McKenley

I was trolling through style.com for a client when I came across the above McQueen dress for Fall 2008 (which means it walked the runway in February this year, and the contestants were working on their collections this summer)....So folks, this is what the esteemed M. Kors was talking about on the last episode of Project Runway. And yeah, I'd love to be a guest at that wedding, but Kenley, that look has 'been done'.

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ZOOZOOM Project Runway Fashion Wars

Thanks to my lovely colleagues at ZOOZOOM you can begin to exercise those voting muscles whilst getting a nice close inspection of the Project Runway finalists creations. Now, never yea fear, this is no spoiler (as one who avoided the Tents Friday morning for this reason, take it from me). Apparently they let all 6 contestants show, so that us fashion-insider-blogger types wouldn't give the game away. So go ahead and inspect their shows, and start weighing in on who is the fairest of them all. ZOOZOOM PROJECT RUNWAY FASHION WARS special is on until the show this Wednesday.

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Project Runway Episode 8

Once again, congrats to Leanne, whose winning dress took my breath away. It was so lush and glamourous with fantastic details. Everyone oooed and ahhhhhed over the ruffles in the back (which, granted, were a nice surprise), but how could no one mention the front? The subtle pleating and the oh-so-40's shoulder clips/brocades. If this girl doesn't win the whole darned thing, I shall have  to yell 'why?' and shake my fist at the sky.

I must also mention my girl Kenley as well. The fabric she chose was absolutely gorgeous, and her sleek silhouette with a nicely subtle nod to Shanghai, made a beautiful dress.  I would love to see it with a long cardigan,  but that is more the burden of the stylist than the designer.  I know if her dress were to be made available to me, there would be a lot I could do with it.

 I think it was Stella's time to go. I understand what she was trying to achieve with the mix of menswear and rock-n-roll...it just didn't come off right. Perhaps it's because she doesn't have enough experience in tailoring menswear or enough fashion history knowledge. I think she will be fine if she sticks to what she is good at. As for Joe, his pepto-pink monstrosity should definitely have earned him the boot. I think his days are numbered, because you can't work hard and develop good taste before the clock strikes 12.

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Project Runway Episode 7

Hoorah, Leanne! In honor of my fave contestant winning a challenge, I shall focus on her and not upload any pics other than her fabulous creation. I knew the other contestants were in for trouble when they all started pulling seatbelts out of the cars...trust Leanne to use them in a way that was so subtle and added a beautiful dimension and texture to an already flawless dress. I adore the silhouette, execution, proportion, and fit of the dress...I would love to borrow it for a shoot! (and then a  night on the town, maybe?). And PS, great styling with the shoe and cuff bracelet.  This dress is sexy and chic, whilst also being daring, edgy, and modern...and comes out of the mind of a quiet Librarian type. Now what was I saying about those girls?....oh, the mystery and intrigue...

Leanne, girl, just let me know who handles your press in NYC (as soon as you win in Bryant park in two weeks), I'm gonna need to borrow a few pieces.

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Project Runway Episode 6, honey

Well, I have to say that this episode, albeit entertaining, was way out of my area of expertise. So I won't say much, other than than 'yes, Joe's outfit was cute' (but I don't think it should have won). And Daniels was one of a few that could have easily gotten the boot. But seriously, to bring up the issue of taste as a defense was ridiculous... especially considering how cheap miami his dress looked.  I think the moral here, kids, is to listen carefully and follow instructions.

I was most impressed by Terri's look (see below), which was truly innovative, and theatrical without being cheesy. Why didn't she win?

So, now lets go back into my comfort zone a bit. Once again, I was a bit more interested in the designers personal style than the looks they were creating. Kenley is so perfectly vintage, I could just pin her up on my wall. I love her casual 'work' gear (dig the headscarf, rolled up jeans and sneaks look), and then her dressed up look for the show. You can tell she really lives in the era.  And I must say that she really has the face and body for it. So cute!

But my true hero is Leanne, working a few Naughty Librarian/Secretary looks in the workroom. This plaid bow-front blouse is outstanding, of course paired with a fitted sweater-vest. The glasses and virgin hair (ie. not dyed) really authenticate the look. Go girl! Hope to see you in the Tents next month!

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Leanne!

I am officially a fan of Leanne from Project Runway. I mean, I did immediately love Kenley and Kelly for their aesthetic, personal style, and influences, but Leanne has blown my socks off several weeks in a row. And her personal style is subtle but unique, quirky, and draws you in. I just love her glasses!

So, thank you muchly to my friend over at Lekkercraft for giving me the heads up that Leanne has an Etsy page! Right now there are only two pieces up, and they are fab. I figure it will not be long before she launches her own line and opens a boutique in Manhattan (after all, there are so many PR alumni boutiques littered around this city at this point).

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Project Runway Episode 5

Yeah, OK, I didn't do a blog on Episode 4...mostly cuz I'm just not sporty enough to care about Olympic outfits. But for the record, I am continuing to be wowed by Leanne. I was also kind of shocked at how wrong some of them got it (really? a bonnet??).

So, now we have Episode 5...and I don't really care about Lipstick Jungle either, but it still had more potential than track gear. Lets face it, every designer was hoping to be the next Pat Fields, the way Lipstick Jungle is hoping to be the next Sex and the City. I don't think anyone is getting their wish. Once again, another episode comes and goes where I am apathetic about what walks down the runway.

I mean, yeah, Kelly's outfit was very Joan Collins and totally deserved to be in the bottom. But I wish she wasn't eliminated...she's a Viv Westwood fan, afterall...and I think she has more to offer than Blane.  I did like the winning outfit, it nicely elongated the torso and added nice contrasting texture and softness. yaddayaddayadda. I was not drooling though, which is all I really care about.

What I was drooling over, however, was Leannes top. Presumably self-made. Way to upstage the show!

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Project Runway Episode 3

my fave: Leanne

Wow, Leanne surprised me, because her outfit was head and shoulders above the rest. I absolutely loved it...which is a rare occurrence these days with Project Runway.  I thought she had a great eye with her photograph, choosing something so common in the city (and generally ignored) and creating a beautiful graphic image.  The skirt is absolutely gorgeous...and yes, 'chic'. I was then imagining what kind of top I'd wear with it, I was thinking something of a casual tank top, and she did me one better with the draping at the neck. Sheer perfection. Finish it off with a nipped in waist and high heeled oxfords, and you've got yourself a winning look. Except on this show where the judges are always a smidge off.

Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of Kenley, and her dress was one of my fave pics this week. I just think that Leanne should have won, simply because she made me covet her look. Whereas with Kenley, I simply appreciate her look.  I appreciate that she did what all the contestants aim to do: experiment with a new idea to create a piece that is different and attractive.

I am also a big fan of Kelli...maybe it's because she is a fan of Vivienne Westwood...so we have that in common. I just adored her dress this week. I would love to rock her edgy sexy look, and I have a few rockstar clients who would as well. I'm definitely keeping my eye on her. I'm actually kind of surprised that she wasn't one of the top three tonight, as a matter of fact.

Now, to the losers: Jennifer should have gone. Her dress was aptly described as "boring and matronly". I would think those adjectives should be the kiss of death for a contestant on a show looking for the next great American designer....unless that's how you would describe Americans....hmmmm, I think Heidi is insulting us. And yeah, Emily's dress was awful, but it was at least somewhat sexy and young and creative. I am so tired of yelling "what??!!" at the TV at the end of every episode. I'm afraid this season is gonna be like season 2, where they kicked off all the truely talented designers only to have a lackluster top 3 with a bugly Briant Park showing.

Faves Kenley and Kelli

bottom two: Emily and Jennifer

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Project Runway Alum: Alison Kelly

As we all know, sometimes Project Runway gets it wrong with the eliminations. I think we were all shocked to see Alison Kelly go on epidsode 6 of season 3. Rumors flew around that Heidi didn't like her....I guess we'll never know the truth. And honestly, who cares? Because she has made it into the public arena, and has since launched her own line: Dahl.

I definitely like her aesthetic. There is sort of a streamlined graphic-ness to her dresses, mixed in with the feminine. Her prints are girly in a very tasteful way, and I love the added bits of crochet. These dresses are definitely waht you would call 'flirty'. 

Oh, and the jewelry is all her too. Not too terribly original, but very cute none-the-less.

Go Alison! 

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Project Runway episode 2

Looks by Daniel and Terri

I can't help it...I just love to discuss PR.

This week should have been great, because it was one of my fave themes: eco-fashion. Probably inspired by the Fall 2008 Fashionweek show I attended, Earth Pledge Future Fashion, where a multitude of high end designers each did an eco-design. The looks were so varied and so fabulous that the event was very inspiring. It ran the range from natural toned fabrics in interesting silhouettes, to glamorous reworked vintage gowns, to lush natural dyed tones.

But the Project Runway version was Project Trainwreck. I think that making the models choose their own fabric should have been a whole other challenge. It kind of stepped on the toes of the eco-fashion challenge. If the designers had had a chance to shop, they could have talked about what options they had in eco-friendly materials, and been really creative with it. I bet someone would have reworked vintage as well (which is essentially recycling). ...And lets face it, they would have chosen prettier fabrics, and bought enough yardage to cover the asses of the models in question.

Ugh.

So I have picked two pics of the looks that I thought were kind of nice (above). I wish I could say that I loved something this week, but I didn't. I'd also love to give you one fave and one hate...but honestly, there were too many pieces that I hated...and I like to stay positive. 

I was actually more interested in what the designers themselves were wearing...look at Stella's awesome corset!

Below are some examples from Earth Pledge: Three As Four, Narcisso Rodriguez, and Shalom Harlow is wearing a reworked vintage gown by Givenchy (which was amazing in person...made from many pieces combined).

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Project Runway....

Last night was the first episode of Season 5 of Project Runway.

I am in a state of utter shock.

I was soooo pleasantly surprised to see Jerry Tam on the line up. He is the founder of design collective, FORM, of which I am a huge fan. In fact, I have borrowed pieces from them on a few occasions. I was actually thinking that he may be too advanced in his career for PR. Overall, it does seem that they have been casting people who are already pretty well established in the industry this season.

I think Jerry is perfect for the show, though, as his work is very innovative. FORMs aesthetic plays with silhouette in a very modern way, whilst still remaining sexy. The look is avante garde, but tempered with classy fabrics in neutral tones. I feel like their work is in the same family as Three AsFour and SANS. Very cutting edge, and only slowly garnering the respect and understanding of the main stream...but isn't that always the case with visionaries?

I was definitely looking forward to what sort of creations Jerry would come up with, as his vision is already out there, add some crazy challenges into the mix, and some truely unique work was bound to come out of it.

So, imagine my shock and horror when Jerry was eliminated on the first challenge...and the chick with the garbage bags got to stay. All I can think is that it must be political somehow. Or one of those occasions when the producers of the show thought the punk rock girl would make for better television. We can't lose sight of the fact that it is a TV show, afterall.

Anyway, Jerry, I think the critiques were idiotic. I loved your piece. I think it was true to your vision. The white boots and gloves added a feel to the piece that is not uncommon to what you would see going down the runways of fashion week, as there is always a sense of story and drama. I loved the construction and silhouette of the raincoat, and your layering of different textures was beautiful. You were robbed. Well, no matter, because FORM will soon be the darling of the fashion industry while Micheal Kors is still making sheath dresses for women vacationing in the Hamptons.

Below are my fave pieces from Episode 1. I do love Kelli and Kenley. I'm sure I will blog about them in the future...but today is all about Jerry.

So, back to Jerry, below are some instances where I used FORM in photoshoots I styled. It was the perfect look for Rochelle of band Product.01, shot by Peter Frey and Andrea Martin.
And below we used a top by FORM for my Secretary fashion story for ZOOZOOM, also shot by Frey/Martin.

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