Wednesday night is a holy evening of obligation for the mod and fabulous as Bravo airs the long-awaited finale to "Project Runway," the devastatingly addictive reality program that showcases the search for the next great American designer.
For those heathens not savvy to this latest trend in fashion history, "Project Runway," now in its second season, pits 16 would-be designers against each other in a series of design challenges that test their creative fortitude, time management skills and mental stamina. Providing constructive criticism and emotional support to the designers is the incomparable Tim Gunn, Chair of the Department of Fashion Design at Parsons The New School for Design.
At the end of each episode, the designers present their clothing creations for critique to a panel of judges including supermodel Heidi Klum, designer Michael Kors, "Elle" magazine Fashion Director Nina Garcia and a weekly special guest. The judges choose a winner and eliminate at least one loser every week. The competition whittles down the contestants to three finalists who each create a full collection to showcase at Olympus Fashion Week in New York City.
At stake for the winner of Project Runway are $100,000 to start his or her own clothing line, a featured spread in "Elle" magazine, a 2007 Saturn SkyRoadster and a mentorship from the Banana Republic design team.
But as we count down the hours to the finale with bated breath, let's take a look back at some of the trials and tribulations of the 16 designers from the past season.
Episode Two: The Clothes Off Your Back
At a party thrown by Heidi Klum, the designers were surprised to learn that their next challenge would be to use only the clothes they chose to wear that evening as material to create a new design. The emphatic Andra?© spilled rivers of tears over his favorite jeans for a full ten minutes while defending his "pseudo-Asian" denim tea dress, a scene now in the pantheon of reality television nervous breakdowns. Chloe pulled off a surprising win with a sinewy halter dress fabricated from an already skimpy jersey jumper. Former model Kirsten got the boot for refusing to use her vintage Hermes scarf in her design.
Episode Three: All Dolled Up
What could fit in a wardrobe filled with pink stilettos and stewardess uniforms? Barbie gets in on "Project Runway" fever with this challenge, the creation of a new design for Mattel's "My Scene" Barbie Collection. Nick edged out Santino and Chloe with a Caribbean-spiced, fishtailed green gown and sassy headscarf. Raymundo was out with an outfit that made Barbie look like a frumpy Salvation Army bag lady. I suppose that's one profession Barbie hasn't taken on yet, and never will.
Episode Seven: On Thin Ice
The competition "chills" as U.S. Olympic figure skater Sasha Cohen takes to the ice as the inspiration for the remaining eight designers. They must create a costume for Sasha versatile enough to withstand spins and triple axels, but still fashion forward. Zulema took first with a frothy white concoction and Emmet scored a zero with a costume that was, in the words of Michael Kors, "both dowdy and vulgar."
Episode Nine: Garden Party
Spring is in the air as Heidi Klum sends the designers to a florist to buy materials for their next challenge: constructing garden party outfits out of plants. Danny V. stuns the judges with a sophisticated mix of woven ferns and purple orchids that create a striking and sexy silhouette. Andrae's dress was less garden chic and more garden mulch, so the judges sent him back to the strange land he must have come from. See you at Red Lobster, Andrae!
Episode 11: What's Your Line?
The remaining four designers are challenged to create an evening gown that represents the collection they would show at Olympus Fashion Week. With supermodel Iman as the special guest judge, the stakes were high. With a record-setting fifth win, Daniel V. moved on to fashion week more by default than by skill. His design was well constructed but rather boring. Santino's gold sparkle dress was too outrageous, Chloe's 1940s pearl gown had too many seams, and Kara's black charmeuse was poorly made and ugly. Kara went home and three designers make it to fashion week.
Tonight the three finalists, Chloe Dao, Daniel Vosovic, and Santino Rice, will reveal their collections and the next messiah of couture will be determined.
The judges have a difficult decision to make. Chloe is a fine dressmaker, but has difficulty realizing more complicated designs. Danny V. has proved he works well under creative constraints, but when given free reign he has delivered dull, uninspired products. Santino is his own worst enemy; his creativity explodes on the runway with unpredictable results.
So with three designers left, who will make the cut? Rest assured the world is waiting with fingers crossed and martinis in hand.
