Episode 10: Tacky town

There is some dicey timing going on with Project Runway. In two days, we will be sitting at Fashion Week in the tents at Bryant Park for the ultimate PR runway show -- and as it stands now, there are five designers left.

Five designers and two of them are actually already out. So will they fake it for the showing? According to our friends at Bravo TV . . . yes they will.

Speaking of fake, this week’s challenge was to create a new look for the women of World Wrestling Entertainment known as the Divas, and well, there were definitely some artificial parts on them. This is not to say that they weren’t the ultimate hard bodies and sort of sexy-pretty in that brutal way, but this was some major bosom.

The designers learn about their challenge first by listening at a closed door where the women are hooting, hollering and doing their fighting thing. “These sounds are so sexual,” says Christian. “They sound like sex moans.” One has to wonder.

Then, there’s a 30-minute consult with the Divas – one of the girls wants to look like “a classy sexpot, not a whore sexpot,” so you get the gist. The gang gets $100 each to spend at Spandex House, and not a whole lot of time. (Who even knew there was such a thing as Spandex House? Wanna go?)

So, here’s the deal: Rotund Chris, whose laugh has become more insane each week, wins with a bondage style leopard job and sequin-lined hoodie. Actually it’s fab. He says, “Of course I am winning with the tackiest challenge that we have had which I find very funny.” It’s true, though.

Poor Ricky is aufed for his orange bathing suit with gold hardware and dullard gold trapeze dress. He was clearly not the greatest talent there, but sort of a sweetie and here’s breaking news . . . he does not cry.

There were highs and lows in between. Christian was really a contender to win this one with his “ferosh” leather and lace combo. Jillian meshed sports and sexiness in her athletic strappy royal blue top with super short shorts. Rami almost bit the dust because of his vile Pepto-Bismol pink ensemble, and Sweet P was, well, strong-armed by her client, who was the tackiest of the bunch. – Anne Bratskeir

All cried out?

Let's review: In every episode so far on Season 4 of "Project Runway," Ricky has managed to find a way to cry on camera.

Now, when he finally gets whacked from the show (after being whacked out in our reader poll nearly every week), there are no tears? No waterworks? No "the kind of crying where you're trying not to cry?"

Makes no sense.

Michael Kors talks about Jillian Lewis

Last week, I pleaded with Journalista friend Lauren to shoot the Malan Breton show at Fashion Week so I could post it here in the blog for our dear readers.

She was all set to do it, then the Michael Kors reps gave her pre-show backstage access. Breton's show started at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Kors at 11. So, even the intrepid Journalista friend Lauren couldn't be in two places at the same time.

Nonetheless, I made her do some work for me (and for you!) for this little "Project Runway" blog of ours. I had her ask Michael Kors his thoughts on fellow Long Island native Jillian Lewis and her work on "Project Runway" so far. Watch the video to see what he had to say about fave gal.

- Mark La Monica

Meet the WWE Diva/Project Runway challenge winner

Her name is Maria. And she's smokin' hot. I'm just sayin.

Click the pic below to learn more Maria from WWEDivas.com

Video: Michael Kors Fall 2008 collection

We know you all love Michael Kors. (Our favorite judge poll question from a weeks ago helped us out.)

So here's video of his Fall 2008 collection from Fashion Week, shot and produced today by Journalista friend Lauren. Enjoy.

A look at Malan Breton's Fall 2008 collection

Remember Malan Breton from season 3 of 'Project Runway,' the example of perseverence paying off? He tried out for season 1, and... no luck. Season 2 he was offered a spot, but then turned Bravo down. In season 3 the stars aligned and he was accepted as one of the designers. Too bad he was off in the second episode.

But that is neither here nor there. This morning he showed off a new collection at New York Fashion Week's Bryant Park Salon stage.

Peep the runway photos here or below (click on the picture).

Video: Malan Breton on his Fashion Week debut

Don't let that black bag thumbnail fool you.

"Project Runway" alum Malan Breton does a little interview with our pals over at CW11. Watch the vid.

(P.S. His debut show at Fashion Week is Wednesday at 9 a.m.)

Siriano nudges Jillian in our 'Runway' primary

There are six designers and one episode left before the actual "Project Runway" fashion show at Fashion Week.

Clearly, the math is off, as is the show's scheduling skills. So, after this Wednesday's episode, we'll have five left unless they double up and whack out two people. Why not, right? It is a WWE Diva challenge, so maybe it'll be tag team match.

Either way, the people have spoken: They think Christian Siriano will beat out Jillian Lewis for the Project Runway Season 4 championship belt.

Have a look at the poll results:

42% Christian Siriano (267 total votes)

34% Jillian Lewis (217)

13% Rami Kashou (87)

4% Chris March (26)

3% Sweet P (24)

1% Ricky Lizalde (9)

Who knows if they'll even make it past this week? Who knows if they've already been ousted and will serve as decoys? But that's what the Internet is for: rampant speculation and letting the people voice their opinions.

Now go and rock the vote at the polls that really matter in this life.

- Mark La Monica

Elisa Jimenez shows Fall 2008 collection

She's gone, but certainly not forgotten. Elisa Jimenez, made famous on 'Project Runway' for using saliva to measure her polymorphic clothing, showed off her Fall 2008 collection at Manhattan venue Touch early Sunday morning.

Newsday scored a seat and also an interview with the designer, combined into a video, below:

Outside of the roughly two and a half minutes of posted video, some, let's just call it, very interesting (if not totally wacky) stuff went down at the show.

You want the highlights?

• Fellow 'Runway' designer Victorya Hong sat in the front row. It should be noted, in spite of her icy exterior on the show, she was the ONLY fellow designer in attendance. Maybe 9 a.m. was just too early for the rest...
  
  
• There wasn't a proper runway. The audience was arranged in semi-circles, the "models" walked in the center, most posing and doing some sort of improv performance or dance, before heading back out. Most likely a fashion week first.
  
  
• Each chair had a blown up surgical glove on it with 'bless' written on it.... backwards. Turns out, Elisa only writes backwards. Each glove was meant to be a 'touch' from the designer to the audience. Hmmm.
  
  
• The show was a theatrical representation of 'The Hunger World,' which Jimenez called a pseudo-fictitious world she started working on some 18 years ago. I still haven't figured out what this Hunger World is, but from looking at the program and speaking to Jimenez, I know that her models were meant to be 'marionettes' and 'puppeteers,' ranging from a 'Little Worm-Thing' to a 'Honey-Giver' to a 'Mistress of Tenderness.' See if you can figure out who's who in the video.
  
  
• As a final note, Jimenez has NOT watched any 'Runway' yet, so she isn't sure if the way in which she's portrayed is accurate. Talented designer? Check. Sweet, yet a bit spacey? Check. Still hand sewing and using oils, herbs and saliva on the designs? Check. I'm going to go with.... YEA!
  
  

--Anne Machalinski

Victorya Hong's na-be Fall 2008 fashion show

Someone had a spot just to the left of the runway and had a camera there, too. Thanks to MyItthings.com for the vid.