Monday, November 22, 2010

Heidi Klum at The American Music Awards

Photo: WireImage/Mazur


Heidi Klum looked gorgeous at the 2010 American Music Awards last night!

The dress is vintage from 30's. Part of Heidi's personal collection!


Photo: WireImage/Mayer

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Irina Shabayeva Bridal Collection

Project Runway Season 6 champion, Irina Shabayeva recently introduced a Bridal Collection.

Photos courtesy of Irina Shabayeva

Click here for more photos of this lovely collection.

Also enjoy a video of Irina's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection.



Irina's HSN collection debuts on November 24th!

Friday, November 19, 2010

All Tim Gunn - All The Time

Tim interviews Liz Claiborne designer Susanna Moyer.



Next, Tim talks about design in a new interview from Smithsonian.com.

Click here for Tim's tips to dress your best.

Mondo Guerra in EW.com "Under-appreciated Entertainer of the Year" Poll

Image Credit: Prashant Gupta/FX; Chris Haston/NBC; Quantrell Colbert/Bravo; Lifetime


Project Runway season 8 runner-up Mondo Guerra is included in the "Under-Appreciated Entertainer of the Year" poll on EW.com. Click here to vote.

Heidi Klum on December Cover of Self Magazine



The Project Runway producer describes her "Happy Healthy Life" in this issue.

A highlight from the Q&A: How can I be braver with fashion without looking like a Runway reject? —Claire, 32, Chicago

"If you find something you absolutely love, even if it's crazy, go for it! You have to forget about what others say. Personally, I don't love to blend in. People think it's cocky when I say it, which I laugh about, but I want to make statements. I don't like to be a quiet, gray mouse. I love to play around with color and gigantic earrings and short, sexy dresses!"


Click here for more.

A New Interview with Christian Siriano from Alloy

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Irina Shabayeva on HSN November 24th


Project Runway Season 6 champion Irina Shabayeva will be launching a new collection on HSN Nov. 24th.

Here is the press release: HSN is putting another celebrity in front of the camera. Irina Shabayeva, season 6 winner of “Project Runway,” is offering knit headbands with fake fur muffs, shawl collar sweaters and belted fake shearling jackets as part of a collection launching on HSN on Nov. 24.

Retailing for between $29.90 and $269.90, Shabayeva’s line for HSN is her first attempt to reach a budget-conscious customer; her namesake label, which launched last spring, sells for between $495 and $3,495. Shabayeva, who’s also prepping to introduce a bridal collection for Kleinfeld Bridal next spring, is already brainstorming her sophomore collection, including tops and sportswear, with HSN for fall 2011.


Also enjoy this "Life on the Seams" video with Irina from AlloyTV.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

"Handmade Chic" by Laura Bennett Available Fall 2011



These are some of the projects from Laura Bennett's upcoming book, "Handmade Chic" - a DIY book for those of us who love to sew - YAY!

The book will be published by Rodale and available next fall.




Nick Verreos at "Islands of the World" Fashion Week



Nick met up with Project Runway season 1 champion Jay McCarroll and others in The Bahamas. Click here for the story.

Kit Pistol Hosting Charity Event in LA Friday Night

The Project Runway Season 4 designer is hosting a charity shopping event to benefit Keep a Breast.



Kit is one of six hosts- representing LA fashion - this upcoming Friday Nov. 19th at H.D. Buttercup from 7-10pm.

Here is her meesage: Unique LA and Apartment 3 put together a super cool pop-up shop of various designers, jewelers, and other curious finds. Not to mention H.D. Buttercup is so much fun to hunt around in with great furniture and decor items to inspire and delight! I went to the last event and it was super fun!

ANYWAY! as a host- a percentage of my guests purchases will go toward a Charity i am working with now and very passionate about! Keep A Breast www.keep-a-breast.org

Please come out for some free fun food and snacks-- and should you find anything to take home- myself and Keep A Breast will be very appreciative!

xox, Kit

RSVP here!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Tim Gunn at the 92nd Street Y



Tim Gunn spoke at the 92nd Street Y on Sunday night and The Huffington Post has a great report on the lecture here.

A highlight:

Gunn suffered through so much bullying as a kid that he now considers himself an anti-bullying activist. He recalled the bleakest moment of his childhood when he went from school to school and said, "I reached a point where I saw no light -- where I thought, 'Oh god, yet another boarding school with yet another roommate who was made uncomfortable by me.'" And that's when his world turned upside down. He was hospitalized for a suicide attempt, and luckily his whole family stood by to support him. He had an amazing therapist who helped to change his life. Now Gunn is able to say with complete confidence, "Things happen for a reason -- even awful things." And that's where his "make it work" mentality came from.

Watching The Fashion Show?


Photo: Bravotv.com

A reminder that we are live blogging new episodes of Bravo's The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection on our sister site Blogging Bravo. Season 2 is off to a fun start and Iman is making it all so entertaining. And who knows what Calvin Tran up there will say next!

If you liked participating on our weekly Project Runway chats then come join the gang tonight at Blogging Bravo. Chat room goes live at 9:30 p.m. ET. Oh here go blog come!


Christian Siriano Featured in new PBS Show

Monday, November 15, 2010

News from Tim Gunn, Christian Siriano, Anthony WIlliams and Camilla Barungi

Anthony Williams, Jody Auslund (publicist) and Jesus Estrada at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week September 2011 Photo: BPR


Project Runway Season 7 designer, Anthony Williams will be at Macy's at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, GA on Saturday, November 20th. Click here for more information.

Christian Siriano will be in Miami on Tuesday to celebrate the launch of "Send the Trend."
Click here for more information.

Click here for a new interview with Tim Gunn and to see Tim's "Curator's Choice" for AHAlife.

Season 3 model Camilla Barungi has founded a new cosmetics firm called Cush Organics. The products include African Moringa Oil, a cosmetic and African Moringa Miracle Powder, a dietary supplement. Click here for more information. Enter the code Camilla30 at checkout and receive a 30% discount.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

A New Interview with Christian Siriano from The Huffington Post

Jay McCarroll at "Islands of the World Fashion Week" in The Bahamas



Project Runway Season 1 Champion, Jay McCarroll showed a fresh new collection at the "Islands of the World" Fashion Week in The Bahamas last night.

Click here for more information.

Click here for a slideshow of the fabulous looks.

Amanda Fields Models Marc by Marc Jacobs




Project Runway Season 3 model Amanda Fields works it for Marc. Click here to shop.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Vote Heidi Klum a "Hit!"

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty

Heidi and Mondo are receiving tons of press for this look! It's everywhere.

Please show your support - Click here for the poll on PeopleStylewatch.com.


Update: More from Mondo here.

News from Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia and Mila Hermanovski

Brandise Daneswich models a design from the Mila Hermanovski Spring 2011 Collection.
Photo: Volker Corell


Click here to see more photos of Mila Hermanovski's Spring 2011 line in California Apparel News.

Nina Garcia's Manhattan apartment is on the market. Interested? Click here.

Tim Gunn will be speaking at the 92nd St Y on Sunday November 14th. Click here for details.

Heidi Klum In Mondo Guerra

Photos: WireImage

Heidi Klum makes a statement as she arrives at the "Black Swan" screening during AFI Fest 2010 Closing Night Gala at Grauman's Chinese Theater on November 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California. She looks fabulous, of course.


Take that, Nina. Eat it, Michael Kors.


UPDATE: Click here to vote for Heidi!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

News from Joe Faris, Pamela Ptak and Michael Drummond

Photo: Dave Lewinski

Click here for a profile of Joe Faris and Motor City Denim.

Project Runway Season 7 designer Pamela Ptak will appear as a fashion expert on NFL Network's "Top Ten Uniforms" at 8:00 PM on Friday night. Click here for more information.

Click here for a great interview with Michael Drummond from St. Louis Today.

A highlight: Klum ultimately ordered a few dresses based on Drummond's final collection. He was the first to send his garments down the New York catwalk.

Later Drummond said that he was suspicious when Tim Gunn walked up to him after the show, grabbed his hand and led him back to see Klum. She and Michael Kors gushed over his designs and Drummond said that they actually said his garments were among the best that day.

That's when she made her request for a few special orders (something her assistant says that she never does). So far, Drummond isn't absolutely sure, Klum intends to pay for the garments or be have them gifted, so stay tuned.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Christopher Straub Charity Auction on eBay

Project Runway Season 6 designer, Christopher Straub is offering a handbag to benefit the "Toys for Tots" charity on eBay.


Click here to bid.

We Heart Chris March - Video

Project Runway Wild Card


Dear Lifetime,

I have another humble suggestion for Project Runway Season 9... a "Wild Card" competition.

It could happen like this:

The designers are narrowed down to the top three and these three are guaranteed spots in the finale, but before sending them home to create their collections there is a little twist.

The eliminated designers receive a note asking them to meet Heidi and Tim and the finalists on the runway. Heidi announces that they are ALL going home to create collections. They all receive a budget and plenty of time to create their looks. (In my scenario, they go home in July and have until January to create their collections for the February show.) When they all come back for fashion week, the eliminated designers present three looks to the judges and the judges select a "Wild Card" designer for the fourth spot in the finale.

The Wild Card designer is not a decoy but is eligible for the win and receives the same options (models, stylists, etc.) as the regular finalists.

I believe this would be good for everyone - the designers, the fans, the show, the judges, and the network.

Click here to continue.

Nicholas D'Aurizio Designs Featured in Palisade Magazine



Project Runway Season 8 designer, Nicholas D'Aurizio will be featured in the December issue of Palisade magazine. Click here to learn more.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Meet Christian Siriano and Irina Shabayeva in Englewood NJ



Project Runway Season 4 Champion, Christian Siriano will be at The Engle Shop on Saturday, November 13th. Season 6 champion, Irina Shabayeva, will be there on November 20th.

Click here for more information.

Tim Gunn Hosts "Fashion Forward" Charity Event

Photo: WireImage/Killian

Tim Gunn hosted the Fourth Annual GMHC "Fashion Forward" Charity event on Monday night, November 8th at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. The event featured silent and live auctions as well as a runway show.

The mission of the Gay Men's Health Crisis organization is to feed and counsel those living with HIV/AIDS.

Click here for more information, and click here for more photos from the event.

The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection

Project Runway fans may want to check out Bravo's newly re-tooled replacement series The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection which premieres tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tbone will be hosting a live-blog chat room every week on our sister site Blogging Bravo.

The big news for Season 2 is Iman. She has been brought on as both host and Executive Producer. The 12 designers will be split into two teams of "fashion houses" and are responsible for producing a complete runway show each week. Here's the preview again in case you missed it:


Do you miss the BPR party room? Join us tonight on Blogging Bravo. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. ET, hope to see you there!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Fashion Advice from Gretchen Jones

The Project Runway Season 8 Champion offers some advice...

SeenOn Project Runway Private Sale Now Live!

Priced as low as $99.00!

Click here for the "decoy" collections.

Click here for Michael Costello's collection.

Christopher Straub Offers Limited Edition Holiday Dress



Project Runway season 6 designer, Christopher Straub has designed a new "Little Black Dress" for the holiday season. The "Porter" dress is available in sizes XS - XXL and is priced at $140.00. Click here for more information.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Project Runway "Secret Collections" for Sale on Monday



Our friends at SeenOn are offering more Project Runway finale designs for sale. Click here to shop beginning Monday, November 8th at 9AM PST.

The finale collections of Michael Costello, April Johnston, Valerie Mayen, Christopher Collins, Ivy Higa, Michael Drummond, and Casanova will all be available. In addition. several pieces created by Mondo Guerra and Andy South that did not walk the runway are also included in this sale.

Sign up now for access to this exclusive 72-hour sale at SeenOn.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

On The Road With Tim Gunn

Tim Gunn concluded his Liz Claiborne fall road show this afternoon at The Somerset Collection in Troy, MI. BPR was on hand again to capture more of his thoughts on Season 8 of Project Runway. First up, a fan asks how Michael Costello is doing:



Next Tim was asked who he thought should have won Season 8:



Tim continues talking about the Jackie Kennedy challenge. This seemed to be a breaking point for Tim in Season 8 and the one where he was compelled to pull his much loved vlog. He still hasn't recovered!



And finally Tim calls one designer a "massive, unforgivable control freak" But in a loving was as only Tim can. Can you guess who?



Tim and his gorgeous co-host Leah Salak from Liz Claiborne were a hit with the big crowd. His honesty at these events continues to emphasize how much his post-episode vlogs are missed. Add this to our list of changes for Season 9 - bring back Tim's Take!

Tim Gunn to host "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"


Tim Gunn will be the guest host of an upcoming week of "Millionaire." The show will be filmed on Friday, Nov. 12th in NYC.

Click here for details.

Click here to request your tickets.

Tim Gunn in Detroit Today



Tim will host a fashion show at 1 p.m. today in Troy at Somerset Collection's North Grand Court. Click here for details.

Also be on the lookout for Tbone!

Friday, November 5, 2010

Suede Creates a Line of Sewing Patterns and Accessories for Simplicity


Contrino Photography

Suede, seasoned fashion designer, TV personality and season 5 Project Runway® contestant, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Simplicity Creative Group. Suede will be offering patterns, fashion trim, and other creative products under the SUEDEsays™ brand.

Each of Suede’s patterns will include multiple styles covering classic, edgy and feminine flirty looks that offer fashion musts for everyone. Suede says, “I am honored to join the ranks with other great designers, like Cynthia Rowley, under Simplicity Creative Group’s umbrella. This venture allows me to bring my fashion vision to the retail market, but at the same time empowering the consumer to interpret fashion to fit their lifestyle.”

To stay current on all things SUEDE be sure to visit SUEDEsays.


BPR salutes Suede on this new venture!

Rosario Dawson Wears a Christian Siriano Design

Photo: WireImage/Toby Canham

Rosario Dawson wore a Christian Siriano design to the 18th Annual BAFTA Britannia Awards held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on November 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Chloe Dao's Nuo Bags Now Available at Staples

The Classic Satchel in an exclusive print for a charity auction - sorry not available in stores!
Photo: Kris McManus


Project Runway Season Two Champion, Chloe Dao has produced a new collection of carrying cases for Nuo. These include laptop sleeves, bags and clutches.

Click here to see the entire collection.

Click here to shop at Staples.

Ten Things You Don't Know About Gretchen Jones



If you have trouble seeing the video, click here for the direct link.

Rachel Roy can't Recall Who Gretchen is



Project Runway Season 8 Episode 10 judge admits in an interview with Heather Staible for Culture Map Houston that she doesn't recall who Gretchen Jones is:

Because of her schedule, Roy hadn’t seen the season finale and didn’t know who had won. When I told her it was Gretchen Jones, she had no reaction. Not because of any personal feelings about her, but because she had no memory of her on the runway. Ouch.

Roy also admits that April was her favorite designer and that she wasn't opposed to Valerie's design at all - BUT VALERIE WAS ELIMINATED ANYWAY:

Roy praised Mondo Guerra and confessed her favorite designer on the episode she guest judged was April Johnston, who favored dark and modern designs and a constant blonde top-knot. Surprisingly too, Roy says she wasn’t opposed at all to Valerie Mayen’s “napkin dress” the way the other judges were.

“I hadn’t seen the designers work like the other judges had, so I didn’t have anything to compare it to, but I like the way she worked with the fabric,” Roy says.


More support for our suggestions that guest judges be given portfolios of each designer's prior looks. Also more evidence of a lack of respect for guest judges. Seriously, why even have them if you aren't going to honor their opinions?

Thursday, November 4, 2010

The Calendar


Team BPR has been privileged to attend six finale shows. Each one is unique but some are better than others.

The season three finale was our first show. Although filming for season three was over the summer, the very excellent editors and producers were able to premiere the show on July 12th and we watched ten episodes before the September finale show. The field was narrowed to four designers and all four showed their collections. There were no decoy shows, no secrecy, no speculation and no fear of spoilers.

The tent was packed and the crowd enthusiastically cheered on their favorites. There was lots of love for each designer. We had watched them triumph through the challenges. We had seen the bickering and the drama. We KNEW these designers. We even knew the models! (We wondered why Nazri was with Uli....)

Click here to continue.

"Crazy Judges!" Video From Justin Couture



Click here to watch this Dvolver film. Thank you Justin!

The Judging...


Dear BPRs,

We have read each and every one of your comments and suggestions for the future of Project Runway and I am going to try to re-articulate your thoughts in a couple of more posts. The first topic is JUDGING.

For the challenges we need clear and specific criteria. What exactly does "avant-garde" mean? Does a red-carpet dress have to be a gown? Do you mean what Jackie Kennedy would have worn if she were alive today, or do you want a modern interpretation of the Jackie Kennedy Style? Please make it clear and specific.

AND THEN USE THE SAME CRITERIA FOR JUDGING.

If a designer falters during a certain challenge and is clearly the loser, then eliminate that designer. If you say that you are keeping the designer "because you want to see more" from him or her, then you are playing favorites.

Click here to continue.

Tonight On BPR?


From Tim Gunn's Facebook page: The first Thursday after 'Runway' concludes is always surreal to me. Knowing that no one will want to discuss 'last night's show' with me at my local deli is sort of sad in a way!

We know how you feel, Tim. What are we going to do with ourselves tonight? Usually I would be gearing up for the weekly Project Runway play-by-play/party room festivities, loading photos and researching the challenge and guest judge. We made a lot of new friends this season in the BPR party room and many of you asked to keep it going somehow.

Well against my better judgement and to the great consternation of my family, I've decided to host a live chat room for Season 2 of Bravo's The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection. I know, the first season was awful. But Bravo has taken cues from their viewer base and made major overhauls to both the format and hosts (ahem). Just one name makes all the difference: Iman.

The Fashion Show debuts next Tuesday, November 9 on Bravo. The live chat will not be happening here on BPR but rather on our sister site, Blogging Bravo. We invite all of you BPR party animals to join us over there for The Fashion Show. Even if the show turns out bad you know we will still have fun!

Here's a preview of what's in store:



Results In - You Were the Judge for Season 8 Finale


Our poll for Episode 14 - Project Runway Season 8 finale - is closed and 7,730 of you voted. You disagreed with judges and 91% felt that Mondo Guerra deserved the win. Click here to see all of the results.

We also asked you in another poll 'Will you ever watch Project Runway again?' Click here to see those results. Don't miss Laura K's letter to Lifetime and all of the suggestions from the readers - you can still voice your concerns on that post.

As always thank you so much for all of your support and comments this year. It has been such a pleasure hosting a site that has such passionate and articulate readers. We will continue to bring you "All Project Runway - All the Time" until the next season of Project Runway with all of the news of the designers as well as Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. BPR has been open continuously since June of 2005, thus our claim of being the original Project Runway fan site.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Love Mondo?

Check out Mondo Guerra's new website!

Christian Siriano Launches Accessories Website



The Project Runway Season 4 champion has just launched a new website devoted to stylish accessories.

"Send The Trend" offers reasonably-priced items, customized for you (after you take the "Style Survey") and free shipping. Click here for more info.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Gretchen's Finale Music



We continue to receive comments and requests for the finale music from all of the finalists. Gretchen's song is "Icarus" by White Hinterland.

Casey Dienel is the band's frontwoman and a personal friend of Gretchen's.

You might also recognize the song from a Revlon ad featuring Jessica Biel.

Click here to download White Hinterland on iTunes.

Project Runway Designers at Gala in LA on Friday



Mila Hermanovski and Jerell Scott are among the designers presenting collections at the Legion of H.O.P.E. Fashion and Awards Gala on Friday night, November 5th in Los Angeles. Click here for tickets. Click here for more information.

Season 8: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Photo: Barbara Nitke/Lifetime Television

Longtime BPR reader Tropical Chrome sends in this excellent year end review of Project Runway Season 8:

Project Runway Season 8 certainly had its moments; some memorable, some we wished we could forget. Here's my look back on the whole season, framed as "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly".

The Good:
Mondo. I could wax rhapsodic over how compelling it was to watch him grow through "I don't have any friends on this show" to stepping up and apologizing for making assumptions about Michael Costello's skills without evidence to his going public with his HIV status to finally letting his passion explode in his designs. He gave us joy and laughter and fun along with inimitable and unmistakable personal style. He made the season pop. Not winning may be the best thing that ever happened to him as it leaves him unencumbered of the winner's leash, free to pursue his vision and career without those limitations.

Michael Costello. In the middle of public outrage over bullying, we got to see first hand what bullying is and does –that it is illogical in the face of evidence, and it is never, ever deserved. And we got to see him finally confront the bullies in an act of vindication for everyone who was ever bullied. Oh, yeah, the man is also a talented clothing designer, making it to the top 4.

Tim Gunn. Until he was muzzled (see The Ugly), he provided more than just additional background information on the show and extensions to our vocabularies, he was our sanity check. He is like Atlas: holding the entire weight of the credibility of this show on his shoulders. He deserves far better than he received for that.

Click here to continue reading The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

Monday, November 1, 2010

News from Heidi Klum, Christian Siriano and Mondo Guerra


More from Heidi's Halloween party here, and here.

Click here for a new interview with Mondo Guerra from TVSquad.

Click here for "Christian Siriano - 17 Questions" from Stylecaster.

Gretchen Jones on Good Morning America

The Project Runway Season 8 Champion appeared on GMA this morning.

Dear Lifetime,


Project Runway is my favorite show and I will watch it until the very last episode, however I would like to respectfully submit several suggestions that might possibly improve things in the future:

1. Production: Please bring in a new production team. I would like to suggest Rich Bye. He's the man who brought the magic to the Magical Elves and now he has his own production company called Goodbye Pictures. You might already know him...

I'd also like to suggest Tim Gunn as Executive Producer. Tim knows and cares more about Project Runway than anyone else. He is the heart of the show. The fans adore and respect him. Perhaps he should have more input and decision-making power.

Also the show really only needs 60 minutes. A tightly-edited 60-minute show would be great.

If you are interested in a new 30-minute show I would like to suggest a show that follows Mondo Guerra as he moves to Los Angeles, deals with his new-found fame and meets prospective clients etc. I would watch that.

Click here to continue.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Heidi Klum's Halloween Party 2010

Heidi was a robot at the annual event. Click here for more photos.

Photo: Bryan Bedder/WireImage