Joe Faris On NPR

Photo from Joe Faris

Season 5 designer Joe Faris is featured on NPR's The Story program today. It's an inspirational look at the genesis behind his newly formed Motor City Denim Co. and how he partnered with a struggling local automotive supplier to make a longtime dream a reality. A story for our times, not to be missed.

Click here for the podcast and a listing of the stations carrying the program. We are cheering you on Joe!

Mondo Guerra T-Shirts on Sale Tomorrow at Piperlime.com

Photo: Piperlime.com

These are limited edition designs - only 300 of each will be available. They are $50.00 and $20.00 of the purchase price will benefit amfAR.

Click here for more information.

Tonight On The Fashion Show

Have you been watching the good, cheesy fun of The Fashion Show:Ultimate Collection? Did you know we are hosting a weekly party room on Blogging Bravo? Well, it's never too late to join our crazy cast of fashion reality show chat monsters.

This week, Iman demands your attention! You must design a collection based on this giant fortune cookie!! We should have great fun tonight with this one. Party room opens around 9:30 p.m. and the new episode airs at 10:00 p.m. See you tonight on Blogging Bravo!

It's a Boy for Nina Garcia

The Project Runway judge, husband, David Conrod and big brother Lucas welcomed baby Alexander David Conrod over the weekend. Click here for details.

Christian Siriano Jewelry Designs Now Available at "Send the Trend"

Shop Christian Siriano's "Regal Estate" jewelry collection exclusively on "Send the Trend" starting today.

News from Kenley Collins, Malan Breton and Jack Mackenroth

Project Runway season 5 designer, Kenley Collins is singing in a 50's inspired rock band called Jetblack Bullseye. Catch a performance on December 9th at The Trash Bar.

Malan Breton and Jack Mackenroth are among the stars featured tonight at "A Very Mary Holiday". Tickets are still available. Click here for more information.

Tim Gunn at Real Simple Pop-Up Shop Dec. 4th

The Real Simple Pop-Up Shop, presented by Kodak, will open at 10 West 49th Street, Rockefeller Center, December 1st-6th, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Inspired by the December issue of Real Simple, the store will feature gift-giving ideas, tips and solutions for the holidays.

Tim Gunn will be signing copies of "Gunn's Golden Rules" on Saturday December 4th from 1:00 - 2:00 PM.

Click here for more information.

Click here for the schedule.

Jay McCarroll Designs on Sale Through November 29th

Irina Shabayeva Tonight on HSN

The Project Runway Season 6 Champion debuts her "Luxe" line for HSN tonight at 8:00 PM. Click here for more information and to see the designs.

Project Runway Designers Present Bridal Designs

Amanda Fields models a NIKOLAKI bridal design. Photo: Evans Vestal Ward

To promote "Marry Me" premiering on Lifetime December 12, the network invited several Project Runway designer to submit bridal designs to feature on their website.

Click here for the full gallery of designs.

Click here for more from Nick Verreos.

Korto Momolu - African Pride!

The Project Runway Season 5 Finalist talks about solutions for poverty in her home country of Liberia.

News from Mondo Guerra, Irina Shabayeva and Jay Nicolas Sario

Photo: Getty

Click here for new interview with Irina Shabayeva from AMNY.

Mondo Guerra is partnering with Piperlime to raise awareness for amfAR. Mondo has designed two limited edition t-shirts which will be available on December 1st. Click here for the press release.

Project Runway Season 7 designer, Jay Nicolas Sario will be the featured designer at the International Academy of Design & Technology Winter Honors Gala in Sacramento on December 3rd. Click here for more information.

Tonight On The Fashion Show

The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection has turned out to be a very entertaining alternative for reality fashion fans in the Project Runway off-season. Join us again tonight on our sister site Blogging Bravo for a live party chat room as we watch Episode 3 together.

Tonight the remaining 10 designers are challenged to create a collection based on the Femme Fatale. What twists and turns await? Join us tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET on Blogging Bravo!

Irina Shabayeva in Englewood NJ - Field Report

BPR Field reporter, Trish O'Shea sends us this report from The Engle Shop in in Englewood, NJ. Thanks Trish!

Irina Shabayeva doesn't want to be know solely as "the winner of Project Runway Season 6."

Judging by what I saw on Saturday, she won't be!

Irina did an in-store appearance last week at The Engle Shop in Englewood, New Jersey, where she showed several looks from her new collection. I caught up with her on Saturday.

The clothes really were remarkable! The palette was very pleasing - yellows, metallic grays and silvers, whites and purples and rosy colors woven into the gowns. I told Irina that I was at her Bryant Park finale show and how much we all enjoyed her collection!

We talked a little about Season 6 and Lifetime. My boyfriend (and photographer) had always wondered if the "Lifetime" designers felt that they lacked exposure (since Bravo usually runs their series on repeat so often.) She answered, "I never really thought of it that way, but I am glad because now I will be known more as a designer than a TV personality."

The store's owner, Paula Parlato, was happy to be featuring Irina's line in her store, which has been a staple in Englewood for over 30 years.

If you live in the NYC/Northern NJ area, it's worth a trip to see the clothes in person. What a fun afternoon!

Heidi Klum at The American Music Awards

Photo: WireImage/Mazur

Heidi Klum looked gorgeous at the 2010 American Music Awards last night!

The dress is vintage from 30's. Part of Heidi's personal collection!

Photo: WireImage/Mayer

Irina Shabayeva Bridal Collection

Project Runway Season 6 champion, Irina Shabayeva recently introduced a Bridal Collection.

Photos courtesy of Irina Shabayeva

Click here for more photos of this lovely collection.

Also enjoy a video of Irina's Spring/Summer 2011 Collection.

Irina's HSN collection debuts on November 24th!

All Tim Gunn - All The Time

Tim interviews Liz Claiborne designer Susanna Moyer.



Next, Tim talks about design in a new interview from Smithsonian.com.

Click here for Tim's tips to dress your best.

Mondo Guerra in EW.com "Under-appreciated Entertainer of the Year" Poll

Image Credit: Prashant Gupta/FX; Chris Haston/NBC; Quantrell Colbert/Bravo; Lifetime

Project Runway season 8 runner-up Mondo Guerra is included in the "Under-Appreciated Entertainer of the Year" poll on EW.com. Click here to vote.

Heidi Klum on December Cover of Self Magazine

The Project Runway producer describes her "Happy Healthy Life" in this issue.

A highlight from the Q&A: How can I be braver with fashion without looking like a Runway reject? —Claire, 32, Chicago

"If you find something you absolutely love, even if it's crazy, go for it! You have to forget about what others say. Personally, I don't love to blend in. People think it's cocky when I say it, which I laugh about, but I want to make statements. I don't like to be a quiet, gray mouse. I love to play around with color and gigantic earrings and short, sexy dresses!"

Click here for more.

A New Interview with Christian Siriano from Alloy

Irina Shabayeva on HSN November 24th

Project Runway Season 6 champion Irina Shabayeva will be launching a new collection on HSN Nov. 24th.

Here is the press release: HSN is putting another celebrity in front of the camera. Irina Shabayeva, season 6 winner of “Project Runway,” is offering knit headbands with fake fur muffs, shawl collar sweaters and belted fake shearling jackets as part of a collection launching on HSN on Nov. 24.

Retailing for between $29.90 and $269.90, Shabayeva’s line for HSN is her first attempt to reach a budget-conscious customer; her namesake label, which launched last spring, sells for between $495 and $3,495. Shabayeva, who’s also prepping to introduce a bridal collection for Kleinfeld Bridal next spring, is already brainstorming her sophomore collection, including tops and sportswear, with HSN for fall 2011.

Also enjoy this "Life on the Seams" video with Irina from AlloyTV.

"Handmade Chic" by Laura Bennett Available Fall 2011

These are some of the projects from Laura Bennett's upcoming book, "Handmade Chic" - a DIY book for those of us who love to sew - YAY!

The book will be published by Rodale and available next fall.

Nick Verreos at "Islands of the World" Fashion Week

Nick met up with Project Runway season 1 champion Jay McCarroll and others in The Bahamas. Click here for the story.

Kit Pistol Hosting Charity Event in LA Friday Night

The Project Runway Season 4 designer is hosting a charity shopping event to benefit Keep a Breast.



Kit is one of six hosts- representing LA fashion - this upcoming Friday Nov. 19th at H.D. Buttercup from 7-10pm.

Here is her meesage: Unique LA and Apartment 3 put together a super cool pop-up shop of various designers, jewelers, and other curious finds. Not to mention H.D. Buttercup is so much fun to hunt around in with great furniture and decor items to inspire and delight! I went to the last event and it was super fun!

ANYWAY! as a host- a percentage of my guests purchases will go toward a Charity i am working with now and very passionate about! Keep A Breast www.keep-a-breast.org

Please come out for some free fun food and snacks-- and should you find anything to take home- myself and Keep A Breast will be very appreciative!

xox, Kit

RSVP here!

Tim Gunn at the 92nd Street Y

Photo: Tim Gunn: Official Page on facebook

Tim Gunn spoke at the 92nd Street Y on Sunday night and The Huffington Post has a great report on the lecture here.

A highlight:

Gunn suffered through so much bullying as a kid that he now considers himself an anti-bullying activist. He recalled the bleakest moment of his childhood when he went from school to school and said, "I reached a point where I saw no light -- where I thought, 'Oh god, yet another boarding school with yet another roommate who was made uncomfortable by me.'" And that's when his world turned upside down. He was hospitalized for a suicide attempt, and luckily his whole family stood by to support him. He had an amazing therapist who helped to change his life. Now Gunn is able to say with complete confidence, "Things happen for a reason -- even awful things." And that's where his "make it work" mentality came from.

Watching The Fashion Show?

Photo: Bravotv.com

A reminder that we are live blogging new episodes of Bravo's The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection on our sister site Blogging Bravo. Season 2 is off to a fun start and Iman is making it all so entertaining. And who knows what Calvin Tran up there will say next!

If you liked participating on our weekly Project Runway chats then come join the gang tonight at Blogging Bravo. Chat room goes live at 9:30 p.m. ET. Oh here go blog come!

Christian Siriano Featured in new PBS Show

News from Tim Gunn, Christian Siriano, Anthony WIlliams and Camilla Barungi

Anthony Williams, Jody Auslund (publicist) and Jesus Estrada at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week September 2011 Photo: BPR

Project Runway Season 7 designer, Anthony Williams will be at Macy's at North Point Mall in Alpharetta, GA on Saturday, November 20th. Click here for more information.

Christian Siriano will be in Miami on Tuesday to celebrate the launch of "Send the Trend."
Click here for more information.

Click here for a new interview with Tim Gunn and to see Tim's "Curator's Choice" for AHAlife.

Season 3 model Camilla Barungi has founded a new cosmetics firm called Cush Organics. The products include African Moringa Oil, a cosmetic and African Moringa Miracle Powder, a dietary supplement. Click here for more information. Enter the code Camilla30 at checkout and receive a 30% discount.

A New Interview with Christian Siriano from The Huffington Post

Jay McCarroll at "Islands of the World Fashion Week" in The Bahamas

Photos: AshHenderson.com

Project Runway Season 1 Champion, Jay McCarroll showed a fresh new collection at the "Islands of the World" Fashion Week in The Bahamas last night.

Click here for more information.

Click here for a slideshow of the fabulous looks.

Amanda Fields Models Marc by Marc Jacobs

Project Runway Season 3 model Amanda Fields works it for Marc. Click here to shop.

Vote Heidi Klum a "Hit!"

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty

Heidi and Mondo are receiving tons of press for this look! It's everywhere.

Please show your support - Click here for the poll on PeopleStylewatch.com.

Update: More from Mondo here.

News from Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia and Mila Hermanovski

Brandise Daneswich models a design from the Mila Hermanovski Spring 2011 Collection.
Photo: Volker Corell

Click here to see more photos of Mila Hermanovski's Spring 2011 line in California Apparel News.

Nina Garcia's Manhattan apartment is on the market. Interested? Click here.

Tim Gunn will be speaking at the 92nd St Y on Sunday November 14th. Click here for details.

Heidi Klum In Mondo Guerra

Photos: WireImage

Heidi Klum makes a statement as she arrives at the "Black Swan" screening during AFI Fest 2010 Closing Night Gala at Grauman's Chinese Theater on November 11, 2010 in Hollywood, California. She looks fabulous, of course.

Take that, Nina. Eat it, Michael Kors.

UPDATE: Click here to vote for Heidi!

News from Joe Faris, Pamela Ptak and Michael Drummond

Photo: Dave Lewinski

Click here for a profile of Joe Faris and Motor City Denim.

Project Runway Season 7 designer Pamela Ptak will appear as a fashion expert on NFL Network's "Top Ten Uniforms" at 8:00 PM on Friday night. Click here for more information.

Click here for a great interview with Michael Drummond from St. Louis Today.

A highlight: Klum ultimately ordered a few dresses based on Drummond's final collection. He was the first to send his garments down the New York catwalk.

Later Drummond said that he was suspicious when Tim Gunn walked up to him after the show, grabbed his hand and led him back to see Klum. She and Michael Kors gushed over his designs and Drummond said that they actually said his garments were among the best that day.

That's when she made her request for a few special orders (something her assistant says that she never does). So far, Drummond isn't absolutely sure, Klum intends to pay for the garments or be have them gifted, so stay tuned.

Christopher Straub Charity Auction on eBay

Project Runway Season 6 designer, Christopher Straub is offering a handbag to benefit the "Toys for Tots" charity on eBay.


Click here to bid.

We Heart Chris March - Video

Project Runway Wild Card

Dear Lifetime,

I have another humble suggestion for Project Runway Season 9... a "Wild Card" competition.

It could happen like this:

The designers are narrowed down to the top three and these three are guaranteed spots in the finale, but before sending them home to create their collections there is a little twist.

The eliminated designers receive a note asking them to meet Heidi and Tim and the finalists on the runway. Heidi announces that they are ALL going home to create collections. They all receive a budget and plenty of time to create their looks. (In my scenario, they go home in July and have until January to create their collections for the February show.) When they all come back for fashion week, the eliminated designers present three looks to the judges and the judges select a "Wild Card" designer for the fourth spot in the finale.

The Wild Card designer is not a decoy but is eligible for the win and receives the same options (models, stylists, etc.) as the regular finalists.

I believe this would be good for everyone - the designers, the fans, the show, the judges, and the network.

Click here to continue.

Nicholas D'Aurizio Designs Featured in Palisade Magazine

Project Runway Season 8 designer, Nicholas D'Aurizio will be featured in the December issue of Palisade magazine. Click here to learn more.

Meet Christian Siriano and Irina Shabayeva in Englewood NJ

Project Runway Season 4 Champion, Christian Siriano will be at The Engle Shop on Saturday, November 13th. Season 6 champion, Irina Shabayeva, will be there on November 20th.

Click here for more information.

Tim Gunn Hosts "Fashion Forward" Charity Event

Photo: WireImage/Killian

Tim Gunn hosted the Fourth Annual GMHC "Fashion Forward" Charity event on Monday night, November 8th at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. The event featured silent and live auctions as well as a runway show.

The mission of the Gay Men's Health Crisis organization is to feed and counsel those living with HIV/AIDS.

Click here for more information, and click here for more photos from the event.

The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection

Project Runway fans may want to check out Bravo's newly re-tooled replacement series The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection which premieres tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET. Tbone will be hosting a live-blog chat room every week on our sister site Blogging Bravo.

The big news for Season 2 is Iman. She has been brought on as both host and Executive Producer. The 12 designers will be split into two teams of "fashion houses" and are responsible for producing a complete runway show each week. Here's the preview again in case you missed it:

Do you miss the BPR party room? Join us tonight on Blogging Bravo. Doors open at 9:30 p.m. ET, hope to see you there!

Fashion Advice from Gretchen Jones

The Project Runway Season 8 Champion offers some advice...

SeenOn Project Runway Private Sale Now Live!

Priced as low as $99.00!

Click here for the "decoy" collections.

Click here for Michael Costello's collection.

Christopher Straub Offers Limited Edition Holiday Dress

Project Runway season 6 designer, Christopher Straub has designed a new "Little Black Dress" for the holiday season. The "Porter" dress is available in sizes XS - XXL and is priced at $140.00. Click here for more information.

Project Runway "Secret Collections" for Sale on Monday

Our friends at SeenOn are offering more Project Runway finale designs for sale. Click here to shop beginning Monday, November 8th at 9AM PST.

The finale collections of Michael Costello, April Johnston, Valerie Mayen, Christopher Collins, Ivy Higa, Michael Drummond, and Casanova will all be available. In addition. several pieces created by Mondo Guerra and Andy South that did not walk the runway are also included in this sale.

Sign up now for access to this exclusive 72-hour sale at SeenOn.

On The Road With Tim Gunn

Tim Gunn concluded his Liz Claiborne fall road show this afternoon at The Somerset Collection in Troy, MI. BPR was on hand again to capture more of his thoughts on Season 8 of Project Runway. First up, a fan asks how Michael Costello is doing:



Next Tim was asked who he thought should have won Season 8:



Tim continues talking about the Jackie Kennedy challenge. This seemed to be a breaking point for Tim in Season 8 and the one where he was compelled to pull his much loved vlog. He still hasn't recovered!



And finally Tim calls one designer a "massive, unforgivable control freak" But in a loving was as only Tim can. Can you guess who?



Tim and his gorgeous co-host Leah Salak from Liz Claiborne were a hit with the big crowd. His honesty at these events continues to emphasize how much his post-episode vlogs are missed. Add this to our list of changes for Season 9 - bring back Tim's Take!

Tim Gunn to host "Who Wants to be a Millionaire"

Tim Gunn will be the guest host of an upcoming week of "Millionaire." The show will be filmed on Friday, Nov. 12th in NYC.

Click here for details.

Click here to request your tickets.

Tim Gunn in Detroit Today

Tim will host a fashion show at 1 p.m. today in Troy at Somerset Collection's North Grand Court. Click here for details.

Also be on the lookout for Tbone!

Suede Creates a Line of Sewing Patterns and Accessories for Simplicity

Contrino Photography

Suede, seasoned fashion designer, TV personality and season 5 Project Runway® contestant, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Simplicity Creative Group. Suede will be offering patterns, fashion trim, and other creative products under the SUEDEsays™ brand.

Each of Suede’s patterns will include multiple styles covering classic, edgy and feminine flirty looks that offer fashion musts for everyone. Suede says, “I am honored to join the ranks with other great designers, like Cynthia Rowley, under Simplicity Creative Group’s umbrella. This venture allows me to bring my fashion vision to the retail market, but at the same time empowering the consumer to interpret fashion to fit their lifestyle.”

To stay current on all things SUEDE be sure to visit SUEDEsays.


BPR salutes Suede on this new venture!

Rosario Dawson Wears a Christian Siriano Design

Photo: WireImage/Toby Canham

Rosario Dawson wore a Christian Siriano design to the 18th Annual BAFTA Britannia Awards held at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on November 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.

Chloe Dao's Nuo Bags Now Available at Staples

The Classic Satchel in an exclusive print for a charity auction - sorry not available in stores!
Photo: Kris McManus

Project Runway Season Two Champion, Chloe Dao has produced a new collection of carrying cases for Nuo. These include laptop sleeves, bags and clutches.

Click here to see the entire collection.

Click here to shop at Staples.

Ten Things You Don't Know About Gretchen Jones

If you have trouble seeing the video, click here for the direct link.

Rachel Roy can't Recall Who Gretchen is

Project Runway Season 8 Episode 10 judge admits in an interview with Heather Staible for Culture Map Houston that she doesn't recall who Gretchen Jones is:

Because of her schedule, Roy hadn’t seen the season finale and didn’t know who had won. When I told her it was Gretchen Jones, she had no reaction. Not because of any personal feelings about her, but because she had no memory of her on the runway. Ouch.

Roy also admits that April was her favorite designer and that she wasn't opposed to Valerie's design at all - BUT VALERIE WAS ELIMINATED ANYWAY:

Roy praised Mondo Guerra and confessed her favorite designer on the episode she guest judged was April Johnston, who favored dark and modern designs and a constant blonde top-knot. Surprisingly too, Roy says she wasn’t opposed at all to Valerie Mayen’s “napkin dress” the way the other judges were.

“I hadn’t seen the designers work like the other judges had, so I didn’t have anything to compare it to, but I like the way she worked with the fabric,” Roy says.

More support for our suggestions that guest judges be given portfolios of each designer's prior looks. Also more evidence of a lack of respect for guest judges. Seriously, why even have them if you aren't going to honor their opinions?

The Calendar

Team BPR has been privileged to attend six finale shows. Each one is unique but some are better than others.

The season three finale was our first show. Although filming for season three was over the summer, the very excellent editors and producers were able to premiere the show on July 12th and we watched ten episodes before the September finale show. The field was narrowed to four designers and all four showed their collections. There were no decoy shows, no secrecy, no speculation and no fear of spoilers.

The tent was packed and the crowd enthusiastically cheered on their favorites. There was lots of love for each designer. We had watched them triumph through the challenges. We had seen the bickering and the drama. We KNEW these designers. We even knew the models! (We wondered why Nazri was with Uli....)

Click here to continue.