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Project Runway Finale

Project Runway's finale was so bad on so many levels. The show's judges were so proud it was trending on Twitter -- clearly, they didn't get that the likely reason was that fans were outraged.

First complaint: Half of the show was taken up by a new show that is starting next week, Project Runway Juniors. I was constantly hitting the mute button so as not to have to listen to it. (Especially since one of the judges will be Kelly Osborne, who never ceases to evoke a "nails on a chalkboard" reaction.)

Second, the amount of commercial time was absurd. And as if that wasn't bad enough, they had some guy from Lexus (one of their sponsors) come on during the show, not to award the contestants cars like other shows do, but just to show off the cars-- the guy actually tells the contestants they will each get one to ride in one time -- on the way to the finale. How lame.

Third, the winner, who designed a plus size collection, had the worst collection, was in the bottom several weeks, and often called out by the judges for her mistakes in the fitting of her garments and for her overly matronly designs. She said her inspiration for her final collection was Mexico City in the 1950's. (not exactly fashion-forward.) I doubt anyone, plus size or not, would wear her designs (crop tops with see though bottoms and big girl underpants in various Easter egg colors, almost all with flower-topped headresses.)

But don't take my word for it. Here's a sampling from Twitter: [More...]

Jokes on us; we sat through a week's worth of commercials crammed into two hours, for what was probably the worst #ProjectRunway finale win.

The only good thing about these commercial breaks is that i can change the oil in my car, bake a cake and go to the moon omg #projectrunway

#ProjectRunway has had so many commercials I've already forgotten what everyone's collections looked like

The commercials are occasionally interrupted by #ProjectRunway

On Project Runway Juniors:

I don't need to watch Project Runway Junior. We've evidently already seen the entire season. #ProjectRunway

No more project runway juniors. It hasn't even started yet and I'm over it. #ProjectRunway finale

I'm confused on why they didn't announce the juniors winner too since we just watched the whole season in commercials #ProjectRunway

On winner Ashley's collection:

Working in a department store I can't imagine ever seeing this monstrosity on a rack! #ProjectRunway The poor model

As punishment, Nina should be forced to wear that purple lace number and floral headdress on the cover of Marie Claire #ProjectRunway

On choosing political correctness over talent:

When #ProjectRunway is just trying to be politically correct, rather than basing the win off of talent. #bye

who else feels like the winner of #ProjectRunway was chosen bc it was a plus size collection although it was a weak collection? #suchAjoke

The fan favorites seems to be Kelly (who works in a Deli, so they call her Kelly from the Deli) and Edmund. There are dozens of tweets like this one:

Kelly From The Deli was robbed, ROBBED, I tell you. #ProjectRunway

While Edmond was probably the best designer of the four finalists, and Kelly was very good with textiles and often the most creative, I think the best designer of the season was Swapnil Shinde. He lost interest in the show mid-way through and was sent home. I have no idea what happened -- maybe it was because he was given the "client from hell" in the makeover episode -- or he got bored, or he sensed the winner was going to be Ashley, no matter what he did, who knows).

Here are a few of Swapnil's creations from Fashion Week (While the show makes it seem like only the four finalists went to Fashion Week, there actually were six, and Swapnil was one of them.)

His entire collection from Fashion week is here.

Several well known designers have plus size lines. Here's Ralph Laurens. Most department stores, from Saks to Macys to Target, have plus size clothing departments. It's just not that unique a concept. While Ashley seems like a very warm and genuine person, and she certainly shouldn't be attacked because of her size (as unfortunately many have done all season), her design skills strike me as falling far short of what one would expect from a winner of Project Runway.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Those loose pants look like (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by fishcamp on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 08:04:53 AM EST
    the fishing clothing we wear to keep the sun"s rays off our bodies when out all day looking for the elusive  fishing slam.  That's a tarpon, bonefish, and permit all caught the same day, preferably on fly.  We also wear gloves and face masks to give our fishing wardrobe that scary look to keep other anglers away from us.  I made a Heath Ledger mask, but the sharpie fumes about did me in.  We also have plus sized shorts and T-shirts for the after angling boat drink fashions.

    Next season on Project Runway Dockside (none / 0) (#15)
    by ruffian on Sat Nov 07, 2015 at 08:02:12 PM EST
    The win should have been Kelly's (none / 0) (#2)
    by itscookin on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 08:56:59 AM EST
    Edmond's looks were reruns of other popular designers. Candace should go into business making theatrical costumes. Ashley has no idea how to dress a plus-sized woman. She can't even dress herself. While Swapnil's collection was very graceful and elegant, this is a contest. To be eligible to win, you have to make it to the finals. But Kelly's designs were fun garments young women might actually like to wear. Her strong suit is being able to create the fabrics themselves. Project Runway was making more of a political statement than an artistic one by choosing the plus-sized collection to win. And maybe they thought they were making an economic one, too, since 50% of American women are a size 14 or larger. In any event, it's often the designer who comes in second who ultimately gets the best bump from being on Project Runway.

    My Take on the outfits (none / 0) (#3)
    by BarnBabe on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 12:31:32 PM EST
    The 3 Swapnils above are great cruise clothes. I love the mint green dancing the night away dress.

    As for Ashley's 3 outfits pictured above, the one on the left is cute but ill fitted on the mid drift. Maybe it was the way the model was walking. In fact, if she loses the headdress, it might work. Actually, losing the headdresses on all would help. I love hats. Why, well us girls know exactly what looks good on us and I have one of those looks good in hats. The middle outfit, well, even though the look is in right now, I just don't find this look that exciting on anyone. having said that, if she took the big panties and elongated them to the knee or hem of the skirt, it might have a bit more class. And then there is the one on the right. The judges did not like the shorts but that was the best look of the 3. If good legs, they could go up a couple of inches, but as is, looks just fine.

    I believe she was designing her outfits based on her Grandmother's younger years and as a tribute to her for the encouragement. The entire line seemed more Cuba rather than Mexico. Maybe she needed to put the flowers on the outfits versa  the heads. But once again, no one called me up for my pre-show opinion. Carmen Miranda would have used all 3 in one performance. Heh.

    BTW J, you are so right about that Lexux guy. Like a cheap throw in commercial. And the Jr show, which is usually pretty decent, in fact, usually better than the grown up show was just killing time with their plugs. Tim must be exhausted running from show to show. So after this very long comment, I really liked Candice's outfit, Frederick of Hollywood or not. Can't believe she left off the whips. All and all, Deli Kelly and Edmund had excellent lines. We should be hearing from them all shortly. I hope.

    I was four or five when I lived in 50s Mexico City (none / 0) (#4)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 12:41:41 PM EST
    so I don't actually remember anyone's clothing.  But my mother's old photographs show a very European or New York clothing style worn anyone she was hanging out with.

    Mainly what I saw in Ashley's work was the faded pink cast of very old color film.  The flowered hair?  Maybe she was thinking of Frida Kahlo's 1940 self portrait.  Kahlo had consciously rejected European clothing.  

    The judges disparaged Candice's work as being derivative of Alexander McQueen.  I didn't know what that meant so here's an article about McQueen. lol. They should do a show about his life. That would be worth watching.  Geesh, if I have to sit through another season of these self-absorbed wannabes talking about 'their aesthetic.'  I bet McQueen didn't do that.

    (I watch it because my wife watches it.)

    "I watch it because my wife watches it" (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by CST on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 02:51:39 PM EST
    It's OK Mr Natural, you're allowed to like project runway :)  You don't need an excuse.

    Parent
    capt howdy do you watch this show? (none / 0) (#10)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 06:23:56 PM EST
    I'm amazed I'm even reading the thread (5.00 / 5) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 06:33:13 PM EST
    ROFL, me too (none / 0) (#16)
    by ruffian on Sat Nov 07, 2015 at 08:03:39 PM EST
    capt howdy do you watch this show? (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 06:23:57 PM EST
    No (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 06:31:27 PM EST
    Christmas gift for (none / 0) (#5)
    by oculus on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 02:10:39 PM EST
    your spouse?

    Dana Thomas:  "Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano."

    Parent

    I haven't watched it yet (none / 0) (#7)
    by sj on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 03:10:51 PM EST
    But I wasn't really looking forward to it anyway. I also think Swapnil was the best designer of the bunch.  He made a big mistake when he told Candice that his strategy was to not give 100% right away and then later on in the season to dive in and blow them all away.

    Frankly, I think he was just kind of talking out of his a$$ to justify the fact that he hadn't won any challenges. Which he really, really should have. He should never have said that on-camera, tough -- it was a major tactical error. From then on Tim and Zack treated him rather coldly which had the effect of basically paralyzing Swapnil's creativity. And then he was assigned the client from the 9th level of hell for his "real woman" challenge.

    Based on that debacle he should have been auf'ed but that whole thing had a feel of the being obviously orchestrated by the producers.

    I was pretty unimpressed with Tim Gunn's behavior this season. Just goes to show that no one deserves that pedestal.

    Swapnil was one of the three designers... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Dadler on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 06:09:15 PM EST
    ...who forgot to bring any of their own sewing stuff with them. Which was a very weird way to start the season.

    Parent
    Underserved demographic (none / 0) (#8)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 03:56:12 PM EST

    Perhaps with the nation getting tubbier the show feels the need to appeal to a previously underserved demographic.  Sometimes the winners in this type of competition is what the show needs rather than who was best.

    I refer you to (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Nov 06, 2015 at 08:18:20 PM EST
    Muddy Waters

    and

    my pseudonym's creator, R. Crumb.  You're gonna have to google his imagery yourself.  This is a family blog.  lol.

    Parent

    I was (none / 0) (#18)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Thu Nov 12, 2015 at 11:05:50 PM EST
    an avid reader of Zap comics back in the day.

    Do you remember Elsworth Weedman by S. Clay Wilson?

    Parent

    Althouse (none / 0) (#19)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Nov 13, 2015 at 08:54:47 AM EST
    What Disney Princesses would look like (none / 0) (#17)
    by Mr Natural on Sun Nov 08, 2015 at 01:49:13 PM EST
    with normal waistlines.

    Ashley's models in the photo above look normal.