Video: Audience reactions

After the five runway shows for the Season 4 finale of "Project Runway" at Fashion Week, we scoured the tents at Bryant Park looking for reactions to the collections.

We found "Runway" alums Ricky Lizalde (hey, Ricky, sorry about all those crying comments), Kit Pistol, Victorya Hong, Jack Mackenrath and Malan Breton and the new queens of Bravo, the Real Housewives of New York City.

Here's what they thought.

Jillian Lewis dishes about 'Project Runway'

After last night's dandy candy episode that fleetingly took Jillian Lewis to a new low point, the Project Runway star from Selden takes a breather and checks in with Newsday’s style reporter Anne Bratskeir for a second exclusive Q&A session.

AB: OK, so tell the truth, will you ever eat red Twizzlers again?
JL: Well, after that crazy mess, I swore off of Twizzlers, but now I’m over it. It was crazy. During the deliberations the lights were very hot and they were melting so although it smelled sweet, it was also really nauseating.


AB: Did you think that you were a goner on the show last night?
JL: At most points I thought that was it for me. I loved the design but it just really kicked my butt. I’m not the type of person who edits my ideas based on the time given, but how can you be sent to a candy store and not use the candy? I was very worried. I hardly ever curse, really rarely, but when I heard the bleeping I knew I must have been really bad.

AB: When Tim Gunn said there were only two hours left including hair and makeup, were you in freak mode?
JL: I think when my model sat down and helped me with stitching; her presence was distracting from the horror. During nighttime, when I only had half of the bodice done, that was scary.

AB: You hit the depths and then we were thinking you almost won. Did you feel that too?
JL: I have honest eyes. I thought Rami was really innovative and there’s enough room for many people to be great, I was actually rooting for him.

AB: In your experience with him, has Christian ever been more annoying than in last night’s episode?
JL: Oh God, I know. He didn’t come around me or Rami to critique us. He knows better. Why he thought it was appropriate to walk around giving his opinion to everyone, well, everybody knows he’s a little immature.

AB: Kevin seemed ticked off at him. Do you think that Kevin might actually throttle Christian?
JL: No, they’re friends. Kevin was just being cute and sarcastic when he said he’d take him off. If I were Kevin I might have knocked him out. Fortunately for him, he didn’t come my way.

AB: Does it make you smile to think that Rami kinda, sort of considers you his muse, and don’t you think he has the world’s best dimples?
JL: He is so adorable, I loved his aesthetic. It’s ironic that it looks like he was designing for me, but before we ever met, we had a similar aesthetic that crosses over in some areas of styling. I don’t know if I loved (the dress) because I wish that I designed it, or I loved it because I want to wear it.

AB: Have you evolved on the show?
JL: In the last episode, I can sense I’m getting more comfortable. I’m not hiding or shy. In a lot of cases I was trying to stay out of the spotlight. That’s changing.

AB: So, as of now, are you feeling the win?
JL: I feel like I’m getting somewhere, but I never feel that I have an automatic on the top. I’m not taking anything for granted. I’ve done well and am getting a great response.

AB: You seemed to well up when Elisa got the boot. Were you sad about it?
JL: I liked her presence, though sometimes she talks too much. She’s a really genuine person, and she does have positive energy, which is real, not like an act. I was touched how she felt so appreciated about the bonds we all share. I did not like her dress and the overall darkness. As Christian would say, “It was a hot mess.”

AB: Speaking of people leaving the show, how’s Jack? (For those who don’t remember Jack, who is HIV positive, left the show for health reasons.)
JL: We all keep in touch. He’s fine. He recovered really quickly. He’s the go-to person. If there were a captain of Project Runway, he’d be it.

AB: You really seem to like vivid colors. Do you have a favorite?
JL: I’ve always loved red. That never changes, but I’ll wear any color. Though in the winter, I tend to wear darker colors. I really loved that sweet, happy combination that Rami just did of fuchsia and red.

AB: Well, this is about fashion, so, what are you wearing right now?
JL: I’m wearing cashmere stirrups, and a bra because I was just trying something on before you called. I’ll be putting a white button down shirt back on after this interview is over.

Photos courtesy of Bravotv.com

Project Runway Episode Five

In what may have been the best challenge yet, the designers get to makeover the favorite outfits of everyday women who have lost serious amounts of weight – we’re talking anywhere from 48- to, yikes, 160-lbs. Natch, the women, with their new and improved bods, want to flaunt it but their old duds are giant frights ranging from a scary, beaded polyester wedding gown, to an atrocious evergreen moo-moo.

Finally, kvetchy Christian nails the win with his fab remake of a black shirt and jeans. Guest judge, the talented Patrick Robinson, who hails from the likes of Giorgio Armani, Perry Ellis and Paco Rabanne, and is now is the head of design at the Gap, raves calling it "young and cool." Of course, Christian always has something outrageous to say. In this episode, he tells his client who has a less than ample derriere, “I’m not a miracle worker lady. I can’t make you have an ass.”

Steven is, uuucch, deservedly the biggest loser. He calls his client’s bad wedding gown “death on a stick.” He produces a grim frock made of black fabric that he purchases and then trims with bits of the dress. The judges describe the transformation as taking a joyful wedding dress and turning it into something a French maid would wear…to a funeral. It is really a dog, so goodbye to you, Steven.

The real loss on the show revolves around Jack, who, announced last week that he was HIV-positive, and this week gets sick with a raging staph infection that distorts his normally beautiful face. It’s beyond sad, and, there is a bit of cheap shot editing. That said, the show salves the pain by bringing back the fun, fabulous and yes, fat Chris. He understands the plight of the women because he has done his share of yo-yo dieting. Unfortunately, his inner costume designer cannot be tamped down and he designs a sailor suit that almost sinks like a stone on the runway.

Sexual innuendo of the night comes, remarkably from the dignified Tim Gunn. He urges Chris, who has to work through the night, to get his design elements down before sewing. “I’ve made more bad decisions at three in the morning than I can list.” Chris cracks up and others call out, “I want names.” Tim, embarrassed, says, “I really am an old fart. I didn’t even think of that.”

Victorya is soulless and isn’t even nice to her client. Ricky weeps . . . again. His client vaguely reminds us of Adriana on the Sopranos. Kudos to Kevin who makes his client looks like, “one of Charlie’s Angels.” As for our girl Jillian: great dress, but she didn’t use her client’s old clothes, replacing them with fabric of the same color. Michael Kors called it, “impeccable.” If she followed directions, she might have taken it.

– Anne Bratskeir

Episode Three: The Tiki Barber Affair

Sometimes reality shows push the limits too far and "Project Runway" did just that in episode three.

The challenge? In a day-and-a-half, design an on-air outfit for "Today Show" correspondent, Tiki Barber, the former Giants running back -- something conservative but cool that would fit his neck, skinny waist, and self-proclaimed "big butt."

Few of the designers had any menswear experience, and it showed. In the end, the looks fell into three distinct categories: Okay, not bad and absolutely horrible.

Kind-hearted Jack who shares his boxer shorts with other contestants to help them make their patterns -- he is almost nude in the workroom save for a towel -- wins it with a checked shirt and pinstriped pants. Tiki likes it and says he’ll be wearing it on the Today Show soon . . . we have our doubts but cannot wait.

We think Kit should have taken top honors with her navy fleece blazer, cool shirt and khakis, definitely decent. Kevin also gets honorable mention for his vest, pants, lavender shirt and pocket square. Heidi does not dig the look. “I would not like to see my husband in that,” she says. Kevin, no shrinking violet, retorts, “C’mon, Seal would look great in this.” So not happening.

Carmen deservedly goes home for her dreadful ensemble. Michael Kors says her pants look like something out of the film “Boogie Nights,” and adds that the “crotch is out of control.” She makes a horrid little jacket that sits at the waist, and Tiki frets that it would make his “butt look big.” Because she runs out of time, she throws a bolt of fabric around the model’s neck instead of a shirt. It’s shmata time and it ain’t pretty.

But, in fact, the challenge was just plain too hard and it wasn’t that fun to watch. Ricky’s angst is over-the-top and he wins the award for the contestant most likely to need a Valium. He completely bugs out and nearly gets “aufed.” Jack admits he’s HIV-positive. Sweet P designs a tie for a 7-footer (Tiki is 5’9”) and a shirt with a bizarro collar. Tiki’s wife, Ginny, floats into the workroom while the kids are sweating bullets and critiques. She is a little too mean and we don’t want to know that Tiki’s wife is the boss of his clothes.

For the record, hardly any of the contestants even knew who Tiki Barber was. Ricky admits it, but says, “He’s gorgeous.”

Steven sums up his knowledge of football with a fashionable flair: “It’s the one time on TV that spandex is acceptable.”

-- Anne Bratskeir

OK, really? Seriously?

If anyone cares to discuss Jack's use of nutjob Christian as his man purse, we'll be happy to go back and forth with the comments.

He looked like a pet monkey clinging to the zookeeper's arm.