For the true, diehard "Project Runway" fan, the much-anticipated showcasing of the final four designers' collections at Olympus Fashion Week is but a thing of the past.
With a simple Google search, images of the Sept. 22 fashion show are so readily downloadable that they have elicited prompt - and what some consider preemptive - critical reviews from publications such as The Washington Post and The New York Times.
While some fans pledge to wait for the collections to be shown in their entirety during the televised season finale - which will air in two parts on Oct. 11 and Oct. 18 - others have found the temptation too great to handle.
Readers, beware: What follows is true "spoiler" material, a revealing look into the final collections of Jeffrey Sebelia, Uli Herzner, Laura Bennett and Michael Knight. Channel your inner Tim Gunn and make an informed decision regarding your experience as a "Project Runway" enthusiast.
The most daring of the final four collections belongs to Jeffrey Sebelia, the show's rebel-in-residence whose edgy design aesthetic is equaled only by his biting tongue and outspoken personality.
Renowned for his strong sense of personal style with a definitively alternative edge, Sebelia supporters may be surprised by the designer's softer, yet unique style suffused throughout his 13-piece collection. While a succession of polka dot dresses, as well as a series of bold striped sport coats and handbags, helps to unify his collection, Sebelia remains true to his rock'n'roll roots with an audacious polka dot swimsuit accentuated by long black threads dangling from the waist.
Uli Herzner, born in Germany but currently of Miami, Fla., stays true to her self-proclaimed "crazy colors" while at the same time responding to the judges' concerns that her penchant for flowing hippy dresses makes her a one-note.
Herzner's varied collection features shimmering halter tops and beautifully cut beige skirts in addition to her signature bold-print party dresses. Her work reflects a professionalism that some viewers may not have previously noted, reaffirming her unrivaled use of prints and patterns as well as a stylish eye for the sleek and well-refined.
To no one's surprise, the most classic and elegant collection belongs to Laura Bennett, an architect and soon-to-be mother of six whose old-Hollywood design aesthetic - think Katherine Hepburn - has garnered a distinct (and often older) fan base. Bennett's collection is rife with her signature lacey cocktail dresses, making her one of the most polarizing designers of the bunch.
At times, Bennett's designs reflect a bit of a heavy hand with the Bedazzler, and her dresses and pantsuits have a tendency to resemble gaudy figure-skating costumes rather than the sleek and refined evening wear she created throughout her efforts on the show.
Michael Knight, the competition's self-proclaimed "sexy, sensual and sultry" designer, delivers a collection perfectly in synch with his alliterative and artistic intentions - but in all the wrong ways.
Garish fabric choices in conjunction with Knight's (mis)use of animal print render the majority of his garments - particularly a gold-and-white bathing suit - less "sensual" and more tawdry.
What Knight does get right, however, is an innovative pair of floral-print baby doll dresses which recall his earlier and, unfortunately, superior work throughout the season.
If your favorite doesn't win, don't fret; in the world of fashion, one day you're in, and one day you're out. With the season drawing to a close there's no telling which of these designers, if any, will make a lasting impression.
