10/29/2010

A Travisity of Justice

I honestly don't think I am overstating it when I say that our house was in deep mourning last night over the horrendous ending to an otherwise perfect season of Project Runway. Mondo was absolutely robbed of his rightful title and I think that there should be some investigation of the judging. Perhaps it is time to clean house and get rid of old ladies Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. If they think that Gretchen's old lady underwear with brown prints is "on fashion trend" then I think it's time for them to move on. We need someone who can recognize real talent and not feel threatened by it.
Mondo's collection was fresh, colorful, and alive. Gretchen's was sad, drab, and uninspired. This is coming from a hippy dippy type who you would think would be her target audience. Her opening look is above and is representative of the entire collection. She had 3 different looks with those droopy knit underwear. Who in the world would actually wear those things out of the house?
This is the controversial final look from Mondo's collection which probably cost him the win. Nina and Michael didn't like it and told him last week. I personally agree with Tim Gunn that it was the perfect closing of the show and would absolutely wear it if I had the body or someplace to wear it. There were at least 6 of his looks that I would wear unlike Gretchen's sad collection. After the emotional highs and lows of this season it just seemed inevitable that Mondo would come out on top.

I believe that Missy Schwartz, who writes the recaps for EW sums it up best, "I am aghast. As I sit here at 11:16 p.m., the minutes piling up before I get to go to bed and try to forget the travesty that was tonight’s finale, I am at a loss as to what to say. Other than this: Project Runway has betrayed me. Nina and Michael have betrayed me. No, they’ve betrayed us, we the faithful Runway nuts who have stuck with the show through thick and thin, even when it went off the rails in L.A."

I have never felt so strongly about a reality show conclusion in my life. Luckily Mike is equally aghast so we can discuss it at great length. That is one thing I love about Mike, he actually prefers Project Runway to football. Does anyone else have strong feelings about last night's show or do you think I might be a bit too emotionally invested in a reality show?

12 comments:

Ann said...

I've never seen the show but then I rarely watch any tv. Personally I don't care for either look but I'm pretty much a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl so high fashion really isn't my thing. :)

Ruth said...

I've never seen the show either but I agree with you. I mean that first look...ewww, granny panties! She may have been attempting some sort of "retro" look, I think I remember seeing something similar in an old 50s era bathing suit ad...IMO it didn't work. Not sure if the second look is something I'd ever wear, similar to Ann I'm a t shirt & sweatpants kind of person myself, but I thought it was much nicer.

GalleriaLinda said...

I have watched the show from day 1 - it is my favorite inspiration and I agree! Mondo is a unique talent. Gretchen is not. It was indeed a disappointment. And, I LOVE that polka dot long dress - very retro and modern at the same time. I was frankly surprised by Nina's and Michael's reaction to that dress.

Rachel said...

I've been thinking hard about this. When PR was on Bravo they treated it like a competition for a budding young designer. Lifetime has treated it as nothing more than a contest. I think before the judges were pressured to pick the best designer and now they are pressured to pick the person who played the game the best. I also think this emphasis of "sellable" is a reflection of how hard the recession has hit high fashion, the fashion houses and the fashion magazines. The fashion industry is depressed and I think Michael and Nina are wallowing in that. I think they're also confused depressing clothes with "earthy". Gretchen might be on trend right now, but you don't design for right now. Designers design for a year or more out. Look at what else is coming out of the fashion houses that will hit stores next year and influence trends for the next 18 months! It's all Mondo-esque! And as far as being a trendsetter, will we see blah giraffe-print granny panties in the fall 2011 fashion shows? NOPE! I guarantee there is going to be wild color and polka dots!

elsie said...

I was shocked really, but I was also a little disappointed with Mondo's collection and I could see several of his looks being ripped of my Forever21 ASAP- but still, Project Runway is supposed to bring us the next new innovative american designer and that IS Mondo, "sigh"...

Raige Creations said...

I can't believe I missed the finale, and I really can't believe Modno didn't win!! :(
gotta see the repeat

Duni said...

I've heard a lot about this show, but it hasn't aired here yet. I believe something similar is in the planning though.
Fashion is subjective, don't you think? Did you know that there is an int'l fashion council and THEY dictate what is fashionable for the coming season. And that is exactly what you see in stores. I have never understood why so many women bend to that. I would always back designers who know about flattering shapes and have a good eye for combining colours.

MtnGrl said...

I THOUGHT I'd reached the depths of disgust with PR the week before when it was becoming apparent that after weeks of sympathy build-up, the much-maligned (why?) Michael C. was about to be Auf Weidershened.
THIS WEEK was riDICulous! Gretchen? Really? What the? I am a woman "of a certain age" and even I would rather where any of the other outfits from Andy and Mondo than *any* of hers! And for the record, I loved the polka dot dress from the start.
Take Project Runway back to Bravo! Lifetime's Producers were too manipulative.

Auntie E said...

Oh my household agrees with you. Gretchen wares were, well let just say not worthy of the win. I am not sure what to say, we where sure that Mondo would win. His collection was colorful and well put together. And I liked the Polkadot dress.... Gretchen I did not like from the early part of the show. She seemed too back stabbing. Also I could not believe it when she said she was tired of the challenges a thought them to be crazy, in the last challenge. I really think we all should go to the site and complain about the two judges. If that is the new direction clothing is going,I'm in trouble because I hate it! i would never ware those shorts, or that dress Gretchen had on. Her clothes looked "red light" to hubby and I.

Lin said...

Mondo was R O B B E D!!!!! I am horrified that those drab hippy clothes won and I really don't like that stupid Gretchen and her lame opinions on EVERYTHING. Ugh. I am very disappointed in the show for the same reasons as everyone else here. Michael Kors and Nina are really wrong about this one and they haven't been good in awhile. I think they are about making this about them, rather than the designers now.

I loved the black and white dress! Gees, if I could fit in that thing and had somewhere to wear it, I'd be all over it!!!

TiLT said...

I am so so SO with you on every part of this. Personally, I do not think Gretchen should have made the top 3. She started faltering in those last few weeks.

And Mondo just rocks! His look is so fresh & funky. How often do you see someone combo prints like he can? You just don't. And The Polka Dot Dress...if I could rock it, I so would!

Agree with all the comments about the "new" direction PR seems to have taken. A change up in designer & mag editor is due.

Anonymous said...

Um...YES! First I have to say, I do agree with you. I love Mondo, everything about him including his personality and his amazing talent for mixing prints. He's got the market on creating wearable clothes for the woman who likes to be a bit edgy. I don't get why he didn't win.

But, I do get why Gretchen did. First of all, I think she is a mean, self-absorbed, manipulating rat, and I have no respect for her as a person. That aside, I do see how she's always been on trend. That doesn't mean that trends are always wearable or interesting though. Those diaper things, eh, I would never wear it, but sadly, I believe they are. Also, she did capitalize on the native american/ southwestern U.S. prints thing. That's definitely on trend. Just look through the hipsters on etsy/ blogland. Her colors (lack of) make her looks present as very dowdy though. Just imagine if her collection used some of those amazing, bold colors of the American Southwest. So much better.

Anyway, I do agree that it was tight, but I also think Mondo deserved it more. One thing that's good though, we do know that coming in second place does propel your career. So we will see more of him.

Ok...off soap box:)

 

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