Talk of the Tents

By Mark La Monica

Let's begin by acknowledging that "Project Runway," the fashion industry reality competition program, got hosed at the Emmys last month losing to "The Amazing Race."

But here at Bryant Park, the Project Runway fashion show is the top dog. Everyone wants to see it because we all feel a connection to the designers, having watched them on television this summer.

Jeffrey, Uli, Laura and Michael are the four remaining contestants and they've each spent the past few weeks preparing a 12-piece line to show at the tents today. One of them will be out, but we don't know which one yet. We have to watch next week to find out. Oh, the suspense, it's killing me!

Here we go with my thoughts on each designer's concept:

Jeffrey
He said his line was inspired by a book of Japanese demons and ghosts. Um, ok, whatever you say, tattooed-neck guy. Jeffrey used bright colors and had some very pleasing-to-look-at gear draped over the models.

Uli
Her first seven pieces seemed more conservative than what we're used to seeing from her on the show. She worked with predominantly tans, golds and grays. But she had five more pieces left.

"Here come the Uli dresses," I said aloud.

Flowy dresses of thin material with vibrant colors and whackadoo prints. Blue, yellow, purple zebra stripes, funky brown tan and purple, Enchantment under the sea green with blue and orange things. Picture "Shark Tale" in a dress instead of a DVD case.

It was all very Miami, her signature style. But it looked pretty cool.

Laura
Once her music kicked in, it became clear where her inspiration came from: the Roaring '20s and the flappers.

Laura worked with blacks and gold and incorporated some lace stuff. It looked nice, except for the funky feathery things on the shoulders. It's 2006, not 1926. Let's try something different. It just seemed like everything she made we've seen before.

Her shoe choice for two models left me waiting for an ankle sprain. High stilettos with a thin fabric wrapped around the ankle and hanging down. Remember when your mom used to say, "Tie your shoelaces or you're gonna trip." This was one of those times. It just looked like trouble waiting to happen when worn in real life.

Michael
Each designer addressed the crowd before showing their clothes. Michael, clearly the crowd favorite, took the mic and said his collection was called Spring Safari. "The inspiration was me," he said and the crowd laughed.

He explained it further by saying it signified his journey through the whole Project Runway experience, about how he was always on the hunt for things.

The gear he sent down the runway was definitely different. I believe the industry term is "fashion forward."

Bright, bold colors with busy prints. Lots of gold things, too.

My guess
If the judges vote for the winner based solely on their Fashion Week stuff, Uli will win. If the judges vote for the winner based on everything we've seen so far, Michael will win.

But what do I know? Take a look at Blogging Project Runway for more about the TV show.

Video from the Project Runway fashion show

Photos from the Project Runway fashion show