Malanathon - Part 2

A second look at Malan's show is provided by BPR Field Reporter - Jennifer Mara - Thanks Jen! 

Jen with Elisa Jimenez

 You can always count on Malan Breton to put on a unique show, today beautiful in so many ways, he does it again. 

 Today his show began with a logo and a song on the trumpet. The silence in the audience was beautiful. Then we kick it into gear. 

 Thematically very interesting; same fabrics crossing between male and female.

Suits of silk and glitter both embellished for each gender and tailored for personality for a very fashionable but wearable look. 

 Cummerbunds worn by women around their waists as belts were super sleek and different. 

Each look was extremely well made and well thought out. 

 My favorite?; that would be the white tube top dress with the tuxedo belt OR the Copper patent leather pants rocked out twice in the show-once by a woman and once for a man. 

 Work it Malan! 

 Click here for LOTS of photos from Jen. Thank you!

BPR Interview with Project Runway All-Star Designer, Elisa Jimenez

Tbone and Elisa Jimenez Sept. 2011

Elisa, I was thrilled to learn that you were in the cast of the All Stars because I felt like we really didn’t get to know you in season four. I am broken-hearted over your elimination.

Good morning BPR and thank u! I still do not feel that I have been able to truly reveal the array of my skills, and yet I hope that my work and my life's work history show an inkling of my capabilities. I can say that all my press and opportunities have come thru the world alone...that is definitely something to be proud and grateful for.


Tell us about your dollar store design. What are the shorts made from?

My shorts were made of a paper gift bag and clear duct tape...I was being a bit "cheeky", (no pun intended!), about the rose and the gift bag. The character Fancy has just returned to a Celestial Garden of unconditional Love, Beauty, and FullFillmeant. I am making the shorts bodysuit and wrap for this Spring to purchase.
And by the way, Fancy is a character my mother invented in a painting when I was very little. She wore a long maxi 70's dress and had this huge wings, written on the painted was "Fancy didn't how or when, only that she had flown once or twice". I remember being about four and resonating that this woman had flown, remembered slightly that she had, but didn't realize she could again at any moment! Fancy evolved into my iconography as a symbolic character illustrating the capacity for us to all evolve, if we can just remember we have everything we need to evolve, as individuals and a conscious species!

What message did you write on the wings?

The writing on the two winged sleeves was the part of the Fancy story where by She has returned to The Garden and is being welcomed lovingly back by the all the Flowers. I will be doing the next installment of this petite rock opera fashion performance for the up-coming New York Fashion Week.

You looked gorgeous on the runway. Did you make the pink dress?

Why thank you so much for the compliment! I actually made everything you see me wearing on my brief yet delicious stint on Project Runway All Stars. Yes, I did indeed make that "one seam" dress and hand sewed it with my signature monofilament after my morning yoga and shower before we departed. As my dear friend and sometime collaborator Gerald De Cock always says about my client coined "spontaneous couture: "Elisa is great, fast, and not cheap!" Thank you again, I felt good and hot fuchsia is one of my fave colors, ever.

Click here to continue.

Elisa Jimenez and Austin Scarlett at Neiman Marcus All-Stars Event

Project Runway All-Star designers, Austin Scarlett and Elisa Jimenez were at Neiman Marcus in White Plains on Saturday. BPR Field Reporter Mark Y sends us this report. Thanks Mark!



Austin Scarlett and Elisa Jimenez had a busy day Saturday making their way from The Garden State Plaza in Paramus NJ to The Westchester in White Plains NY where they greeted fans and sipped red wine at Neiman Marcus.

Dueling a cappella choirs of young Glee-types sang in the background - a festive holiday gathering.

They were each much taller than I anticipated but as slim as I expected. Austin is rocking a mustache these days and Elisa is exotically beautiful. Both are as charming and as gracious as any fan could expect. They signed All Stars posters (mine has a special backwards wish from Elisa) and photos, hopped up down to take pictures with fans of all ages and chatted as if they had all the time in the world for each of us.

They both enjoyed Project Runway the second time around and promised that the challenges will be fun to watch and very different from what we saw during their seasons. They also promised great designs to enjoy and that all the designers really showed great creativity and technical expertise.

During filming, Austin and Elisa became good friends and he also enjoyed getting to know Kenley, Kara (one of my all time favorites) and Anthony Williams. Elisa told me that she's much more herself on All Stars than she was on Season 4 - she really has spirit and positive energy to share. To stay in touch, Elisa invited her fans to take cell phone pictures of her fabric business card - so unique.

After hugs and kisses, I said good-bye and wandered off, as Elisa would say.

I can't wait to re-connect with Team BPR and all the regulars the BPR Party Room on January 5.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all!

News from Elisa Jimenez, Kara Janx and Carol Hannah Whitfield

Photo: The New York Chocolate Show

Project Runway All-Star, Elisa Jimenez teamed with "Top Chef Just Desserts" chef to create a fashion design for The Chocolate Fashion Show at The 14th Annual New York Chocolate Show. Their design is inspired by Broadway’s Wicked. Click here for more information. Click here for a photo gallery.

Kara Janx Designs are on sale here (reduced 60%) at Fashion Stake.

Carol Hannah Whitfield will be a featured speaker at the "Women Today" event in Anderson SC November 18-19. Click here for more information.

Project Runway Alums Enjoy Viewing Party at Casa Nonna in Manhattan

Project Runway designers had a great time last night at the Season 9 finale viewing party at Casa Nonna.



We love it when seasons collide! Jay McCarroll and Wesley Nault (S5).




Two beauties! Carmen Webber (S4) and Elisa Jimenez (S4).




Jason Troisi (S8) - a real sweetheart!



Ivy Higa (S8) and friend, Angeli Saijwani.

Project Runway All Stars Cast Revealed

The Project Runway All Stars have been announced and it looks like a great mix of designers.

Elisa Jimenez, Kenley Collins, Austin Scarlett, Mila Hermanovski, Michael Costello, Kara Janx, Sweet P, Anthony Williams, Gordana Gehlhausen, Mondo Guerra, Rami Kashou, April Johnston, and Jerell Scott will compete.

A couple of these surprised me!

Isaac Mizrahi, Joanna Coles, Georgina Chapman and Angela Lindvall round out the cast.

Click here for the full press release.

BPR at MBFW - Christian Siriano

Photo: New York Magazine

Although there are plenty of celebrities at Christian Siriano's show, for me it is more fun to see Christian's family and other season four designers and models.

Christian's sister Shannon, whom we first met in line waiting to enter the tents for the season four finale is always in the front row wearing one of Christian's designs.



Season Four designer Victorya Hong is always there to support Christian as well.

You'll recognize season four model Lea Rannells modeling for Christian in the photo above and we also spoke with Jackie Miranne. (Who could even forget her modeling the "Ice Princess" design for Elisa Jimenez?)



The super-talented Brad Walsh not only composed the music for Christian's show, but he designed the jewelry as well.

Click here for more photos of Christian's collection.

Team BPR is thrilled to be invited to this show each season. Thank you Christian!

Elisa Jimenez in Dallas

David Ninh at Kera.org has posted a fabulous interview with Project Runway Season Four designer, Elisa Jimenez. He really captures her wonderful quirkiness. Here is my favorite quote:

How old are you?
I’m very proud to be 44. My mother told me that there are three things that make a woman look old – bitterness, regret and lack of use. And I’ve managed to avoid all of them.

Click here for the full interview.

Weekend News

Marlee Matlin wore a Nick Verreos design at the celebration of her new star on the "Hollywood Walk of Fame." Click here for more information.

Elisa Jimenez and Marion Lee will be featured at the "Texas' Next Top Designer" competition on May 21 in Dallas.

Click here for an article about Michael Knight's lecture at SCAD in the Savannah Morning News.

From The Mailbox

Freelance photographer Katie Sokoler went out this past week and captured some great shots, including this one of Christian Siriano and boyfriend Brad Walsh at Tori Spelling's book release party.

Christian is participating in a great benefit event for St. Jude's Hospital called Design Cares where he will recreate a "dream evening gown" design from one of the St. Jude's patients that will be modeled and walked down the runway by his winning Season 4 model Lisa Nagri.

Tim Gunn continues to be the primary font of new information concerning Season 6. This time, he tells Style Hop that the Models of the Runway show "will air during the 30 minutes after Project Runway and will follow Heidi’s mentor-ship of the models, much like mine with the designers.” Style Hop also reports that the premiere date for Season 6 will be revealed "later this week". We'll wait and see if Harvey Weinstein's previous reveal of August 15 has stood firm. UPDATE: See post above.

Kara Janx has a sample sale going on this week, featuring 50 - 80 % off her spring/summer collection.

Quote of the day from BPR fave Elisa Jimenez: “I will be forever known as the girl who spits on clothes. That’s not so bad.”

From The Mailbox

Enjoy this video of Elisa Jimenez in Austin and click here to read the full article.

Austin Scarlett is no longer with Kenneth Pool. Click here for the story from InStyle.

The Kent State University Museum in Kent Ohio is presenting a collection of Michael Kors designs through February 2010. Click here for more information.

Click here for a cute interview with Tim Gunn about his laundry! A highlight:

Did you do laundry as a child?
My mother was very intense about making me and my sister very independent people, so we did laundry and cleaned the house. Our washing machine was in the basement. My most vivid memory is definitely finding a 7-inch salamander in the machine after doing the wash. I shrieked and did the laundry all over again, twice.

Field Report - Elisa Jimenez in Austin

Elisa with a local fashion journalist

I was able to squeeze a few minutes to meet Elisa Jimenez at her "Pop-up and Play Boutique" in downtown Austin. Basically they are the occasional trunk type shows that she likes to do in various cities. She had just completed one in Dallas and in LA. My friend Rick and I had quite the journey to get to her event. Her showing was in the busiest section of downtown and it took forever to find street parking and we walked around for 20 minutes trying to find the store and were almost ready to give up. Then we saw some colorful swatches tied around a banister. Turns out the event was occurring at a 2nd floor bar lounge. The bar was quite lovely with a scenic covered balcony and provided an ideal atmosphere for her. There was a good steady attendance including members of Austin fashion community.

Click here to continue.

Tuesday News

Renee K noted that Nick Verreos was seated several rows in front of her at the World Skating Championships in Los Angeles on Saturday. She sends this report:

During the resurfacing of the ice, I saw him stand up and turn my way. I pointed at him and crooked my finger signaling him to come up to my row. (Picture of him walking in the aisle). Surprisingly, he did. What a delight!!! I can only add to the others who have posted about meeting him to say that he couldn't have been nicer. He looked fabulous.
Thrilled, I introduced myself, told him how much I enjoyed his work and also told him I had been looking for him the entire time to which he replied, "You know I love figure skating, especially the outfits." I said he should have been there all week as there had been some doozies. Anyway, he agreed to having a picture taken with me.
Of all the wonderful things I experienced during the event, I have to admit, this one was my personal highlight.

In other Nick news: Attention San Antonio - Uncle Nick is coming to town. And if you are really ambitious, a quick scoot up I-35 will earn you a visit with Elisa Jimenez and her new affordable line of fashions. Two of our favorites in Texas on the same day!

From The Mailbox

More Project Courtroom drama here.

Read more about Nick Verreos's "Wishtory" here.

Attention Tucson, Arizona, Elisa Jimenez will be showing her designs tomorrow night at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Click here for more information.

Attention Arkansas Fashion Designers: A Fashion Designer Casting Call will take place 3-6 p.m. Dec. 7 at Park on the River, 12001 Crystal Hill Road, Maumelle. Designers are encouraged to try out for a chance to be one of eight chosen to participate in the forthcoming second annual Designers’ Choice Fashion Preview in Little Rock. Hopefuls must bring three complete garments; a portfolio or pictures of their work; and photographs of themselves no larger than 5-by-7. Designers will also have an opportunity to participate in fashion-show workshops presented by Korto Momolu, Project Runway Season 5 ’s first runner-up. For more information, call Theresa Timmons-Nooner at (501 ) 247-5497.

Elisa Jimenez on The Fashion Team

From Amanda:

Tomorrow night, Sunday, on the TV Guide Channel at 7pm tune in to The Fashion Team! There is a segment about Elisa Jiminez, she talks about her clothes and working on wardrobe for High School Musical 3! Guess who modeled for her? A group of her friends including me and ...
Michael Rucker!
You will not want to miss this!

From The Mailbox

Jay McCarroll has designed two lines of fabric for Free Spirit. Click here to see the "Garden Friends" line and click here to see "Woodland Wonderland."

Elisa Jimenez has been working with the costume designers of High School Musical 3, premiering on October 24th. Click here for more info.

Here is a nice brief summary of the current status of Project Runway. I realize that most of you are already aware, but there are still a few who are catching up. Also, I believe that there is another court appearance scheduled for tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Attention Columbus, Ohio: Celebrate Halloween with Kelli Martin and Terri Stevens. Click here for more info.

Here is a story about Jessica Herrick, one of the models walking for Leanne in the finale.

From The Mailbox

Attention Chicago: Steven Rosengard will be at Erin Gallagher Jewelry on Saturday April 5th. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Click here to RSVP.

Click here for more advice to the hopefuls from Nick Verreos. Nick will be in Chicago tomorrow. Good luck everyone!

The New York Times announces the third annual "Sunday With The Magazine - Times Talks" on May 4th. Bravo's Lauren Zalaznick, Tim Gunn and Top Chef's Gail Simmons will be on the "What We Watch" forum. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.

Click here to watch "Project Law School."

Up for auction is a custom-designed gown (and a hand-drawn t-shirt) generously donated by Season Four Designer, Elisa Jimenez. Click here to bid. Proceeds benefit Our Time Theater Company, a non-profit artistic home for people who stutter.

Project Runway at Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week

Project Runway is well-represented at the tents in Bryant Park.

Tim Gunn, front row at Narciso Rodriguez, front row, on February 5th.


Nina Garcia, front row at Proenza Schouler, front row, on February 4th. Yes, that is Rihanna seated near her.


Amanda Fields, always ready to model at the tents.

Season One winner Jay McCarroll at na·be, front row, February 1.


Christian Siriano, Victorya Hong and Elisa Jimenez at na·be, backstage, February 1.

All images from WireImage.
Stay tuned for Malan Breton coverage later today.

From the Mailbox

Tim Gunn was on The Daily Show last night. Check it:



In other Gunn news, Tim gives Hilary Clinton fashion advice while The American Scene imagines having Tim as a conscience.

Peruse the Project Runway Season Four finale poll results as reported by our friends at Newsday.com. Are their readers right? Watch what happens!

MyCityChic.com scored an interview with Nick Verreos. Watch a video and see what Uncle Nick has to say.

Examine the Daniel Vosovic goodness at BonFireMagazine.com. This new site is intended as a destination for fans of the soon-to-debut NBC show 'Lipstick Jungle.' (Source)

Project Runway inspires art! Who knew?

You can win the red dress designed by John Galliano for Heidi Klum to wear to the Academy Awards this year. Enter The Red Dress Sweepstakes benefiting The Heart Truth charity.

WWD reports that Heidi Klum now has her own denim challenges as she designs jeans.

Elisa Jimenez tells NY Magazine about her collection, spit marks and 'High School Musical 3'.

The WWE has their own preview of Episode 10, 'Raw Talent.' Thanks, Jennifer.

Fashion Week: Day 1

Here's a cleaned up, smiling Christian Siriano at the Perry Ellis show yesterday. Doesn't he look great?

Don't miss Victorya Hong's collection from last night. A couple of early reviews can be found here and here. This one was my favorite:

WWD has been capturing collection inspirations from all of the designers. Here's Alexandra Vidal, showing on Tuesday: “The decadence of the era of Queen Elizabeth I.” And Elisa Jimenez, showing tomorrow: “Fall bridges that which has come before with that which will come after, the mythic and the ordinary, art and fashion.”

More to come - stay tuned!