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Thursday, October 19, 2006 12:00 AM

Design of the times

"Project Runway" manufactures some hand-sewn drama -- and shows a hint of slip -- as it crowns its next big winner.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:13 AM

Isn't Fashion supposed to be about clothes for humans?

Yea, Ulli was robbed. And you are right on about Laura, altho I would definitely wear her clothes. Michael's collection was for hookers - with no taste. It was dreadful. Ulli's looked like a collection and was wearable. Jeffrey had nothing I'd care to see on anyone. And how he won the "coutour" challenge is totally beyond me. That plaid thing was a hot steaming mess. I think he must have pictures of the judges having an orgy with a bunch of goats. That's the only rational explanation I can come up with. But I'll probably get sucked in again next year. I hope they change judges and get rid of Nina Garcia, though.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:22 AM

We Will Take These Charges Very Seriously ( why?)

I agree wholeheartedly that Gunn's gesture of taking Laura's charges seriously and launching an investigation was preposterous.

If I were Jeffrey, I would have taken Tim aside and told him that I was 100% convinced that Laura has snuck out in the middle of the night and murdered some prostitutes, and that she was not actually pregnant but her belly was stuffed with stolen ballots from the 2000 presidential election. The producers would have had no choice but to launch a full-scale investigation.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:29 AM

PR keeps you on the edge of your seat

I figured that Jeffrey would win, but I wasn't all that happy about it. I like Laura's clothes - they are timeless and beautifully made. I also like Laura as a person, too - yes she's bitchy, but I think she gave as good as she got. I like her outspokeness and sense of humor. I think the editing of the show exaggerated a lot of the good, bad, and ugly of all the contestants. Michael and Uli are very talented, too. I think all of them could be very successful.

I watched every show this season and loved 'em all. (Vincent creeped me out - he should have been gone after the first challenge.) Anyway, I will be watching season 4.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:30 AM

Hmmm ...

I love her. She's funny and classy and has great taste. And I do think she was sincere about Jeffrey. I also loved her line, though I agree with the judges that maybe it was too narrow and she didn't show enough range. Oh well. She'll have a nice career making gorgeous Oscar dresses. Uli was robbed. I want almost every last piece in that collection. Jeffrey's clothes looked like a new line for H&M. Trendy and boring.

And Michael. Oh Michael. He choked alright, but I have a feeling that if these clothes were on the runway of say, Dolce & Gabbana or Versace or Jean-Paul Gautlier, the same people dismissing Michael's clothes as "hoochie-wear" would be applauding those designers for co-opting hip-hop street style. Some of those pieces were great and I think I'm obsessed with his last look. That dress is gorgeous.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:37 AM

no problem

"Is it a show designed to discover new talent, as it claims, or to simply elevate experienced designers who can't snag seed money from LVMH on their own?"

They've had professional designers from the get go (season one: Kara Saun, Wendy Pepper, Kevin. season two: Nick, Zulema).

I certainly don't think Laura was a plant. I DO think she was a smug, self entitled old hag. As far as the final scandal goes. If an accusation is made, even a frivilous one, I'm sure they have to address it to cover themselves legally. Tim Gunn dismissed it in the first minutes of the finale with no room for further discussion. I had no problems with the season at all. Good and correct choice for the winner, as well.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:46 AM

"old hag," saintzak?

You kiss your mother with that mouth?

If I hear one more person criticize Laura, by first criticizing her age and her gender, I'm going to scream!!!! This season of PR was also ridiculously sexist and ageist.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:47 AM

Can't believe I'm defending him, but...

I couldn't care less about the fashion world, but I do enjoy "Project Runway." Throughout this whole season, I couldn't stand Jeffrey and I thought his designs should have sent him home on numerous occasions.

That said ... to me, he was the clear winner at Fashion Week.

Michael and Laura were rightly eliminated first. Michael's collection was the biggest disappointment, as I thought he'd been the most consistent designer throughout the season. Laura's clothes perpetuated her "one-note" reputation, and showed craftsmanship but no artistry.

People think Uli got robbed. I say hogwash. Her clothes are more about the print of the fabric than the actual design, and they always have been. She's not innovative -- she simply has taste. I understand why women want to wear her clothes -- for the most part, they are beautiful -- but imagine them in neutral colors and there's just not much there.

Jeffrey, as big of an ass as I thought he was, put forth the only collection that displayed creativity along with sewing skills. It's not my cup of tea, but I definitely appreciated the ideas that he was working from. In the sequences shown with his girlfriend and child, I even started to think that maybe he's not such an ass after all, and I certainly was on his side in the skirmish with Laura, whom I initially liked but wound up despising.

I thought the judges picked the wrong winners in the first two seasons, but this year, they actually got it right.

For those who lament Uli's loss and Michael's inexplicable lapse, don't worry. I have a feeling both of the will do quite well, and soon.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 08:48 AM

It Wasn't Just Laura

If y'all will remember, when Laura discussed the possibility that Jeffrey had outside help (outside the pleating, of course), Uli and Michael immediately agreed with her. I seem to recall Michael saying something like "I was just thinking that myself!"

So it was hardly just Laura who was concerned, and I don't know that I saw it as such a baseless charge. Only one of the contestants came into the last week not having to make any significant alterations, with all work done; only one of them had access to a shop full of assistants and materials. I'd have brought it up too.

That said, obviously it's easy to game the system, and I frankly wonder what sort of idiot would not have actually added up his receipts before submitting them. Are these people _really_ that bad in math?

I wanted Michael to win, though with his final collection accepted he shouldn't. I thought it should have been Uli, though. As to why Jeffrey won challenges and maybe even the final ... well, ever notice that at the end of each episode, they flash up a notice saying "the judges considered input from the producers in determining a winner?" It's not about the best clothes. It's about drama. It's not a competition, it's a work of fiction.

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