project runway

We Welcome Hillary Clinton as a Reader

November 11, 2008

A few months ago we were asked how we'd give Hillary Clinton a makeover. She appears to be reading the site and following our advice, except for the part about not looking like a special guest on Project Runway for the Hefty Cinch Sak challenge.

Tim Gunn Not Making It Work

October 9, 2008

For a guy who's got his own makeover show, Tim Gunn makes a rookie mistake matching those silver frames with a shiny gold watch ... like Rush Limbaugh wears.

Insult to Injury

September 25, 2008

It's one thing to get aufed on Project Runway. It's quite another to get aufed when you look like Suede did last night.

GQ's 'Style Guy' Increasingly Out to Lunch

August 5, 2008

<em>GQ</em>'s 'Style Guy' Increasingly Out to Lunch

In the August issue of GQ -- the one with Seth Rogen on the cover -- "Style Guy" Glenn O'Brien admits to leaving a single button-down collar button unbuttoned, calling it a "je ne sais quoi casualness" and "flaunted carelessness." We think he means "artful dishevelment," but this is "overly-engineered dishevelment," and trying way, way too hard. The desired go-to-hell air needs to look completely uncalculated.

In the same issue, he endorses the hoodie, primarily for its blue-collar roots and utility. White-collar roots are preferable, and that damn hood is non-functional and simply in the way at least 90% of the time. Also, Suede from Project Runway wears them a lot.

Follow his advice at your own risk.

Project Runway Picks -- The Finals

March 4, 2008

<em>Project Runway</em> Picks -- The Finals

Can you stand the drama? 12 weeks of Project Runway has come down to this. Rami stole a victory from Chris last week with his weak collection, so he's not a serious contender. Fan-favorite Christian has been at the top of the Magnificent Bastard charts for weeks, and we expect him to triumph, though last week's sneak peek at Jillian's stuff definitely gives us pause. Oh, fuck it. We pick Christian.

Project Runway Pick -- Week 12

February 27, 2008

It's a little odd. Rami has a strong, very MB personal style. Chris looks like he gets dressed in the dark. Yet after 11 weeks it's become clear that Rami (once our pick to win it all) is a one-trick pony, and Chris can create new shit every week. In this mano-a-mano battle (OK, that might be stretching it a little) we're picking Chris to advance to the final 3, based largely on the judges' annoyance level:

project runway chart

Project Runway Odds - Week 11

February 13, 2008

Designing outfits for the top 6 female wrestlers of the World Wrestling Entertainment may go down as Project Runway's "Jump the Shark" episode. Still, it served the purpose of eliminating Ricky, who amazed and horrified PR fans worldwide for sticking around until the final 6.

Anyone following the this PR feature for the past 11 weeks will not be surprised to learn we're picking Sweet P and Chris to be aufed tonight, though Rami might sneak in (or out). Here are our Week 11 elimination odds.

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Christian	10:1	-	Created separation from the pack with yet another gem. Will be tough to beat at Bryant Park.
Jillian	7:1		Hot pants were, uh, hot. Has replaced Rami as competition's clear #2.
Rami	4:1		Slipped up with fuscia thing than Nina Garcia rightfully hated. Could be the surprise auf victim tonight.
Chris	1:2	-	Luckily for Chris, challenge was as cheesy as he is. Though he did nail the leopard print.
Sweet P	1:2	-	Only survived with this mess because Ricky's was even more awful.

Project Runway Odds - Week 10

February 6, 2008

Anyone betting actual money on the MB Project Runway elimination odds is now living in a cardboard box under an overpass. But we cannot account for the taste -- or lack thereof -- of Michael Kors. We still think Sweet P is the pits, and Christian is most likely to win. Here are our elimination odds for Week 10.

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Christian	12:1	-	Had immunity and still delivered something innovative and cool. Might be an immature dick, but kid's for real.
Rami	12:1	-	"Zippery" dress was outstanding and repositioned him as Christian's main competition.
Jillian	8:1	-	Designed a real stinker, though clearly in the top 3 who will go to the finals.
Ricky	4:1		Provided overwhelming evidence of the "blind squirrel - nut" cliche by actually winning a challenge. Cried. Perhaps over the fact his win did not provide immunity. Has the hottest model, which helps.
Chris	3:1		Snuck by with this, which isn't easy for a man weighing 350 pounds.
Sweet P	2:1	-	Tim Gunn's sharp eye accurately called her dress "Happy-Hands-At-Home Granny Circle." Judges' high rating of patchwork awfulness calls them all into question, especially the chick from Levi's.

Project Runway Odds - Week 9

January 23, 2008

While the MB odds had Sweet P being auffed (per usual), we noted Kit trending into ugliness with last week's awful prom dress. Christian was beyond fierce and is immune. Rami slipping badly after two straight poor outings.

Here are our elimination odds for Week 9.

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Christian	Off		Made the most stunning piece of the season. Kid is now perhaps the front-runner.
Jillian	15:1		Another solid outing. Could win now that Rami has slipped so badly.
Victorya	12:1		Combined with Jillian and done good. Two strong outings in a row after nearly getting auffed has her near the top.
Rami	10:1		Two bad weeks in a row has us gravely concerned. Judges seem increasingly annoyed by his routine.
Chris	4:1	-	Sucked off Christian's teat. A goner but not before Sweet P.
Ricky	4:1	-	Cried. Made another baby-doll.
Sweet P	2:1	-	Luck will run out tonight.

Project Runway Odds - Week 8

January 16, 2008

Christian was not feeling fierce and nearly got the boot after turning his model into a bloated Fudgesicle. However, he did have the show's best line, accurately describing high-school prom: "The other designers seemed to be kind of excited. But I think prom is horrible and tacky and gross."

Meanwhile, everyone else essentially failed, making 9 dresses that looked like total ass. Poor girls. We sensed slippage with Kevin and he got aufed, though there were clearly worse dresses on the runway.

Here are our elimination odds for Week 8. Everyone is essentially staying put with the exception of Victorya, who's immune from elimination.

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Victorya	Off		Stabilized after a poor outing with the winning dress. Has enough talent to make the final 3.
Rami	15:1		Had immunity, which was fortunate given this granny fiasco.
Jillian	15:1	-	Made one of the only dresses that didn't make a mockery of the challenge. Still contending with Rami for the crown.
Christian	12:1	-	Clearly didn't seem to care, just to prove a point. Admirable!
Kit	10:1	-	Cheese oozed from this one; skated by only because everything else was bad, too.
Chris	4:1	-	With Rami, made an ugly green prom dress. Already voted off once, with reason.
Ricky	4:1	-	Cried. Made more lingerie. How he survives is anyone's guess.
Sweet P	2:1	-	Like a blind squirrel, happened to find a nut, but headed auf next.

Project Runway Odds - Week 7

January 9, 2008

Last week Project Runway might've set a world record for product placement, having the contestants make clothing from the Times Square Hershey's store. Perhaps predictably, there was almost a direct correlation between an outfit's success and its Hershey's branding.

In any case, here are our elimination odds for Week 7:

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Rami	Off		Killed it with his highly-integrated brand presentation. Clearly the best designer of the bunch.
Jillian	20:1		Twizzlers dress was hot. Might contend with Rami for the crown.
Christian	18:1		Reeses wrapper dress pretty damn good too. Cocky but can back it up.
Kevin	15:1		Very ordinary piece passable, yet we sense slippage.
Kit	12:1		Kit used Kit-Kats (get it?) to make a highly branded look. Will hang around for a while.
Victorya	10:1		Was really slumming it with Elisa and Sweet P with this mistake.
Chris	6:1		Somehow managed a visit to the Hershey's store and exit under his own power. Also somehow managed to create a pretty damn impressive dress.
Ricky	4:1	-	Made lingerie out of Hershey's wrappers. Miraculously did not cry.
Sweet P	2:1		Kiss dress was bland and she deserved to get tossed last week. Just a matter of time.

Good To Be Back

January 2, 2008

Now that the Silly Season is over, we can regain focus on important things like conspicuous consumption, winter clearance sales, and Season 4 of Project Runway. Two weeks ago we jumped the gun with our Episode 6 Elimination Odds, not realizing that Bravo was giving the show a two-week break. The past two weeks have been a difficult time for us with neither Project Runway nor The Real Housewives of Orange County, and we're glad they're over. We actually started to read.

Check this week's odds.

Project Runway Odds - Week 6

December 19, 2007

Last week we sensed a disturbance in the force: that Steven was trending badly downward. On cue, he made his model look like a fat pilgrim (pictured) and deservedly got toasted. Jack had to leave for health reasons and we don't care; we're still chalking it up to lack of talent. This week look for Chris to make his rightful exit. Our odds for Week 6:

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Christian	Off		Everything is fierce, and Tim Gunn nailed him on it on last week's show. Immune from elimination.
Rami	25:1	-	Last outfit good enough to at least get into the final three. Still a leader of the pack.
Kevin	25:1	-	Kinda got robbed last week. We liked his outfit better than winner Christian's.
Jillian	20:1		Still gaining confidence. Now the strongest female contestant.
Kit	15:1		Eclipsed by Jillian as the best woman, though still solid.
Victorya	15:1		If there is a team competition left her bitchiness could lead to sabotage.
Elisa	10:1		Doesn't suck quite as badly as we originally thought.
Sweet P	7:1		Will survive another week only because Chris has returned to the competition.
Ricky	4:1		We'll see if he's able to not cry this episode.
Chris	2:1		Now he's the one hanging by a thread, and at 350 lbs. that's not a very good thing.

Project Runway Odds - Week 5

December 12, 2007

Last week we're weren't quite as on target as the week before. Based on girth and his hideous tentwear, Chris was doomed to lose, though we saw him staying a few weeks longer. Miraculously, Ricky survived, albeit only temporarily. This season has already separated into the haves and have nots. Here are the latest survival odds:

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Rami	30:1	-	Steady-Eddie. A strong bet to make the finals.
Kevin	30:1	-	Nailed the shorts. Continues to be a leader.
Victorya	20:1		Showdown with Ricky highlighted her bitchiness, superiority.
Kit	20:1	-	Potentially one of the women in the finals.
Jillian	20:1		Was wearing outdated trend (overalls) and then managed to nail the outdated trend (overalls). Dramatically gaining confidence.
Christian	15:1		Everything is fierce. Just plain fierce. Has a fierce eye for being just 21.
Steven	10:1		Disasterous dancewear look was truly awful, and yet he seemed to like it. Really disappointed us last week.
Elisa	7:1	-	Alien manages to stick around another week or two.
Jack	6:1		We're calling his Week 3 win an abberation.
Sweet P	3:1	-	Hanging on by a thread. Get it?
Ricky	2:1	-	Somehow managed to survive 4th round, in spite of a bad design and a beatdown from Victorya. Remains our favorite to be eliminated.

Two Things That Will Never Happen

December 11, 2007

1. Ricky winning Season 4 of Project Runway.
2. Two hot chicks turning to look at a guy in a suit from Men's Warehouse. (Still pic taken from an ad last night on Monday Night Football.)

One Word, Girl: Sleeves

December 6, 2007

Donna Karan was the guest judge last night on Project Runway, seemingly promoting some of the flabbiest arms we've seen since our grade school cooks serving up hot lunch. Donna, we admire a lot of your work (especially Signature), but please cover that shit up. Geez.

Project Runway Odds - Week 4

December 5, 2007

Let's be frank. We kicked ass last week. Of our bottom four picks, three of them were on the chopping block, and thankfully the annoying Carmen is gone. We've clearly underestimated Jack, whose win has forced us to reevaluate his chances.

This week is a team challenge, and the previews hint that either Victorya or Ricky are toast. The smart money stays with Ricky going auf. Our Week 4 predictions, with odds of elimination tonight and change from last week:

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Rami	40:1	-	Continues to impress, though no longer the obvious front-runner.
Kevin	40:1	-	At this point a co-favorite with Rami.
Steven	30:1	-	Sense of humor, talent keeps him firmly in the upper tier.
Victorya	20:1		Partnership with headcase Ricky jeopardizes her position.
Kit	20:1	-	Witty blonde has distinquished herself as a contender.
Jack	15:1		We've misjudged Jack, and for that we're sorry.
Chris	15:1		Cannot possibly win, but talented enough to last a few more weeks.
Jillian	10:1		Ralph Lauren experience helped with last challenge, though her invisibility is a red flag.
Christian	10:1	-	Age may end up limiting his ability to stay.
Elisa	8:1		"Different" 42 year-old has righted the ship after a very shaky start, but c'mon.
Sweet P	4:1		Not quite as doomed as Ricky, yet still doomed.
Ricky	2:1		Partnership with talented Victorya will further highlight weakness. Double-plus doomed.

Project Runway Odds - Week 3

November 28, 2007

Well we were a little off base last week. Freaky-deaky earth momma Elisa not only survived but thrived, amazingly finishing runner-up. Marion, one of our favorites, got the boot but definitely not for lack of talent, just excessive ambition.

The "choose your partner" segment spoke volumes and reminded us of grade-school gym class when dodgeball teams were picked. Carmen and Sweet P last to be selected; Steven the first. Here's how we see Week 3 shaking out, with odds of elimination tonight and change from last week:

Name	Odds	Movement	Our Take
Victorya	Off		Brilliant Round 2 design confirms her role as contender, in spite of Asian-Americanness.
Rami	50:1	-	Did nothing to harm his front-runner position.
Kevin	50:1	-	Partner on Victorya's stunning success. Has chops to be the overall winner.
Steven	40:1		Picked first in simulated grade-school dodgeball team selection, and for reason.
Kit	30:1		Architected potentially winning look in Round 2. We like her chances to go deep into competition.
Jillian	20:1		Has done nothing special so far, though seems competent.
Chris	20:1		Nearly crushed sofa next to Sarah Jessica Parker with 350lb. frame, yet demonstrated talent to last a while.
Elisa	10:1		Bravo and judges realize the benefit of keeping self-proclaimed alien as part of competition for a few more weeks.
Christian	10:1		Flirtation with '80s look nearly cost him elimination, deeply shook our confidence.
Carmen	8:1		Trying too hard; highly annoying.
Sweet P	7:1		Somehow played second fiddle to the weird-o Elisa. Early ousting forthcoming.
Jack	5:1	-	Continues to give us no reason to expect a long stay.
Ricky	3:1		Emotional trainwreck and stuck in lingerie design mode. Doomed.

Project Runway Odds - Week 2

November 21, 2007

There's only been one broadcast of this year's Project Runway, yet it's already apparent who's got talent and, uh, who's got less of it. We're going to try this for a few weeks: Project Runway Odds, where we pick who's most likely to stay and who's most likely to be told "auf Wiedersehen."

This week's pick: Elisa, who's called herself "an accidental designer." No shit. She's like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode into a million tiny pieces of granola, with a magic mushroom cloud.

Name	Odds	Our Take
Rami	Off	Winner of first show not going anywhere.
Kevin	50:1	Deep resume, talent, and confidence make for an unlikely early departure.
Christian	40:1	In spite of youth (21), a real contender. Though flamboyantly gay man already won Season 1.
Marion	40:1	Cool, detached. Likely to last a while.
Steven	30:1	Egghead appears to have staying power.
Kit	25:1	Sassy chick owns the best quote so far: "Life is too short to have on a bad outfit." Magnificent Bastards agree wholeheartedly.
Victorya	20:1	Asian-American already a PR winner, but will stick a few rounds.
Sweet P	15:1	Liklihood of a 46 year-old named "Sweet P" making it to mid-season: zilch.
Carmen	15:1	Middle-of-the-packer.
Jillian	10:1	Small-town girl and it shows.
Chris	10:1	Extreme girth, sloth nearly cost him first challenge.
Jack	5:1	From central casting. Cardboard cutout has more charisma, only slightly less talent.
Ricky	7:2	Lingerie designer blew a babydoll on Round 1. Confidence shattered.
Elisa	1:3	Freaky-deaky earth momma deserved to get the boot on Week 1. Our Jimmy the Greek Lead Pipe Lock.