Reality on Bravo

As you all know, Project Runway will be starting in just a few months (and boy and I ready for it)! Bloggers, have your applied yet for a spot in the Project Blog competition? If not, be sure to do so before the end of the month!

On many episodes of Project Runway, there’s a guest judge. Sometimes it’s someone from the fashion industry. Other times its a celebrity who has a great sense of style. This week was the 64th Annual Venice International Film Festival, and given the fashion there, who’s your vote for guest judge on this upcoming season?

Charlize Theron…not my favorite look personally, but it’s a daring dress and still classy.

Angelina Jolie is ALWAYS hot, and never afraid to take fashion risks.

You can get much prettier than Keira Knightley, and she looked absolutely stunning in Venice.

Who is Kierston Wareing? Hell if I know. But my god, what a sexy, sophisticated, awesome dress.

How about Joely Richardson? She may not be as big of a name as Kiera or Angelina, but who doesn’t love Nip/Tuck? She looked great in Venice!

So who’s got your vote?

Leave a comment and tell us why!

Have you ever watched Top Chef and wished you could be a contestant…if only you could cook? Or wished you could be on Shear Genius…if only you could cut hair? Or wish you could be on Project Runway…if only you could design clothing?

Well, now’s your chance to take part in a competition that’s perfect for you—Project Blog.

Project blog will begin this fall to coincide with the new season of Project Runway. Every week, you’ll take part in a competition that mimics the PR challenge, and readers will have a week to vote. The contestant with the lowest number of votes gets eliminated, and the winner will get a special prize. It doesn’t matter what kind of blog you write–all topics can participate. For example, if the challenge on Project Runway is to design an outfit from recyclable trash, I might as you to write a post that “recycles” a post you’ve written in the past.

And oh, there are some great prizes lined up for those who rise to meet the challenge. The winner, choose by a panel of judges and popularity (not by votes alone), will receive a prize every week, as will one lucky reader who votes and leaves a comment. At the end of the competition, the two bloggers still standing will compete for an extra-special prize pack full of goodies from our wonderful sponsors and maybe even some cold, hard cash!

To apply for a spot in Project Blog, click here.

To sponsor one of the challenges email me at allison.boyer-at-yahoo.com.

I can’t wait to get started! Good luck to everyone involved!

Being a reality show bobble-head only ever really pays off in, well - more reality show gigs…Starting Sept. 6, Tim Gunn will be helping real fashion victims “make it work,” when “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” debuts for eight episodes on Bravo. The show is actually based on Gunn’s new style tome, “Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style.” But wait, “Runway” judge Nina Garcia is releasing her own style bible the very same week, “The Little Black Book of Style.” So how do the “Project Runway” vets stack up against each other? You be the judge.

Read more about the Tim versus Nina showdown here.

Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia, Project Runway, reality shows

NEW YORK, Aug. 21 /PRNewswire/ — The Weinstein Company is pleased to announce that they have completed five multi-year licensing agreements with category partners to coincide with the airing of the fourth season of the Emmy-nominated hit fashion design competition series, PROJECT RUNWAY. This marks the first time PROJECT RUNWAY has extended the brand with a series of licensing partners in consumer products. The licensees include Aaron Company, Brother International, Prym Consumer, Robert Kaufman Fabrics, and Simplicity Pattern Co. The partners are currently developing collateral, for both in store and online that will expand the PROJECT RUNWAY brand into retail channels globally.

The PROJECT RUNWAY licensing program was structured by ACI Licensing on behalf of The Weinstein Company. The announcement was made today by Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company.

Pam Henning, SVP, Global Integrated Marketing at The Weinstein Company stated, “As we expand the footprint of the Project Runway brand, we are excited to make the shows fashion and design experience accessible to consumers worldwide with specialized products and tools. This marks one of the most comprehensive consumer product licensing programs ever launched by a reality television series. We’ve seen how Project Runway resonates with consumers and with the show’s tremendous reach and credibility within the fashion community, it is a natural platform for brand extensions.”

“PROJECT RUNWAY is an amazing property with a fashion forward point of view. This exciting new line of products is the result of a collaboration between The Weinstein Company and the industry’s top manufacturer’s.” says ACI Licensing’s Managing Principals, Charles D. Mamiye and Andy Cohan.

The PROJECT RUNWAY branded products will be in the following categories jewelry, sewing patterns, fashion fabric as well as sewing machinery and notions. Details about the specific products and retail dates will be announced in the Fall prior to the season 4 premiere of PROJECT RUNWAY.

Project Runway

Forbes has recently announced the highest paid supermodels, and Project Runway’s own Heidi Klum came in at number three. Heidi is not only one of our favorite Bravo personalities, but she is also the wife of Seal, spokeswomen for Victoria’s Secrets, and designer of a new jewelry line. Her paycheck over the last year? $8 million. Man, I want to host Project Runway!!!

Heidi was bested by only two other models. Gisele Bundchen at number one made a stunning $33 million last year and Kate Moss was no surprise at number two, making $9 million. Congratulations to Heidi on her financial /career success!

With guest appearances supplementing their design work, it would seem that participating in Project Runway has been a good career move for many of the designers. READ MORE

Wondering what has happened to your favorite Project Runway stars? Buddy TV, in this article, reports on the whereabouts of Chloe, Jeffrey, Santino, Kayne, and more.

Just a reminder that there is only a few months left until the new season of project runway appears!

Project Runway, Bravo, reality television

Are you pining for Work Out? Do you feel empty inside without Queer Eye for the Straight Guy? Are you counting the days until The Real Housewives of Orange County, Season 3?

If you miss these old Bravo shows as much as me, never fear–I had some pictures of your favorite stars out and about in Hollywood, New York City, and so on. Bravo is introducing a bunch of new shows this summer (Hey Paula was just the first), so it may be some time before we get to see these smiling faces on our tv screen again!

Work Out’s Andre Riley at Fashion LA Magazine’s Premier Issue Launch Party in June.

Slade Smiley (Real Housewives) and Adrianne Curry (his hot date?) at the Light Nightclub Party at Bellagio Hotel and Casino Resort, hosted by Giantto and Von Dutch Watches

Queer Eye’s Jai Rodriguez shown with Keith Collins at “Styleyes Miami” (which they hosted), held at the Boulevard Lounge on July 2

Jonathan Adler, a judge on Top Design, at the “Poiret: King of Fashion” Costume Institute Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Heidi Klum, the host of Project Runway (with a new season premiering in November!), with her husband, Seal, at the Lorraine Schwartz launch of the Diamond Monkey Collection at Monkey Bar

Heidi Klum, Seal, Project Runway, Jonathan Adler, Top Design, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, Queer Eye, Jai Rodriguez, Keith Collins, Slade Smiley, Real Housewives, Real Housewives Slade, Real Housewives of Orange County, Work Out, Bravo, reality television

Ok, as you probably know by now, I met Tim Gunn last weekend, and have declared this week Reality on Bravo’s “Tim Gunn Week!” Today, I’d like to share with you a bit about Tim’s new show, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, as he shared with us some crucial news at the meet and great!

The show sounds a bit like other make-over shows, such as TLC’s What Not to Wear. Tim Gunn, along with co-host model Veronica Webb, will act as style coaches to one lucky lady per episode. What Gunn and Webb will NOT do is make over the subject–she will make over herself. Tim teaches people first to rid themselves of bad clothes. They’ll split their closet into four categories:

-items they LOVE
-items that they love, but need to be repaired
-items to throw away
-items to give away

Of course, the “keep” pile will get some extra scrutiny! Then, its time to shop. Tim will talk about REAL clothing–how to take the skills he teaches on the show to shange your life without sacrificing your own persona and values.

Sounds like a fabulous show concept, and I can’t wait to watch!

Tim Gunn, Veronica Webb, Gunn, Bravo, Guide to Style, make over, clothing, television, reality television

Since I’m still jumping out of my skin about meeting Tim Gunn this past weekend, I’ve decided to declare this week as RoB’s TIM GUNN WEEK!

Today, I’d like to talk a bit about what Tim had to say during the question and answer session I attended and when Beth and I talked to him and asked him a few questions:

*Project Runway is set to premier in November. They just filmed the last episode, and the finally will be happening in February, so the exact premier date depends on how many designers there were and how many weeks off there will be.

*Tim Gun’s Guide to Style is based off of his book, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Quality, Taste, and Style. It will premier early next year. They’d filmed two episodes so far and have plans to film 6 more within the coming weeks.

*The show doesn’t tell people “wear this.” It teaches people to look for certain items of clothing and to clean their lives (and closets). If you haven’t read the book, pick it up–it will explain things more clearly.

*Tim loves most of the other reality shows on Bravo as well! He watches Top Chef when he can and also enjoyed Shear Genius. He was not a fan of Top Design. Although Jonathan Adler is a good friend of his, Tim can’t believe that he said “See you later, decorator.”

*Tim would have a hard time picking favorite designers from the show. However, he does know which designers he would “send to the moon” if he could, and he wasn’t shy about sharing: Wendy Pepper, Zulema Griffin, and Vincent Libretti.

*America needs the up-and-coming designers. There’s a huge category of clothing between the Gap T-Shirt and the couture dresses from on French runways. Tim says: Don’t be a joke and don’t design dumb clothes. Also, the commercial nature of America is a fashion asset (or, it CAN be).

*In no way would Tim want to be a judge. He feels like he could never be fair, since he knows what the garments looked like every step of the way.

*Tim believes that this upcoming season of Project Runway has the most proficient and talented group as a whole thus far! The turn out is better and better every year.

*Tim does keep in touch with some of the past designers, especially the ones who stay longest. There’s a lot that people don’t see. He visits the workshop at least 4 or 5 times during every challenge, and every season, the group gets close.

Check back tomorrow for more Tim Gun news!!

Tim Gunn, Project Runway, Bravo

Why are they exclusive? BECAUSE I WAS THERE! My friend Beth took these pictures of Tim as we stood in line to talk to him at Browseabout Books in Rehobeth Beach, Delaware. That man is fabulous.

Me, in line after buying Tim’s new book (yes, two copies)

The Gunn family arrives–Tim’s mother lives in Bethany Beach, so she came out to support her son, and the stunning beauty with the silver hair is Tim’s sister, also showing support

Tim talked to the crowd for about 20 minutes before the meet and greet. His new show sounds great, and I can’t wait to watch! He also announced that they’ve just shot the last episode of Project Runway, and it will begin showing in November!

He told us that he’d stay and sign books as long as there was a line (and it was almost out the door when I left!) I was about 10th in line, and he was SOOO nice–answered lots of questions, signed every book, and posed for pictures with everyone!

Beth and I with Tim

Ok, maybe we were a little TOO excited!

More news and Tim Gunn coming later this week!

Tim Gunn, Gunn, Rehobeth beach, Project Runway, Guide to Style, Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style, Guide to Quality Taste and Style, Bravo, books, beach

Mychael Knight, one of the contestants from Project Runway’s last season will be hosting “Fashion Knight at the Museum,” sources report

“She was really like the nation’s first fashionista,” Knight said in a telephone interview Wednesday morning. “She was really into French fashion, and just really being fashion-forward.

“She kind of pushed the envelope, by not doing what was expected of especially the first lady, which I think is super cool.”

Who is Knight talking about? Find out here!

Mychael Knight, Michael Knight, Project Runway, A Knight at the Museum, fashion

I was surfing the blog-o-sphere today and stumbled upon this post by Kate Goldwater. It’s an interesting read. Apparently, Kate has tried out for Project Runway and made it to Tim Gunn twice, where he then rejected her.

And she’s pissed.

At first, I thought this “letter” post was a bit ignorant. I mean, everyone thinks that their own work is great, but come on. Thousands of people try out for Project Runway and only 15 make it. They obviously were looking for someone other than you. Get over it.

Upon re-reading it again, I see her point as well. I’ve been rejected in the past and it’s totally a slap in the face. And why was she rejected? She notes that she has not been to design school and that her design philosophy is unusual, but I suspect that neither of those things were the problem…I suspect that the problem was that they are looking for a certain combination of contestants (x number of girls, x number of boys, the “villain,” the nice girl, the feminist, the weird one…) and that either she didn’t fit the bill or they had previously picked someone similar to her. When you get too many contestants that are similar, it’s not good reality tv because people can’t tell them apart.

And that’s not fair. If she deserved a place, she deserved a place.

I don’t know Kate. All I know of her work is the few pictures posted on the blog. I wasn’t blown away, but pictures are different than real life or even tv so it’s hard to tell. I was grossed out by the fact that she paints with her own blood. I was uplifted by her respect for the environment. Read the post if you haven’t already.

Kare Goldwater, you aren’t alone. Thousands of other hopefuls also failed to qualify for project runway, and it’s not personal. It’s a television show, and they’re looking for certain things. The quality of your work and your originality mean nothing if you don’t fit the stereotype of what they want that particular day. If you truly have the talent it takes to win the show, either keep applying or simply focus on your work. You’ll make it.

Project Runway, Kate Goldwater, Tim Gunn, reality television, television, tv, reality tv

Some news I read this morning:

Fergie, the Duchess of York, has been approached to be a judge on a fashion reality show.

American TV bosses are in talks with the 47-year-old Sarah to judge aspiring models on reality show Project Runway, hosted by Heidi Klum…read more

Please note that this is the “original” Fergie–the Duchess of York–and not the singer Fergie who crones about her London Bridge falling down. Fergie’s possibly appointment to the Project Runway judging chairs got me to thinking–who would I like to see guest judge on the show? I mean, famous stylists are great, but things are more interesting, in my opinion, when the judge is a celebrity with great fashion sense. Professional opinion means nothing if people outside of the industry won’t buy it!

Here are my ideas:

-Nicole Kidman

-Jessica Alba

-Sienna Miller

-Julia Roberts

-Angelina Jolie

-Rachel Bilson

-Kate Moss

Ok, obviously some of these stars would be easier to get for the show than others…but one can dream right? Who would you like to see as a guest judge on Project Runway??

Bravo, Reality television, Fergie, Project Runway

May 18, 2007 – New mom, Nina Garcia receives a special Baby Swags gift basket which contains products any new mom would love to have. Nina is the Fashion Director with Elle Magazine as well as a judge on the hit television show, “Project Runway” and has recently given birth to her first child, Lucas Alexander…read more

All the best to Nina and Lucas from RoB!

Project Runway, Nina Garcia, Baby Swags

So, Tim Gunn, America’s favorite fashion authority from Bravo’s “Project Runway,” has a radical suggestion: “Just say ‘no’ to the It bag.” This nugget of fashion advice and others are outlined in his new book “A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style” (Abrams).

Read more of this fabulous fashion advice/Tim Gun interview (are those two different things?) at FayObserver.com. The article can be found here.

Tim Gunn, Project Runway