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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The high: the dramatic gray jersey number that took top honors.
The low: The split-personality teal wetsuit whose back door hatched what appeared to be a cheap magician’s bouquet.
Welcome to Season 4 of “Project Runway,” where contestants flung themselves headlong into their first challenge - literally - in Bryant Park tents.
Job one was to design an outfit that reflected the contestants’ design personalities. The results included a couple cutesy dresses worthy of sorority rush, an egg-shaped shift with no distinct personality, a genie costume, and a plain black suit.
The cameras only offered fleeting glimpses of most of the outfits (go to “Rate the Runway” at www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/index.php to see the finished products). It’s just as well, because Week 1 is better served for pigeonholing personalities and determining who’s going to be this season’s troublemaker.
At Mary’s, the East Atlanta Village bar that hosts a weekly “Project Runway” viewing party (“We watch and then we talk [trash] during the commercials,” says the friendly host, Jarod Jones), resentment was already building against Christian Siriano, the Generation Y designer with an impressive resume and a lopsided haircut, and “interdisciplinary artist” Elisa Jimenez. Her grass-staining stunt and ill-timed power nap mark her as a potential problem child. Naturally, the producers may keep her around for yuks.
But this week’s auf was the luckless Simone LeBlanc, whose blah-colored dress-and-jacket combo offered a perfect storm of poor fit, poor workmanship and poor innovation. On the other hand, Rami Kashou impressed the judges with his drapey goddess dress, which billowed around the model as she walked down the runway.
We asked Ray Dudley, a local theatrical designer, for perspective. Dudley says he wasn’t wowed by any of the designs he saw on Episode 1, although he found Rami’s dress to be edgier than most draped dresses. Still, he agrees that Simone should have been the first to get the pointy-toed boot.
The last word: Costume designer Chris March’s zany theatrical getups gave way to a fluid, bias-cut purple dress with a complicated but feminine neckline.
What’s your reaction to Episode 1? Did you see any designs that indicate who’s going to last, or who’s going out of style? Who shows the most promise? And most importantly, who’s going to get on your last nerve?
Permalink | Comments (8) | Categories: Project Runway
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By nypeach
November 15, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
I love Christian: he’s witty, cute and snarky…and snarky is good. I think Elisa left her medication at home so she could be more creative. Simone’s departure was a no-brainer. THat dress couldn’t be any uglier if she tried. I was pretty disappointed with everybody else’s dresses. They were just boring, boring, boring! And Rami’s dress was nice, pretty, but kind of boring, too. I think Christian should have won the challenge.
By threadbare
November 15, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
I agree nypeach! I thought Rami’s dress was classic and well constructed, but what a boring color!
I thought the best dress of the night belonged to Chris — costume designer… I also liked his attitude. You want to place wagers on how soon Christian snaps? I agree that he is snarky and snarky IS good (especially on PR), but I think he has the potential to go off the deep end. Not as quickly as Elisa though!
By lovelyliz
November 15, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
Well you know that the most stereotypical, gay designer is a lock for at least half the season.
By Scott
November 15, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
Looks like there will be some drama this season though!
By Johnny
November 15, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
Is there a gayer show on TV than Project Runway?
By PR fan
November 15, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Nice take on the show. Definitely agree that there wasn’t enough about the actual outfits, which seems a common problem on a season opener with all the contestants in the hunt. Keep the commentary coming!
By Tracy
November 18, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
I loved Rami’s dress. I thought the draping was excellent and the color unexpected which gave it even more edge. Christian’s outfit on the other hand was not flattering for women. I would never wear puff sleeves that big nor bubble shaped skirt.. thank god the 80s are over..! I though Chris’s dress was nicely done but a little dated.. I really liked Voctoria’s dress .. it was chic.. it was my 2cond favorite
By Tracy
November 18, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this
I loved Rami’s dress. I thought the draping was excellent and the color unexpected which gave it even more edge. Christian’s outfit on the other hand was not flattering for women. I would never wear puff sleeves that big nor bubble shaped skirt.. thank god the 80s are over..! I though Chris’s dress was nicely done but a little dated.. I really liked Voctoria’s dress .. it was chic.. it was my 2cond favorite