"Stars of Project Runway" At Austin Fashion Week

Photo: Anthony Ryan Auld's Twitter

Gunnar Deatherage, Michelle Lesniak, Amanda Valentine, Jeffrey Sebelia, Melissa Fleis, Anthony Ryan Auld, Daniel Esquivel, Korto Momolu and Samantha Plasencia all showed their latest designs last week in Austin.

Click here to see Gunnar's Collection.

Click here to see Michelle's Collection. 

Click here to see Amanda's Collection.

Click here to see Jeffrey's "La Miniatura" Collection.

Click here to see Melissa's Collection.

Click here to see Anthony Ryan's Collection.

Click here to see Daniel's Collection.

Click here to see Korto's Collection.

Click here to see Samantha's Collection. 

BPR's own Frank Hui attended Samantha's show and sends this report:

Photo: Elrick

 Closing night Saturday, Samantha Plascencia show a moderate size collection. About 12 pieces or so. She moved to Austin last year from San Antonio and she's been happy about the move so far. She was friendly, calm and and very organized in her prep. She had 5 other people on her team. She seemed very happy to be at this event. 

Her collection went for an industrial grudge feel and included a couple of looks for men. It was a generally dark palette with an occasional pop of red. The looks had a very relaxed feel, aimed at a younger demographic but there were subtle touches to elevate it. Some atypical soft fabrications and hand beading. Her runway added to the diversity of designers being featured. It was almost all austin locals (including Rick Gonyo) and a great mix of styles including street, sportswear, formal, men's suit porn and deconstructed/avant garde collections.

Click here for behind-the-scenes photos from Rick Gonyo.

Thank you to Frank and Rick!

Amanda Valentine Jewelry Now Available

Project Runway Season 13 finalist Amanda Valentine and Mclaine Richardson of Margaret Ellis Jewelry announce the exclusive launch of their collaborative capsule jewelry collection – Amanda Valentine by Margaret Ellis Jewelry. 

The Nashville-based designers collaborated to design pieces for Valentineʼs Spring 2015 collection. The “Roman Holiday” collection debuted last month at Lincoln Center in New York City during the invitation-only Project Runway finale runway show at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and aired on Lifetime Television Networkʼs popular reality show season finale on October 23. 

The limited edition collection is now available for purchase through both of the designerʼs websites and in the Margaret Ellis Studio at Cummins Station. The six-piece Roman Holiday collection consists of an ear cuff, a domed cuff, a collar in two widths, a hand chain with Amanda's signature eye and a large statement necklace; all handcrafted in bronze and sterling silver with several finish options. 

The full collection, priced from $95 to $1,150, is available to order on AmandaValentine.com and MargaretEllisJewelry.com. Each piece will be made-to-order in Margaret Ellis Jewelryʼs Nashville studio using traditional metalsmith techniques with a limited number available prior to the holidays.

Results In - You Were the Judge for Season 13 Finale

Our poll for Episode 14 - Project Runway Season finale - is closed. You disagreed with judges and felt that Amanda Valentine deserved the win. Click here to see all of the results.

Check in with us tomorrow for our first poll for Project Runway All Stars Season 4!

BPR Interview with Amanda Valentine

Project Runway Season 13 designer, Amanda Valentine, talks about her experience on the show.

A highlight:

BPR: Do you think you had an advantage, as a returning designer? 

AV: I totally do. It would be silly for me to say that there isn't an advantage. The biggest advantage is that I could sort of relax and just focus on my designs. There is so much going on all around us. In the workroom there are four cameras and sound men and all sorts of things that can be very distracting. It's a huge operation. When you are experiencing that for the first time, it can be overwhelming. 

 BPR: What advice would you offer to future contestants? 

AV: I would say that I wanted everything I made to have my signature. I recognize what my strengths and weaknesses are.  I'm not Kini. I'm not Sean. I would say that my thing is my vibe. I So I tried to keep my vibe going through every look. I know my girl. 

BPR: It did not escape us that you were the designer (even in your previous season) who used fringe. 

AV: After I won twice with fringe, I said to myself, "Okay that's enough." I had to mourn the fringe. It was a little difficult because for the past few seasons, I have featured fringe in my collections. I'm mourning the loss but it's time to move on. 
 
Click here to read the entire interview.

Click here to see Amanda's collection.

Click here to shop online.

Thank you Amanda!

Poll - Finale Season 13 - Your Turn to be the Judge

1st: Amanda

2nd: Char

3rd: Kini
4th: Sean

Click image for a larger view. Images courtesy of myLifetime.com

You’ve seen the designs on the runway at Lincoln Center during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and now it is your turn to be the judges. This week you are Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen, and Emmy Rossum. It's time to tell us:

poll by twiigs.com

Project Runway Season 13 Finale Collections

Nine Project Runway Season 13 designers showed at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on September 5, 2014. Below you will see images of the designers in the order that their ten-piece Spring 2015 collections were shown at Lincoln Center. In an effort to remain spoiler-free, you will not see images of the designs on the main page of BPR. Spoiler alert - if you click on the image of each designer you will be redirected to images of the 10 fashions in the order that they were presented. Purists, beware that you will see the garments before they appear on the show and that the comments will contain discussions about the looks.

 Click the image above for the collection of Emily Payne.

 Click the image above for the collection of Korina Emmerich.

 Click the image above for the collection of Sandhya Garg.

 Click the image above for the collection of Alexander Knox.

 Click the image above for the collection of fäde zu grau.

 Click the image above for the collection of Amanda Valentine.

 Click the image above for the collection of Sean Kelly.

 Click the image above for the collection of Char Glover.

 Click the image above for the collection of Kimi Zamora.

Can't Decide Which Designer to "Redeem?"

If you didn't watch the previous two seasons, or just need to refresh your memory - here are some videos from each of the three designers being considered for "Runway Redemption."

Ken Laurence:





Amanda Valentine:







Alexander Pope's "decoy" finale collection:



Plaidgate:

Project Runway Season 13 Runway Redemption

Project Runway fans have the opportunity to vote for a favorite designer to return to the competition.

Choose Alexander Pope, Amanda Valentine or Ken Laurence.

Click here to vote. 

Good luck designers!

Amanda Valentine Designs Available Online

Project Runway Season 11 designer, Amanda Valentine, presents her latest designs for sale in the Valentine Valentine etsy shop.

The store features patchwork tunics, fringe dresses and skirts, vintage screen printed tees and one of a kind items.

Click here to shop.

Lifetime Exit Interview with Amanda Valentine

BPR Interview with Amanda Valentine

Project Runway Season 11 designer, Amanda Valentine, talks about her experience on the show.

"Keep my eyes on the seam...Keep my eyes on the seam..."

A highlight:

BPR:  Tell us about the inspiration for your collection.

AV:  I always have to come up with a funny name for my collection.  Last year I did "French Medieval  Fly Girl."  This collection I call "Machu Picchu Punk."  Those are two of my biggest inspirations.  I am always inspired by some international culture..usually an ancient culture...usually a place I have never visited.  So I have this "wide-eyed naive midwestern girl kind of looking out into the world" attitude.  I am also inspired by street style.  I love the attitude of punkers or hippies.   I love anything that is a little bit against the grain.

BPR:  Which is your favorite piece in the collection?

AV:  I love the all-black fringe piece toward the end of the collection.   Actually Mat helped my style my looks... He gave me some great feedback.   I am obsessed with the fringed skirt...  It was really fun to make - just a blast.  I should have shown it off a little more - it is high-waisted.  I just love it.

Click here for the full interview.

This is Amanda's favorite look

Click here to see Amanda's Finale Collection, "Machu Picchu Punk."

Click here to visit Amanda's website.

Thank you Amanda!

Results In - You Were the Judge Episode 6

Our polls for Episode 6 are closed. You agreed with the judges and felt that Stanley Hudson deserved the win. Click here to see the results. You disagreed with the judges and felt that Amanda should have been out. Click here to see the results.

Check back with us tomorrow for our Episode 7 poll.

Results In - You Were the Judge Episode 5

Our polls for Episode 5 are closed. You disagreed with the judges and felt that Amanda Valentine deserved the win. Click here to see the results. You also disagreed with the judges and thought that Patricia should have been the out. Click here to see the results.

Check back with us tomorrow for our Episode 6 poll.

Images courtesy of myLifetime.com.

Project Runway Season 11 Finale Collections

All Photos Getty Images

Photos of Project Runway Season 11 Finale Collections below. Three finalists and five decoy collections were shown.

All "Collection" photos:  New York Magazine.

Layana Aquilar
Daniel Esquivel
Samantha Black
Richard Hallmarq
Michelle Lesniak Franklin 
Amanda Valentine
Stanley Hudson
Patricia Michaels

Click here to comment.

Meet Amanda Valentine

Amanda Valentine, 31 - Hometown: Lincoln, NE; Resides in Nashville, TN

Project Runway Season 11 Designers!

The Project Runway Season 11 designers are: 

Amanda Valentine, 31 - Hometown: Lincoln, NE; Resides in Nashville, TN 
Benjamin Mach, 35 - Hometown: Sydney, Australia; Resides in London, England 
Cindy Marlatt, 59 - Hometown: Kent, WA; Resides in Kent, WA 
Daniel Esquivel, 48 - Hometown: Austin, TX; Resides in Austin, TX 
Emily Pollard, 24 - Hometown: Richfield, OH; Resides in Falls Church, VA 
James Martinez, 29 - Hometown: Dallas, TX; Resides in Dallas, TX 
Joseph Aaron Segal, 30 - Hometown: Framingham, MA; Resides in Providence, RI 
Katelyn Pankoke, 23 - Hometown: Parkland, FL; Resides in Chicago, IL 
Layana Aguilar, 28 - Hometown: Valadares, Brazil; Resides in New York, NY 
Mat Arthur, 30 - Hometown: Hammond, LA; Resides in New Orleans, LA 
Michelle Lesniak Franklin, 34 - Hometown: Portland, OR; Resides in Portland, OR 
Patricia Michaels, 46 - Hometown: Taos, NM; Resides in Taos, NM 
Richard Hallmarq, 40 - Hometown: Sacramento, CA; Resides in Sacramento, CA 
Samantha Black, 28 - Hometown: Bronx, NY/ Fairfield, CT; Resides in Brooklyn, NY 
Stanley Hudson, 45- Hometown: Pomona, CA; Resides in West Hollywood, CA 
Tu Nakchat, 26 - Hometown: Chacheangsao, Thailand; Resides in Springfield, VA