Project Runway Recap: Finale, Part I

Dunh dunh DUNNNNHHHHHH!  With everybody up for elimination, the designers are instructed by Heidi to return home and create a bridal gown that fits into and defines their final collections.  Naturally there was a twist, so once the designers were back at Parsons they had to create a corresponding bridesmaid dress.

The designers were predictably thrilled to see Tim Gunn during his requisite home visits, offering either gentle suggestions or grim caveats.  Korto lives a totally cool backwoods existence, and Leanne’s boyfriend is just as cute, pasty, and dorky as she is.  Kenley managed not to be a total jerk to Tim Gunn during his visit (M. Gunn, of course, was totally sweet and gracious and acted as though nothing transpired, thus moving one step closer to sainthood).  Upon their return to Parsons, Kenley offered a half-hearted apology to the other designers that sort of smoothed things over (although the teasers for the second part of the finale suggest that the truce might only be temporary).

Jerell is out.  This was actually somewhat of a surprise to me…as much as I love Korto, in my mind Jerell’s two pieces were more compelling.  For the judges, the combined kisses of death were (once again) Jerell’s less than perfect execution (Michael Kors hated the 3-D bust with the peekaboo beaded detail), his use of flowers as accessories, and the length of the bridesmaid’s dress.  It had to be whittled down to three, though, and hopefully this experience serves as a good springboard for Jerell’s avant couture designs.

Korto is in.  Her bride and bridesmaid dresses were far too similar to one another color-wise, and she ended up in the bottom two (Heidi in particular seemed horrified at the prospect of a bride wearing the dress on the left).  She lives to show at Bryant Park, though!

Kenley is in.  Both dresses were among my favorites from her final collection, and she was definitely top two with Leanne in this showing.

Kenley’s bridal dress was not without controversy, however.  The judges pointed out that it was freakily similar to Alexander McQueen’s feathered wedding dress below and…yeah.  It’s pretty much a direct knock-off, Kenley-fied.  She swore up and down that she didn’t copy the design, that she didn’t see the collection, that she’s never even heard about Alexander McQueen, etc, etc, but the bodice and full feather skirt say otherwise.  What makes this all particularly delicious is that she claimed that Leanne and Korto copied her by producing short bridesmaid dresses.  Because, you know, the short bridesmaid dress…that’s never been done before.  She still produced beautiful pieces, though.

McQueen vs. Kenley images: Popwrap

Leanne, if you’ve seen her final collection, was predictably adorable and perfect (her collection was inspired by waves of water).  The judges praised her pieces for being cleanly modern yet also romantic, which is a pretty accurate description of Leanne’s aesthetic in general.  I love her for the win; I just hope she isn’t dinged for her very focused color palette in the collection.

Oh, and if the PR reunion is anything less than Kenley talking about how she grew up on a tugboat and everybody else telling her that she didn’t invent rockabilly, I am going to be sorely disappointed.

All PR photos: BravoTV.com