Nick Verreos Project Runway Season 8 Recaps on MyLifetime.com: Episode 12: The Big Apple!

The "Dress To A Chic NY Funeral Challenge"?

The Funeral Brigade: Designs by (L-R) Mondo Guerra, Gretchen Jones, Andy South, Michael Costello, and April Johnston

This past Thursday was the 12Th (!) Episode of Season 8 of Project Runway...and the Theme was "The Big Apple". They had 2 days and $500...and all they came up with was a sea of BLACK!

Yes, New York City was the remaining designers' muse and they were "allowed" by the Honorable Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Distinguished Tim Gunn to use specific Landmarks: The Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and the Lower East Side as their inspiration.

Instead of a celebration of NYC and all its Landmarks, it became a FUNERAL. A very Chic one at that! (I never would have imagined I would have used BOTH a coffin AND a funeral reference when writing about Project Runway). If you had tuned in mid-way through, you probably would have thought that yes, in fact, the Challenge for this week was "Create a Look for a Very Chic Funeral". The designs the contestants created reminded me a lot of...

These looks that very chic and famous women (L-R: Supermodel Naomi Campbell, French actress Ariel Dombasle, Heiress Fashionista Daphne Guinness, and designer Stella McCartney) wore at recent high-profile funerals of Alexander McQueen and Yves Saint Laurent. Actually, I like these outfits BETTER than the ones I saw on Thursday night!

Here are some suggestions of what I would have rather seen--as creations inspired by some of those NYC Landmarks:

Central Park:

Andy South did an all BLACK (yep, no surprise) mini dress that was supposed to have been inspired by Central Park. There was NOTHING in it that said Central Park. I would have loved to have seen something with COLOR! Those gorgeous greens, something with texture. How about something along the lines of...

This Jean Paul Gaultier Haute Couture hand-woven dress from his "Mexico" Collection. I know, maybe take out the leaves on the hair but at least, it's A) Creative, B) Looks like it cost money and took a lot of work, and C) It has COLOR. Or maybe something like...

This colorful printed dress from Diane Von Furstenberg's Spring 2010 Collection. It may not be Andy's "aesthetic" but hey, it might be nice to see the more "softer/feminine" side of him.

Lower East Side:

Not-so-nice "Miss Critique Corner" designer Gretchen Jones picked the Lower East Side and created my LEAST favorite look of the night. It was a mess, looked off-the-rack, and didn't even go together. She was still safe, of course. Reality TV loves a villain, kids...But I wished I would have seen something more along the lines of...

This Balenciaga by Nicolas Ghesquière denim-blue skinny pant and hoodie jacket ensemble with colored tank from his Spring 2010. Hot, edgy, and oh so "fashion girl living in the Lower East Side". But oh well, no such luck.

Statue of Liberty:

Michael Costello chose the fabulous Statue of Liberty and made a BLACK halter gown with a VERY HIGH side-front slit and VERY LOW back. There's a rule in design when it comes to these details: One but NOT both! Unless it's the Miss Universe Pageant! I would have been happier seeing a gown like...

This one above from Stephane Rolland Fall 2010 Haute Couture. It's got the one shoulder silhouette, the draping and even a bit of detail at the hem to suggest a bit of weight the you attribute to such a grand statue. Well, irregardless, Michael C. still won with this design leaving lots of people thinking "Say What??". Speaking of What the H***? , when asked what fabric was his dress, he didn't know. HE DIDN'T KNOW!!! It's not even cute.

Michael, I love ya, but I may have to give you an extensive course on Textiles in my Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM classroom, but first you have to register and enroll!

In the end, it was April Johnston who got the boot this week, with her almost-all BLACK asymmetrical dress with zippered corseted bustier. In my blog for MyLifetime.com, I admitted I kinda liked.
It reminded me of something along the lines of a Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci , dark, Gothic, yet still feminine. However, the judges--and especially Michael Kors--thought it looked more like this:

Yep, a Witch! A pregnant one at that. Oh well, with that, April got on a broom and left the Parsons Workroom, sad but privately happy knowing that she still would show at NY Fashion Week--along with like 22 other "Auf'ed" designers...

Here's a Sneak Peak of my MyLifetime.com Recap of this Episode:

Witchy Vs. Bitchy
Gretchen should have been OUT. There, I said it. But she wasn't. I knew she was going to be in the "Final Four" since … well, since she uttered her first "I think EVERYONE ELSE'S designs SUCK!" critique. PLEASE, I'm too jaded. But still … What the heck did I just witness last night?: An uninspiring, off-the-rack outfit got put through by the judges, on "Project Runway." Do I sound frustrated? Yes. That's because I am. Last night's episode — and challenge — had such potential, yet I was — to quote Michael Kors — underwhelmed (by all the black) and unusually mad! What were the judges thinking? Well, let's find out …

Click HERE to read the ENTIRE Recap!!! And make sure to leave your Thoughts! I love reading them!

Nick Verreos Project Runway Season 7 Recaps: Little Fashionistas!

Project Gymboree!!!!!Heidi Klum in NIKOLAKI by Nick Verreos/David Paul

On last week's Project Runway, the episode begins with Heidi Klum sauntering onto the runway (as she always does) and then inviting eleven of the cutest little girls to stand next to her. Posing there with all those little girls next to her, I had a vision of the most CHIC "Mother Gigogne from The Nutcracker" I have EVER seen! Well of course she was, because she was wearing one of my designs! Yes, to begin this delightful episode, Miss Heidi wore one of my NIKOLAKI silk jersey one-shoulder dresses and looked beautiful in it! But I digress. There was a reason why those little girls were there: The next challenge was to design a fashionable look for little girls.
It was cute watching all those precocious little girls invade the Parsons Workroom, annoying the heck out of some of the designers. Miss "Housewives Of Atlanta" Anthony Williams was the best, saying EXACTLY what I would be saying--and with the same Southern Belle accent! The designers got a late visit from Tim Gunn, where he announced a "twist": Not only were they to create a fashionable little girls look but a companion ensemble for their "Mommie" Models. I knew there had to be something else since the designers were almost done with those Little Girl's dresses, leaving them wondering "OK, what else do I have to do, 'cause I'm done!"Cut to the Runway and designer (and multi-million dollar brand) Tory Burch, this week's Guest Judge, was on hand to access the best Mini-Me and Mommie looks in the bunch. Who would not be able leave their "Designer Ego" at the Gymboree door and which designer would be able to marry the best of what a little girl would like AND add their own unique designer stamp to it.

My Faves:Mila Hermanovski's Mommie-Daughter Duo was one of my favorites, hands down. The minute the two stepped onto the runway, I also knew Burch would LOVE IT! The coat, the little girls dress was SOOOOOO Tory Burch! Both looks were polished, fun and fashionable and very Mila (Hello Color Blocking!).Surprisingly, Season 7's "Logan", Jesse LeNoir designed two great looks for his little girl client and his model. There was a bit of a Cartoon-y touch to both looks but somehow they worked. To be honest, I didn't "get" the askew/semi-twisted detail he did on the Little Girl's Dress; it looked like a mistake. I just wanted to run up onto the runway and shift the damn dress into it's proper vertical position!I loved the fitted day-to-cocktail dress Emilio Sosa created for my favorite model, Holly, it was very RM by Roland Mouret so it's no surprise Miss Heidi Klum also loved it (Heidi loves her Mouret's!). BUT....that little girls dress was a Communion Dress from Salvation Army! It was three sizes too big on her. And the length was too long, needing about 12" to be chopped off of it, like NOW!But the real Winning Duo was Seth Aaron Henderson's Mommy and daughter. First of all, I have to concur with THE Michael Kors: That jacket was FAAAAABULOUS! Add to it, the model's styling, hair and overall look and she was the most fashionable Mom on the Project Runway stage. And to be honest I haven't even noticed model Valeria Leonova until now! The little girls dress was a perfect complimentary to his rockin' chic mom.That jacket--with the star and "SA" patched back insignia--was stellar. The houndstooth fabric, the exposed zipper hardware; this was a little jacket every daughter of a "Hollywood Mommy" would want. I could totally see it at Kitson Kids and selling off the rack for $150, no problem!

The Not-So-Good:Amy Sarabi missed the mark this week. She has been one of my "ones to watch for" in this season...until now: What was she thinking? As she was cutting all those pieces up in the workroom, I wished I could have reached over through the TV screen and A) Snapped her out of this Arts-and-Craft nightmare and B) Taken all those cut-up pieces and dumped them in the nearest Parsons waste bin. There were elements of the Little Girls Look which were fun (the slouchy turquoise sweater, those flouncy leggings) but together, all the elements made her look like a little version of a tarot card reader on the Venice Boardwalk!
Amy's Inspiration?: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac (left) and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (right)

And then, there was the Model/mom: Her outfit reminded me of a look that wouldn't even make the cut for "Muppet Dress" French Designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac or even Spain's "Wacky" Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. The two looks lacked the directional elegant edge which Amy has been showing in previous challenges.

Next Up, Jonathan's Toilet Paper Dresses:
Oh Jonathan Peters, you slayed me with these two looks, and not in a good way. I get the "conceptual" vibe as judge and Marie Claire Fashion Editor Nina Garcia suggested, but I don't think this was the challenge to go Conceptual. The canary yellow and black-and-white colors on the Little Girl's Dress were great but where he went wrong was adding the bolero and rolled toilet paper organza center front accents. Then, he went on to add the rolled toilet paper motif all over his model's dress. All I could think of was Kors saying "Ohhhh, it looks as if TOILET PAPER threw up all over your dress!!!!" Even this "Toilet paper Gown" in the photo above looks better than Jonathan's dress. I was sure he would be "auf'ed" this week.

But, Instead , it was Janeane Marie Ceccanti's Time:
Let me be honest: I kinda liked these. I don't really know why the judges came down so harshly on Janeane Marie. Both outfits consisted of cute, very wearable clothes. The colors were fine and the proportions, just right. The little girl's ensemble was fine and I can see it at an upscale kid's store in Brentwood or the Hamptons. It was very Malia and Sasha Obama. Was the Model/Mom's look ultra fashionable? No. But I didn't think they were bad enough to be eliminated for. I really felt Jonathan's were worse. And Amy's was definitely less flattering to wear. But this was a case where those other two have been consistently better in previous challenges. She was at the bottom last week and therefore, I think it was "written" in the so-called reality show script, for her to be eliminated. Janeane, if somehow you can get the email of Michelle Obama's press and social secretary, tell her you would be happy to send the First Daughters some clothes--I think they would like them!
See you next week for another Recap kiddies! Ciao!

Chris: I will miss you! Recap Episode 4

Children, Children , Children: How often do I have to say : NO MORE SHOULDER PADS!!!!!!! That's all I could think of when watching my sweet Bear of a love muffin, designer Chris March work his Joan Crawford meets Lipsynka magic on the Project Runway
catwalk.

My fellow Nick's Blog readers, yours truly was at the LA premiere of the Spice Girls concert Wednesday night (it was incredible by the way, and I will most surely have photos, and maybe a video for you) when the episode aired so I had to wait until almost midnite to watch it. I also missed the lovely debut of my Saturn commercial, but received enough text messages from close friends telling me that I had 'done good'!

Let's "Make It Work"
1) Do We Like Team Challenges?
Maybe it is because I suddenly begin shaking incessantly with memories of my team challenge with Santino and Emmett and our much-talked-about German-Frau-Mistress-On-Crack collection. While, it was fun trying to bring Santino's visions to life, it was difficult for me and Emmett to put in our two cents in regards to keeping the "put-everything-and-the-kitchen-sink" Santino at bay. In essence, I feel the frustrations some of the designers feel during these dreaded "Team Challanges". My stomach just turns. They always begin these Challenges with the "Since in the real world, you will probably have to work with a team so therefore...". Well, darlings, I just don't think that these Team Challenges really reflect a real-life Industry environment. In a design company, especially large, corporate ones, such as Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY or Gucci,one is working with fellow "assistant designers" and have a leader, yes. But this leader is more of a "Creative Director" or "Chief Designer". These leaders do not necessarily "design". They give direction, they lead by giving the designers themes, story boards, ideas, actual garments to be inspired from. Then , the designers go to work designing. Everyone then consequently meets up to come together in terms of ideas and pieces that will become the group or collection. In a real Team Challenge, the leader would probably NOT have to make a garment but direct things and see if his/her designers got it right.

2) With that Being Said, then Why Would Anyone Ever Volunteer To Be the Team Leader?
I certainly wouldn't. Since the first thing I think of is the show Apprentice. In that show, the Team Leader almost always is not just on the hot seat, but ends up being fired. It was pretty evident that in this episode of Project Runway, the Team Leaders suffered, especially in the case of Chris March. And don't think "Miss Opinionated Victorya" wasn't playing the game when she said she didn't want to be Team Leader. Poor Ricky just volunteered because Victorya and Elisa instantly voiced their unwillingness to step up to the plate. It's a difficult position to be in, but I guess I would have just said, well "I don't either" so let's do "rock, paper, scissors"!

In terms of what he created, I kind of liked it. He may not have chosen the best of fabrics. I realize that duchesse satin is difficult to work with. It puckers and it wrinkles easily. And yes, his construction was weak, but I understood his dress, it was "Day-Glo" Proenza-Schouler. OK, kind of. Any thoughts? I am sure that I might be slightly alone on this one...

3)Why Do These Designers Get To Have "Pre-Fittings" With Their Models?
Not fair. I am sure that many of us Project Runway alumni would have loved this opportunity at any of our challenges, especially the Team one. Could this be the first time in all four seasons of Project Runway that designers have been allowed to see their models at a "half-way" point? Please write me back and correct me if I am wrong.

4) Finally , Am I the Only One Who Will Miss Chris!
Poor thing, from the moment that first Challenge occurred where he was made to run the "fashion marathon" to those fabric-filled tents, he was doomed. In this challenge, he just got it wrong. His outfit made no sense with the other two. The judges were correct in saying that each of them looked like they were from three different fashion shows. There was no real commonality. The jersey tube dress was cute, but not original or inspiring. I've seen it on the sale racks at Wet Seal, way in the back! And that bolero jacket. I knew something was wrong when I saw him place about 8 shoulder pads--one on top of another--on the model form. I just about wanted to lunge myself through the TV and remove 6 of them!!!

I love Dynasty, I love Joan Collins, in fact, I am so dying for a Thierry Mugler Retrospective at the NY Metropolitan Museum of Art, but this was none of the above. It was something a Drag Queen from Long Island would have worn--10 years ago.

But, I so love Chris. I think he went home too soon. I was really eager to see more of his designs, because I just had a feeling that he would bring that element of whimsy and fun that seems to be much needed in this season of Project Runway. Every time I saw Chris, he made me smile and want to pinch his cheeks!!! You will be missed.

Sweet Redemption plus More-Episode 3 Recap

HOLA!

I just returned from spending three wonderful days in San Francisco where I was asked to host a fashion show/event (more on that in a later post) and literally dropped my suitcase and turned on the TV to watch this third episode of Season 4 Project Runway. Thank God for TiVo, since I got home after the episode aired and therefore could not have my weekly "Viewing Party" with Andrae, lots of champagne and cookies. For this particular episode, I decided to just put down several "thoughts". Hope you enjoy it and would love to read your feedback and thoughts on this episode.

1) Sweet Redemption:
While the episode unfolded--along with all the drama and frustrations--the words sweet redemption kept cropping up in my head, like little "Pop Up Video" bubbles. Now, let me preface my explanation by saying that I have had nothing but amazing opportunities as well as feel blessed by everything that has occurred in my life and my business as a result of being on the show. However, as you may remember, I was voted off Season 2 for making Daniel Vosovic a suit that was deemed "too feminine", as well as for a lack of pockets and jacket button/closures.

Yet, after seeing some of the creations in this episode, I could not help but feel a bit redeemed. Especially, since I remember at the time reading a lot of viewer comments saying something to the effect of "How could Nick not put buttons or pockets?" But somehow, I got to finish a fully lined jacket, a collared dress shirt, a silk scarf and skinny pants with a waistband and zip-fly in the SAME AMOUNT OF TIME as these designers. Go figure. Several of this season's designers could barely finish TWO pieces. It ain't that easy kids. Therefore, again, I have to ask the question I asked in my first recap: Are these really the most talented group of designers ever? (as Tim and Heidi proudly announced in the premiere episode).


Chloe Dao, the winner of Season 2, made a fabulous--and Challenge-winning--three-piece outfit for me, which included hand sewn buttonholes , mitered stripes and a fully lined vest. Season 3 winner, Jeffrey Sebelia made a great "Rock Star" outfit, which was (as far as I remember) fully finished also. So why couldn't these designers, who are supposed be more talented and have far more expertise than us, just finish a shirt or close the lining of a jacket? Just saying...

Now, back to the best and worst of the lot. Like the judges, I also had a difficult time trying to decide which outfit was the worst: Ricky's safety-pinned concoction, Sweet Pea's askew dress shirt or Carmen's 1920's Golf caddie go-go boy. In the end, Carmen 's badly fitting crotch was the one to go.

I did have a couple of favorites, most notably, Rami's, which looked straight out of the third floor at Saks Fifth Avenue Men's Store: Elegant, stylish and very Italian-looking. I also liked Kit's cardigan-like creation. He looked like a sexy "Mr. Rodgers". But the judges chose Jack's safe,well cut shirt and pants. It looked very much like it came from the Macy's I.N.C. brand.


2) Where did all those Men's Forms come from?
If I remember correctly , we didn't even have men's forms when we did our challenge. I actually had to fit it on one of the ladies forms in the room. Daniel Vosovic was a woman's 4, in case you are wondering, without the breasts of course! But, all of a sudden, when they return from the NBC Today Studios, there are a dozen men's forms at the Parsons Workroom. No explanation. Unfair and a bit bizarre.

3) Jack: It's called "Knocking Off"
Congratulations for winning this challenge, Jack. We loved your outfit as well as seeing your GINORMOUS pecs every other second, but there was no need to actually ruin your shorts and cut them to get the pattern. It's on page 535 of "Patternmaking for Fashion Design" by Helen Joseph-Armstrong, and is usually taught to every second year fashion design student. So, next time, no need to cut, just get that old tracing wheel out and some tissue paper and you are ready to go...

4) Speaking of GINORMOUS pecs...
Did a Bravo executive just write a big yellow "Post It" to the show's editors and say More Male Nude Skin? (I'm speaking to you Andy Cohen!!) What was going on? There was so much gratuitous display of male skin, I thought I was standing in front of an Abrecrombie and Fitch store! First, Jack was half naked through the entire episode. Then, after the constant parade of male models with their .00005 % fat content showcasing their taut bodies, I had to check my remote to see if the channel had changed to LOGO. But the sight of "I have the whitest teeth in all the United States of America", Tiki Barber (whom I admit I had no idea who he was) reassured me otherwise. Bravo knows its market demographic: It not only wants to make the gays and their girlfriends happy, but also the girlfriend's beer-drinking, football-watching husbands.
And finally:

5) Open Letter To Carmen:
Dear Carmen: There is a light at the end of the Project Runway Menswear Challenge Tunnel. I guarantee you will get a request (or two) to make your auf'ed ensemble for someone. Proof: Just ONE WEEK AGO, I received the following letter on my website regarding my "way too feminine suit" that I created for Daniel Vosovic TWO YEARS AGO, in which I was booted off the show for:


Dear Mr. Verreos, I actually just saw one of the episodes of Project Runway, and I am very interested in a suit that you constructed for another contestant, Daniel. I have been looking for a suit exactly like that forever. Do you still design men's suits, or is there someplace where you sell suits in that same style? If not, would you be interested in creating one? Please let me know.

Turkey Day Recap

Episode 2: Fashion Icon on-a-Budget?

First of all, I hope everyone is having a nice Thanksgiving and you are able to celebrate with good friends and family. While you are enjoying all the turkey, mashed potatoes and green bean casserole, here is some "Fashion Gobble Gobble"(sorry, I had to do that!) to hold you stuffed until next week.
Like last time, I will do this week's recap in question form. Ready, set, go...and don't forget to check all my grammatical errors...

1) Was This Episode Boring or Was It Just Me?
Following the footsteps of a not-so-memorable First Episode, I was ready for a really good one. I invited friends over (Andrae stopped by and brought Gelato--Yeaaay!) and served Champagne and cookies. We were ready. And all I got was a "Yawn". Now, don't get me wrong, I am not looking for drama, especially "Created Drama" (think last season's "Mother's Challenge" or my season's "Take Nick's Model"). I am not a fan of that. But it would be nice to see some "Fashion Drama". This episode had the potential, especially, with the amazing "guest star" Sarah Jessica Parker and the teaming up of designers. You know if SJP showed up in my season, I would have screamed so loud and jumped and clapped so much, it would have made my scene with Olympic Figure Skater Sasha Cohen seem like "chopped liver" in comparison. Because of previous season's infamous Team Challenges, one expected more discussion amongst the designers, friendly arguments even, and thoroughly interesting creations as a result. Other than Sweet Pea and Elisa's mulling over hand-rolled hems and spitting on the fabric(I bet the cameramen and sound guys just about died and went to heaven after they saw that!), nothing much occurred. In terms of the designs that won and lost, I liked Victorya's loose tunic of a dress with the cropped vest, but surprisingly, I also liked Elisa and Sweet Pea's "polymorphic" dress and cape. Great color, fashionably styled, yet wearable. Poor thing, "Oliver Twist" twin, Marion's design did look, as Michael Kors stated, like something Pocahontas would have worn. Also, I can't help but think how many of the designers did leggings/tights because they were influenced by what Sarah Jessica Parker was wearing when she met them.
Overall, though, I felt this was a rather uneventful episode with rather unremarkable clothes.

2) Was it Uneventful because of their Budget and the fact that they had to design for BITTEN?
So then I began thinking, could it have been the fact that they only had $15 for fabric and trims and had to design for a "budget" yet fashion-savvy line? First, I don't know how they found enough fabric to create an outfit, especially at Mood, only having $15. The last time I was there, I was hard-pressed to find their "Dollar Bin". Actually, I never saw one. So how did they do it? I guess poly/cotton jersey is cheap, but even at retail prices, these stores can charge up to $8/yard for it. I would need at least 2 yards to make a top and leggings , and that's it. I have spent all my budget. What about a zipper, lining, or another contrast fabric? I have a sneaky feeling somebody somewhere sneaked these designers some extra cash... Just saying.
Now, in regards to designing for Bitten, ponder the following: Would it have been more exciting of an episode if the designers had to create an ensemble for Sarah Jessica Parker, for the Black-tie Gala/Opening of a Metropolitan Museum Costume Exhibit, in which she would have worn the outfit? All I kept thinking of was that photo of her with Alexander McQueen in his "Couture-Tartan" design. I know some people may think that she was a "fashion disaster", but personally, this was GENIUS! Who else would do that? That's one of the many reasons I LOVE Sarah Jessica Parker. she takes fashion risks. I think this "fantasy" challenge would have been possibly more fun to watch. But I do understand the tie-in with SJP and her line.

3) Is the Second Episode of every season going to be an "Ode To Andrae Crying Episode"?
Now, remember, I was watching this episode with the fabulous Mr. Gonzalo, and he noted "Why is the second episode going to be about crying? I think I started a second episode trend " I cannot recall if anyone cried in the second episode of Season 3, but if they did, please let me know. But I could not believe all the tears that flowed in this episode. First Chris, then Ricky crying so early on in the challenge--he barely had met Sarah Jessica Parker for goodness sake--made me skeptically think that this was footage from his "exit interview" questionably interjected in the beginning of the episode. Then even Carmen joined in on the cry fest at elimination. The last straw was watching usually bitchy "I-am-the-fiercest-thing-since- John Galliano" Christian actually tear up. I swear I saw tears behind those Alain Mikli glasses of his!

See you next time, and keep on crying...and sewing!

Season 4 First Episode Recap... Sort of

Finally!

The premiere of Season 4 Project Runway was upon us, and not a moment too soon! Instead of recapping the entire episode and spending way too much unnecessary space here, I want to try something different. Besides , I am sure that everyone and their mother from Honolulu to Poughkeepsie, and all those 15 year old kids who-have-become-YouTube-blog-phenomenons in between will surely be putting their two cents into who did their best, who made something "whickety-whack" and who "underwhelmed" them.

I want to pose Three "Uncle Nick Project Runway" Questions in regards to this first episode:

1) Is this really THE MOST TALENTED bunch of designers ever?

It's rather insulting for all the actual talent that has been seen from previous seasons who have created marvelous work. If I get sick and tired of hearing this tired line every season from my dear Tim Gunn, imagine how Kara Saun, Jay McCarroll , Chloe Dao and Jeffrey Sebelia feel? Especially after seeing this first episode. Or maybe they don't care. I haven't asked them lately... Irregardless, I feel that a lot of these dresses looked amateur, save Rami Kashou's. His was ethereal and beautifully draped. I know that for our season, we actually had a few days to create the garment we did for the Season 2 First Challenge, but still. Several of the dresses (Simone, Ricky) any girl can find in a local mall. An empire-cut baby doll? Really? Give me something kids! Inspire me!(Now, I am sounding like "Instructor Nick"!) Kit's looked straight out of "Hot Topic", and don't let me start on Elisa's turquoise ripped-into-shreds nightmare. In a non-reality show world, she would have been out. Lest we forget, it is still a TV show and Elisa would make for nice quirky "I design dresses based out of the grass I rub into my cloth" fodder worth watching. Simone

was forgettable, therefore she was the one to go.

2)Has Project Runway becoming the new "Real World"?

One more screen caption of Rami's tank top-wearing pecs and Jack's six-pack abs (I counted!) and the next thing I am going to see is them jump into a hot tub, get drunk and start, well you get the picture. Sexy sells, I get it. And nowadays, image is very important for designers. Look at Marc Jacobs' transformation from librarian-computer-grunge-geek to Chelsea hottie! But I don't want to start thinking that this Emmy-award nominated show is falling prey to MTV-style show of gratuitous skin. It's nice to watch, yes. But it's even better to watch the designers go through the motions of creating amazing garments--or crazy ones!

3) Do the Season 4 Models have that "WOW" factor the previous seasons ones did?

They are pretty, I do not deny that. But models should be extraordinarily pretty. Tarah, Danielle, Amanda, Marilinda...these girls turn heads. These new models don't have that "Wow" factor that Chloe's Grace did, for example. It is a known fact that the Project Runway models do not get paid for their time on the show and risk losing actual paying gigs, editorials, etc. by being there for 12 hours in a single day. Do you think that word has gotten around and agencies just don't want to risk that for their models or models don't feel the end result (What are they getting out of this?) is worth the time? Who knows. I just pose the question.