Project Runway - Season Five Finale

Better late then never.

Isn’t it just my luck, the final Project Runway review for this season turns out to be the one that latest coming out? My apologies again to all my readers. Blame the job!

The finale to Project Runway, Season Five aired last Wednesday, and a week I find myself...indifferent. Don’t get me wrong, I think the right person won (unlike past seasons...Jeffrey? A winner? Please.), but I found it all very lackluster. I was excited to see Korto’s fashions, and I did have a morbid curiosity of what Kenley could churn out. But the bottom line is, that this is one of the first season finales of Runway that I was feeling “blah” about.

Due to the sheer number of fashions to go over with the finale, I won’t be able to go into great detail over each dress, however I will give you the on the spot impressions and thoughts I had when I first saw them coming down the runway.

We have a lot to cover, but before we get started, I’d like to give a shout out to a couple of readers who reached out to me in the comments last review. To Victor from Brazil and my reader from California, I would like to thank you both for being readers. Both of them suggested I cover America’s Next Top Model, but the only problem is that they are more then halfway through the season at this point. Since I’ve never seen the show before, it would be quite difficult for me to jump in and review it at this point. But next season, should there be enough interest in me reviewing it, you can bet I’ll jump right in. (Perhaps, if you want to me review a “next model” show, I do believe Make Me A Supermodel Season Two premieres on Bravo soon. Shall I do that?) Join my blog as a follower (see side panel) and never miss ANY review I do. (plus, it’d be nice to see I have more then one follower. I know you readers are out there!)

So I think I said enough at this point. You waited long enough for me to get to the stuff you really want. Let’s get started:

Korto – I liked her stuff a lot, but honestly, it disappointed me a little. I was expecting a little more from her. But all in all, a beautiful, brightly colored collection. The vivid colors were the highlights of the collection, but it kind of fell short. Some of the pieces were gorgeous, and made me kind of jealous that I would never get to wear such a piece. (and trust me, you do not want to see me in drag. I would look like my grandmother…beard and all). Plus, she decided to rework 2 of her dresses into whole new dresses! Wow, what a worker! That’s a bold move. It’s a shame that Korto didn’t win, but I don’t cry for her; she made the top two on Project Runway. My guess is she won’t exactly be searching too long for work. Over all, I did enjoy her collection.



Loved this one. The vibrant green color, coupled with that subtle neck piece attached to the bodice takes this dress from gorgeous to stunning very quickly.







If I’m not mistaken this used to be that horrid wedding dress. Not so bad now. Elegant and chic, Korto took this from drab to fab.










For some reason, I loved this look. I think the movement of the dress is what sold it for me. Gorgeous.











Cute. Bouncy. Summer walking along the avenue kind of dress.












Garden party dress. Elegant and cute, the color alone makes it become the centerpiece of a room.












Not really that exciting. Seen this type of dress before. Like the color though.












Again, a cute short dress that incorporates much of her African heritage. (start to see a pattern here? Long dress, short dress, long dress…I think I can start to see why she didn’t win)











LOVED this one. It reminded me a little of that seat belt outfit she created. The color was subtle and not as bright as the others, but it worked well with the style of the dress. A Sunday brunch dress for sure.











Beautiful top, but I felt it was sort out of place among the rest of the color palette she chose. Stood out as odd.










I’ve seen this type of dress before, but cute nonetheless.










Kenley – Who would have thought this girl would have made it as far as she did. On top of that, she STILL gave Tim attitude, and I just don’t understand it. Of course she put her foot in her mouth when she found out Tim was the last minute replacement judge for an injured Jennifer Lopez. (I do think that’s a bad idea, since Tim works so closely with the designers.) When Kenley found out Tim was the last minute fill in judge, she says, “Maybe I should have been nicer to Tim.” Gee Kenley, ya think? How about being nice period? As for her collection, personal feelings aside (and you know I’m nothing but fair dear readers) I found it a bit too costumey. I know her inspiration was “Alice in Wonderland”, but inspiration or not, you need to make something that wearable, and doesn’t look ridiculous. I found a few gems in the pieces she did, but overall, I’m not really surprised Kenley was the first of the final three contestants to be eliminated. Also, I’m not a designer, but the judges were right in telling her that she can’t play the ignorance card when it comes to duplicating other designer’s fashions. If you are a fashion designer, it is part of your job to be aware of what types of outfits other designers are making, so you don’t wind up copying them. Kenley didn’t get this, and I don’t know if she ever will.




If I’m not mistaken, this was her bridesmaid dress, and it still looks as cute as when I first saw it.









Her wedding dress, which I also found cute, but upon seeing it among the rest of the collection, I find it more costumey then I thought.









Simple, cute and chic. Loved the floral design, and I give her props for painting those herself.










I like the silhouette, but the neck (or lack thereof) bothers me.










Nice color combo. I like the plunge on the V-line, but the collar is bit too high.









Simple, cute and chic. Wow, didn’t I just use those words to describe another dress? Love the floral pattern, but it looked too “busy” for my tastes.










One of the few pieces in her collection I loved. The color combination was fabulous, and I love how the back of the skirt hangs lower then the front.










This was a bit much. Too poofy, and the hat only makes it look even more like a costume then that hat.










This made a lovely frame, and fit the model perfectly. The color was stunning, and the shape was flawless.










Hip pieces were way too big. The purple zebra print looked cheesy and that side flower pattern was completely out of place.










Leanne – If you haven’t guessed it, by process of elimination, you should have figured out by now that Leanne was the winner of Project Runway, Season Five. I loved Leanne’s collection. Her inspiration of “waves” was evident throughout every outfit. My only complaint (and judges complaints as well) was that her color palette, while pretty, and helped tie her dresses together, was boring. If Leanne would have pushed the envelope and used some of the stunning colors Korto used, then we really would have been blown away. Nonetheless, Leanne, while lacking in an exciting personality, made up for it in sheer fashion skills. I was really impressed with every outfit.






The collar is a bit high, but all in all a chic, clean look.










Loved this one. The dress moved with a natural flow, and the colors blended beautifully.











Stunning. Great color, and amazing subtle wave work on the bottom half.











This was one of Tim’s favorite pieces, and I’d have to agree. The vest is stylish and modern, and the pants bring a different look to the whole collection.











I found the skirt AMAZING. The top fit beautifully.










I thought the top looked a little too sloppy, like it was thrown together last minute. The skirt, however, was flawless.











This was the wedding dress. It still looks as stunning as it did when I first saw it.












This outfit used the same colors, but muted. It looks simple and clean, which only makes the end result look more elegant.











Again, amazing work on the skirt. The “waves” make it move so naturally. You’d think it was part of her. Didn’t like the top part so much. I think maybe some support would have looked better.











This was Leanne’s bridesmaid dress. Still gorgeous. That subtle wave pattern was ideal for this outfit. She didn’t have to change a thing.








So that’s it my dear readers!

Your winner is Leanne. What did you guys think? Did the right person win? Did you like some of the designs? Which designer’s dresses would you wear?

And so the time has come to bring this current review blog to a close. Not enough of you have responded to what show to review next, so as it stands, I will see you all again in January when American Idol starts up.
I will only ask that you join my blog as a follower, so you will never miss any update or posting! It has been quite a ride readers, and I thank you all for letting me lead the charge through this season of Project Runway.
Who knows when the next Project Runway will be? With it moving to Lifetime (ugh, such a bad idea) and Bravo producers tying up legalities in the courts, Season Six is going to be a way’s off.
Perhaps you can get your Tim Gunn fix like I do, and watch Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style? (train wreck of show, horrible….but I only watch because I love that man)

So thanks to all my readers again!
So until Project Runway is on the air again, for now, I saw to all of you, one final time:
Auf wiedersehen!

Project Runway - Week Thirteen

The witch is not dead.

If you need any clarification on that statement, then you haven’t been watching Project Runway for the last couple of months.

So as we learned last week, our final four designers were all tasked to create a line for Fashion Week, however, only three of the four designers would actually make it to Bryant Park. What we learned on last night’s episode was that as they are designing their line, they would need to create a wedding gown that encompasses what their line was about, or what it was inspired by; sort of like a “sneak peek”. The wedding gown would be judged and one of the four designers would be eliminated.

We then flash forward four weeks, and Tim Gunn makes his usual pre-finale rounds, visiting the final four in their homes and workplaces, giving his valuable words of wisdom to help the designers. We finally get to know the designers a little better, as we see a glimpse of their home life and backgrounds. I have to admit, every designer’s home life fit into the type of home life I pictured for them, based on their personalities. (and I was NOT surprised at Kenley’s home life at all. More on that later)

Flash forward again, and we’re back in New York. The designers have now had a couple of months away from each other designing their fashion line. As predicted, Jerell, Korto and Leanne were completely friendly, hugging and welcoming each other in their hotel room. Once Kenley showed up though, even I could feel the awkwardness. Things loosened up, however, when Kenley apologized for her behavior during the competition. Personally, I think Kenley had no choice but to apologize, considering she had to live and work with these people for the next few days.

Flash forward to the next day (wow, time goes by so fast in reality competitions, doesn’t it?) and the designers are back at Parson’s to unpack their fashion lines. This is, of course, where Tim drops another challenge to our already frazzled designers; they must design a bridesmaid dress that compliments and goes with the wedding gown they designed. They only had a day to accomplish this, so the pressure was definitely on for all four designers.

How did they fair? Well, I can say this much; I was impressed with one designer, surprised by another, and disappointed in the last two. Some of the choices they made were extremely questionable, and I have to wonder if they honestly thought their concept through.

I think I said enough. I know what you guys want.

Before we get to that, one last reminder; next week is (I believe) the last episode of Project Runway for this season. As it stands, I see only 4 of you answered the poll below of whether or not you would like me to review blog another show. If I don’t get enough interest, then Project Runway will be the last show I review blog until American Idol begins in January. Speak up now, or wait until January!

Now onto the fashions, shall we?
Here we go:

Korto – Again, Korto disappointed me. This had to be the most over worked wedding dress I have ever seen. I wasn’t crazy about the color to begin with, but the design just sort of took it into another level. I didn’t see a wedding dress in her design at all. To me, this was an elaborate evening gown. And while her wedding dress was over worked, her bridesmaid dress was under worked. Michael Kors said it best when he described this dress as “off the rack”. First off it was way too low cut for a bridesmaid dress. Korto seems drawn to the low V-cut design, but it just didn’t work for this outfit. The color matched perfectly with the wedding gown, and we all know that is a big no no. When Tim visited Korto in her studio and her home, we were all privy to the fact that she has strong roots in her African upbringing. She played the drums for Tim, and I have to say, I was quite impressed. Who knew Korto has such a talented side? Korto, to me, has lost her steam a little, and I only hope that her fashion line is reflective of some of the amazing designs I got used to seeing from her this season. (I still can’t get over that beautiful outfit made from seatbelts!!) Though she was one of the bottom two, she managed to slip by safely to show at Fashion Week. Personally, I am glad she did, because I am really jazzed to see what she can come up with for an entire line.

Leanne – LOVED it. I love the whole idea of “waves”, as her inspiration for her line. Her wedding dress for both unique and chic, as the judges pointed out. I honestly loved the way the dress flowed, and the patterns of “waves” that she created gave the gown such flow and movement, it truly made it stand out among the rest of the wedding dresses. Picture a veil on the model’s head and you truly could appreciate what an exquisite design this is. Her bridesmaid dress could very well be the first bridesmaid dress I’ve ever seen that is both fashionable and re-wearable. The wave effect on the bustier was subtle enough to link the dress to the wedding gown, but yet not over the top where it stood apart. The colors were perfect choices. This is a dress that can double as an evening dress easily, and Leanne nailed the look perfectly. When visited at home by Tim, Leanne introduced us to her boyfriend and then took Tim for a bike ride in a nearby park. To me, this fits Leanne’s personality to a tee. She lets her work speak for itself. She sort of reminds me of a character on a TV show I loved (when it was still on the air) called Angel. There was a character on that show called “Fred” (short for Fredericka) who had the same dorky, yet sweet personality. Maybe that’s why I started liking Leanne? Who knows, but all I know is I have my pick for the winner. Leanne moves on the Bryant Park easily.

Kenley – I wanted to hate it. I really did, I wanted to hate her entire line, especially her wedding dress. But, being the non-biased reviewer I am, I have to give this annoying girl props...her gown was so cute, I couldn’t possibly hate it. I don’t know who the designer the judges were referring to when they said that Kenley’s dress was very similar, but that doesn’t matter; they liked it anyway. The feathered design was adorable, and really did reflect Kenley’s personality well. And to improve and compliment the wedding dress, Kenley’s bridesmaid dress was just as cute. When done right, a poofed out skirt can look cute, and I think because she “poofed” it out just enough, it took the dress into the category of “adorable”. The top was simple, and the color was a beautiful shade of blue. Again, I wanted to hate it, but I just couldn’t do it. I top of that, I felt bad for her. Why you may ask? When Tim visited her at home, there was no family, friends or significant other to meet. It was just her, by herself, in her apartment in Brooklyn. Now either that means she didn’t want anyone there, or the more likely reason...she doesn’t have many friends or loved ones. We learned about Kenley’s grandmother, who was a calendar girl in the 1940s.(Shock and awe! We finally know where Kenley gets her 40s/50s looks from!). All in all though, I didn’t find her as irritating this time around. Maybe the time away from the competition gave her a chance to see the way she was acting. I found her attitude improved, and this was reflected when she apologized to the other three finalists for being a “bitch” during the competition. Wow, that was growth. Though I didn’t want her to move on, I have to say, she earned the right to show at Bryant Park with both dresses she created this week.

Jerell - Others have told me this, but I guess I didn’t actually get it until I saw Jerell’s wedding gown creation. Many people have pointed out that many of Jerell’s creations have “too much going on”. They are always composed of too many accessories, and “editing” is not part of his vocabulary. It didn’t hit me until I saw what he tried to pass off as a wedding dress. I will agree with judge Michael Kors when he said he loved the bottom half of the dress. For myself, I wouldn’t say I loved it, but I did think it was stylish. First off I thought the color was a horrible choice for a wedding dress. Fellow judge Nina Garcia pointed out that the color of the lace Jerell used to fill out the bottom of the dress made it look dirty. I actually couldn’t put my finger about what I didn’t like about that bottom half until she described it that way. And do I even need to point out the piece of the dress that both Tim and the judges had a problem with? That bustier was awful. Waaaaay too much going on, and I hated those “wings” sprouting out from the sides of the cups. It looked unfinished, and the judges pointed this out. And don’t get me started on the ridiculous flowers sticking out of her hair. When the model first walked down the runway, I didn’t think wedding dress at all; I thought “costume”. The bridesmaid dress was no better. While not a complete disaster like the wedding gown, it still was an accessory nightmare.The flowers sticking out on the side of the bustier were extremely distracting. It also felt very disconnected to me.
When Tim visited Jerell at home, we got to meet his family and friends. I found Jerell to be just as “real” as he portrays himself. I found his background to be genuine and true, so it was a real disappointment to see him not make it to the finale. Jerell was eliminated, so his work will not show in Project Runway’s finale; however, he will be showing at Bryant Park.

Now, you’re asking yourself, Nick, what are you drinking?
What do you mean?

What some of you don’t know (or maybe some of you know), is that the final six designers get to show at Bryant Park. That’s right, that means Joe, Suede, Jerell, and the final three all showed their fashion lines at Bryant Park.
Why you may ask?
Because Project Runway is taped weeks (and months) in advance, the show would still be going on when Bryant Park had their Fashion Week. To discourage spoilers for everyone watching the show, Runway producers opted to have the final six show at Bryant Park, so that way no one could be able to figure out which three of the six were in the Season Five finale. The difference is, while Korto, Leanne and Kenley’s fashion lines will be televised in the Runway finale, the other three won’t.
Heck I don’t even think you guys were supposed to know about that!

Anyway, there it is guys!
What did you guys think? Were you as disappointed in Jerell as I was?
Do you think the right three moved on to the finale? Who you do you want to win? Comment below!
As usual until next week...auf wiedersehen!

Project Runway - Week Twelve

Time is trickling down to the wire, my dear readers.

Our beloved Runway is over in just 2 weeks, and in that time we all hope that Kenley will actually gain some perspective, lose the attitude and treat her fellow contestants, judges, etc with more respect.

Sure.
And I’m the newest contestant on America’s Next Top Model. No really, I got my bikini just last week. (okay, bad image…apologies to all those who just flashed that picture...including myself)

I have to say, there were no surprises this week. Is it because this season was mediocre at best? NONE of the finalists really impressed me with any of their creations, and you’d think this final challenge, the one that determines who goes to show at Fashion Week, would be the one you really see the contestants blow me out of the water. Not so much, and relatively speaking, it didn’t sound like too hard of a challenge, considering what past seasons have offered.

The final four contestants were taken to the New York Botanical Garden where they were all given cameras. They were to pick out flowers as inspiration for their challenge, which was to design an evening gown. The evening gown needed to reflect the flower(s) they chose as their inspiration. Doesn’t sound so bad right? (this of course, coming from me, who is not a fashion designer in any sense of the word – but nonetheless, still didn’t sound like a difficult challenge when compared to the other challenges thrown at them throughout the season.)

The end was predictable, considering they did the same thing last season. That, and the fact the producers I’m sure would enjoy a juicer finale with some more drama. I am sooo done with Kenley. The woman is a nightmare, and she needs a serious attitude check. But more on that later.

Before I get to the individual reviews, I noticed not too many readers participated in the built in poll below. Take a minute and answer the questions!! Yeesh! Also, as it stands now, Project Runway will be the last show I review blog until American Idol begins in January. Unless you, my readers tell me differently, and would like me to review something else in the meantime. Now is the time to speak up, because in 2 weeks, it’s all over!! (until January!)

So with those comments out of the way, let’s get to the nitty-gritty of this week’s outfits. How did the designers do in this semi-finale? Let’s see:

Leanne – Okay, call me crazy, but I actually thought this was a gorgeous dress that reflected her flower choice perfectly. Don’t get me wrong though, it wasn’t perfect by far. The back definitely was problematic at best, as judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia pointed out. The blue fabric was just sort of thrown on last minute, which made the back look sloppy and unfinished. (also, love Michael’s term of “it looks like the dress is pooping fabric”. This is the second time that term is used this season!) The color was subtle enough to be an evening gown, and the ruffles added a touch of elegance, while reflecting the overall look of the flower Leanne chose. Again, Leanne is “the geeky girl that could”, because regardless of how dorky she is, she almost always puts out decent outfits. She definitely should be one of the finalists, and I’m very happy to see that she made it this far. When the judges asked if she made it to fashion week, which two of the remaining three designers she would like to take her, she chose Jerell and Korto. Wow, big shock, she didn’t pick Kenley. (a trend that will continue)

Korto – I was really surprised with Korto, because I’ve come to expect really nice designs from her. I have to admit, the flower she chose was a beautiful shade of orange, but the fabric she chose did not reflect that at all. I thought the color was completely wrong for an evening gown, and the styling? It screamed “Pageant”, just as Heidi pointed out. That very low cut top did not work at all, and the addition of the lace was just not working. As usual (and the judges pointed this out as well), the construction and silhouette was flawless. Perfectly shaped and sculpted, Korto has a wonderful eye for the shape of a woman’s body. However, her choices this week had a lot to be desired. However, based on her past achievements, do we punish Korto for this one flaw? Does she deserve to go to fashion week? Absolutely. I don’t think this a true reflection of her designing style, and I’m anxious to see what type of line she creates for Fashion Week. When presented with the same “who would you want to take with you to Fashion Week” question, Korto said she would like Jerell and Leanne. Again, Kenley is not chosen. Why, it’s almost as if Kenley’s attitude completely pissed off the other contestants over the course of the competition! It couldn’t be that, could it?

Jerell - Jerell has grown on me, I’ll have to admit. I wasn’t always a fan. But his work has won me over little by little. I wasn’t terribly impressed with this week’s creation, but it wasn’t all that bad. I would have chosen Leanne’s dress over this one if I had to choose a winner, but this one was almost as good. I thought the color choices were stunning, and flowed together to make a remarkable visual style. The hints of green and red complimented the over all look of the gown. That being said, there were serious construction problems. Heidi completely got it right when she said she keeps wanting to hike up the top. The top of the dress drooped way to low. Honestly, one misplaced move and things might start popping out. I also had problems with the back of the dress. It seems too “poofy”, and the only thing I kept thinking when I saw the model walking back down the runway was “bad bridesmaid dress”. You know the kind you buy once, and never wear again because it was the bride’s choice? That’s what it reminded me of. Did it deserve to win? I’m under the opinion no, but regardless, Jerell should definitely have a place in the finale. His work has constantly grown, with him going off the mark a couple of times. So when faced with the same question the other two contestants were presented with, who do you think Jerell chose? That’s right, he chose Leanne and Korto. Kenley was not chosen by all three of the other final contestants, making it a trifecta of ostracism. Any surprises here? Didn’t think so.

Kenley –Where should I begin? While the flower Kenley chose wasn’t bad, per se, her choice of fabric was not reflective of her inspiration at all. But you know what, even that could have been forgiven if the design was outstanding. And as usual it wasn’t, much to Kenley’s surprise. Kenley doesn’t find any flaws with any of her designs and that’s just one of the major problems this girl has. She does not take criticism well at all, and she does not heed any advice given by anyone. This week, her outfit wasn’t a disaster, but wasn’t a good design either. Words such as “reptilian” and “scaly” were all used to describe her gown. Obviously, none of the words used reflected a flower, or even a gown for that matter. I thought the bottom half was a mess. I don’t remember if one of the judges said this, but it reminded me of a prom dress. (and to be honest, I don’t even know if I’d even go that far). Again, instead of taking criticism, and being humble, Kenley was obnoxious, stubborn and defensive. The judges called her out on her attitude, yet she still acted up. Unbelievable. When presented with the question posed to all the previous contestants, she picked Jerell and Leanne. (which sparked a verbal tiff in the back between her and Korto). In the end, do you think Kenley wound up being eliminated? Would this be Project Runway if it was that easy?

As most of us know by now, the final choices for the judges were to choose all four of the final contestants to move on. Here’s the catch, however; just like last season, all four contestants must design a line to show at Fashion Week. However, only three will move on to actually show at fashion week. One contestant will be eliminated next week, based on the overall designs they created for his/her show. I would be shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, to find out the producers kept Kenley in to cause more drama. They would never do that, would they?
Next week, my idol Tim Gunn visits each final contestant at home, and gives his valuable sage advice to help the contestants cement their place in the finale. Can we actually believe that Kenley learned her lesson in this time? I’ll start taking bets now.

A REMINDER!! Please take a minute to answer the questions below. Remember, this blog ends in 2 more weeks, so if you want me to keep gabbing, I need to know on what show! (if you don’t see a show below, feel free to leave your choice in the comment area below)

And I don’t see anyone joining the “Follow This Blog” link at the top of this page! I know you guys are out there! Sign up dammit!

Agree? Disagree? Let me hear you! Until next week…..auf wiedersehen!