Can it be True?

According to this breaking news item in WWD.com... Tim Gunn is leaving Parsons and joining Liz Claiborne as Chief Creative Officer.

Congratulations Tim! Thanks Siobhan and Emily.

Join the Top Design Party Tonight at BTD

We know how much you loved our 'party' posts each Wednesday; hundreds of comments each week was confirmation. You are cordially invited to a new party. Join us at Blogging Top Design tonight, starting at 10:00 EST, one hour prior to the premiere of Top Design. We're looking forward to sharing the fun of watching the show with you just as we did with Project Runway.

Please join us, no RSVP necessary.

From The Mailbox

Audrina Partridge of the hit MTV show "The Hills" wears Daniel Franco. She looks gorgeous.

'Rock Anthem Limited by Jeffrey Sebelia,' a new line of knit products will debut at Project in Las Vegas. This will be a collaboration between Jeffrey and Rock Anthem. Thanks Sarah.

Here is an article in the Philadelphia Weekly about Jay McCarroll. Thanks Sue Ellen.

We've been hearing rumors about Chloe Dao on QVC for months. Finally here is a story in WWD. You have to be a subscriber to read the entire article.

Finally, click here to read an article about Kara Janx in WWD.

Emmett McCarthy - Tailored by Reality

Click here for a fantastic profile on Emmett and his signature boutique, EMc2.
Thanks, Leslie.

Six Videos With Adler and Gunn

Bravo is featuring a series of six brief videos of Tim Gunn interviewing Top Design's Jonathan Adler. Click on each of the pictures above to see a different segment.

Miss America Party!

Is anyone watching Miss America on CMT tonight? We'll leave this thread open to dish about the show. Have fun!

Vote For The Season Three BPR All-Stars

Congratulations to Nick Verreos, Andrae Gonzalo, Daniel Vosovic, Chloe Dao and Santino Rice. These five join Austin Scarlett, Jay McCarroll, Kara Saun, Daniel Franco and Nora Caliguri in the BPR Project Runway All-Stars.

Now it's time for BPRs to select their five favorites from Season Three!

(Once again, this is just for fun - this is not an actual show.)

Click here to vote.

What to Watch This Week

Don't forget to tune into the Miss America Pageant tonight at 8/7 central on CMT. Miss New York, Miss West Virginia, and Miss Kentucky will be wearing Jonathan Kayne originals for the evening gown and talent competitions.

On Wednesday, the second season of Bravo's Top Chef will conclude. Marcel and Ilan have talked smack about each other all season. But, who will serve up the tastiest dishes that will leave the judges' mouths smacking?

Then stay tuned for the premiere of the new interior design competition show, Top Design. If you haven't already, please visit our new blogspot, Blogging Top Design, dedicated to this new show. There you'll find the designers' bios, Team BPR/BTD's take on the first episode, and our exclusive Q&A with some of the designers.

Finally, don't forget about Tim Gunn getting UGLY on the hot ABC show, Ugly Betty this Thursday. This will be the first of his two guest appearances.

Looking For a Field Reporter...

BPR is looking for a field reporter and a photographer to cover Zulema's show on Friday, February 2nd at 10:00 AM at Slate Plus. Click here for more information. Zulema has generously offered two tickets to BPR and we would love to send someone to cover this.

Please check your calendars and email Team BPR if you would like to serve as our correspondent this event.

Thanks BPRs!

From The Mailbox

Here is a little bit more about the Tim Gunn piece in Quilting Arts magazine. We'd love to see some scans!

Meanwhile, Season Three is just beginning in South Africa.

Who knew that Michael Kors is a former child actor?

Thanks Deb!

Tim - Ready for the Front Row

We just couldn't resist this picture of Tim with some models; he was at the DHL kickoff party for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week on January 24th (click here for more images) and, according to Elle.com, he's "looking forward to the, 'wow' factor..." Click here to read what else he has to say.

From The Mailbox

Tim Gunn was recently sighted at this event. MAC Cosmetics and W Magazine teamed up to honor Raquel Welch. Thanks Snowflake.

In more Tim news, mark your calendars for February 21st. Tim will be moderating Behind the Faces of Fashion, a discussion of Fashion Photography at 7:00 PM at the New School, Tishman Auditorium, 66 West 12th Street NYC. Admission is free, no tickets or reservations required. Thanks Taylor.

We have had several BPRs write about the Tim Gunn article in Quilting Arts magazine. If anyone has a scan or a link, please send it to Team BPR. Thanks.

Bloggies - Just Happy to Be Nominated

Somehow, dear readers, we got nominated in one of the toughest categories for the 2007 Bloggies. 'Best Entertainment Weblog' is typically a fierce competition amongst blogs with huge readerships; we don't even pretend that we can win. We're flattered that we were even considered.

Our good friends at Project: Rungay were nominated in the 'Best New Weblog' category which carries enormous prestige. We offer our congratulations and urge all of our readers to please vote for them. This is well-deserved.

To those that nominated us - thank you. You are very sweet. Sure, we'd love to win mostly because we consider you, the readers, the main reason that Blogging Project Runway has its success. This nomination is all yours.

We are honored.

A Note From Stacey Estrella

We received a beautiful note from S3 designer Stacey Estrella, responding to our birthday greeting earlier this month. She shows us that you don't have to win to end up as a winner:

Thank you so much for sharing. That was a nice little surprise.

In case there’s a place for it, I wanted to share with your audience a talk I gave at the University of Nebraska last August. It was one of the unexpected surprises and outcomes from my brief appearance on the show.

Two days after my episode, I received an email invitation from the Chair of the department of Textiles, Clothing and Design. He asked me to give the keynote address at the annual welcome back event. At first I didn’t want to accept the invitation. On the surface, it was a failure—at least that’s how it was portrayed in the media and that’s how many fans of the show want to view it. But then I realized that I had an obligation. To aspiring Designers, Artists, professionals... anyone who has a dream and fails to pursue it because they’re afraid. Afraid of what others might say or think. Afraid of their own “failure.”

Click here to continue reading Stacey's heartfelt note.

Kayne Gillaspie designs at the Miss America Pageant

Hey Laura, how are you? It's Kayne and Warren. We just wanted to drop you a line and tell you to watch Miss America Monday night on CMT. This year, Miss New York, Miss West Virginia, and Miss Kentucky will be wearing gowns from the Johnathan Kayne pageant line. I will write again soon and let you know about everything else exciting going on with the shoes, gown line, and even us dressing the first lady and Lt. Gov. of Oklahoma a few weeks back for the Inauguration. Anyway, hope all is well...we're boarding a plane to Vegas as we speak.

Love ya, mean it!!!

Kayne & Warren

You know it sure makes things easy when the designers write to let us know what is going on. Thanks Kayne and Warren!

Tim Gunn on Oprah!

Laura!

I just returned from Chicago -- taping Oprah!!!!!!!! I still am pinching myself! I can't believe it! But don't get too excited. I'm not the whole show. I'm merely a part of the show. It is tentatively airing on Feb. 5. The show is wonderful. It's about celebrating women in their 40's, 50's, 60's, plus an incredible 70-year-old. It's a "feel good" show. I came in to work with all of the women and the styling of their wardrobe. It was three days, looooong hours, and a total BLAST! And Oprah is too, too divine for words!

Ugly Betty was also a total blast! We taped my two appearances on January 8. I sorta-kinda play myself, but not really. I believe that people will assume that it's me being me. There's one point with Daniel Bradford (Eric Mapias) says, "Thanks for coming, Tim," but I believe that the segment will be cut. Anyway, I'm a fashion news reporter covering Fashion Week in New York. In the February 1 episode, I report "live from Bryant Park" and merely declare that the week has begun. In the February 8 episode, I'm on television reporting on the staggering list of events that occurred the day before (which was the content of the Feb 1 show). It was so thrilling and fun to do this, and I've never done scripted television before. It's a challenge! I have to add that the cast and crew, writers, producers, director were sublime to work with and treated me like a prince. It was hard to leave.



Tim's appeal crosses all networks and demographics! Congratulations from all of us at BPR!

Miss Dao Goes to Washington

BPR's DC Field Reporter Laura L is back with this report on Chloe's visit to Washington.

Click here for a slideshow.

Chloe Dao Dishes DC!

Not since Tim Gunn graced the nation’s capital has DC been so fortunate! Chloe Dao and her mom, in town for the Smithsonian Institution’s “Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon: Vietnamese America Since 1975” exhibit (click here for info), spent 90 minutes chatting with loyal BPR supporters, local boutique owners, members of the DC Fashionista group, several teen designers, etc. The local response to the event was HUGE and, unfortunately, we were unable to accommodate all of Chloe’s fans that contacted me about the event – it was really difficult to have to limit the number! Next time we have a Project Runway event, we will definitely find a bigger space!

Click here to continue.

Q&A With Nick Verreos

Hi everyone out there in "BloggingProjectRunway World." It has been a crazy week for me, especially since it finally "came out" that my sister, Rita, was going to be in the new season of "Survivor: Fiji". I kind of felt like TR Knight or Neil Patrick Harris, when they were officially outed on "People Magazine". OK, I may be exaggerating. But it was good to not have to "hold the secret" any longer.

My sister and I have always been very close--we are only 18 months apart--and I have always been very supportive through all her endeavors. From being in the "Miss Venezuela" pageant, to majoring in French and Italian at UC Berkeley, to coming to LA to pursue acting, up to the present, beginning a (hopefully) successful career in Pageant Coaching in Texas. I have always been very proud of her. However, I am most proud of her for being a great mother (as well as jealous as heck for how she maintains that damn hot figure of hers!).

BPR: When did you find out that she was considering this?

She visited Los Angeles several months back to coach some contestants for "Miss California" as well as to attend the "Miss Universe" contest. She said she was approached with an opportunity to try out for the newest season of "Survivor". I sort of brushed it off as her just getting "caught up" in the Hollywood "reality show" babble that does sometimes envelop people the minute they breathe the LA-LA air. Well, I soon realized she was serious, when she told me that she had indeed tried out and was in consideration as one of the new cast members of "Survivor: Fiji". Now you guys know the rest.

BPR: Why do you think she'll be a great "Survivor?"

She has been doing "competitions" since she was 18 years old (even though they were International Beauty contests, they are still no "walk in the park"). She has been dancing ballet since she was 5 years old, therefore she's athletic and flexible. She is not only beautiful but intelligent, so she could possibly use both qualities in this crazy game that is "Survivor". Also, as a single mother of two kids, I think any mom can attest that the show "Survivor" is, pardon the pun, "kid's stuff" , compared to raising two children in this day and age!

Vote For The Season Two BPR All-Stars

Congratulations to Austin Scarlett, Jay McCarroll, Kara Saun, Daniel Franco and Nora Caliguri! These designers have been selected by BPR readers as the Season One "All-Stars." The poll is closed on Season One and it is time to move on to Season Two.

You can choose five designers and you can vote every day. Since Daniel Franco is already included in the BPR All-Stars, I have removed him from the Season Two poll. Click here to vote.

A Note From Daniel Vosovic

Dear Laura,

...I do have a new job, in fact, I've had one for about two months now and it's going fantastic! If you have a minute, sit down, relax and let me explain...

The company is called Raven, it's a budding 2-yr old design label that has a very solid, but small foot in the door. Known for their women's trousers and denim, they can be found at high-end retailers such as Saks, Bloomingdales, Barney's, Bergdorf's, Jeffrey's, etc, and sell alongside lines like Marc by Marc Jacobs and Catherine Malandrino. Long story short, I was brought on to launch their first venture into becoming a full sportswear collection: coats, tops, dresses, trousers... everything. The people I work with are just fantastic, the environment fulfilling, the opportunities huge, and the knowledge that this is exactly where I need to be just settles my stomach to no end! We're not planning to show for another year, but plan to build the collection slow and steady until we're ready, Fall '08 perhaps.

I was originally aiming towards larger design labels, ones that carry a set work week, security and a well-defined job description, but ultimately decided that smaller (but not too small) was better for me, allowing me to be involved with all aspects of the business from beginning to end. Most everything is done in-house, from patterns and samples to accounting and shipping, I'm exposed to it all!

I feel like I'm going on forever, but I wanted to tell you the latest on the rest of my endeavors while I have you. The NYLO hotel collection is coming along beautifully and should be ready for release in fall '07, but samples are being produced now and look AMAZING, I can't wait for you to see it! I still have my two weekly blogs on OUTzone.com and bravotv.com, and at times can be the last thing I want to do, but at times can almost be a personal diary for me to share my thoughts of the day.

My friends and family are healthy and happy, and with my older sister getting married in September, she's been on my butt about getting started on her dress... and of course my mother's MOB dress (I also just finished one for my cousin in December... pheww!). Love life is great, my boyfriend Kieran and I have been together for almost 7 months and though he detests watching television, I've been able to sit him down enough to get through the "Flower Power" challenge of season 2 (He still hasn't seen the entire season and I'm afraid he'll think differently of me after he witnesses my makeover of Chloe into a 50-year old hooker... I guess if he stays he really loves me, haha!).

Wow, again apologies for this ridiculously long email, but thought it best since it's been so long... of course there is more in the works, but like a wise-man once told me, timing is everything. Thank you again for the kindness and support that you and BPR have shown me and my fellow designers, in a career that can easily become tiresome with long hours, tight deadlines and cranky production people, it's nice to know that there are people out there who still appreciate the people behind the work.

Love you!
Daniel xx