Preview of Finale Part Two

Click here for the Yahoo preview.

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From The Mailbox

Only one more day!!!! And it seems that everyone is making a prediction...

(Spoiler alert - most of these articles contain photos of the finale designs.)

The Times-Picayune,

The Denver Post

and Madeline's hair:

Photo courtesy of Dan Renzi

Junk Magazine features some behind-the-scenes photos of Christian and Lea. Thanks William.

Our friends at BuddyTV have chosen the best and worst designs from each of the three finalists.

Elle.com offers a slideshow and links to related articles.

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BPR Top 5 Looks: 2nd Place

Every season of Project Runway brings with it a certain number of elements guranteed to raise our ire. Less talented designers last long past their time, a fan favorite gets eliminated just before making it to fashion week, someone breaks a rule or two, the list goes on. Perhaps the biggest boil on our collective butts has been the team challenge concept. We love to complain about them!

But in Season 4, the producers somehow managed to get it just right for one glorious episode that produced some of the most inspired work we've seen on any season.

In "En Garde", the final 8 designers were paired off in teams of two to produce an avant-garde look using the models hairstyle as their inspiration. Victorya Hong and Jillian Lewis went against popular convention as they both wanted to be team leader. Neither headstrong designer would give in and Victorya got the nod by a flip of the coin.


Although Victorya earned praise from the judges on the runway for her ruffled top and jodhpurs, it was Jillian's stunning trench that was the show-stopper. Using a midnight colored fabric with red tartan lining, the coat spoke perfectly to the rebellious theme sported by model Jacqueline's faux-hawk hair. It was a breathtaking showing that demonstrated two heads were sometimes better than one.

Victorya's successful run would soon come to an end as she fizzled out in the denim challenge. But Jillian continued to deliver week after week, showing off her formidable style with a consistency that earned her a spot in the finals. Congratulations Victorya and Jillian - you landed in the #2 spot on the BPR Top 5!

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Another Auction Winner!

Lovely Whitney W won Rami Kashou's prom design in the ProjectRunway.com auction. Doesn't it look fabulous? She wore the dress to a wedding in Aruba, where several of the guests recognized it!

Don't miss out on the current auctions for Sweet P's Finale Collection, Chris March's Finale Collection and the Hershey Collection.

Thanks for sharing your photos, Whitney.

BPRs, if anyone else has photos to share we would love to post them. Please write to Team BPR.

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BPR Top 5 Looks: 3rd Place

Rami Kashou entered Season 4 of Project Runway as the prohibitive favorite to win it all long before we saw his first dash across Bryant Park in the premiere. Even at the relatively young age of 31, Rami was a veteran of the LA fashion shows, had his own studio and dressed the likes of Jessica Alba, Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan. Here was a name designer, and a coup for the producers to land on the cast.

But as we learned with Robert Best in Season 3, name alone does not guarantee success on Project Runway. Would he be able to withstand the rigors of the Parsons workroom?

That answer came quickly when he scored his first win in the season opener. But the look that caught most of our attention was one that forced him out of his comfort zone and into the world of alternative materials in "Eye Candy". Rami brilliantly constructed a pleated skirt out of York Peppermint Patty paper and a top using vinyl Twizzler pillow cases that was exquisite in both its execution and detail.

For everyone who complained that Rami only draped, draped, draped his way through Season 4 - the defense presents you here with Exhibit A. We'll learn Rami's ultimate fate on Wednesday night but for now, he has earned a spot on the BPR Top 5. Congratulations Rami!

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Monday Morning Mailbox

(Photo from Richard Marshall, Pioneer Press)

Jack Mackenroth recently visited Minneapolis to judge a fashion event. Will Jack be back in Season Five?

The Observer looks at season four and makes predictions for the Finale.

Yahoo.com presents a "top ten" list of PR#4 looks. How will they compare with ours? Thanks Jill.

Christian Siriano and Nick Verreos will be among the presenters at the Human Rights Campaign's Los Angeles Dinner on March 15th.

Here is a great interview with Ricky Lizalde from People en Espanol.

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Video - Episode 13

The inimitable parselforce brings you the Project Runway Finale, Part One:



Click here to watch the rest of the episode.

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Video - Project Catwalk, Season 3, Episode 7

For you Project Catwalk addicts the incomparable projectfan4 presents you with the latest installment.


Click here for the rest of the episode.

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BPR Top 5 Looks: 4th Place (tie)

Pretend for a moment, if you will, that you are a 17-year old high school girl getting ready to shop for your prom dress. (Some of you don't have to pretend, I know) You've been given the privilege of rifling through the portfolios of 9 talented designers and the opportunity to choose your favorite for a one of a kind custom design.

How many of you would have chosen Chris?

With its drag queen looks, crazy costumes and mile-high wigs, Chris March's self modeled portfolio looked something like a carnival program. Even Chris wondered, "Who would pick me?"

Krista Balzofiore from St. John Vianney High School wasn't scared away one bit. She loved the fun looks that Chris showed and picked him to make her dream dress in "What A Girl Wants". He refrained from the wacky and designed a lovely green charmeuse dress with an elegant silhouette that was beautifully styled and fitted.

For the second straight challenge, Chris startled us with his talent, making us sit up and take notice. He was much more than just the funny, nice guy providing us some needed moments of levity. We realized he had a chance to go all the way.

What a girl wants is to have fun and look great at her prom. Chris delivered on both counts. Congratulations Chris, you have two spots now on the BPR Top 5 Looks from Season 4!

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Recapalooza!

The Sunday paper is a bit thin this week, but what we have is all quality material:

Uncle Nick always has something juicy to share...
Eric3000 gets a visit from John Stewart...
David Dust plays Plinko and tallies up the ad revenue...
Tiffany is not splitting hairs...
Lorraine wants to slap Michael Kors...
Bay and Amy are ready to cast Season 5 themselves...
Allison loves Tim's visits...
The Modern Gal has fun with Jillian's headwear...
Toyouke goes with the dartboard theory...

ETA: The Minx got lost in our mail somehow, don't miss it!

Thanks recappers - only one more Season 4 'looza to go!

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From The Mailbox

Tim Gunn was on hand at the Bailey House Auction last night. Gawker has the story.

Here is more from Radar. Be sure to scroll down for a great photo of Kara Janx and her family.

Our friend Amy learns that Bette Midler is a big Project Runway fan!

Clutch has posted a fabulous new interview with Zulema Griffin.

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It's a Walkoff!

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Rami's Unfair Advantage?

There has been much emotional chatter the last few days about the Chris and Rami walkoff with fans of both sticking up for their guy. One of the issues that has been raised is the perceived inequity of Rami being able to edit his final collection from what he showed in his 3-piece walkoff with Chris.

First things first: the designers can create as many looks as they choose with their $8000 as long as they stay within budget. They just have to send 12 down the runway. And honestly, it's smart to bring along a couple of extras just in case something gets damaged, or the model fit isn't right, or you learn that you have something that looks exactly like someone else's, or whatever. He had every right to send down any 12 of the designs he created and edit anything out that he saw fit. All of the finalists can do this prior to the runway show.

The real issue it seems to us is whether or not he had an unfair advantage in the end over Christian and Jillian. He was given the opportunity (in a ridiculous plot contrivance) to get feedback on his designs from the VERY SAME JUDGES that would be deliberating the finale win. Of course he took out the coat after hearing what Nina, Heidi and MK had to say. They hated it! With that valuable knowledge in hand, he was able to replace it with another number from his rack.

Jillian and Christian did not benefit from the same opportunity to have 3 of their looks "pre-judged", if you will. We also remain befuddled by the producers continued insistence at a final 3. We thought they fixed this last season. If the final 4 (or 5) are going to show, let them all count!

It remains to be seen if this means anything in the end but was the playing field even in Bryant Park? Or was Rami just being smart by taking full advatage of the judges feedback and eliminating the piece they liked the least?

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Ask The Fashion Professor

Dear Fashion Professor,

The term dressmaker gets said often in the fashion world as well as on Project Runway. What is a dressmaker, and why do they have such a bad reputation? I mean, they are designers too, right?

Thanks,
Chris P.

Hi Chris,

I've heard the term dressmaker used in a derogatory way as well - as if it's an insult - "I'm a designer and you are a lowly dressmaker."

There's a really interesting documentary on Karl Lagerfeld which shows the planning of one of his Chanel collections and during the fittings he's surrounded by these little old French ladies who do all the alterations and to whom he asks advice. Lagerfeld relies on their skills and talent to make fabric do exceptional things.
Behind the scenes at all of the fashion houses is a team of such dressmakers without which Lagerfeld or any other major designer could exist.

To me, the term dressmaker, implies someone of experience and skill. I use it as a term of respect.

The times I've heard dressmaker uttered in an insulting way it was from the mouths of editors, stylists or wannabe designers who know very little about construction or the skills required to make a beautiful gown. I'll take a dressmaker over the lot of them any day.

Cheers,

Anthony

Send your questions to Ask The Fashion Professor.

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BPR Top 5 Looks: 4th Place (tie)

BPR begins its own countown to the finale today as we reveal The Top 5 Looks of Season 4, voted by you! As it turned out, there was no 5th place finisher. Instead there was a dead heat in the 4 spot. First up, Chris March from "Eye Candy".

Few designers have had the ride Chris experienced in Season 4. Eliminated early on in the "Trendsetter" episode, he was given a second shot when Jack Mackenroth became unexpectedly ill during the next challenge. He was nearly eliminated again and desperately needed a confidence boost.

In"Eye Candy", the 10 remaining designers were given 5 minutes to ransack the Times Square Herhey's store in Season 4's alternative material challenge. It proved to be right up Chris's alley as he was able to use his backround in costume design to full advantage.

Chris knew straight away not to go for the candy as he snagged as many fabric-laden objects that he could find. Using Hershey's pillows as the primary source, he created a chic strapless mini-dress with the Hershey's logo running vertically from bust to hip. He called it "Stephen Sprouse meets Andy Warhol" and his model Marcia looked confident and sexy walking this down the runway. This design didn't win the challenge, but it earned Chris March a spot on the BPR Top 5. Congratulations Chris!

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