I Heart Kit And Steven

Episode three of Project Runway 4 was . . . um, interesting. Honestly, the designers weren’t given enough time to complete the challenge. And, as a result, most of the outfits were not great; many of them were horrible. Still, a few designers managed to express their point of view effectively, and some even demonstrated a level of versatility that’s quite impressive.

Now, I’d like to tell you about my growing love for Steven. Seriously, this wonderful man keeps getting better and better. He’s coming out of his shell, my friends. And that’s a very good thing. I love his dry sense of humor.



Of all the designs, I liked Steven’s the most. It wasn’t perfect, but it was well executed, and, with a little tweaking, it’s the type of design that I could see myself wearing. Yes, it's true. So . . . great job, Steven. Keep up the good work.



Now, let’s talk about Mexicans for a second. First up: Ricky! This man is getting on my last nerve. I said it before and I’ll say it again. His limbic (emotional) system is out of control. Seeing someone cry usually elicits a sympathetic response. Unfortunately for Ricky, seeing him cry actually makes me want to hurt him. He’s irritating other bloggers as well. Not good. Ah, but then there’s Elisa.



I assume she’s at least part Mexican because she’s from El Paso and her last name is Jimenez. But I may be wrong. Anyway, Elisa is a special kind of crazy. She’s just a fascinating character. Her bizarre behavior is a gift for bravo bloggers. Seriously, imagine this season without her. Interestingly, some have compared her to Lupe, a former PR designer from season 2. But I think these women are very different. Lupe’s craziness was highly unstable and very scary. Schizotaxia anyone? Elisa, on the other hand, is a free spirit who’s quite likable. Her craziness is cute, warm, and fuzzy. I’m digging Elisa. You know, it almost seems like she was raised by hippies or gypsies or crazy people. And now, she’s forced to interact with uptight fashion people who just don’t get her. Thank goodness she has a sense of humor.

Sweet P was a nervous wreck in this episode. Her design was very sloppy, but it was actually a little better than some of the other designs. I just can’t understand why she couldn’t pull herself together. She could have saved her outfit. She was headed in the right direction. Time, of course, was the main issue, but she just gave up when the going got tough. That’s not a good sign.



In the end, Carmen was sent home for not completing her outfit. Some suggested that Ricky should have been eliminated, but I guess that’s debatable. I think his design was so conventional (and ugly). It was just . . . horrible. He really lucked out.

Ok, now let’s talk about the wonderful Kit. I loved her very first design. It spoke volumes to me. The woman has a point of view. In this episode, she delivered another solid design. Many people liked it.



I wouldn’t say it’s perfect, but it was well executed. And, more importantly, she continues to show us that she does indeed have a point of view. I also think that she’s one of the most versatile designers. As other have suggested, she has what it takes to succeed. She’s my favorite designer thus far.



Ah, Kit, you and Steven have a special place in my heart. Please don’t screw up next week or I’ll be forced to replace you. You’ve been warned. Anyway, if you can’t enough of Project Runway, you should visit the always wonderful folks over at Blogging Project Runway and Pink Navy. Also stop by the Dishin’ Dat Blog. Ms. Place is witty, fun, and fabulous. Along the way, you have to visit Eric3K. His recaps are comedic gems. And don’t forget to visit Killer Virgo. His recaps are wonderful.

Victorya And Eric Shine; Christian . . . Not So Much

So, the guest judge in episode 2 of PR 4 turned out to be Sarah Jessica Parker.



I’m sorry, but I’m kind of over SJP. That doesn’t mean I don’t like her. I just can’t understand why the designers had such a strong emotional response when they saw the Sex and The City star. I’ve never had that kind of reaction to anyone. Actually, I’d probably respond that way if I saw Sarah Polley or Tom Ford. My heart rate would probably reach dangerously high levels. So . . . I guess I can imagine what it would be like to meet one's favorite celebrity. Oh, and how sweet was SJP on the show? With her status in Hollywood, she could be forgiven for being self-centered and bitchy, but she was the exact opposite—so gracious. And she’s a smart cookie, too.



Christian’s confidence is both fascinating and annoying. Is it the product of environment, genetics, or both? I have no idea, but this little diva needs a serious reality check. When he essentially ignored Tim Gunn’s criticism of his outfit (pictured below), I almost lost it. Christian responded by saying that it was perfect. What?



Tim is the voice of reason and experience on the show. Christian is a 21-year-old kid with the least experience and a serious attitude problem. Nina Garcia brought up a great point about the dress. She hated it and said it reminded her of 80s disco fashion. This design and his dress for the first challenge looked really dated and uninspired to me, which is odd when you consider his age. Of all the designers, one would think he’d be the most fashion forward. Nope! I’m not sure what his problem is. Is he stuck in the past? Does he lack vision? Or both? He needs to get with the program.

Ok, I’m getting concerned that I agreed with the judges’ decision this week (and last week, too). They loved Victorya’s dress (pictured below). It’s too early to tell, but I’m starting to think that Victorya doesn’t mind using her neocortex, that stuff that sits on our primitive (reptilian) brainstem.



I presume that being a designer is something of a balancing act. Of course, a designer wants to remain true to his or her vision but also has to know what pleases those powerful fashion types (older, well established designers, editors, and so on). Jeffrey Sebelia did that so well last season, and Victorya and Kevin made it work this time around. Some bloggers seem to think that their dress looked kind of dated. Well, I think it was quite effective. Again, I’m happy that they won this challenge.

There’s another brain system between the primitive brainstem and the neocortex. It’s called the limbic (emotional) system. And I think it’s safe to say that Ricky and Elisa are more than in touch with this particular system. Ricky cries in response to all types of things—good or bad. It’s starting to get annoying. However, he seems like a nice guy. So I’ll give him a break, for now. And Elisa is turning out to be quite a character. I have more to say about her later.



Ah, Marion, where did it all go wrong? His outfit (pictured above) was a disaster. It was poorly executed and he got what he deserved. I must say, it must be hard to keep a show like PR going after 3 seasons. The novelty effect has worn off, but the producers have managed to keep this thing alive. This episode didn’t blow me away, but it was entertaining. You have some craziness, a little drama, divas, and I’m sure there’s more to come. And by “more to come,” I mean Jillian. She has serious diva/bitch potential. I’m over Christian. That kid’s all bark and no bite.

Bravo, Project Runway, & Crazy Women

I had an interesting conversation with a friend this morning. What did we discuss? Global warming? Trouble in the Middle East? The current mortgage crisis? The answer to all these questions is . . . no. We were talking about Project Runway. My friend was, to borrow a phrase from Michael Kors, quite underwhelmed with the first episode of PR. He was so disappointed that he suggested not watching the show on a regular basis. His words elicited a reflexive response from me—I was ready to slap the crap out of him. But I didn’t. I don’t resort to physical aggression to solve problems or resolve disputes. I’m all about peace and love and all that good stuff. Anyway, my friend is not alone. A number of people in the blogosphere found this episode a tad boring.

I understand what they’re saying, but, honestly, I think some people had unreasonable expectations. Consider the following. I dare you to approach your friendly neighborhood drug addict. Ask him or her to describe the first time they tried their favorite drug of abuse (psychostimulants are quite popular with the kids). In many cases, they’ll describe feeling immense pleasure. However, after repeated drug use, it takes even higher doses of the drug to experience the same effects, and, in many cases, the person eventually stops experiencing pleasure all together. Ok, I’m not sure that’s a good analogy. Honestly, I just wanted to use the phrase “friendly neighborhood drug addict” in this post. My point is: we’re talking about the fourth season of Project Runway, for crying out loud. Did you expect to be blown away? We’ve seen a lot of it before. The divas, the drama queens, the assholes, the nut jobs, and the list goes on. And, as the years go by, some of the designs are starting to look awfully familiar. Aren't they? Again, the novelty effect has worn off. I thought the first episode of PR4 was entertaining and predictable. But that’s ok.

Sorry, I went off on a tangent there. Ok, let’s get back to the task at hand—obsessing about Bravo reality television. Anyway, I’ve already complained about the lack of female talent on other Bravo shows; so now I’d like to say something positive about Bravo. I’ve noticed a few interesting trends in Bravo land. For starters, they sometimes select contestants who don’t conform to certain stereotypes. Exhibit A: lesbian hairdressers! Seriously, before Shear Genius, I had never thought of combing the words lesbian and hairdresser in the same sentence. Bravo managed to find two lesbians for Shear Genius 1 (my beloved Tabs and Daisy). Also, what’s with over-achieving Vietnamese Americans? Cloe (Project Runway) and Hung (Top Chef), both Vietnamese Americans, won the top prize in their respective shows. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy for them. I really am. But the chances of two Vietnamese Americans succeeding on Bravo aren’t that high. Why not Chinese Americans, Mexican Americans, or White women? It’s just interesting. That’s all I’m saying.




Well, Bravo has done it again. They’ve managed to find another stereotype to mess with. Instead of the tired stereotypical Hispanic woman, Bravo now offers us the crazy, rebellious Hispanic woman. At first I thought Lupe was an isolated case of craziness. Of course, a handful of unstable Latinas exist in this country, but Bravo found another one. Yep, I’m talking about Elisa Jimenez. Ok, she’s not exactly like Lupe. Elisa appears capable of formulating coherent sentences; I can’t say the same for Lupe. I like Elisa. She’s the crazy, artistic type. I can dig that. However, if she’s going to play that part for the next few weeks, she’ll need to produce some great designs.



Wow, this post is getting kind of long. I know; you’ve got other things to do. So . . . I’ll stop beating around the bush. This episode wasn’t horrible. It was predictable but still entertaining. As stated in the previous post, I love Rami. Did he deserve to win? Well, that’s debatable. I think he has great taste, but his design was kind of safe and not very original. Two dresses caught my eye. The one below was designed by Chris.



I agree with Ms. Place; his dress was fierce. The man certainly has talent. Also, I noticed that a handful of gay bloggers are going crazy over Chris. Why? He seems like a nice guy, but it’s too early to tell if he’s a character to love. I’ll give him a chance. Who knows; he may win me over. Christian is turning out to be a little bitch, which isn't always a bad thing. Although I didn't like his design, I admit that he is creative and confident, but I suspect he may have trouble competing against more experienced designers. He’s a kid compared to many of the other designers.




I also liked Kit’s dress (pictured above). She may be one to watch. Of course, it really is too early to pick favorites. Now, I’m off to Pink Navy. See you there!

A Trip Down Memory Lane With The Gals of Project Runway

Ah, Project Runway 4 is just around the corner, and Bravo bloggers all across the blogosphere are more excited than Anderson Cooper at a Scissor Sisters concert (sorry, I just had to use that line again). Anyway, now we’re stuck waiting—waiting for the queen of all Bravo shows to begin. Be patient, my dear friends. Let’s prepare for another great season of PR by taking a trip down memory lane to celebrate the great women of Project Runway.




Kara Saun will always have a special place in the heart of the truly devoted Bravo viewer. She may have lost to Jay McCarroll in season 1, but she earned the respect of many people in the fashion industry. Her talent and professionalism are, of course, undeniable. But Kara contributed greatly to Bravo reality television in so many ways. She set the stage for future generations of women and minorities in project runway. She’s a great role model.



Chloe Dao’s victory in PR 2 is a clear indication that the American dream is alive and well. Her family came to America from Vietnam with almost nothing. They started a new life in Houston, Texas and never looked back. Their success in this country is quite inspirational. I respect Chloe tremendously because of her amazing work ethic. She stands alone as the only female champion in Bravo reality television. How do you like them apples?



Laura Bennett is by far a Bravo blogger’s dream. She’s fabulous, friendly, and accessible. And she’s everywhere. She’s a regular over at Tom and Lorenzo’s blog, and she even appeared in an episode of Tim Gunn’s unfortunate reality show, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style. This woman really knows how to market herself. While Jay spends his days bitching about his sad, sad life, Laura is busy raising her children but still finds time to do various things. I have to say, Laura is quite possibly the most efficient designer in the history of Project Runway. Even Tim Gunn was impressed with her progress during the weeks leading up to the finale. I can’t imagine what it would be like to prepare 12 pieces for fashion week with an expanded uterus pressing against one’s internal organs (particularly the bladder). Talk about pressure! Laura Bennett deserves a special award for performing so well under very stressful conditions.



Uli Herzner won me over the minute she smiled at the camera. Like Chloe before her, Uli came to America with a strong desire to succeed in the fashion industry. Well, her hard work paid off. Although she was unable to beat Jeffrey Sebelia in PR 3, she still created a great collection that deserves to be praised. However, the thing I love most about Uli is her humility and respect for others. She's living proof that good things happen to good people. And it doesn’t hurt that she’s as cute as a button. Rock on, Uli! Rock on!