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    Project Runway Winner

    Spoiler Alert! Project Runway Season 12 winner emerges in hair-raising finale

    Clifford Pugh
    Sep 7, 2013 | 1:22 pm

    NEW YORK — Who would have thought that a TV show about designing clothes would be such a runaway success? While other longtime reality shows are losing steam, Project Runway keeps chugging along in its 12th season, which has certainly been one of the most dramatic.

    Eila Mell, the author of Project Runway, The Show That Changed Fashion, asserts that the show has had an enormous impact on the fashion world.

    "You don't have to be a fan of fashion necessarily to like Project Runway. It's just watching the creative process."

    "Before Project Runway, there was a lot of mystery around what designers actually do. People didn't know," Mell told me before the start of the taping of the season finale at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Friday. "But now you get to go into the workroom and see what designers do.

    "Parsons and other design schools have said that after Project Runway, they get so many more applicants than they had ever had. Anyone who could sew a little bit wanted to be a designer."

    But the show also has a universal appeal that transcends the insular world of fashion.

    "People really enjoy seeing creative people do what they do best. You don't have to be a fan of fashion necessarily to like Project Runway. It's just watching the creative process," Mell said.

    Even though the season finale of doesn't air until Oct. 17 on Lifetime, the eight remaining contestants got to show their collections at fashion week. Through the magic of editing, it will look like only three or perhaps four finalists are at fashion week in the season finale. (That's Project Runway's dirty little secret, as I have written about previously.)

    There were a couple of revelations: Scandal's Kerry Washington is the guest judge on the season closer and as a twist, host Heidi Klum revealed that, at the last minute, each finalist was asked to create a look made from an unconventional material. "You'll have to see if you can spot it," Klum told the audience that packed the largest theater in the tents at Lincoln Center.

    But which finalists will remain this go-around? As a veteran PR watcher, I searched for clues. Usually it's easy to spot the potential winners, but this season is much harder because most of the collections shown on the runway were really quite good.

    So, I looked for other telltale signs.

    Who talked the most?

    From observing the taping of previous finals, I've found that many of the ones who gush the most know they have made it to the finals, even if the audience doesn't. Kate Pankoke, who got a second chance return this season after being eliminated last year, seemed truly overwhelmed to be here. Her black-and-white collection with an hint of orange was polished and sophisticated. I'm guessing she's in.

    From observing the taping of previous finals, I've found that many of the ones who gush the most know they have made it to the finals, even if the audience doesn't.

    Tattooed chick Helen Castillo, also babbled on a lot, emotionally telling the audience that this was her first show "ever, ever." But her collection had odd color combinations (orange mixed with a blue floral pattern) and some of the looks are virtually unwearable because the models are so swathed in fabric they can't lift their arms. She's out.

    LA ballet dancer-turned-fashion designer Bradon McDonald talked a lot, too, but his collection, a tribute to the first crocus that pops up out of the snowy ground in spring in upstate New York, had too much going on, with scrunched up fabrics, cheap-looking Lurex and few too many crocus patterns.

    Dom Streater talked a lot as well, and her family members were on the front row — two good signs she made the finals. Her "retro-redux" collection of past and future looks was interesting, if a little too thought out.

    Who seemed the unhappiest?

    Alexander Pope's navy and black collection was dramatic, with one of the best showstoppers I've seen. At the end of the runway, a model in a blue gown with braids tied above her head pulled a string to drop the braids and make an overskirt. The audience actually gasped in delight. But Pope barely spoke to the audience and seemed not into the game. He's out.

    Same with Jeremy Brandick, whose ill-fitting collection didn't seem up to snuff.

    Favorite collection

    Alexandria von Bromssen's minimalist collection of slouchy monochromatic pants, woven short shorts and tops are hip and modern. The collection also has the most sales potential, although the judges might find that a strike against her. She didn't talk a lot, but she did cry.

    Justin LeBlanc, the first deaf contestant, has the most compelling story in Project Runway history. He was certainly the audience favorite, with a crisp collection that had some highs (a cool white evening gown made of porcupine plastic needles) and some lows (a beige dress with full skirt looked like something a cocktail waitress in a yoga studio might wear).

    Predictions

    Panoke, von Bromssen, Streater and LeBlanc make it to the finals. If I were a judge I would vote for von Bromssen, but I'm betting Streater will win.

    Alexander Pope's over-the-top collection had flair.

    Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Project Runway, Sept 2013
      
    Photo by Frazer Harrison Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz
    Alexander Pope's over-the-top collection had flair.
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    series/htx-clifford-on-the-catwalk-2013-1
    news/fashion

    Fashion Houston Preview

    Bibhu Mohapatra looks to new beginnings with graceful collection

    Clifford Pugh
    Nov 10, 2013 | 2:55 pm
    Bibhu Mohapatra looks to new beginnings with graceful collection
    Photo courtesy of Bibhu Mohapatra
    Bibhu Mohapatra onyx fracture faille gown with draped skirt.

    NEW YORK — As design director at J. Mendel for a decade, Bibhu Mohapatra honed the art of glamour. Since venturing out on his own four years ago, he has built a reputation for creating statement-making evening gowns and polished day dresses.

    For his spring 2014 collection, Mohapatra looked to transformation, citing his good friend, longtime New York City Ballet principal dancer Wendy Whelan's transition into modern dance. (She debuted Restless Creature at Jacob's Pillow last summer.) "I liked that idea of a new beginning," he told style.com.

    The collection veers from delicate pleating techniques in pastel gowns to fractured patterns that look like cracked stones for a more dissonant attitude. A series of dresses, blouses and gowns dotted with embroidered baby tulips emit a 3-D effect while vibrant digital prints of a a fire-red tree flower called the palash in Mohapatra's native India show up throughout the collection in various colors that herald the arrival of spring.

    Mohapatra will show his collection at Fashion Houston on Wednesday (Nov. 13) at the Wortham Center. He will also make a personal appearance at Elizabeth Anthony-Esther Wolf on Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

    Bibhu Mohapatra onyx fracture faille gown with draped skirt.

    Bibhu Mohapatra gown spring collection 2014
      
    Photo courtesy of Bibhu Mohapatra
    Bibhu Mohapatra onyx fracture faille gown with draped skirt.
    unspecified
    series/htx-clifford-on-the-catwalk-2013-1
    news/fashion
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