From Reality Show to the Real Runway
NEW YORK—“Project Runway,” the fashion industry’s answer to TV’s “American Idol,” hit the real-life runway on Feb. 10 in Bryant Park during Olympus Fashion Week.
The fashion show was the final challenge for designers competing in the weekly elimination-style competition for Bravo network’s reality series that pits 16 designers against each other in 13 one-hour shows during this second season, which started in December.
The four remaining contestants: Santino Rice, Chloe Dao, Daniel Vosovic and Kara Janx each created a 13-piece collection for the final episode of the show.
Although four designers presented their collections, one was eliminated from the show before the finale airs in two parts on March 1 and 8. That was Kara Janx.
All four designers’ collections, however, were viewed in a face-off on the catwalk by a real-life audience that included the five guys from Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” actress Anne Hathaway, Heatherette designers Richie Rich and Traver Rains, and Project Runway’s first-season contestants. Those contestants included Kara Saun, Austin Scarlett, Kevin Johnn and the winner, Jay McCarroll.
Also present were this season’s contestants who were eliminated, including Los Angeles–based Nick Verreos, Daniel Franco, Andrae Gonzalo, Kirsten Ehrig, Guadalupe Vidal, John Wade and Raymundo Baltazar.
The show’s host, model Heidi Klum, Elle magazine Fashion Director Nina Garcia and designer Michael Kors judged the show along with guest celebrity, actress Debra Messing. The winner of the reality series’ competition will receive $100,000 to launch a line of clothing, receive a fashion spread in Elle magazine, be mentored by a Banana Republic design team and win a 2007 Saturn SkyRoadster.
Vosovic (aka Daniel V.) opened the show by dedicating his collection to his family. “It’s been a longer journey than most will know,” he said.
His collection featured clothing with wearable cuts and clean classic lines in a palette of navy, ecru, sage, maroon and brown. Styles included tailored looks such as a brocade jacket worn with an intricately seamed navy skirt, an ecru wool coat, a sage V-neck top paired with a cream fitted pant, a navy dress with an elaborate architectural bubble skirt and an elegant camel sheath dress with a draped back.
New York provided the inspiration for Janx, who calls herself “a grown-up granola.” The South African–born designer presented a colorful and well-thought-out collection of sophisticated bohemian looks. “I’m just inspired by my day-to-day life,” she said. The collection was made in silk and wool in an unusual palette of magenta, turquoise, purple, brown, maroon and green. A multi-tiered mini dress in cream and pink was paired with maroon leggings, a dress with a maroon and pink bodice had a brown wool pleated skirt, a turquoise and brown bubble-shaped top was worn over brown wool pants, and plaid overalls were made in a low-cut harem style a la MC Hammer. For extra drama, Janx topped off her ensembles with colorful chunky wool hats.
Houston-based boutique owner Dao showed elegant eveningwear that seemed suitable for any Houston socialite. The designer used luxurious fabrics such as silk, wool twill, Chantilly lace and gold lameacute; that inspired her collection. “I design literally from fabrication first and then from that, whatever I feel like follows. It’s pretty much piece-bypiece,” she said.
Garments included a pink dress with a large bubble-shaped skirt and sleeves, a sage green and pink floral beaded gown, a chocolate brown tailored suit with gold military- striped pant, and a long gown with simple architectural cutouts on the back bodice.
Known for his overly confident attitude on the show, Los Angeles–based Rice turned out a sexy, young, feminine collection featuring lingerie details. The garments were a toned-down version of the designer’s highly creative and heavily trimmed designs seen over the past several weeks on television.
“I wanted to show people that I could make really amazingly beautiful clothes, and I think I achieved that,” Rice said. “I’m happy with what I did.”
His collection was inspired by ultra-feminine shapes, 1940s Hollywood glamour, noir films and the paintings of Mark Rothko. It featured a nude silk gown with lace insets, a pleated baby doll top paired with a red leather pant, a pink dress with a lace overlay, a red silk gown with a leather bustier, and a green and brown pleated gown. “I’ll say it again, I’m not just great TV, I’m a great designer,” Rice said. “So you’ll see more from me. I’m the man you love to hate.”
