Reunion Episode

So, was I the only one bored during the Reunion episode? It seems unnecessary at this point to continue this practice. We are so overinundated by the reality TV media (including this blog) with information about where people are or what they do after they leave a reality show or a competition. I mean did I really need to hear Carmen bawl her eyes out about Kit saying she was glad she wasn't the one that went home?? Was that actually a mean statement? By my count, definitely not. Anyways, some bullet points I have been dwelling on since the show aired:

** Victorya has an attitude problem. Seriously, her attitude could not have been more condescending or arrogant. And what was she so f*in upset about with Jack's MRSA episode? Was she worried she would catch it? Or was she upset they brought Chris back? Neither Heidi nor Tim addressed that, which seems like something that should have been disclosed. And it may have been the editing, but the cuts to her face they showed during parts of the show were priceless. Averted eyes, pursed lips, shaking head... the perception I got was she was quite the female dog.

** I don't feel much sympathy for how "tired" or "overworked" these designers (or any contestants on other shows) say they may be. Yes, I am sure it can be tough or grueling at times, and I can totally see myself getting tired or cranky in that situation. But let's be honest, you are not hauling garbage or waiting tables or being an admin. You are, at least on Project Runway, doing what you keep telling everyone your passion revolves around. You are having challenges, models, fabric, judges, opportunities, all paid for or handed to you somehow. All you have to do is make a garment. That's it. I am sure they are thankful for the opportunity, but enough with the complaining. Victorya gets a prize here, her statement about how putting on her show was a ton of work is so obvious I found it demeaning. The tone was so like "you don't know how hard this is"... you are right I don't. But again, not saving lives people! Lighten up, it's just fashion. :)

** I actually thought Rami came across much nicer in person than he did in the last episodes of the show. He was very chummy with Chris, and I believe at one point Stephen put his hand on Rami's? Did I see that right? Something may be going on there. Stephen was so complimentary of Rami's talent that it seemed a little suspicious. Also, no discussion whatsover during the reunion show about the Rami/Sweet P team challenge. Out of all the things that happened this season, this was one area I was primed to hear some gossip about. Nope, nada. Thanks Heidi!

** Heidi came across a little on the aggressive/annoying side. I don't mind her speaking up when she has a point to make (and her bit about Victorya being uptight was great to hear) but sometimes it's almost a little too much. She was starting to rub me the wrong way at times. Almost as if she is above the fringe of it.

** Tim came across as kind of a pushover. He was super complimentary that Victorya had a show at FW (though he said nothing about the clothes) even though he clearly didn't care for her, he kind of backed off from his Tim's Take conclusions vis-a-vis what the judges said and saw (stand up for what you believe Tim), and some of the time just was afraid to piss anyone off at all. I just would have liked a little more defense or decisiveness when he was talking at points during the reunion show.

** Marion actually sounded like a normal person. He could have easily said he was better than the clothes he made and was eliminated for... instead he just said he was disappointed that he couldn't display his more avant-garde talents. I thought that was good.

** Jillian was awfully quiet.

** Michale Kors' laugh-fest was great. I wish they had shown more of that during the WWE diva episode. I absolutely LOVED his response about wearing the all black. I wish they had had more pictures of him back in the day in those get-ups he described. He came across very well throughout the whole reunion episode.

** Not crazy about Nina's new hairdo. Or maybe it wasn't a new cut, she just looked different, and not necessarily in a good way.

** Carmen is ridiculous. The crying and all that, it seemed so staged. Thankfully, her 15 minutes have elapsed.

** Ricky was suprisingly quiet, and didn't seem to respond that well to his crying montage (which was hilarious BTW). He needs to lighten up a bit as well.

Christian wins, Sweet Pea out

Christian and Jillian are in the final 3, there is some weird further competition between Chris and Rami to determine who will be the last member of the final 3. But all 4 of them will do a collection.

I will do a rundown of the outfits in my next post.

The Standards

As much as I love Runway and most of the designers, when you look at the designers who are the standards (Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, etc.) it becomes clear why (to me) they are the standards. I realize they have an unlimited budget and a huge team to put all of it together. But take a look at some of these designs. Ralph Lauren every season finds a way to make the same thing over in a new and spectacular way.

This to me is my design aesthetic realized. The colors, the finishing, the silhouettes are just so great. A photo from Calvin Klein (Francisco Costa) Fall 08:








And here are some from Ralph Lauren Fall 08, just amazing stuff:

Spoiler: Only 3 designers to be shown on Bravo

I guess two people will be eliminated this week. Which sucks. This was on project rungay:

Only three collections will be televised on Bravo, but producers want to avoid giving a hint of who the finalists are."

"An extra challenge, “Sew Not Over,” will be judged by fans online and shown on Feb. 21 through March 6."

UPDATE: Press release from Bravo
"Sew Not Over," sponsored by L'Oral Paris, will feature Carmen, Chris, Christina, Marion, Elisa, Jack, Jillian, Kevin, Kit, Rami, Ricky, and Steve as they create three looks on a budget of $1000 that will be judged by fans online. Bravo's cameras will capture the action and BravoTV.com will air the challenge from February 21 through March 6, where viewers can learn about the vision for each collections and vote for their favorite designers. "Sew Not Over" is produced by Magical Elves."

Project Runway at FW

All 5 showed! I attached one image from their collection I thought was interesting or telling.


Chris



Jillian




Rami


Christian


And Sweet Pea.


There are links to a majority of the pictures here:
http://bloggingprojectrunway.blogspot.com/

First impressions, Jillian had some killer pieces but also some awful pieces. Chris was great. Rami was the same. Sweet Pea did pretty well I think (some execution problems). Christian was over the top, and not necessarily in a good way.

It's so hard to judge from pictures. I thought Chloe's winning collection in pictures was awful, but on the Runway and in motion it looked cool. We will have to see on the show how they really did look.

Malan bores me at Fashion Week

Malan Breton, the well-coiffed globe trotter from Season 3 who made a gown that looked like a log, showed at Fashion Week (again). It was sort of boring and derivative. I always wonder why the fashion writers for the big papers and magazines are so dismissive of designers who make clothes that are for the everday woman (with everyday meaning tall, thin, and wealthy). I didn't understand why the more bizarre get-ups received such praise. But after watching so much Runway and seeing some of these designers (who were eliminated) actually show a collection, I kind of get it. How many black pant suits or jackets do I have to see? Please show my something new or at least kind of fresh. Choose an interesting concept or fabric. That's partially why I loved Laura Bennett's final collection so much. She took the mundane black cocktail dress and made it rich and vibrant. I still think she should have won, but apparently the judges must have been just as bored as I was watching Malan's and Victorya's respective collections.
Photos and video are on the fantastic project rungay blog. (http://projectrungay.blogspot.com)

Ricky's Out

And Chris won. It was the best of both worlds. I will review Operation Spandex later on...

Na-Be Attacks the Runway! Sort of...

Well Victorya showed at Fashion Week. Here is the video of the show:
http://myitthings.com/FashionWeek/Video/It_Thing/Victorya_Hong___New_York_Fashion_Week_Fall_2008/15578222008205645.htm


It was all about the 80's... very masculine cuts and colors. I found it kind of drab (too much black) and repetitive, not all that visionary either, but it did have a few bright spots. There was a chic black and gray number that I liked and some of the thick, cumberbun-like belts around the waist kind of worked in spots. But overall, it's not that noteworthy. Honestly, it's almost exactly what I expected from her. Elisa showed as well, but from what I read and saw, the show was more like performance art and the garments in terms of both concept and execution were amateur at best.