Project Runway Review: Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen!
October 30, 2010 by Keshaunta Moton
Filed under Feature, feature overlay, Television
This has not been the worst season of Project Runway (that distinction belongs to the suckfest that was Season 6) but this has definitely been one of the most unfulfilling as far as fashion, design, and entertainment go. Project Runway concludes season 8 with a whopping 2-HOUR season finale filled with dead air, lackluster fashion and a surprising (and totally undeserved) winner.
The first 20 minutes of Project Runway reunites all the eliminated contestants for an uncomfortable look at the previous season. I say uncomfortable because it is physically painful to sit through a montage of the struggling season and I refuse to pretend that any of these designers have anything important enough to say that I should waste my time on. And indeed, there isn’t anything new or groundbreaking in this segment. I am resentful of Project Runway wasting my time on this so I won’t waste any of yours.
What you’re really here for is the fashion. The designers do their final fittings, Mondo has horrible trouble with his models (he can’t seem to keep hold of them) and Andy is so blinded with love of his collection that he dismisses valuable advice from Tim.
At the final runway at Fashion Week, Jessica Simpson is the guest judge.
Gretchen is the first to show her collection, “Running through Thunder.” A couple of her pieces are interesting, although they are the same “blah” brown in color. She has this one belted thigh-high jacket of this green, shiny leather, accented in yellow, and paired over briefs. It is a very modern, expensive resort wear look that you wouldn’t see anywhere other than a runway. This is the most striking piece in an otherwise bland collection, although this should not be enough to clinch her a victory. The problem with Gretchen’s collection is that all her looks are average and already being sold at your local Macy’s outlet. There is no extravagance in her design.
Andy show’s next, his collection is inspired by his Lao heritage and dedicated to his mother. It is a combination of silver and green. And while this works sometimes, many times it does not. One of his designs has this muddied silver top and short green shorts, and while on the whole there is nothing truly offensive about this outfit, there is nothing remarkable about it either. The starkness of the colors just emphasizes the plainness of the outfit. Contrary to Andy’s promise to the judges, there was no signature gown to show the range in his collection. This upsets me because Michael C. would have had a gown in his collection. Sour grapes, I know, get over it, but it still stings.
Mondo is last to present his collection, which is inspired by his Mexican heritage and is a self-reflection of everything that brings him joy. Mondo’s collection is full of his patented patterns. It’s funky with tons of personality. The one problem would probably be that ALL of his designs have wacky patterns. While he did have one solid black dress, this look was cut before the runway. I would have loved to see a striking one-tone dress from Mondo because I’m sure he’d compensate in other ways.
At the judging panel, Andy was praised his for “sassy” looks, although Michael felt that the collection did not have a lot of diversity. Nina thinks Andy went a little over with the oriental theme and thinks he should have made his look more edgy and modern. Andy is the first out.
Nina thought Gretchen did a fantastic job; she was impressed with her choice of fabric and print, but wished Gretchen added a “dash” of color to her monotone looks. Heidi loved the “feel” of the show but thought the prints were repetitive, while Jessica wondered how many pieces would actually translate into consumer sales.
Michael praised Mondo for having looks that were eye-catching and dramatic. All the judges liked his use of print, though Nina thought he went overboard in adding decoration and Michael thought that Mondo’s constant print needed the relief of skin (ie. shorter outfits). Nina thought that Mondo’s collection looked very young, and cautioned him that he needed to add sophistication to his looks. Jessica said that like a true designer, Mondo made a unique collection that no one else could make.
Between these two designers Mondo has been on top for the majority of the season, but in the end it’s the final runway that counts and Mondo’s “young” designs were told to take a hike. Gretchen is named the winner.
This is a complete shock and an undeserved (IMO) win, yet it is very fitting that this season, which started off strong and sunk into a spiral of decline, ends in this horrible, horrible manner. Project Runway has clearly lost its mind, so until it finds its strut again, that’s peace out for me.
But what about you? Are you happy with Gretchen’s big win and just counting the days until it comes to an Outlet store near you? Or do you think that Andy or Mondo should have walked away with this one?
Season 8, Episode 14: Finale Part 2 (originally aired October 28, 2010)
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good news.
Mondo should have won!
Heidi and Jessica had the fashion eye i just don’t understand how Nina and Michael won over their judgment. Michael C should have been on the top three and Gretchen shouldn’t even make it to the finals.
True talent and fashion was Mondo and Micheal C.
I am so turned off from the show now, unless they take off Nina and Michael as judges.
Nina and Kors repeated endlessly that Gretchen’s clothes were more salable… but to whom? What woman can wear backless unconstructed clothes that require one to be braless? Who would wear knit granny panties?
Gretchen’s prints were totally 1984 Jones New York soft suiting material; ugly then; ugly now.
Nina and Kors sold out to someone… maybe they had to pick the line that would go best w/ those god-awful Piperlime accessories…???
Guess what my sister found out about Michael C.
The reason why Tim Gunn said to Michael C “you have the last laugh” was because a dress he did made the cover of NY Times magazine which is huge. Heidi Klum ordered a crap load of that dress he made with those crazy hats challenge and paid for them. I also read his line blew everyone away. He himself said that a major NY dept store wants him to make a Resort Wear line but he didn’t mention which store. He said all I can say about that is that “it’s huge”……I’m thinking maybe Saks, Bloomies or Neiman Marcus.
Awesome news…thank goodness!
I was extremely surprised that Gretchen won. Although I liked her clothes and would likely purchase them, if they were at an outlet near me, I did not like HER very much. My vote was for Mondo.
I agree with all of these comments. Out of the final three Mondo was THE most important. Gretchen demonstrated over and over throughout the season that she is a truly mediocre designer with what appears to be a naive belief that she possesses superior taste (so very Deutsche). And I think what we saw from her does not support her lack of humility. Her watered down 70′s Ralph Lauren nod was weak, and probably not even intentional. The prints were horrendous, cheap looking and not runway worthy. Period. How did she get to the finale? Someone suggested that Gretchen only used $100 of her $9000 budget on material and the rest to pay her bills down. Her “looks” sure look that way. ?That fabric? Makes me think that Garcia and Kors were corrupted.
As for the 70′s: I’ve been thinking about Fiorrucci lately (and Parachute) and thinking how we are missing that sort of fun in fashion. But how would that look in 2010? Mondo showed us. His line was sexy, super fun, and, yes, leaning toward frivolous. But we are in America and green or not, we are still a disposable culture. There is a huge market of young women out there, just coming out of college that want to wear Mondo’s sexy, up-beat fun clothes. And very few that would be caught dead in Gretchen’s poopy shorts, or big black hat, or jade green leatherette anything. Am I wrong? NO!Its just not interesting people (Nina and Michael)!
Last point I need to make. Poor Michael C. Look at the collection he would have presented (new york times website: fashion section: collections slide show: project runway) if he made it to the final three. I think you would agree he is the real deal. Not so fashion forward the way Mondo is, but spot on for this season (unlike Gretchen despite what Garcia and Kors said. what’s up with those two? maybe they didn’t get lunch or something). Michael C. really did bring it, and its truly an unfortunate mistake for Project Runway, and the fashion education of the masses, that he did not present at Fashion Week. When we look at the Spring 2011 Collections it is clear that out of all the designers on Project Runway this season, Michael C. was the only one that really understands how to dress today’s sophisticated female consumer. Is he unique, not really, but he is a real designer far beyond the sophomoric aspirations of ALL the other contestants (yes even Mondo).
Now the question remains, why did Garcia and Kors not support Michael C.’s genuine talent, they clearly identified it throughout the season, but instead choose to get behind “Gretched K. Mart’s” poopyness?
I’ve sadly been thinking about this for days(I’m a loser) How could she win when three of her outfits had underwear for the bottoms? Didn’t she cop out by not making bottoms? Do people go around wearing underwear with nothing else??? Plus the colors made me want to puke!
Mondo by a mile! Even my husband was yelling at the judges as though they were refs at a basketball game. I’m 56, and I thought Gretchen’s clothes were a big snore. Could I wear Mondo’s runway clothes at my size and age? Probably not, but I would have rocked those polka dots back in the day. At any rate this was supposed to be a high fashion show runway show. They already had one challenge to present a “runway look” and a “commercial” version of that look to sell off the racks. Mondo produced a true runway collection while Gretchen’s was commercial. Mondo was robbed!
Mondo should have won!!!! Gretchen’s designs are boring. She should stick to jewelry only.
I am totally sickened with this conclusion and an absolutely wrong winner. Mondo is clearly the winner and at 63 I would wear his polka dot final gown along with Heidi and Jessica. This must be what happens when one does not follow all of Nina’s rules and kiss ass. I will find it difficult to watch next year’s show if the same judges appear. OUTRAGED FAN!!
PR wasted my time once again. Mondo and Andy are true designers right down to their hats a.k.a. enticers which are all the rage in the recent resurgence of millinery in accessible & affordable fashion. The dunn/dung diaper theme from Gretched K. Mart has tried to revive the loser look of the 1970′s which those of us who lived thru it would rather forget. Mondo, Andy, AND Michael C have won in that smart commercial marketers who want real designers with clothes that will SELL have likely snapped them up for sterling careers. Few people today have the technical expertise e.g. matching plaids & pleating, in which Mondo and Andy excelled. Quality and distinctiveness are sorely lacking in the fashion world today. Kors & Nina AND Gretchen are passe and over-the-hill.
The show is fair and maybe she shouldn’t have won but who’s to
what other people see when they see fashion I love the all around
Mondo should have won!
The definitive thing I realized after watching Runway this season is …. the American boss mentality that was so evident by the judges (what I mean is being impressed by your own juice and elitism should not be brought into naming the next wonderful designer…they were threatened!). Runway apparently has not had successful designers and that was what came out in the end, what sells.
Gretchen’s stuff… with those panties underneath many of the outfits and then the ill fitting loose 80’s clothing was a joke! And the colors, awful!
This show really disappointed me because Mondo inspired me to design and create which is what a makes a great designer. He should have won big time! He made me feel like going out and shopping to find his beautiful designs because these enveloped the sunshine in the world that we all really need right now! Not only that, I am making a vest inspired by his color combinations. Ultimately if a designer is talented he can learn to tone down a look for sell.
The judges inevitably decided that Gretchen’s designs would sell.
Look at Michael Kor’s fall collection and you will see much like Gretchen’s looks. Awful! Brown, black monotone for which they so critcized Michael C’s collection…just take a look! Grey, tan and black!!! There was furry skirt like Michael C’s which did nothing for the model’s figure. Take a look at the awful cowl neck type thing he has around a lot of the designs and his styling by putting beanies on his models..YUCK.
And what makes the writer, Nina a person who really knows fashion. Maybe I do not know her background well, which I do not, but I thought she was one of the big reasons Mondo lost. Mondo’s spread in the magazine would have been more fantastic than Gretchen.
Again, Heidi’s clothing is much to be desired as well…huge no-shape monotone clothing. I do not know anyone that would wear that stuff.
Big disappointment!
MONDO SHOULD HAVE WON!! I HATED gretchen’s collection, I would NEVER buy ANY of that brown shit to wear. I guess it’s not THAT bad, but Mondo’s was SOO MUCH BETTER! I loved the bubble/balloon dress he designed! I always loved his designs throughout the season, while gretchen was just blah. boring. Andy’s green dress was also amazing! Unlike the judges, I actually really liked the headpieces he made. I think Mondo should have been first, and Andy should have been second. I WAS SO SHOCKED GRETCHEN WON. MONDO DESERVED IT.
mondo definitely. I like that heidi was fighting for him. She recognized his design prowess and creativity, not his ability to show a meh commercial line. I disagree about the season though, I found it very entertaining and involving. I love how everyone was ragging on michael c.and how he won challenge after challenge, while they were eliminated! I loved when tim treated gretchen for being an egotistical control freak (something to that effect). The only person I couldn’t stand was ivy.she was just mean, but it did add to the drama. And I liked that heidi called out some of them for throwing people under the bus.
Deja vu isn’t it? Still unsure what the judges are looking for. Just as disappointed this season as I was last season.
Gretchen should not have won and in fact, should have been off the show much earlier. She made the show worse than it already was with her sniping at others and her mediocre design. Mondo should have won. He is the only designer who actually had any real ‘look’.
Overall, I felt it was the worst season I’d seen and it was made worse by giving Gretchen the crown. ugh… jumped the shark, it did!
OH MY GOD, MONDO SHOULD HAVE WON WHAT THE EFF
Mondo should have won of course. Still feel very odd about it all. Still waiting to see what the judges have to say about this, since all of this happened a month ago. I want to see them defend their decision.