Proj Run! Ian beat me to the official rundown, read on if you want to hear more post-finale ramblings.

Christian took it all, which was totally expected even having known in advance that his collection would be the least wearable and even more "costume" (read: couture) than Chris's stuff ever was. I knew he would win as soon as Jezebel deliciously leaked each of the collections (note: ringers Chris AND Sweet P. presented!) as well as the fact that Posh was the guest judge. The networks lurve a boy genius. Soo yeah, Jillian's knits were interesting, though I liked the idea of them more than I actually would like to wear them. That sweater with the cut-outs? Can you say J.C. Penny junior dept. sale rack? Nevertheless, I adore her. And not just cause she's a neurotic, over-careful, quietish girl from my home territory of Lawnguyland. The best part of all is that she seems so much nicer than the Mean Fashion Girls I went to high school with -- their personalities were much more akin to Christian's, actually, which is hardly a surprise. I expect very cool things, and many amazing jackets from Jillian in the future and I hope her boyfriend proposes to her asap because he seems to be very much in love, which warms my heart. Did you see how sweetly he kissed her while she was crying over her loss? It was like the cameras weren't even there! This is what I live for. But anyway, the real success of the Bryant Park show was Rami. Mr. Drapey McDraperson is an expert tailor, who knew! So WHAT if he likes "Brady Bunch colors" (read: jewel-tones, which I love)? Mike Kors, you're such a jackass. Rami really is the most cerebral and I think he'll have just as much post-show success as Christian will. He may even be the Clay Aiken to Christian's Reuben. We shall have to wait and see. Love you, Rams. Love you even more when you trot after Christian when he says, "Come on, girl!"

To squelch my sadness over having no more PJ for months and months, I've been catching up on the Bravo blogs. There's an incredible post-win Q&A with Christian here, and I urge you to read it in its entirety. (It also includes a fucking great mini-photoshoot with Christian and Heidi, as seen above) For posterity's sake, here is the ultimate, most amazing, best quote ever -- and so true. Christian, you're a sassy, foul-mouthed little bitch with high-maintainance hair, but you know your shit:

Did you just know that Victoria Beckham would like your collection?
In the back of my head, I’m not going lie, I was like, “Victoria’s the judge. This is me.” She’s who I design for! She’s English, she’s from Europe, she’s very very into high fashion, and some of her favorite designers are McQueen and Chanel and Lagerfeld, you know? I knew there was no way she was not going to like what I did. It was amazing because she’s someone I would actually want to try to dress. I actually think I said when we first started and Bravo asked us all who we’d want to dress, I’m pretty sure I said Victoria Beckham. Well, and I said Britney, but actually I said I wanted to save Britney! My new goal in life is to come up with my new reality show called Project Britney where I transform her and I save her life and make her the most fabulous person ever! She needs a gay! She has no gays! Have you ever noticed that? She has no gay boys helping her! She only has straight people and, no offense, but straighties don’t know how to fix the divas! It’s so weird! I’ve never seen any gay stylists working her.

The perfect ending to a delightful Season Four: The Tim and Christian walk-off!!

3/6/2008 12:33:55 PM by Sharon Steel | Comments [0] |  

“Christian Soriano, signing out.”

 

It was a fitting way to end this season of Project Runway. Not because it was he who ultimately won it all. But because in my mind, it was sort of the Christian Soriano show from the beginning last night. From his wonderfully absurd description of what it was he was looking for in a model (“fierce tallness and walks for days”) to his kooky modeling of Jillian Lewis’s ridiculous looking hat prior to the runway show (all the while going “bring it back, bring it back”), Christian downright stole the proceedings. It's this fashion idiot's opinion that without he and Chris March — whose carefree, seen it all, low-key approach proved a good foil for Christian’s fast-talking prima donna act — there surely would have been far fewer reasons to watch this season.

 

As for the rest of the show last night?

 

Notes!

 

- Christian, Rami Kashou, and Jillian take a walk down the never-ending Bryant Park runway. Christian remarks how long it is. God, it’s only a 45 minute show, he says.

 

- Tim Gunn gives a heartfelt pep talk to the remaining 3 designers. He’s no Vince Lombardi. But he speaks from the heart. “Trust that you are superb. You are.”

 

- Jillian says something supremely vapid in her introduction to her show. Which surprises me because she’s no dummy.

 

- Her show? One funny hat after another. The rest is a blur. Though, I should say, all of us watching get very excited when we spot the hat Christian was modeling earlier in the show coming down the runway. For us, it’s a highlight.

 

- Reactions from the folks I’m watching with. Lady 1: “Pretty” Lady 2: “Umm.”

 

- Rami’s intro about his collection being about women is the worst. Too scripted, as the oh-so-astute Lady 1 points out. It’s also a veiled swipe at Christian.

 

- His first two dresses look exactly the same to me.

 

- Rami likes pink.

 

- Rami likes redheads.

 

- Rami’s stuff doesn’t sit well with the room. “I really don’t like his clothes,” Lady 1 announces. Ouch.

 

- Christian wins in the intro department.

 

- His stuff, truth be told, gets a little monotonous for me, as the judges — who are clearly wiretapping my brain — will say later.

 

- I see a lot of wicked witches walking down the aisle.

 

- Christian has got one look where he apparently wanted to simulate for the model what it would be like as a blind person. Seriously, the girl can’t see a damn thing with all that shit in her face.

 

- Predictions? Lady 1: Jillian  Lady 2: Jillian  Me: Christian

 

- It’s true: my love for Christian knows no end

 

- Apparently neither does Victoria Beckham’s. The two are already exchanging sweet nothings before the competition is over.

 

- Jillian is eliminated. A collective gasp from the room. Lady 2 passes out. The news proves too astonishing.

 

- Christian wins! I rub it in the faces of those around me. 

 

- Rami goes out in style: “You will be seeing a lot from me and you will be wearing my clothes.”

 

- So too does Christian: “Hello! Did you have a doubt? Come on! What up?”

 

- Fade to black

3/6/2008 11:37:37 AM by Ian Sands | Comments [0] |  

A. Avril Lavigne, our favorite little married pop-punk foul-mouthed songstress, who just scored an exclusive design deal with Kohl's? Will it be Hot Topic meets Chanel? Or will it just be pink and black and Kelly Osbourne?



B. Karl Lagerfeld, who delivered the following zingers (among many more) in a nine-page Q&A cover story for Prestige Hong Kong:
    1. "When people talk about the good old days, I say to people, 'It's not the days that are old, it's you that's old.' I hate the good old days. What is important is that today is good."
    2. "I’m a very fascist person. If someone tells me something has to be like this, I’m not interested. I could never be an art director selecting other people’s work. I’m only interested in my own work. I’m a very superficial person, but that is good for what I’m doing."
    3. "I hate all children."
    4. "May I tell you something? I like today better than before. The late ’80s were an awful time. I like today, or maybe I like my life today. I’m much happier today than I was then."

(Bonus Points for identifying the most Karl-esque quote -- or, at least, what I think is!)



C. Christian Siriano, Project Runway's boy-genius, who I predict will win it all tonight (sorry, Jillian, I still heart you!) Keep in mind he told the Washington Post that yes, he really is like that: both on and off camera.

3/5/2008 4:08:45 PM by Sharon Steel | Comments [0] |  

On Project Runway, Michael Kors is an asshole. He is the Jewish, Long Island-y version of what Christian will be in about 40 years. However, he is a Top American Designer (thx, Heidi!) and therefore an expert on fashionologie. And, we must admit, usually, for the most part, he's got decent taste, and he gives witty soundbites for us to mock.

But anyone who knows us well knows that we're suckers for people who delight in parading their guilty pleasures around for everyone to see. It's the verbal equivalent of bending over in your new super low-low jeans only to show off the butt-floss you decided to rock that day, or smiling really big at the person you're trying to impress with food in your teeth, or acting like you're best friends with someone when you have the distinct inclination they might actually hate you. And not caring.

Anyway, Michael Kors is a fan of our beloved Spice Girls. Take a gander at the manner in which he confessed this secret love of the Girl Power to our sartorial Bible, WWD:

On Wednesday, Michael Kors and CFDA executive director Steven Kolb took in the Spice spectacular at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., where they had a chance to meet the group backstage. "Of course I am a Spice Girls fan," Kors said. "I love everything that teenage girls love. I am the oldest teenage girl."

That's so fucking beautiful in a dead-bird way--one of our favorite ways! Thank you, Michael "Tranny Spice" Kors. You win. For now.

2/15/2008 12:53:08 PM by Sharon Steel | Comments [0] |  

I just discovered this handy, helpful chart on the Project Runway Season 4 wiki page, whilst dreamily envisioning what fashion challenges our beloved contestents might encounter on tonight's episode. (Who needs writers when we've still got the two best shows on television, Proj Run and History Detectives?). [Ed. note - You're a writer.] Oh, right. Nevermind. I <3 writers. Anyway, here's the chart:

This is the squinty, mini version, of course. For the real thing, look here. So, let's get out our pointers and consult the cold hard facts of the chart, shall we? Judging solely on wins, Christian, Jillian, Rami and Victorya seem to be the top contenders, although Kevin ranked high scores for four out of seven challenges - but now he's out. My money for winner is on Jillian or Christian, even though he's ranked low on two challenges - the judges just don't understand sometimes, ya know? I mean, Nina Garcia never changes her effing hairstyle! Does anyone else notice this? Why is it always down? Never a casual ponytail, or maybe a Chanel scarf. Nope, nothing - totally boring. And Heidi flops between dramatic hairstyles like they're sticks of Juicy Fruit. Nina, it's a show about fashion, live it up a little! How can we trust you in that repetitive, vanilla 'do? I digress, back to investigating the chart. The next one out, according to lowest scores, should be Rami (Rami! He's so complex), Sweet P (but I'd miss her funny commentary!), and Ricky. Ah, Ricky. How has he possibly made it this far? Is he bribing someone at Bravo? Does nobody notice these horrible mesh, male escortish police hats he wears every day? I'll bet you $15 worth of Mode fabrics that he'll be out tonight. I miss Kit already.

1/23/2008 11:42:00 AM by Caitlin | Comments [0] |