March 1, 2006
Finale
What an incredible season this has been: outstanding designers, great design challenges, and excellent work. And now it's time for Olympic Fashion Week!
When I saw the collections backstage at the Bryant Park tents, I said to myself, "It's an even playing field. Each collection is well executed and has a clear and palpable point of view. It's in the hand of the judges, now, so it's entirely a matter of taste. Chacun a son gout. And I must add that it was an incredible dream to have the incomparable Debra Messing as our guest judge. Personally, I have always admired her fashion sensibility, and it was an extra added treat to find that she is as adept at talking about fashion as she is about wearing it!
CHLOE is declared the WINNER of Project Runway Season Two! I don't know how many people anticipated Chloe's win, but no one was more surprised than she. I thought we were going to have to bring in the EMS! Her collection was a big risk (BIG risk) and, therefore, she could have blown it and lost. But, the judges responded immeasurably well. Let's not talk about the design, yet. Instead, let's begin with the indisputable: superb execution and fit. As we saw all the way through the show (with the exception of the last challenge), Chloe's construction is flawless. Then, let's factor in her exceptional ability to make clothes that fit perfectly (with the exception of the last challenge, again).
Okay, now let's talk about the design. As I mentioned earlier, it's a matter of taste.. Chacun a son gout. I was surprised that the entire collection was eveningwear. Furthermore, I was surprised that she departed from her more minimal, streamlined designs and opted for ones that have ruffles and volume and... umm..., err..., stuff attached. It threw me. When I visited Chloe in Houston in December, I saw two looks, period. They were each in "the William Morris print," as I call it, which was a surprise. I can't recall ever seeing her use a print (at least not this side of the Garden Party challenge). And although it's not really William Morris, it has that second-half-of-the-nineteenth-century look and feel. Odd for Chloe. And its impact was so "novelty" that I knew she couldn't use any more of it. So, where was she going with her fabrics and, more importantly, where was she going with her designs? She didn't know! And that's how I left her, at home in her workspace in her garage.
Fast forward to the Monday before our Friday show... Chloe arrives with the two pieces that I had seen, naturally, plus another two pieces in a different print. The other eight pieces are in a HEAVY silk/wool twill, so heavy that they look like they've been made with a hammer and nails rather than a needle and thread. Some pieces were lean and stream-lined while others were bulky and poofy. And I'm totally perplexed by the short, poofy sleeves. My overall impression was that the customer for the collection would be an older, mature individual (can we all scream "Wendy Pepper!") and that Chloe's home state of Texas would be an appropriate market.
