New Project Runway starts Tonight!

[The empressof all]

They are doing a Summer Season! I'm so psyched!

[AngryOldDem]

1. Can't wait, either

I'm hooked on this show. I just love it when I switch on Bravo and find a PR marathon.

[displacedtexan]

2. Help! I've become a Project Runway junkie!

I got hooked when Bravo ran the 1st season marathon
(I still think Kara Saun should've won),
and I stayed for the 2nd season marathon yesterday (Why
is Cloe still working out of her garage? What did she do with
the $100K?).

Last night, I waiting for the big scandal, but it
never came to pass.

What do you suppose it's about, and who will be asked
to leave?

[MaineDem]

3. I'm a PR addict too

I'm amazed at the creativity of (most of) these people.

I was a little disappointed there wasn't the "you have to leave" drama this week. I remember seeing something in a preview that hinted at someone sabotaging another's work. I wonder if that's what causes it?

I like the guy who used to work for Mattel. The guy who won this week (Michael?)did a fabulous job for never having designed women's clothing before. (I'll learn their names as the weeks go on.)

[AngryOldDem]

4. I thought Jay would do more than he's done, too

And I'm also curious as to what happens that gets someone kicked off. My guess is some kind of sabotage or theft. It will take me probably a couple of weeks to learn the new designers' names, but I have an idea that it might be between the woman from Ohio and the smart-mouthed guy who won this week. They seemed to be going at it in the previews.

Program alert: Larry King is going to have Heidi Klum and some of the veterans on his show tonight.

[XanaDUer]

13. I saw those previews for the "getting kicked off"

So-they never said who got the boot?

Also, Malan (sp?) made me sad when he left.

[InsultComicDog]

46. Like Jay, Chloe rejected the 100K

too many strings attached.

[dsc]

5. I love the show

but that guy with phony British accent has to go. He is so annoying. The guy who won did an amazing job. It is hard to believe he had never designed any women's clothing before.

[AngryOldDem]

8. Looks like you got your wish

Frankly, from what I could tell from the audition show, he had some promise and I thought he would stay around awhile.

Tim Gunn says this is the best set of designers PR has had (given that this is only the third season, well...). I'm taking his word for it, because I sure haven't seen any true winners yet.

I'm still waiting to see who violates the rules and is "asked to leave." A few more folks entered my radar Wednesday night.

[MaineDem]

9. I actually felt bad when he was eliminated

Mulan, is it? His gown did totally look like a tree trunk but his parting words were very sad.

There seems to be promise from many of the designers. The creativity of artistic people constantly amazes me.

[dsc]

10. I actually did feel bad for him last night

His mother sounds like a total swine. Frankly Angela should have gone but she will likely go next time. She seems to have none of the requisite skills for the show.

[AngryOldDem]

11. Yeah, I did too

I think he knew he was in trouble when he saw that the dress just wasn't coming together in the workroom. (But, you know, I've seen the show a few more times since Wednesday, and the dress grows on me every time. It just wasn't what the pageant contestant was looking for.)

And I think his upbringing does explain his abrasive attitude. I was really sorry to see him go. To his credit, he did say he would take the fall for the dress, rather than Katherine. That speaks volumes to me.

Angela is now among my top three suspects as to who gets him/herself kicked off.

(I think I'm finally learning names...)

[AngryOldDem]

12. As someone who barely passed home ec...

...that's what I find most amazing to watch...how they go from a sketch to a finished project, and everything is so beautifully proportioned (most of the time). I envy creative people.

[Suich]

6. I must have missed something.

After they tore apart their apartments making an outfit, it looked like they were going to have to live with the mess. What happened? When did they get fixed up?

[dsc]

7. I am guessing between shows

they didn't address it.

[Longhorn]

14. I tuned in just in time to see Miss USA wearing the winning dress

from Wednesday's competition. I don't normally watch pageants but it is a pretty dress! :) She's one of the five finalists.

[dsc]

15. wow I won't spoil this

but prepare to be amazed at what they say to some of the designers.

[AngryOldDem]

16. I'm sorry, but I have to make this observation....

...the current designers are some of the most unlikeable people I've ever seen gathered for a reality show. Keith got what he so justly deserved Wednesday night, and it looks like Jeffrey is stepping right in to his shoes -- unbearably obnoxious.

I miss Daniel V....and even Santino. :(

[dsc]

18. I like most of the ones who are left

but there were some pricks. I don't miss Santino though I do miss Daniel. He is the kind of guy I could easily fall for.

[Longhorn]

17. I think the show is better this season.

For one thing, they haven't done that awful dubbing of comments when they tell the designers why they won or why they stink. Also, they don't seem to repeat scenes as much. Remember how they kept telling the designers what's at stake over and over again and then come back from commercial and do it again? Now we just hear Heidi say it once -- every single week! ;)

"One of you will be the winner" -- long pause -- "and one of you will be out!" :D

[MaineDem]

19. What designer doesn't know Cher???

Oh. Bradley, you really blew it this week. Think Bob Mackie and update to 2006. His outfit was horrid. I thought Vincent's was horrible, too. Robert's Jackie O suit wasn't ugly but I hope he gets his act together soon. I like him and I want to see some great work from him. Angela surprised me; I really liked her Audrey Hepburn dress.

[dsc]

20. I am beginning to think Angela got replaced by a pod person who can design

She was down right horrid at first and now is making great dresses. Both her winning outfit and the Audrey Hepburn dress were excellent. actually though that is how Santion worked for me too. He had some great outfits and some real dogs.

[dsc]

21. Three for three

I think she got jipped and should have been in the final three. I am glad that Kaine didn't get nailed though. He had his one crappy dress.

[AngryOldDem]

22. I agree

She has done some really nice designs the past couple of weeks. I would buy the Hepburn dress, and when I was in my local Macy's, I actually stopped at the INC department to see if they had her sportswear outfit. (Not yet, but they did have a big sign about it.) And I really like Michael's clothes, too.

I really wish, though, that Vincent had been "auf'd" last week. His stuff is just. consistently. bad. Alison overall has been better, and hell, they gave Kaine a break for his design. Not every dress can be a winner, but I think if someone misses the boat week after week, they should be gone. I guess they're keeping Vincent around for comic relief, or in the hopes that he becomes this season's Santino.

My faves so far:

Michael
Laura
Kaine

[dsc]

23. I really like Kaine

and both Laura and Michael are good. Jeffrey actually had the best dress IMO last week but the rest of his dresses have left me cold.

[AngryOldDem]

24. Just when I had written off Vincent...

...he came up with a rockin' dress on Wednesday night. I really liked it.

And Jeff's mom should have kicked his ass for how he treated Angela's mom.

Has anyone else here been able to figure out who's next to get thrown off by the comments alone? I knew as soon as they got to Robert that he was toast. I liked Robert, but I have to agree with Kors, Garcia, etc. that his stuff was rather boring.

I missed the trailer for next week...does the Jeffrey/Angela feud continue?

[dsc]

25. The fued continues

Vincent designed a marvelous dress. But he seemed to really understand the challenge and he also had about the best model. Angela went back to her awful ways again but she was distracted. Jeffrey's mother was lousy on this she should have boxed his ears.

[MaineDem]

26. I think it was unfair that they didn't all have plus-sized (REAL) models

I would love to have seen what Laura, Michael, and Vincent would have done with a design for someone not thin. I think Uli was wonderful!

Robert's and Jeff's designs just go to show how difficult it is for women of the larger size to find stylish clothes. If the size is going to scare designers how can we hope for good styles? I think Uli did a great job with the challenge and should have won. Vincent didn't have to go to far out of his comfort zone to design for Uli's mother.

I also think Angela's mother was as much at fault as jeffrey was. She told Tim she didn't like the color and that was one of the colors she had told Jeff she liked. I think she and Angela conspired to sabotage Jeffrey ("tell them on the runway it wasn't what you like", said Angela.)

But poor Robert got auf'd. I'll miss him but his designs have been pretty safe, if not outright boring.

[AngryOldDem]

27. I agree, mostly

The challenge did effectively point out that the "everyday" woman is not the fashion models we see on PR week after week, and I think somebody pointed that out last night. I think it was a good challenge because yes, it does illustrate how marginalized plus-sized women are when it comes to fashion. There is, unintentionally or not, an extreme bias against larger women. (I still kind of cringe when I hear Heidi criticizing Alison Kelly's dress by comparing it to plus-size.) It gave everyone a whole new perspective on fashion, and I applaud PR for it. (I also think so far the challenges have been much more innovative than last season's.)

Angela's mom: Some people are just pains in the ass, and Jeffrey should have known that when he was stuck with her. There was really no need for him to basically bait her as he did. I don't think he intentionally designed a bad outfit for her -- he just was out of his element and did the best he could. (And I thought she wanted some kind of green and Jeff said he couldn't get that exact color, and that even if he could, it wouldn't work with the other color?)

I'm interested in knowing how a designer works to please the client while keeping true to his/her own style, especially when they are so under the gun time-wise.

Uli did do a good job. I wouldn't be surprised if she makes the finals.

[qanda]

28. Actually, I think he got different colors

Because he said the ones she chose didn't go together. She wasn't being overly critical, she just stated what she thought. He was rude and disrepectful and if had talked to my mother like that he would not have survived to finish the dress.

[dsc]

29. In fairness that probably made some difference

but Vincent had to have designed for his sister at some point and would have been fairly good I would think. Kaine was suprisingly not the best. I figured with his history he would have won that challenge. Laura did poorly even with a thin model. Her construction was excellent but her design was not so good.

As to Angela's mom and Jeffrey. He is the professional and the color she didn't like was the one he picked, not the one she picked. Angela also said to speak her mind not tell the judges you don't like the outfit. He was totally at fault for not dealing with his client well. Plus the outfit stank color not withstanding. In all honestly based on only that outfit he deserved to lose, but Robert probably did deserve to lose overall since he had turned in many boring outfits.

[dsc]

30. Egad

Some really bad outfits tonight. A couple of decent ones but some really horrible ones.

[MaineDem]

31. I agree

Even my favorite, Ulli, didn't do her best work. The dress was lovely though but not a travel garment.

[qanda]

32. How big of jerk is Jeffery?

I swear I cannot stand him. I watched the replay of last week and saw that at the end he was actually crying on his mother's shoulder-- what a loser! Then this week he just kept going on and on about the thing with Angela's mother. I was praying that Michael would beat him in that challenge, at least Michael is a gracious winner and loser.

[MaineDem]

33. I didn't like his outfit this week at all

But I guess that's just my age showing.

I think Jeffrey has many issues. Considering the editing is done to portray what the producers want us to see, it seems he doesn't relate well to others. He seems very self-centered. He deserves a lot fo credit for kicking alcohol and drug dependencies but he could use some interpersonal skills.

I am not a doctor but I'm diagnosing from the video.

And was I the only one who though Vincent's pants didn't fit well at all?

[AngryOldDem]

34. Jeffrey just needs to grow up. Period.

There was no need for him to continue to pick, pick, pick at Angela (directly or indirectly) about her mother. A very good case could have been made for HIM to have gone home rather than Robert -- all the more reason to let it go. His asides about other designers and their clothing are petty, and his attitudes while others' creations go down the runway are juvenile. I realize that he is a recovering addict who once lived on the streets, but that does not excuse everything. A jerk's a jerk. But the thing is, he's talented. You have to give him that, and right now I have him in the final three.

And while his outfit wasn't along the lines of my taste, either, it did fit the challenge better than everyone else's.

Vincent did the best he could. I imagine that it is hard in a day to do something one has never done before. Kayne's outfit, however...well, words fail me. He got lucky this week.

And Uli better catch a clue from Robert and begin coming up with more original designs.

[dsc]

35. I must have been the only person who liked Kayne's outfit

at least for him. I think the challenge was poorly devised and poorly explained. That doesn't excuse some of the terrible outfits that happened but there was some confusion. Angela's was ghastly and not even something that she would normally wear. Vincent's was boring and didn't fit his personality either. Michael and Jeffrey did a great job. Laura and Uli were passable. I think Uli's outfit was very her but Kayne's also fit him. It isn't something I would wear but as far as I could tell that wasn't the challenge. They were designing for themselves and also trying to look famous. Kayne's fit both scores.

[AngryOldDem]

36. True enough...points well taken

But Kayne's outfit DID just look a little too Elvis-y. I don't know what I would have done, but the Versace fabric might have made a nice jacket lining, or something. Angela's outfit was just wrong from the start. I don't know why she always had such a thing for the florets. I really liked Laura's dress, but I could not see traveling in it.

They just had one day to finish, didn't they? To me, they should have been given more time. It seems like a lot of the challenges have just been one day this season.

[MaineDem]

37. Hooray!

Vincent is auf'd. It's about time.

I was surprised he and Laura were the final two though. And I'm surprised Jeffrey won again. His dress was actually pretty but I like Uli's better.

In the previews it looks like Laura's hormones finally kick in big time. This is getting very good. The remaining designers are quite talented.

[AngryOldDem]

38. It was a long time coming, wasn't it?

But I gotta hand it to him for having the guts at age 49 to quit his job and cash in his retirement money to pursue a dream. That is admirable. He was just so out there, though, and getting even more so week after week.

Frankly, I thought Jeffrey's dress was hideous. Everything about it. Guess I have different tastes. Laura's outfit was pretty, but they were right in that it looked dated and the design was rather simple. (I got distracted during the Paris show -- how did it look compared to New York? I thought I heard her say that the collar got crushed in the garment bag coming back, and the outfit didn't look the same.) Uli's dress was pretty, and I also liked Kayne's although it did kind of remind me of Malan's outfit that got him auf'd.

I'm keeping Laura in my final three -- I think she's resilient and talented enough to see it through. The next couple of weeks should be interesting, indeed.

[dsc]

39. I admit that I don't know what couture is

but I really like Kayne's dress. Jeffrey's was OK to me but not as good as Kayne's in my opinion. Uli's was also very pretty. It appears they may have no gay designer left in the final three (if Michael is straight as I think he may be). I can easily see a final with Uli, Michael and Jeffrey. Laura could be there if she doesn't totally fall apart. I see virtually no way Michael won't be in the final three as he has only made one bad dress. Laura is also reasonably consistant though she has made two poor dresses. She could easily take Jeffrey's place or Uli's. Kayne is an outside shot it seems. He just doesn't consistantly wow the judges sadly.

[AngryOldDem]

41. Basically, couture is a high-falutin' term for fashion design

It's also specially designed clothing. I always think of it as "prototypes" of new styles that will be shown at the major shows and then adapted for wear afterward. A long time ago I was a copy editor for a lifestyle section of a newspaper and I had to lay out a weekly page on fashion. Some of the photos I received from design houses were so off-the-wall and over-the-top that it was essentially unwearable (but highly comical), but elements from those designs would later appear in more reasonable form.

Have you seen the Bravo promos for next week? (I'm talking about the commercials aired, not what was shown after Wednesday's show.) I am a little concerned about Laura. And I predict that Kayne will be the next to go. He is simply running out of steam and can't seem to break through the pageant gown motif. (Although I admit I thought his design this week was very pretty, but kind of reminiscent of what got Malan kicked off.)

[Longhorn]

40. Yes, it was definitely time

for Vincent to go. I didn't think Jeffrey's dress should have won. Where would someone wear such a thing? Cotton plaid? Maybe to a picnic! Is there someone who wears couture to a picnic???

Laura's dress did look better in Paris but it really was pretty bland. I laughed at the French maid comment. :)

I thought Uli's dress should have won and I actually thought Caine's was second. Maybe some things look different in person but it didn't look too busy to me. I think Michael's dress would have been better with more time, but that's probably true for all of them.

Some of these time constraints confuse me. I can see finding out how the designers do under pressure but why ask then to do a couture gown that is supposed to be hand sewn with beading, etc., and then give them two days? Do they want to see what they can produce or do they just want to stress them every week? In this case, they also knew they would have to fit their gown to two different models! I'd like to see challenges based a little more on actual fashion scene situations and less on trying to create television drama. :shrug:

[AngryOldDem]

42. The time constraint does seem to be tighter this season

Most of the challenges so far have been one day. Makes for better drama, I guess.

I think they were a bit harsh with Michael. Not his best design, granted, but it was hit by eggs and we really don't know what he had to do to get it cleaned up. It did look better when he took Kors's suggestion to tuck in those appendages over the bodice.

Vincent -- wow. I watched the episode again last night and his dress was borderline vulgar. Just too revealing. I always had to wonder what the guy was thinking -- he always seemed to be in his own universe.

The only thing Jeffrey had for his dress was its originality (fabric and design), which fits the definition of couture. It was too high-cut on the thigh and the fabric too loud and dissonant for me.

[The empressof all]

43. My prediction for the winner

Clearly it will be Michael. If it's anyone else they are just fools. Although I love Laura's look it does seem more geared to the older crowd. (Not that there's anything wrong with that---We need to wear clothes too!) Scary neck boy seems way too out there to be commercial and Uli is just getting boring. So it's Michael for me....all the way!

[AngryOldDem]

44. He is my pick as well

He is the real deal. Knows how to dress a woman, knows his fabrics, and knows how to accessorize. His outfit this week was just amazing. I would buy his stuff.

Who's turn next in the barrel? I predict Uli will get Auf'd next week. I don't think she knows how to break out of the resort style of dress, even though it's clear the judges are tired of the same old, same old. And I think Laura is just wearing out because of the pregnancy. I imagine PR is stressful enough. I can't imagine doing it pregnant.

I did think that the look on Jeffrey's face when they brought out Angela this week was priceless. He had that coming. But as usual, both Angela and Vincent shot themselves in the foot. Angela's dress reminded me of the paper plate you put around a dog's neck to keep it from scratching at its ears. Edwardian it was not, unless it was Monty Python's version of Edwardian. And poor Kayne. The front of his dress was beautiful. But he blew it totally with his use of white in the back. Vincent continues to design for Vincent.

[dsc]

45. It would have been so awesome if Angela had been able to win

and knocked off Jeffery. Sadly, as you pointed out, she majorly blew it. Vincent though, got screwed. That model was much bigger than his and that was why his dress was so short, which was their main gripe. The shall was not good but would have at least been necessary for Gia it was ludricrous for the model he ended up with. I figure, as both of you do, that Michael is all but certain to win. Only Laura is real competition for him with an outside shot for Jeffrey who has made some inspired looks along with some total crap. Uli really does make the same type of dress over and over, though she did get ripped off on the real woman challenge, she should have won that.

[InsultComicDog]

47. If you've seen the collections from Fashion Week

...you probably no longer think that Michael will win. His was the most disappointing. And most people who were there or who saw the high res pictures agree. And this was a crowd of people who were predisposed to like Michael best.

Uli got the most positive reviews from the attendees. But Jeffrey had his supporters as well.

[MaineDem]

48. Well thanks so much for THAT little bit of spoiler!

:eyes:

[InsultComicDog]

50. Want to see the collections? Links here (hi-res)

OK, it's "spoiler", but it's more of an opinion spoiler... we still have no idea what the judges are ever thinking.

These are huge high-res pictures that take time to download but you can see incredible detail, much more than on TV

http://www.sparklies.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=227 Uli
http://www.sparklies.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=228 Michael
http://www.sparklies.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=229 Laura
http://www.sparklies.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=230 Jeffrey

[MaineDem]

52. No thanks

I'll wait.

[InsultComicDog]

53. Another semi-spoiler

http://redeye.chicagotribune.com/features/red-092606-redhot,0,1626774.story?coll=red-frontfeatures1

Did someone cheat?

[Longhorn]

49. For those who would like to see the current contestants' NY Fashion Week

collections, and those of past contestants, here's the link: http://www.newyorkmetro.com/fashion/fashionshows/designers/bios/projectrunwaydesigners/

You can click on each designer, then play the slide show.

[InsultComicDog]

51. For high res pics see my links above

No slideshow but lots and lots of detail

[dsc]

54. I would be so pissed if I were Kayne

or for that matter Uli. I think Uli would have been eliminated had she shown another of her long flowy dresses like she was fixing to do until Tim warned her not to. But since they didn't want to eliminate either Michael or Jeffrey they got a pass. One of them, IMO Jeffrey, should have bitten the dust. Can anyone say that Kayne's outfit that got him offed was worse than either one of theirs? That was just blatant favortism toward the telegenic.