The Dao of Chloe

Project Runway

By EdHIll | Friday, March 10, 2006 | 11:49 pm | 60 Comments

PR-03-08-06a.jpgWell, I have to admit that was one heck of a Project Runway finale. Really very exciting. About twenty minutes in I figured out why. This show is one of the few where the big prize actually means something. Instead of some silly live boardroom or a wacky gauntlet, the contestants get to show their work at the most prestigious fashion show of the year. So it’s a prize that is really worth something. Sufiice it to say I was having a grand old time watching this episode. I was about as excited as a heterosexual man should be at a reality show about fashion. Then thirty minutes in I realized that this will be the last time Tim tell me to “make it work� and it made me sad. The last time we can come up with weird food combinations of what we think Santino smells like (my final theory: hot garbage with rancid yogurt on top). Now I need a Tim Gunn alarm clock so I can have him wake me up every morning with a nice cheery “Time to make it work!� Then if I hit snooze I can here him say “This bothers me.�

But what a sendoff. It was a night full of surprises when everyone’s predictions getting tossed aside in what I consider to be a true upset win. A model almost fell down on the runway too, which is always fun. And to top it all off we get the best critiques yet with Michael Kors at his bitchy best. Behold dear reader, the season finale of Project Runway (Part 2).
The show starts where last weeks cliffhanger left off. The remaining three designers have to come up with a new 13th look in the next two days and it has to be part of the collection they show at fashion week., Since all three of them still have a lot of work left on the collections they do have, they haven’t taken the news well. Luckily they have 3 people to help them. Diana, Nick and Andrae. Daniel is going with a mohair camel. Not sure what that means but then again I bet Daniel couldn’t tell me the starting lineup for the 2004 World Champion Boston Red Sox. Everyone’s got their strengths. Chloe is going with another gold dress and Santino got some jersey from Mood but still isn’t sure what it is he is going to make. And I’m not sure what jersey is.

They have until 1 AM and they are all working so hard and so intensely it leaves little time for cattiness and arguing that makes reality shows so entertaining. C’mon, Gauntlet it up a little. Someone steal some chiffon! Unfortunately they all work until 1 am without incident and the next morning it’s back to the grind. After a few minutes of the classic Santino Tim Gunn impression, the man himself walks in and he’s got a visitor. Its Collier Strong, Tim says, doing his best Peter Pan impression.

PR-03-08-06b.jpg
“Second star to the right and straight on until morning!�

Form here they all go the L’Oreal makeup room and work on their makeup ideas for the show. Daniel wants a windblown look. Chloe wants a light look, and Santino wants a smoky eye look. While they are off doing makeup the other elves are back working on their thirteenth look. Regarding Santino’s piece, Andrae tells us “Its gonna be a dress or some permutation thereof.� Gee, I’d be really interested to see what other permutations of dress there are. I think Andrae was just waiting for a moment to use the word permutation in a sentence. Soon the designers rush back to join them and continue their work.

PR-03-08-06e.jpgSantino and Andrae actually come up with a pretty nice dress, although thee maxi pads and pasties idea from last episode was my first choice. Even Tim agrees with me (not the maxi pad thing, the dress). When he stops by to see how everyone is doing he says he thinks his dress looks stunning. Daniel loves his thirteenth dress, but Daniel seems to love everything he touches these days. Also I’ve noticed Daniels gayness seems to be coming out more in the final episodes than it did anytime before now. Lots of hand movements when he talks and exaggerated syllables. “I love it. I Looove this piece!� he tells the camera as he hangs it up. Must be the stress. When Tim sees Chloe’s dress he’s amazed they are taking the time to add pockets since they have so little time left. Diana just tells him that it looks cute with the model with her hands in them.

Tim then gathers the final 3 together. Its time to pick the order in which they will present their collections. Picking from a bag it is Daniel, Chloe and Santino. Tim then tells them they can work up until 4 am, and they have a 5 am call for tomorrow. From here the designers just jump into a mad last minute rush. Fitting models on the fly, sewing, running around. You can feel the excitement. Daniel of course just talks about how great he is and how amazing his collection is as he works. Something tells me the boy isn’t gonna win. They work all the way through until 4 am, go home, change, and are back out the door without sleep. Otr as I like to call it, they pulled a “Zulema�.

PR-03-08-06g.jpgWhat follows next is the Hoosiers moment. Remember when Gene Hackman brings his kids to the state championship basketball court the day before the big game? And then the kids look at the huge arena they are going to play in and Hackman then has them measure the court to remind them that it’s just the same as the court back home in good old Hickory. It’s just like that, only Tim Gunn is Gene Hackman. And Santino is Rudy. No wait, Rudy’s on 24. Santino is “Duke� Laloosh and Daniel is… lets say Brian Piccolo.

Backstage they all rush to get everything ready. They even start the hip runway music that gets your blood pumping. With two hours until the runway show Nick, Diana and Andrae show up. Tim comes by and sees that Daniel is having a bunch of people (Tim’s Parsons students I find out later after listening to Tim’s podcast. Yes, I am a geek) help him sew. Tim doesn’t understand why they need to be sewing two hours before the runway show. “All right. I’m just surprised, that’s all.â€? Tim says in his oh so classy passive aggressive guilt trippy way.

PR-03-08-06h.jpgChloe goes to check on Grace’s hair and isn’t happy with it. She makes them do it all over again. She just wants to see “a lightness coming from her!� the lack of sleep is making her a diva she tells us. Things get more and more hectic and the seats are starting to fill. All of season two’s contestants are seated in the front row, and everyone’s family starts to filter in as well. But the drama continues backstage. It seems that Daniel has lost his designer bags. Which is weird because how hard is it to lose track of 34 pounds of wood? Tim Gunn has probably the best line of the night when he looks at him and simply says “Some things happen for a reason�. Amazingly Daniel just doesn’t get the hint. He still wants those bags. When someone asks him if people are looking for his bags Daniel says “A thousand people should be, but I don’t know if anyone actually is.� Yes Daniel, lets just stop Olympus Fashion Week in its tracks so we can have a thousand people search for your driftwood. Thank god a few minutes later he finds them. That’s right; Daniels secret weapon is safe even though someone tried to steal it from him out of pure jealousy. Santino’s mom is in the audience and Santino tells us that he hasn’t seen her in 4 years because he cant afford to fly out. When we here her talking about how proud she is of him she gets “a little ver klempt�. First awww moment of the night.

Finally the lights dim, the models are positioned and its time for the show. And I feel like a dork because the whole thing actually got me kind of excited. Heidi comes onstage and greets everyone in a dress that is cramming her boobs together so tight I let out an audible gasp. Michael Kors, you are a genius! As we cut to the crowd we see that for some random reason Santino’s mother is sitting right next to Beth Ostrosky, Howard Stern’s horse faced girlfriend. That made me laugh.

PR-03-08-06i.jpg

Heidi tells the audience that she is proud of all three designers and loves them all. Daniel Franco winces. Then she introduces the “guest judge� Will and Grace’s Debra Messing. I feel the same way about her as I did about Parker Posey as last season’s guest judge. Just because you are an actress who likes clothes doesn’t really mean you’re qualified to be a judge with Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. You’re not going to see me Umpire the All Star Game. Ah well, on with the show.

Daniel comes out and gives his little intro, says he loves his family and says his collection is for them. Hear that dad? You got yourself a camel mohair dress in your future! Daniels show for me was kind of dull. Except for a few pieces they all seemed really vanilla and uninteresting. Where is the craziness from last season where Jay had women coming out wearing fur lined headphones? But hey, this is for Banana Republic so maybe its perfect. The only other memorable thing about his show is his model Rebecca almost takes a tumble right there on the runway. Granted you can’t really blame her because the gown she was wearing was about 12 feet long and gave her about a 4 inch space for her feet. But that wasn’t the only danger Daniels models had to contend with. I heard half of them had to get rushed to the ER with massive splinters. Rimshot!
PR-03-08-06o.jpgPR-03-08-06p.jpg

Next up is Chloe, who looks even smaller than usual on that stage. Seriously, the microphone is like the size of a tree trunk in her hand. We start with the “couch piece� as I’ve decided to call it, based on Santino’s pretty accurate description from last episode. Poofiness doesn’t even begin to describe it. In fact you’d have to invent a whole new adjective to describe its poofiness. Like, say “krelpy�. Yeah, the dress was way krelpy. Other than that and a few other duds, her pieces are actually very nice. They fit the models well, and she has the seams placed in these flattering positions along their bodies. And of course, my Grace does an outstanding job as always. When she gives her little turn around runway look, it’s like she’s looking into my soul. Either that or I just got a thing for redheads. Or both.
PR-03-08-06m.jpgPR-03-08-06d.jpg

Finally it’s Santino. He starts of by screaming out “New York Cityyy!� to the crowd, a sure sign of a tourist (ooh, look at me getting all bitchy!). You can tell from his speech that he really is rattled by the whole “I’m a villan� personality that the show has turned him into. Dude needs to chill. It’s reality TV, that’s just the way it goes. If it makes him feel any better he can be one of my Myspace friends! Him and Daniel Franco, but I want him to invite me just so I can reject him, cuz that would be funny. Santino then gives a sweet little shout out to his mom who is in the audience and the show gets under way. The first thing I notice is that the runway music is Santino himself singing, or rapping. Oooh. Bad choice. I can’t emphasize how much of a bad choice that is. The Crazy Frog ring tone would have worked better. The guy is still sewing buttons on an hour before the show starts but he had time to put together 4 minute crappy rap song for the runway? I will say however that some of Santino’s pieces are really well done. Much better than anything else I’ve seen of him so far this year. The only downside, which I actually didn’t notice until it was pointed out to me later by Michael Kors, was that none of them really fit the models very well. That and the whole thing just looked kind of safe. Where are the crazy ruffles? Where are the shards of felt?
PR-03-08-06l.jpg PR-03-08-06n.jpg

After the shows are over things are still pretty electric backstage. Now that the contestants are being interviewed by press they whole enormity of it starts to take over. Santino with his arm around his mother even starts to tear up a little which was kind of sweet. Oh who am I kidding, I love the big lug! Let’s all go to Red Lobster!

Now its time for the judging. The final runway critique of the year. Debra Messing starts it all off by asking Daniel what was the “story� he was trying to tell. Merging the military and Asian influences with silhouettes, he says. Kors just says that it looks like it has nothing to do with the military, and all he wants to do is rip that patch right off the front of the dress. You se Daniels dress has a giant breastplate on the front. With a tassel hanging from it. Yeah that’s right. A tassel. It looks like one of those old style doorbell pull things, which is apt since its right near the models knockers. ZING!! They all agree that his 13th dress was great and brought his collection to a new level, but they also still feel that the collection lacked a cohesiveness.

They think Santino’s collection was very different than what they are used to. It was much quieter. They think he was going too safe. They all start ragging on him for his fit. Heidi has problems with their tops. “The boobs were never where they are supposed to beâ€?. And if Heidi Klum knows anything, it’s boobs.

Chloe’s collection is all about evening wear and dresses. She says she does a lot of sportswear, but her dream collection is evening wear. Heidi doesn’t like the matching shrugs (A new word I learned). Debra messing loves her thirteenth look.

They then ask them what each of them has that the other doest. Santino says “I know beautiful things�, as Daniels eyes roll. He declares that some of the things he’s created for this collection are things that “quite possibly, are forever�. Whaaa? I’m sorry my friend, but only Diamonds are Forever. Chloe says she is a real business woman and runs a successful business. Daniel says the one thing that he has that they don’t have is his ‘point of view� and that it is something the American people want to relate too. Which is true. Just yesterday I was thinking “Man, we need more dresses with tassels�.

PR-03-08-06j.jpg

PR-03-08-06q.jpgAfter some deliberations, which are edited in such a way that we hear good and bad about everything, they bring the three contestants out. Its time to crown the winner. But first, we must dump a loser. The third runner up if you will. And, amazingly, since I thought he was going to win it or at least get second place, Santino is out.. They felt they didn’t see enough of him. Then Santino gets his auf wiedersehen cheek kiss from Heidi and a rash instantly breaks out all over her mouth.

Its down to Chloe and Daniel. They feel Daniel has impeccable taste, and that Chloe truly understands how to dress women. They pause, the music swells, the camera does a dramatic pan shot, I get way too excited and then look around to make sure no one can see me, and they announce the winner….

It’s Chloe! And she can’t believe it. She is stunned. Daniel gets his auf wiedersehen and as he’s walking of the runway Michael Kors tells him that if he ever needs a job he should give him a call, he’d love to hear from him. Hear that Daniel? Someone’s just got a job making coffee for the Michael Kors! Everyone’s a winner!

And then as almost an afterthought, Grace comes out and Chloe goes “Oh yeah, Grace you’re a winner too!� And grace does a little happy dance. That’s my girl. The next thing that happens stuns and shocks me. Grace speaks! We actually get to hear her talk in her own little confessional interview talking about how excited she is for Chloe. Hmmm, I’m not sure I like her as much now that I know she can talk. I was kind of assuming that she was a deaf mute the whole season. I mean that was half her appeal right there. A deaf mute model. If she loved Playstation and owned a liquor store she would’ve hit the ultimate guy trifecta. I KID! I KID! I love Grace and I love strong opinionated women. I wasn’t however lying about the Playstation and liquor store parts. That would be sweet.
Chloe’s family then all come out and there are tears everywhere. It’s a happy sight. And with that another season of Project Runway comes to a close.

PR-03-08-06r.jpg

What did everyone think? Were they shocked by Chloes win? Do you think Santino should have won?

About

60 Comments

  1. 1
    Leah3t
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 8:16 pm

    So wait, is Santino part black and did I miss that completely until this ep? Becase if so I am feeling a teeny bit less proud to be black.

    In seriousness though, i did like santino’s stuff. mostly becuase i love pink and i love dresses. danie’s stuff was cool but it looked like stuff you could get at kenneth cole. not all that cutting edge.

    Chole was cool too i guess. I think last season’s shows were a lot better.

  2. 2
    bfrost
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 8:42 pm

    I am so heartbroken this season is over. Ed Hill, if you create the Tim Gunn alarm clock, I will be your first buyer! Does anyone know when the next season is starting? I am getting the dt’s already!

  3. 3
    The_Svan
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 9:27 pm

    Santino should have won. They penalized him for doing exactly what they wanted him to do. Fuckwads.

    Did everyone else think that all the speeches by the designers were unprofessional and shitty?

    Hey how about removing the talking ad on the home page? That would be swell.

  4. 4
    Blue
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 9:56 pm

    Santino got robbed..
    Debra Messing is often in fashion police..how is she s judge, if this were a la American idol, Fried onions boy would have made it..
    you go santino, BR finds Dao more malleable

  5. 5
    zevonia
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 10:04 pm

    Thanks for all the recaps, EdHill- thoroughly enjoyable. Even though I’m female, I may not be the best judge of women’s clothing (I prefer to wear jeans and t-shirts) but I thought much of Chloe’s collection looked awkward. I think The_Svan is right about Santino. They always complained when his stuff was too “out there” then he does a fairly nice collection and they complain he played it too safe. Make up your minds, people! (Though Heidi was right about the boob placement.) I also agree about the talking ad- it’s kind of annoying.

  6. 6
    TooMuchTooSoon
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 10:18 pm

    I saw Santino at Lucy’s El Adobe in LA having margaritas with a ladyfriend last weekend. Alas he was too far away to get a good whiff.

  7. 7
    TinkerbellAPixie
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 10:37 pm

    I haven’t even finished reading yet but I felt compelled to comment. EdHill, I know you have a long standing thing going on with LizardQueen (and God knows I love her and wouldn’t hone in on her man) but if you keep making Peter Pan/Tinkerbell references in all your recaps I’m gonna have to scoop you out from under her.

  8. 8
    TinkerbellAPixie
    Posted March 10, 2006 at 10:52 pm

    OK – read it. Now someone sign me up for a Tim Gunn Alarm clock – I can not imagine a better way to wake up. He was so cute in this episode.

    It finally dawned on me why Santino’s voice has sounded so familiar to me. The other night I was watching “My Name is Earl” and they had a character that had to put one of those vibrator things up to his voicebox in order to speak. That electronic hummy voice is EXACTLY the way Santino sounds.

    Btw, congrats on having your model win Ed – she looked better tonight than she has all season. She should get to keep that blue dress, it fit her like a dream.

  9. 9
    Lizardqueen
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 12:14 am

    EdHill, you are my muse. I read about your Alfness. Bring it on baby. Bring. It. On!
    I do believe the job Kors was offering Daniel was what the kids call a “B.J.”
    Chloe’s stuff was a disaster. Very 80′s prom queen. Though, I want the chance to rock the devil out of that hot dress Grace was wearing. I detest shrugs. It may be just because I don’t have the sack to wear that garbage, or maybe because it’s hideous.
    Daniel, you already know how I feel about your 8th grade wood shop ass. Or is it domestic arts?
    Ah, Santino. It’s ok that you screamed “My mom’s the shit, yo!!” into the mike. The judges were lame beacause this was truly the first time the designers had a clean slate. The challenge was to build a 12 piece collection. No famous buyer. No leaves and fern party. No clothes off your back. Straight up, 12 pieces of your desire. + 1. How are they gonna hate on Santino for that?
    Finally, we all hope, has anyone seen Kara’s fashion week designs? Bizarrely, this was my favorite collection. Minus the queer sherpa hats on all the models. I would wear 90% of her garments. That seems like an unusually high percentage.
    Ugh, Debra Messing. What the devil was that about? At least get Madonna or Chloe Sevigny or some other ubiquitous fashion whore.

    PS-EdHill et al. I am now offering to comp as your editor. Really. It’s three o’clock and I’m barely awake. How’d I do? I’m also offering my modeling services to any TVgasm’er who is going to NYC to try out for PR3. I’m 5’10″ and a size 6. Make it work, people.

  10. 10
    plethLaura
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 1:55 am

    Listen to The_Svan, people!
    The talking ad bothers us all.

    If Chole had included separates I fear there would have been stirrup pants and belted man-shirts. Her collection was definitely copied from a circa 1985 Soap Opera awards show.

    Betcha Santino gets more famouser than anyone.

    I will miss you, Tim Gunn.

    (Dammit LQ! 5’10″? Damn you!)

  11. 11
    jenny10girl
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 6:03 am

    I think Chloe’s collection looked like a bad 80s prom, but that’s just me. Santino was robbed…!

  12. 12
    holyterror
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 6:11 am

    I knew Daniel was dead the second I saw that white pleated skirt on the hanger.

  13. 13
    KateMcV
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 6:44 am

    I’m a little sad Daniel didn’t win, but at least it wasn’t Santino!

    I agree with the_svan….I thought the speeches were totally unprofessional.

    There seemed to be a little less drama this year, where was the arguments over shoes? Maybe a Bravo person saw this and stole Daniel’s handbags for a little bit.

    And sign me up for an alarm clock, there’s no better way to wake up than to the lovely voice of Tim Gunn!!

  14. 14
    Keyser Soze
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 6:45 am

    I have to agree with The_Svan. They complain about Santino all season, and when he finally does what they want, they hold it against him. IM SORRY NINA, but you suck! I would strangle you too. Also, his models did not show up for fitting- how is that fair? Debra Messing? WTF?! That’s the best they could do?
    I must have a Tim Gunn alarm clock. In addition to “Time to make it work” and “This bothers me”, the snooze button could say “You’ve got 30 minutes to sketch, and then we go shopping.”

  15. 15
    Lizardqueen
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 6:59 am

    Is the Tim Gunn alarm clock a metal rendition of Tim? Or is his face on the face? Love the two snooze button options already offered. God I wish Tim Gunn would show up at my house and take me fabric shopping. Can there be a “What happened to Andrae?” bonus offering?

  16. 16
    dasher
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 7:53 am

    Okay, some of you may think this sounds freaky, but I’d prefer to wake up with the real Tim Gunn’s voice. I do not know why, but that man revs my engine.

  17. 17
    TinkerbellAPixie
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 10:28 am

    I wouldn’t mind the talking ad half as much if it was Tim Gunn’s voice. However, since a large majority of us read these recaps at work (shh don’t tell the boss) these ads are screaming for us to get busted. Now if we then lose our jobs for reading recaps at work, we can’t pay our internet bill and then you lose your audience. Wouldn’t it be easier to lose the ads instead?

    Make it work.

  18. 18
    Vasha
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 10:35 am

    Great recap as usual Edhill. Yea, can there be a “where is Andrea?” cuz I’d love to have that clock.
    Daniel’s line sucked ass, Chloe’s had a few good outfits, but i think Santino should have won.
    Oh and if what Tink says is true, then i’m totally jealous of LizardQueen.

  19. 19
    Vasha
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 10:37 am

    Yes Dasher, I find it very freaky.

  20. 20
    jash
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 10:47 am

    i think santino shot himself in the foot over the course of the season.

    he brings these outrageous outfits out every challenge almost as a challeneg to the judges. then when he does his runway collection, he produces something that is the antithesis of everything he has done heretofore. what else were the judges supposed to say? it WASNT him–or the him he led us to believe. his collection was nice though.

    daniel is totally banana republic/calvin klein. very clean and i liked the colors and prints and hated HATED HATED those breastplates.

    chloe was stunning in execution, awful in fabris selection. like i said on the last post, her big poofy sleeves and whatnot are very much what is on the way in from the bigger fashion designers–even santino had an outfit with those billowy (awful) sleeves.

    i partially believe they chose chloe because she is a business woman and they were guaranteed she would take the money/mentorship and run with it unlike the winner from season 1. i mean think if you were banana republic and the winner didnt take the money from the show you so overtly sponsor. AGAIN. would you sponsor the show a third season? i wouldnt. this is just a theory however and she really was better in styling and execution than daniel.

    AND FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WE HAVE ALL HAD IT WITH THE GODDAMN TALKING AD! whoever invented ads with noise SHOULD BE LEFT FOR DEAD IN A CROATIAN PRISON CELL.

  21. 21
    patti
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 10:55 am

    I just realized that Chloe’s 13th design for her collection looks scarily similar to Santino’s winning design in the first episode! Compare them here:

    http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway_2/Episodes/Episode_14/Rate_the_Runway/Chloe_7.shtml

    http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway_2/Episodes/Episode_1/Rate_the_Runway/Santino.shtml

  22. 22
    Flush it all away
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 11:17 am

    Good recap. Overall, I thought the runway show was far less interesting than last year’s, but oh well.

    However, I must point out that it’s “Nuke” LaLoosh, not “Duke.” I get the whole “just because I’m recapping Project Runway doesn’t mean I’m gay” thing, but throwing in a sports reference every other line is a little gratuitous. Again, we get it.

    Incidentally, it’s good to see that the Project Runway producers haven’t lost their golden touch with Top Chef. Oh wait, that show is actually a steaming pile of dung. Nevermind.

  23. 23
    jash
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 11:27 am

    patti-i thought about that too, but then realized it is a ‘baby doll dress’ which pretty much always looks the same no matter what.

  24. 24
    heehaw
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 11:38 am

    to the tune of “project runway” the musical.

    tim gunn… tim gunn… if he praises your work you’re done…. what happened to santininioooooo….?

    yeah like i said before screw klum, korrs and garcia. {also messing} the f&^ked up judges setup santino by bitching all season about his designs to get a reaction for the show. then when he hits a homer they shoot him down to get even because he told them all to f^%k off. DISAPPOINTING!

  25. 25
    ceenee
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 11:48 am

    I was, in the immortal words of Michael Kors, “underwhelmed” by all three designers’ collections… Chole’s reminded me of the horrendous prom dress Molly Ringwald made in Pretty In Pink… Daniel’s was simply boring… and Santino’s was completely sanitized. I almost didn’t want anyone to win!

    However, I think they probably made the safest choice with Chloe. She’ll be perfect for Banana Republic.

  26. 26
    patti
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 1:30 pm

    jash, while it’s true there will be similarities because the style is babydoll, it doesn’t mean the cuts will be as similar, or the necklines, or the fullness of the dress or the way the hemlines fall (longer in the back). I wouldn’t even think it would be anything but subconscious on Chloe’s part. But I do think the dresses are very, very, similar.

  27. 27
    herkxena
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 1:46 pm

    I have to say, I loved Chloe’s collection. While watching Santino’s and Daniel’s collection, I kept thinking that I have seen the same sort of clothing in TV ad’s now being broadcast for JCPenney, Nordstroms, etc. Nothing new. I think the judges got it right when they said that Chloe knows how to design and fit a garment for a real woman. I am actually going to buy the Elle issue with Grace modelling Chloe’s designs. There were several pieces that I would love to have in my closet for a special occasion.

  28. 28
    The_Svan
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 1:57 pm

    herkxena, good luck in finding that issue. The Svan thinks EdHill will buy them all up.

  29. 29
    Aries
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 2:44 pm

    I too liked Chloe’s collection and am happy she won. But then I’ve been a Chloe fan all along. I do think it’s unfair the way the judges said Santino was “too safe” after telling him the whole season that he went too far and needed to self-edit. However, they were on point when they said that the clothes didn’t fit. Maybe he only used forms because his models didn’t show up but it was a costly decision. As for Daniel, his clothes were very blah although well made. All in all, I think the right choice was made, although immediately after watching the runway competition, I thought it was anyone’s to win.

  30. 30
    Anistar
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 2:44 pm

    Good recap, EdHill & sign me up for the Tim Gunn alarm clock immediately!

    This was really Daniel’s to lose … and he did. Like Tim Gunn said in his podcast, they couldn’t choose Santino as the winner, because then it would look like Project Runway just chooses lunatics (don’t get me wrong, I love Jay).

    Too bad, though, because Santino did a good job with his collection, even if it turned out a little bland. He cost himself this competition too, with his self-hate and hysterics, but hopefully he’ll make it work in the long run.

  31. 31
    heehaw
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 2:55 pm

    the judges complained that santinos designs did not fit properly. “HE has not seen these clothes on a person”,”"the boobs were in the wrong places,” the way i remember it his models showed up a day late. chloes models were the only ones that showed up on time. and guess what? chloe won. sounds like sabatoge to me. further proof of a SETUP! project runway YOU GUYS SUCK!

    also judges. shut the f^&k up about what the 13th project was. big damn deal

  32. 32
    anonym.
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 4:45 pm

    oh, i totally agree with you , EdHill- i HATE how celebrities (either A-list, like debra messing, or Z-list, parker posey)think they know everything about fashion, just because they wear designer clothes..that their STYLISTS pick out!

  33. 33
    Jesus_loves_you
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 4:56 pm

    All season long the judges beat up Santino for coloring outside the lines with his outfits, nearly getting voted off three or four or more times for it. Then he follows there freakin advice and they dare tell him we were expecting to see more of the real Santino. WTF? They totally mind-f*cked him. But at the same time he is totally not Banana, which would require typical lame, boring, uninspired clothing, so really Marla should have won.

  34. 34
    KatiesHole
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 5:44 pm

    Since when is Debra Messing A list? I hate her. Any red head cracks a joke and she thinks she Lucille Ball.

    Any comedic actress can play that role on W&G. She brings nothing to it.

    The hole is not a fan of Debra ‘Missing-Talent’.

    KH

  35. 35
    anonym.
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 6:05 pm

    KatiesHole- haha very true..but remember: A-list does not equal talented. A-list means expensive designers throwing free shit your way and being way too overpaid for work that, most times (in messing’s case, it’s ALL the time), is utter crap

  36. 36
    DeAnn
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 6:26 pm

    You make me sad I haven’t watched this before. I will try to catch the seasons on the repeats AND I will definitely watch the next season. Definitely!

  37. 37
    fozziewocka
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 8:05 pm

    I didn’t like the whole debra messing thing either. My roommate & I got into a discussion about who should be a finale judge. I understand they want a “NAME” to blow up the last show, but I’ll take joan & melissa any day!
    More importantly, what will be twist for next season?!? I would love to see the designers having to do both mens & womens wear–now that’s talent!

  38. 38
    pea
    Posted March 11, 2006 at 8:59 pm

    They picked Chloe because she was consistent and interesting to watch the whole competition. Her runway show was daring, well made, and the collection actually looked like a collection. Not only that, she has business sense.

    I was surprised by Santino. I actually thought he was going to win. His collection was toned down, but didn’t have the Santino-esque quality we all know and love. I guess he took the criticism he recieved too far. He didn’t balance it out enough.

    Daniel is young and although very tasteful he doesn’t have enough of that point of view he so boldly confessed he had. He needed to take more risks. He’s a great designer and very versatile (as evidenced by winning practically every challenge), but he follows directions a little bit too well. I couldn’t help but feel I had seen his stuff, and although his creative vision was an interesting concept, he didn’t realize it the way Santino could have if given the idea.

    Anyway, I’m glad Chloe won. I was rooting for her.

  39. 39
    killbondnow
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 4:04 am

    I agree, please ditch the talking ad — it startled me almost to death…

    BOOOO to Chloe’s win — I thought the entire idea was to “help someone start a line and give them money to get their business going.” SHE ALREADY HAS A LINE, *AND* HER OWN STORE!!! Was I watching the same show as everyone else? Nice job, guys. Santino made himself temporarily homeless with the failure of a first line, so HE was the one who really needed the help. And lemme see, Daniel (scratching his way through New York) versus Chloe (lives in Houston with a massive family with a massive house as backup…) Not impressed. Last season was much better. I hope they go back to different-model-every show format again, this was really unfair to the models as well.

    Hope that I did, I knew it was all over for Santino when he brayed “My mother is the sh*t!” to a crowd full of industry professionals (AND his mother)…I’m sure she wasn’t mortified by that…

  40. 40
    dojean
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 5:22 am

    Here’s an idea for next season – have the judges rule on some of the oufits without knowing who the designer is. Switch out the models and have a blind judging. The integrity of the competition will go way up.

  41. 41
    Lizardqueen
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 5:46 am

    dojean, I love that idea. That way we would be spared some of the imbecilic commentary. “I was just trying to make it very feminine. Very Hollywood and glamourous.” Wow, I’ve never heard that before. Feminine, for women? Who’d have thunk it? It was getting as bad as post victory sports interviews. “How’d you win that game?” “Well, we just tried to take it to the hole. Play tough D. And come out with the W.” Brilliant. It’s almost as if you tried to play basketball.

  42. 42
    Lizardqueen
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 8:08 am

    I finally experienced the annoyance that is the talking ad (speakers have been off). The TVgasm peeps need to be inundated with e-mails about this if it is really bothering people. Send your hate to staff@tvgasm.com. Also send an e-mail to the people that made the offending ad. Assure them that you will never visit their site or buy their product (what’s it even for?). I come from the land of annoying advertisements and have called businesses many times to let them know their ads make me want to throw an anvil at my TV. Some of my most despised ads have been for Nationwide Warehouse, which screamed it’s entire commercial, and Ruby Vine from Railroad Salvage, he being the president of the bad toupee club of America. Both of these are blessedly now out of business. Now if I could just do something about that damn Bob’s Discount Furniture. Since I am probably the only person still reading this thread I may post this suggestion again somewhere else.

  43. 43
    TinkerbellAPixie
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 12:13 pm

    LQ – I’m still reading it and will email the website. No one needs the white noise of chatty ads.

  44. 44
    mere2142
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 2:31 pm

    Ed…I want a Tim Gunn alarm clock!

  45. 45
    nic
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 5:43 pm

    I wish I could buy a Tim Gunn alarm clock that would would wake me up telling me to make it work!

  46. 46
    chronic
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 6:57 pm

    Well in Canada, we’re just about to have the makeover episode. I really hope they’re in synch next time, this sucks ass. I sooooo was rooting for Santino.

    As for that ad, I’d be happy if there was just a mute button on it (have I missed it?). I like to listen to music while I’m on the computer, means I have to turn it all off. Plus, I have a slow connection at home so it buggers that up too.

  47. 47
    AvaMarie
    Posted March 12, 2006 at 8:18 pm

    I read the recap and then watched the episode this weekend. First of all, does it not seem fishy how Chloe didn’t have anything to show for work when Tim showed up? No sketches, just fabric. BTW, she only used 4 different fabrics. Those fabrics had better been $2000 a piece. I am sure she put her seven other sisters to work and then Houston had it’s very own Laotian sweatshop. Then when she goes back to New York for the 13th piece, she had a sketch! I think she is a liar and a crook. Then the judges went all stupid complaining that Daniel’s collection didn’t tell a story. Could someone please tell me Chloe’s story?

  48. 48
    Laurie
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 7:04 am

    Here’s another buyer for the Tim Gunn alarm clock. He’s fantastic.

    Overall this season has been kind of meh… for me. I don’t feel like the challenges were as intresting as last years, and with the exception of Santino, no body was a real out of the box thinking. Almost every design was pretty safe/boring. Chloe’s exploding couch collection was the pinacle of that.

  49. 49
    AbbyAnn
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 7:39 am

    The judges and models didn’t do Santino in. He did himself in way back when he set the pattern of making crazy clothes and being kept around only because of his “point of view.” Yes, he was criticized for being so extreme, but the only reason he was in the final 3 was because of his point of view. If he had shown the judges the more refined look earlier in the competition, they wouldn’t have felt that he lost himself in the end. If you’re kept around only because of your point of view and then you give that up, you’ve shot yourself in the foot.

    As for the models not showing, I think Santino just got unlucky. His clothes didn’t fit as well as Daniel’s and Chloe’s, making them look less well-made. We’ve seen plenty of models not show up in the past (remember Austin stepping in a model last season?) so I don’t think it was something the producers deliberately did to Santino. It’s a risk of the fashion world.

  50. 50
    stacyrocks
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 9:24 am

    I liked Santino’s collection, even though it didn’t fit the models perfectly. I’m fine with Chloe winning the whole thing though. I will never forget dear Santino :P

  51. 51
    jfn
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 9:44 am

    I have to admit, I’m exhausted. After the finale, I was all hopped up and couldn’t sleep, but that’s no surprise, seeing as my Wednesday night insomnia has grown more persistant as the competition has become more intense. The only difference was that this week I had the ill-conceived Top Chef to “entertain” me after my beloved PR had expired. Top Chef is pretty much a nightmare. That Katie Lee Joel has all the personality of a sock puppet and none of the smarts!

    But anyway, I’m happy that Chloe won. Even though I actually, surprisingly think that her final collection was the weakest, I’ve loved everything she’s done all season and would definitely wear her stuff. I thought Daniel’s final colection was lovely. That white pea coat ruled, as did the wrap sweater with the pants. Loved it. Clean lines.

    The thing that killed me about this episode though was that Nina Garcia had the f-ing gall to say that there wasn’t enough Santino in Santino’s collection. Nina, please. You spend all freakin’ season eviscertaing the man and then you wonder why he’s “worn down,” as you said, by the end. It was total b.s. Shame on you, Nina Garcia.

    And Debra Messing had no business being there. She looked like a trainwreck and had nothing of any interest to contribute. She sucks. I’ve always thought Will and Grace was a suck show, but now this appearance just confirms that Messing really has little or nothing going for her. Annoying.

  52. 52
    aeb
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 10:11 am

    i have been obsessed with chloe since day one, so i am pumped with her win.

    honestly, i would have put santino in second. his dresses were beautiful. but heidi was right – his tops WERE all kinds of messed up. the bust line was either too short or waaaaaaaaaaaay too low for the style and cuts he had working for him.

  53. 53
    Tati
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 11:44 am

    i liked Chloe but i thought her final collection was awful, regardless of the perfect seams —really quite ugly. she produced e’thing from 4 different fabrics—that awful satiny coral, the green print, the blue satin, thn the gold satin—where’s the imagination & range in that? She presented the same fabrics 1 rite aftr anthr—lame.

    Daniels collection seemed Ban. Republic-friendly, relatively wearable, despite being a li’l boring. I would buy that wrap sweater & can picture buying it at BR. But generally it ddn’t wow, no’in new about it. I liked Santino’s the best, even tho i ddn’t want him 2 win—he had way too many awful creations during the season 2 deserver the win(that ‘Turkey Skating’ outift, the ‘Reindeer Lingerie’, that unfinished, ripping at the seams jumpsuit?? How & why they let him get ths far is beyond me. perhaps they had him in mind as ths season’s Wendy P.)

    I hope the winner at least keeps the $$ ths time—i know Jay stood to make more $$ but i thnk that kinda thing is unfair to other contestants who could’ve really used the $$$.

  54. 54
    hardly@work
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 12:31 pm

    maybe it was the editing, but from what we were shown, the judges never mentioned santino’s 13th garment. I thought that was odd. Eventhough I would have liked to see Santino win, he is better off not being stuck with BRep., Daniel’s desighns look like they should be/ (probably already have been) on the shelves there.

    I want a TIm Gunn clock- really Edhill, you should market this one, just don’t forget us

  55. 55
    livemusicjunkie
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 12:37 pm

    Having waited almost a week to read this re-cap, I don’t really have much to add. I agree w/the comments about Debra Messing – as well as the fact that Chloe’s line was simply ICK, in my opinion, BUT I can’t see Santino working for BR – so there’s that.

    On another note, did it stand out to anyone else that there was all that hoopla about Daniel’s bags missing yet when it came to runway time, they had them. I thought that odd – I mean we didn’t even get a voiceover of Daniel saying he found the bags or whatever.

    And I’m so w/EdHill about it being the bset comment when Tim said “some things happen for a reason”.

    Thx for another excellent recap.

    Can’t wait for PR3!

  56. 56
    AbbyAnn
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    livemusicjunkie, we did get a bit of explanation about the bags being found. They showed Daniel thanking someone for finding them and he told her that she’d saved him. They didn’t explain where she found them, though.

  57. 57
    killbondnow
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 1:45 pm

    Yo Abby — probably in the trash can. Daniel should actually PUT things in his innovative bags and then try carrying them around all day. I have carpal tunnel, it pained me just “looking” at them! Whoever did the woodshop comment was right on.

  58. 58
    BSideLover
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 2:56 pm

    I knew the judges made the right decision when I saw Chloe’s designs. Did any of you fashionistas recognize the “evening wear with pockets” from the Golden Globes where THREE stars were sporting that look? Chloe may be a smidge vanilla but unlike Jay, all of the women on this site might actually wear something of hers some day.

  59. 59
    heehaw
    Posted March 13, 2006 at 9:02 pm

    avamarie! good point what was the story of chloes designs? the fabrics were extremely stiff. what season would you wear that crap? you know she had her entire business which is probably her 30 sisters and mommy and daddy finish the grunt work.did you see how sad and tired her mom looked? she probably sewed the whole damn collection. i hope she had to split the $100.000, 30 ways with her gigantic family.
    WAY TOO MUCH credit being given tim gunn. what good did he do santino? he was all part of the scam. pump up santino, cut down danny v then watch chloes crap win! THANKS FOR NOTHING TIM GUNN! btw, i am still pissed at you for beating up rachel. THAT WAS NO CLASS! She may have gumby legs but you didn’t hear her make any wise cracks about your balding head, duck walk and sissy accent. she is a hot piece of ass… you aren’t, even in your gay dreams. SO BACK OFF CUPCAKE!

  60. 60
    Beckabeck
    Posted March 26, 2006 at 9:35 pm

    Wow.. I’m a little late, but I feel the need to commiserate.

    I threw a pillow at the TV at the end of the show. Compared to last season, the collections were really terrible. Everything was so bland, and it seemed that even the worst of last year’s crowd could have beaten these guys.

    I really thought they were setting Santino up to win. They really worked the whole “reformed butthole” angle, contrasting him with Daniel’s and Chloe’s apparent arrogance in the first part of the end. True, Santino was the Wendy of the gang, and although I would have much preferred Andre or Nick to have made it to the top three, Santino’s collection was much better than Daniel’s (bland and awful) or Chloe’s (reminded me of Gem dolls). Surprisingly, if you watched the footage from Kara’s collection, her’s was probably the most inspired. I prayed for her to get booted off sooner, but I think that she did exceptionally well once she was showing there (probably because she knew she had nothing to lose by actually being creative.)

    Overall, I thought the first season was much better. I remember being excited for the designers and thinking that it was really a great opportunity for them and being excited for the next season.. but watching this just made me upset, since I know a number of people who would have killed to show at Fashion Week.

    Anyway, I’m done, and add another order for the Tim Gunn alarm clock.

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Human Verification: In order to verify that you are a human and not a spam bot, please enter the answer into the following box below based on the instructions contained in the graphic.