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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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!
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?!
[...] Original post by It’s Trent, Bitch! [...]
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.
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/.....-sewn.html
:)
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?
Is that Eugena from ANTM leading off Jerell’s show?
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!
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.
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.
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!!
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.
i will miss jerrell….he was entertaining!
Go Leanne!
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.
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 …
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….?)
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).
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!!!
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!
TEAM LEANNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!