Project Runway 4, Grand Final Finale!
Manolo says, this was perhaps the most anti-climatic Project Runway grand final finale ever. Indeed, as soon the Manolo heard that Victoria “Posh but Ridiculous Spice” Beckham was going to be the celebrity judge the Manolo assumed that Christian would be the winner.
Victoria Beckham’s own peculiar tastes run so much to the spectacularly unwearable that only Christian could satisfy her increasingly outrageous and idiosyncratic ideas about fashion. Indeed, Christian designs clothes that could only be worn by Victoria Beckham, very tall 14-year-old Slavic girls, and himself. No one else could possibly fit into those super-skinny pants.
Please note that the Manolo is not objecting to the choice of Christian as the winner. He fully deserved to win. He is the most talented of all the designers, he has the undeniable sense of drama and style, and he produces beautiful and striking clothes. All the Manolo is saying is that the choice of Christian was both predictable and out of character for the judges, who have in the past tended to reward wearability and accessibility.
Christian, for all of his youth and bravado, produces clothes that would not be out of place on European runways, or in the streets of Milan or Paris. Not everything worked for the Manolo (the hat and ruffled neck piece, for the example, could only appeal to someone as silly as Posh Spice), but overall it was masterful.
By the comparison, Rami, the gracious, elegant, and mature man, produced the gracious, elegant, and mature collection, one which was only hindered by his choice of colors. (The Manolo must now note that the critical comments of Nina and Michael Kors have never been more exactly on target. Virtually everything they said, the Manolo agreed with.) Rami’s great strength is that he is excessively and finely attuned to shape and form. He knows what looks beautiful, as surely as Christian knows what looks dramatic.
As for Jillian, it is easy to see the influences of Ralph Lauren on her collection. She produces handsome and interesting clothes in the American idiom. Unfortunately, her native insecurity and indecision causes her to go beyond what is required, and to edit her clothing in ways that are detrimental. She has the brilliant ideas, but too often goes back to add something unnecessary, or change something that diminishes her original vision. She needs to develop the confidence to stay with her good ideas, which, as her knitwear proved, can be very good indeed.
So, in the end, it was Christian who was the clear and undeniable winner. Now, one waits to see if he has the ability to go beyond this specific Christian Siriano look. What comes next, Christian?
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Comments
oakling 16 years ago
Jillian needs the intensive therapy or the 12-step program to deal with all that stuff bubbling away in there. She would be so much more amazing if she were freed from all the stuff keeping her from expressing herself.
I loved the colors Rami used because my girlfriend wears the same colors and makes them her own… I’ve never seen them in 70s kitsch as the judges seemed to think they would be! I’d wear his stuff sooner than either Jillian’s or Christian’s….
But yay Christian!!!
cheeky 16 years ago
I think it was totally obvious that Christian was going to sweep this whole season, and, for all of his fierce obnoxiousness, I fully believe he deserved it. I think Jillian has talent, but she is so insecure and indecisive about her work that, as was mentioned, she made some bad calls.
desertwind 16 years ago
I love Jillian’s work.
Poor girl. It can’t be easy being the rock upon which all your family’s dreams are anchored. What a burden! What a shame she can’t just sail away.
Thank you for such an insightful look, Manolo. You’re teh tops!
It was sort of a strange season, wasn’t it?
Saumaya 16 years ago
You could see the Ralph Lauren in Jillian’s pieces. I was impressed.
Saumaya 16 years ago
You could see the Ralph Lauren in Jillian’s pieces.
Ami Addison 16 years ago
I so wanted Rami to win. I thought the last three were all equally talented in their own way, but Rami had the total package: talent, intelligence, and wear-ability.
However, I will say this: When lil Christian teared up at the end–I got a choked up myself. He really is brilliant.
Oh, and I love Posh Spice for being everything I am not.
Despina 16 years ago
This finale brought to you by Prozac.
valawhoo 16 years ago
I thought Christian’s looks were brilliant but also monotonous. Maybe it was the dark color palette and the surfeit of ruffles. With all the black, I couldn’t even tell much about the construction. (In person it was likely easier.) However, he made up for it with his last dress. The feathers! The movement of the train! I swoon.
I would wear Rami’s and Jillian’s designs. That’s probably not a good sign for a top designer, but hopefully, they’ll be successful.
Jessie 16 years ago
It is not surprising to me that Christian won, and it seems to me the judges go with the edgier style, for example last season’s winner Jeffrey. I loved Jeffrey’s collection, although it was by far the edgiest.
Running With Heels 16 years ago
My God, did Santa Clause lose weight?
Don’t get me wrong I am a fan of the blazer, but what is that ruffly mess?!
angelhair 16 years ago
Hmmm…..I loved Jillian’s collection, especially the knitwear and the coats. I thought she made some very interesting choices, adding real edginess and innovation while keeping things very wearable. Yes, she’s a little bit whiny and insecure but I don’t think it shows in her work at all. And she’s still really young – at 26, only 4 years older than the wunderkind Christian.
As for Christian, his show was dramatic and exciting with some breathtaking looks. It was also repetitive, unwearable and far too derivative of John Galliano. If Cate Blanchett does another Elizabeth movie he’s the go-to guy to costume Sir Walter Raleigh. I also thought his feathered dress was super fug – it didn’t fit well and was really unflattering.
Rami’s collection was beautiful. He’ll never be fashion forward (who cares except for a handful of fashionistas) but he’ll be really successful dressing starlets for the red carpet, socialites for museum galas and ladies who lunch.
For the first time PR had three finalists who really do have the potential to have fantastic careers. But I predict that both Jillian and Rami will be more successful than Christian, who will have to find his own voice (and stop channeling Galliano and Westwood) and develop some range before he can progress.
BB 16 years ago
Right. On. Target. I’m so glad Christian was rewarded for his creativity – this must be the future of fashion, not just marketability. Bless Posh for being able to pull off those looks. However, many women are willing to take greater risks with fashion when it is black, hence, I think Christian’s color choices were smart and could carry his clothing to daily life.
Kristina 16 years ago
Everyone PUT DOWN THE KOOL AID!!!, Christian designed the same jacket and tight pants every week. I was so dissapointed by his win and had so hoped that Chris would have made a better effort. Every season PR plays with our heads and this season was no different. After watching every episode twice I feel hungover,like it seemed a fun party at the time but the more I sober up the more silly it all seems. No one except Jay had a scintilla of success by being on this show.I need Coffee!!!
Jenzilla 16 years ago
Jillian may claim to be living her own dream (although it looks from here like attempting to live up to her mother’s expectations), but she certainly doesn’t seem to enjoy it very much. She’s consistently been a mess of anxiety and fear throughout the whole season. Jillian’sMom, would you please give her a hug and tell her you’re proud of her already? I kind of hate you just a little for what you’ve done to her.
littlem 16 years ago
“Rami’s collection was beautiful. He’ll never be fashion forward (who cares except for a handful of fashionistas) but he’ll be really successful dressing starlets for the red carpet, socialites for museum galas and ladies who lunch.”
You know it. I have to go to the Grammys on occasion and I was already angling trying to figure out how to get something from him before merchandising jacks the price up so high I can’t afford it.
“All the Manolo is saying is that the choice of Christian was both predictable and out of character for the judges, who have in the past tended to reward wearability and accessibility.”
I think the latter might have been part of why they made the choice they made (in addition to hating Rami’s colors). They didn’t want to be seen as sacrificing high fashion on the altar of the *gasp* *shock* wearable.
Manolo, thank you for this lovingly precise recap.
Hee, Kristina.
Jody 16 years ago
Does the model have no face? Is this perhaps the European burkha?
Allison Bay 16 years ago
I’m surprised no one is talking about those horrific jeans Heidi Klum was wearing. While they made her legs look as long as from here to Kansas, they gave her body an odd looking shape. There was a shot of her giving her Auf Wiedersehen kiss on the runway and the coloring of the denim made her ass look like a bunched up old lady butt. Heidi has a lot of hits, but this was a definite miss in my opinion.
I also have to know if the Manolo has started watched Make Me A Supermodel yet, also on Bravo. That Casey, that Casey. This week he is up for elimination again. This time it was the thinking that got him. When Niki Taylor asked him what happened on the photo shoot he replied “I don’t know, I just started thinking…” Niki’s response: “Ahh, the thinking.” The entire panel urged him not to try that again. It just doesn’t work out when he tries to think.
Monolo- please give this show a chance. A lot of the drama and humor missing from Project Runway this season can be found on Make Me A Supermodel. I’d love it if you would write about this show.
roz 16 years ago
If my beloved Chris March couldn’t be in the finals, I am glad Christian won. I was liking Rami’s collection until we started seeing red paired with black, and then I knew instantaly he was dead. WHAT WAS HE THINKING?
I liked all of his colors individually – love that teal blue! – but as a collection, ick! Or as The Manolo would say, Ayyyy!
I knew Jillian was auf when she decided to go ahead with the black/white striped sweater with the foofy arms. Hello.
sarah 16 years ago
when the girl pictured walked down the runway, I asked my husband “is she turning into the Shaggy DA?“