<p>I liked the wedding dress as well. And you make a really important point - past Finale collections they had months (right?) to design and execute. This was nothing like that.</p>
<p>Yes, in the past the designers had 9 weeks to execute their collections. In addition, there were no “hey, make an additional look with all your old fabric, and make it cohesive with what you’ve already designed” challenge! This last challenge definitely separated the men from the boys. </p>
<p>Next season of Project Runway begins in the summer.</p>
<p>I was torn. Im a big fan of both Austin and Mondo. </p>
<p>Loved the wedding dress, but I have to wonder if Austins diva-tude doomed him with the N-M guy and the folks at Marie Claire. No matter what, hell be just fine.</p>
<p>Mondo became rather witchy as the season wore on and Im glad he was able to pull it together for the win. </p>
<p>On the After the Runway show they did a split screen from Mondos first season and All Stars season. I thought his new designs were much more refined.</p>
<p>I sort of knew that from the beginning of this season that Mondo would be taking home the big prize. There is no doubt in anyone’s minds that he is a great designer and should have won his season. I think of the three finalists he would do the best as the guest editor position.</p>
<p>My one thing with Mondo is that his attitude wasnt super great by the end.</p>
<p>Yes, Mondo seems to let stress affect him substantially. actually think the internship (job?) will provide him with some stress-reduction skills as he learns to navigate the business end of fashion design. His maturity level has to grow (he’s super young, right?) but he’s on the right path.</p>
<p>Actually Mondo is 33, and I think he would be a giant PITA to work with–though I imagine that applies to a lot of creative types. I suspect the editorship is largely symbolic. No magazine is going to let a cranky Pinocchio have much impact on its well-oiled machine. He’ll have a desk and won’t ever be expected to actually show up–something like the typical fashion mag internship for the publisher’s accountant’s daughter. I don’t even understand why the guest editorship is even appealing for a designer who in theory just wants to get his own work produced and noticed, but maybe someone in the industry can explain.</p>
<p>“Cranky Pinocchio”! Hilarious!</p>
<p>We adore Mondo, like Austin, don’t like Michael, so it worked out the way we wanted it to. Disappointing that the “best of the best” didn’t receive a few months to work on their collections.</p>
<p>I think that Anthony and Austin should get together and design a line of formal and wedding dresses. I think they would be successful.</p>
<p>When Michael’s clothes came down the runway, we said you could sell them right now at Dillards or Express. Not the best comment for high fashion, but who knows maybe he’ll end up making the most money.</p>
<p>I liked Michael’s collection. When I heard his theme it sounded awful, but I actually was surprised by how nice the fabrics looked and liked the clothes so would have liked to hear more from Isaac about why he thought the fabrics themselves were bad. I did not like Austin’s collection (pink and black - ick) at all and thought the black gloves were unfortunate w/ the wedding dress. The black belt thing felt kind of done done done to me. Liked Mondo’s collection but did not love it; thought he was going to win from the start. Same when they redid an allstars version of the show for Daniel V.</p>
<p>I thought it was a real shame that they gave them only four days to do their final collections. Ridiculous. They must have thought viewers would be more interested in the drama of seeing them subjected to that kind of incredible stress, than in actually seeing their best work. What’s the point of calling it an “all-stars” competition if you give them significantly less time to work than in the regular seasons?</p>
<p>I did like Mondo’s collection, but thought he – and even more so, Austin, whose collection was all over the place,* and, I thought, poorly made except for the beautiful wedding dress – could really have benefited from even an additional couple of weeks. I’m not sure Michael’s would have changed much, even if he’d been given six months.</p>
<p>I know that Mondo was cranky and anti-social and appeared to be depressed for most of the competition, but I actually kind of identified with him. I suspect that I wouldn’t react much better to that kind of stress! I hope he takes advantage of this opportunity.</p>
<ul>
<li> Austin’s description of his inspiration – Fragonard + vampires + Hasidic dandies + rock and roll – was hilarious. He really needs an editor for that imagination of his.</li>
</ul>