The Project Runway 2, Week 4
Manolo says, Nicky Hilton?
This is the person who the contestants of the Project Runway must impress with their designs?
This it is not the honor, it is the moral quandary.
On the one of the hands, you must attempt to produce the best design possible so as to win the respect of the Nina and the Michael Kors, yet on the other of the hands, your design it must still be tawdry enough so as to impress the Nicky Hilton with it’s “hottness”.
The Manolo he hastens to remind you that the Nicky Hilton, she herself wishes to be the fashion designer, and has introduced the Chick by Nicky Hilton line of the clothes, the clothes which are perhaps best described as the track suits with the sequins and rhinestones glued on.
Pefect for stumbling around the Ibiza in the stupor.
And so, with this particularly debasing challenge in mind the designers of the Project Runway set out to sell their souls to the devil.
At the end, it was again the odious Santino as the undeserved winner, with the poor, wacky, nutty, loveable-but-not-terribly-talented Lupe taking the long walk off of the short runway.
To the mind of the Manolo, the dress of the Santino it was too busy. Instead, the dress of the Andrae (ea? eea? aae?) it should have been the winner. It was simple and beautiful. In the second place the Manolo he would have put the Nick, who produced the stunning asymetrical dress. And third, it was the Daniel V., who although his material was incongrous for the carpet of red, made the wonderful party dress.
However, at the end, it was the Santino who remembered the “client”, who remembered that the dress was to be picked by the not terribly sophisticated, not terribly bright Nicky Hilton. And so he made the dress that presented the flashy detail.
Also, do not forget that the Nicky was favorably impressed by Santino’s “personality”.
Did the Manolo mention that he found the Nicky to be especialy dull? Dull in every possible connotation of the word? Dull even by the already low standards set for public Hilton behavior and intellect?
The final word of the Manolo: this week there were many beautiful dresses which were more deserving of victory.
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Comments
JayKay 18 years ago
My jaw dropped when Santino handed Nicky his business card. How…*greasy*.
Andre’s dress was gorgeous. As was Nick’s. Does anyone else think that Santino’s dress looked exactly like the first one he made (to get on the show in the first place), just in a different fabric and color? And the judges were upset with Marla for being unoriginal…pppppffffftttt!
DebR 18 years ago
I blogged about this episode just minutes after it ended and hit on many, many of the same points as the Manolo. The main difference is that I liked Nick’s dress best, but I also really liked Andrae’s, Daniel’s, and Chloe’s dresses. They were all more deserving than StillettoBoy.
My blog entry if anyone wants to read it:
http://debrichardson.blogspot.com/2006/01/weekly-project-runway-dish-session.html
LNLisa 18 years ago
One thing that I’m noticing as this show progresses is how certain designers are basically taking their ONE big idea, and just adjusting it over and over again for each challenge. Santino is a pretty clear case of that. The braiding was cool the first time or two, but I could have designed that dress just by trying to guess what Santino would design next!
Oh, and did anyone read Tim Gunn’s comments? He made the most hillarious comment about Paris Hilton, “Paris can risk looking like a float in a parade, if she chooses.”
Ms Zoe 18 years ago
Is it just me or has anyone else noticed a startling resemblence between Santino and Osama bin Laden? He totally creeps me out. Oh and his dress was a big blue bore so I guess it was perfect for Hilton the lesser.
Christie 18 years ago
Totally agree 1000% with everything you said! When you’re right, you’re right. BTW, Marla’s next to go, I think.
18 years ago
Don’t forget Ms. Hilton’s icky vinyl purses!
Elvira 18 years ago
Am I alone in thinking that neither Hilton girl is especially attractive?
Andrae’s dress is the only one I would have spent my very own hard-earned money on. Granted, I do not have the wealth or youth of Ms. Hilton, but it was still the most attractive. And Daniel V pulled a rabbit out of a hat with his revised design. I don’t know what Marla is still doing there, but in a contest between derivative and hideous, derivative wins. Poor Guadalupe — I hope she finds her niche.
Sunny 18 years ago
I thought last night that Santino looks like the one bad guy from the first Superman who had the ponytail and the shiny black outfit. He’s one scary looking dude. Now that he’s picking on Diana I really hate him though. He’s that cruel that he’ll trash the girl on national television cause she’s a little mousy?!?!?!? I think thats deplorable.
Nicky seemed like she was on pills, all monotone and uninterested. And Heidi was right, Santino’s dress seems as though it could make one look stumpy. I definitely like Andre’s the best, then Nick’s. And yeah, Marla better be next, I can’t believe she got away with it this week. At least Lupe’s dress was her own ‘style’ as opposed to a direct copy. Last season a girl (Alessandra?) got booted for mentioning she was inspired by another designer! Marla makes an exact copy of a dress from the photo provided for the challenge and she gets to stay? BOOO!!!!!
Norma Desmond 18 years ago
“Perfect for stumbling around the Ibiza in the stupor.”
The Norma shrieked with glee. The brilliance of the Manolo is indeed transcendently super fantastic.
furlagirl 18 years ago
A week today the UK version of project Runway starts, with Elizabeth Hurley presenting. I am counting the days.
Paul 18 years ago
Yep the vinyl purse, the fake smile and the wannabe designer attitude didn’t quite wsh in most quarters.
Tbone 18 years ago
Even though the Nicky (ie?ey?i?) Hilton looks like she just returned from the Wal-Mart layaway counter, at least she does not prance about like her sister looking like a two-bit Vegas hooker.
What next, the Olsen twins? Ayyyyyyyy!
daisy 18 years ago
I lost what little respect I had left for Santino when he started sucking up to Miss Hilton Garden Inn and talking about how marvelously fabulous she was. I believe his words were something like “I couldn’t ask for a better muse than Nicky Hilton.”
But I could, Santino. I could.
Texasexile 18 years ago
Amazing what passes for celebrity these days. I am with the Elvira – neither one of the Hilton sisters is all that in the looks department. When will their 15 minutes be up?
Sulee 18 years ago
Re Nicky Hilton … beats Nancy O’Dell though, by leaps and bounds!
beth 18 years ago
Nicky Hilton: further proof that anyone with a trust fund and a Bedazzler can be a clothing designer.
Laura K 18 years ago
Thanks for the great post, Manolo. You said what I’m afraid to say. Santino scares me.
Twistie 18 years ago
I was ready to slap the Santino with the restraining order and he wasn’t even talking to me! Clearly the Nicky Hilton adores the suck up.
La Zapatotista 18 years ago
Did anyone notice that the only other “designer” guests at the party were the boys from Heatherette. I can’t stand the Heatherettes!
La Zapatotista can just picture it now- Nicki Hilton and the Heatherettes meeting at the great cafes of NYC, debating the merits of each other’s artistic visions:
Nicki: (Grimacing) “What do you think, Heatherettes, should I adorn this cropped hot pink sweatshirt with the sequins or the rhinestones? I just don’t know what to do!”
The Heatherettes: “Oh honey, when in doubt, don’t choose! Choosing is something only (ugh) middle class people do. You’re rich! If you can afford the sequins AND the rhinestones, then honey just go and slap on both!”
Nicki: “That’s so hot! I would, like, totally wear that.”
The Heatherettes: (squealing) “So would we!”
Manolo the Shoeblogger 18 years ago
Ha! The La Zapototista she has made the Manolo laugh out loud!
katerina 18 years ago
The Manolo, he has forgotten to tag the post with the tag of “Project Runway”.
Wickwire 18 years ago
Great post manolo. I agree, Nikki herself wishes to be a fashion designer. (I liked that). And what someone up there said that santino won because Nikki likes suck ups. Zulema seems to be last years Wendy. Marla should have went instead of Guadalupe.
VeddyVeddyBadAng 18 years ago
Oh Satan-tino – he is just SO gracious when both winning AND losing! Creep. Nicky said that he had the confidence and demeanor of a designer – well, I suppose so, if most designers are spoiled, egomaniacal blowhards. … Oh, right.
I noticed that Nick didn’t throw a hissy fit and start crying when he lost out to Satantino, even though he was obviously disappointed. I like him a lot – he has a very cute personality and obviously a lot of talent to go along with it.
I would have voted for Daniel’s dress, personally. I loved the way he did the ruching to change and alter the look of the fabric’s pattern. I also liked the bodice of Diana’s dress. Kara’s dress was very cool, with the unusual way the skirt draped on both sides. This was an interesting challenge, but it’s unfortunate that they had to design for such an uninspiring “celebrity”.
La Zapatotista 18 years ago
Ah, bon! Anything for a superfantastic Manolo laugh. :)
triticale 18 years ago
The super-fantastic, it can be very hot, but the hotness for the sake of hotness, it cannot be super-fantastic.
Delhi Designer 18 years ago
Designing for Nicky Hilton isn’t the only “moral quandary” on Project Runway. Counterfeitchic.com points out that Daniel stood up for his team last week, and he’s out. This week Marla’s a copycat, and she’s in. It looks like the way to win on this show is to do the wrong thing. The whole post is here: http://www.counterfeitchic.com/2006/01/project_runway_the_amoral_of_t.php
Lady Prisspott 18 years ago
Dearest Manolo,
Your comments regarding Ms. Hilton did not fall upon unsympathetic ears. This raises a troublesome question however; how on earth are we dear fans of the magnificent Mr. Gunn to take his treacly comments about the talents and charms of Ms. Hilton, neither of which the dear girl possesses. Mr. Gunn had won the heart of her Ladyship through his unfailing honesty but his diplomatic treatment of Ms Hilton bordered on fawning and looked, and it pains her ladyship to say it, sleazy.
The Scarlett 18 years ago
Personally, I liked Nick’s dress the best; it looked superbly red-carpet readyand the color would have been flattering to the client.
With regard to Lady Prisspott’s comment, I’d like to offer that Tim Gunn is in a position of being a diplomat for both Project Runway and Parson’s. He can not indulge in anything approaching honesty to such ‘celebrities,’ especially if they ever want to attract others to participate in the show. He allows us as the viewers to draw our own conclusions. I don’t think anyone is especially fooled to think that Hilton the Lesser is anything beyond dull and mediocre. Meanwhile, I loves me some Tim Gunn and his podcasts!
VeddyVeddyBadAng 18 years ago
The Tim Gunn podcasts are a must-listen. Even my husband agreed that they are almost better than watching the show itself!
18 years ago
Last week: Santino’s horrific, unwearable, inappropriate to the challenge garments are – IN!
This week: Lupe’s horrific, unwearable, inappropriate to the challenge garment is – OUT!
Last week: Daniel’s beautiful, sexy garments are deemed unoriginal by the judges and are – OUT!
This week: Marla’s flagrantly plagiarized, shamelessly copied garment is deemed unoriginal by the judges and is — IN!
This week: Diana’s poofy, overdone, unflattering bottom is very nearly – OUT!
This week: Santino’s poofy, overdone, unflattering dress bottom (with threads and frayed edges showing) is – THE WINNER!
Last Week: Santino resorts to gag-inducing arrogance and bullying from the runway and is – IN!
This week: Santino resorts to gag-inducing arrogance and tush-smacking from the runway (“The first thing I noticed about you was the color of your eyes!”) and is – THE WINNER!
Maybe next week some of the judges should be –OUT!
ushie 18 years ago
The glassy, empty eyes of the Nicky Hilton must be what Hannah Arendt wrote about–the pure banality of evil. Or the pure evil of the truly banal?
Ah, how I detest the Santino. Sore loser, sore winner. Truly, he will be a Lagerfeld one day, stylish neckbrace and all…
Chloe’s, Nick’s, Andre’s. and Daniel’s were all SOOOOOOOOO much better…
Dasha 18 years ago
Nicky Hilton is built like a brick and has the IQ of one to match