Season 5 of Project Runway came to an end on Wednesday, and it quite possibly could have been the last episode we’ll ever see from the show considering the legal battles they’re wrapped up in. But everything ended up on a good note if you ask me. The three girls, Korto, Kenley and Leanne got to show at fashion week. I dislike Kenley just as much as the next person but I was pretty different when it came down to her vs. Jerrell; they both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Kenley was the first to show, and the judges called her out for her obvious influences (Lacroix, McQueen, Balenciaga and more Balenciaga). Honestly I don’t buy for a second that she hadn’t seen that silhouette on the Balenciaga runway. And on top of that, just about every piece was a variation of something she did for one of the challenges. Where’s the creativity?

What I do like…the first two looks I posted. The little bubble dress is very cute and the skirt and ruffled top combo was the strongest piece in the collection, if you ask me. Now for what I hate, the third look. And that pretty much sums up the rest of the collection. It’s all just so tacky.

I loved Korto’s collection even more on TV than I did in pictures! It’s all so classic in the vein of Oscar De La Renta but she puts her own spin on those styles, and blends her earthy, African sensibility SO seamlessly….I love it! The judges said some of it was over worked, which I didn’t completely agree with. There is a lot going on with that white dress, but I still like it. The more simple pieces like the green gown were the best. And the green mini dress is something I would wear in a second!

Leanne *sigh*. SO much gorgeousness.  There have been some great final runway shows in the past…well, only a couple actually and mainly last year, but I think Leanne has the most innovative and original aesthetic that we’ve seen on the show.  Yes, even more so than Christian and I hope she gets that type of success and attention after the show.  The firs three looks I posted above are just to DIE for!  The second look especially is so wearable and young, and the third skirt looks like cotton candy!  Love the whimsical element here.

But the one thing I will never understand is why Tim loved the third outfit with the pants!  That jacked is SO ugly and by far the weakest piece from Leanne’s collection.  The pants are fab though.

And the winner is…….Leanne!  Woot! She totally deserves it, and I’m so glad to see someone from FIDM finally get the top prize.  I really hope this girl comes out with a line soon.

Last night was one of the weirdest challenges they’ve had on Project Runway. The designers had to create looks for each other, kind of like they did in season 3, but the twist this time around was that each look had to represent a certain type of music. At first I was thinking, what’s the point of using each other for this? Why not use the models? But ultimately it made it more challenging for the designers, and more fun for us to watch!

Jerell came thiiiiis close to winning his third challenge in a row. He did a Pop inspired look for Kenley, and it definitely did look like something Nicole Scherzinger would wear. I thought the vest was a tad bit unnecessary though.

Korto won her second? Or is it third challenge? Can’t remember, but her win was well deserved. There’s a lot going on here, but she made it all work together. She didn’t play it safe like the other designers and it really paid off. I really like the treatment she did on the pants. That was risky but it complimented the rest of the outfit really well. Suede looked scary as heck though!

Leanne didn’t do so hot this week. I’m not sure why either, I guess she was playing it safe but I didn’t think she was far removed from her element; she could’ve done better. The pieces are pretty much what you’d expect for a Country inspired look, but she did a nice job of tailoring it to Korto’s figure.

How funny that Leanne is the one to model for hip hop! The girl could not be any LESS hip hop if she tried!

And I hate to defend Kenley, because she’s so obnoxious and I can’t stand her, but she was right when she was talking to Tim and the judges were too hard on her. If that’s not MODERN hip hop style, then…

….??? I mean, Eve is pretty much the queen of hip hop chic. Mary J. Blige is up there too. So, if you ask me, if either one of them are wearing it, it’s hip hop! I’m sure I could walk right into Demo or Baby Phat right now and pick up that exact same look. I’m not sure where LL Cool J’s head was; I don’t expect the judges to get it but there’s no excuse for him not seeing this! I don’t think Kenley’s look is perfect but I do think it’s an accurate representation of current urban style for women. But honestly that was probably just a coincidence.

So, we’re finally saying bye bye to Suede. I won’t argue with anyone who says Kenley should’ve gone. Neither of their looks were great, but I do think they both got the gist of the challenge. I thought the judges were a bit too hard on Suede as well. But, at the end of the day, I’m siding with the judges decision because this look says “punk” more than it says “rock” to me. It is a fine line, though, but those pants especially just scream punk! And like Michael Kors said, the whole zipper thing is pretty much the first thing that would come to anyone’s mind. A bit too expected.

Only three more episodes left and then PR moves to Life Time….yikes! Next week looks very, very interesting. Kenley acting like a spoiled child, again, and all of the designers in tears. But why? We’ll just have to wait and see.

This week on Project Runway the designers had to create looks for young women entering the work force, and the designs had to please both them and their moms. There really wasn’t as much drama as one would’ve expected….

Jerrell took home his second win in a row. He did deserve to win, in a way, but I don’t think his look was better than the two girls but I’ll get to that later. I did LOVE the dress he made for the girl. It’s very current and I liked the colors/patterns he used to make it a bit different. That’s definitely something I would buy.

I really, really HATE Kenley, I mean she’s one of the dumbest people ever on television, but had it been up to me she would’ve been this weeks winner. What she did was just a bit more creative than Jerrell’s outfit. And from the looks of it, she actually DID shorten the tulle even though she made a huge fuss about it.

Korto’s look was great as well. Just like the judges said, that coat was fab! Love the seam details there. She did the best job of making multiple pieces cohesive, something this group seems to have a huge problem with. This look, overall, is very fresh but still professional.

I’ve disagreed with a lot of decisions the judges have made this season but I couldn’t agree more with them giving Joe the boot. Out of the bottom 3 looks, his was the worst on SO many levels. It was a complete and utter eye sore for one thing. It looked so poorly made and when the girl walked it would move against her, if that makes any sense. And it was too predictable.

Ugh, Leanne sort of fell from grace with this. And I’m really not sure why she got so lost, there were so many cool things she could’ve done with her usual ruffles/loops/layers. I don’t know WHAT possessed her to make that awful boxy, dingy, dull gray jacket; nothing about the cut is flattering and the color only adds insult to injury!

Suede …… *sigh*. That jacket shows such little taste, it’s like a potatoe sack with ribbons tied on. Now the dress underneath was sort of cute in a JC Penney type way. The cut wasn’t bad, the print was too cheesy though. But still, I think Joe’s outfit was worse.

Okay, if Suede isn’t gone next week….there will be trouble. I’m thinking Korto and Leanne have spots in the final three, for sure. But I can’t decide who deserves it more between Jerrell and Kenley. What do you guys think? Leave your opinions in the comment section!

While we’re on the subject of Project Runway, let’s take a look at what last years winner Christian Siriano did for New York Fashion Week this year. So far, it looks like he’s on track to becoming the most successful winner by far, and he’s only the second that I can remember who’s shown at NYFW (although several runner ups have shown). Check out his Spring collection below:

I like the gray mini dress, and the last gown is quite pretty.

The third ensemble needs to be in my closet, along with the two other mini dresses here.

I can’t say anything positive about anything on this row. To be honest, I’m not sure what to say about this collection at all. I like the color pallette, the mini dresses are super cute, and some of the gowns are okay. But everything else just looks like what he did for his last show in different colors and maybe sheerer fabrics. If he would only stick to more wearable cocktail dresses he might have something that would retail well. But those skinny pants aren’t going to fly off the shelves, and the puff sleeve jackets and blouses get old quick and I can’t even see those gowns doing well on the red carpet.

The final runway show for Project Runway is over and done with! Unfortunately, there won’t be many spoilers as far as the top 4 goes because all six of the remaining designers (Kenley, Korto, Leanne, Joe, Jerrell and even Suede), with three of them (unless there’s a twist) as decoys. I have a few tidbits about the show, and I’ll add photos under the cut as soon as I can.

ETA: Pictures added.

(more…)

I’ve taken a little bit of a break (and tried to stay awake) from reviewing Project Runway, but I’m back! Something seriously needs to be said about the awful decisions the judges have been making week after week this season. I don’t think I’ve agreed with a single cut they’ve made, and this week was no different. But I’ll start with the “middle of the road” designs…

This week they were given a challenge by designer Diana Von Furstenberg to create a look that was reminiscent of the movie “A Foreign Affair”. Once again, I didn’t feel like any of the designers really “got it”. Blayne, Jerrell and Terri were the three “safe” designers. These three are all constantly hit or miss if you ask me, especially Jerrell; he’s done a couple of really good pieces and a lot of others that look silly and almost costumey; I’d put his look this week in the later category. I’ve liked one or two things that Blayne has done; I really don’t care for those pants, but the jacket looked GORGEOUS on camera. And Terri’s pants are horribly made. The overall look is alright.

Ugh, where do I begin with these trainwrecks! Okay, Suede’s look first (the one on the end). I don’t even know what that’s supposed to be, the jacket doesn’t match the dress at all, the shape of it doesn’t even compliment the dress, and the dress itself was just totally shapeless. He ended up safe, with Joe and Stella as the B2. Joe shouldve been the one to go. There’s no way you can look at these three outfits and say Stella’s is the worst.

The construction on Joe’s was just ridiculous! I don’t understand how he could send that down the runway with everything lopsided and uneven. Of course, Stella’s wasn’t well constructed either, and it looked like a witch going on a business meeting, but at least it’s somewhat wearable. Joe’s just looked like he found the cheesiest fabrics possible and sewed them together. In the dark.

Korto and Leanne once again rounded out the top 3, along with Kenley. I just can’t bring myself to like Kenley; her personality or her designs. But this look was definitely “her”, plus it fit the theme and DVF liked it, so you can’t complain about that. A nice jacket would’ve been a great addition though. Korto has been at the top of my list since the first episode, but I have two complaints here. 1. I don’t care for the way the yellow is sewn on the bottom, and overall, I don’t think that dress lives up to her usual impeccable construction. And 2. ENOUGH with the kimono sleeves already! I guess it was a double edged sword though, since it fit well with this theme.

Leanne took the win for the second time in a row, and rightly so. She’s the only designer this week who really “got it”. That gown was absolutely gorgeous and well constructed, it was totally in step with the theme/period, and the ruffles down the back were a nice surprise. Her dress from last week was amazing as well, and I still think she should’ve won for that cocktail dress she did a few weeks ago.

So…Korto and Leanne for F2, please.

And next week the Rachel Zoe Project premieres! Can’t wait for this.