'Project Runway' Time to make it work
The fifth season of Project Runway is coming to a close in the usual way. Which means they are likely to toss some sort of new element in there somewhere. I am not sure that is a good thing.
A moment later, my fears are confirmed, as Heidi tells the desginers that since they all failed so abysmally in the evening gown challenge, they will each need to create a wedding gown as part of their collection. It is hoped that with more money and more time that they can create something more wearable. They all groan as they head out. Kenley notes that the other designers clearly dislike her, so she goes right out the door and they all snark about how she didn't hang out to say good bye. You know, for all her faults, I don't count that among them. If she tried to fake a tearful farewell, I would think less of her.
Next up is our montage of On The Road Tim. First stop is Korto in Little Rock, who has a stunning palette that is very her, with vibrant yellow, green and blue. However, one dress stands out due to a snake skin detail on the skirt. Now, I am not sure if I heard Tim correctly, but it sure sounded like he said he didn't want a "snatch shot". Either way, it's appropriate in a Georgia O'Keefe sort of way. Back at her home, Korto performs some African drumming before sending Tim on his way to Portland to visit Leanne. Her collection is inspired by waves and it is instantly clear that she has found an innovative way to convey that concept in a clearly architectural manner that is amazing. Her colors are a bit sharp and she needs to rethink her wedding gown, but it's mostly lovely. She takes Tim on a bike built for two to a park, where she confesses she wanted to design fashion since age 12, when she began making her own dance costumes.
Jerell went back to LA to work on a collection of evening gowns. They a bedecked, bejeweled and bedazzled to within an inch of their life and Tim warns him to edit.There is an emotional moment after we meet Jerell's family and "love interest" (what a very Jerell thing to say) where he explains that his father was a truck driver who was gone a lot and he gets pretty tearful. From there Tim is heading back to New York, or rather, Brooklyn. Kenley has a classic New York apartment, decorated just as perfectly, including a picture of her calendar girl grandmother. Which is where she gets tearful, because apparently her grandmother just passed away. As for her work...well, there's one dress that has a high collar made of coils of rope. And it never occurred to her that it might think people think of a noose. I'm a little worried.
The time spent visiting the designers in their spaces seems much shorter than it was in years past, which is a little disappointing to me. Because it means they are throwing another challenge into the mix, similar to what they did last year. The designers don't know this yet, as they all arrive at their new digs. Korto is first, followed by Leanne, who decide to grab a room together so they don't have to share with Kenley. Jerell shows up next, and it feels forced, since every year there is a villain designer they seem to be the last to arrive. Anyway, the apologize for him having to share a room with Kenley and he quips that he'll sleep on the couch. So, when Kenley comes in and apologizes to everyone for her behavior during the last challenges, they seem almost annoyed that she did and begrudgingly cease snickering about her for the time being. Until she reverts to form, of course, which should happen about 20 minutes into the finale episode.
The next day, they gather in their new workspace and are shortly joined by Tim because, yes, there will be one more challenge. They are to design a bridesmaid gown to compliment their wedding gowns, both of which will show at the last challenge. And they have 24 hours to do it. Everyone is rather angry about it and I wonder if they watched last season at all. Korto says she won't snap at anyone and Kenley says she can snap at her if she wants, since she already experienced it when Korto told her that she didn't deserve to be in the final three due to her personality.
Tim comes around to see their work, he warns Jerell that his design is looking sloppy, loves where Kenley is going with her design, advises Leanne to reconsider the length of her dress and tells Korto that he can't tell which dress is for the bride and which is for the bridesmaid. Which is bad. Tim then gives a short but heartfelt speech that leaves everyone in tears before they get back to work.
At the start of Runway day, Kenley is already pissed off, because she was certain that her bridesmaid dress was going to be the only short one and now Leanne and Korto have both shortened their dresses. She takes it as a direct rip off on her, which is ironic, since most of her work is a direct rip off of designers from bygone eras. On the other side of the spectrum is Korto, who suddenly loves everyone, "even Kenley" and is sad that someone's dream will end today. And let's move right on to that, shall we?
Jerell - His wedding gown moves as if it has a hooped skirt. The amount of tulle, which is a dingy looking shade of grey, puts the front of the skirt several feet in front of the model and makes her look like she is kicking her heels up as she walks. The bridal march is not particularly jaunty and I cannot imagine this dress moving well to that theme. His bridesmaid dress also looks somehow dirty, with puckered sleeves and rumpled fabric. And I do not understand the styling he has chosen at all. It's all overdone and over embellished in a way I could only describe as thrift store eccentricity meets Olsen twin mishap.
Kenley - Despite the fact that her wedding gown reminds me of Swan Lake and reminds Michael Kors and Nina Garcia of an Alexander McQueen number (an accusation that Kenley vehemently denies) it's still charming. It's the sort of fantasy gown that is totally impractical and over the top and really too short and yet is so romantic and whimsical that you forgive it all. Also, it is impeccably constructed. Her bridesmaid dress is the perfect compliment, adding a bold color with an equally fun silhouette that is so adorable and simple that you have to wonder why it's not on store racks already.
Korto - Oh my. There is no nice way to say how unfortunate it is. The wedding gown is so terribly overworked with little details that the poor model looks bunched, gathered, pleated and cinched in the most uncomfortable way possible. Aren't weddings supposed to be joyous celebrations? Nothing about this dress is joyous. In fact, it has a distinct lack of anything resembling joy. And the bridesmaid dress looks like something I could go buy in Banana Republic right now, but I wouldn't wear it to anything more formal than a picnic at a botanical garden.
Leanne - She absolutely rethought her wedding gown and the finished product is very interesting. I am not a fan of billowing bubble skirts and this gown looks like one stacked atop another. At the same time, it moves in such a perfectly dreamy way that I am sort of intrigued. It begs to be touched, if only to see how it is all put together. It is incredibly structured and yet manages to flow in a very soft way. But it is her bridesmaid dress that sells me. It's simple, echos the idea of the wedding gown, adds a tantalizing hint of color and reflects perfectly the concept without detracting or competing.
Right away, it is clear that the judges love Kenley and Leanne, so they are each safe. For the Final Two, I keep expecting Heidi to announce that they've changed their mind and they are all going to show at Fashion Week. Alas, this season they stick to their guns and Jerell is auf'd. It was a tough call, because Jerell had some very interesting viewpoints and ideas, but in the end, Korto's ability to put the polish on won out. Never underestimate the destructive power of an unfinished hem or wrinkled fabric.
What did you think of the final challenge? Does it make sense to make each designer fit a wedding gown into their collection, no matter what their own vision for that collection was? Are you happy with the final three? And are you sad that we don't seem to be getting a reunion show?
I find it ironic that so many people seem to hate Kenley for her personality when Christian was just as snarky last season.
I always thought that reality show contestants who claimed that they were edited to look bad were blowing smoke. Then, I saw a special about tricks used by producers of reality shows. It said that editors would take an obnoxious reaction (like rolling of the eyes) and edit that so it appears that the look is directed toward another contestant.
As for Kenley "laughing at" other designers: Daniel was interviewed by EW magazine and he says that Kenley totally was NOT laughing at him. And Jerell was making fun of Joe's pocket square in the workroom. That's why, when Michael Kors made a joke about it, Kenley remembered Jerell and laughed.
Everyone left has been in the top and the bottom a bunch of times and they are all great designers so it's anyone's game at this point. To root against Kenley because of her personality is unfair. She isn't anywhere as bad as Jeffrey was and he won the whole thing.
Didn't Jerell win the last challenge?
Although I really dislike Kenley's personality (*as portrayed on the show), and I was rooting against her in this challenge, she really did a wonderful job.
Christian may have been snarky, but he wasn't downright disrespectful to Tim and Heidi. Those are the things that I can't get over. Getting along with other designers isn't necessarily part of the deal - but learning to take criticism without scoffing at it is, in my opinion.
Ah, what a difference an episode makes. Kenley gets a reprieve because someone did not have the guts to bounce her on the awful Little Mermaid dress she had from the previous challenge. Now she is in the finals. I love Kenley's hypocrisy when she said "I really do respect Tim Gunn" in this week's confessional, when at least once for the previous 4 weeks she said Tim did not know what he was talking about.
For me, it was a toss up between Korto and Jerell. I didn't like either of their collections or gowns. However, if you base it off the entire competiton, Korto should be going to Fashion Week. Unfortunately, I think her collection will tank. I was not impressed. Kenley and Leanne did great jobs.
I thought it was really weird that we didnt get to see any of Kenley's friends or family on Tim's visit.
I was surprised at Jerrell's design for the wedding gown, knowing that it was the piece that would decide if they were in or out of the competition. He had some amazing designs throughout the season and I was really looking forward to seeing his collection.
I thought that Kenley's wedding gown was over the top, but I absolutely loved Leanne's. I am now rooting for Leanne wholeheartedly - that is, of course, unless Kenley or Korto's collections can really wow me. She seems to me very creative and meticulous. Go Leanne.
I think that Kenley did not deserve to be in the finals, period. There is nothing fresh or original about her designs. Every single thing seems to be a rip off of some old 'big designer' fashion. Even the wedding gown was not original, and Michael commented on it right away. Plus, it appeared be designed only as a stunt, for Kenly to be able to say 'see how I am different from everyone else?' Based on that she knew she would get thru to the finals, since all the judges seem to want is 'someting different, extravagant, not boring'. Why did it not bother them that this dress nor the bridesmaid's one were representative of the 'Kenly style' which she was herself sooooo harping about the whole season? It was like her esthetic from the duration of the show suddenly went out the window, and instead what we got was what she thought would be most shocking and standing out, and based evidently on designs found skimming the old collections books. And her bridesmaid's dress, while really pretty, was just what you said - should be found on a rack at a good department store. I do not think it related to the wedding dress at all (except for the fullness of the skirt).
I thing Kenley is what she called everyone else - a one note, not able to apply her own sensibility to the challenges, and on top of that a rip off artist.
While I thought that Jerrell's collection as a whole looked garish and bordered on tasteless, he won the last challenge, which in every prior season entitled the winner to show at Bryant Park. He got robbed in favor of Kenly, who was put thru NOT on the strenght of her talent but purely thanks to the 'controversy' she created wherever she went and whatever she said and did. Too bad she could not achieve this same effect- the controversy - by her designs solely.
As for Leanne I was ambivalent about her designs throughout the season. Some I loved, some I could not believe she'd even allow to walk out of the workroom. But her collection seems to be georgeous, and the wedding gown was brilliant, even the original one that Tim did not like - that's originality, that's controversy, that's what fashion world lives for. And the bridesmaid's dress was dreamy and practical - after the wedding you would not have to burn it or shove it into the deepest recesses of your wardrobe, you could wear it on pleanty of occ***ions. And Korto - I dod not even know what happened. It's like she lost any confidence in her own talent, and tried to force in as much crap as would stick, to mask her sudden lack of fashion identity. I worry for her collection.
While Jerrell's bride and bride's maid dresses were lacking, he should have had immunity because last week, he won the challenge, and place for the finals. It was for the producers to accomodate the mean little witch why all four had to re-compete this week. I personally loathed Kenley's wedding dress. I loathe Alexander McQueen's silly clothing, as well, so how can hers be an original thought when Michael recognized her dress as from his line? Oh, Kenley never looks at other designers ....
As for her laughing and rudeness, when Joe was interviewed about Kenley laughing on the runway at his critique, he did mind, and said that Kenley was over the top rude to everyone.
There's no mystery why everyone in that cast hated this poser from the 50s. She is a sociopath. That's why Tim didn't visit with friends. WHO would tolerate a friend with that voice, that level of meanness, and that ego?
I do not see anything runway in Kenley, other than when she copies haute couture designers and then p***es them off as her own designs, like with the Alexander McQueen gown, which I thought looked like a flock of seagulls that blew up.
I really despise her. She ruined this season. I don't respect Heidi, Michael, Nina or even Tim Gunn for being part of a show that's actually scripted and fixed.
Let's tell it like it is. Korto and Jerrell completely missed the boat! What on earth did those designs have to do with a wedding?!?! As for Kenley, yea she is acting like a snot-nosed two year old, but she has talent!! When she shuts her mouth it is amazing how her clothes can talk for her. Leanne has so much talent it is crazy/amazing. She needs someone or something that forces her out of her shell and makes her work outside of her comfort zone. Only then does she let let that talent loose.
I predict Leanne wins, Korto places second and Kenley's attitude ends her in third.