‘Project Runway’: And Then There Were Three …
And so … we finally know who the final three contestants are that competed at Bryant Park at New York Fashion Week last month for the title of Project Runway Season 5 winner. Last night’s pre-Finale ep was a nailbiter for me … I was seriously nervous the entire time … but in the end, one of the final four had get cut:
Jerell, Kenley, Korto and LeAnne were challenged to design a wedding dress that showcases their design esthetic. They were given 6 weeks and $8000 to design an entire collection and would be judged one more time on the wedding dress alone … or so they thought. At the last minute, as Project Runway is wont to do, another challenge was thrown into the mix. After the jump find out who was in, who was out and who didn’t quite make it to the fashion altar, as it were, in the episode titled Always A Bridesmaid …
Much to the dismay of the designers, the challenge was amended at the last minute so that the contestants were further challenged to design and create a bridesmaid dress to go along with the wedding dress that they already created. I mean, they had to know that they’d have to design one more garment before this elimination. That being said, I was just as surprised ;) Sadly, Jerell was not up to the task and he was the one who got cut. Most surprisingly to me, I loved Kenley’s wedding dress over all the others and fully support her win:
Now, I’m pretty versed in all things Project Runway but I don’t recall there being a wedding dress requirement before (Pink reader Vivian reminds me that there was a wedding dress challenge back in season one — which I now remember and goes to show that I’m gettin’ forgetful in my old age ;) … so I really loved this challenge. The dresses all really resembled their designers … tho, Michael Kors felt that Kenley’s dress resembled Alexander McQueen more than anything. Kors remarked that her beautiful dress looked a lot like the McQueen wedding dress that was “just shown” at the previous Fashion Week — I tried to find a pic but couldn’t. Despite his remark, he also said that he loved the dress. I have to concur — it was my fave of the bunch. So beautiful, so deserving of the win. LeAnne’s dress was cool but I found Kenley’s really special and beautiful. I gotta say, I really did not like Korto’s dress (I agree with Heidi, I wouldn’t want to be a bride in her dress either) … and Jerell’s, bless his heart, was a jumble of much too much. From the waist down, stunning … from the waste up, blech! I love Jerell, I was sorry to see him make it this far, work so hard (not to mention win so many challenges this season) only to get cut right at the last second. Props to Kenley for chillin’ out and apologizing to the other designers for her rude behavior. I don’t think they’re all friends (and I suspect we’ll see more of the “old Kenley” again) but it was big of her to make the effort. I thought it was sweet of Tim Gunn to cry … the man is so proper, so composed … it’s strange to see him show emotion like that. It’s interesting, I thought, that there was no guest judge. It felt like this ep was an unplanned “bonus”. So yeah … the final three … and Jerell is not one of them. I did bristle a little bit at Jerell’s comment on his way out the door. He said, “If you want a plain white tee, go to Michael Kors.” While funny, it also sounded a bit petty. Both his wedding dress and his bridesmaid dress were just fug … he really fell apart in the end.
That said, we all know that the final six contestants showed at Bryant Park last month, click HERE to watch Jerell’s collection go down the Project Runway runway at the Finale Fashion Show.
Next week is the real Finale ep. It’s all ladies, I think, for the first time in PR history. I’m gonna say, right now, that LeAnne will win it all. Based on her technical skill, I think she’s the one who’s gonna win. Who do you think is gonna win and what did y’all think of last night’s ep?
UPDATE: Pink readers Jennifer and Sarah found the McQueen dress that Michael Kors said that Kenley’s dress was reminiscent of … here they are for comparison:
Oh yeah, there is some similarity there … but we know that Kenley couldn’t have copied the dress because she told us that she “doesn’t follow other designers”. HMMMMMM. Interesting, no?
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October 9th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Trent, here’s a link to the McQueen dress!
http://myitthings.com/Yuli/Post/fashion/It_Dress/Kenley_s__Alexander_McQueen__Wedding_Dress__Did_she_or_Din_t_she_/921092008134446302.htm
October 9th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
there was a wedding dress challenge. i dont remember what season, but it was geared around the models giving their input but the designers had to stay true to their own designs. well something like that.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I felt that Kenley’s “apology” was very passive agressive. I didn’t feel it. Her attitude stinks and I hope she learns something by watching this season on TV. Jerrell really tripped up but he needs to learn to edit because he was piling stuff on top of stuff. Bless him though.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I really liked LeAnne’s the best!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Any idea why Kenley doesn’t have friends or family to share ? Or did I miss that ?
October 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Here’s another: http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2008/10/KENLEY%20MCQUEEN.jpg
The thing is…this ep was taped DURING fashion week…so how was Kenley to know that McQueen was going to show the same type of thing? If anything, I applaud her for being so forward thinking and designing something that another major fashion designer felt runway-worthy. Frankly, I like Kenley’s better. The tulle is better proportioned on the bottom.
I have to agree Trent – I loved her dress more than anyone else’s. I actually went “OMG WOW!” outloud when they first showed it at her studio. It’s SO well crafted and so different. I thought Kato’s line looked fun, but who wants to wear the same color wedding dress that her bridesmaid is wearing? Jerrell’s was just TOO much and it looked like most of his line was, also. I knew Leanne’s dress would get mad praise, but as soon as I saw the final design all I could think was “the model looks like a bulb of garlic!!!!!”
October 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I was slightly disappointed when Kenley was chosen to go to Fashion Week. I never really like anything that she produced with the exception of the DVF dress. I loved that dress and thought she should have won the challenge.
The moment that I saw Kenley’s wedding dress I thought, “Dammnit where have I seen that dress?!” And then Michael Kors said McQueen and I knew it and everything clicked.
I guess we’ll see how everything turns out next week!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I was freaking out that Korto was going to get cut. She is by far my fav and I didn’t want that to happen to her. I was literally screaming at the TV “NOT KORTO, NOT KORTO”. Kenley was okay. She did bring it this time and that is all that matters. I was sad to see Jerell go too but he didn’t bring and his shiz was fug as hell! I really hope Korto nails it and wins. Tim’s premature praise of her collection makes me think otherwise but we will just have to wait a week and find out!!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I think at the end Jerell said ” if you want a plain white tee go to Michael Stars”, but I’m not completely sure
October 9th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Like geana said there was a wedding dress challenge before where the designers had to design a wedding dress for the models. It was in season 1.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
I love that they had to do wedding dresses!
As much as I can’t stand Kenely, it was rather sad to see her be the only to have no friends or family to introduce to Tim. Perhaps there is a reason (not an excuse though) for her lack of social skills.
I really did love Kenely’s and LeAnne’s dresses. Although after now being able to see the McQueen dress (Thanks Sarah), it is rather evident where her “inspiration” came from. :o Poor Jarell, I like him a lot but he really needed to learn how to edit his pieces. I usually love Korto’s designs, not so much with those dresses she showed. :( Although her drumming performance was really amazing. Hopefully she brings her passion to the finale!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
@ D. — if i’m not mistaken, the mcqueen is from fall 2008, which actually walked the runway in february. the most recent fashion week was showcasing spring 2009. so the dress would have been out there already.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
The wedding dress challenge was in Season 1. Remember Austin Scarlett’s ugly ass green wedding dress? Kors said a Wlliamsburg bride wouldn’ t even wear it
October 9th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Season 1 had a wedding dress challenge where the models had to be the designer’s clients. it was way more exciting cause they had way less time to make them (i think it was 2 days like their usual challenges?) and several models even brought their boyfriends to check out the dresses hahahah.
kara saun won…austin scarlett nearly got eliminated for his fugly dress but it was the chick with all the dyed roses (i think her name was nora?) that got the boot. project runway needs to come up with more creative challenges…they’re doing the same scenarios over and over again, its getting so boring. noone has appealed to me that much this season, i miss christian siriano! he rocks!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
This isn’t the first time Kenley’s design has looked EXTREMELY similar to another designer’s collection. Remember the New York challenge, her winning design looked almost exactly like it was inspired by Balenciaga’s Spring ‘08 collection.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I was really surprised for the final 3, well I was surprised that Kenley got in!!
Tim Gunn sighting at downtown LA. :)
October 9th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
It actually really annoyed me that I liked Kenley’s dress. It was beautiful.
I’ve been rooting for a Leanne, Korto and Jerrel final 3 for a while now but based on this challenege, Jerrel deserved to go home. I still don’t like Kenley as a person though.
I reckon Leanne will win. I hope she does. She has tremendous talent. If not her, Korto. I just don’t want Kenley to win.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Seriously the dresses do not look that much alike. Its a similar color, but other than that I’m not seeing it. So many designers make the corset top and short poofy skirt. It’s so standard, how can that be copying?
I hated Korto’s wedding dress (hideous!) but absolutely loved all of the rest of the clothes from line that she showed Tim. She is the designer I would wear above the others I think. Kenley has great shapes, but awful patterns. Leanna has, well waves on all of her clothes. And I don’t know if she can pull out a win if all her clothes are the ivory and blue colors. Are those the only colors in her line? It’s all I saw.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
I liked Kenley’s designs about 72% of the time, but I disliked her attitude nearly 100% of the time. Really off putting.
Better than that though, was accusing Leanne and Korto of ‘biting her idea’ for a short brides maid gown. No really, as much as she can create a look, but there have been short dresses in weddings for ages. That was such a B.S. big headed comment to make. Really, get over yourself bitch.
I’m rooting for Leanne. I adored her wedding dress & the bridesmaid gown.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Kenley needs to go. Korto or Leanne should win. The end.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Jerell got robbed, the producers only let Kenley back in for her drama, it was supposed to be THREE designers NOT four. Go back to your tugboat Kenley you copycat!
October 9th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I don’t think Kenley copied McQueen, I think it definitely had her flavor and I also don’t think she (or anyone) would be that flippant about copying a designer’s dress on national tv AND at Bryant Park. I love Leanne, and I hope she wins I’ve loved her crazy shapes from the first episode! And she got Tim Gunn to ride a bicycle built for two, how great is THAT?!
October 9th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
[...] Original post by It’s Trent, Bitch! [...]
October 9th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
Kenley had plenty of time to see the McQueen designs. They were shown during the fall 2008 Ready-to-Wear Collection which was in March. In fashion, designers have certain looks, and that poofy theatrical look that Kenley aspires to is definitely an Alexander McQueen look. I think Michael Kors hit the nail on the head: no matter how talented she is, who’s going to want to work with her? That kind of attitude is marginally acceptable in Karl Lagerfeld; it is certainly not from a nobody.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I will miss JerHell. That Queen loved to put some fug on a model’s (or his own) head – and it was his downfall.
Great recap!
http://daviddust.blogspot.com/2008/10/project-runway-episode-13-home-sewn.html
:)
October 9th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Ok, so maybe I am the only one, but when I saw Kenley’s model come out with that dress and the thing on her head, the first thing I thought was “It’s Bjork and the swan!”. I didn’t NOT like the dress, but the whole thing put together just screamed “Big Bird” to me.
And I think Jerrell was ripped off, too. As much as I agree that he needed to edit and as much as I like Korto as a person and as a designer, this week I thought Korto’s dresses were totally fug, looked unconformfortable to wear and it was an unrecoverable error that her wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dress were essentially the same color. What bride would EVER want that?
October 9th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Is that Eugena from ANTM leading off Jerell’s show?
October 9th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Why does everyone like Jerrell? He was way too overconfident, I’d say obnoxiously cocky, and that was his downfall. His comment about Michael Kors was classless. Glad to see him go!
October 9th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
The more I continue to hate Kenley, the farther she gets….so I’ma stop being petty and admit (grudgingly) that her final collection was the best…..(I peeked at all the final collections. I know, I hate me too.)
Personality-wise, she stinks. She stinks to high heaven. But, I must be honest and say I think talent-wise, she’s pretty allright. Did you see that bridesmaid’s dress? Gorge. Sorry to see Jerell go :( I loved him.
Korto is talented too but I feel like she’s starting to unravel under the pressure. And Leanne is going overboard with her shapes the way I feel Rami went overboard with his draping last season. But I don’t think she’s down for the count. I’m not sure how this’ll turn out but I’m seriously rooting for Leanne to win. Her attitude is much more deserving of success than Kenley’s pigheaded disrespectful one.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Kenley may not be the warmest person but I’m rooting for her. McQueen or not I loved that wedding dress. Leann’s was okay and the other two were awful! I’ll be happy with any of the 3 ladies winning but I have to say I’m pulling for Kenley. Her clothes are just more fun.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I was so worried too, Trent! I love Jerrel as a person, but like I’ve said before, he’s either at the top of the bunch or bottom three, and this week, sadly, he was on the bottom. I will miss thee! But, you know, I did check out his runway and I didn’t like much, so I’m glad Kenley is going to BP. Kenley finally apologized, Thank God but I don’t know, her personality is just so polarizing I think it will flare up again. Her dress, on the other hand, was amazing, and dare I say, I liked it better then the Alexander McQueen dress! I liked the shape and extra tulle. I loved her bridesmaid dress as well :) LeAnne’s dress’s were amazing too, I love that she can make such “architectural and dreamy” designs. Korto’s wedding dress was pretty fug, I don’t know what she was thinking, but seeing her overall collection, I can see that it is beautiful. Handmade jewelery!? FABBB! I will be happy if either Korto or LeAnne win, I think their designs deserve it most. Bring on the finale!!
October 9th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I hate Kenley, but when Tim was visiting each designer…I liked her outfits the best. To me, if you give her time to do things she does create really cool outfits. But under the Project Runway time crunches everything looks the same and she is a bitch. My girl Korto got through though!!! I was freaking out! She’s my pick for the win because of the diversity of ideas she comes up with. Although she was disappointing this challenge.
October 9th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
i will miss jerrell….he was entertaining!
Go Leanne!
October 9th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Did anyone else watch Project Runway Australia? They were in their first season, which finished up a couple of weeks ago, and a lot of the challenges were very similar to this season’s US version. They were even doing a lot of the same challenges in the same weeks.
October 9th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Didn’t Kenley defend the dress by saying, “You haven’t seen it in THIS SILHOUETTE?” Which I would piece together to mean that she saw the McQueen, but thought that since she wasn’t doing an asysmetrical hem, it was passable. I won’t deny it though; that’s a sweet and whimsical dress.
I thought it was interesting that there was no footage of Kenley taking Tim Gunn out to meet any of her friends or family, or hanging out in Brooklyn together at her favorite spot …
October 9th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I think Kenley’s Dad was out on the tugboat on a date with Olive Oyl and they ran into Brutus and he was being a butt (as usual) and Wimpy showed up and borrowed money for a cheeseburger so they got all tied up and couldn’t be there to meet Tim. (Am I showing my age or am I going to hell for this….?)
October 9th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I love Kenley’s stuff. I wasn’t feeling the “wave/ocean” vibe of Leanne’s stuff and feel she’s very “Emily Dickinson” with her state of mind and inspirations (morbid and sad).
October 9th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I know everyone is anti-Kenley but I was pulling for her the whole time. I just love her concept of fashion and really get into the fabrics she uses and the so-ugly-it-is-fabulous way she plows them together. I was hoping for the three at the end to make it to the end and I got my wish. I think I actually left these three ladies as my pick for final three on one of your previous blog entries.
Don’t hate on Kenley! She is just super passionate and it looks like she bottles her emotions until she flips out. She can be a lilttle brash but I think it’s just misunderstood feelings.
Yay for the final runway! I am SOOOOO excited!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Kenley’s apology was so half-assed. Isn’t it odd that she was the only one who didn’t go on any excursion with Tim? In Season 3, Uli didn’t have family there, but she took Tim to the beach.
And how many people were surprised to learn that Jerrell is from South Central? WHat?
While I agree the flowerpot look was not happening, I was looking up the McQueen dress, and there are even more bizarre looks on the runway. That flowerpot look would fit right in!
October 9th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
TEAM LEANNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
I loved Kenley’s dresses as well but her bridesmaid dress wasn’t original either. Simplicity has been selling a pattern like that for YEARS!!
http://www.simplicity.com/assets/4070/4070.jpg
October 9th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
i’m never going to watch again. kenley is so undeserving. disgusting. i actually liked Jerrel’s stuff… only had it been edited :/ but i honestly think Leanne will take the win!
October 9th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Jerell was really the best and most promising designer all season..I seriously don’t like Project Runway as much as I did before because I thought that was such a poor decision to take Jerell out. Kenley had a pretty wedding dress for this challenge but overall her work has not been as strong and her attitude is WHACK (I am shocked they didn’t kick her out weeks ago with the harsh attitude she gives Tim and Heidi). I find it ridiculous that Jerell was the challenge winner last week..the week someone was supposed to be ELIMINATED..and the following week Jerell is kicked out of the competition??? He freakin won the week before..the week that the final 3 should have been actually determined..and with some horrible twist, they take him out the final 3. I am so unhappy with Project Runway as a show and I really don’t know how much I plan to watch future seasons after seeing them take Jerell out the way they did. I think LeAnne has really stepped it up, I would like her or Korto to win since Jerell is out now..I did not like Korto’s decision to make the wedding dress and bridesmaid dress practically the same color though. That was odd?
October 9th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
i think the kenley copycat charge and her defense about it being a different silhouette gets complicated when you look at the next dress in that same McQueen collection: http://www.style.com/slideshows/fashionshows/F2008RTW/AMCQUEEN/RUNWAY/00350m.jpg
btw i thought her dress was amazing despite its McQueen-ism, but i also thought she should just own up that she doesn’t work in a vacuum and that other designers clearly have an influence on her (see also her comment a few episodes back that she doesn’t look at any other designers – which is surely bs).
October 9th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
While I didn’t like Jerrell’s dress all that much either, I don’t think it’s fair at all that he won the final challenge last week only to have to compete for his spot again. In the past, when the judges couldn’t decide (a la Chris & Remi last season) there was only a battle between two contestants for that third spot. Based on last week’s show, the finalists really should’ve been Jerrell, Leanne & Kenley. And people, the reason there was no footage of Kenley introducing Tim Gunn to her family & friends is due to the fact that her family hates her and she has no friends. Duh. : ) Go Leanne!
October 10th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Kenley showed Tim the picture of her Grandmother that inspired her and said her Grandmother passed away a few months ago. After that I totally cut her more slack with the attitude. kind of makes sense that as the competition got closer to the end she got more and more defensive and bitchy. Kenley is a loud, annoying, and has a bad attitude – but I finally understood her more. And her dresses were awesome so there is hope for Kenley.
Um…still want Leanne to win! Go Portland Girl!!!!
October 10th, 2008 at 6:27 am
I still can’t stand Kenley. I thought her dress was cute – and had it been made by ANYONE else I would have loved it. Her twitty attitude and sense of entitlement make all of her designs borderline disgusting to me. Blah.
I felt sorry for Jerrell. I liked his wedding dress from the waist down as well. Why didn’t he cut off those boob wings? I think that would have made a big difference. Although, after seeing his Bryant Park show I can see that he was all wrong for the finale.
As for Leanne, I thought that the wedding dress was pretty, but the rest of her collection looked like a big yawn. It’s like she’s beating the audience over the head, screaming “WAVES!!! GET IT?!?!?”. It’s almost so literal that it’s boring.
Korto’s wedding dress was heinous, but I thought that the rest of the collection looked really interesting. The colors were fab, and the bead work looked amazing! I am really looking forward to seeing the whole collection.
Right now I’m Team Korto for the win!
October 10th, 2008 at 11:29 am
am i the only one who thinks that kenley’s designs are TOTALLY ugly? i loved the wedding dress, i can’t deny, but the 40’s silhouette she loves so much would not be flattering at all on the average woman. on top of that, her choice of patterns is AWFUL! they always remind me of the horrible upholstery and comforters in cheap hotels. i know designers are always supposed to be thinking about the next big trends, and just because you don’t see a particular look on people now doesn’t mean you won’t in a few months, but i can’t imagine that kenley’s looks would ever go over well with the general public. i dislike her personality, too, but even in the beginning when it was better hidden (i liked her the first few eps) i thought her clothes were ugly and dated.
October 11th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I was sooo dissapointed in Jerell’s whole collection. He has been one of my top favorites all season. I especially like his olympics outfit (even though it completely missed the mark for the challange), but i thougth his whole collection was Awful! I was really looking foreward to hating Kenley’s collection and was both dissapointed, and pleaseantly surprised that it was so good. I would absolutely love to wear that wedding dress that she made.