Katey Interviews Nick

Well, Nick is certainly getting a lot of press lately. Please send links to ANY coverage of any of the other designers as well - thanks!

What Do You Think?

Click on the link above to see the PINK TAGS post. Is Britney wearing Chloe's dress? I think this one looks like more than mere coincidence. Chloe, is this your design?

Barbie Interviews Nick!

Top 12 Reasons Why Season Two is Better Than Season One

12. There has been no smoking on Season Two. Smoking is boring. Smoke breaks are boring. Get back inside and sew!

11. Heidi's maternity wardrobe. We can't recall a single thing she wore last year.

10. Nina Garcia is much cuter this season. Anyone else noticing this?

9. Less model drama. This show is about designers. We don't have enough time in a one-hour show to cover the models too. Hey, I know, perhaps someone should create a show just for models! I have the BEST ideas!

8. Heidi's careful consideration of the lingerie sketches. We hardly saw any sketches last year. This year we're seeing plenty and we love it! These designers are true artists. Thank you for showing us this portion of the design process.


7. The Barbie Challenge - definitely the episode to send to the Emmy Committee. Is there an Emmy Committee? Oh wait, maybe the Ice Skating Challenge....

6. No immunity. Immunity only helps weak designers. This season we have producers to save the weak designers. Oh, what? Immunity this week? Ummmm never mind...

5. This season we have more footage of the designers actually designing. This is KEY. We want to see the pattern-drafting, the pinning, the cutting and the sewing. We want to see the handwork and embellishment.....well, maybe not this much embellishment... We want to see the magic happen before our eyes. THANK YOU.

4. Of course, season two brought us Santino as Entertainment. YES! We love the Timpressions, the songs, the fun. Santino as designer....not so much...

3. Season Two has brought out a much stronger on-line presence of bloggers, websites and message boards devoted to Project Runway. These are truly helping us to enjoy Season Two.

2. Season Two designers are much more likable than Season One designers. At this point we're going to cry no matter who gets cut - We love them all. We especially enjoy the way they seem to get along so well. (Someone help me with a line about "cry and cut."

1. Season Two brings us more Tim Gunn. More Tim on the program, more of Tim's blog and especially Tim's podcasts. We had "Tim's Take" last season - and we really appreciated it, but there's nothing like putting on the headphones and listening to Tim's voice.

Spending A Little Too Much Time in the Tresemme Hair Salon?

Thanks again to Voice Less.

Good Morning!

Thanks, Voice Less!

You Know You've Watched Too Much Project Runway When...

... you're reading the news, come across this headline:

Rice Admits U.S. Underestimated Hamas Strength, and think....

"What the h*ll has Santino done now?"


Thanks PhillyKat. Any more?

Project Runway Producers Take Note!

BPR readers have designed some wonderful challenges. Find them all here!

The Lull

Oh when will Wednesday night arrive? Until then here are some things to keep us busy: First be sure to check out the famous Recap Digest of Episode #8 "Inspiration." I've been adding to these regularly. Did I miss anyone?

Next is the transcript of Tim's podcast of Episode #8.

Then the always-fun Observations and Speculations about this week's episode.

Last, this post about immunity is generating a lot of discussion - Keep it coming!

Maybe These Will Help.

Maybe not. We can see little glimpses of the garments from this week's challenge in these screencaps. By the way, Nick and Santino both look great in pink... It takes a big man to wear pink you know...

ETA: Is anyone else tired of the Elle cover of Alicia Keys? Hopefully they'll switch it for a new one soon!


Thanks Katey! Be sure to check out Katey's blog for an article about Diana!

Notice Anything New?

I wanted to be certain that animato knows how much I appreciate the asterisk!

LK

A Limerick

Okay, this one is a little contrived - but still fun!


There once was a fellow named Emmett.
Whose dress, Slowey chose to condemn it.
It showed Shannon’s tootie
So he got the bootie
His pink shirt? Yes, Chloe did gem it.

Fair Warning....

Okay, last warning to all - Starting on Wednesday I am no longer going to allow any anonymous comments. I'm sorry that one or two people have caused me to have to do this, but I can't take chance at anyone "spoiling" our fun on Wednesday night.

So, everyone, please register. Remember, this doesn't mean you have to start your own blog. You don't even have to make your e-mail address public. You'll get to choose a fun user name. It only takes a minute.

Meanwhile, just to offer "full disclosure" here: For this week I will re-allow (is that a word?) anonymous comments on Thursday. Turn them off on Wednesday, turn them back on on Thursday. But I'm not saying I'll do that every week. I'm just going to try it this week.

Understand that I'm trying to make this a positive experience for everyone.

Those of you who have recently registered with Blogger, please reassure anyone who has reservations about this - thanks!

Nick, Brenda and David

I crossed my fingers and suggested to Nick and David that it would be nice to have a photo of the "two of them with Brenda in the dress" - and voila! Look what was in my in-box this morning! Thanks Guys! Best of all, there is a great article on
Nick's blog about how this all came together.

Yes, it reminds us of the Nicky Hilton dress because Brenda saw the episode and contacted Nick about making a similar dress especially for her.

Also, I watched the SAG awards and Brenda was sttanding next to Eva Longoria and I was like "Whoa!... Brenda's really tall!" Well, according to Nick, she is 6'4" in the heels that she was wearing. Please check out Nick's blog entry for great information about the jewelry that Brenda is wearing as well as the fate of the dress!

More Santino News

There's an article about Santino in today's New York Post. It's in the TV Week Section on page three.


‘Runway’rebel

Prickly designer Santino Rice alienates judges

By DEBORAH STARR SEIBEL

“THE judges may think that I’m just the most arrogant person that they’ve ever encountered,” says “Project Runway”’ s Santino Rice. The 30- year-old designer came into Bravo’s red-hot reality competition with a scorched-earth strategy, vowing to leave the 15 other designers in his pile of trimmings.

But his combative stance with the judges has hurt him as well. Though Rice has won two challenges he has also come close to being voted off twice. Rice is the only contestant who’s always ready to rumble with the judges.

“I thought he was going to kill me,” says one of them, Elle fashion director Nina Garcia. Rice went off on Garcia when she told him that his “Heidi’s Homeland” lingerie collection, which featuring highly embellished lederhosen shortshorts, “not aesthetically pleasing.” Says Garcia, “What you didn’t see on the air was that the fight went on for 90 minutes. I thought he was going to jump from the stage and choke me to death because I didn’t like his design. It was ugly. Everybody agreed it was ugly.”

Rice stands by his vision. “It was humorous and sexy and had a bit of a fetish element,” he says. (Garcia later lambasted him for designing an ice-skating outfit that was festooned with feathers.) “When they said, ‘It’s not even comfortable,’ I’m like, ‘Well, what does that have to do with anything?’ That’s like saying, ‘Is it flame retardant?’ When did that become part of the competition? If you didn’t like my kooky idea, then don’t pick the kooky idea.”

But even Rice, who lives in Los Angeles, admits to cringing as he watches his performance at home. He’s embarrassed by some of the snide comments he has made about the other contestants.

In one particularly memorable aside during the lingerie challenge, Rice, teamed up with Emmett and Nick, dissed a competing team made up of Marla, Diana and Guadalupe. On the air, he said, “Those three are so f—-ing lame. They’ve never had sex in their lives.”

Now, months after finishing the monthlong “Runway” shoot in New York, Rice regrets his remarks.

“I said, ‘Oh, man. How could I say that?’” He explains that the three women “were talking about what’s sexy and it was this really weird conversation and I was getting really annoyed. But it doesn’t justify my saying something like that.”



The article continues - Please check the NYPost for the rest. I just wanted to include the part about regretting the unkind things he said about our girls!

Beautiful Brenda

Here is a link to more images of Brenda Strong at the SAG Awards. (Just do a search for Brenda Strong.) This is a gorgeous color on her, Nick. She looks fabulous!

J'Adore The Manolo

Have I mentioned how much I admire
The Manolo? I consider him (as many bloggers do) to be my mentor.

He gave me the most excellent advice for BPR, which I will pass on. He advised me to post frequently and to aim to "amuse." I think of this every day. He also sent me some valuable encouragement when I really needed it.

Thanks Manolo!

Observations and Speculations

Did anyone pick Daniel to win last week? I was just looking through everyone's "speculations" for last week's episode and I didn't notice anyone picking Daniel. I guess everyone was surprised. Pleasantly surprised of course!

It's a little bit early for speculation about next week's episode. But I have some great observations coming in already. First, we can expact some kind of a garden theme - that's pretty clear. BUT there is a preview that aired after the last episode which shows the designers in the workroom and you can see the bags from Mood and there is definitely fabric on the mannequins. We can also see some plant material - sort of long grassy stuff on the tables. So it apears that these garments will be constructed of some combination of fabric and natural material.

Also, we see brief glimpses of each designer in the workroom and they certainly seem to be working individually. No team challenge this week. Definitely not.

Another observation which has been made is that since we saw the models in full hair and make-up (leftover from the Ice Skating Challenge)during the famous walk-off, it is apparent that the model-picking is done (at least in this case) fairly soon after the runway show. So why all the pretense at the start of the show with the sun rising and Zulema waking up and doing the dishes - THEN going to the model-picking...???? It appears that the designers change clothes and freshen up a little, but there must not be enough time for the models to get totally out of make-up.

Okay now HOW AWKWARD was that scene in the "Tresemme room" after Zulema is "Aufed?" Even Tim says "Quiet room...it's getting more intense...." Is this because Zulema took Tarah? Did we see any anti-Zulema indications before this episode? Wow that was stressful. I hope no one else trades models.

So, your turn for speculation. Who will win this week? Who will be out? Who does Nina say, "I'm not impressed any more" to? Whose model "...looks like a doormat?"

And, most important, who knows the room number of the girls' apartment?

LK

A Very Important Question:

Are any BPR readers attending Fashion Week in any capacity - like even as a caterer - anything? I'd love to have an on-the-scene-reporter! How about it?

More Daniel Love

I have a son named Dan - and he hates to be called "Danny." So I wondered about Daniel Vosovic. Does he also prefer Daniel? And, I had to satisfy Jan's curiosity about the tattoo. Here is Daniel's response:

Laura,
To address your questions regarding what I'd preferred to be called, I'd have to say "Daniel". For some unknown reason Heidi opted to call me "Dan" and "Danny" in the last episode and I think it kind of opened the doors for the variations, but unless you're one of two women in my life (my sister and/or my old HS friend) "Danny" will you usually never merit a response from me!

Oh, and the tattoo(s)... well, the arm one is a tribal design I created I think when I was...18 give or take? I must admit that it was a bit of a gut reaction to retiring from gymnastics; After 12 long years of very tight, restrictive competition, always looking presentable and professional I think I wanted to do it simply for the fact that I could! You can see the transformation take place: crew-cut to shag, baby-faced to tattoos, and the ability to eat pizza and other junk food without worrying about a diet! I have a design in the works actually to take it down to a half sleeve, incorporating a family crest and a needle and thread into one harmonious design - but for something that's permanently on your body you better love it! I also have another one on my back that I share with my older sister - we're extremely close and it very much represents our love for one another.

Lastly (wow this is becoming long, I apologize), the reason I don't have a website up and running is simply the fact that I haven't yet compiled all the ingredients! I just graduated in June and with side projects/photo shoots/lack of money - c'mon I have student loans - everything must wait it's turn but rest assured that it is very much in the works and will be nothing short of gorgeous when it's finished!

I hope, for the moment, this satisfies the seemingly unquenchable thirst for personal information, though I offer myself up not only graciously, but willingly. Thank you for the overwhelming support and for this opportunity Laura.

Sincerely yours,
Daniel xx

A Note From Daniel Vosovic

I suppose that Tim must have forwarded a link to BPR to Daniel Vosovic because I received this note from him tonight!

Dear Laura,
I've heard through the grapevine that you've been hard pressed to find any information about me, is this true my dear? Are the 12 dedicated "Dan-Fan's" pounding at your door asking for more becoming unbearable - Haha! I was sent your website and must admit that I am very impressed with the way your run your tight ship of a blog - sharp and spotless clean with NO potty talk! (Sorry for the sailor mouth in some of the episodes - I just get so worked up sometimes!)

Anyways, I wanted to drop you a line to let you know that I am very much alive and doing well. Feel free to contact me if you'd like to ask any questions - though why people find me "fascinating" or "hot" is beyond me; A mid-westerner whose pasty-white, gangly and skinny with shaggy hair and a big nose - if THOSE don't say requirements for the next poster boy than I don't know what does!
Nevertheless, I'm here if you need me.
Sincerely,
Daniel Vosovic xx



No, I'm not giving out his e-mail address. : )

Did You Know?

There is a new feature on the Bravo site where we can ask the designers a question. Presumably, they will present these during the reunion episode. Let's send in some interesting questions!

Meanwhile, here's something fun from Scarlett: Copy and paste!



http://i1.tinypic.com/ms2nbq.gif

http://i1.tinypic.com/msbudx.gif

A Note From Tim Gunn!

Dear Laura,

I must first thank Chloe Dao and Emmett McCarthy for turning me on to your incredible blog. Second, I must thank you and your collaborators for taking on such an ambitious enterprise. Your blog is beautifully designed and structured, and the content is brilliantly written and utterly hilarious! As I write this, I'm still wiping away tears from laughing so hard.

Many thanks for watching the show and for turning your viewing into a new dimension of Project Runway entertainment. Bravo!

Warmest regards,

Tim

I think I'm going to cry!

Some Danny Love

This one is from Mike:

On my TV there is a hottie named Dan
Designing and executing his master plan
He has the competition wrapped up
Other contestants reduced to a mere hiccup
Heidi better not "auf" my man!


This one is from Jan the Dan fan:

I love Dan.
This I do.
I love Dan.
And so should you!

This is from aj:


Daniel V has a knack for design.
His taste and skills are divine.
But if you want to get a slice,
Just ask Uncle Nick for advice,
Or simply buy him a large glass of wine

These are from Huda:

Of the four guys in 35D,
A hot one is our Daniel V.
With his hair he obsesses.
He makes fabulous dresses.
He's destined for the Final Three.


It's not hard to imagine, now, is it,
Faking a boo-boo so Daniel would kiss it?
A gentle kind man
Is our hip witty Dan.
Can we schedule a conjugal visit?

Episode #8 "Inspiration" Recap Digest

First our own Auntiemame
Fourfour
says Daniel's dress looks more like a garlic bulb!
Tvsquad
Dan Renzi
Media fiends
Orwell Project
Reality Shack
Delight (Don't miss the link to some more Daniel love...)
Deb
Mags
Banter Basement
Velvet-sea
Needs Inspiration
Totes Umbrellas
Blending In
The Manolo

Update

Good morning everyone,

I'll be back later with the episode #8 recap digest. in the meantime, please continue to enter your submissions to the Design a Challenge. We have some GREAT entries so far. You all are amazingly creative!

Dan fans, I hope you are composing your odes to Dan today. Remember to e-mail these to kluless7@cox.net.

If you haven't had a chance to read Auntiemame's hilarious recap of the "Inspiration" episode please check it out. We are very fortunate to have this talented writer here at BPR.

If you want to add one of our conversation hearts to your profile the instructions are here. If you're having trouble with this, post your issues in the comment section and I'll try to get help.

Last, I understand that there is a Project Runway marathon today, so it's a good day to record everything in sequence. I might actually get to see the commercial about "immunity."

Later!
LK

Interview With Marla

Hi Laura- I will take the time to answer your questions now! Things are a bit more calm. I am in LA at the moment...


1. Have you been watching the show? Enjoying it? Do you watch with friends? Have a party?


Yes, I have been watching the show. It's not the same as being part of it and knowing what goes on behind the scenes. The aired show is such a small part of the experience. And the way it is edited definitely skews things. I think they take things about each one of us and turn us into characters, and manipulate us a bit. In the end, it is television. When I was on the show, I would get together with friends and organize parties around the show. Now I watch it with a few friends.


2. What was your favorite challenge? What was the most difficult?


My favorite challenge was the first one. I think I was more focused working in my own environment. Intimidation and self doubt had not set in yet. I usually get fabric first and then come up with an idea. On this challenge I actually knew what I wanted to create. It did not come out exactly how I wanted it to. I am planning to create my original idea. The dress has more fit to it. I think it will be very cool and sophisticated. I will need to hone my pattern making skills to get the fit I have in mind, but I am working on that!


3. What was the best thing about being on the show? The worst?


I think I really failed at the Nicky Hilton challenge. I don't feel great about a lot of what I created. Customers and friends have come into my store and pointed out so many things or ideas I could have used. I doubted myself a lot, which is so NOT how I am normally in my work. I am very intuitive and I make a lot of discoveries in the process of creating- the designs really unfold. I am pretty confident normally in my work. My clothes consistently sell in my market. I have done a variety of styles although I am mainly producing vintage inspired shirts. Production is such an effort and running a business takes so much of my energy away from being creative, that I have honed in on a few pieces that sell well. I am trying to add the hipper stuff to my business. I usually make things for myself that are cooler, but I don't always offer them to my customers. That is changing. By the way, I would not have liked the skating challenge- I think it would be hard to come up with something different. But I think the "Inspiration" challenge with Michael Kors sounded great- going around the city shooting things for inspiration. I am very visual. I may try that on my own.

The best thing about being on the show was being in the work room and doing the challenges and getting critiqued, even though it was not pleasant getting criticized. I know Santino attacked me for my attitude towards my "being self taught". Well, I realized that the challenges and the critiques are invaluable ways to grow, and that is what can happen in school. So I am trying to figure how to make the time to take some courses and still maintain my business.


5. Do you keep in touch with any of the other designers from the show?


I have spoken to Kara on the phone and seen her in NY a few times. I talk to Diana now and then. We went to see Emmett's new store location on Elizabeth St. It's a prime location! I popped in on John Wade at Marc Jacobs store, and I surprised Daniel Franco and stopped over to see him for a minute. I was shopping for fabric yesterday in LA and the owner told me 2 other guys from the show shop there, too- Nick and Santino. I thought it would be funny to run into them.

6. Do you think that you were fairly depicted on the show? Is it edited fairly?


I don't want to make any excuses for my performance on the show. I think I was fairly inhibited, which is so different from how I usually am and how I was in my audition interview. I remember Tim once said to me it seems like I was holding back and I think that was true. And whether you like my style or not, I sure didn't show it much! I do think they turn us into caricatures of ourselves. I think the editing is not always fair- I liked what Diana and I created, and our window was fun and we got lots of strong responses, but of course that was not shown because it would not support the outcome- our getting axed. So that is pretty crummy. I glanced at a blog yesterday and someone was saying that Tim said on his podcast that he begged me not to take my dossier to the store. I have zero recollection of that- he certainly never begged me. So if he did say that, I am wondering if Tim is cooking stuff up with the producers of the show to make things more meaty and fuel people's responses. If I had a total blackout of that incident, then I apologize to Tim.


7. What would you like the readers of BPR to know about Marla Duran?


I realize that I acted uncertain and doubted my particular style of designing in the midst of the PR process. I feel pretty confident in much of my work abilities. I think I have a great eye for detail and fabrics. Some of what I create is fun and wearable, and satisfies the needs of some great, accomplished women. Some of what I create is more hip. For example, I use unique new fabrics that I purchase at Premiere Vision, a fabric show in Paris I occasionally attend. I am comfortable with who I am. I set new goals for myself now and then. A goal I had was to be able to support myself and my son on my design business. I met that goal. My son is grown and now I have some freedom and flexibility to redirect myself in the marketplace. I hope I use the criticism that was given to me constructively!


Well, Marla is refreshingly humble isn't she? And NICE. I'll bet the younger designers could learn a few things from her. In fact, I'm sure that some of them did!

Thanks again, Marla.

Questions for the Computer-literate

1. See the post above. See how the lines break? What causes this? When I am writing it (in edit mode) the paragraphs are normal paragraphs. Even in "compose" everything looks normal. Then I press "publish" and everything goes wonky. I thought it might be because I "boldened" the typeface but when I canceled the "boldness" it was still like this. Marla's responses were from her e-mail which has a narrower field. Is this the problem?

2. I have a lot of long posts. How do I start the post on this page and then "click here to continue?"

Thanks all!

ETA: Okay, I tried the formatting change. Now everything is in one long paragraph. Still, in the Edit or Compose mode, it looks like I want it - with normal reasonable spacing - the numbers on the left, etc.

I still haven't tried the notepad option. OKAY - now I tried the pasting everything to Word and then hitting the "destination format" option. It worked, but I had to do everything over. Next time, I'll know. Thanks!

Anyone have an answer to question #2? I'm just determined to make BPR better!

Confirmation

Sorry, I wasn't totally positive about the rumor that Tarah had a Maybelline contract so I took the reference to it out of my post and sought confirmation.

Here it is - but the source (very very reliable) chooses to remain anonymous. (WOW, it's like I'm a journalist or something...)

Hello Laura:
You must have a good source for your rumours because ______ did tell me that Tarah did get a Maybelline contract for a supposed six figure amount plus she was in Macy's Holiday INC ad campaign(see December's Vogue towards the end of the magazine).........
Let's just say somebody doesn't need Project Runway to further their career...

That was my point exactly. Even if we lose Tarah next week, we can rest assured knowing that her beauty and charm have been recognized and she is on her way!

Now, I'm off to see if I still have the December Vogue.

Dianne's Photos Of Daniel's Dress Have Arrived!

Gorgeous! Thanks again Dianne!

About a Day and a Half

That's how long it took the very enterprising Nethra to create
these items featuring "Full Dan Fan."

So what's next?

You won't believe it!

Design a Challenge!

Okay, here's your chance to design a challenge for Project Runway. Well...actually for Blogging Project Runway.

Start with a witty title - then the challenge and the twist. Creativity counts.

Dan Fans - Now's Your Chance!

Okay, I've been spending a little too much time at the computer today. Here is your assignment: Please write up your homage to Daniel Vosovic. (I always hear Heidi pronouncing "Vosovic.") Start at the top of his ponytail and take it wherever you like - nothing vulgar of course - you know me by now. The aim is to amuse.

Send your essay in an e-mail (not a comment - we'll add those after) to kluless7@cox.net and I'll post them here this weekend.

Extra points for poetry and I LOVE limericks. Have fun!

I can't keep this going without all of you!

More Candy

This top one is for aj.



























Thanks again Scarlett!

How To Add Heart to Your Profile -

Laura,
Sure! If they want to use the images I created, (and are already hosted), do the following:
1. 'Right click' on the desired photo. A box will pop up.
2. At the bottom, find 'properties' and 'left click' on it. A box will pop up.
3. In the middle, you see the URL address. Highlight it and copy.
4. Go to the Blogger 'dashboard' and click on 'Edit Profile.'
5. Find the heading 'Photograph' and paste the URL here.
You can also make your own hearts at this address:
http://www.acme.com/heartmaker/
Remember if you make your own heart, you need to save the picture to your computer. (Right click and 'save picture as') then they need to host it somewhere. A good place to host pictures (and have a small URL) is tinypic.com.


Thanks Scarlett!

For Anonymous

Anonymous wanted to know how long it took to film the series. So, I thought "Hmmmmmm.... I'll ask Emmett..."

By the way, I often write to people who don't respond. I wrote to Anne Slowey and asked her what a tootie was.

She hasn't responded yet.

I'm waiting.

Emmett is much nicer. Could I have a conversation heart for Emmett? It could say EMC2.

Edited to add: Thanks Scarlett!

Anyway - here is Emmett's response:

Dear Laura:
The entire filming of the series was from June 1st to July 2nd....
......
Hope you have a nice weekend.
warm regards,
Emmett

Ready to Commit?

Yes, we're down to the wire here, there are six designers left. I think it's time we showed our allegiances.

The Scarlett has devised these little candy heart icons for us. Aren't they great?

I thought it would be fun to add these to our profiles. Just temporarily - and feel free to change them as often as you like. It will be great to see all of the places they show up.

More to come - Thanks Scarlett!

Notice Anything New?

Here is a Link to Malcontent's Many Faces of Andrae

Andre has the most gorgeous smile!

Immunity?

Do I understand this correctly? The winner of the next challenge wins immunity? And the challenge will be to construct something out of twigs and leaves? Arghhhhh!

Why couldn't immunity be offered for the "Inspiration" challenge? That would make a lot more sense. Putting together an outfit from flowers or nature or whatever might be fun and interesting but it is so far into the season... It seems like a rather arbitrary place to bring in immunity. Doesn't it?

Oh I can see the scene now - the designers suddenly getting serious - fighting for immunity - working with vines and flowers. It could be a fun challenge if it were earlier in the season and immunity wasn't at stake. At this point it feels - just contrived. Like "We want the designers to take this ridiulous challenge seriously so we're going to attach immunity to it." And what do you want to bet that they don't hear about the immunity until AFTER they've collected their leaves?

You've all been entering your choices and NO ONE has picked Kara. What if Kara wins the twigs and leaves challenge? What if she somehow has a special talent for this?

Perhaps this is supposed to make the show more interesting and oh so exciting, but frankly, it just seems (to quote Marla) "Stupid."

Why don't the producers ever ask ME for ideas?

: )

Something Fun

Here's a screencap from Katey at TotesUmbrellas. Let's try to figure out what it says on the chalkboard!

"35D lives on."

Do I read "Norman Norell, No way in hell...?"

"Making it blue will no longer do."

"You can always call a walk-off."

ETA: Click on photo to enlarge.

Be sure to visit the Bravo site!

Be sure to visit the Bravo site for some recently-added features. First, Tim is finally answering the questions that we have been submitting. Second, Andy's blog has a very interesting interview with Chloe.

Which Three?

There are six designers left. How many 3-person combinations can be made from the six names? Who do you think will be in the final three? Pick a number : ) Did I forget anyone?

Andrae
Chloe
Daniel
Kara
Nick
Santino

1. Andrae, Chloe, Daniel
2. Andrae, Chloe, Kara
3. Andrae, Chloe, Nick
4. Andrae, Chloe, Santino
5. Andrae, Daniel, Kara
6. Andrae, Daniel, Nick
7. Andrae, Daniel, Santino
8. Andrae, Kara, Nick
9. Andrae, Kara, Santino
10. Andrae, Nick, Santino
11. Chloe, Daniel, Kara
12. Chloe, Daniel, Nick
13. Chloe, Daniel, Santino
14. Chloe, Kara, Nick
15. Chloe, Kara, Santino
16. Chloe, Nick, Santino
17. Daniel, Kara, Nick
18. Daniel, Kara, Santino
19. Daniel, Nick, Santino
20. Kara, Nick, Santino

Update

Auntiemame's recap is up! Click here!


Also, remember the Kara Saun dress on eBay? The auction ends in a couple of hours, so if you're interested - get your bid in. If any of my readers wins the dress, please let us know.

Next, I just noticed that my counter went over 100,000 today. Now, that is not unique visitors, but it's still a lot. Some of you have admitted to checking in 10 times a day (Tina) another claims she checks "evey hour." Another tells me she checks in "about a thousand times a day." : ) So, I feel sure that I have a small but loyal following of devoted Project Runway fans. Thank you for sharing this obsession. I feel like we are all friends.

Now, that leads to my next, more difficult announcement. I adore almost all of my commenters. But I've had a small anonymous few who aren't always polite. I might - MIGHT - have to shut out anonymous comments in the near future if things don't improve. So, I want to encourage everyone to register with blogger. It only takes a second. It seems like you are registering to start your own blog (and you do have that option) but it's really just registering so that you can comment. There's no personal or financial information required, it's super easy. So, please register - and besides it's really fun to pick out a user name!

Thanks again for reading Blogging Project Runway!

Inspired?

Good morning! I'm finally watching the "Inspiration" episode. The "Walk-off" was not really all the drama I imagined it would be. It just seems....sad.... Really sad.

By the way, I was really floored when Heidi said, "Alright Zulema, you picked Tarah, that means Rachael will be now Nick's model." HUH? Anyone else surprised? Of course, now I'm expecting Rachael (and Nick) to show a renewed determination.

Instead, I'm seeing Nick kind of pouting as he goes through the motions of taking his photos. Come on Nick - Suck it up - you've got work to do!

Okay - now everyone hates Zulema - it's like Wendy in the Post Office episode. Zulema is the outcast. Well, what did she expect? She had to know this would upset at least Nick and Tarah. But she did what she needed to do to improve her situation.

Anyway, Tim has come in and announced that the designs have been "Lackluster" up until this point. THANK YOU for saying so, Tim. I've felt the same way.

No, Nick! Don't give up, think of your fans!

Now they're at MOOD - always one of my favorite parts of any episode - Oh hello, that is Austin's fabric, Santino. Didn't you watch the first series? I can't believe that Tim would say something so unkind about Rachael. Wow - that was harsh, Tim.

Now they're in the workroom and I notice that Nick has added a little bit of booty padding to his form...

Awwwww.... Daniel is so sweet. Danny V, where are you?!?!?

Now Zulema is admitting that she would switch models again.

Back in the workroom Santino is doing his Timpression.... Okay, now THIS is my favorite part - the workroom. I LOVE watching the actual cutting, sewing, pinning and draping. Thank you producers for showing more of this than you ever did last year.

Why suddenly does Zulema have problems with "Time Management?" Isn't she the one who emphatically claimed that she "Always met her deadline."

Okay, wait - the three guys are lined up on the couch and Nick says "I wanted to cut her..." THIS is my favorite part. Please watch the bonus video of this entire exchange because one comment is completely out of context. Nick is saying that the MODEL'S attitude on the runway should be "You wanna f*** me? Well, you can't." On the program, it sounds like Nick is saying this about Zulema.

Does Zulema sleep in her clothes? That's okay Zu. Sometimes I do that too.

Wow, models can TALK?!?!? Just kidding. It is really refreshing to hear the model's opinions of things.

Wait?!?! Was that a Timpression? "Andre...your dress doesn't have a back on it!" Excellent!

Of course we have the usual semi-nude shots of the models getting dressed. Always a highlight....

Runway time: Okay, THIS is my favorite part. Andre's dress (gown) is first...FABULOUS! Actually Andre is fabulous. I was really really impressed with him last week. (Did anyone even notice that I didn't post my impressions of last week's episode? I was so concerned with everything else that I never got around to it...) There is a photo of this dress on the Bravo site but it does NOT do this dress justice. Andre is a master of the bias-cut. Wow. And using the photo of gutter-water as the inspiration shows even more brilliance. This design sums up the challenge perfectly. How did he make this in ONE DAY? How is Daniel going to top this? We'll see....

Kara's model has a STUNNING figure.

Santino's design looks a little sloppy and unflattering. And with Austin's design in my head....well....I'm not too impressed with this....sorry.

Okay, Daniel's design is strikingly original. Have I mentioned that I love Rebecca?

Here comes Grace. The fabric looks stiff. I guess when your inspiration is a building - that's to be expected.

Here comes Rachael with her slinky and delicious walk...and even a hint of a smile...for a change. Marshmallow indeed!

Now, Zulema's dress on Tarah. Suddenly I'm more interested in how Tarah is working it than I am in the actual design.... The dress is... red...Tarah looks great and Zulema looks...pleased. Actually I like this dress - and Tarah is gorgeous.

Okay now the judges are agreeing with me on Chloe's dress being "hard." Chloe - you look gorgeous tonight!

Jay?!?! Where's the snark?!?!? Come on?!?!?

Nina is telling Zulema that this is the third time she has seen her designs and every time there is an "execution problem."

Okay it's totally funny how everyone seems so surprised that Santino has used Austin's fabric. Hello? Couldn't anyone see this while he was working on it? Surely the producers knew. Surely Tim knew.

The judges are debating. Michael is a "Full Dan fan!" Love it. How long before Cafe Press comes out with products featuring this line?

Well, you know the rest. Daniel wins and Zulema is out.

Preview of next week - okay THIS is my favorite part.

For the first challenge on Project Catwalk in the UK, the designers had to fashion garments from stuff they found at a flower store. It looks like something similar next week for "Flower Power."

Auntiemame's Recap of Episode #8 "Inspiration."

Previously: We learned the word "tootie."

What? There was other stuff?

Okay, fine. The designers made skating outfits for
cute-as-a-button Olympian figure-skater Sasha Cohen,
who has strangely lurid taste for one so young. Andrae
starred in his own dramatic gay-designer-fixit man
movie, "Brokedown Overlock Machine." Emmett, whose
elegant nature-inspired design was deemed boring by
the judges, was out for not having much imagination,
while Zulema's design -- a riff on the venn diagram
where subatomic string theory meets pedophiles who
like little girls not wearing very much -- was in for
leaving nothing to the imagination. Much to our
chagrin, we were reintroduced to annoying and
irrelevant Elle fashion editor Anne Slowey, who hates
"tootie," of which she has one, but has
infinite love for split ends, of which she has
many. But that was all nothing when we weighed
it against our overwhelming expectations for this
week, when Zulema gets her long-awaited walkoff, Jay
comes back to judge, and we get more of Santino's
brilliant Timpressions!

Onwards. The show opens with sepia-like shots of New
York - waterfront, buildings, prostitutes trolling in
DUMBO.wait, not the last one. I guess that's implied.
We go from sepia to AAAAARGH as we zoom to the suite
and see Hausfrau Zulema, in fuzzy slippers, a white
muumuu and big white towel on her head, looking about
one inch away from barefoot and pregnant. She
interviews that she's happy with the win, but she
doesn't want to get sidetracked. I have trouble
believing she hasn't already been sidetracked, unless
being filmed slobbing around in a muumuu was part of
her original plan. Santino, who since last week has
been grabbing pairs of animals and living things to
fill his Redemption Arc, is thankfully wearing street
clothes as he interviews frankly that his last design
was horrible and he's not taking any chances this
time. "I'm going to do my best and see where it gets
me," he says, and I love Santino, but I have to say
this thought is long overdue from him.

The designers meet Heidi at the runway to get their
instructions for the next challenge. She is wearing a
brown dress with those intergalactic Star Trek
shoulder wings in a complementary color, and her hair
is pulled back with a rake-y headband, and generally
gives the impression that she is about to bear Captain
Kirk's child.

The Zulema Show begins. Zu is given the option to stay
with her model, Rachel, or take Shannon, Emmett's
model. Zu, eyes glittering mad with power behind her
crazy cat-lady sunglasses, can barely contain
herself as she says "I today am going to choose to
change models." I today? It must be the runway,
because she didn't talk like that only fourscore and
seven years ago, she was wearing a fuglacious muumuu.
Daniel V., who is looking impossibly hotter each and
every week, interviews in the preview clip heard
'round the world, "It was a motherf****ing walkoff!"
He delivers it with a little head shake and a cute
attitude that makes me think this what Daniel V. must
be like in real life, as opposed to the drugged and
mostly silent creature he is on the show. Back to Zu.
She is wearing earrings that are roughly the size of
Saturn's moons.

The models walk. They pretend to be handicapped.
Danyelle looks bored and walks like she's affecting a
club foot. Tarah slumps her shoulders and throws her
body around sloppily on the turn, although even this
will not foil Zulema's evil plan. Shannon, who has the
best chance of being out, walks for her life and looks
sharp. Zu chooses Tarah, who frowns, and then Zu turns
back to say she's sorry to Nick, who gives her a
grief-stricken "bitch, please" look. Rachel looks
crazy sad behind her crazy Tammy Faye Bakker eye
makeup, and Nick interviews that he felt like he was
going to throw up. Nick theorizes that Zu always knew
she wanted Tarah, and snarks that she just did the
walkoff for drama. Remember this as Nick recreates the
entire plot of an unnamed Greek tragedy in this
episode.

Zu interviews meanly that she changed models because
Rachel CANNOT WALK. The same Rachel she told us before
was hunchbacked. One of my friends has a favorite
quote that goes, "the man who is brutally honest
enjoys the brutality just as much as the honesty."
That's your Zu, right there. Nick interviews that
Rachel was very angry, and looking at him like, "I
can't believe this bitch did this." To which Zu
interviews to an absent Nick, "do a good job and NEXT
WEEK YOU CAN TAKE HER BACK." Thanks, Pepper.

The designers go to visit Michael Kors at his studio,
which we last saw when he was outfitting the Apprenti. The
theme is inspiration. Kors talks about the inspiration
for his latest line, who is one Doris Duke, the
heiress who moved to Hawaii and married a surfer. Kors
says that inspired him to think of Hawaiiana in the
40s, and wonder, if Doris Duke is around today, what
would she pack? Hmm.You be the judge:
http://gonewengland.about.com/od/
dorisduke/ss/aadorisdukeclth_4.htm

Kors shows them a color board, and it looks the
Pantone color chart for Fug. Andrae nods intensely and
looks strangely hot. Michael Kors hands out cameras so
they can take pictures of New York for inspiration.
They are uniformly horrified at this, and, look,
you're not really going to run into those prostitutes
in DUMBO, okay? Besides which, I'm pretty sure Marla
is making their clothes these days. Kara is so stupid
right now. She looks like she's watching a car
accident. What did the editors not show us? Did Kors
ask them to beat puppies and drown kittens?

The designers snap pictures. Nick, Kara and Chloe take
pictures together. Santino and Zulema go on their
own. Zulema is wearing a tied yellow cotton top over a
white tank top, and it looks like she stole Big Bird's
swaddling cloth. Daniel and Andrae walk together,
because Andrae has not yet given up on getting into
Daniel's pants. Santino lies on his back to get a
picture of a wrought-iron gate and also photographs
some nicely color-coordinated graffiti. Chloe says
she takes her inspiration from buildings and lines
and stuff and doesn't want to "mess with people." I
find it annoying that she says that. I think too many
of the designers this season are open about not being
able to relate to people. And this goes back to Anne
Slowey's "tootie" comment and Michael Kors' horror at
last year's "boobies." If you can't deal with people
and their bodies, and can't find any beauty in them,
then don't go into a profession where you have to make
clothes for them or tell them what to wear, okay? Go
design buildings or make widgets.

Kara, in one of her most tiresome speeches, says she
was compelled by a "Danger! No trespassing" sign. I
can't believe that Kara is that banal. She sees New
York and thinks it is all about restrictions. Is she
counting the strait jacket she is destined to wear?
She calls NYC a "crazy, crazy place," and she says
"crazy" like she does in the credits, so: shut up,
Kara.

Zulema, walking down the street is inspired by a
large woman in traditional red-and-yellow African red
dress, and I have to admit the woman looks awesome.
Nick is inspired by a fabric design involving a cross
surrounded by swirls. Nick, trying to work through the
model issue at all times, implies that karma
will get Zu. Yes, that's what the song says. Either
karma or rhythm is gonna getcha. The designers start
to head back. Andrae is in awe at the picture of the
woman flipping Santino off. "How'd you get
that?" he marvels. Yeah, that must never
happen.

Daniel V.'s inspiration is an orchid. Because no one
in the history of art of fashion has ever looked at a
flower, and thought, "that is pretty! That inspires
me!" Andrae picks a picture of gutter water in the
sunlight and interviews, "I like to take something
that's humble or lowly and ugly and apply the charm
gun to it." That's funny, because he did exactly the
opposite last week. Nick says despondently that he's
more inspired by his models than anything. Nick?
We get it. We see Nick looking petulant, and he
interviews that his mood made it difficult to focus.
Jesus H. Christ. Get this boy a Prozac.

Tim comes into the workroom and tells them it's time
for some tough love. This is exactly the opposite of
what he always tells Emmett, which is usually about
tender, tender love. Then Tim says what we have all
been screaming in our heads for the past 7 episodes:
that the designers' work has been lackluster, and they
really need to wake up. This part is so good, they
play it twice, once before and once after the
commercial break. He tells Daniel that he always
excites him in the early phases (too easy? Yeah, too
easy.) but loses momentum and falls short of his
potential. He tells Chloe that if she doesn't push the
envelope and step out of her comfort zone that people
will say she's one note. (I guess those people are me.
For the past four weeks.). He tells Zulema that she
needs to take risks, which she takes as an opening to
launch into a speech on time management. Tim
interrupts her and says, fabulously, "the judges don't
care." Also, Zulema is a hypocrite, because she
informed us early on that she never misses a deadline.
She also never misses a chance to make a broad
generalization that is also false.

Tim goes on. Kara has not won a challenge, and needs
to do work that you can't buy on Madison Ave.
Actually, I think JC Penney is on Queens Boulevard.
Tim tells Santino that he, alone, is in serious
jeopardy, and Santino interviews (tearfully?) that Tim
is right. Tim tells Nick and Andrae that they need to
be ambitious. Nick gets all snotty and
ghetto-unfabulous in an interview and says he has been
ambitious, and that Tim's comment is just a slap. It's
good to see that Nick can take criticism like an
adult.

Nick later pouts that Tim's criticism was last straw,
and he's over it and over the whole show, and a part
of him just wants to be done with it and he's taking
his marbles and emptying his sandbox and going home.
And I know they're tired and the exhaustion and
frustration is written on all their faces. But also:
dude, get it together.

The designers get $100 dollars and 30 minutes at mood.
Daniel's inspiration is Japanese sleekness. Tim says
that's exciting, because no one has ever thought
of doing Japanese sleekness before and also
because Tim is starting to auditon Daniel to be the
new Emmett. Dan picks out a pretty tweed and a
gorgeous champagne organza. Santino finds fabric with
the exact colors of the graffitti. Zu says once more
that she has time management issues, and then says to
Tim in her absolutist way, "I don't work with darks,"
as she contemplates a garish red fabric that has
nothing to do with the awesome African woman and
everything to do with a misdirected shipment from
Ugly-Ass MuuMuu R Us. We see a shop employee
hilariously scurry out of the shot at the cameraman's
urging.

Nick asks Tim for advice on color because he has to
design for a blonde model. Tim is surprised, and Nick
says, exactly as if he's five years old, "Zulema took
my model!" Mommy! Daddy! And then we see a really ugly
side of Tim as he goes really conspiratorial with Nick
and bitchy on poor Rachel, and says she's like an
elongated marshmallow with Gumby legs and is a stiff
walker. Honestly, now. Honestly. That is not
divine. And I also wonder at the undercurrent Tim is
supporting here, which is the assumption that
Rachel's poor modeling skills are okay for Zulema, but
a disaster for Nick?

Daniel V. says that he has a close relationship with
Nick, and he realized that the walkoff broke him down.
Nick whines yet again that he's done with the show,
and Daniel V. speechifies "go home because you deserve
to go home, not because of some technical detail." And
here it gets interesting. Nick says, "it's not just
that, and you know it. I don't want to be here."
Daniel says, "I know," and I wonder what they are
talking about, because it's about a 98% chance that
it's something we haven't seen. Nick interviews that
Daniel gave him a speech, snapped him back and read
him. As he leaves, Daniel says, I love you. Nick mews
back the same. Nick is re-energized and ready to show
what he can do.

The designers cut and work. Their fabrics, so far,
look awesome.

The designers eat falafel, and Zu sits apart. Like,
far apart. She's sitting in an armchair, eating alone
while the other designers eat around the table. It's
hard to tell whether they're freezing her out or
whether she's isolating herself. She interviews that
she doesn't understand the others, and they look at
her like they're watching her and they think she's
sheisty. "And I'm not sheisty!" she insists. Then,
sheistily, she says, "If I win tomorrow, I'm I'm
going to switch models, and if I win the next time,
I'll switch models again. And again and again." Yeah,
I wonder why they don't trust her.

In the suite that night, Santino, lying on the floor,
asks Nick if he is okay. Nick, still talking like
Martin Lawrence doing Shananay, which he seem to do
when he's annoyed, admits that he wanted to "cut"
Zulema after the model thing.

In the work room the next day, Santino does some
brilliantly hilarious Timpressions, all in a row:
"Daniel, I think what what you've created is
delicious. Designers, rock the casbah. Designers, up
until now, you've all f***ing sucked. However, go out
there and kick butt!" Daniel V. confesses that when
he's feeling down, he asks Santino to imitate Tim. I
would like to keep Santino on retainer. Tim walks in,
we get a needle-skipping sound from the editors, and
Andrae is, of course, horrified at the close call. I
personally think Tim heard Santino, and we will
address that shortly.

Tim marvels that Santino's design is in a different
zone. I guess he means out of the handicapped zone,
where Santino's design was parked last week. Tim,
seeing Kara's so-pathetic-it's-poignant design
involving police tape and some stretch fabric,
cautions Kara not to be literal-minded. That ship has
sailed, brother. He tells her there's a fine line
between being funny and being witty, and that very few
people can achieve the wit rather than being a joke.
He says this very loudly and very earnestly, and I
think this is a not-so-secret slam on Santino, because
you can just tell Tim is furious with his impotence
about stopping the Timpressions. But also, I think
this is the way Tim sees himself, as understated and
witty, and he likes to draw laughs, and I think it
drives him crazy that Santino draws more of them, and
at his expense.

Nick describes his design, which is bias cut, and Tim
freaks him out by reminding him how much of it depends
on his model, and all Nick can do is nod and agree
furiously, trying to desperately stop Tim from going
on, because come on: Nick knows this and the
boy is on the verge of a breakdown because of it, and
all Tim is doing is manifesting all of Nick's dark
fears right out loud, and Nick is going crazy trying
to stop it, and in some societies there are taboos
against mentioning the name of the devil, and this is
why.

And now, right here folks, is where Tim Gunn loses me
forever and ever.
Tim approves of Daniel V.'s design, and Dan makes some
vague flapping motions and says (highly bitchily) that
he can't stop touching his design, which is the result
of something he calls The Santino Effect. Tim says
with loud and incredible cruelty as
Santino is in the room , "don't get seduced
by the Santino Effect or we'll all
crash and burn." A. All of us? Really? And
2. Shut up, Tim. It gets worse when Tim,
in the most two-faced way possible, pretends to spot
Santino and says so fakely, "Oh Santino! You're
there! I meant it in the nicest possible way!" Which
is false, because Tim knew Santino was there, and now
Tim is openly playing favorites. Can't Tim pick on
somebody his own size? Why not pick a fight with
Michael Kors, who is roughly his age, rather than try
to break the spirit (repeatedly) of a designer who is
trying to find his way? Santino is crushed, and sadly
mutters, "this is how you talk about me when you think
I'm not around." And Tim, on a roll, cheaply lies
again and says "No." Tim has a sadistic streak.


The designers whine about the time constraints some
more, with Daniel V. calling it the Ironman Triathlon
of fashion. So are we going to see Daniel V. in a
form-fitting bodysuit? No?

Tarah whines that she didn't like Zu's dress or design
and that Zu smells and has cooties and kisses boys.

Tammy Faye Rachel, looking ridiculous with her Cabaret
transvestite eye makeup, says Nick is her favorite.
Rachel does a slinky walk and Nick falls all over
himself and her, yelling and jumping, "thank you thank
you thank you." I think he is thanking God more than
Rachel right now. Nick interviews that Rachel is "my
my new muse!" He doesn't add, but clearly implies,
"call me every five minutes!" Tarah, seeing this, runs
over to Nick in her undies, all, I never liked her,
I'm only pretending to be her friend because she
promised me brownies and see you at cheerleading
practice tonight.
As the designers scurry around the hair and makeup
room, we get a bonus Timpression: "Andrae, your
garment doesn't' have a back on it." Love. LOVE.

Time for judging. Heidi has stopped getting it on with
Captain Kirk and she is in a drapey top and has
windblown hair. She introduces the judges, which this
week includes superstar Jay from last year. Jay looks
exactly the same as always, but with a hat.

Andrae's design is the first, and it's actually pretty
gorgeous. It's in a flowy stormy-gray silk with
pebbly sparkles on one shoulder a sunny light blue
sash.

Kara's design is just as fatally dumb as we expected
from her workroom experience.

Santino's design is pretty, but looks like a less
constructed version of Austin's gorgeous Nancy O'Dell
gramy dress from last year. The skirt is gathered high
around the waist so you get a very medieval-virgin
sort of Empire line.

Daniel's is a poofy champagne organza top over a tweed
pencil skirt. It makes his model look like an apple on
a stick.

Chloe's design is a pleated top, a banded waist and a
slightly pleated bottom that flows out at an odd
angle. There are three or four sloppy bands of random
color. It's very Tootsie circa 1983.

Nick's is a draped top in black and white fabric that
is exactly the same as the top he designed for the BR
challenge. It has nothing to do with his inspiration
except that it is black and white.

Tara comes out in Zu's ugly red JC Penney dress.

Judging time. Nick greets his model with a smile and a
kiss. I guess his boo-boo is all better.

Heidi says with fake meanness that the first designer
she's going to grill is Daniel. Daniel explains his
design, which has gorgeous pleating around the waist.
Kors says he's happy she picked something genuinely
beautiful.

Jay says that Chloe's inspiration was really
geometric, while Chloe's design, not so much. Chloe
mutters something about time constraints - we haven't
heard that one yet! - and Jay says, "oh honey look,
I've been there, so don't tell me that." Nina concedes
the dress does not have to do with the inspiration,
but it's a nice dress. And here is where see once
again the Pimping of Chloe Dao, because the challenge
was not to create a nice dress, but one that had to do
with the inspiration. Offstage, Chloe pushes a baby
carriage into traffic and the judges think it's cute.

Kara, with wavering voice, starts littering the stage
with cow patties to the effect that New York is a
standoffish city, while I think, irritably, it was
apparently not standoffish enough to keep her out.
She adds that there are many signs that tell you
to "post no bulls." I think that's Pamplona, actually.
Jay calls her out and says her dress doesn't match her
talk. Kara says simplicity has its voice, and that
her dress speaks volumes. Yes, and it says "I have no
taste," and also, "post no bulls."

The judges like Andrae's dress,which Heidi says looks
expensive.

Nick says his inspiration was Paris Hilton, strolling
down the beach with her Greek boyfriend in Mykonos.
Which is funny, because move it to Capri and you have
the story for his Barbie design! And also: just
because Nicky didn't buy your chicle doesn't mean that
Paris will. Jay and Heidi scuffle irrelevantly about
the creation of fashion back-stories. It makes me sad
that their relationship is so on the rocks now.

Nina complains that Zu has three badly-constructed
designs so far. Kors says her design reminds him of
the trashy debutante in town in the red dress, whose
mom is a bad home seamstress. Zu flounders
pathetically, stopping and starting, and in one
stunning acrobatic move, almost blames it on Tim Gunn.
Nick smirks, obviously seeing Zu's struggle as karma.

Jay calls out Santino's design as the exact same dress
as Austin's Grammy Dress for Wicked Orange Witch of
the West Nancy O'Dell. Heidi complains that it looks
like the model is hiding a big butt. Michael Kors says
he knows people who could use that. This is why I like
Santino. Because his clothes are sometimes crazy, but
his silhouettes are Woman to the 1000th power, with
the big pannier hips and the crazy stick-out
bubble-butts, and the breasts that are supported by
actual fabric rather than being left to flap in
formless halters. Santino, in his head, is always
either designing for Marie Antoinette or the Venus of
Willendorf or that happily ba-dow! fat woman on the
beach at Rio, and I find that much more compelling
than trying to make all women look like the same
halter-dressed hipless non-breasted Stepford Wife that
Chloe, Nick and Emmett have been cooking up in a back
room using plant mucilage, a bunsen burner, and some
solvent. Santino points out that he is trying to do
better, and Kors says, "I find it hilarious that you
think that you're going to win this competition at any
point no matter how much you grovel," but he says it
in his head and out loud he says he tips his hat to
Santino for pushing himself past his usual thing.

The judges discuss. Chloe's is deemed to be too
unfinished. Kors goes off on Kara's design, deeming it
ridiculous that she gave a 45-minute explanation for a
tube dress with a piece of tape wrapped around it. I'm
saying. Kors also pronounces himself ready to scream
if he sees another fishtail hem. Me and you both,
brother. I'm really feeling Kors right now.
Jay likes Andrae's dress, or maybe his demeanor, and
Kors loses me by saying Daniel changed your eye and
changed the silhouette. Later he says that orchids and
water on the street are new and different things to
take your inspiration from, and once again I have to
turn on the Hubble telescope to see where Kors is
coming from. No one takes their inspiration from
orchids? Is he serious?

Kors pronounces himself a Dan fan, but it's no use:
Dan will never let you into his pants. Heidi wishes
that Santino had Santinoed his design up a bit more.
Oy.

The final decisions. Chloe and Nick are in, followed
by the winner, Daniel, who comes backstage and gets a
kiss from Nick - a real kiss, so that Chloe is
embarrassed and looks away. Andrae and Santino are in.
Zu is out, Kara's in. Nick is delighted to see Kara.
Zu is all John Waters in tight jeans and a sloppy
orange top. She says that she and the other designers
will stay in touch and that they are friends, which is
exactly the opposite of what the armchair scene would
have us believe.

Next week: another field trip, and hopefully, more
Timpressions for-evah! Auf Wiedersehen!

Early Recaps

First, click above for TotesUmbrellas very insightful recap. Remember Katey is the one who identified Austin's fabric a week ago!

Then, here is aj's promised recap:

And it begins…



Ooooh! I LOVE Nick’s sunglasses! I so want to go shopping with this man.



Anyway, we go almost immediately into the walk off. Rachel is not a happy camper. She looks truly shocked, and who could blame her?



“It’s a mother f**kin’ walk off!” I love that Daniel V. says this complete with his cheerleader hair.



Andrae makes the most priceless facial expressions! Case in point:


















This totally counts too:








So Rachel is Nick’s new model…I don’t know that anybody quite expected it to go down like that.



Well now that this drama is over, we move on to the Michael Kors Studio, where our designers find themselves being given yet another package. We open it and…



…cameras. Nice. At least it wasn’t ugly spandex and floofy pink shirts again. Oh, and the lack of a creepy mailman helped too. It’s a scavenger hunt b*tches! Oh, just kidding…it’s inspiration time b*tches.



I still love Nick’s sunglasses.
Fabulous, no?






So I took notes to remind myself what was especially worth noting while I watched last night, and I wrote down here that “Daniel V. is wonderful!” I don’t remember why, but he really is wonderful. Obligatory eye candy to prove my point:






So our designers take pictures of inspiration and Nick is getting sad. Poor Nick.



Hooray! Tim is here! Ooooh…it’s tough love time. And apparently Tim has been listening, saying that the designers have been lackluster. I’d say the challenges have been lackluster, hence the designers becoming lackluster by default, but whatever.



Tim says Chloe needs more depth. I’m thinking he’s inadvertently referring to her tendency toward turquoise…but that’s just me.



Nick is still making me sad. Like seriously.



And now we’re at Mood. DV is picking a stretch tweed fabric. I like it already. We get another shot of Santino’s inspiration picture along with his fabric. Santino’s inspiration & Austin Scarlett’s Grammy Dress. Happy or creepy coincidence? You decide.



So apparently Tim just heard what went down at the “mother f**kin’ walk-off” and he’s clearly put-off by it. A stretched out marshmallow, huh? Could that have anything to do with the fact that Rachel might be a tad pasty? There is nothing wrong with pasty blondes, Tim Gunn! We’re people too…



Okay, I have to say that Daniel V. giving Nick a pep talk is the most adorable thing to happen so far. Hold on, back up! Did DV just call Nick “babe”? If there is any making out involved this season, they had BETTER catch that on tape. Hold on, back up! “I love you”?! I think we all know that there is a battle going on in 35D for Daniel V’s affections and Nick is clearly beating the pack on this…



Well hell, our designers are eating! They aren’t cutting, sewing robots after all. Zulema is being anti-social and “sheisty”. Honey, I know sheisty and you are far passed that.



So, Santino doing his Timpression is by far the funniest thing to happen. Thank god for TiVo because my mom and I rewound it & watched it over twice! I literally thought Tim was talking to Daniel for a hot second until they showed Santino. Tears were in my eyes I was laughing so hard. It’s SPOT ON!



Tim’s revenge: The Santino Effect. Taking over the world faster then Global Warming.



Dang, Daniel V is turning into quite the sailor. Eff this and eff that. I kind of like it.



“For a minute, I wanted to cut her.” Let the ghetto out, Nick!



Daniel V and I will be your cheerleaders!



Tarah is in interview…and is STUNNING! She does NOT want to be with Zu now. Rachel is excited to be teamed with Nick. Hold on, back up! Uncle Nick is back! There is so much model love for him.






Onto the runway…



Andrae’s dress is first. And it’s gorgeous! I love it. It seriously looks like his picture but so much more beautiful then anything I could have imagined it turning out like.



Kara- seriously boring. It’s like “Caution, I have an STD.” That would be the only good reason I see to wear Caution Tape around your midsection.



Santino- Not his best and compared to Austin’s…not too good at all. At least he toned down the Santino Effect.



Daniel V- She looks like a flower! That would be the point, no? It’s wonderful!



Chloe- Not her best either. And it reminds me of Jay’s Chrysler Building dress, but not as good. Sorry folks…



Nick- Hello! Go Rachel! The top is gorgeous too. The detailing is stunning.



Zu- Blah, boring and uninspired. Poor Tarah :(



Okay, can we talk about the fact that any time they show a shot of Grace and Chloe next to each other I die a little inside from laughter? Hilarious!



Okay, Andrae is SO the dark horse of this competition. He could make final three so easy right now.



Everyone agrees that Zu and Kara were both uninspired but since Zu’s was ugly and unfinished, she’s dunzo. Peace out!



“I’m a full Dan Fan.”- Michael Kors. Like I said before. I want to start a teeny-bopper fan club, cuz hell, I’m a Full Dan Fan too!



Next week we have Flower Power, Tarah almost surely getting screwed out of this competition and Tim Gunn catches Santino doing a Timpression (thank goodness for a good sense of humor).

Tim's Podcast of Episode #8 "Inspiration."

Thank you Go Mighty Orbots for transcribing the podcast!

Hi I’m Tim Gunn and this is my podcast for Project Runway, Episode 8: Inspiration.



Last week Emmett was out and Zulema won, which was thrilling for her and for everybody else. And accordingly, Zulema is in a position where she can change her model and that has not happened so far in the season. Our designers have been very loyal to their models and there has been no switching when Heidi presents the opportunity. In this episode, to the shock and horror of one person in particular, Zulema asks for a model walk-off and she chooses three people…and Zulema chooses Tara. And Nick almost falls off of his stool, in fact, maybe he did. He was in a state of shock. And because his model was taken, he received Zulema’s model Rachael. So Nick’s precious and very important muse has been hijacked and he’s not a happy camper.



So it’s very ironic that Heidi then announces the challenge because the challenge is about inspiration and what inspires you, and the, the seeds of inspiration for your designs. And poor Nick has just been eviscerated.



The designers go off to Michael Kors’ studio, which is a hotbed of inspiration, and they learn from him how he gets inspired. And they saw his inspiration boards, they saw photographs, the seeds of thought that get him excited and that, uh, propel an entire collection forward. It’s really very exciting; it’s very powerful.



On a related note, when I see students at Parsons just staring off into space I’ll ask the question and usually know the answer, “What are you doing?” “Well, I’m trying to get inspired.” And I just say, “You know, go to a movie, go walk up the streets, go look at things, go read a book, listen to some music. Don’t sit here and wait to be struck by the muse, it’s not going to happen. Or if it does it may take so long that you’ll miss your deadline.”





So the Michael Kors experience was really phenomenal for everybody and got them very, very inspired…AND they each got a little party favor. They got an Olympus digital camera and Michael told them that they had an hour to go out and just shoot film and then come back to the studio at Parsons and print it out and see what turns them on. They were going to choose one image that was to be the point of departure for their design.



So back at the work room at Parsons, the designers print out their photographs, choose one (which is more difficult for some than others) and then we go off shopping at Mood. And they have their photograph with them and, of course, color, if there is any in the photograph (well there has to be), is the major point of departure for most of them in some cases it’s texture, but they do a very good job. The one little ironic note for me was that when I saw Santino and his fabric there I told him, I said, “This is the fabric Austin used for the challenge in which he lost, the Nancy O’Dell Grammy challenge, and are you aware of that,” and he said “No,” and I said “Well, alright, well let’s just hope it doesn’t have a curse on it.”



We return to Parsons and I feel compelled, because I do care about them and I do want them to succeed, I feel compelled to have a little talk with each and every one of them. Publicly, in the workroom. Because our challenge is inspiration, it is a time for them to each shine, show the judges what they can really achieve, engage in some form of risk-taking, they’ve all been playing it so safe. I mean, even Santino’s been playing it safe in his own way because he’s been a bit of a one-note.



So I have a particular message for each of them because they are each different people, and I tell Santino very bluntly, “You know, you’re in jeopardy here. The judges are getting tired of what you ‘re doing. You’re thumbing your nose at them, and you just need to be cognizant of it. What you choose to do, you choose to do. But I just want to go on record as saying, watch it buster.”



While we’re at Mood, I’m aware that Nick is not the Nick I usually see. The Nick I know is up and ebullient, and great fun and enthusiastic about everything that we’re always embracing. And at Mood he is clearly depressed and lackluster and I thought, My God, something horrible’s happened. Did he receive a phone call from a family member, what’s going on? And he tells me what happened, and I have to tell you I was in a state of shock, I felt, needless to say I felt bad for him, and I knew how important Tara was to Nick, and in his, or her own way, how important Nick was to her. I mean, she really, she loved him, she loved his work, she really was his muse, I mean, there was nothing contrived about any of this, it really was a very intense relationship and it was lovely. And it was snatched from him by Zulema. And, I mean, Zulema won with Rachel, what was wrong with her continuing with Rachael? And it was interesting because I haven’t been a Zulema fan to be blunt and she had distanced herself from me and didn’t seem interested in my input and you know, that’s her prerogative, she’s entitled to that, no one is obligated to engage with me. But for me she repaired all of that in the last challenge, the ice skating challenge, which just coincidentally she won, she repaired it anyway I just felt her manner and her interaction with her designers and with me was really very nice. And I thought, you know something? I like you. And then when I learned that she did this, it just seemed so arbitrary to me, it’s like why couldn’t you leave well enough alone, and what are you achieving by doing this? I didn’t understand it. I mean, furthermore, for all of our designers, their model has a certain body type, they’re used to the measurements, and they are not all the same. One size does not fit all. And for Zulema this was introducing to her a whole ‘nother dimension of challenge, which is Tara’s measurements, they’re not like Rachael’s. So at any rate, what had happened had already happened and we had to just all make it work. But it was very disappointing to learn and I felt very bad for Nick. And it was a big, big, big impact.



So we’re back on the runway, and I feel very pleased and proud about what most of the designers have been able to achieve. And in most cases one wouldn’t know what the point of departure was without having the photograph in hand, which I thought was laudable. This is a good thing, as opposed to work that’s so literal-minded that you know instantly, or can speculate at least what that point of departure was.



Kara I felt was very much at risk because of that yellow band on her dress and, would I know it was hazard tape? Well, not necessarily, but it certainly speaks to yellow lines going down asphalt on roads. It wasn’t far-fetched to be able to speculate where that was coming from. And I had cautioned her about that in the workroom, I just said, “You know, be careful you’re not too literal with this.



Zulema—she had a perfectly decent photograph of a woman in African dress, and ok, that’s the point of departure. Why are you making an African dress? What is this? Why aren’t you taking this and going miles and miles from where it was, and showing us what you can do in terms of inspiration. For me, it was just the most classic case of merely being derivative. And, it’s also a fairly substantial risk to use a garment as a point of departure. I would never have done that unless I was absolutely confident that I was going off in some completely different direction. One could have used the color as the sole point of departure or the volume of the African garment, that sense of volume as a point of departure--but interpret it, I mean, be inspired by it, don’t copy it.



I just want to add that there were some very, very profound strengths on the runway. Andre’s dress was stunning. I thought he was a very strong contender for the win. He took his inspiration, which kind of baffled me, I thought, what is this, this disgusting stuff in the pothole, and he just made it into magic. And it was true inspiration. I, I loved it.



And Daniel…it was gorgeous. I mean, I just, taking that orchid and what he did with it and that top? Umm, I really don’t believe that top would have come from anywhere had it not been for the orchid inspiration. I found it to be incredibly inventive and innovative and it was wonderful. So we had tough competition there.



Chloe’s was beautiful and very well-made. A little safe, I have to say.



And Santino. Jay McCaroll was one of our judges, and Jay recognized the fabric right away as being Austin’s fabric and Santino looked quite surprised. And I have to say that fabric, that fabric is a challenge. I didn’t respond well to Santino’s dress and it was really all about the fabric. And I would say the same thing about Austin. It was all about that fabric and it just…it doesn’t work well. It’s a challenge.



Zulema ends up being a fixation of the judges. Her garment, that is. And her garment is poorly sewn--and I’m being kind--which was ironic because she’s been very critical of her peers’ technical abilities, accusing people of not being able to sew, of not being able to draft patterns and I have to add this is not the first time I’ve been disappointed by her construction. But this was really bad. One can construct a garment really badly and be aware of and do their best to try to hide it, but this was so egregious, hiding it wasn’t possible. And I was also disarmed by the fact that she did a “J’accuse!” at me. Because she said on the runway, “Well, Timm Gunn blah blah blah blah blah blah blah,” and Nina Garcia, god bless her, retorted “Are you telling me Tim Gunn designed and made this dress?” So, she was called on it. And I just thought, my God, she really is one desperate character. She’s gonna go wherever she can to get out from under any kind of criticism.

So it was a little bit of relish... She needed to go. I mean, of all the designs up there, that was egregious, it just…it was clear.



But it was not clear to me who was going to win. And there was positive talk about several of them. I was, needless to say, I mean, well, I was very pleased that Daniel won, and especially because he did have very clear competition. And, I was disappointed for Andre, but he did such a great showing. I mean, it was a beautiful, beautiful design, and from where I sat, the best work he’s done on the show.



For our next episode, all that I can really tell you about it is that we’re taking a field trip.

Hey Everybody, Mom's Home!

Did you all have fun? I see things didn't go quite as smoothly as I had hoped, but it still looks like it was a pretty fun party.

Thanks to Tbone and all of my "regulars" who contributed to the live-posting. I still have an hour before the show starts here. Arghhhh....

SPOILER ALERT: This Thread is for Everyone Else's Live-Posting of "Inspiration"

Okay this is for the party! Newbies: This thread is for live posting of the "Inspiration" episode. Our East Coast friends will be posting for the benefit of those who are either unable to watch or just can't wait. : ) Please remember to be polite - no name-calling. Please, no spamming. And please watch the four-letter words. I have many young readers and I'm trying to present something positive here. If you have to use them (to quote someone for instance) please use these f***ing asterisks. Have fun!

SPOILER ALERT: This Thread is for Tbone's Live-Posting

Here we go again, everybody ready? Just a reminder for any newbies: TBone will be posting live in the comments section as the program airs on the east coast. Remember this thread is for Tbone only - please enjoy reading his posts but leave your comments on "Everyone Else's" thread. The idea is to present one singular voice here - and then a crazy party - by contrast - on the other thread. I like to give our readers a choice. Meanwhile next week if anyone else want's a solitary thread I might consider it! Have fun TBone.

More Mail!

You all know I have a soft spot for students...and teachers... Anyway, here's a note from a young man named Josh:

Hello Laura. My name is Josh Wilson. I adore your blog of
my favorite show, of course Project Runway. I am also from Arizona,
Chandler actually which is probably like 10 minutes from Scottsdale.
Anyhow I am wanting to be in the fashion industry.........Also I
was wondering if you by any chance knew what sunglasses Zulema wears on
the show it reminds me of Roberto Cavalli but I don't know. I think I've
seen Fergie of The Black Eyed Peas wearing something very similar. I wanted
to know if you knew of the designer or of sunglasses similar to hers.
Thanks a lot. Hope to be reading more of your blog!
--jwilson


So, I went to the source (as I always do) and asked Zulema about the sunglasses. Here is her response!

All of my sunglasses are vintage and I never pay more than $2 for any pair of glasses. I shop at vintage stores in the
outer boroughs of New York.

Zulema