For this Finale Episode, we start where we left off. The designers are in the lounge and poor Kini is having a mini-meltdown after the judges did not like the preview of his collection.

In my last post, I discussed "Part One" of this season's Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week "Decoy" collections. Continuing with the "Decoy" collections of this season's "Project Runway" designers (the contestants who made it far enough to show at NY Fashion Week but didn't make the Top Four Final roster), it's time for the collections of "Hipster Boy" Alexander Knox, "Meany McMeany" Korina Emmerich, and this past week's latest "Auf'ed" designer, Emily Payne. First up, are the designs of Alexander Knox:

 DECOY COLLECTIONS: Part One...


Coral Gables, Florida-based designer Fade Zu Grau was OUT on Episode 8, the avant-garde episode. He was the first Season 13 designer to get a chance to show a "Decoy Collection" in Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week. Lucky him... In case you don't know the whole "Decoy" thang--it goes like this:

"Project Runway" begins airing in late July and Fashion Week is in Early September. Because NY Fashion Week is so photographed and publicized, there is no way to hide the final collections from the press. So the producers decided years ago that every designer in the competition that is still "In" at the point of Fashion Week, is allowed to show a collection. Yes, that's why I say "lucky them".

Finale Fab:


I know I'm (almost) 2 weeks late but I wanted to do this post and recap the fun time I had attending the Project Runway Season 10 Finale Fashion Show at Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week on Friday September 7th. As you may know, I flew to NYC to attend various events and parties celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Project Runway. Also, because I was one of the designers chosen to design a dress for the exclusive Project Runway Dress Collection at Lord & Taylor I was invited to the VIP "Unveiling" and to take part in Lord &Taylor's Fashion's Night Out event on Thursday September 6th.


It was a whirlwind of a week that ended with the Season 10 Finale Fashion Show at Lincoln Center. If you're watching and are a fan of Project Runway, you know that we are halfway through the season--on TV that is. The actual Finale of the season (which always involves only the Top 3 or 4 designers left in the show) won't happen for maybe another couple of months. "TV Timing" doesn't coincide with "Real Timing" and NY Fashion Week was happening right now, so ALL the current contestants/designers still on TV were able to show at NY Fashion Week so, you the TV viewer wouldn't know who the actual Top 3 or 4 were---only the designers, judges producers, editors...Tim Gunn, Heidi, Nina and Michael know--and yes, they are all SWORN to secrecy.


I was so excited to attend the show and happy to be invited, naturally. The fashion show took place in the largest runway show stage--called the "Theater"--at Mercedes-Benz NY Fashion Week at Lincoln Center.


It was PHOTO MADNESS when Miss Heidi came out (in a slinky sequined Alexandre Vaultier dress)--with fellow Project Runway judges Michael Kors, Nina Garcia (in Lanvin) and Celeb Guest Judge--the beautiful Jennifer Hudson--who was wearing a very fitted Emerald Green suit by Michael Kors.


I got to seat in the 8th row behind some of the most recent seasons' designer (the seating criteria  seems to depend on what season you were on, current seasons in the front, older seasons in the back). The really fun part of my row, was that I was with other "old timers":
  
Season 1 Winner Jay McCarroll and Season 2 Winner Chloe Dao (above photo). I felt so privileged. I absolutely LOVE those two so we had a BALL of a time watching the entire show together.

**SPOILER ALERT!:

Now--Like I stated before, at the time of the Finale Fashion Show there were still 8 designers left on the show, all of these eight showed their "mini-collections" (lucky them!!)--Here are images from each of their collections and which ones were my Top Faves for making it into the Final:
 

Gunnar Deatharage:

As we know now little Gunnar got the "auf" in this past week's episode. The NY Fashion Week Finale show occurred before this but to be perfectly honest, it was the weakest of all the eight collections. There was an obvious tribal/African-inspired theme. The clothes lacked directionality, drama and maturity. Let's look at the bright side: he got to show at NEW YORK FASHION WEEK!

Sonjia Williams:

Sonjia was one of my favorites so far in the season but her Finale Collection was all over the place. She began with a look that had her "Sonjia Turban Bow" which was cute...

But then she did some looks that well, were a bit odd--including this skirt over stretch lace leggings. I think Nina would call this "a miss".

Ven  Budhu:

Season 10 contestant/designer Ven Budhu of the pleated flower/rose fame--and "I Don't Like Plus Size Ladies" infamy--showed a collection of (almost) ALL Pleated Flower looks. It was a definite "F You" to EVERYONE--including the judges, I think (especially after watching last week's episode). My instinct tells me that he's not in the Finals.

He was one of my favorites from the Castings and a frontrunner at the beginning of the show and I know many of the other casting judges thought that he could have won--after seeing his designs and obvious impeccable talent and taste level but...

That episode with his client Terri and the fact that he kept doing those pleated flower treatments...well, that will haunt him forever. Nevertheless, his Finale Collection had some beautifully crafted Ladies-who-Lunch-and-impeccably-made-Red-Carpet clothes. Polished, elegant and gorgeously constructed. He needs to get a job as Oscar de la Renta's Design Assistant. Like NOW!

Elena Slivnyak:

I really liked Elena's Finale Collection. Mainly because she sent out very colorful--Spring 2013 ON TREND--clothes. I was surprised that she didn't do "Lady Gaga" structured multi-seamed coats with UBER shoulder pads. Instead, she opted for very now dresses.

Her very fitted color-blocked dresses were SO Heidi Klum; I can see Miss Heidi worshiping them. Her mini-collection was very Narciso Rodriguez as well. She either needs to send her resume to him--or to Max Axria of BCBG/Herve Leger Empire.

Christopher Palu:

Christopher--whom I think is one of the Top Four Finalist after seeing the Finale Fashion Show--did an outstanding job. However, there were some missteps. Some of the looks were disjointed, in terms of a collection. It's like he needed someone to get up in there to tell him "Yes, and Yes...and Oh No!". The first transparent sheer look with high slit skirt was very Video Vixen. And then there was A LOT of leather and Fall-like looks for a Spring/Summer Collection. This was his final gown on his Project Runway model:

A pretty dress but not cohesive with the rest of the collection and in my estimation way too referential of Christian Siriano.


Melissa Fleis:

Melissa was one of my top favorites from the NY Fashion Week show. I loved her high boat neck burnt orange leather asymmetrical dress. It was so chic, it was BEYOND Chic. I would not want to mess with that girl. I would just want to be her "Best Gay". She also did some sleek jacket and super-skinny pants looks that seemed very NOW. But she had TWO particular "Oh NO's":

First, a navy blue-and-black leather leotard/swimsuit(?) that was HOOCHIE-COOCHIE short! While the model walked, we (the audience) could see her white underwear., Not good. Whether or not this shows up on the show, will be very interesting. The other look that was an issue:

This white tank dress. It was very fitted and there was NO SLIT. The model could barely walk down the runway. I even noticed the judges--Heidi, Michael, Nina, Jennifer--turning to each other to comment. I just do not understand why Melissa did not put a slit--or two in this dress. The photo looks great. The runway LIVE version. Not so muchey.

Dmitry Sholokhov:

Wow. Dmitry sent out a very sleek, modern, polished collection. To me, he is one of the top for sure. Not only did I LOVE this cowl bias-cut dress above but his separates were so ON TREND.

The color story was dark for a Spring/Summer Collection but it still felt light. He also sent some looks that referenced his cut-out "HP Challenge" winning look, including this creme dress:

I wonder if one of those Final Challenges involves designing a look based on one of their Season 10 Winning creations. I really liked this dress. He is one of my Top Three for sure. Go Dmitry.


Fabio Costa:

Fabio's collection was probably my favorite. It was light, airy, very Spring 2013, and I LOVED, LOVED, his bias-cut, silk charmeuse, asymmetrical cowl draping. And I wasn't the only one who was gushing. EVERYONE I spoke to, also thought his was the best. But who knows who will be in the Top 3 or 4 or be in the Finals. We will soon find out...

Here are some fun After-Show Snapshots:

DEEEEEESIGNERS...
Last Friday, the day after I had to host a FUN Fashion's Night Out and Project Style Event in Charleston West Virginia, I flew to NYC--on a 6AM flight, arriving at 8:00AM--for a very important business meeting I had to attend in Manhattan at noon. Now, I cannot divulge the details of that "very important" meeting but let's just say that the meeting went well, thank you very much! In addition (by coincidence), I had been invited to attend the Project Runway Season 9 Finale Runway Show at Lincoln Center as part of the Mercedes-Benz NYC Spring 2012 Fashion Week. The show was at 9:30 AM that same morning. I am "Fashion Superman" so time to "Make It Work".
Like I said, my plane arrived at 8:00AM, then I took a car to NYC where I hit upon trouble: As in TRAFFIC! Not just any traffic, but Manhattan Traffic. It took ALMOST TWO HOURS from the time I arrived in Manhattan to get to Lincoln Center to the Fashion Show! Crazy. Eventually, I got there at 9:45AM. The show had not started yet and so I took my seat--and padded down my I'm-not-going-to-make-it sweaty brow!
I won't divulge any DIRT (you can go check the web-o-sphere for photos of the designer's final collections and/or wait until the Finale Episode airs) other than Heidi Klum looked AMAZING in a Michael Kors black sequined jumpsuit and that the Guest Judge was none other than L'Wren Scott--Mick Jagger's statuesque partner and Go-To Designer for Fabulously Tight red carpet cocktail dress and gowns. Nina Garcia looked FLAWLESS (also in Michael Kors), I may add. Besides saying a quick "Hello" to my favorite blond, Miss Heidi, I also ran into several past Project Runway Alumni, including:
The Project Runway Season 9 Finale Runway Show consisted of the NINE Designers still on the show--still on TV, that is, even though they have filmed the entire season up to the Top 3, I believe. In other words, if there are THREE Finalists (like usual), we had to see six "Decoy" runway shows. Hope that all makes sense, if not, sorry...you'll figure it out in due time. I have to say that my FAVORITES were (sit down!): Laura Kathleen (she didn't do "Kentucky Derby" Rich Women Doing Lunch!), Anya Ayoung Chee (Very "Korto-meets-Uli" Resortwear for Kim Kardashian!) and Anthony Ryan Auld (liked his deigns, not so sure of those wigs and that one hat!). I have no idea who the Top 3 are, but those are my "Nick Pick's". Nightcap Reunion: Season 7 Designer Ben Chmura, Season 8 Designer Peach Carr, Nick Verreos, Barracuda NYC nightclub, Chelsea NYC Later that night--after the show--and my business meetings, I had a delicious dinner with friends and then went to Barracuda NYC for a "nightcap" where (wouldn't you know it!), I ran into a couple Project Runway kids: Season 7 Designer Ben Chmura and Season 8 Designer Peach Carr. We had lots of fun DISHING on the morning's show and who were our faves. But soon, it was time to go: I had to leave to get a little bit of sleep before I caught my 7AM flight back to Los Angeles to host a Project Style event in Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California the following day. I heard there was a fun "Project Reunion HP Party" on Saturday night which I missed (because of the event I was hosting back in CA) and that all the designers in attendance received an HP Computer. Oh well... PS: Hey HP: Uncle Nick LOVES HP!! :)