<p>I think real women could wear the two brown short dresses she had in her collection. The fact is that real women can’t wear most of the clothes displayed in PR or in fashion in general. I thought the competition was Victor’s to lose and he did blow it. His black outfits were just not appealing.</p>
<p>I think most people assumed that Anya would win from very early in the season, given the way the judges – and, I’m sure, the producers – all seemed to be ridiculously in love with her.</p>
<p>I agree that her style is reminiscent of Ulli’s from season 3, but think she isn’t nearly as talented. I still think Ulli should have won her year.</p>
<p>In terms of great contestants since the move to Lifetime, in addition to Mondo I thought that Seth Aaron, the season 7 winner, was fantastic. Other than those two, and maybe Irina from season 6 (although I found her so personally unlikeable that it was hard to view her work objectively) I can’t think of any who’ve been comparable to some of the best of earlier seasons.</p>
<p>This is now two years in a row I haven’t been impressed, at all, with the winner. Ugh.</p>
<p>Please read this Tom and Lorenzo post about predictably horrendous this finale was, and how low Project Runway has sunk since the move to Lifetime:</p>
<p>[PR:</a> All Over But the Shouting | Tom & Lorenzo](<a href=“http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2011/10/pr-all-over-but-the-shouting.html]PR:”>http://www.tomandlorenzo.com/2011/10/pr-all-over-but-the-shouting.html)</p>
<p>A couple of excerpts; much more at link:</p>
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<p>Ugh. I think I’m done with Project Runway.</p>
<p>I’m not furious like I was last year when Mondo lost, but I’m not happy that Anya won this year. Really - that first dress was gorgeous, but then she repeated it at least 6 or 7 more times. Even Michael Kors commented that they all had the same neck line. Is THAT what real designing looks like?</p>
<p>But Viktor, Josh, and Kimberly were all pretty unremarkable, too. Blah.</p>
<p>I think that even Tim Gunn is looking a little worn.</p>
<p>Actually I thought that Viktor was the judges favorite. I agree that it was his to win and he blew it with that black collection. Since I am a huge fan of tailoring, I would certainly be interested in his designs. But I also liked Anya’s creativity and use of color. I’m not sure, though, that people would buy a collection from Anya, vs just one piece and maybe some accessories.</p>
<p>I have only been watching PR for 2 seasons, so am not familiar with how it used to be. </p>
<p>Although it seems that all reality shows are now about the drama and ‘stories’. What have the Olympics become but a show about personal stories, rather than just pure competition?</p>
<p>I’m glad Anya won, too, and it sure didn’t seem like a win after last week. That first gown was stunning. Her strength is in print and color combined with flow. So beautiful. Practical? Probably not, but then I didn’t consider Soriano’s stuff practical either and I still liked it. I definitely saw that athletic wear vibe in Josh’s work. Those shorts would have looked good going over a hurdle. Viktor is very skilled but not very imaginative. Kim’s last gown was absolutely beautiful. I agree that the level of designers seems to have dropped overall. Still my favorite show though.</p>
<p>There was some really butt-ugly clothes last night. Anya’s clothes weren’t ugly. That was enough.</p>
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<p>We think alike. I loved Mondo and I loved Seth Aaron. I didn’t like Anya, but I didn’t love anyone this season, so no big deal.</p>
<p>^^ I agree. I didn’t “love” anyone this season (although I did like Bert better than the Final Four from last night). I just feel like the quality of the designers this year was generally poorer than last year’s show - which was poorer than in previous years.</p>
<p>Now that the season is over, the only thing I will miss is reading the CC comments on Friday mornings! </p>
<p>Casting this show has become as complicated as selecting a freshman class. My goodness, forget about all the complicated background noise and simply select the applicant with the best “fit”. I hope that the producers are reading the Tom and Lorenzo forums and are planning a major overhaul for next season - or it will be their last…</p>
<p>Agree that Victor blew it with the black see through stuff - but his good pieces were so, so much better than anyone else’s good pieces. </p>
<p>Didn’t like Josh’s stuff, but I DO think they were more fashion-forward than the others. </p>
<p>And Anya won in part because she’s more “Lifetime”-friendly designer, in part because she’s likable – but mostly, I think, because she’s a woman. They needed a female winner, because it’s been a while since the last woman won.</p>
<p>Haven’t read this thread before but as a mom with 2 fashionista daughters who watch religiously with firends they all were ecstatic that Anya won. D1 watches with her 20- something workfriends and D2 watches with her college apartment mates. All of the girls wanted Anya to win. The other designers were a mixed bag for them as they liked a piece here or there. Most did not like Josh’s clothes. I guess it all depends on who your target market is!</p>
<p>DD and I watched the finale on DVR today. DD was furious. She liked Anya but thought her collection was too simplistic and redundant. I actually rather liked how she infused the black and white graphics at the last moment – and I found her articulate and appealing all season. </p>
<p>In all honesty, I would have given it to Kim or perhaps Josh. They had the best collections. I “liked” Kim’s clothes the best but have to admit Josh was the most visionary. He ruined his chances by being such a poop head. Don’t know why they didn’t give it to Kim. I thought she was strong and cool all season.</p>
<p>Victor sewed really well and occasionally put out an interesting look but I don’t think he has the vision to make women look beautiful.</p>
<p>Our household would have been upset if Josh won. We had no idea how he stayed in as long as he did. He could have been eliminated on a few occasions. I did not like his collection at all. I thought those green shorts with the strings hanging were hideous. I would have been fine seeing Kimberly win, but I’m glad it was Anya. She impressed all season except for choking last week. It did concern me however that she never made sleeves or jackets. But I believe she can learn and I thinks he actually has the most talent and the best taste in the group.</p>
<p>Josh’s collection would have been garish even at K-Mart. It looked cartoonish to me. I can’t believe anyone liked it!</p>
<p>I guess everyone has different taste.</p>
<p>Viktor should have won it on the season as a whole. Kim shouldn’t have been on the runway. Anya clothes will only be a suitcase for those going on a tropical vacation.</p>
<p>Josh WANTED that win. He could taste it. Not sure that Anya has the motivation or the push to work her butt off to be successful in the business. I see her more lounging on the beach. Like her, but thought she was given way too many free passes from the start.</p>
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<p>Gretchen, how soon they forget you! (I know, it’s still hard to believe that she – rather than Mondo – was the winner last year. That’s still far and away the greatest travesty in the history of this show.)</p>
<p>In fact, women have won 4 of the last 5 years (Leanne, Irina, Gretchen, and Anya), with Seth Aaron the only exception. There hasn’t been a gay male winner since Christian Siriano. I can’t help wondering if that’s how Lifetime wants it, given the demographic of its viewers.</p>
<p>To me, the main problem the last couple of years (except for Mondo) has been a lower average talent level than there used to be. There were always lousy designers, but there also always seemed to be at least two or three who were very talented. Just think of the quality of some of the final contestants that <em>didn’t</em> win – Daniel Vosovic, Kara Saun, Uli Herzner, Laura Bennett, Mychael Knight, Jillian, Rami, Korto, Santino, Emilio, Mila – or some of the people who didn’t even reach the finals, like Chris March, Austin Scarlett, and Kara Janx. I think every single one of these people was far more talented than the finalists this year.</p>
<p>Unless the talent level is significantly higher next season, and the “back stories” of the contestants emphasized significantly less, I don’t know how long I’ll watch. </p>
<p>Perhaps the pool of talented designers who would be interested in being on this show has shrunk. Or the producers are, in fact, more interested in casting for drama than for talent. Whatever the reason, the shark has, I think, finally jumped.</p>
<p>Oh well, I am looking forward to the “Project Runway All-Stars” scheduled to begin early next year. I don’t know how they could completely ruin it given the list of cast members (according to Wikipedia: Austin Scarlett (Season 1), Kara Janx (Season 2), Elisa Jimenez (Season 4), Rami Kashou (Season 4), Sweet P (Season 4), Jerell Scott (Season 5), Kenley Collins (Season 5), Gordana Gehlhausen (Season 6), Anthony Williams (Season 7), Mila Hermanovski (Season 7), April Johnston (Season 8), Michael Costello (Season 8), and Mondo Guerra (Season 8).)</p>
<p>Mondo and Austin are two of my favorites, and I’ll be rooting for Mondo most of all. Who knows, maybe the producers did this to redeem themselves, and right the injustice of last year. But given the recent trend, Kenley will probably win!</p>
<p>Seemed like Anya was chosen to win from the start, and not for the quality of her work. I kept thinking, if any OTHER designer up there had made Anya’s final collection, the judges would have said, yuck, you just made the same baggy sack seven or eight times, using different fabrics. IMHO, Anya is great at picking fabrics, and that is all.</p>
<p>Darn. DonnaL, it looks as if Santino won’t be on the All Stars show?</p>
<p>He is such a hoot. Would enjoy seeing him again.</p>
<p>Still seething over the Gretchen over Mondo travesty.</p>
<p>Just peeked at Tom and Lorenzo - boy were they ticked!</p>
<p>Good point made by them with the random “hey, here’s $500 bonus to go shopping at Mood - get whatever you like!” - not something that has happened before at this point near the end? But maybe needed to happen now since Anya needed to rescue her collection???</p>