'Project Runway' Fashion Show Features 10 Designers (PHOTOS)

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS:

NEW YORK — The Friday finale runway show of "Project Runway" had so many designers that even its surprise guest judge had trouble keeping track.

"I remember pieces," country singer Faith Hill said after the show, admitting that she hadn't yet learned the names of the contestants that she'll be critiquing. "If I had my book in front of me, I would be able to remember. But I just remember the pieces so vividly."

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To prevent the audience from leaking the identities of the show's final three contestants, "Runway's" remaining 10 designers all offered collections, turning a normally refined runway into a whirlwind of faces, names and genres. Even with the larger number of lines, many themes repeated in the designers' pieces: military, industrial colors, sportswear, the 1940s and conversely, back-to-the-future looks.

Jay Nicolas Sario and Jesse LeNoir referenced the military uniform, ranging from Sario's futuristic urban warrior to LeNoir's costumey pinups reminiscent of World War II nurses – and flight attendants. Seth Aaron Henderson claimed his inspiration was "1940s Russian-Germany military."

Other designers found inspiration in nature, including Jonathan Peters and Janeane Marie Ceccanti. Peter said his aviary theme was "an experiment in volume and a celebration of all things insect." Ceccanti's mantra was "things that aren't alive but grow anyway, like crystals."

Fan favorites like Mila Hermanovski and Anthony Williams presented cohesive, wearable lines. Hermanovski, who has notched several wins on the show, offered striped knitwear in cocoon and batwing shapes. Williams showed cocktail dresses and evening wear embellished with floaty ruffles, sparkling ombres of paillettes and swishy fringe.

By far the most interesting, though least wearable, were Amy Sarabi's pleats-and-prints separates. A white pantsuit looked like it had various water stains that formed an ethereal pattern, while an off-white knit dressed exploded with pleats that draped the body haphazardly.

Though judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia both said before the finale that the latest season – the show's seventh – its most directional in terms of the contestants' styles, to show mentor Tim Gunn, there was only one designer who stood out. But he's not naming any names.

"I've never seen a season of 'Project Runway' that has had such a distinctive point of view among a group of designers," he said furtively after the presentation. "Any of the 10 could rise to the top, to be honest."

Comments

[Carolab]

03:58 AM on 04/14/2010

You couldn't pay me to wear one of these silly get-ups.

But I love Project Runway.

[chicagopolitics]

05:50 PM on 02/14/2010

I don't know if the show's scheduling is too much to mess with, but why can't they just start airing project runway episodes earlier, and then even have a live fashion week show? That way no spoilers. After all there was always a huge chunk of time in between the 4th aufing and the fashion week show to let the contestants get their collections together. That leaves plenty of time for editing and such.

[kylennblack]

04:12 AM on 02/14/2010

Korto's designs are boring and pedestrian and she has the personality of a wet diaper to boot. Leanne rightfully won and there were several that were better than Korto during all-stars.

[kylennblack]

12:39 AM on 02/14/2010

These are much better collections than the messes that were sent down the runway for season 6. That said, there are too many decoys. Sending 10 to Bryant Park is just ridiculous, especially since 4th place Gordana was robbed of a spot last time.

[Agentlady007]

07:58 PM on 02/13/2010

Wonderful ! APPLAUSE APPLAUSE!!! These are fashions women will wear. Well done.

[spithole]

11:10 PM on 02/13/2010

Darling, you've GOT to be JOKING! These designs are AWFUL and so off in terms of basic taste and wearability. Did you see the first nightmare: a red shift with baby blue stockings...she looks like a piece of candy, and NOT in a good way.

God, what terrible looking "fashion."

[Carolab]

03:59 AM on 04/14/2010

I completely agree. These designs are atrocious.

[texastrixie]

03:30 PM on 02/13/2010

What's the point of 10 people showing? Isn't the whole idea that someone at Bryant Park might actually want to order your line, and send you into real production? How many outfits did each of the 10 show? If its only a few (4 or less), how is one supposed to judge the cohesiveness of the collection?

Project Runway would be off my viewing list if it weren't for Una's recaps. I am getting tired of people throwing together stuff in a 24 hour period, although I'm copying Anthony's submission from the last show with a few alterations (plain strap side where the one bare shoulder is now (I'm old - okay?).
Why don' t they give every designer the same amount of a solid color fabric and say, "Go wild!" Tell them that at least half the outfit had to be the original fabric, and see what they do when they have to work on a fairly even playing field. Creativity could be judged on what they decided to do with the fabric (whether the use made the most of the fabric's attributes), etc.

[ChaiKat]

12:12 PM on 02/13/2010

I agree with many others here. When this show began, part of being the final 3 was the privileged of showing at Fashion Week. The point that not just anyone can show is part of the excitement of being chosen. Having 10 designers showing takes away from that.

[JonStewart4President]

11:38 AM on 02/13/2010

"Fan favorites like Mila Hermanovski..." in what universe? Mila is this season's villian. Anthony is this season's fan favourite.

Having seen the full collections on Project Rungay, Jay and Seth Aaron have the best collections and either should win. Mila would be a strong contender for third, with Anthony as fourth for me.

This season's collections were, thankfully, much stronger than last years. Though some people really did poorly, like Jaeane and Jonathan, that was to be expected.

Biggest disappointments though were Emilo and Amy's. Both have been good thus far this season fairly consistently, and both of their shows were subpar.

[SaltyLassi]

11:30 AM on 02/13/2010

If the prize for being talented is a coveted spot on the runway of Fashion Week,, then having 10 designers there is an insult to those who are the top 3, and tot he potential winner. And, what if there is a dark horse designer, who was not the to 3, whose final collection might have been better than the winning 3?

[markstl3828]

09:19 AM on 02/13/2010

I think having 10 show severely puts a damper on it. I 've never missed an episode of this show, through thick and thin, but really guys 10 designers there come on !

[QueenCeleste]

09:51 PM on 02/12/2010

Since it left Bravo I keep forgetting to watch, especially after the lackluster of last season. Somehow I got more caught up in "Launch My LIne," Bravo's obvious attempt to replace PR. But how I love and adore Tim Gunn, so must remember to tune in!

[BonzaSheila]

07:43 PM on 02/13/2010

I agree about last season, but this season is better; Anthony is my favorite, but I'm still not loving it as much as when on Bravo. Tim Gunn is the best.

[mlaiuppa]

09:15 PM on 02/12/2010

Gee, it's hardly a feather for the final three to get to show at Bryant Park when all 10 get to. Where's the
"win" in that? So only the finalists are shown on TV. So what? Bryant Park is supposed to be the prize.

[muhair]

08:50 PM on 02/12/2010

The more the merrier. At least they'd have had time enough to conceive and execute garments that tell us who they really are. In case we want to know....

[GeneQueen]

06:17 PM on 02/12/2010

They are REALLY hard up for talent this season. Korto shoulda won -- TWICE!

[kylennblack]

04:13 AM on 02/14/2010

Korto is a hack. This crop is much better than she ever was.

[jdevans]

06:08 PM on 02/12/2010

Silly me! I always thought designers wanted to be a finalist on "Project Runway" so they could show their collection during Fashion Week. Now you don't even have to be a finalist. What's the show coming to?

[BonzaSheila]

08:01 PM on 02/12/2010

They've always had 'ringers' to keep the final 3 a mystery, but I believe this is the fist season with so many.