... or went on fabulous vacations during the Olympics every summer. Judging from their faces, they seem to have some deep-seated issues with the Olympics stemming from childhood, perhaps causing them to block out all recollection of the thing.

Blayne's like, "The Olympics, man, I don't know what those are but I saw a movie once about them. The athletes weren't playing themselves but it was pretty sweet I guess."

Yeah, they hate it.

At least the straight one is happy.

BTW: Someone somewhere led Bravo to believe that all straight men look like Joe and Kevin. It's like they troll the streets of Detroit for Irish/Italian-looking guys with facial hair ("He's straight, let's get him!"), toss 'em in the back of a van and drive directly to Parsons.

Actual picture of Kevin C. from Season 4 after seeing Tiki Barber.

Yeah yeah, ok. So we knew the designs were going to be bad, but really, they exceeded all of my expectations. Some of these are wonderfully, hilariously bad.

The group of designers who unfortunately confused The Olympics with an arguably equally competitive sporting event, the Macy's After-Thanksgiving Day Sale:

Representing Utah: Keith.

Kelli.

Kenley.

Daniel my brother.

Jennifer.

And my favorite....

Jerell. Bahahahahaa! Wtf? Love it.

Don't get me wrong, I think most of these are adorable, and snaps to the designers. It is only the total disregard for the challenge itself that I think is so great. Gold medals to this team.

Time to start my actual job ... more recaps to come! <3 x <3 x <3

A note about Stunway: Helene, Maud and I haven't been able to post as much lately due to nouveau jobs, apartments, cities, schools. But Mama's back, kids. Let's party.

Going back to 'taly

2008-08-07T08:09:00.001-04:00

Stunway on Location: Dayton, OH

2008-07-31T16:50:00.003-04:00

Yesterday morning, a friend of similar stature (read: petite) and I took on the seemingly insurmountable task of loading a one bedroom apartment into a 16 foot moving truck, then moving said truck to Dayton City, USA. It was a lot like Crossroads, except without the stupid Mimi girl. And we didn't have to sing Joan Jett in front of a bunch of strangers...we chose that, actually. Anyway, the point is you'd think after all that I'd want to hit the hay immeidately upon arrival at Maison du Blonde, mais non. I stayed up til 2 to watch some DVR'd PR, and though I was barely concious (and according to my travel companion, hallucinating) I still feel confident in the following assertion:

Leanne was robbed.

More to come, like, when I'm not blogging on my iPhone and driving at the same time. (Shh...it's cool. Everything's legal in Ohio.)

Jillian Lewis Answers Prayers Via Sweater Dress

2008-07-27T21:50:00.008-04:00

According to the all-knowing PR source, my faaaaavorite Season Four contestant, Jillian Lewis, will be gracing the globe with her fall collection...wait for it...this August!!! That's practically tomorrow, people! Better get those credit cards ready, because I'm pretty sure you'll want one of everything...

For more details and pics, head over to our friends at Blogging Project Runway. For info on the dress I plan to purchase the second it becomes available, see below:

YAY!

LeathUGH!

2008-07-24T09:45:00.005-04:00

I try so hard to stay positive when I blog. I realize that I was super hard on Ricky (and Carmen, and Sweet P...) last season, and I feel bad about ripping him so often, so I felt determined to be nicer to the designers this season.

Then, I met Stella.

STELLA!!!!!!!!! I can't handle her. I just can't. I hated her dress this week SO much. I think if it had passed through in the middle, I would have only been mildly nauseous (like I am about Jerell's atrocity). But the Top 3? Praise from Micheal Kors, for something that looks like a Hot Topic employee's prom dress? That, I will not stand for.

I'm sorry, but put simply, this is crap:

Apparently, Nina feels that shiny, tiny and short is the fastest way to look cheap. I agree, and I might add that shiny, tiny, short and LACED UP THE SIDES is an even more precise path to Trash Town? I mean...GOODNESS. What on God's green Earth is that thing?! Thank God for Natalie Portman, that little dose of sanity in the crazy caucus that is the PR judges' table. You could see her gritting her teeth, trying (and comme moi, failing) so hard to be positive. She was all, "Um...I kind of hate asymmetrical...um, on me...but, on other people? I guess...well...it could be nice." No, NatP! Don't give into Nina's hateful glare! Stand up for yourself!

The thing that irks me most, is that it's not like the judges were strapped for better dresses. This time, the award for "OMG How Did They Snub This?!" goes to Miss Terri. All three fashion forward (and might I add, adorable) inhabitants of my apartment shrieked in delight when this number took the stage. The top photographs un peu provocateur, but on the runway, it was a hit. Love the collar, love the belt, love the styling, love the model (SUCH good models this year!)...love it all. Love you, Terri. Well done.

Of course, had she made the top 3 she'd have faced some serious competition in the form of Kenley and Suede. First, let's talk Kenley. Have I told you lately that I love her? I haven't friend-crushed on a reality star this hard since Whitney from The Hills...but, no, seriously, Kenley and I need to be friends. Especially if she can teach me how to wear deep red lipstick without looking like The Joker - I am so, deeply jealous of people who can pull off that look. Anyway, girl crush aside, she's a fantastic designer. I absolutely adore the dress she made for this challenge, and I think I may have officially deemed her my new Jillian for the season.

And then, there's Suede. Wicked annoying, yet astonishingly talented. I can't believe the craftsmanship on this dress. He had the same crappy "remnants of nonsense" as everyone else, and yet, he melded them together in a way that was uniquely appealing. NatP gushed, Heidi's younger alter-ego swooned, and even MK bowed to the tulle. While I think Kenley's design was clearly more chic, Suede's was just plain cool...and you have to give credit where credit's due. But it's lucky for him someone from Bluefly wasn't on the panel, because they'd have gone for the other dresses in a heartbeat. This creation is gonna be a bitch and a half to mass produce.

And then, there were the losers, or as Stella (ugh, Stella!) would say, the "loosahs"...

Yikes. In the immortal words of Laura Bennett, that is some serious ugly. But, in the end, Wesley's frock was so tacky, it personally offended Nina. And when you offend Nina, you know what happens...auf with his head! Still, I'm a bit conflicted about Wes' departure. I mean, on the one hand, I felt like he had a lot of potential...but on the other, what sort of vision can someone in boat shoes really bring to the table?

The rest of the designers skated through with ease, which I know upset a few of the Blayne-haters out there. I do see where the haters are coming from - B, stop trying to make "licious" happen - but I am still giving him time to grow on me. And people, his Stella impression? It's growing on me.

Hélène hates herself for loving you.

2008-07-24T08:11:00.009-04:00

Ooooh, Suede. In all your denim vested, blue fauxhawked, third-personed glory, I just had to grow to loathe you. And then, you go and do this...

...and you just make me love you! Damn it!
I even want those shoes!!!

Oh the deep, internal struggle that is PR fandom.
(Recap on it's way in a few. Mama need her coffee first, kids.)

P is for Pterodactyl

2008-07-23T14:16:00.001-04:00

Also, for previews:

Two dudes kind of remember seeing Kelli in high school

2008-07-22T22:10:00.010-04:00

Wayside Stories from Westland High School, Galloway, Ohio.

Sam:
"I don't think I'm going to say anything very quotable. So you want to know about this girl from my high school. So just talk about her, is that it? Yes. Ok. So, I don't think I ever had class with her, but she was one of the people that stood out because most of the people at my school were pretty boring. She was one of the goth kids, but not like the trenchcoat, all-black kind of goth. More of the dye your hair pink, wear spiky things... sort of Lords of Acid goth. Also personality wise, from what I could tell, she was outgoing. Julian's girlfriend was probably friends with her. So she may have something more to say? Do you have Julian's number or email? I think that's it really. I didn't actually know her, or probably ever talk to her. I think she was one or two grades ahead of me. Probably just one."

Gabe:
"Yeah! And I totally remember her ... I think she used to have more piercings and those big sinister go-go boots."

Fascinating!

"I saw something ... that looked... strange." (For Hélène)

2008-07-22T15:59:00.005-04:00

Poor Jerry.

Not a great sign when Nina's opinion of your outfit could work as testimony in a Law and Order episode. Or when MK does his pyscho killer impression.

Indie Influx

2008-07-22T15:05:00.010-04:00

Speaking of hipster overdose, it appears that Natalie Portman will be the guest judge for Wednesday's green challenge.

Hmm....this Natalie Portman?

I mean, did Leanne make all of these?
It's kind of in the bag, indie chicks.

Keeping up with the Joneseseseses

2008-07-22T08:42:00.032-04:00

This season's designers are fab! Besides being cuter than 10 minutes on the DailyPuppy.com, they also seem to want to win and be great, and not in an evil way. It's too early to know if they're going to be as oddly selfless as last season's group (which if you will remember was like, "Frankly, I think I should go home because really it's the right thing to do. I love my team/ hate myself."), but they are just as adorable. Let's meet the Joneseseses.

In no particular order unless most favorite to least favorite counts as an order:

Leanimal:

Rrrrroarrr, girlfriend. Get those raspberries.

Self-proclaimed the "Silent Fashion Assassin," Leanne tells us she hails from all the way out-in- left-field-Portland. Yeah, I thought she was going to be like, "all the way from Peoria, ~~Wisconsin~~ Illinois." Mais non. Portland it is. What I love about Leanne, aside from her awesome clothing line name, is her awesome clothing line.

Oui.

Oui!

Wee!

Also loved when Leanimal was like, "I had no idea where we were going. An amusement park... a zoo ... a farm .... a rodeo ... a hemp festival... " At which point during the show Maud wondered if Leanimal wasn't on her first field trip to New York. Cute.

Leanne's dress. Eeehhh... Not the best, not the worst. She gets points for making her model look like a pink toy poodle, something I'm currently in the market for.

Call me if you've seen this dog. I will buy.

Jennifer Golightly:

I liked Jen's Holly Golightly / Dali portfolio less than Leanimal's, but her personality is super fun and she just seems salt of the earth, this one. J Ho will probably prove to be another season 5 silent fashion assassin, but an Italian one, even scarier.

Things we have in common:

I also regret not brushing my teeth (this morning).
I love Italy.

Things we do not have in common:

I would actually love to meet Tim Gunn when wearing nothing but a towel, because then he could dress me. (Tim Gunn, if you're reading this, I'm wearing a towel. Please help.)

Kenley Kennelley III:

Um, btw, where did Bravo pick up all these indie girls? It's like Tim Gunn walked into a Tegan and Sara show in a Velcro Suit and fled out the back with whoever was hanging on. I mean, they're sweet. But Jennifer/Leanne and Kenley/Emily are sort of doppelgangerish, no?

Kenley's look is one of my favorites. I'm not a fan of strapless anything usually, but this is cute and flirty, and it probably doesn't hurt that her model has a perfect body. Her portfolio is kind of rad too.

This reminds me of something I would buy when suffering from a Potbelly milkshake sugar high during a shopping trip. Makes no sense, can wear it nowhere, love it, will pay with Visa.

Kelli de Columbus, Local Hero:

Kelli de Columbus, I love. First of all she reminds me of my friend Michelle, Vice President of GNC, also from Columbus, also totes rad. Secondly, Kelli went to high school with my designer friend Gabe (designer friend Gabe's website), and kindred spirit-- also Gabe's best friend and Michelle's brother-- Sam. (Sam's website.) My point here is not to shamelessly promote my genius friends, but rather to show you how Kelli's awesomeness is not surprising given her stomping grounds. There's something in the white russians in Columbus I tell you.

Moving on. I agree with Helene that the coffee filters are ... something I'd rather see in coffee pots than on boobs. And I love coffee. Maybe if there was some intravenous caffeine device cleverly hidden behind the filters... otherwise, I call wardrobe malfunction, cute skirt.

Daniel my brother, you are older than me... :

... But that's ok I would still have your little baby animals.

Daniel is foxy, literally. "If I wasn't a designer, I'd be a zoologist." Hi Daniel, um, me too. I've said for years that if I wasn't a secretary at a nonprofit or wannabe blogger, I'D be a zoologist! We are obvs MFEO.

Sigh. Our sexuality stars may not align, but at the very least he and I have been to some of the same parties.

From Dan's portfolio:

Ruff! Love it!

Whew! There are so many designers! What is this, week 1?

Back in a few with more Joneseseseses.

Stunway on Location

2008-07-19T14:00:00.001-04:00

Coming atcha, live from the source.

Vitamin D Gone Wild

2008-07-18T10:10:00.005-04:00

At 9:13 p.m. this Wednesday, I decided that season 5 is maybe already the best season ever.

Recap coming pronto. In the meantime, welcome back and SUP HOLLAA!!

"Do I think it's pretty? No."

2008-07-16T22:36:00.027-04:00

You know how sometimes, you don’t truly realize how much you miss someone, until you finally get to see them again? Yeah…that’s how I feel about Michael Kors. It’s just, I’m sorry, but that snarky little man is my everything. Each time I hear him say, “she turned the corner,” I writhe in anticipation of the verbal onslaught about to befall his unwitting prey. He just makes this show for me.

Having said that, um...the bitch is out of his friggin gord! He thinks “a girl's gonna really wanna wear” THIS?

Pardonnez-moi, Michelle, however, I am a girl (and a fairly girly one at that), but you couldn’t pay me to trot around Manhattan with coffee filters on my boobs. (False: you so could. But I’m on the brink of incurring massive student loan debt, so don't judge.) Who exactly would WANT to wear that dress?! The skirt, maybe, okay...it kind of looks Anthro, actually. And the hooks made out of notebook rings? Um, yes…talk about innovation. But the TOP! For the love of God, judges, THE TOP! It's burnt coffee filters with some sort of perverse, peekaboo triangle! I’m not saying don’t give Kelli the silver, because, sure, she deserves at least that….but first prize totally should’ve gone to my boy Daniel. His buxom beauty worked the hell out of those solo cups, and ya know, given the right circumstance, that just might be something a girl would want to wear...

The "right circumstance," being some sort of Jetsons-themed sorority function, but still.

Also, remember when I said that Kelli deserved the silver? I lied. Daniel deserved second, and KENLEY deserved immunity! But, alas, she wasn't even in the top 3! Wassup, Nina?! This photo doesn't do her creation justice, and, in my opinion, her snubbing is a travesty on par with Jillan's exclusion in the menswear challenge...

PS calls BS...HELLO – that’s a couple of lawn chairs and a dodge ball up there, people! So, for the best combination of wearable and innovative, my vote goes to Miss Kenley. Congrats, love.

And who should’ve been auf’d? Well, therein Michael found his sanity...albeit through his description of a mad scientist. MK's face after describing this outfit was PRICELESS (we're working on the screenshot, of course). Lest ye forget, he and Nina said Jer's creation looked "like what you’d wear if you were gonna kill someone.” That’s Kors gold. Just brilliant. Also, dead on. The model was so, clearly pissed about wearing those gloves; she looked on the verge of a murderous rampage.

Aside from that, I can’t even get IN to Blayne and Stella right now....there are too many words....

I've so much more to say on the models, the mayhem, and the Michael, but I simply must get to bed. I’m seeing the inventor of the Interwebs tomorrow, and I have got to look good when I thank him for making this blog possible...

Sleep tight, stunnas.

When reality becomes a fantasy...

2008-07-16T09:02:00.010-04:00

Welcome back, PR faithful! Now that we have full access to the new casts' bios (gracias, BPR!), it's time we all take a long, hard look at their body of work, formal training, and, um, actually....screw that. Let's pick teams!

It's time, once again, for Fantasy Project Runway! As some of you may recall, last year, Team DanielVosovicShouldveWon tragically underperformed, finishing in something like two millionth place (out of two million). But this year, I am determined to break the top 100! For this reason, I have decided to choose my team in the same tried and true manner by which I created my March Madness bracket. That is to say, nonsensically. And so, I give you, Team DuBlonde!

Yeah, drink it in, bitches. My logic is quite simple, really. First and foremost, did you read Keith's bio? His personal mantra is, "Get noticed, or go home." Um, MINE TOO! In, Keith. You. Are. In. And Kelli? Well, she's from Columbus, so...done. And sure, there were 2 contestants from the O-H, however, on Kelli's myspace page, she has really pretty red hair, but now, she's a blond. And I kind of love people who change up their hair color all the time and still look cute, so, Kelli - you can stay. And that leaves Leanne. Leanne made this:

Pretty! I'm sold.

I hope everyone caught the sneak peek of tonight's episode during last night's Flipping Out, but if you missed it, you may be delighted to hear that we'll be kicking off this season à la corn husk dress...meaning, at the market! And not just any market...Gristedes! Hooray! Well, wait, I kind of hate Gristedes. That place always smells like soup, and I cannot pronounce it's name for the life of me (which is why I always call it, "Crescendos"), but it was the site of a pretty fierce challenge once upon a season one, so, I'm psyched to see it set the stage for Challenge Un. Get excited, friends!

***UPDATE: Upon viewing the 60-second life stories, Kelli has been brutally auf'd from the team, in favor of Jerrell, who is, by the way, fabulous. Sorryboutchaluck, KelBel.***

Clothes Encounters of a Fierce Kind

2008-07-15T10:56:00.008-04:00

Famous NYC attorney, my friend, Matthew Skinner attended the Tonys recently (whenever the Tonys were) and ran into His Fierceness, Christian Siriano. Amazing.

Mr. Skinner also hung out with Rami "his pants are even tighter in person" Kashou at a gay bar "last weekend." Read on for deets and other Stunway celeb sightings.

Matt Skinner sits down with Project Stunway over a cup of Facebook:

Project Stunway: Matt. Can you tell me why and how you are partying with CS? I am excited and it wasn't even me.

Famous NYC Attorney Matthew Skinner: Haha, it wasn't so much partying with him as it was running into him outside the Tonys and standing next to him for 2 seconds while my friend took the photo.

In other news, though, I did see Rami last weekend at a gay bar. He, however, was surrounded by a harem of gorgeous male supermodels that did not give me a bloody inch to make a move and try to get a photo. Also, his pants are even tighter in person.

Project Stunway: Very nice! do i have permission to blog?

Famous NYC Attorney Matthew Skinner: Of course! And please use my name. This is the closest to my 15 minutes I may ever have. And everyone at the firm already knows about it anyway, I e-mailed it to all the recruiting people to put it on the brochures for next year.

Project Stunway: Totes fierce! I'll let you know when it's up.

Other Stunway Sightings:
DC socialite Nancy Powaga was running on the National Mall last week when she spied our favorite Bravo beauty queen, Kayne Gillaspie.

Nancy: guess who i saw at lunch!?

me: WHO

Nancy: Kayne Gillaspie

me: shut it

Nancy: it's shut

i was running on the mall

and he was across the street

with some man

and they were wearing matching outfits

he was wearing white shorts and a black tanktop

me: perfect

Kayne and "some man" ~~Warren~~?

A very good place to start.

2008-07-14T14:23:00.010-04:00

Spoiler Alert: Austin Scarlett is AMAZING.

Oh, and he'll be the guest judge for Wednesday's episode. Say it with me, people...YAAYAYAYAYAYAYYYAYAAAYYY!!!

This should ensure that anyone incapable of couture gets to steppin' week one, because Austin will not tolerate anything less than haute. The episode summary for Let's Start From the Beginning, states that the designers will be forced to "think outside the box," and construct an outfit from "unconventional materials." Hmm...dunno what that means. Also, don't care! Everybody, Austin's back!!!

I hope he wears his cape.

"A Big Wow"

2008-07-10T09:47:00.002-04:00

Project Mum-way?

2008-07-07T12:23:00.010-04:00

Does anyone else think it's weird that the new promos for Season 5 don't, um, promote Season 5?

Well, I certainly do, and apparently the fellas over at Project Rungay have some worries as well. They've taken an interesting cut at some theories for this perplexing marketing strategy...and also included clips of the promos in question. See for yourself:

Click, click!

(Here's hopin' it's not theory one - good loooooorddd.)

Take me to your leader.

2008-03-13T22:00:00.010-04:00

* Correction: his Fierceness is from Annapolis, not Baltimore. Wishful thinking. My bad.

I come in peace.

Yeah, take me to your leader please, what's his name... Tim Gunn. One million high-fives to his Fierceness, but I really feel that had the Guide to Style Taste and Class been the surprise guest judge, instead of Ms. and-I-am hard-to-make-smile-Beckham, a lil lady from Long Island would be America's next top American designer, and not the lil lady from Annapolis. Although I heart Vicky B., I fear she has joined the long (ok, it's not long) list of guest judges on Project Runway who make really obvious decisions, but everyone still has to listen / be nice to.

So Tim, Whooo will be the next great American designer? Methinks it is the woman whose vision led to this:

And this...

this guy...

And this, whatever it is. I like very much.

Bravo!

Mais non, and our girl J is the 1st to go. (That's a burn, Bravo, I'm not sure you know.) Don't hit your head on the glass ceiling on your way out, Jill. I mean, what does it take for a woman to get ahead in this town? (This town = Bravotv.com.) If I were a Hillary supporter, I would make some inane comment here in manner of G. Ferraro. Actually, I do support Hillary for many reasons, so I'll go ahead and do it: Christian is very lucky he's a tiny, fierce, gay man with interesting hair. He would not be in the position he is in if he and VB did not wear the same size pants or share a love for black. That's all I will say. Until I say it three more times and am forced to resign.

Oh, wait... I will also say,

Ok. If you think I've made my point, you're right, I'm almost done.

It is like they always say, a picture montage of five boring black outfits is worth a thousand words. Where is the love, Christian? Where is the pop of color? Where is the Marthe can see herself in this outfit? Where is the "smile" for people who are not amused by the same things as Victoria Beckham? Maybe I have a Brady Bunch color problem similar to Rami's. And I admit, I also have a bias-- black does unkind things to my Irish skin. In the right month of winter I can look absolutely see-through.

Black is just major.

Christian's line was fierce though, no doubt about that. But, sorry Maryland, not my favorite.

Now my boy Rami, I love very much.

Except for this first one, which reminds me of those paper weaving projects we used to do in grade school. You know which ones I'm talking about? The strips of paper and the weaving? Yeah.

Hot. Love.

Work it.

Except for the sleeves on this guy, I love very much. That is one thing I will say about the final collections this year-- they all seemed to have a sleeve problem. It's like ever since Elisa inspired MK to say, "If spitting on your clothes makes a sleeve like that, then spit on them!" ... the designers have been trying too hard to be sleevey. I wouldn't doubt they are all secretly spitting on their garments at home. No me gusta. (Jillian's short blue dress was sleevey, too.)

I heart Michael Knight and his braces! Still!

Predictable British people or no, I loved the finale and all three collections. I can't wait to see what they do next, and I can only hope it includes something that will make an appearance in a TJ Maxx someday! Bravo, Rami, Jillian and Christian! Hearts and stars forever.

Lambs, I have to rest up for my drive to SJP's homeland tomorrow. Bachelorette party in Columbus. (Not my own, but for a very dear friend and, I believe, fellow Jillian supporter, Ms. O'Neill.) Have peaceful and happy weekends everyone.

Xtina responds with 'f' word to People's punny headline

2008-03-10T22:03:00.007-04:00

Runway Winner Reacts with 'F' Word to SNL skit

Christian Siriano caught Amy Poehler’s impression of him on Saturday Night Live over the weekend and the Project Runway winner has just one word — an ‘F’ word — for the skit. And, no, it wasn’t “fierce.”

“I thought it was SO FUNNY,” the 22-year-old designer wrote in an e-mail to PEOPLE. “Amy [Poehler] looked exactly like me which is kinda scary, but fabulous.”

Known for his catty commentary and catchphrase, “That’s fierce,” the pint-sized designer wasn’t the only Project Runway personality to be parodied in the three-minute sketch about a hypothetical Runway spinoff, which features Siriano giving someone an apartment makeover. While Poehler played Siriano, the skit also featured guest host Amy Adams playing Runway host Heidi Klum and SNL castmember Bill Hader imitating Tim Gunn.

“The fact that they are even talking about me is so fierce, fabulous and flawless and is such an honor,” Siriano told PEOPLE. “[Poehler] was hilarious and little. It was so crazy that she looked just like me!”

And Poehler didn’t just nail Siriano’s sassy tone — she perfectly approximated his flat-ironed hair. “The hair was absolutely perfect,” Siriano wrote. “I don’t think I could have done it better myself. It was fierce!” –Brian Orloff and Rennie Dyball

This People article is here.

Fierce fabulous and flawless

2008-03-10T21:52:00.001-04:00

Recaps and gossip

2008-03-08T17:18:00.004-05:00

JimC + SweetP 4eva

ASLO, there's a feud a brewin' between our dearest Tim Gunn and that ice princess, Victorya!

Tim tells all...

Victorya responds, totally proves him right.

"Me getting ready."

2008-03-07T15:10:00.010-05:00

If you can't see Marion's sexy pose or caption here, he is in a sexy pose and it says: "I like to have photos from throughout the years. I'm a romantic."

Aww. Ooh, Marion.

Anyway, Bravo is getting all cool and Internety lately (except for that MyBravo incident-- really bad), which means more fun things to see and do. Today I browsed the "photo diaries" of all the Season 4 designers, and they are tres cute.

More recaps coming soon, lambs...

Über Fierce

2008-03-06T08:04:00.027-05:00

Had you suggested back in November, that I'd be pulling for the feisty Mr. Peepers lookalike to take home Season 4's Saturn Astra...um...I'd have told you to get right out of town. But last night, when I saw Christian Siriano get misty-eyed on the runway, well, I teared up right along with him. Talk about a great ending, people! In a season so light on personality and heavy on talent, top prize went straight to the standout designer on both fronts. Christian was our favorite person to watch on camera, and, undoubtedly, the most vivacious designer. He was the fan favorite and the judges' favorite, and how many past winners can we say that about?

I'm so pleased that my little Xtina won, but, I loved all the collections, really. Well, no, not Rami's. His colors are reminiscent of Chloe Dao, and I just cannot handle that. (I'm probably not going to talk about the fact that he came in second, because I'm in a very positive mood right now.) And, I loved Jillian's collection, obviously. In fact, my absolute, favorite piece of the night belonged to her.

Those are pants. Pants! Come on, that's sweet. I could totally see that on the red carpet, plus, it's super-innovative. And while her final piece was my fave, she, of course, had a few others I loved...

And, I have to admit, one that I hated...

What is that, fencing uniform chic? Ummm, not my fave, darling. But, I do still love me some Jillian, and I was super sad to see her sulk off in third place. (Seriously? Third? Bullshit. Okay, I digress.) But, let's be real...although her "feminine attitude" was well-received by the judges, imagine if she had won. Would she have shed tears of joy? Or jumped on Heidi Klum's back and ridden down the runway? Or even bitingly replied "Yeah," when Tim asked if she could believe her luck? Probablement non.

But THIS little guy? He just wanted it more! And let me tell you something - his collection was fierce. A tad monotonous, to be sure, and that was my concern when I viewed the collections online weeks ago. But when you got to see the pieces close-up, you could easily recognize the details and definition in each piece. The fabric contrasts, the color transitions...to me, they flowed beautifully. I started to realize my love for his collection when he was fitting Lea for this little number:

Instructions for wearing this dress include "It's not all about comfort!" and "Be really skinny! Don't eat!" But who cares? It's badass! I wouldn't normally expect myself to swoon over a design like this, but something about the leather spoke to me. Me and Michael Kors. Me, and Michael Kors, and Victoria Beckham, apparently.

I mean, MK and I are kind of pushovers, but Posh is not easy to make smile. And who could blame her for grinning with all those big hats and feathers coming down the runway! It's all so, I don't know, dressup! The judges had very few criticisms of Senor Siriano, but I appreciated Michael's critique when he said, "Let's be frank - not everyone can wear what you wear," to Mrs. Beckham. And, that's true, Posh would look precisely one million times better in Christian's clothes than would the average American woman. But the same could've been said for (well, every article of clothing, ever, but...) Rami's pieces, and definitely for Jillian's. I mean, I'd like to see someone who's not 5'10" and 120 pounds pull off that gold and sheer thingy she created. And while some of Christian's looks were more art than function, he balanced well between fantasy and ready-to-wear. For instance, maybe you wouldn't see someone rolling down the street in this:

But, the idea of the neckpiece, and the style of the hat, well, they're sort of awesome. And pared-down a bit...

it's a lot more wearable, non? Not to mention, um, féroce. So, in the end, I think the $100G went to the right diva, and I can't wait to see more from Christian in the future - perhaps, if we're lucky, at Victoria Beckham's next red carpet appearance...

When 3 become 1...

2008-03-05T07:44:00.004-05:00

Some of you (ahem, John) may have noticed my absence from the Stunway over the past 3 weeks. Please rest assured, that my disappearance was not due to lack of PR love - in fact, quite the opposite! I have been far too excited about the final collections to talk about ANYTHING else, darlings! Now that those puppies ready to be broadcast on Bravo, I can't wait to simulcast my corresponding opinions...and, believe me, I have some opinions....

See you tomorrow, bitches.

Thrilling, huh?

2008-02-26T20:02:00.027-05:00

Thrilling indeed, Tim! Last Wednesday was just a treasure, a closet-full of surprises. Who knew Jillian was so good at impressions? Who knew Heidi was so bad at impressions? Christian wins fan favorite? Michael Kors used to wear diaper pants? Rami is hot? Michael Knight still has the braces?

Still has the braces. I heart Michael Knight!

Speaking of Rami. Excuse-moi ... Ramilicious? Doesn't Rami know that if you are the hot one you shouldn't make jokes about, like, being the hot one? Maybe in Israel hot people are just hot. Not in America buddy.

Bahahaa just kidding, Ramilicious totally works for me. Bring it on Rami! Team Stunway accepts your challenge!

Someone else seemed to like Ramilicious as well, Steven. Did anyone else think that was sort of awkward when Steven went on and on about Rami's many "talents"?
Ok, me too! Loved it! Check them out:

"He took a long hard look at my arms and then played golf for a while."

So yes, the reunion show was thrilling. But maybe also a little awkward. A little kooky? A little home-sewn. But c'est la vie of reality TV characters. Soo less funny and much more awkward than your generic sitcom mom and dad. But also why we heart them, and last week, heart them we did.

Um, except for Carmen. Her cardigan attitude was really horrible, and she was edited to look like she had beef to stir-fry with anyone who had ever claimed to be associated with Season 4. To her credit, it must kind of suck to watch your friends-in-quotes say things like "thank GOD it wasn't us and instead that genie-pants-making lady went home." But honestly, Carmen ... baditude-- not a good look for you!

Another great moment was when Sweet P was like, "My favorite part is that I'm now more famous than Brad Pitt."

Oh honey. More famous? Try as famous as. That's closer to the truth by at least 0 percent.

Also loved seeing Michael Kors lose it. I think it's safe to say that if Traver Rains or any other part of Heatherette is looking at you like you're a fool, something really crazy is going on.

[Ridiculous designer looks at Michael Kors as though Michael Kors is the ridiculous one.]

Yes, there were so many great, happy moments throughout this season. But I didn't see the point in replaying, almost in their entirety, the most memorable bits. Who needed to see Chris March and Rami in the last episode again? Ok maybe my baby boomer mom (forgets things). But for most of us, these moments are memorable because we already REMEMBERED them already. Also, where was Heidi during the meeting when they decided that the best way to get the party started was with a depressing trip down Jack's worst nightmare lane? I don't blame him for groaning.

Next time Bravo, more montages of Kevin resisting homosexuality, Elisa being Elisa, and Jillian Lewis impressions... less of total sadness and misfortune.

"Honey, I gayed myself."

Someone call the Screen Actors Guild!

This reunion show also proved that the Wendy Pepper era on Project Runway is over. These designers are as freakishly altruistic as they have ever been, and seem to have a sense of, like, fairness or something. Weird. Marion, Jack, Sweet P, Kevin-- I half expected them to say that if they hadn't been kicked off, they would have sent themselves home just because it would have been the right thing to do. Maybe when one is more famous than Brad Pitt, there is no reason for bitterness. Only hope and laughter and smelling the roses from Marion's boutique.

That's all for now, little lambs. Can't want to see what sets off Tim Gunn's gag reflex tonight!

Nous aimons Marion Cotillard, totallyment

2008-02-25T19:48:00.001-05:00

ForNever21

2008-02-19T22:38:00.009-05:00

Sweet P, I think you're great. Out of all the designers, you're probably the only one I'd really like to pick up on a Saturday to get a cup of coffee and go to Forever21. It'd be fun! We'd try on $7 tops and tell each other that it's not us that are out of place in there -- we will look faboo in our sequined cardigans. It's all those dang 12 year olds who look ridiculous. Sounds awesome, right? But I digress.

This week, your look was supposedly inspired by this:

But the outcome

to me, it was a little bit more like THIS:

with a dash of:

Hmmm.

Not exactly what I'd like the designers at Forever21 to be copying off the runway for me to buy at a fraction of the price/quality a half season later.

"I love very much."

2008-02-17T13:09:00.024-05:00

In the immortal words of Roberto Cavalli, this episode, I love very much. Not the most dramatic or surprising hour of our lives, but classic Project Runway for sure. Jillian has panic attack, thinks she will be auf'd, is safe. Chris March naps, makes identical dress to a prior challenge, wins heart of Italian with dramatic flare. Rami is stubborn, does not listen to Tim, refuses to turn off the part of his brain that chants "drape drape drape," makes sophisticated dress, is chastised for it, is forgiven. Sweet P is sweet, not good enough, cries, America loves her. Christian loves his outfit, finishes early, annoys other designers, wins challenge, is, in general, pretty fierce. Guest judge is unintentionally hilarious, Michael Kors is intentionally hilarious, Heidi is Heidi, Nina Garcia wants to see "more from you."

What can I say. Je l'aime toujours.

On Ram: Exhibit A:

From Drapes of Wrath:
Another field trip! Did you know instantly what wing you would use?
Honestly no. I spent an equal amount of time in each wing, taking every painting and piece of art in very seriously. In the end after realizing that the other three designers picked the same theme, I decided to go with the Roman wing because I saw so much beauty in every piece. There was a strong connection there.

Hmmm. Exhibit B:

"I'm worried."

"Drape. It is what I do."

Lying is clearly not Rami's strong suit. He spent the entire episode confessing to and defending his drapery obsessions, and I think someone even filmed him saying something like, "I knew right away which gallery I would choose." The following photo is further evidence that Rami sooo knew what he was going to do, he didn't even need a camera to help him remember. All that draping is locked safe in his beautiful arms, I mean head.

Rami's like "cameras are for the indecisive- just throw mine in that pool, bitches."

But, JUST as the Bard predicted, the judges weren't picking up what he was draping down, and he was almost sent home for doing-- as he has told us 1 million times-- what he loves to do and does best!! Would have been totally tragic, so I'm glad he's in for now. I am still pretending that the final collections are not available for the whole world to see ahead of time on Bravotv.com, however, many a little bird has told me Rami will probably win the final spot. We shall see. I mean, Roberto Cavalli wanted to send Chris March to haute couture land, maybe Nina and Michael Kors will want to send him to the land of $100,000 and 2008 Saturn Astras.

Speaking of Roberto Cavalli. Lord have mercy that was maybe my favorite 10 minutes of television ever. What is better than listening to an old man speak broken English with a heavy Italian accent? Niente.

And touché, RC. Peacock tail? Poor Sweet P. Only designer to actually get auf'd. But honestly what was that? She made her model look like a pepper shaker from Pier 1.

She also had to endure Christian's weekly ritual of annoying his fellow contestants after sewing faster than 10 women at a Nike factory. Plenty of time left over for critiquing, arm-wrestling, praising his own work and taking pictures of himself.

He's even trained his model to annoy Sweet P in his absence.

But no doubt the man knows what he's doing. With two days, or 1 day and two half days, he could probably make extras from Robin Hood Men in Tights look fierce. Go and get your money lil' duffle bag boy.

I also really loved Jillian's entire look. She is my new favorite and I would like to one day buy her clothes at Steve and Barry.

Lambs, I'm auf to Target avec Maud for hair dye, trash bags and tights.

Congrats to the remaining designers. Looking forward to all the Final Four March Madness on NBC and its affiliates.

If you can't quit Bravotv.com cold turkey

2008-02-17T13:01:00.005-05:00

There's always Bravot.com.

Where I accidentally went today. Kind of scary.

Recap coming shortly, biddies.

It's a walk-off.

2008-02-15T08:54:00.032-05:00

Don't you just love inspiration challenges? In seasons past, they've generated such masterpieces as Daniel V's orchid dress and Jay McCarroll's Chrysler building homage. But, man, if I were a contestant on PR4, I would feel eeeeever-so-slightly jipped. Because come on, season 3's top five went to Paris! Like, the one in France, guys. But Season 4, well...

Umm...the Upper East Side is the new Left Bank?

Now, a confession. For the first time ever, in my life....
I. Missed. An ep.
Oui. C'est vrai. But, as the PR producers have repeatedly denied my request for a 9pm air-time, my laryngitis and I had to pass out pre-show this week. I awoke from my NyQuil coma to several text messages, each of which consisted of only 3 letters:
"OMG" ... "YAY" ... "WTF"
My interest was peaked, to say the least. So last night, I finally settled down to find out what all the fuss was about. Turns out, um, those texts were pretty much dead on...

Christian really is spectacular, isn't he? I mean, jeebus, how did he even do that in two days?! And Jillian, well, shock of all shocks, I liked hers best. I know that as the captain of Team Jill, I'm totally biased, BUT....Seriously, give it up! Her dress was fierce. Plus, the lining in the jacket...as Heidi said... "POW!" Admit it, you kind of loved it.

Aaaaand not surprisingly, Sweet P's creation was, well...yikes, what was that? I guess the dress wasn't really that bad (false, I think it was, but apparently, the fashion world condones anything that kind of looks Prada). Still, the styling choices, and by that, I mean the feathers, were heinous. I get where she was going but, per ush, the execution was off. Sweets was beyond out of her league at this point, so, much as I adore her, her time had come, mes amis.

Pretty sure Rami's time had come too, but....

You know the producers were sitting there like, "Umm....merde." Obviously they couldn't let Chris March into the Top 3, because, HELLO! HE GOT KICKED OFF ALREADY! But they also couldn't shoo Rami in when all he offered up was a purple sparkly version of his usual shtick. So, instead, they've chosen to present us with, dare I say it, a walk-off! But, come on Bravo, we know Rami's gonna win. (Seriously, we've all peeked at the collections here. We really, really know Rami's gonna win.)

But, my man Roberto was right - CMarch's couture was awesome. However, that crazy Italian was missing one thing the rest of the judges possessed: perspective. And damnit, they were right. Cah-riiiiiis! You made that dress already! It's gorgeous, to be sure, but you had to know Nina was gonna call you out on your lack of originality. It's kind of her thing, friend.

Overall, I thought the top 4 did pretty well for themselves. And no matter how much I complain about one-trick-ponies and remanufactured silhouettes, the end result of Episode 11 was this...

So, I mean, d'accord.

Ginormous Hat and Blinders: On

2008-02-12T09:15:00.004-05:00

Gah! Ok, this is probably super old news to anyone who has not been hiding under a fake, decorative rock from Ikea this week, but Warning: do NOT visit Bravotv.com, in particular the link that says "Fashion Week 2008," if you want the rest of Season 4 to be any sort of surprise. I know it's not very Internetey of me, but I repeat: If you do not want to see Sweet P holding a microphone at Fashion Week or, more importantly, her ENTIRE collection-- do not do the deed! (Unless you're into previews. Then, by all means, you know where to do that thang mane: www.bravotv.com.)

Recap Time!

I love love loved last week's episode. Anyone with a penchant for sparkly, tacky, over-the-top, semi-slutty clothing knows that there are far too few occasions when green leopard velour is not only not a disaster, but expected and duly rewarded! I know this all too well. Last year I visited my long-distance boyfriend in Ohio, and it was not until I tried to get dressed for like, breakfast or something that I realized I had put together a wardrobe that would only be appropriate if I was going to some sort of non-stop nighttime party. Maybe OK in Alaska for that part of the year when the sun never comes up, not so much for the middle of Ohio in May. Practical is all well and good, but over-the-top impractical is much more fun and harder to get right (or wrong, if you're more of a Tim Gunnist).

I mean, wouldn't the world be a happier place if there were more ridiculous outfits? Let them wear Heatherette! Plenty of time to be boring when you're dead or working in an office in Washington, D.C.

I mean look at these faces.

Such joy and happiness.

But I don't think our Tim Gunn would agree, which isn't surprising at all, only worrying because anyone with an ounce of sense should agree with Tim Gunn all the time, on all subjects. He seemed more worried than usual during his regularly scheduled "I'm worried" counseling sessions, especially with Rami and Sweet P, for obvious reasons.

"Can I be blunt? I'm worried."

"I don't want this horrible, tacky, ridiculous, terrible challenge to be your downfall. I'm worried."

Wow, Tim tell us how you really feel. I guess we can't blame a man whose book is called A guide to quality, taste and style.

Or can we?

Quality.

Taste.

Style.

How can something so wrong look so right? Looooove it.

But not everyone got it wrong in the right sort of way. Although I'm glad to see Ricky go home (what was that gold thing? she looked like a mini-fridge), I agree with Nina and sort of liked his orange 1 piece as a bathing suit... it reminds me of a Michael Kors suit I bought at Loehmann's that is, frankly, pretty bossy. MK even said, "Let's be honest, it's not like I've never seen that suit before." That's because he designed that suit, only in green, and I HAVE IT. yay.

It's lucky for Rami and Sweet P that Michael Kors Fashion Designer has wanted to send Ricky back to Victoria's Secret from the first. Their models looked bad. bad. bad. Bad.

Sweet P's was more like ... robe and reveal how much your outfit also looks like a bathing suit but not even a very cute one?

And Rami's. Lord have mercy. When his model walked down the runway I was like, oh no she is not walking like that! That thing would have looked a hot mess even in taupe, so blaming it on his wild color choice doesn't hold up either. Let's see that one more time.

Oh yeah. That's pretty bad.

All right lambs, I'm out. See you on the Stunway.

(p.s. I also apologize for the tardy recap: Redecorating efforts in my bedroom have taken over my life, and I forgot for 2 seconds that I have a blog, the subject of which is about to come to a critical point! Literally! SO EXCITED OhmyGoshImGonnaDie.)

She got what she wanted, but not in a good way.

2008-02-08T08:02:00.000-05:00

With that brief, poetic stanza, Heidi Klum acutely summarized Rami's design. She also unwittingly described my relationship with Season 4.

Rami's diva asked for something pink, something sexy, something good-girl-gone-bad. And true enough, that's what she got...but, H.Klum was right - it wasn't pretty. And that scenario mirrors my feelings on this episode. I begged, whined and pleaded for Ricky to go...but, now that he has - I can't help but feel guilty about the way that it happened. The boy had no taste, and displayed zero ingenuity, but to send someone packing because they can't make a wrestling ensemble? Well, that just seems wrong.

I mean...doesn't it?

I kind of hated this challenge, you guys. Well, no, I loved it. Ferocia Coutura?! Come on, I'm human! Plus, the thought of Tim Gunn in the ring with these divas is beyond hilarious. But the may-the-best-designer-win piece of my heart kind of loathes stuff like this, because really, what did we learn on Wednesday? Christian's the best, Rami will find a way to drape no matter the circumstance, Jillian's a good girl, Sweet P's out of her league, Chris March makes a fierce costume, and, oh yeah, Ricky sucks. But that tells me little or nothing about each person's point of view, or what sort of collection they'll put forth at Bryant Park. True enough, we've got next week for that, but I just think this WWE Challenge would have been better suited for early-on in the competition...you know, when we were weeding out the ones who couldn't even sew. The Top Six is the big leagues, people, and here, designers get auf'd because they've got no POV - you get me?

Having said all that - PRAISE JESUS, RICKY IS GONE!!! Oh, sure, fine, the challenge was kind of bogus, but whatever, he was going this week no matter what. His outfit was horrid (Fishnets? Really?), and, as Pope Michael astutely pointed out, this is not the first time we've seen that bathing suit. (Though, it is the first time we've seen it in that gnarly color. Le ew. Le blech. Le yuck!) Whether or not I like the way things went down, the end result of this challenge makes me just giddy for next week's ep. Adios, Ricky! You may have conquered your fears, but you never conquered the fierce. Shoo!

And now - on to my faves! Okay, so, I totally love Christian's, obviously. But, I gotta give it to the other Chris this week. In minute like, 12, of the Ep, you hear CMarch chatting up a Mood employee for "that green leopard velour." Cut to 30 minutes later, and Nina Garcia's espousal that she "adores" the lining. So, what you're telling me is, Chris March made Nina Garcia, FashionDirectorOfElleMagazine, adore a frock made of green. leopard. velour. He shouldn't just win the challenge; someone get that man a trophy! But, I must admit, I do think at least part of the reason he out-foxed Xtina ,was that his model was the hottest thing since Nazri. I mean, look at her:

Um...DAMN. Sure, they all had sick bodies, but Chris' model was also kind of gorgeous, and I think that added a certain element of pretty that the rest of the designers were lacking. But Jillian's model was legit gorgeous too, and, I have to say, her design would probably be the one I'd wear if I were a female wrestler. I mean, I'd love to think I could pull off (double entendre) Christian's leather-and-lace ensemble, but in reality, J-bugg's design is far more my speed. It makes me think of the time my friend Henry said he wanted to have a Jell-O wrestling competition in his apartment, and Ashley and I agreed to be the headliners for the event. We were going to get super-hot outfits, and silk boxing robes, and walk out to the song Notorious. I mean, ew, no, we weren't really...but we did have it all planned out in our heads. And, had said plan ever come to fruition, I feel certain it would've looked a little something like this:

As always, I'd like to wrap up this topic by commending Jillian on her fashion decisions. Ugh, I just love her! I can't wait to see what she wears when she introduces her Fashion Week collection...

Blogger's Note: Sincerest apologies for the delay in this week's post. Sometimes, apparently, our full-time jobs have to take precedence over Stunway - won't happen again. More recaps to come, dear ones.

SJP teams up with Elves on new reality TV project

2008-01-31T08:54:00.000-05:00

(SJP's darling son pictured here. Not an actual elf.)

Lambs, I heart her too. And who am I to doubt a SATC producer? Still, I'm skeptical. Variety broke this bit of news earlier this week. (Full story here.) What do you think?

Parker to produce art-world 'Runway'
Star teams up with Elves for reality series
By JOSEF ADALIAN

Sarah Jessica Parker's Pretty Matches shingle is teaming with reality factory Magical Elves to create a "Project Runway"-type show for the art world.

Potential skein would pit a dozen aspiring artists against one another, following the group as they attempt to produce various kinds of artwork -- from painting and photography to sculpting and industrial design. Pieces would be rated by a panel of judges, as well as by the contestants themselves.

The Magical Elves team of Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz -- whose credits include Bravo's "Runway," "Top Chef" and the upcoming revamp of "Top Design" -- had been developing their own art project with former Miramax Television exec Eli Holzman for some time when they hooked up with Parker and her partner, Alison Benson. Latter duo had been developing their own take on the art world as well.

"We ended up marrying the two formats," Cutforth said.

Pitch meetings with various networks will begin as soon as next week.

While Cutforth admits that doing a show about the art world is "risky creatively," skeptics felt the same way about "Runway" before Magical Elves and Bravo turned the idea into a hit.

"Art is a much more inclusive world than people think," he said. "We really feel there's a way to show people how much they care about art in the same way 'Runway' showed people how much they care about clothes. That accessibility is why we think the show can work."

Tranny Icecapades?!

2008-01-28T20:01:00.001-05:00

Just-washed-jeans Yoga and other injustices

2008-01-26T11:50:00.004-05:00

That’s it. I’m giving up TV for Lent. I am apparently so easily duped by the editing choices of the PR producers, I actually felt sorry for Ricky at the beginning of this week’s episode. Ohh Ricky, I thought, that sucks to always be in the bottom three. When you’re auf’d tonight, get out there and show the lingerie world how to work it!

Oh the audacity of hope! Ricky is crying out of joy and whatever else makes him cry usually! The judges loved his dress. We know that MK, Nina and Heidi "the boobs are all in the wrong place" Klum appreciate fit, but in this case, I agree with my sisters, the fit shouldn't have determined the winner. Also, doesn't like, mostly everything fit models because they are models? I imagine that when they take measurements, the designers are like, "Oh, I see. You're model size." I don't know, to me Ricky's dress looked very Wet Seal. Hélène and Maud are a bit more generous but not much.

So yeah, except for Wednesdays at 10 (I'm not that upset), I'll be spending my evenings reading Shakespeare, or that other Bard-- what's his name-- Tim Gunn, and maybe some Orwell to protect myself from the evils of the telescreen. When Heidi told Chris March he was safe, leaving Jillian and Victorya in the bottom two, I realized that the tube had finally got the best of me: BravoTV is now more cynical than I am, and I’m a liberal in Washington, DC! Maybe it has always been this way and I’m only just realizing it. Either way—Bravo, I am hip to your tricks. Obviously, Ricky and his hats are going to fashion week, and the more he cries and it looks like he’s going home, the more money I will put on this bet. (I hope mon amie Hélène is not as clairvoyant as she is wise.)

I guess this is why they call it the Stunway, people. But come on, Victorya and Jillian hanging on in the bottom two? I’m sorry but… really? Not Chris March? God bless him (clearly a fan favorite) but CM was already given a second chance, a big one, and he should have gone home if he really was in the bottom three, LOATH as I am to say it. These judges are more unpredictable than the New Hampshire Democratic primary polls.

I really hope that the best designers do not auf each other each week until the competition of is devoid of talent and the Republicans take over again and that’s it, I’m moving to Project Runway: Canada! The designers should take a hint from the Republicans and stick together, even if they run out of time and have to use crazy glue. (Emphasis on crazy.)

"Oh Rudy, you are so hilarious, even if you do hate babies."

Although Christian needed to cool it on the jeans bashing, his look was probably my favorite. "And no stretch," says Michael Kors. "No stretch," says Christian Siriano. Yeah, "no stretch" in this case means you know Lisa was practicing some just-washed-jeans- yoga to get into those babies. I believe this pose is called the fiercest-facing dog. She looked hot, and I like that Christian made jeans out of jeans, instead of a dress, or even worse, a wedding dress. I know Sweet P. just got married like last week but, a wedding dress? What about that dirty warehouse made her think of weddings? Probably the same part of her brain that decided she should mess with Rami or get the face piercing.

The capital L-for-Levi's-losers for this challenge were, in my opinion, Rami, Chris March and Ricky for lack of creativity and originality.

Imagine the horror if these three showed up at the same party? Actually we don't have to imagine it because Bravo took a picture for us:

Now... about that preview for next week. What could scandalize Michael Kors so? Clowns? Children? Child clowns?

I can't wait to find out!

Do we really have to run all that way?

2008-01-25T11:26:00.001-05:00

Another classic episode for the Stunway. You don't get much more American than blue jeans, so what a fabulous challenge for the next great American designer! And yet, there were many mishaps as the episode played out.

Time management issues. Oh dear. I really do sympathize with the designers. Making a fabulous outfit in roughly ten hours is a serious challenge, I'm sure. About four years ago I began my own foray into fashion design and production. Four years later, all I have to show for it is one skirt, still in pieces. (Though I still like the fabric). Anyway, my point is that I understand how time consuming it is to make clothing. And it takes even more time to make something of quality. But DESIGNERS, must I remind you that Project Runway is a competition for you as well? Hello Jillian! This happens to you every week! We all realize you're pretty head is just chock full of great, complicated and innovative design ideas, but you need to think about the parameters of the challenge before you decide to go ahead with the ULTIMATE BEST COMPLICATED DESIGN IDEA EVER each week. Here is Jillian, again making her poor model help her finish:

She's totally thinking, "Dude. I did not sign up for this to practice my sewing skills. I wonder if I'll have to walk down the runway wearing only accessories from the bluefly.com accessory wall."

Judging.I must echo Hélène's sentiment about the randomness of the Judges this season. At times it seems as if they missed the memo telling them the point of the challenge. This week is a perfect example of that. The designers were to make an "iconic denim look" using Levi's 501 jeans as their raw material. While I think the dress is okay (and a vast improvement of what we're used to seeing from him), I don't think there's anything remotely "iconic" about Ricky's dress - or any of the mini dresses.

Just what does this "iconic look" say? "I've got great legs?" Hmmmm. Not a very interesting point of view. I liked Rami's best of the three but I'm not sure "sophisticated denim" quite qualifies as iconic.

Nor do I happen to think the coat ideas were any better. Hellooooo! Anyone ever heard of a jean jacket? It's been around in one form or another for about a million years. I've owned at least 5 over the course of my life.

Been there. Done that. And as an added yawn, Jillian and Victorya worked as a team last week on a coat. A bit too redundant for my taste.

So who does that leave us with? Sweet P's dress was pretty, no doubt, but again, lacked that certain something, that je ne sais quoi, that would have made it iconic.

Her original idea to make a wedding dress was ambitious but it goes downhill after that. You can almost hear her internal monologue; "Crap. This is much harder than I thought it would be. And now it's looking kinda frumpy. And Tim doesn't like it either! Damn. How am I gonna fix this... I know! I'll make it a short dress. Whew. That was close." In my opinion, the winner this week was clear.

Levi's and jeans in general were first made as work clothes. Americans have since adopted the jean as our everyday wear and even our special occasion staple. I think in fashion these days, we are most likely to see denim looking sleek, dressed up and sexy. Which is exactly why I thought Christian's look was brilliant. He brought the Levi's back to their functional roots with his biker concept, but still kept the look fashion forward. To me, this defines icon.

Those jeans Christian made were, for lack of a better word, fierce. Heidi agreed, saying she thought a lot of people would be interested in that jean. I'm disappointed that the judges seemed to overlook all this and give the win to Ricky. As Tim would say, it's baffling. Christian can be annoying - that is a fact - but he really seems to get it. He's quick to come up with an interesting idea and he's able to execute his idea well within the time constraints of the show. He really makes it work.

SOLD OUT!

2008-01-25T11:08:00.000-05:00

I was just browsing the internets for some pics to include in my post today when I stumbled across the following:

Levi's.com is SOLD OUT of Ricky's dress! AND they were charging $168 for it! Hmm.

In-Tents!

2008-01-25T11:06:00.000-05:00

Listen up, people! The PR Blogger's bible, BKA Blogging Project Runway, clued us in to a most interesting topic yesterday. Read on for the juice...

How Will Bravo Make It Work?
We are scratching our collective heads here in the BPR workroom trying to figure out what exactly Bravo is up to with their end game for Season 4. First off, they have confirmed with us that there is no new episode next week, meaning the next elimination will not place until February 6. But assuming that episode is a single elimination, that leaves five designers remaining when they film the finale at Bryant Park on February 8.Past seasons have always shown four collections at Fashion Week, twice with a decoy (S1 and S2) and once without (S3). (We hate the idea of a decoy collection, if they are going to show, let them count!) But the only way to get to a Final 4 will be by having a double elimination on February 6, or if they run back-to-back single-elimination episodes. Unless there may be more than four designers showing on February 8. Hmmmmmm.......

To preserve the sanctity of the white tents, I hope there is a double elimination in our future. More than four designers in the finale would be so ridiculous in this case - Rami, Jillian, Christian and CMarch are in a league unto themselves. (I love Sweet P as much as you do, but be real - this is Bryant Park!)

So we want your predictions, friends: How will Bravo make it work?

Victorya Hong: Christian fundamentalist

2008-01-25T10:47:00.001-05:00

They tried to make me leave the runway; I said no, no, no.

2008-01-24T08:35:00.000-05:00

from: hélène
to: john
date: Jan 23, 2008 12:19 PM
re: two things

also, if ricky doesn't go home tonight, i'm hurling myself in the potomac.

from: john
to: hélène
date: Jan 23, 2008 12:22 PM
re: two things

also, i agree about ricky, only i will opt for the hudson (it's closest).

Well....

eff.

Much to the dismay of Project Runway fans worldwide (and by that I mean me and my friend John), Ricky Ricardo remains. But seriously? Did he have to win? I am just plain stewing over here.

Alright, let's get down to it. My issues with this week are threefold:

1) Good Accessories Do Not A Model Make: MK was all, "Congratulations, Ricky! You made your model look like a crackhead!" And for this, they awarded him the highest honor?! (Ummm....thankfully that's not immunity anymore.) Judges, come on! Ricky's dress wasn't even that cute! I know styling decisions are important, but handing someone the trophy because they put a beehive and some hoop earrings on their model is just plain wrong. You're better than that, Nina. Plus, I'm sorry, do we want to look like Amy Winehouse now? To borrow a term from my friend Ashley's grandmother (who, bless her heart, cannot spell words with silent w's), Ricky's model looked like a total "H!" Also...those boots? Ew.

2) The Judging Here is More Erratic Than In Figure Skating: I am so sick of trying to figure out how this fickle trifecta makes their decisions! They're willing to boot off Kevin for a flop among masterpieces, but Ricky wins solely because he finally delivered?! Be real with me judges - are we taking this whole thing challenge-by-challenge, or not? If we are, Christian should have won. He adhered closely to the parameters of the challenge, and created an original, iconic look. And if we're contextualizing our decisions through the ghost of challenges past - Rami should have won. Okay, I get it: Ricky usually produces a heaping mound of crap, this time he gave us something passable, and voila - a win! But if it's all about A's for effort, how about Drapey McDrapesalot giving you something structured and denim and CUTER THAN RICKY'S?!

3) The Level of Competition (for you as well): Ricky wasn't up against much this week. Obviously, his dress was a lot better than Victorya's coat. It was also more impressive than Chris March's blah-ness, Sweet P's happy hands parade, and even (I hate to say it) Jillian's faded monstrosity. But even though many of the designers brought their C-game at best, Ricky's outfit was still not better than Christian's trucker homage, and it was only moderately contentious to Rami's zippified cuteness. In fact, Ricky's dress is, at best, a bizarro world version of Rami's. Speaking of(!), that's another reason Christian should have won! The challenge was to create an iconic look, and he made his model look like a bizarro world version of a total style icon:

Look at Lisa! She is sooooo "Tell me about it, stud!"

Clearly, I'm not cool with this week's result. Well, Victorya's gone, and I'm glad for that. She really deserved it the most in this episode: In addition to having the worst design, she was totally rude to Chris March in the 501 warehouse AND she, quite literally, rode Jillian's coat-tails (lack of originality has repercussions, bia). And the other positive note from week 9 is that we're finally starting to see the designers form relationships with their models. Aaaand, okay, I was pleased with Jillian's outfits again (where does she get these skirts?!). But I just can't help to think: When are we going to get rid of the mad hatter, people? What if next week, he edges out Sweet P? And the following, Chris March? Right now he may be this:

But he's a hop, skip and a dye-job away from this:

And do you want that on your hands, judges? I think not.

Better decisions in week 10, please. I've said my piece.

One trick pony

2008-01-23T10:01:00.000-05:00

Rami is clearly one of the most talented designers this season. He is (over)confident, he manages his time well, and his clothes for the most part are beautiful. But who wants to see beautiful week in and week out? Bo-ring! Rami is beginning to remind me of one of my fav designers from season 3, Laura Bennett. I consistently loved Laura's clothes. If my life was filled with cocktail parties and glam soirees, I would pack my closet with Laura B's dresses. But the judges began to grow bored seeing the same (beautiful) thing on the runway each week.

In season 3, MK commented that Laura was really designing clothes for herself. This season during the Prom Ep. Nina Garcia made a similar comment, saying "Rami is designing for Rami."

Drape-y, drape-y, drape-y. Rami, your waterfalls of silk Georgette are pretty and you clearly have a gift for working with the medium of fabric, but if you want to be America's next top American designer, you are really going to have to show us some versatility! The judges on RP get bored easily and are quick to notice a go-to technique and are quick to criticize if they see this technique as over-used.

Another designer perhaps deserving of the one-trick pony label was Uli, also from season 3.

Uli loved prints. I mean, the woman REALLY loved prints. Like Laura, Uli's designs were usually cute and could be interesting, but IMO the bohemian look is only versatile up to a point. Can you really imagine owning more than one of these dresses? As finalists at Bryant Park, Uli and Laura were both talented and driven enough to win PR, however, their inability to venture outside of their creative comfort zones cost them the top prize.

Rami appears to be doomed to the same fate. I predict that he will make it to the end, but unless he can expand his range beyond draping, I fear he will not win.

You wanna be on top?

2008-01-20T19:29:00.000-05:00

Every week when Tim Gunn says -- during that weird, scripted montage before the show starts -- "WHO will be the next big fashion designer?" I am reminded of why we are here. I mean, why they are here. I mean, why they are there. Anyway, if we trust Tim Gunn (the most trusted name in fashion on this one show called Project Runway) it is for the chance to become America's next top American designer! Top! As in, the best! As in, totally awesome. I can't claim to know what it actually takes to get there, but I have a feeling the special ingredients do not include two tablespoons of never stepping up to the plate.

"It's just a reminder that I've got a lot of work to do. I'll miss Kevin, but I'm glad it's not me. Hahahaha." -- Ricky, on the prom challenge.

"It just worked out naturally that I would be the team leader because it's basically my concept, and Ricky is trying really hard to not lose."-- Kit, on being team leader in the couture challenge.

Sigh. I guess I just think if these designers want to be the best, they should act like it! I mean, what would Tyra say?

"Seven beautiful designers stand before me. But I have only six photos in my hands. I will call only six names. The girl whose name I do not call must immediately clean up her workstation, and go home.

Christian: Congratulations Christian. You are still in the running towards becoming America's next top American designer. We believe in you, but more importantly, you believe in you. You believe in you more than is maybe healthy or in line with reality. Fierce. Ferosh. Love it.

Rami: You are the most beautiful designer we have ever seen on this show. You can stay. Watch your 'tude because it makes you look less totally fine.

Chris March: Your text messages to your favorite blogger and fan-favorite 'tude have kept you alive, but it won't carry you forever. However, you know, perhaps better than anyone, that every woman is a queen. You're still in the running towards becoming American's next top American designer.

Jillian: You were hiding under your 550-thread-count RL bedsheets for too long at the beginning of this season, but you've come a long way. Your apocalyptic jacket and dramatic poses are deadly. Keep it up.

Victorya and Jillian: Determining who is team leader by tossing an object of unevenly distributed weight in the air is not very bossy of you. Also, those khaki pants were weird. But you're in. Congratulations.

Sweet P. and Ricky, will you please step forward.

Sweet P.: Why are you not doing everything that Rami tells you immediately and succumbing entirely to his freakouts? Know your place. Rami wanted to drape his love all over your team, and you responded by crying and resisting his obvious gift for team leadership. And how can you resist Rami? Those eyes! Also, no more mention of Elisa's planet, or I will put you on a spaceship, and send you there myself.

Ricky: Your passive-aggressive ways have saved you one too many times. Not losing is not the same as being totally fierce and kicking booty. Do you want to put a piece of Ricky Lizalde lingerie on every woman in America or not?"

More recap to come, biddies.

Oh my gosh...

2008-01-20T19:21:00.001-05:00

I'm gonna die for lack of anything to say about this week's ep.

"I want to assert...that this coat is fabulous."

2008-01-17T07:40:00.000-05:00

When you have first pick at models, and you know your design will be based on the chosen one's hair, you've gotta be crazy to pick the chick with the pony-tail fauxhawk.

Crazy like a FOX!

When those ladies hit the runway in all their teased/braided/beehived glory, I was quite apprehensive...but by "special announcement" time, I was sold. It was clear that this challenge would allow the designers to display their point of view, technical merit, and ability to make something preeeeeettyyyy - all at the same time! Creating an avant-garde design with a ready-to-wear compliment was a real-world task for the fashionistas...and actually, I was pretty irked at the contestants for being such babies about the second look. Kids, these things are called challenges because they're supposed to....I don't know...CHALLENGE you. Quit your whining and start designing!

And for the most part, they did...albeit dramatically. The top teams overcame the usual time constraints and inevitable diva antics to create truly fierce designs for fantasy and reality. My favorite? None other than Team Monotone: Victorya and Jillian!

Cute belt, J Bugg! And Tim Gunn was spot on - that coat was fabulous! Even forgetting the coat, did you see back of that shirt?! Oh my godddddd...SO CUTE! Love love loved their look - it was the total package. Clear inspiration, truly complimentary designs, and the whole thing would've translated beautifully to a glossy mag. But this shiz was goin' in Elle, and we all know what that means...

"What did the five fingers say to the face???"

"SLAP!!!!!!!!!!"

Nina Garcia, fashion director of Elle Magazine and Cheertator of this Cheerocracy, got her way once again. I'm not too pissed, because March and Fieroche did do an amaaaazing job with their organza creation. Anyone who turns 45 yards of fabric into haute couture deserves snaps indeed. (Sidenote: I loved how Christian described the couture look as being "all about the cinched waste and hunched shoulders." You mean, Katie didn't have sick posture? She was just high fashion?! Noted.) Let's be real though...that brown skirt was a throw-away, and you know it Nina!

The other winner on the runway this week was Sweet P. Her one-shoulder dress was her best offering so far, and she may have shifted herself to number 3 on the list of people-just-begging-to-be-auf! You go, Sweets! (KsorryboutyourluckRickybyeeee!)

Speaking of Ricky - STFU already. Okay, fine, I always say that. What I don't always say is, RAMI WHAT IS YOUR MALFUNCTION? Could you please remove the tape measure from your neck and the stick from your ass? Your pretensions are starting to outweigh your sultry gazes!

Even Lauren ain't havin it! Moreover, I just can't defend your design this week Ramster. So not haute. Sweet P wanted to bustle, but you were focused on hustle - and that'll get you auf'd, friend! Plus, I mean, you made her cry. Not cool. Lucky for you, your steamy eyes and draping cred saved you this week...unfortch, that means we say buh-bye to Kit. Le sigh, another Team Leader bites the dust. But don't frown, mes amis! She takes with her 2 full suitcases of friendship and success...and perhaps a cake of moonbeams and rainbows...

"We've Got Tonight"

2008-01-16T09:37:00.000-05:00

Helene, I too was scouring my apartment for 1999 and 2000 prom pics after last week's Ep. Above is a classic from the 1999 "We've Got Tonight" themed prom. Here we see the date- picking- girl- up- at- parents'- house- and- enduring- embarassing- questions- and- awkward- joking- while- parents- take- pictures- and- Mom- pins- on- my- date's- boutonniere- because- I'm- afraid- to- part of the night. You can almost hear me saying, "Daaaaaaad! We're going to be laaaaaate! No more pictures!" But I digress... the important thing here is that you note the floor length dress. Oh. Can't quite see it?

How bout now:

Ohhhhhh PROM. The most glamourous night of a young woman's life. It is a formal dance. What more can I say that hasn't been said before by my esteemed co-bloggers? It is painfully obvious by the way the judges behaved that they just don't get it. There is, like, a rule about high school dance dresses and it goes like this: Homecoming = short, fun dress. Prom = TOTAL GLAM. Nina, call me and I'll explain. Not sure if they have prom in Germany... Heidi, maybe you should get on this call too.
I'll tell you darlings who does get it.
It's Sweet P and Chris March!

Perfect! Long, shinny and G-L-A-M-O-R-OUS as Fergie would say. High class. And kudos to Sweet P for acting the mom to her model. Low in the front AND in the back is a recipe for regret. The dress ended up being revealing in a tasteful way. And, I must add that the styling could not have been better! Those chandelier earings with the pretty hair? Très bon.

My personal favorite was Jillian's. Though I would have extended the length a bit... I think she was going for a slightly more fashion-y look, but to me that mid-calf length looks a bit odd.

The bodice and back are sooooo pretty! The color is great for spring and compliments her model's skin and hair... LOVE IT! Jillian was the winner in my yearbook. Team J! (I know. I can't believe I'm rooting for her either.)

There were several dresses on the runway that I'm sure were left hanging in closets (replaced by dresses off the rack from Macy's) on the magical Saturday night that is prom. What a shame! These girls had the chance to have a dress MADE FOR THEM by A REAL FASHION DESIGNER. And what did they get? A whole bunch o fug.

Ugh. Christian's model was annnooooyyyying for sure, but he was being a baby about it. Not very professional or fierce. And that dress looks a mess! The only good thing I can say about Victorya's look is that the shoes are très cute. I loathe bubble skirts. And if Kevin was auf'd because his hem was wonky, what about the crookedness going on with V's dress? I swear! This season the judging has been so erratic. I'm not saying that Kev's dress was good. Two things would have saved him IMO: younger color (maybe a hot pink?) and lengthen the dress to the floor. Can't you just picture how cute it could have been?

As for the rest of the bunch...

Kit honey. You totally missed the mark here! This look is not young AT ALL and the colors make me think of the circus. It actually kinda looks like something a teacher/chaperone would wear to the prom. And Rami. Your dress is one drape-y shawl away from being m.o.b. as Michael Kors would say. Mother of the bride! Personally, I didn't hate Ricky's dress as much as everyone else seemed to. His model was happy with it and although the color washed her out a bit, it was much closer to an appropriate prom dress color than all that electric blue, pea green and Crayola red that was out there.

One more Stunway treat:
Here is Marthe (with a friend) pictured wearing her own fav prom dress. Très beau!

Overall, I LOVED the prom challenge. Well done PR! Two good challenges in a row! It was sad to see Kevin go and to me, it was a toss up over who should be auf'd between Kev and Christian. I think it was Christian's potential that the judges were betting on by letting him stay. He'll need to step it up tonight to redeem himself and prove they made the right choice to keep him. It's been a long time coming... feels like it'll be Ricky's time to go tonight. Though we never know! The previews indicate a team challenge. I wonder which designers will be dumb enough to be the leaders?

See you on the runway.

Promenade-Julienne

2008-01-16T09:27:00.000-05:00

She had me at coolots.

2008-01-13T18:42:00.000-05:00

Jillian Lewis: Fashion Icon

A Photographic Retrospective

Come ON, Eileen!

2008-01-11T10:07:00.000-05:00

I think the designers and judges must have been too wasted at their own proms to remember what they were actually like. And how can we even go forward if we disagree on what the definition of "prom is" is?

Prom, at least in Dayton Ohio, is glam, it's fabulous, it's important, it's serious. It's the end of childhood (for three months until college). It is the funeral for pep rallies, popularity contests, and fake student government. It is why freshman girls make out with senior boys. It is how to say "I'm gay but still in the closet to my parents" with style. Prom is an up-do that requires an entire bottle of hair spray. It is one of the last times you will ever dance to "Come on Eileen" that is not at a wedding!

Whatever prom is, it is not Homecoming or a night on the town with the girls. It is not a text message that says, "It's New Year's Day, I just woke up at a stranger's house, let's meet for breakfast at our favorite place," which is sort of what Victorya's dress says to me. Either that, or Homecoming. The hair, the shoes, the bubble skirt ... It just doesn't say "we've been dating for three months, I want to marry you, take my virginity now." Goo. It also sort of looks like something you can buy at the Forever 32 at Pentagon City (Hélène, agreed).

Buuut ... I still love Victorya, and unfair as it is, I would rather her have immunity than sweet Sweet P, who actually made a prom dress, bless her heart. If anything, P's is too fancy, but that's still better than not fancy enough. P's model is like, "As your prom queen, I will ban skinny freshmen hos from the prom, forever."

Chris March, bless his drag queen heart, who even admits to not having been to prom, made the cutest dress up there. His model looked fancy and tres adorable, and maybe prom-ier than Sweet P's.
Also that girl's mom was cracking me up. "That's you!!??" hahahaaaa... *tear*

Go ahead girl!

Rami's ....aeahhhhh.... not so promi. Same goes for Jillian's and Kit's dresses. All three of their models looked too old, too conservative, or too casual. Based on the two seconds of their personalities we saw on the runway and in the workroom, these girls seemed like they wanted to have fun at their prom, not go to a cocktail party at their boss's house.

Whew. So many mistakes, so little time to blog while also trying to do my full-time day job.

Overall though, who am I kidding, I loved this episode. I REALLY loved that the girls got to look at each designer's portfolio before choosing. So cute! When they first came out Maud and I were worried it was going to be a 'who is always picked last for kickball' situation, so thankfully the producers knew to avoid that. But they couldn't protect lil' Victorya from the frankness of teenagers, thank God, because that exchange was hilarious.

V: "So, did you want to work with me because my portfolio is so fierce or what?"
HSG: "Actually I had last pick."

Bahahahaha!

Au revoir pour maintenant mon petite lamb chops. Stay tuned for Maud's psychological evaluation of Christian's model.

Auf like a prom dress!

2008-01-10T07:52:00.000-05:00

At first, I was really, really ridiculously excited about this challenge. I mean...it's prom, people! What's not to love? But alas, le sigh, I was disappointed....and I'm afraid the problem with this episode, much like the resulting designs, lies in the execution. The producers and designers BOTH underperformed! How do I mean? Well, if we're going to have to outfit a bunch of high school students, do they have to be from Jersey? Aren't there, like, a bunch of fancy prep schools in Manhattan to choose from? I've seen Cruel Intentions, so I feel confident that I know what I'm talking about here. But make-it-work is the name of the game, so that's what you kids should've done. Few were successful, and I was left feeling very...what's the word...underwhelmed.

That said, I guess I got what I asked for in this episode - AN OPINION. Sweet Moses do I have some opinions on these designs. First of all, I am wicked pissed that Victorya won. WICKED pissed. Her dress sucked MAD hard, yo. Ugh, sorry, the Jersey is seeping into my brain! What I mean to say, is that I am frustrated, disappointed, and unimpressed by her creation. I hate bubble skirts, almost as much as I hate bubble shirts, but I don't hate aaaanything as much as I hate bubble shirts. (False. Leggings. Ohmigod - mental image of leggings paired with long bubble shirt! Aaaaaaah!) Anyway, I know the judges thought Kevin's design looked cheap, but I thought Torya's dress looked cheapER - like something I would see at Forever, pause to think "ew," then head over to Nordstrom where I belong. Moreover, who would wear that to PROM?! I don't claim to know what the kids are doing these days, but according to Newport Harbor, this is still a somewhat-dressy occasion, n'ect-ce pas?

And since I've already taken a turn to negative town - Ricky, ew! Ew ew ew! That color is NOT prom, those beads are fug, and do those shoes serve an orthopedic function? Why would you put grandma's heels on a high school senior? Sadly, par regular, your lackluster performance was enough to get you noticed, but not to get you nixed.

Which raises an interesting question...

What's the more auf-able offense: Consistent mediocrity, or one-time disappointment? It's clear how the judges feel from the fact that Kevin, once at the top of their list, was sent packing this week. True, his dress was disgusting. But was it that much more disgusting than Ricky's? And shouldn't it make an impact on the judge's decision that Ricky sucks? Well, I hope they factor that in pretty soon, because, if not, welcome to Fashion Week, Ricardo!

Of course it wasn't all tacky beading and unfinished hems. It mostly was, yes, but there were little glimmers of fierce sprinkled in every now and again. For instance: I actually loved Rami's dress. MK's right, that color was very 35-year-old-dinner-date, but had he done that number in slate instead of olive, well he'd be immune and I'd be happy. In my opinion, they were way too hard on the age of his outfit - same with Sweet P! We're not letting people win now because they're designs are TOO sophisticated?! Nina, this is prom, did you hear??? The kids dress fancy for that! Plus, what is so awful about not looking 17 when you're 17? When my daughter looks at my prom pictures someday she is going to think "Moooom! Lame!" (Who could blame her? I am just covered in sparkles.) But had I chosen something sleek, like Sweet P or Rami's offerings, well I might have saved myself from future embarrassment at the hands of my hypothetical teenager.

Not surprisingly, my favorite outfit, once again, belonged to Jillian. Not her sea-foam creation. (What are you, nuts?! The fit on that thing was total crap.) No no, I'm referring to her yellow dress at the runway show! Also, her pink skirt in the beginning! Jillian is still my number one - just as long as she keeps the cute outfits and self-deprecating hair comments a'comin.

Takeaways from this week's episode? Well I've come out of week 7 a little more frustrated with Ricky et Vicky, a little more in love with Rami, and lastly, a little more bleak about the future:

Chris March: "What do you guys wanna do when you grow up??"
School Girl 1: "Absolutely nothing!"
School Girl 2: "Public relations!"

Ooooh, nation.

It's Gonna Be (Ra) Me

2008-01-09T23:10:00.001-05:00

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't planned on doing this since day one....

Stunway at the Half

2008-01-09T09:54:00.001-05:00

This isn't my favorite season of Project Runway, but I'm definitely impressed with these designers. They appear to be excellent people with a crapload of talent. Every episode is like a giant lovefest of tears, joy, cardigan attitudes, and passive-aggressiveness. I'm sort of surprised that the producers haven't drawn a Hitler mustache on a photo of someone's daughter yet just to stir the pot, because the drama may be at a low-point. I should say, the evil drama: obviously Jack's departure was pretty intense. Christian sometimes seems a bit ... soulless, but even his arrogance is harmless, and the most evil thing about him is definitely his hair. Whatever we have lost in the TV drama department, we can gain back 1 million fold by remembering what the world would be like if 1 out of every 16 designers were like Wendy Pepper.

Perhaps more than anyone, Elisa Jimenez exemplified the cardigan attitude that has been the theme of Season 4 (except for that unfortunate fight between Ricky and Carmen and Ricky and Victorya). I admire her humble spirit and insane self-control (refusing to intimately fit her male model) and will miss seeing her each week! If the other designers have imbibed Elisa's humility and grace, it makes sense that she appears to have imbibed some of Tim Gunn's wisdom as well:

"I feel fortified in what most people would consider a very unusual way. This experience has evolved my whole time here. Everybody contributed to helping me grow in a way that will fortify my work for the rest of my life. They were the true judges, and I passed that test. I feel extremely graced and blessed to move forward in just making work, and making it all work, all the time."

Hahahaha! Make it work all the time, E! Much love from Project Stunway.

Very cool Elisa Jimenez interview with Buddy TV here: "Like, I'm a maker, I make things."

Project Runway no longer fortified with Vitamin E

2008-01-09T09:34:00.001-05:00

Elisa exit interview part deux

2008-01-09T09:31:00.001-05:00

Jim Cantiello is my homeboy.

2008-01-08T22:42:00.001-05:00

GET LEARNED:

GET PSYCHED:

"Unimaginative. Uninspired. And we were Totally. Bored."

2008-01-05T12:54:00.000-05:00

Eek. Remember when Heidi said that to Sweet P? Scary, man. She looked really intense. It was like Sweet P's boredom-causing outfit was about the worst thing that a designer could do to those judges. Yipes. Anyway, we know that Sweet P. is safe, Elisa is auf'd, so let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.

If only we all had a Tim Gunn to shame us into getting out of bed at a decent hour every morning. Waking up would be much more fun. Especially if the day involved tearing candy-shaped pillows apart with people named Sweet P. (Helene, I also noticed how appropriate it was that a tattooed motorcycle chick felt guilty for ripping up stuffed animals, but went ahead with it.)

These designers, as usual when it comes to their Tim Gunn encounters, didn't seem to appreciate the wakeup call. Especially our friend Kit, although I loved seeing that matted mess on the back of her head. Maud and I both know how bleached hair can get in just one magical night: Mat-ted. Like straight up cotton candy on top your head. I also love how Kit is a not a real platinum blonde (no one is) but still talks like one. Me too. I think the hair color gets "in" somehow. Which also explains why people like to mention that Marilyn Monroe was actually smart like it's supposed to be a shock. It's the blonde.

Anyway, in her interview Kit's like, "I have no idea what the next challenge is going to be. The surprises are, like, endless."

Ok she didn't say "like" but it still cracked me up. It reminded me of another interview insight earlier this season when Ricky said he had to show the judges he can make menswear on the menswear challenge.

Speaking of cotton CANDY. I. Loved. this. episode and agree with Elisa: and how can you not want to make things with that sort of like magic magic magic? I will deal with my girl E in my next post.
Stunway Confessional: I've been having second thoughts about the Return of the March. I looove Chris (I mean, how can you not?), but sometimes I think my love has blinded me and I start agreeing with BPR (12/29: The Problem with Chris). I guess if he goes to Bryant Park I will just sort of feel like he was given an extra chance to go to Bryant Park, because he was, and maybe this isn't fair. I don't know. In the spirit of moving on I want to stand by my man, but it will be hard if one of my other faves (Kevin, Rami, Jillian, Victorya, Christian, Sweet P.) goes home first.

Mais Chris, in the far auf chance that you are reading this, je t'aime toujours and still want you to text message me.
Moving on -- the designers looked like mad fools in that candy shop. Mad fools. The crazy circus music Bravo was playing probably didn't help either.
Given their materials, I suppose it makes sense that what eventually came down that runway was a bit ... something. Something ... not all that good-looking. Even though it wasn't the ugliest (I'm sorry, Elisa), Ricky's was my least favorite. The bottom half reminded me of a diaper, and I'm sorry to be gross, but when a diaperish look is also brown, I cannot help but think of poopy poop poop.

"Ok, just don't make a face like you are pooping your pants on the runway. ... Perfect."

But I could really relate to Ricky when he said-- "I think that the mood in the workroom started out like it was going to be a lot of fun, and just great, and we're all having a good time. But I think as time is wearing down people are realizing that to be creative with these kind of materials is harder than people imagine." This man has hit on a profound truth about candy; pounds and pounds of it always seem like a fun, great idea at first, followed quickly by a feeling of total crap.

I really liked Kevin's. As Maud pointed out, it was probably the only truly wearable item up there. But Zac Posen wanted a float, damnit! Is that too much to ask?

"Why is Victorya's model walking like that and WHERE Is my float!!?"

I just found this sweet pic of Rihanna and our boy ZP. They are both so cute.

Sorry designers, my favorite thing on the runway was the adorable skirt that Jillian wore.
Gorgeous. Love it.

More recaps to come. This episode makes me HUNGRY.

I like candy when it's wrapped in a sweater

2008-01-04T11:43:00.000-05:00

LOVED this week's Ep! So creative! So unexpected! So delicious! Felt like a return to the caliber of PR we all know and love.

To start, Tim Gunn waking everybody up at the crack of dawn was actually hilarious. Kit looked a hot mess! (No offense sweetie. I live with a bleach blonde. I know that hair can be hard to tame.) She was all like, "I didn't even have a bra on!" LOL! But she pulled herself together in a sleepy looking I-need-to-be-comfortable-to-get-through-this-day kind of way AND was able to create a tres cute, tres "Kit" design.

It's pretty-punk and it looks like real clothes made of fabric, not candy wrappers. Obvi IN.

Rami won his long-awaited second challenge. Well done. His model Sam looked really cute -- her red hair was amazing with the color scheme of candy. And I will give him props for using those peppermint patty wrappers as his skirt fabric. Those little buggers will tear like nobodiesbusiness in my experience. My only complaint about the look is that its too Fanta commercial. Or like crazy Tokyo street fashion. Or something.

Can't you just see her shaking it and yelling "wanna Fanta, dontcha wanna wanna Fanta?" I can.

Moving on. I thought Chris March's outfit was sophisticated and sleek but still fun due to the pop-art influence. As he said, he has the most experience working with non-traditional materials and fantasy, and thus was able to avoid the pitfalls of sewing food. Still IN.

Poor ole' Jillian should have listened to Chris. We all admire her ambition, but using the candy as material for the garment was NOT a requirement of this challenge. If it had been, I think the designers would have been on the factory floor as opposed to the gift shop. Maybe there was something the judges could see on the runway that I couldn't see at home, but IMO her outfit was totally costume-y. If Chris March's last outfit was Paris 1950s hooker, then Jillian's here is Old Wild West saloon hooker. Right? A corset and a fringe skirt??? Michale Kors. Nina Garcia. Heidi! I can't believe you didn't see it!

My favorite this week was Kevin. His outfit was the only one of the bunch that I can see myself wearing. And while his design may not be fantastical and sugar-plumb-y, it does appear to be chocolate-y. And Hershey's is known for chocolate. Mmmmmm.

Kevin used the same brown velvet material Elisa used and yet he was able to create and outfit that was alive, feminine and pretty while hers was strange and sad looking. I can see what she was going for, but clearly it fell short. The one confusing thing was when she was watching her model walk down the runway and looked totally excited and satisfied with her work. That's when I knew for sure that it was her time to be auf.

I must dash out for lunch -- heavy on the vegetables, light on the grilled-cheese-and-fries per my New Years resolution. Back later for my thoughts on the designers in the middle.

Stream-of-Consciousness-Blogging is the New Live-Blogging

2008-01-03T12:18:00.000-05:00

Episode 6, as seen from inside the mind of Hélène du Blonde:

I’m sorry wah-hut? Steve was just auf’d last episode? That feels like AGES ago! So 2007.

I love that they use the Elle magazine with Reese on the cover in the intro. My roommates and I still have it on our side table because her hair is so fantastic in that picture. Love Reese.

Kevin’s cubicle buddy is gone. His chest hair remains.

Christian doesn’t care that Steven is out? I am shocked and outraged at his lack of concern for other human beings. That was a lie.

Heidi looks pretty again - Red lips and red shoes! Is this becoming a thing? Her not dressing like a crazy person?

Everyone gets new models because they haven’t been used in forevs. Xtina picks LEA! WTF is UP with Lea. I am not drinking the Lea Kool-Aid quite yet. Her designers haven’t even won a challenge, right? So, why’s she so great? Hey! Sweet P wasn’t picked last!!!!! Way to go! DAH NOT KATIE!!!! SWEET P GODDDD! This is why you deserve to go last! Rami changes – atta boy! My roommate, Katrine, thinks his old model may or may not be a dude. “THAT’S A WIG!!!!” she exclaims. She could be right….

6 a.m. at New Gotham…braless Kit greets her mentor. “I was in my pajamas in front of Tim Gunn, that’s really kind of tragic.” Oy, Kit, your wakeup hair is tragic.

RICKY WITHOUT A HAT! RICKY WITHOUT A HAT! REWIND!

Based on outfit selection, Rami thought this challenge was taking place in a discothèque, and Jillian thought it was on Ork.

Chocolate is magic? Oh, Elisa. You’re like a miniature Buddha. I’ll miss you when you’re auf’d in one to three episodes.

Candy lady says Hershey’s Time Square is the sweetest place in New York. False, that’s Pinkberry.

Amid the piles of chocolate, my mind is drawing parallels between Christian and Veruca.

Back at Parsons, the designers consume candy. Beware the sugar crash, designers! Sugar is poison for the creative juices!

Jillian is the only one using an edible product? Go J Bugg.

Sweet P feels guilty about killing stuffed animals, lives up to adjective in name.

OH MY GOD TRASH CANS OF PEANUTBUTTER CUPS?!??!?!!?!?! XTINAAAAAAH!!!!!! YOU ARE DEAD TO ME!!!!!!!

Elisa has a daughter named Clivey? Could she be more of a hippie? Wait, she got hit by a Porsche? A hippie got run over by a Porsche? It’s okay to laugh at the irony since she’s still alive, right?

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiii Rami. You’re pretty.

Katrine and I just giggled for 3 minutes straight about Tim Gunn saying “maxi pad.”

Jillian’s skirt is all Bob Fosse with fructose! J’adore.

“This is both of us; this is us both looking good.” – Lauren, you are my new favorite model. I mean, I didn’t have an old favorite because I kind of hated them all, but you’re leaps and bounds ahead of the pack, for real.

Xtina thinks E’s dress is a “hot mess.” Also compares her sleeves to swimmies. I find this humorous, but refuse to laugh because I am still pissed about the mass Reese cup slaughter that took place 10 minutes ago.

I am so pulling for Jillian and Rami (as always), they did hard shizz and they made it WORK. They are the essence of Project Runway.

Heidi looks pretty AGAIN. That’s 3 in a row! A style turkey! A hat-trick!

That’s Ricky’s first design that I liked. Ever. Oh look! Chris’s looks like Ricky’s upside down!

Kit uses Kit Kats. Vanity through design?

Ooooh, Kevin’s is wearable. I’m glad he listened to Christian on those Reese cup buttons.

Christian, I’m yawning. Your design bores me. All those precious Reese cups wasted in vain. How could you?

Sweet P, ewwwwww. I can’t get past your model’s shoulder bones, is she even wearing a dress?

RAMI!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!

JILLIAN!!!!!!!! DITTO!

What is Victorya’s model doing?????? Posen ain’t buyin’ it. His face is all “Uh uh, Queen Frostine.”

JUDGING:

RAMI - Sam is a good model, very good choice. She looks so pin-up, in a good way. You good Rami, you good. You make MK smile! He normally only smiles when he’s ripping on you! Hey, Rami might win!

ELISA – MK asks, “Where’s the joy?” Posen clears up that he’s referring to, “The joy of candy!” Oh Posen. I wonder how are they going to get those silver shower caps on the armless “fashion graveyard” mannequin…

JILLIAN - Zac likes licorice, red is fantastic. Umm this is not her first red dress, I sense a theme. Judges call her design “chic, sexy, sophisticated, edible.” I think those are all compliments. I’m on Team Jillian. Par regular.

VICTORYA – Ice princess from Dairy Queen is not wearable. You’re on my last nerve, Victorya. THANK YOU Heidi for calling her out on that walk. What was that?! For shiz!

MARCH – MK thinks March’s is a smart editing choice. Nina thinks she can be shot for the pages of Elle. I still think his design looks like Ricky’s upside down.

SWEET P – Sweet P bores again. She made Michael Kors sad :( . That’s an auf-able offense, P. If you pick someone other than Twiggy McZerobodyfat next week, maybe I’ll notice your clothes. IF THERE IS A NEXT WEEK! Sweet burn.

TIMEOUT. Umm…Every commercial is for Reese cups or Wendy’s. THANKS BRAVO. New Years resolutions are tougher right now.

BACK. March is in, J Bugg gets robbed, Rami wins immunity. His was good though, for shiz. Props to my 2 faves, they’ve done it again.

In a sad, ironic twist, the candy challenge leaves the sweetest people in the bottom 2. Sweet P is in, delaying the inevitable til week 7.

Elisa exits speaking another language…literally. Seriously, what is she saying?

She wanders off, feeling fortified.

And so do I.

Bonne nuit.

haiku4mk

2008-01-02T23:39:00.000-05:00

wisdom shown through barbs
your skin is orange; your heart, gold
chic is delicious

We're baaaaaack!

2008-01-02T12:40:00.000-05:00

Thank goodness the holidays are over and we are back to regular lifestyle and teevee schedule! I truly love seeing family and friends and being festive, but my waistline and my liver have had enough! Hélène! I too have been thinking of the New Year and resolutions (3 cups of green tea already today!!). It really is convenient that New Years comes directly after the holidays. After six weeks or so in total gluttony and indulgence one is ready for Spartan-like living. I wonder how long this feeling will last...

As for my predictions for this evening, I'm not sure I have any deep insights... but for what it's worth: Chris March is probably in danger of being auf (again) IMO and based on some of the previews I've seen, Christian (surprise surprise) is overly confident in his design. And as annoying and sassy as Ricky can be, I think it's Elisa's week to say "auf wiedersehen." ENOUGH of the silly clothes and spacey looks! I admire the spirit of Elisa, but not her designs.

It's bound to be an excellent Ep tonight... in the previews Michael Kors describes one of the outfits as "deliciously chic." I remember a few seasons ago MK was critiquing a designer during the Barbie challenge because there was nothing "deliciously girly" about his outfit. I believe he was talking to Andre, but please correct me if I am wrong mes amis.

Speaking of deliciously girly... here are your favorite bloggers enjoying the New Years festivities:

See you on the runway!

Designers: New year, new you!

2008-01-01T13:30:00.001-05:00

Happy new year, friends! The folks at BravoTV.com have checked in with a few of our favorite reality stars (including Jackie, a Dayton City native!) to see what resolutions they're hoping to fufill in the new year. Scope it out to see how good Jeffrey looks!

All this resolution talk got me thinking, it's time we get some resolve out of the 10 remaining designers! Here are my recommendations for how y'all can better yourselves in 2008...

March: Resolve to tone it down and STEP IT UP.

Rami: Try to be sultrier. I KID! That would be IMPOSSIBLE. I love you, you're perfect, don't change. Wait! How about you resolve to make my dress for my brother's wedding? Thanks.

Jillian: Investments are crucial - sink some dollars into a Chi and some speech lessons. This will allow people to focus on how cute you dress(!), rather than your fro and monotone.

Ricardo: Your New Year's resolution MUST be to burn your hat collection. This is non-negotiable.

Victorya: I think they offer free courses in managing conflict. Also in, um, trying not to be so passive aggressive. Just saying.

Kit: Let's see some pistol outta you in 2k8!

Sweet P: Your New Years resolution is to stay sweet! Keep Mean P at bay! Also, to get your button drawn not-last, at least once.

Christian: Invest in a 2008 word-a-day calendar so that you may find an alternate adjective to fierce.

Elisa: Resolutions are all about facing your fears, so, I think, in 2008, you should intimately fit another man. There's more than one flavor of ice cream, E.

Kevin: Please resolve to shed that facial hair. Or I'm bout to bic you myself.

New Episode's Eve

2008-01-01T13:25:00.001-05:00

Mmmmajor Gossip!

2007-12-28T13:39:00.000-05:00

The New York Daily News is reporting that the FABULOUS Mrs. David Beckham is a potential judge for the Project Runway Season Four Finale!!! Am I the only one that's been anxiously awaiting her return to the tele? Her reality special was my favorite non-PR show of the year! I mean, praise God (and by God, I mean Michael Kors) if this whole thing is true. It totally could be! After all, the Spice Girls did perform at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show....so...if that's not proof positive, I just don't know what is. Let's hope this all comes to fruition darlings, because Posh as a guest judge? Well that would be nothing short of major.

Make new friends, but keep the old...

2007-12-27T10:27:00.000-05:00

Aaaah, the holidays. There's no better time to catch up with loved ones, n'est-ce pas? You know...aunts, cousins, ex-boyfriends, and, of course, Kara Saun.

Although Bravo has cruelley ripped away my weekly PR4 fix, at least they've been kind enough to anesthetize me with a hefty dose of PR1-3! Yesterday, as I sat in Maison du Blonde waiting for my ride to the Dayton City "International" Airport, I was joined by the smiling faces of some of my all-time faves (Austin, Jay and Kara), along with the menacing grin of my all-time least fave (Well, to be fair, my all-time least fave is Angela, but Wendy is definitely deuxième!). This little trip down memory lane got me thinking: I have some puh-retty strong feelings about the season one contestants - both as designers and, like, human beings. Ditto for seasons 2 and 3. But season 4? Notsomuch. I'm sure it's because we're still so early into the competition (for you as well), but so far there's no one that's got me A) gushing about how badly I want them to outfit me or 2) ranting about how I want to bludgeon them with a shoe from the Bluefly accessories wall. Like, I loved Jack, but I didn't Daniel Voso-love him. And I get a kick out of Christian, but he's no Andrae. And though I see Kevin's technical skill, his vision falls short of Jeffrey's.

In short, this is my call to the cast of PR4 to step up their game next week. Christian, you need to find the Santino to your Andrae. Rami, you must find the Daniel V. to your Nick Verreos. Marché, you may look like Jay McCarroll, but your designs lack his unique point of view that makes me not want to wear his clothes, but totally appreciate their beauty. Get with it people! I want there to be options for who should win each challenge, rather than clear winners every time. And is it so much to ask that your Tim Gunn impressions, I don't know, SOUND LIKE TIM GUNN! Also, come on, Ricky - don't just annoy me, make me hate you! Passion is what this show is all about people - so go hard, or get AUWT.

There are really no words to describe

2007-12-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

Chris March's website.
Except maybe ... totally & completely awesome.

http://www.chrismarchdesign.com/

I have spent hours on this website.
Hours in Internet time.
So like 15 minutes.
A long time.
Idle hands, BravoTV. Idle hands.

So ... what do we do now?

2007-12-21T10:17:00.000-05:00

Well, if you are lucky enough to live in the Dallas area you can go see Elisa and her partner tonight at the Dallas Contemporary: a new artspace for Dallas. Together they're presenting "A Story of Creation: Boy Meets Girl," from 7 to 9:30-- an "evening of shopping, collectible art, fashion and performance."

Aww, how cute is that?! Boy meets girl ... girl intimately fits boy ... they live happily ever after on some planet. (But not Heidi's planet. Bitch please.)

EJ isn't everyone's favorite this season, but I heart her. I still think she's une artiste vrais, and I admire her for being her own person no matter what craziness is going on up there on the Stunway. If someone in Dallas goes to this show, please send us pictures or any of the intimately fitted details!

The Dallas Contemporary is at 2801 Swiss Ave, in Dallas obviously. Event is free, but the ad suggests that you call ahead to reserve a seat. 214-821-2522. More on Elisa and tonight's show in today's Dallas Morning News.

All I Want for Christmas Is Vous

2007-12-20T09:26:00.000-05:00

Only 5 shopping days left til Christmas! Yowzers. Still not done? Moi neither, so here are a few PS recommendations of what to get your favorite superfan...

Mood Fabrics Budget:
These things are going like Bagels! Remember Nick's super-cute My Scene Barbie? Well that biddy is back, and you can find her on Amazon! Wrap it up for your favorite neice, or get a display case and pass it along to your Season 2-obsessed BFF. Sure $150 seems pricey for a doll, but just look at that adorable doo-rag!

Speaking of Season 2...how about a famous kimono dress from Kara Janx? Personally, I'm all about the black and green - perfect for a holiday fête, non? And while you're at it, might as well pick up something snazzy for NYE...

If you're really looking to score some points this year, what Project Runway fan wouldn't appreciate...I don't know...say...a trip to Paris?? Um yes, actually, let's move that to the top of mon list. I refer you to the Daily Candy Guide to the city of lights for a lil Parisien inspiration.

Makin it Work For Less:

What do you meaaaaaan you can't afford a trip to Paris? Mon dieu! Well, I suppose we can work it out. If you're tryin to make it out of this holiday season without going totally broke, there's the always-popular choice of PR dvd's. The lucky recipient of this gift will be afforded ample opporunity to memorize every catty MK comment and each note and dance move of the Project Runway Musical! Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!

Or how about the adorable bowling bag Jay McCarroll has been boasting on his Elle Blog?? P.S. Do you read his Elle Blog? Cuz ya should.

Making gifts out of toilet paper and scotch tape:

Though Chris March suggested that was all you could get for $15, I beg to differ! The BravoTV shop has plenty to offer for the fan on a budget. At the top of the list? Umm...how bout fashiondirectorofellemagazine's book! Even the cover is stylish!

(And be sure to include the latest issue of Elle as a stocking stuffer. Duh.)

But let's get serious: Whether you're working with a ball-gown budget or a Bitten buck, just put a lil thought and care into your choices, and your loved ones will certainly eat up whatever you give them!

Unless your loved one is Christian. Then, well, that shit better be fierce.

The Grinch Who Stole Christian

2007-12-19T16:05:00.000-05:00

Bravo has ripped the (Team) Star off my Christmas tree! No more PR til 2008...trés triste. Le sigh. Le sniff sniff. Le tear.

Project Winter WonderStunway

2007-12-19T12:18:00.000-05:00

Here's a wintry pic of our host Heidi and her man Seal enjoying some outdoor activities. She's not looking quite as glam as she does up on the runway, but I do love to see some practicality on occasion. Also not sure what her hand gestures are signaling... I'll leave it to you to interpret.

Here in Washington, DC we are wrapping up business and getting ready for the holidays. Personally, I need to be wrapping up my Christmas presents, but I guess that will have to wait until the weekend.

Project Runway, much like the US Congress, has decided to take a little break until after the New Year. My Wednesdays feel empty without you PR, but my family and friends should be pleased now that I'm free to do some Christmas shopping. I suppose not everyone considers a new Project Stunway post to be a fabulous gift. I know. Crazy, right?

Anyway, I was just reflecting on the Winter season and suddenly this image popped into my mind:

HahahahaHA! The ice skating challenge! If I remember correctly, as Tim was wobbily skating along with Emmett he was saying (in that Tim voice), "I'm not so sure about this..." Classic Ep. Classic Tim.

And speaking of our fave mentor, I just read (8 months late) an article by Eric Wilson profiling Tim Gunn in the New York Times. It's titled "The Headmaster of Fashion" and it offers some interesting insites into our Tim. For example, I didn't know he is a Washington, DC native and attended and taught at the Corcoran College of Art and Design. This may explain his affinity for the power suit...

Stay warm tonight, loves. It's cold out there without our weekly dose of PR.

myBravo is your Bravo

2007-12-19T09:40:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what I think about this, BravoTV.com. Can the world handle one more social networking thing? Gotta keep up with the Mark Zuckerbergs I suppose.

That said... I'm joining, obviously. If they ever validate my email address.

Welcome to myBRAVO
myBRAVO is a way for you to stay connected to all of our upcoming shows and events, connect with other Bravo fans, and get exclusive information about all your favorite Bravo-lebrities. Want to know when the next season of "Project Runway" is coming? Looking for more information about the contestants on the next season of "Top Chef" - we have all that and more! Sign up or log on and become a part of the Bravo community today!
-
myBRAVO team

Do you wanna be a polyester bride?

2007-12-17T21:16:00.000-05:00

(Ummm... what?)

Steven Steven Steven. Mon cheri, if anyone needed to illustrate the ability to "make it work" it was you last week. If I heard you say one more time that the fabric you had was "white polyester" I was going to make you eat that dress. HELLOOOOO! Its a competition here! Have you ever seen Project Runway before?!!? Challenges often involve making garments out of flowers (tres difficile), or worse, trash (gross). That you were allowed to use fabric is a real treat on PR.

Oui Oui Oui

et

Oui Oui
I rest my case.

And while I agree that an all-white palette may present some challenges, I would argue it's not much worse than an all green velour palette (Oy. poor Victorya) AND I'm guessing there wasn't much natural fiber fabric up there on the runway, right? MK pointed out that "you had beading" to work with! What about a cute little embellished top? Or a dress like this little number Daniel V sketched for BravoTV.com:

Swingy, right? Cute! As I've said before, I have no experience sewing, but I'm pretty sure that Steven is capable of executing a similar design, no? I think it was a basic lack of imagination that led us to say auf wiedersehen to Steve.

Moving on. I really must say Kevin was the winner in my book this week. Once again:
Gah! So cute! I must say, it doesn't hurt that his model is the spitting image of Emme, our fav plus size model. And I never thought I'd say it, but I can even excuse the leggings (though, thank you MK for pointing out that we should be over leggings by now. MK and MVB = on the same page).

Loves, I must scoot and post more later. One too many margaritas at dinner and suddenly I'm ready for a nap. See you on the stunway.

"Does he cook for you?"

2007-12-17T09:11:00.001-05:00

Jack is so great. Read the full OUTzoneTV.com interview for more JM details on Dale, the infection that led to his early departure, his HIV, what he's doing now and why he got bossy with some bloggers.

There’s this moment in the episode where you’re torn about it, and then you take Tim into the hall. What was that conversation like?
Well basically, I’m working on my outfit, and what happens with a bacterial infection is that it spreads really quickly, so initially it was just localized on my face. I was like, you know, looking ugly on TV isn’t my number one dream, but I can deal with that. And I mean, I worked really hard to get to this point. I auditioned twice. I’m not a women’s wear designer. I made a whole portfolio. I made all these dresses. I’m not going home if I can prevent it. But then I got to a certain point where … I’m malformed for one, and two -- once the infection gets advanced enough, it gets systemic and then you start to feel bad.

So, you’re dating Dale from “Top Chef.” How’s that going?
Well the thing that’s so funny for us because the extent of our dating relationship is we hung out for a couple weekends, and we talk on the phone a lot, and I really like him. And we get along really well. I mean he’s hilarious and I’m hilarious. So it just clicked. And to us – we’d both gone through this Bravo craziness, we immediately got each other and have this common ground. It’s weird. We talked about the fact that we’re not even celebrities. Imagine the scrutiny, you know, Brad and Angelina. I don’t know how those relationships survive with all this, but we’re taking it in stride. It’s funny. It’s whatever. Whether this happens to us or not, I don’t think it’s going to have any effect. I think it’s funny that people even care to be honest.

I don’t read a lot of blogs because there some serious crazies out there, but people are happy for us, whatever that means. They say how cute we are. Maybe Bravo will give us our own reality show. Jack and Dale. No. Jale. Something about Chicago.

Does he cook for you?
Everyone asks that. You know, I don’t make clothes for myself and he doesn’t really cook for himself because we do it all day. So I wear jeans and t-shirts and he doesn’t cook at home. So actually no he hasn’t.

I think you're praying wrong...

2007-12-16T20:18:00.001-05:00

Sweet merciful crap, I love these things.

Daniel V. crashes Tim Gunn's Thanksgiving, sells video to Bravo for $25

2007-12-16T19:10:00.001-05:00