Cheryl Shops

Until recently, I hadn't realized that showing photos of the final runway show is major spoilage for anyone whose favorite character in Project Runway is the clothing. So to be fair to those folks...SPOILER ALERT!

Project Runway Season 12 at Theatre, Lincoln Center [09.06.13]
The annual Project Runway show always brings the most over-styled reality TV fans to the live audience population at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Were I not glued to my sweet media riser spot for hours, I would have shot some of the fan getups for you all. My favorite was a man in an all-emerald suit (Pantone 2013!) with fuchsia 3D butterflies tacked all over.

Short attention span post
I was planning to write a few posts tonight--including one on new sample-sale websites--but, alas, it's been a very long week, I am tired, and I really just want to have a cocktail and watch the season premiere of Project Runway. (It's back! I'm excited! Aren't you?) So, until next week when I have my wits about me, some random notes.

Gee, have you heard the First Lady had the nerve to wear a pair of shorts whilst hiking the Grand Canyon on a Sunday when the temperature was 106 degrees? It must've been a slow news day, because The Today Show had a serious, in-depth discussion about it. Gee, I don't recall anyone discussing whether it was appropriate for her husband, THE THEN-FUTURE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD, to be photographed in nothing but swim trunks last summer. Seriously, people. They're legs. Everyone has them. Get over it.

On a happier note, I highly suggest reading Mike Albo's review of the new Hollister store in Soho from today's Times, a vast improvement over the debacle that was last week's Cintra Wilson goes to J.C. Penney (which I have refrained from commenting on, because, while I think Ms. Wilson could've handled it more delicately, she had a point that was greatly overlooked: Mass American fashion has devolved into total mediocrity). Albo's entire article is brilliant, but here's my favorite part:

On the way down I stopped in the fragrance room and sampled the Laguna Beach body mist. It smelled like Jolly Ranchers being breathed on my face by Hayden Panettiere. Here the store also sells its California fragrance, which is spritzed on the mannequins every hour; it’s a noxious concoction that, I assume, is distilled from mink sex glands and the tears of broken-hearted teenage girls.

Finally, I get a lot of irrelevant PR pitches sent to me on a daily basis, but here's one I couldn't resist: Miss Piggy and Marc Jacobs in his showroom, going over his looks for Fashion Week. Miss Piggy will be wearing a Marc Jacobs frock next week at Macy's Glamorama in Chicago.

I don't know about you, but this made me love Marc Jacobs even more than I already do. On that note, have a good weekend, everybody!

Project Runway is back! [WARNING: SPOILERS!]
And unless you read fashion blogs and/or have DVR, you probably wouldn't have known, due to the fact that Bravo is seriously phoning in the publicity this round. (Then again, can you blame them? The next installment of Project Runway--which will be filmed in L.A.--bows on [shudder] Lifetime.) While part of me thought it was cute that they started off with the same challenge as in the very first episode of PR, I was also thinking, have they already run out of ideas? It seemed a bit stale, too, because 3/4 of the designers used either a shower curtain or a tablecloth in their designs, and while I truly loved Karta's big yellow caftan, well, it wasn't too much of a stretch. Then again, it was leagues above auf-ed designer Jerry's shower-curtain-and-rubber-gloves ensemble--am I the only one who was reminded of Patrick Bateman's serial-killer ensemble in American Psycho? (Side note: Jerry is the designer of FORM, a truly innovative, luxurious line whose runway show I attended back in February. First of all, if you have enough funding to afford a fashion show, why the hell are you on a reality TV show? And, secondly, Bravo's Make Me a Supermodels walked in that show; was the network returning a favor by letting him be on Project Runway, or does Jerry just have a friend in high places?) I also really liked Daniel's plastic-cup dress, which, while a bit ill-fitting, nevertheless reminded me of Theirry Mugler. I think he and Marc Jacobs grad Wesley are going to be two strong contenders; Fashionista is placing bets on Jeremy Scott alum Emily; and my friend's cousin used to be BFF with Jennifer, and apparently she's quite talented. And while a Vivienne Westwood-Betsey Johnson hybrid doesn't exactly sound appealing to me, Kelli was incredibly innovative, and that counts for something.

As for designers who are bound to annoy the crap out of me, it so far appears to be a tie between Suede, who refers to himself in the third person, and Blayne, who admits to having a tanning-bed addiction and, I suspect, due to the sniffling and general hyperactivity, perhaps an addiction to some form of uppers. Both are vying for the bon-mot Christian Siriano role; I doubt either will come close. Joe is the token straight guy; there are a bunch of girls who all look like Williamsburg hipsters; and there's Stella, who maybe spent a little too much time on the Bowery back in the '80s, but whom I find endearing nonetheless.

But, really, I'm just looking forward to the point where, as shown in the previews, Tim Gunn compares one contestant's (I'm guessing Blayne) design to "a pterodactyl out of a gay Jurassic Park." Awesome.

Reality TV roundup
Christian won Project Runway! After seeing the photos from the show, I had a feeling (as I gloated to MW last night) that he'd be victorious--he has a flair for runway drama, sure, but I also think that Christian was the most talented of the three. Rami is technically skilled, but his clothes seem to be more about showing off his tricks rather than, as he said, celebrating the female form. I will say that Jillian's was definitely the most wearable, and I really hope she finds financial backing, because if she produces a line, I will buy it. But it was sportswear, and Christian's was high fashion (which leads back to the eternal visionary male designers vs. practical female designers argument). Also, Christian, with his asymmetrical haircut and witty quips, is just made for reality stardom, and the fact that Victoria Beckham was a guest judge definitely didn't hurt. So far, the Project Runway winners have all seem to have had a little difficulty getting their businesses off the ground; hopefully Christian's drive and energy will ensure that his clothes actually make it into stores.

I am still watching America's Next Top Model, and I feel like whenever the show takes a step forward, it then manages to take a step back. Or vice versa. I thought most of the makeovers were so hideous (as was the super-annoying "Tyra TV" commentary), but then the photo shoot was fairly normal (lingerie, no crazy makeup) and mega-supermodel(!) Elle Macpherson was there, lending an air of legitimacy. (Side note: I like her lingerie line, and I recommend checking it out.) And then there was the product placement: I'm used to Cover Girl by now, but what was up with the random Apple Bottoms delivery? If you're going to whore out to a brand, at least turn it into a challenge or a photo shoot! I am glad Allison got kicked off, because she was clearly brat-tastic (and somewhat racist at that, thanks to her "black girls take it in the butt" comment). Although I will say, I know Fatima has had a hard life and is missing a clitoris and all, but girlfriend is a big ol' bitch, and next week she appears to tussle with both Whitney and Miss J. Uh-oh...

Malan Breton Fall 2008
Where & When: Wednesday, February 6th at 9 a.m. in the Salon, Bryant Park
Runway Recap: A Malan Breton show is usually an exercise in ruffles, feathers, fur, velvet, and beading, so the streamlined, simple look of his fall collection looked almost minimalist in comparison. Breton was inspired by Catherine Deneuve in her early career (think Belle du Jour and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which happens to be one of my favorite movies), and considering Deneuve is a fashion icon, this was no easy feat. There were some sharply tailored jackets and coats, and while his sheath dresses were chic and well-made, there were far too many of them.
Standout Look: The groovy cropped patent leather jacket captured the mod '60s inspiration perfectly, while this wide-leg trouser had an innovative design with side panels that tied across the back for a languid, lean look.
Bonus Points: It was a Project Runway reunion in the front row, with Angela Keslar, Diana Eng, Katherine Gerdes, and Emmett McCarthy all representing.
Where to Buy: The Malan Breton website

Na•Be by Victorya Hong
Where & When: Friday, February 1st at 8 p.m., Metropolitan Pavilion
Runway Recap: Love her or hate her, you have to admit that Project Runway designer Victorya Hong is talented--she won three challenges before getting auffed last week with her chic but uninspired denim trench. Reading her program notes about being a "child of the '80s" made me a bit nervous, but Hong sent out a rather polished collection of work-friendly separates. The '80s inspiration came across in slim but slouchy trousers, shoulder-padded jackets, and shots of chartreuse. No leggings or dolman sleeves here--it's all a more polished, sophisticated way to wear the resurgent '80s looks.
Standout Look: Blazers and trousers like these were tailored so well, I'm almost upset we didn't see more of them on Project Runway.
Bonus Points: Christian, Elisa, and Jack, as well as Jay McCarroll from season one, made the front row seem like a Project Runway reunion.
Where to Buy: Victorya's website

America's Next Top Model vs. Project Runway
So, does anyone else think it's a coincidence that the challenge on America's Next Top Model last night--the same night on which the new season of Project Runway was debuting--was a very Project Runway-esque situation in which the contestants had to serve as muses to FIDM students, then parade down the runway in their respective creations? The difference between the shows, however, is that while Jenna's punk-rock getup clearly would've won on Project Runway, Saleisha and her Halloween costume took the prize on ANTM. Gross. Of course, the low point in the episode came when Tyra told the contestants they were all going to China--Yay! Ninjas! (wait, aren't they Japanese?) Screaming! Jumping up and down! Chinese lions! Gongs!--except, that is, the girl who's going home. Which turned out to be the long-past-her-expiration-date Ambreal, who nonetheless took it like a champ. Also, I'd like to know how the "green" theme of this "cycle" is going to work with their trip to China, home of lead-based paint.

As for Project Runway, I think everyone was a bit worried that the show had jumped the proverbial shark, but with the exception of Tim Gunn's catchphrases sounding almost like a parody now (I expected him to throw in a "Where's Andrae?" just for old time's sake), I think this season is going to be awesome. We have Elisa, the kooky earth-mother hippie; Christian, the cocky kid straight out of design school; Ricky, the gay Mexican lingerie designer; and Chris, the crazy-costume designer. And while I supported Rami's win, I worry that he's going to be a one-trick pony, and that everything he designs is going to have that goddess-like draped look. I was much more intrigued by Victorya's tent dress, which was very Lanvin-esque, and so I'm keeping my eye on her this season. I just hope the show is as good the Bravo website--if you're in need of procrastination tools, I highly recommend checking out all the blogs and interactive features there--but based on the first episode, I say so far, so good.