Yes, but can you DANCE in it? Project Runway Rehash

Satin Stitches | Mar 11, 2008 | 0

Project Runway Judges - are they looking for danceable frocks?

There might not be crying in baseball, but there is definitely crying in fashion!  There were some tears, some stomping of feet, some jubilation, and some dismay during the finale of Project Runway, this last week.

Did all you dancing fashionistas watch?  I love this show, if only to see what the designers come up with for all the challenges, always thinking of course, what I might have done, if I were in their fashionable shoes each week.

As a fashion designer who works in the field of dance costume design, I always look at all fashions as inspiration for dance costumes.  Are there some details that will translate well, for projects that I am currently working on, or will I just need to store that special detail idea for some future use?

Having the opportunity for showing your collection at Bryant Park in New York City, during the Fall-2008 NY Fashion Week, WOW, what a thrill it must be!  For those of you who do not know, currently in New York, during Fashion Week, if you have the money or connections, you can book a show in one of the tents set up at Bryant Park, either in the spring or the fall.  Collections are shown about 6 months in advance of the season.  Buyers, fashion reporters and various celebrity fashionistas attend these shows, and getting good or bad reviews can make or break a designer.  The saying is, you are only as good as your last collection.

Each season of the show, the top three finalists in Project Runway are given money to design and present their collection in front of the world, and the winner gets even bigger opportunities to launch their fashion business.  Cold hard cash is awarded, along with a fashion spread in Elle Magazine.

This reality show is judged by Heidi Klum, super model and executive producer of this show along with many other fashionable shows, Nina Garcia, editor and fashion director of Elle Magazine, Michael Kors, famous mens and womenswear designer, and for the finale, Posh Spice herself, Victoria Beckham.  Viewers can vote for their favorite or voice their opinion on the bravotv.com website, but otherwise have no say in the outcome of the show.

All reality shows have a twist, near the end of the season.  This year, the surprise was that the judges could not decide on the last designer to be eliminated before the final three.  Only three designers go to Bryant Park.  There was a tie for the third position, with Jillian and Christian securing their finale positions.  Rami and Chris had to show three designs to vie for the chance to show at Bryant Park.  Chris March is a larger-than-life costume designer, who designed larger-than-life costumes for a living, and my favorite during the show.

The judges always seemed to mention his background, and costume designer was always a negative thing.  OK, yes I always seem to latch onto the underdog!  But then, a couple of years ago, I flew to Chicago, where Project Runway sets up shop to interview designers for their upcoming seasons.  It was an interesting experience!  Obviously, I did not make the cut.  But I did make the second round, unlike 75 percent of those waiting in line in the cold Chicago wind.  I was ushered into the area of the hotel foyer to chat with the producers.  My fifteen minutes of fame were up in about two minutes, when they discovered my designing was mostly related to costumes.  The quote from one of these three, at least as I remember it now, was ... we are looking for FASHION designers, NOT costume designers.  This signaled the end of my reality television show career!  Hence, my rooting for the only real costume designer that has ever made it to the show.

Anyway, Chris did not make it, but three talented designers did.  Christian Siriano, Jillian Lewis and Rami Kashou all presented their collections, and Christian, the youngest, with the most potential and flair, DID win the show.  Most of his designs were over-the-top haute couture, but definitely inspired designs, if not totally wearable.  The designs from Rami and Jillian were more wearable and some were definitely danceable.

Ramis dress and jacket with basket weaving detailing were incredible.  He was known for lots of Grecian draping on evening gowns all during the season, so it was nice to see something different.  Jillian had very intricately designed sportswear, which kept true to her look.  The judges were excited to see knitwear from her, which she had not worked with during the preliminary part of the show.

In reading news stories and the fashion blogs rehashing the show, the finalists and the winner, everyone agrees that Christian has an incredible talent that we hope will be channeled into a phenomenal future.  As he stated, his designs are FIERCE.  But a big costume designer got his chance to show what he could do, and costume designers everywhere cheer his talent and accomplishments.  This costume designer, included!

Project Runway showcased very talented designers this year.  I cannot wait to see who makes the fifth season!  I hope that the producers keep an open mind and continue to include costume designers with their cadre of talented contestants. And that the fashions that are created during the season, I hope they are danceable and as inspirational for us costume designers, as those seen this year.

Me?  I have moved on, and am content to watch the show from the comfort of my family room.  I have not seen the schedule for the new auditions, but I am sure this will publish soon.  Maybe YOU will get the chance of a lifetime, to be a star on Project Runway?!

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Enthusiast, Studio, Costume Design, Costumes (all tags)