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!
Here are some suggestions of what I would have rather seen--as creations inspired by some of those NYC Landmarks: Central Park:
Lower East Side:
Statue of Liberty:

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!

EVERYONE Gets To Go To NY Fashion Week!!!! (Warning: Spoiler Alert!)
TEN designers from this current season of Project Runway showed last Thursday morning at the new site of Spring 2011 NY Fashion Week--Lincoln Center. Because Project Runway ended last weeks episode with ten contestants, ALL the remaining designers got to show in order not to spoil the "TV Finale Episode"--I was lucky enough to have been invited (I guess procuring tickets could be "a little crazy"!) BUT...alas I was unable to fly to NYC and attend because, as always: Duty Calls! I was flying to Miami to host the Macy's Fashion's Night Out Event and Fashion Show at the fabulous Aventura Mall.
Now back to the I-gotta-sit-through-TEN-Collections: Really there were only the Top Three left (or four sometimes) but because of the fact that ten were still "on TV", this is why this happened. Same thing as last season. I think it's NOT COOL. Sixteen Designers actually get to make it onto Project Runway, and now it seems that more than half of them (approx. 63 %, yes, I did the math kiddies!), make it to New York Fashion Week! Not only is that crazy, unfair but then it's almost like a surefire thing you'll make it to Fashion Week if you're still among the ten left! Isn't showing at NY Fashion Week one of the "Prizes"? It seems that Project Runway has fallen into current society's unfortunate pattern of giving out "trophies" even to the losers. But I digress. From the Photos of the Collections, Here is my Fave (just one) and Oh-What-Were-You-Thinking?

Click Below to see my good friend, MISS Chloe Dao, Winner of Season 2, commentating after seeing the Finale Fashion Show (I LOVE what she says!!!!):

Bridesmaids Redo, Tupac Drummond, Goiter Peplums, and much more...

I leave you with that...(sorry for that nasty photo, but TRUST ME, there are WORSE on the web... And here's a teaser of my MyLifetime.com Project Runway Recap: Bridesmaid Runway Wars: Pink Poly, Peplum Goiters and more DRAMA! Well, kids, it took a while to wash off last week's nasty and stressful team challenge episode where designer Gretchen Jones turned into General Patton Runway and all of her teammates drank her "Just-do-as-I-say" and "Boy, Isn't-Michael C.-such-a-bad-designer/patternmaker/draper/sewer" Kool-Aid. Only a slight (and secretly wonderful) residue of Tim Gunn bi***-slapping them at the end of the episode was left! With that, we begin the next challenge, and one filled with more Michael C.- hatin', lots of fire-igniting polyester and plus-size issues. Let's begin, shall we?..... To Read the entire Recap, click HERE...and make sure to leave me your comments and what YOU thought!

It's a Party!!!
Last night's episode of Project Runway was the "Unconventional Challenge"--yes, the Make-a-Dress-Out-of-the-Garbage-You-Find-in-The-Alley Challenge. But this time, it was about creating a look completely made of party store materials--save for the muslin (that's unbleached cotton for you non-fashion folk) backing.
Here's the beginning of my Recap: A Quinceañera “Project Runway” Party … After One Too Many Margaritas!
What could be more fun than party dresses, a new Tim Junior in the workroom, Gretchen-hatin' and a transvestite flamenco dancer at a funeral? Oh, and yes, call the ambulances: We have a designer down! Yep, welcome to Episode 3 of "Project Runway" Season 8.
Where's the Party? The day begins with a model elimination and Heidi announcing that Tim is throwing a party. I assume it is to celebrate that Jason "I'm a Straight Designer, Dude!" and his staples and safety pins are gone from the workroom. Nope, no such party. The 13 remaining designers meet up with Tim at the "Party Glitters" store (sounds like a drag club in Brooklyn), where he announces that this week's assignment is the "Unconventional Challenge," where they are to design an outfit using party-store supplies. He tells the designers that they should NOT use materials such as tablecloth or wrapping paper, since those are similar to actual textiles and the judges do not "likey-likey.".....
Click HERE to continue reading my mylifetime.com Recap.

Well, kiddies, it is OFFICIAL: Project Runway Season 8 is about to begin (July 29TH!). I will be in Europe on my Florence Lecture but rest assured I will be watching one way or another (Thank Goodness for the INTERNET!!!). LA Season 8 Casting Buddies: Marie Claire's Zoe Glassner, Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos Yesterday, the complete list of Season 8 Designers/contestants were announced and boy, is it a "colorful" bunch, to say the least (like, Andrae, Daniel Franco, Santino and I weren't colorful!!??). Those names (Casanova? Peach? Mondo?) are SLAYING me!! It's like the names to the new season of "MTV's The Jersey Shore", not Project Runway! Love it! Dapper Twosome: Tim Gunn and Nick Verreos As many of you may know from reading my blog here, I was actually honored enough to be one of the Casting Judges for this season in Los Angeles--along with Tim Gunn and Zoe Glassner of Marie Claire. And we "let through" several talented designers and yesterday, the entire cast was revealed!! Below are four Videos from this new season's contestants and my thoughts on what I saw that day. Enjoy! Michael Costello My Thoughts on Michael: Michael Costello had tried out for several seasons and never made it. Throughout the years, I have actually seen a lot of Michael's designs, befriending him within the "LA Fashion Community" as he kept telling me how much he wanted to be on Project Runway. Well, he showed up again, and with a model I also know, the lovely Suwana Perry. Of course, from the moment he walked in, he was "on" and we all loved his fun bubbly energy, his funny candor about himself and his "quirky" parents and how his mom doesn't know he is gay and still wants to find a nice Greek bride for him (!). Design-wise, he is a "mini-me" of Elie Saab: He never met a bow, a backless asymmetrical drape with sequins, and an exaggerated train (all in one dress!) that he didn't like. His "Achilles Heel" might be trying to "tone it down" and learning how to edit. We'll see... Mondo My Thoughts on Mondo: Mondo tried out last year at the LA Castings, where I was once again a judge, and I told him to "Eat a Burger!" (he's very skinny) and he remembered that. His designs were creative, fun, very Heatherette (his idols). Our complaint was that they were a little "over-designed" but we were impressed with his own unique "look" (these kids come STYLED huney!) and his sewing skills. Speaking of styled, his models were DONE from head-to-toe! So glad that these contestants who try out are going for it--110%--especially when it counts! Sarah Trost My Thoughts on Sarah Trost: I remember that "kitty dress" and boy was it AWFUL! (as my Casting Judge cohort Zoe Glassner concurs in the video above). To be honest, most of her dresses looked rather "homespun" and more appropriate for an old lady residing in a Boca Raton living community. She said her inspirations are Adrian, Schiaparelli and the original Christian Dior, but yet we didn't see any of that in her designs. But they were kinda fun. As you see from above, she was in the "maybe" pile and then it was up to the casting "Gods" to let her in. And they did. We'll see how she does... Christopher Collins My Thoughts on Christopher Collins: First of all, it was such a nice breath of fresh air for a contestant/designer to come into the castings and NOT SAY, that Lady Gaga was their inspiration!!! His designs were simple, classic and "American Sportswear" elegant. Very Jason Wu meets Banana Republic. Is it "earth shaking"? That's arguable. But we loved how humble he was. In a sea of people who think they are "fierce" and dress like it but have nothing to back it up, Christopher's simple clothes and his simple attitude WAS fierce! You can see all the Designer's Casting Videos plus much, much more on Lifetime's Project Runway Website.