From The Mailbox

Click here for Nina Garcia discussing this spring's sheer trend on Flypaper.

Click here to bid on the Christian Siriano design worn on the May 1st episode of Ugly Betty. Proceeds benefit Clothes off our backs.

Click here for the latest update on Jay McCarroll's blog.

Click here for latest update on Victorya Hong's blog.

Christian Siriano is among the nominees for "Most Addictive Reality Star" at NewNowNext.

Mychael Knight recently spoke to a group of students at St. Johns University. Click here for more.

From The Mailbox

Kevin Christiana is featured in the current issue of Talent in Motion magazine. Also stay tuned for news about Kevin in a future issue of Cosmogirl.



Victorya Hong has a new blog!

The Defamer weighs in on the Project Runway move to Lifetime... Hee.

Finally, more press on the Jay McCarroll premiere here.

BPR Top 5 Looks: 2nd Place

Every season of Project Runway brings with it a certain number of elements guranteed to raise our ire. Less talented designers last long past their time, a fan favorite gets eliminated just before making it to fashion week, someone breaks a rule or two, the list goes on. Perhaps the biggest boil on our collective butts has been the team challenge concept. We love to complain about them!

But in Season 4, the producers somehow managed to get it just right for one glorious episode that produced some of the most inspired work we've seen on any season.

In "En Garde", the final 8 designers were paired off in teams of two to produce an avant-garde look using the models hairstyle as their inspiration. Victorya Hong and Jillian Lewis went against popular convention as they both wanted to be team leader. Neither headstrong designer would give in and Victorya got the nod by a flip of the coin.


Although Victorya earned praise from the judges on the runway for her ruffled top and jodhpurs, it was Jillian's stunning trench that was the show-stopper. Using a midnight colored fabric with red tartan lining, the coat spoke perfectly to the rebellious theme sported by model Jacqueline's faux-hawk hair. It was a breathtaking showing that demonstrated two heads were sometimes better than one.

Victorya's successful run would soon come to an end as she fizzled out in the denim challenge. But Jillian continued to deliver week after week, showing off her formidable style with a consistency that earned her a spot in the finals. Congratulations Victorya and Jillian - you landed in the #2 spot on the BPR Top 5!

BPR Interview With Victorya Hong

Who says you have to be a finalist to show at Fashion Week? Certainly not Victorya Hong. The season 4 designer decided there was no better time to capitalize on her exposure from the show and managed to beat all of her cast mates to the catwalk with her Fall 2008 collection. Victorya tells us all about it as we resume our series of aufed interviews.

BPR: Hi Victorya! We were all happily surprised to see you showing on the opening day of Fashion Week. When did you decide to pursue this?

VH: I´ve been working on getting my line off the ground since we finished taping last summer. So, it was only natural that I work on a Fall collection. It really started coming together in December. Jackie, my model from the show, would come over to fit my samples. Of course, everything looks great on her, so I don´t know if it was an accurate barometer...but the line was looking really strong. With her encouragement, I started to really explore the possibility of showing.

BPR: What is the inspiration for your new collection?

VH: It was very 80s inspired. I am a voracious visual consumer when I begin to research a line. I watched movies, 80s sitcoms, and pored through magazines and images. It was actually pretty fun because the 80s is really my era.

Click here to continue reading our interview with Victorya as she talks about her experiences on the show and picks who she thinks will win Season 4.

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.

Results In - You Were the Judge Episode 9

Our polls for Episode 9 are closed. You disagreed with the judges and felt that Sweet P should have been awarded the win. Click here to see the results. You concurred with the judges that it was time for Victorya Hong to be 'auf.' Click here to see the results.

Check back with us tomorrow for our Episode 10 poll.

Video - na·be By Victorya Hong at Fashion Week

Video courtesy of MyItThings.com. Thanks to Yuli Ziv.

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!

Fashion Week Begins!

This is a big day in NYC as Fashion Week kicks off, and Project Runway is right in the thick of it.

Did you know it is National Wear Red Day? Heidi Klum is helping kick off American Heart Month this morning as a runway model for the Red Dress Collection 2008, part of The Heart Truth awareness campaign for women about heart disease.

Victorya Hong didn't let her recent auffing prevent her from debuting her very own Fall 2008 collection tonight at The Altman Building. Check out this interview with her PR rep on the challenges of putting this show together. BPR has a couple of ace field reporters on hand for this show - stay tuned!

Tune in to Zulema Griffin's MySpace Sunday, February 3rd beginning at 9:00 a.m. as she shows her collection online. We think this is a great idea and expect to see more of it in the future.

On an unrelated note, we noticed that there is call out for stand ins at Parsons to help set up the Project Runway studio. Now what might be going on there? Hmmmm.....

From The Mailbox

Many of you have written in about the next episode. Bravo is pretty much giving everything away, but we are trying hard not to spoil it too much. If you somehow have avoided the on-air promos and online episode descriptions, cover your ears and eyes! If you want to know a little more, then go ahead and click here. For now, lets just say we are concerned.

Don't miss this incredible, bittersweet story from someone that Elisa Jimenez used to know very well.

Victorya Hong talks a bit about her upcoming fashion week show at Stylehive. You can also check out her exit interview with Buddy TV. Thanks Alex and Jennifer.

Season 1 designer Alexandra Vidal is showing her collection during fashion week at the Bryant Park Hotel on Tuesday, February 5.

Look who stopped by to visit After Elton's The Heidi Chronicles this week!

Here's a report on the Project Red Dress event in Seattle that Nick Verreos attended. More photos here.

How Will Bravo Make It Work?

We are scratching our collective heads here in the BPR workroom trying to figure out what exactly Bravo is up to with their end game for Season 4. First off, they have confirmed with us that there is no new episode next week, meaning the next elimination will not place until February 6. But assuming that episode is a single elimination, that leaves five designers remaining when they film the finale at Bryant Park on February 8.

Past seasons have always shown four collections at Fashion Week, twice with a decoy (S1 and S2) and once without (S3). (We hate the idea of a decoy collection, if they are going to show, let them count!) But the only way to get to a Final 4 will be by having a double elimination on February 6, or if they run back-to-back single-elimination episodes.

Unless there may be more than four designers showing on February 8. Hmmmmmm.......

Meanwhile, it appears as if the mystery has been solved regarding the February 1 "Project Runway Designer" off-site show at The Altman Building. The official MBFW schedule now shows that it's none other than Victorya Hong! But isn't she still under contract with Bravo? Who is sponsoring this and where is the press?

Something fishy is going on here....

BPR Love For Victorya Hong

In the end, you exited with grace. You made your mark on Project Runway with wins in both the SJP and prom challenges as you displayed a flair for sleek sophistication in your design work. For you, the challenges were serious business and you met the demands of those who were pleading for 'more design, less drama' from the cast.

We will miss you calm confidence and intelligent approach to fashion. We have no doubt that you will realize the "long and fulfilling career" you strive for and we can't wait to see what you come up with next. Much love to you today Victorya!

Note: Only positive comments on this post, please! Any other thoughts belong in our Reactions post here.

Congratulations, Victorya!

You created a dress that sparkled in the eyes of guest judge Gilles Mendel. Nina loved the Royal Blue color. And despite being the last kid picked on the playground, you provided your client Jessica a winner that she walked with grace and confidence down the runway.

Congratulations Victorya on becoming the second two-time winner of Season 4!

Positive, congratulatory comments only, please!