‘Project Runway’: ‘Mayjah’ finale!
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Wednesday night’s finale of “Project Runway” presented a smashup between high fashion, Grecian sophistication and military chic. In the end, guest judge Victoria Beckham smiled on Christian Siriano, a miraculous feat in itself if you’ve followed VB’s SmileWatch 2007.
Drooling over Christian’s dramatic collection of black with wisps of brown and creme (and feathers!), the style maven gleefully called his work “mayjah!” in the way only Posh can. And Christian, who usually comes off like a preening peacock strutting its feathers, was reduced to tears with his win. Avant-garde, but not unlike what we’ve seen from him before, his slim-figured designs lacked only a rapier to round out the Puss in Boots look. It’s no fit for the average American soccer mom, but it worked for Posh, a decidedly different kind of soccer mom.
“You really made me smile, and I’m not easy to make smile,” she said, with true understatement.
As for the dearly departed, Rami Kashou had come back from the land of the nearly dead to compete at Bryant Park, offering a palette of what judge Michael Kors sneeringly called “Brady Bunch” colors in rich pink, blue and gold. Thankfully, he broke free from draping repeats to show a cohesive collection of elegant separates, effortless party dresses and statement formal wear. The L.A.-based designer showed he had more tricks up his sleeve, using antique lace for a mermaid gown good enough for the next awards red carpet. Patient in the sewing room and gracious in defeat, Rami was undeterred by the loss to young Christian. After all, it’s not as if Rami needed the money to pay the rent. With clients such as Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, Rami’s got nothing to cry about.
As for Jillian Lewis, watching her lose was like seeing Bambi’s mom get shot in the forest. Tragic. Last week’s L.A. Times poll gave her a slim lead over Christian and it was surprising to see her get the shears first. Her collection was a smorgasbord of different -- and all good -- looks inspired by a painting called “Master of the Argonauts” from the designer’s last challenge. She surprised with knitwear that was innovative and modern, earning praise from the judges. Her meticulously detailed jackets and coats, playful dresses and ruffled skirts also showed off her signature style in her flirty-meets-edgy sort of way. Still, Nina Garcia’s appraisal of Jillian’s collection as being all over the place was right on, and what was with the black-and-white-striped sweater that looked like lambs had crashed into it from each side? We expected to see the master seamstress blast the competition, but alas, this was not to be.
Christian showed an ounce of humility for the first time, fretting at the beginning of the show that he might lose, and actually praising Rami and Jillian. If this was a drama, that could almost be called character development. But in the end, Christian won the show’s text message fan vote and the judges didn’t play the role of superdelegate party poopers. Cocky from the start and cocky in victory, Christian was rewarded for his unique vision and became the youngest winner in “Runway” history. Pretty fierce indeed.
--Lora Victorio