Fall TV Blog

We know what Heidi, Michael, Nina and Georgina loved, but which red dress did you heart? PeopleStyleWatch.com editor Melissa Liebling-Goldberg is weighing in on what you would love to wear — and she’s picking a winning look from each episode of Project Runway:

And the StyleWatch winner is … Amy!

As most fashionistas will tell you, wearing black is a whole lot easier than wearing color — and head-to-toe red would definitely strike fear in the heart of all of them. So kudos to the designers and their real women models for so whole-heartedly (no pun intended) embracing what had the potential to be a tough challenge.

I have to admit while the judges and I were totally in sync on Amy’s gorgeous gown, which I wish a star would buy off ProjectRunway.com and immediately wear on a red carpet, I can’t agree with their other choices for the top 3. To me, Mila’s dress looked so much like a 4th of July parade costume that I couldn’t accept it as a black tie gown, and as for Maya, I agree with any assessment that calls it an interesting look. Yup, um, “interesting” is right — and definitely not my taste with that gold swag of fabric bisecting her poor model’s body in two.

As for the bottom three, weren’t Anna and Jesse just window-dressing as we all waited for Jesus to get auf’ed? When Michael Kors tells you that you have managed to combine everything tacky in the universe into one garment, you know your minutes on the runway are numbered. But luckily Jesus is only 21-years-old and has plenty of time to recover — who knows, we could even see him pull a Daniel Franco and make it back onto the next season.

Want more Runway? Check out Carol Hannah’s blog!

Tell us: Which look was your favorite? Did you agree with the top and bottom 3?

Michael Becker/FOX

OhI just added Korto Momolu’s show to my fashion week schedule and it hit me that the Project Runway finale show is next week! It’s so strange to think about how season 7’s top three designers are feeling right now.

Quite frankly, I’m glad our season wasn’t airing while we were finishing up our Bryant Park collections. Too many feelings! Too much craziness! It’s hard enough to deal with the pressures and insanity that comes with either of those situations. The thought of dealing with both simultaneously? Well, let’s just say I can understand a little better why Kenley resorted to cat throwing (not that I’d recommend it).

I’m looking forward to attending the finale next week. As of right now, my guess for the top three (based on … well, probably not enough at this point) is Maya, Mila, and Amy. Good luck fellas! The boys have a lot to prove after two consecutive seasons of all women finales. Things aren’t looking hopeful for them this time around either, but we shall see!

All joking aside, my friendly advice to the lucky designers showing next week — Think about what YOU want to show … not the judges, not your competition. Don’t you dare compromise your vision! (more…)

With red carpet season in full swing, is there a better time to look at iconic museum-worthy looks? PeopleStyleWatch.com editor Melissa Liebling-Goldberg is weighing in on what you would love to wear — and she’s picking a winning look from each episode of Project Runway:

And the StyleWatch winner is … Maya!

I’m with the judges mostly on the top 2 teams this week, although I did love Emilio and Anna Marie’s dresses (Could you not see their beautiful sheath on Renée Zellweger and their buoyant striped dress on, oh, half of young Hollywood?). But Mila and Jonathan did create a beautiful black and white suit that more than tipped its hat to the legendary Geoffrey Beene. I don’t know if I’d ever wear that whole look head to toe, but broken apart, that coat would rock over skinny jeans and a white tank and the pants and top would be perfect with a basic boyfriend blazer. I kept thinking of the Bumblebee Girl in the Blind Melon video when I looked at their yellow and black babydoll, and that’s not the fashion icon most of us are looking to emulate, is it? (more…)

Oh, team challenges! Not any designer’s favorite, and there’s a good reason why — they are hard, they lead to drama and they almost always have a twist! Every time Tim pulled out that damn velvet bag with our names in it, everyone always moaned in dread. Booooo! Hisssss!

If you are the leader, one of the weirdest parts of team challenges is having someone constantly watching the way you work. I’m not talking about just watching, like the cameramen. I mean analyzing, judging and probably questioning how you approach your task. Everyone has a different process and they don’t always click with your partner’s. For example, it takes me a while to process and play with my materials before I settle on and commit to an idea. Sketching is part of that, but more of my ideas come out in the draping process. It’s really hard to delegate work when you don’t know what you’re making yet!

Anywho, the challenge this week was to make a signature look that attempted the level of the designs seen at the Met, plus make a “look for less” based on another team’s signature look. In the workroom, Jesse and Ping were having major issues. The cameras always swarm when they see controversy or struggles, which makes you sweat even more (which the producers and — let’s be honest — the audience loves!). (more…)

Between Heidi Klum and Lauren Hutton, the models could feel confident that the judges had their backs -– now if only the designers could keep the girls’ rears covered! PeopleStyleWatch.com director Melissa Liebling-Goldberg is weighing in on what you, the non-models, would love to wear — and she’s picking a winning look from each episode of Project Runway:

And the StyleWatch winner this week is … Amy!

The judges and I were totally in sync on who was in the top three this week. High fives to Nina and Michael! Amy’s dress reminded me of a Zac Posen design, all feminine retro swish. And I love that you could still see the fabric so clearly but she made it so light and lovely – that dip-dying was genius. And I could imagine many women looking good in that forgiving, full-skirted cut. I think Jay and Mila both created killer cocktail dresses – I loved the skirt details of Jay’s and the almost Herve Leger-esque quality of Mila’s. The only thing that really tipped it to Amy for me was still seeing just a hint of the frock’s humble beginnings.

Out of those who didn’t get to stay up on the runway, Anthony and Ben turned out surprisingly similar cranberry-hued party dresses, both of which were equally sweet and wearable. And Emilio produced another beautiful dress with so much texture and detail on a perfectly fit frock. Think he didn’t make the top 3 just because he already had immunity?

As for the bottom 3, I can’t say I was surprised at all by who ended up there. Has Jesus not watched any previous seasons? If Tim says he is concerned, abort mission! And Ping, what is there to say? I get where she’s going (I think), but as for me, I think clothing should keep you from public nudity, not encourage it. I’m curious to see where she goes, which is precisely why she’s sticking around for another challenge. As for Pamela, I’m unclear on why she thought a denim minidress with lacing up the back was something to emulate: The mall called from 2002 and wants its sale rack back. And so the wisdom of the judges prevailed, and I agreed with them totally. Air kisses to all!
–Melissa Liebling Goldberg
Get season 6’s Carol Hannah Whitfield’s take on this season’s Project Runway!

Lifetime

We’re back folks — and Tim Gunn is on a farm!

The contrast of Tim’s gentlemanly demeanor with out-of-the-ordinary surroundings is always funny to me. I’m starting to feel like it’s one of those things where you cart around a cardboard cutout of a friend and take photos of them in different places when you travel! (Anybody see the movie Up in the Air?)

This week’s challenge is a good one: Make a party-appropriate look out of potato sacks. With the models as the clients, the designers have to wow both the judges and the girls while using a fabric that they would probably never choose. Tricky, tricky!

The designers jump to work. Using dye is always a risk in a time crunch. You have to make that decision right off the bat so that the fabric has time to dry.

Here are some random thoughts I had while watching them work: (more…)

Following Nicole Richie’s lead, actress and model Lauren Hutton will join Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and Michael Kors on the judges’ panel for week 2 of the new season of Project Runway.

“We were so lucky to have Lauren Hutton as a guest judge,” says Executive Producer Jane Cha. “She was knowledgeable, feisty and is obviously an icon of the modeling and fashion industry in general. She was also very generous in speaking to our Models of the Runway cast, who all were extremely appreciative of Lauren’s advice!”

In this week’s episode, the designers leave New York City — and Mood Fabrics — behind, heading to a farm in the country, where they’ll have to make it work with an unusual fabric — a potato sack.

“This is a great challenge!” a show source tells PEOPLE. “You will not believe what the garments look like on the runway.”

Project Runway airs Thursday (10 p.m. EST) on Lifetime, followed by Models of the Runway. –Aaron Parsley

Barbara Nitke/Lifetime

Beloved Project Runway mentor Tim Gunn can be a paternal figure — sympathetic and supportive in the workroom. But that doesn’t mean he holds his tongue if he doesn’t love a designer’s work. On Thursday’s season 7 premiere, eccentric designer Ping Wu had many people scratching their heads as she draped her garment on herself, failed to use the dress form and picked some wild fabrics. Though some, especially her competitors, feared she may be going home, guest judge Nicole Richie loved her work so much that Wu landed in the top at the runway show.

After celebrating the temporary naming of Project Runway Avenue in New York City’s Fashion District on Wednesday, Gunn stopped by PEOPLE for an exclusive chat. Hear what he has to say about Ping’s work — and why she made it through to another round.

Tell us: What did you think of Ping’s look?

Heidi Klum knows what a supermodel wants. And Nicole Richie knows what a starlet-turned-mom wants. But PeopleStyleWatch.com Editor Melissa Liebling-Goldberg knows what you want to wear — and she’s picking a winning look from each episode of Project Runway:

And the StyleWatch winner is … Emilio!

Wait, Ping’s urban shepherdess fantasy and Seth’s Harajuku Girl wannabe are in the top 3? I can’t say that I agree with all six left on the runway to defend themselves — either in the top or the bottom — but I can totally get behind Emilio’s intricate minidress taking first place. The color, the fit, the innovation and the commitment to craftsmanship were by far the best of the season premiere. If he can turn out something that lovely in one day with all the pressure of the first runway show, I can’t wait to see what he comes up with on a longer challenge.

Which designer is the most intriguing? Take our poll!

Now that Nicole and Heidi are both out of the maternity wear they were sporting on the premiere, I hope we see one of them sporting this sweetly sexy number on the red carpet. But the real highlight of the show had to be Anthony’s quirky quips! If he can up the style ante enough to stick around for the whole season, he may just end up giving Christian Siriano a run for his quotable money. –Melissa Liebling Goldberg

Get season 6’s Carol Hannah Whitfield’s take on the season premiere of Project Runway!

Lifetime

The seventh season of Project Runway is underway! Season 6 finalist Carol Hannah Whitfield, who is hard at work on her ready-to-wear line in New York (she’s also launching a bridal line for any brides-to-be out there), takes time out of her hectic schedule to share her thoughts with PEOPLE.com on the new crop of designers and to reveal what goes on behind the scenes of the show. She’ll also try and answer some of your questions and comments, so be sure to tell us what you think of Project Runway each week!

Hey guys!

I can’t believe that season 7 of Project Runway has already begun. It feels like my season just ended, but here we are! Things have been quite busy for me since the finale. I’ve opened a studio with my costar Logan Neitzel in Manhattan, continue to work on my ready-to-wear line, and am launching a new bridal line in just a couple short months! Check out carol-hannah.com for more info. I am really excited to blog season 7 for PEOPLE.com, so let’s get into the good stuff!

Watching Project Runway after appearing on the show makes for a totally different viewing experience. By the time the new designers were toasting Tim and Heidi on the rooftop, I felt very weird! It’s like those strange dreams that incorporate part of your real life with things that definitely wouldn’t normally be there — like 16 new and completely different designers. Who are these people?! Where are Christopher and Althea? (more…)