Trivia Contest! Win a SUEDEsays Pattern Collection AND an Autographed Poster

Answer this trivia question to win a set of three autographed SUEDESays Patterns AND a Project Runway poster autographed by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn (from our friends at Full Picture.)

Name all of the models who walked for Suede during the Project Runway Season 5 challenges.

The first one to answer correctly is the winner. Please send your answers to Team BPR.

Good luck Runway fans!





Update: We have a winner! Congratulations Frank! Here are his answers:
Episode 1: Tia
Episode 2: Tia
Episode 3: Tia
Episode 4: Tia
Episode 5: Xaviera
Episode 6: Hedda Lettuce
Episode 7: Tia
Episode 8: Tia
Episode 9: Tia
Episode 10: Avital
Episode 11: Jerell

Kim Kardashian Wears a Wesley Nault Design

Photo: WireImage

Kim (center) wore this Wesley Nault (season 5) design to the "Kardashian Glam Pack" Silly Bandz Launch at Kitson in Los Angeles February 4th. More information here.

SUEDEsays Update!

Project Runway Season 5 designer, Suede has updated his website and has lots of great news.

Suede's pattern collection for Simplicity will be available in February. Click here for the story and video featuring Project Runway Season 5 model, Karalyn West.

Next, Suede will be in Anchorage Alaska on January 27th to judge the "Object Runway" design contest at The International Gallery of Contemporary Art. Click here for more information.

On Saturday, Jan 29th, Suede will be at the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Trade Show in Los Angeles. Suede will be at the Simplicity Patterns booth. Click here for more information.



Thanks for the update, Suede!

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!

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!

Tuesday News

First, a programming reminder: there is no new episode this week! Project Runway returns on Thursday, March 4. Now onto the news:

Tim Gunn spoke at Georgia State University yesterday and gave up some juicy dish in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He's done defending Season 6, thinks now that the plan is to stay in New York for future seasons and that Bravo "meddled" excessively with who got eliminated in Season 5.

Here's the view from the seats of Tim's talk from someone who had her question answered.

Heidi Klum's 4-year old son Henry has gotten really tall!

Oasis Magazine interviews Jay Nicolas Sario.

Magical Elves Sign Exclusive Deal With NBC/Universal

Big News!

The Magical Elves are working exclusively with NBC/Universal (which includes Bravo.) This seems to mean that they will not be producing Project Runway after Season Five.... Here is the entire Press Release:

NBC UNIVERSAL ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE DEAL WITH MAGICAL ELVES - THE CREATIVE TEAM BEHIND EMMY NOMINATED HIT SHOWS PROJECT RUNWAY AND TOP CHEF

Deal Includes Unscripted, Scripted, Digital, Wireless and Short-Form Projects for All NBC Universal Broadcast and Cable Platforms

BURBANK - May 5, 2008 - NBC Universal today announced its exclusive overall first look deal with the award-winning duo Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz of Magical Elves, the production team behind the Emmy-nominated hit shows "Top Chef and "Project Runway." The announcement was made by Jeff Gaspin, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Television Group and Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios.

"I've worked with Jane and Dan for over 10 years," said Gaspin. "They are great producers with original voices and a special knack for casting. Their track record of success speaks for itself and we're thrilled to have them here at NBC Universal."

"We are looking to build a bigger production capacity to feed our own and third-party distribution channels and platforms," said Silverman. "These Emmy-nominated producers consistently deliver quality programming and work brilliantly with advertisers."

The agreement provides NBC Universal's broadcast, all cable (Bravo, Oxygen, Sci-Fi and USA) digital and wireless properties an exclusive first look on all projects developed by Cutforth and Lipsitz. It also provides opportunities for Magical Elves to work on projects developed by the NBC Universal properties.

"This is an exciting milestone for our company and a chance to build on a relationship that has already borne a good deal of success," said Cutforth. "We have found NBC Universal to be great creative partners," said Lipsitz. "This deal represents amazing opportunities on multiple platforms, not just in unscripted television but in the scripted and digital spaces as well."

Magical Elves have been frequent collaborators with NBC Universal, producing four seasons of NBC's summer hit "Last Comic Standing" and "Treasure Hunters," and "Project Greenlight" and all four seasons of the Peabody Award winning "Project Runway" for Bravo. They are currently in pre-production with Bravo for "Project Runway 5." Cutforth and Lipsitz also produce the Emmy-nominated Bravo hit "Top Chef" - the number one food show on cable television - currently in its fifth and highest rated season to date.

Additionally, The Magical Elves developed and are producing Bravo's newest creative competition "Step It Up & Dance" and as previously announced, will produce the sophomore season of Bravo's "Top Design," and they have a pilot in production with Oxygen.

ETA: Bravo has confirmed with BPR that the Magical Elves will not produce Project Runway after Season 5 (see comments below). This challeges Lifetime's previous assertion that the show "...will look exactly the same" and that the Elves "would continue to produce the series under Lifetime's agreement with the show's owner, The Weinstein Co." after making the network switch.

With no new news on whether Nina Garcia and Michael Kors are on board and now the impending production change, we are officially concerned. What is our beloved PR going to look like?

Season 5 Nina Update

We asked Bravo if Nina Garcia will return as a judge for Season 5 of Project Runway, regardless of her affiliation with Elle. A spokesperson from Bravo just told us that "we expect her to return for Season 5".

Whether that pans out or not remains to be seen. Stay tuned!

Season 5: Fall Premiere?

Advertising Age magazine has posted a very interesting article concerning the Bravo/Lifetime kerfluffle and its impact on the corporate sponsors. Lots of juicy details, but this one really jumped out at us:

A Saturn spokesman told Ad Age, "We're definitely a major sponsor of Season Five, which is in production and will run on Bravo this fall." He could not confirm their plans for the move to Lifetime.

Season 5 to run in the fall? That's news to us and further questions Lifetime's announcement of a November premiere for Season 6. Assuming that the Magical Elves could somehow pull this off, could we really be faced with the prospect of two new seasons running concurrently on competing cable channels?

More news from this piece:

...a Bravo spokesperson confirmed all of Season Four's integrated sponsors -- Elle Magazine, L'Oreal Paris, Alberto-Culver's Tresemme, Saturn and Bluefly.com -- will be returning for Season Five.

There is much more in this article, including specific advertising revenue figures. Did you know Top Chef pulls in more ad revenue than Project Runway?

Click here for the whole thing.

From The Mailbox

Rami Kashou's design is featured in StyleSpy.

Click here for an audition story from Phoenix designer Jes Switaj.

Tonight is the Miss USA pageant. Christian Siriano is a judge and Nick Verreos has designed the gown for Miss Alaska. Check it out here.

More audition stories here, as well as a quote from Rami Kashou.

Carmen Webber has a new book out. Click here to order Denim Mania: 25 Stylish Ways to Transform Your Jeans

Project Runway Auditions in NY and Interview with Jack Mackenroth

BPR's intrepid NYC correspondent Nancy T checks in from the Project Runway Season 5 auditions where she runs into an old friend:

Dateline: Saturday, April 5. There was a line around the block at the Times Square Starbucks. New flavor of Frappacino? Not quite. Instead, about 60 people were waiting to get into the W Hotel for their Project Runway interviews. Along with their portfolios, dress racks, and mannequins, they brought their friends and well-wishers. This group consisted mainly of talented amateurs, rather than the more experienced participants of Season 4.

But, there was one familiar face in the crowd. We caught Jack Mackenroth surveying the incoming talent at the Saturday auditions. Eying his competition perhaps? If so, he’s the most gracious (and buff) competitor we’ve seen in a while. He was wishing everyone good luck, posing for pictures, and giving helpful audition advice to nervous designers.

When asked if he was planning on coming back for Season Five, he said "Well, Heidi asked the same question on the reunion show. Since then, I've come to realize how important it is for me to finish what I started. It was so amazing the first time around. So, I've expressed my interest in coming back. I'm really excited about the possibility, and just have my fingers crossed for it to all work out again."

Click here to continue reading Nancy's report from NYC and hear more from Jack!

Oprah!

Big News from the PR5 auditions in Chicago today - Oprah Winfrey has joined Tim and Uncle Nick on the judging panel! Here's Project Runway's Executive Producer Jane Lipsitz:

...we were contacted by the folks at Harpo Productions to let us know that Oprah was a big fan of the show and she wanted to stop by at the auditions to say hello. I suggested that she could sit on the panel, and she agreed!

Tim Gunn is beside himself:

I keep pinching myself every 5 minutes, 'I can't believe I'm sitting next to Oprah!'. Of course she epitomizes my mantra of quality, taste and style. It's a thrill to have her on board with our team.

Having Oprah affiliated with Project Runway brings a new dimension to the future of the show. What does this mean?

Click here for more.

Advice To The Season Five Hopefuls From Executive Producer Rich Bye

Executive Producer of Project Runway - Rich Bye - offers his advice...

1. In choosing 3 looks, make sure they’re recent. The more current they are, the better. Also, the 3 looks should ideally express a consistent, compelling, and fresh point of view. We’d like to be able to see all 3 looks and be able to tell immediately they came from the same designer. Ditto for the portfolio.

2. Be confident and be passionate. Contrary to what some may think, the judges want you to succeed. They want to get excited and engaged but it’s hard to do when someone comes in the room and is unable to talk intelligently and passionately about their work. This is your chance, what do you have to lose? Be loose, be confident in yourself and “knock our socks off!”

3. You need to have a base-line level of technical skills to be able to compete on the show, ie: sewing... If you’re cast on the show, you WILL have to create something in a day, sometimes two, and you can’t be constantly struggling to figure out how to pull it off technically because it detracts from your ability to be creative from a design standpoint. We don’t want to put anyone is a position to fail so if your technical skills aren’t there, it’s difficult for us to move you forward.

4. We love potential. Even if you’ve just graduated from design school, if you have potential and are able to demonstrate it through the looks you bring in, it will intrigue us enough to roll the dice. Look at Christian Siriano, Daniel Vosovic, Nora Caliguri...

5. The quality of the designs you bring in the room is the most important thing but we love designers with great personal style and compelling life stories. Think about what you wear and how you present yourself to the judges. Remember, first impressions do count.

6. Have fun! Remember, as Andrae Gonzalo once said (quoting Nina Garcia): “lighten up, it’s only fashion.”

Advice For Season Five Hopefuls

We're back with advice for the season five hopefuls!

First, from Tim Gunn:

The season five auditions are upon us! Incredible isn't it? I still feel as though Rami, and Jillian, and Christian were just battling it out on the runway at Bryant Park -- because they were!

Anyone coming to the auditions should:
1) follow the rules as posted on the bravotv.com website,
2) be confident about who they are as a designer and be equally confident that that message resonates in their work,
3) have IMPECCABLE examples of fabricated work,
4) be professional and responsible in their presentation, both personal and as a designer.
At this first stage of the auditions, we are looking for talent, only. Personality assessments come later. Without the talent, who cares about the personality?

Individuals who presented at previous auditions (or didn't make it past the first screening) should be encouraged to try, again, providing that their presentation is different and/or enhanced.

Furthermore, we bought 120 individuals forward to "the next round" last season. 105 of those individuals were not on the show. Therefore, there are 105 people who already know that they were a close call. Please encourage any or all of them to return.

And I need to assert that with each successive season, my fellow judges and I are more informed about what individual characteristics are critical and what are impediments. That means that we bring an enhanced "lens" to this entire process. Consequently, someone who auditioned for season three, for example, and was moved forward in the process may not be as capable of competing for season five. But I try never to assume!

I don't know who will be joining me for the auditions. I fully expect a number of the designers from previous seasons to be there, as well as representatives from ELLE. And, of course, none of this can be achieved without the masterful organization and facilitation of the fabulous Magical Elves.

I look forward to seeing the BPR readers who brave the throngs! Wish us all luck!

Tim

Next, from Rami Kashou:

I would suggest the following:
Be as prepared as possible! The whole idea is that you stand out "in a good way" :)
Bring whatever you think will help the judges see something special about you and your work.
Samples, portfolio, look book, model etc...
Do not be afraid or intimidated.. just be ready to answer any question thrown at you.
Above all Be yourself and give it your all!

Good luck to all of you and I will see you soon!
Rami

From Christian Siriano:

I really want to wish season 5 the best of luck and i just hope it can bring as many great opportunities to them as project runway has given me!
I loved almost every second and I am still loving it!
But they need to bring it hard because they have big stilettos to fill!!!
hugs and kisses
christian


Click here for season four advice from Team BPR.

Here is advice from Nick Verreos.

Here is advice from Malan Breton.

Here is advice from Robert Best.

Here is more advice from Daniel Vosovic, Laura Bennett and Emmett McCarthy.

Season 5 Casting

Attention all you Project Runway hopefuls, Bravo has posted the casting dates and locations for Season 5! Here's the skinny:

LOS ANGELES: Friday, March 28th - Sunday, March 30
W Hotel Los Angeles - Westwood
930 Hilgard Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(NOTE: NO neighborhood parking) Time TBD

CHICAGO: Tuesday, April 1st Time TBD
W Hotel Chicago Lakeshore
644 N. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60611

MIAMI: Thursday, April 3rd Time TBD Location TBD

NEW YORK CITY: Saturday, April 5th - Monday, April 7th
W Hotel Times Square
1567 Broadway at 47th St.
NY, NY 10036 Time TBD

Click here to download the application (an interesting read even if you are not auditioning!).

This is also a call out to any field reporters interested in bringing us stories from the audition line. We hope to cover every location, so send us a note if you would like to contribute. Designers, time to get sewing!

Season 5!

Tim spills the beans:

A fifth "Project Runway" season is in the works, Gunn said.

"We begin auditions next month," he said. "We always tape in June. So we have to get a great group of designers together if we're going to start taping in June."

Sounds like they are angling for another fresh batch of designers, dashing the hopes of some for an "all-star" cast of former contestants. Stay tuned for audition dates and locations. Designers, time to get sewing. Thanks to Jessica for the tip!