Project Runway Finale…And The Winner Is…

For those who have never heard of Project Runway, are not interested in fashion, design, or creating art; this story is not for you. For those who watch Project Runway, religiously, are interested in fashion, design, art, and real life Cinderella stories, this is for you.

I've watched Project Runway for the past nine seasons, since the show's origin on Bravo TV; through its transition to Lifetime. It's had its ups and downs. But the pressure to produce an original design within a last minute criteria, from 30 minutes of sketching, to 30 minutes of gathering supplies at Mood Fabric Store, to 24-48 hours of actual construction remains the draw for me. Not the glitz of the runway ,not the critique from the judges, but the actual labor. I admire the blood, sweat, and tears the designers leave behind in the workroom in a marathon of frenziness.

This is a recap of the finale episode for season 9. This week, 20 designers have been dwindled down to the final four. Last week’s show left all four standing. That’s right! The weaker two from the last and final challenge before Fashion Week turned out to be the two girls. One of whom is fan fave, Anya Ayoung-Cee, who six months before have never used a sewing machine. What?!? That’s right. Anya is a whiz who picked up her sewing skills in the past six months. The girl is a Beauty Queen, but oozes that cool Caribbean style. The other, is Kimberly Goldson, local girl from White Plains, NY; so there was no choice but to let both girls stay in the game and the Final Four will all show in Fashion Week.

The permanent judges remain. There’s Heidi Klum, supermodel, wife of rock star, Seal, and host of Project Runway from the beginning. There’s Michael Kors, “Great American Designer”, one of only two American designers who have stayed at the top for so many years. There’s Nina Garcia, Creative Editor of Marie Claire magazine, part of the package prize for the winning designer is a cover and spread in her magazine.

The Final Four contestants are as follows (in no particular order):

Viktor Luna, 30, New York, NY. Tim Gunn commented on his designs, “I love the hard and soft of your evening gown, but the judges didn’t”. The judges said to turn up the volume last week.

Kimberly Goldson, 35, White Plains, NY. The judges said her styling failed, but Gunn liked her “tough Brooklyn girl” look. The judges didn’t.

Joshua McKinley, 25, New York, NY. The judges loved the front of his pieces, but hated the back. Gunn loved his Greecian jumpsuit, but the judges didn’t.

Anya Ayoung-Cee, 29, Maraval, Trinidad. The judges thought her collection was not genuine to her roots. Gunn says she has a Carribean POV that is unique to her, but her pieces last week were not beachy enough.

Once again, Heidi Klum’s voice over the intro sequence reminds us, “At stake is $100,000 from Loreal Paris, $50,000 from Hewlett Packard. The model partnered with the winning designer receives a fashion spread from Marie Claire magazine...”

Day Before Runway Show

This is the time Tim Gunn usually arrives with another last minute surprise. Gunn, mentor extraordinaire, surprises the designers with another $500 to use at Mood. The good news is, the designers get another chance to redo one of their existing pieces they think are weak. The bad news is, the designers get to redo one of their existing pieces they think are weak, but the judges may think is strong. The worst news is, the designers have to design another piece in less than 24 hours.

Tim Gunn makes the rounds in the work room

Anya, armed with new fabric from Mood, tells Gunn, the father confessor. "This experience is very confusing for me. I never thought I’d get this far, so I choose to let go of my unease. Whatever happens, happens." Anya’s strategy is no strategy. Anya has found her moment of zen and she’s fine with it. Gunn replies, "It sounds like you’re saying your goodbyes. 24 hrs from now, it’s done, so spice it up." Anya choose to make three new looks. Gunn says Anya’s long lean proportions look amazing.

Kimberly, went back to the bubble skirt, except this time in black. Gunn tells her, The bubble skirt has an ease in the front, but the back looks like you took a hammer to it." Gunn also says that she has too much embellishment.

Viktor is editing his vest, among other things. He is still on the masculine/feminine thing.

Joshua decides to do a new green short, and it looks very peculiar to Gunn. Gunn says, "Your sophisticated woman is gone. This new piece is not going to The Four Seasons, it’s going downtown." Joshua is stuck on tank and shorts, he has a breakdown.

The models come in for their fittings. This is the moment where everything comes together. Everyone is working down to the wire.

Morning of Runway Show

It’s time for the Mercedes-Benz Fasion Week. This year the finale show’s venue is Lincoln Center, instead of Bryant Park. There is the reveal of the empty stark white runway with the black cloth draped folding chairs. All four designers are humbled by the overwhelmingly huge production that is Fashion Week. One hour before runway, everyone is doing last minute fittings and sewings. Helping their fellow man/woman to the end are the girls. When Kimberly cannot find her sewing kit, Anya readily take hers out and lends it to Kimberly. That’s good sportsmanship for you.

Another warm and fuzzy moment is when Anya comforts Joshua, who breaks down. She tells him he’s not alone. “Everyone struggles with so little time.” This is a girl who is not afraid to be kind.

“Hi Everybody”, Heidi Klum walks out on the runway first to make her introductions. There’s Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and this year’s guest judge is L’wen Scott.

Kimberly's collection goes on first. “This collection is a reflection of where I come from.” Kimberly is looking chic in her ultra short skirt and silver platform wedgies. Turns out all her models have on the same black platform wedgies. All 10 of them.

Joshua is on next. He dedicates his collection to his mother, who is not here today. Turns out, all his models have on the same pair of soft black scrunchy boots. All 10 of them.

Viktor Luna goes third. The interview shot with the two model forms to the right is spliced in. Viktor says his collection is inspired by Mexico City. More than half of his looks is a see through black sheer top and bottom, some too short, some too long; except for the hand painted ink blots reminiscent of Rorschach. The finale white bubble motorcycle jacket comes out and you just know it’s over for him.

Anya goes last, as hers is the one collection everyone wants to see, the lovers and the haters. Anya dedicates her show to her brother, who passed away right before she arrives in New York. Her collection is called "Tobago Love". The Caribbean blues comes out, along with the bathing suits, the jumnpsuits, all paired with flats. It's gorgeous, easy, breezy. She is the underdog everyone is rooting for.

Another new thing this year is during the runway show, the camera cust to each designer in the back stage, watching their own show on the screen, reflecting with Tim Gunn. Then, just as suddenly as it started, the competition is over. It’s hugs and kisses for everyone. The camera cuts to post show commentary from celebs. Betsey Johnson adores Josh’s line (of course, it’s full of neon green and pink). Cut to the first ever Project Runway winner, Jay, who likes Josh best.

Judgment Day

The judges comment on all four designers on the runway with their “It” girl standing next to them.

Kimberly, her inspiration is “The Urban Girl”. Michael Kors, “I love the pink dress with a peekaboo. You’re all about exuberance and the kick ass attitude.” The guest judge loves the pink dress. "That’s a fabulous dress, even more so without the jacket." Klum likes the ivory shirt and pant, and the peekaboo things throughout. Garcia thinks she has the ability to take a blue metallic, a rich fabric and make it easy and modern. Everyone loves the finale dress.

Joshua says he wanted to display where his tailoring meets his draping. Klum liked his collection a lot, “I get the point of the merging of the soft and hard. I also like the psychedelic print, the green shorts.” Kors says, “You like a lot. You are a lot. Boy, it served you well. The clothes are well design. You edited well. You made plastic and neoprene workable. After seeing your collection, the average girl will say, 'I’ll give plastic and neoprene a go.'” Guest judge, L’wen Scott says, “From the first purple dress to the last, I was very impressed.” Nina says, “most improved”.

Viktor. Kors says he loves the printed pieces, "There is a sense of tailoring and polish that is you, but you lost me on the transparency. Nobody walks around like that,” Scott says, “You had me at the first look. I love the long dress with the hand dyed print. I wasn’t a fan of the sheer dress. Sometimes leaving something to the imagination can be exciting too. Klum loved the mirror top with the pant. She says, “But it was like you showed us two shows. The sheer and the prints.” Garcia liked the printed pieces too.

Anya’s inspiration is Tobago. The color, textures, and the ease. Klum, “I really like the vibe. Who doesn’t want to be that girl? But out of 10 looks, 8 had the same neckline.” Kors says, “You did sacrifice diversity because you had to show the print. It really takes the right skill to cut prints without it making it slutty; but you can push it even more. About the Caribbean thing, not everyone can wear a caftan, floating around the whole time.” Scott says, “Not everything works for everyone. I can’t wear the plunge.” Garcia says she loved the bathing suit. “Your clothes are very you. I wish there were some that could translate to an urban atmosphere.”

Final Question, Why do you think you deserve to win Project Runway?

Anya, "I have tenacity and development with still the same POV."

Joshua, " I’m willing to edit my style and move forward."

Viktor, "I have passion and want to continue. I want to do similar things as the past winner Christian Siriano has done."

Kimberly, "I think my POV is clear and not well represented by anyone else."

After the designers leave, the judges have their last discussion.

The judges agree, Anya does everything last minute. Gunn went to see her the last minute, she hadn’t done a thing. "She has good taste, style. But it was a V neck fest. She is so gifted, such great eye for pattern, she might need to have more variety. I wish she would have layered it some more. While, it was certainly one note, there certainly wasn’t any hills and valleys. She is her brand. She’s stylish, she’s cool."

"Joshua was a focused show with gorgeous tailoring," says Kors. "Probrably the best styling," says Nina, "He’s got a lot of ideas, maybe too many, but he has ideas."

The Designers are called back for the final verdict.

The first to get Klum’s auf Wiedersehen is Kimberly. She seemed fine with it, “To make it to Fashion Week, I’ve already won.”

The second one to get sent off the runway is Viktor. He seemed fine with it too. He thanked everyone for the experience.

And then there were two, Anya and Joshua, “One of you will be the winner of Project Runway.” “Anya, congratulations, you are the winner of Project runway.” OMG! All Joshua can say is, “Good job.”

Joshua to camera. He’s suffering a little from sour grapes. “I came in second. Mine was the stronger collection. Her collection was beautiful, but not sewn extremely well.” Luckily, his family is so supportive.

Anya, the fan fave won! Who’d have thought it? Her Jamacan tang won everyone over. “I will never forget this moment.” Kors, “Your journey has been amazing for me to watch”. Garcia, “You have a great eye. It served you well.” Scott, “You have a very distinct female voice.” Her family hugs her. It’s kind of too much to deal with all at once. Gunn, “Did you ever write this scenario?" Anya replies, "Never."

The model comes out. She’s a winner too. The show closes on the new Project Runway winner, 29 year old Anya Ayoung-Cee, “I’ve gone places I never knew were there. I’ve created a brand that I love and it’s really a dream come true.” For Anya, the glass slipper is a perfect fit.