Neil Patrick Harris tweeted about Tim Gunn's appearance on "How I Met Your Mother" yesterday. Here is a link to the exchange. Thanks everyone who forwarded this.
Our friends at Newsday have posted an update on Carol Hannah Whitfield. She is sharing an apartment with Althea Harper and Malvin Vien and studio space with Logan Neitzel and Epperson. Keeping it all in the Project Runway family...
The Seattle Times has an update on Blayne Walsh. Thanks for the shout-out, Blayne.
BPR: Malvin, we are very sorry to see you go! Were you writing a farewell message to the designers at the end of your episode? What did it say?
MV: Quite observant - It was a call for the unconventional, advice for the remaining designers to take risks with their designs... a challenge to design with the intent to "say something" versus "play safe." Innovation comes from risks and risks are spurred by an authentic infatuation with one's own unique perspective. This will define an aesthetic.
BPR: How did you get the silk fabric to resemble feathers?
MV: I pleated silk organza to create the initial base volume and then, built upon this foundation with frayed strips and sewn edges to give the look a visceral appeal. I also made use of the selvage, which was cut to resemble feathers and sewn on as ties for closure.
BPR: Were you sequestered in another apartment after your elimination? Did you and Ari become friends?
MV: ...We bonded over Kombucha.
BPR: After taking another look, your "red carpet" design was very inventive. Was the pleating detail something that you have incorporated into other designs or did you create it just for this?
MV: Thank you...yes, the red carpet design was an original. A lot of work went into planning and orienting seam lines, zipper placement, drape, ensuring pleat memory, etc... With that in mind, the show as a "competition" never really occupied me until I was eliminated. I realized the extent to which Project Runway contenders apply their past designs during each challenge, which is smart and game-savvy...I would have done the same, but that wasn't my intention. I came into the competition with the aim of developing my skills and perspectives. I was just itching for a non-traditional material challenge...
BPR: Besides fashion, what do you love?
MV: Ahhh, too many things...life? Wait, I do love science. In fact, when I was a kid, I seized our upstairs bathroom and transformed it into a dilettante laboratory. Flower vases and wine glasses went missing to become impromptu test tubes in which I mixed shampoos, baking soda and anything I could get my hands on to falsify exuberant discoveries and cure-all elixirs.
BPR: Have you been watching the "Models of the Runway" show? What do you think?
MV: Val is my gal!;)
Thank you Malvin, please keep in touch!
Project Runway has a long history of sweet, conceptual thinkers from Austin Scarlett to Diana Eng to Elisa Jimenez. All of those designers were fascinating to watch bring their concepts to fruition and you join those ranks. The idea of a fertility goddess or of highlighting something precious with an egg-like fragility in theory sounds intriguing. As Nina Garcia pointed out, you had something with the feather detailing. Viktor & Rolf and Alexander McQueen demonstrate that there is an interest in artistic concept in fashion and you will surely find your niche and the client that will demand your brand of expression. Your Facebook update last night (Status: "eating fried chicken...want a leg?") shows that you have a delicious sense of humor that will serve you well in the industry. We only hope that you keep us updated because we know you have so much more to offer.
This post is only for positive words for Malvin Vien. If you have negative commentary or something to say about another designer, you may do so in our Reactions post here.
Did you like the necklace that Sweet P was wearing in the All-Star Challenge? My daughter Kaitlin identified it right away as being from Anthropologie! Here is a link.
Korto's necklace designs are available here.
A Brief Chic History of the Motorcycle Jacket at Glamour.com examines this Schott Company icon and features Project Runway Season Five designer, Joe Faris.
Portland Fashion Week will be October 7 - 11 and is still accepting designer applications!
Project Runway Canada has been nominated for three "Gemini Awards." The Geminis are like the American Emmy Awards celebrating the best in English-language Canadian television!
Click here for a new interview with Malvin Vien. A highlight:
Let’s talk fashion. Have you always been interested in it?
For me, fashion began as an art form, a visceral discourse on the body, wearable, interactive, the body as a canvas.
And lately fashion has become more than an art form, it has become a cause for development, a means through which I have begun to understand my place in our modern context.
Team BPR thanks Ali G for this excellent Field Report!
Hi, BPR!
It’s Ali Ghozati, reporting about a special Project Runway event.
On Saturday, August 8, from 12pm to 3pm, 6 designers from season 6 – Althea Harper, Epperson, Irina Shabayeva, Malvin Vien, Nicolas Putvinski, and Qristyl Frazier – appeared at Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island in New York.
This event was very crowded – Long Island has many fans of Project Runway. The event featured members of the audience coming on the stage in rounds, taking plain white T-shirts and designing them using scissors, markers, and jewels.
Three of the designers served as judges, picking a winner in each round. The winner got a gift card. There were several rounds with various members of the audience competing and all of the designers getting to judge. It seemed like a lot of fun. The 3 designers who weren’t judging sat at a table, graciously agreeing to take pictures and sign autographs.
I spent most of the event at this table, chatting with the designers. All of them were so nice. They showed a lot of enthusiasm. Althea was a sweetheart. She mentioned that the models this season were, to quote her directly, “crazy good.” She highly recommended watching "Models of the Runway," the spin-off show. I told her that she herself looked like a model for the show since she really was stunning.
Epperson was so cool. He was much taller than I thought. Irina was lovely. When I was talking to her, she made me feel like the only human being on the planet despite the surrounding pandemonium.
Qristyl was gracious. My camera kept malfunctioning in taking a picture with her, but she was extremely patient, letting me continually try until I was finally successful. Malvin was very kind. His hair was pretty fierce. Nicolas thanked me for attending the event and supporting the show. I thanked him for coming to Long Island, making me and my fellow Long Islanders so happy.
At this event, there were a lot of signs for Project Runway and some monitors set up, showing clips of season 6. I walked away with a poster autographed by all of the designers and an official Project Runway audition kit (a cute container which had needles, thread, safety pins, and buttons in it). Overall, this event was superb. I had the time of my life at it. It made me look forward to season 6 of Project Runway even more. While I wish the best of luck to all of the designers, there are 6 of them that I’m especially rooting for! Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Ali
Recording Artist Keri Hilson is wearing a "MYNT 1792 by Kevin Christiana" jacket in the current issue of Angeleno magazine.
Tomorrow is a big day for Project Runway Fans. Season Six designers are making appearances at malls all over the US. This is a great way to express our support for our favorite show!
First, Althea Harper, Epperson, Irina Shabayeva, Malvin Vien, Nicolas Putvinski and Qristyl Frazier will all be at Roosevelt Field Mall in New York tomorrow from 12:00 - 3:00. Click here and here for details. Thanks Ali!
Carol Hannah Whitfield, Gordana Gehlhausen and Mitchell Hall will be in Atlanta at the Lenox Square Mall. Click here for more.
Ra'mon-Lawrence, Christopher Straub and Shirin Askari will be at the Woodfield Mall in Chicago. Click here for more info.
Am I missing any other events? Is there anything on the West Coast?
BPRs, of course if you are able to attend any of these, please send photos. Thanks everyone.
Photo: Mike Yarish/Lifetime
Click here for an interview with Ra'mon-Lawrence Coleman. Thanks Jahna.
Tim Gunn is currently fourth in this Huffington Post poll to select which celebrity looks best in eyeglasses.
Hey, Bill McComb, how about a line of Tim Gunn eyewear for Claiborne?
Click here for a new interview with Malvin Vien.
Mitchell Hall is interviewed here in SavannahNow.com.
Project Runway fans in or near Charleston can cheer on the local favorites, Gordana Gehlhausen and Carol Hannah Whitfield at a viewing party on August 20th. Ticket sales benefit a local charity. Click here for more information.
Click here for the New York Times article, "Harsh Reality." It includes interviews with Project Runway contestants including Diana Eng, Zulema Griffin and Chloe Dao. Thanks Paul.
Age: 24
Birthplace: Englewood, CO
Current Home: Brooklyn, NY
Favorite Designer: Himself (He likes what he has to say)
Style Icon: The farmers of rural China
Favorite Past Project Runway Designer: Jay Carroll, Season 1
Click here for more information.
