'Project Runway': Double the trouble

I don't know really who I want to win "Project Runway" still but I know who I don't want to -- Kenley Collins.  Her overflowing self-confidence, bullheadedness and enjoyment of putting other people's work down had already not endeared her to me.  But then she went ahead and did something like disregard Tim Gunn and his opinions, which would have been the last straw, had it not been for her giggling, yet again, at one of the other contestants on the runway.  (I loved it that the Bettie Page look-alike called Suede a "poser.") The only thing more disgusting than her behavior was that she had a little crony, this time, in her client, tee-heeing along with her, like the little tiny guy in "The Island of Dr. Moreau."  It pains me that Kenley's consistently 40's-themed cutesy designs are in fact cute because it would be much more pleasurable if she were a weaker designer.  Fortunately, her salty near-eye roll when she didn't win the challenge was satisfaction enough for me tonight.

Even though I don't think either of them were strong designers, I was bummed that either Joe Faris or Suede Baum had to be eliminated -- they both seemed like decent humans (despite Suede's third-person thing). I actually thought Suede's print dress was quite pretty on his model, even if the judges excoriated the jacket, so I'm glad that he stayed.  Joe got a few things right this season, but he did seem a little out of touch. 

Tonight's challenge involved the designers creating a first-job look for recent college graduates, with their mothers hovering overhead. While I didn't think Jerell Scott's winning design was superior to some of the others (the skirt didn't seem to fit right, and it struck me as more dowdy than androgynous), his client, Caitlin, was adorable to me, so I'm glad she'll get to be featured in Elle along with the outfit and its designer. 

When will Kenley's reign of terror end? Hopefully soon, as the previews for the next episode seemed half to do with her being a brat.  If Tim Gunn told me I was being too sarcastic and facetious, I wouldn't pout; I would cry, and then be secretly happy that he used a good word on me.

-- Claire Zulkey

(Joe Francis model photo courtesy Bravo)

Comments

[Richard Rushfield]

Shame on you Claire Zulkey. Kenley is easily the greatest designer in Project Runway history. And she is also the one person ever on that show who is not afraid to speak her mind and fight the power. I dont know what works in fashion where you come from Claire Zulkey, but in my world a rebel's spirit is what makes a splash. Kenley, you are our hero!

[runWalk]

Yes, shame on you Claire. Kenley is clearly bound to set the world afire with her generic floral print day dresses!

Didn't you realize that being completely out of touch with fashion is the new black? Because why would an aspiring fashion designer follow collections? That would be like an aspiring writer knowing how to read!

IN YOUR FACE, CLAIRE. IN YOUR FACE.

[Nick]

Kenley = cheap knockoff of Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga + Alexander McQueen

And she's a freakin' brat to boot.

I agree with you completely, she is exhausting to watch.

[Sue]

Geez people, PR is sort of edited each year to create a snarky villan for the plot. Ya think? She laughed on the runway because her model/client completely lost it and she was trying not to laugh - and frankly Joe and Leanne have been just as mean and to her face. Leanne, though talented, needed to get knocked back a bit - that passive aggressive bitchiness is just subtle mean girl as opposed to Kenely's tactics.

That said, she is a bit of a one trick pony, gets on my nerves,......although I always enjoy seeing what she's wearing. She'll be fine. Marc Jacobs and Anna Sui built their biz on retro vintage.....it isn't a bad look or business model frankly. I'd buy her stuff. That minnie mouse horoscope thing was awful though....yikes.

I love Korto's attitude ....and everything she makes.

[Betty Collier]

Claire;
A mean girl uses vicious words to cut someone down. Kenley merely laughs a normal laugh; not a villan's laugh. Noone gets on a show like this without sticking to her point of view,

[Jack Henry]

PR is slip-sliding away. The "collections" at Bryant Park were sadly uninteresting. Showing them all to throw the audience off track just served to point out that this season is a dud. Next season they go Hollywood, as if we haven't seen enough celebrities in fashion. PR is becoming decidedly unfashionable. Yawn.

[Love Shopping for Vintage Goth Clothes & jewelry]

just hafta ask: were you this annoyed by the obnoxiousness (and even cruelty) of the talented Jeff sebelius last season? i.e. he had the talent and equally as obnoxious behavior -- or is it that old gender bias rasing its ugly head?

[Claire Zulkey]

Vintage Goth Jewelry: I did find Jeffrey annoying as well. I thought they way he treated Angela's mom was way rude. I just wasn't blogging "Project Runway" then. And actually I turned to Kenley after Daniel and Blayne were eliminated so I am an equal-opportunity hater.