SHOP TALK Blog

Reali-TV

Project Runway Recap: E.12

Our Pdx designers are back in action for one night only.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Oct 17, 2011 at 09:00AM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

Anya

View Slideshow »

We’re reaching the end of the race in Project Runway land. This week’s challenge determined who would get to be part of the final group showing in New York Fashion Week. At this point (9 seasons in) the show is down to a tight formula. While that sometimes stinks (predictable vote offs) it is also awesome because I knew our Portland designers would rise from the dead to help their former ~~backstabbers~~ cast mates.

The final five spent the day roaming around Governor’s island for inspiration and developing a three-piece mini collection that could show their range as a designer. Once they nailed down their concepts (and they all seemed like they were reaching a little), they hit the fabric store where a series of unfortunate choices unfolded. Kimberly that orange is in the bio-hazard category and Laura that circle business is like robots, great in theory, but in reality it can turn on you.

However good news came when the crew got their own design assistants, which happened to be the former voted off cast mates, so we got to see Bryce and Becky one more time. Kimberly matched up with Becky, Viktor picked attitude Olivier, Laura snagged Anthony Ryan, Anya picked Bert and old roomies Josh M and Bryce were reunited. Which then instantly led to Bryce playing the role of critic (trying to tame the over designed elements), therapist (letting Josh M have a bitchy venting session and parent (taming the temper). He got more face time on this episode as puppet master than he did when he was on the show!

In the room visits, you see some bad things happening. I get that everyone is extremely fatigued and just plain out of ideas. After running on 4 hours of sleep, Red Bull and anxiety for weeks and weeks, pulling out your best design work seems near impossible. But, we still have to judge it for what it is and by the looks of it all coming together, nothing was bowling me over. By the time we head to the runway show, things felt potentially bleak.

Josh M began the show with a cool white mini-mod dress. The netting was an interesting twist on a basic. His following look was the 800th circle skirt we’ve seen from him with a miserably ill-fitting vest over a potentially cute tank. I still question why he didn’t just rip that vest off her before she walked down the runway. Finally, his final gown was a gorgeously draped one-shoulder gown in American Apparel type shiny polyester fabric. If it had been in anything luxurious like a floaty silk chiffon, it would’ve been killer. However, as it was, a little on the costumey side.

Kimberly gets an A for effort in attempting to do a wider range of clothing than the other designer. However, that coat was ill fitting and the separates look in that shiny bad skirt fabric combined with a sort of hoochy hunter’s hazard orange top was one of the worst looks I’ve seen from her. Methinks Kim saved her butt with that final cocktail dress. It was edgy and cool and flattering at the same time. Third time is a charm,…

Kimberly

Then we come to Laura’s confused collection. The blazer with the little slip skirt looks like outerwear and lingerie paired up and that second dress that looks right off the clearance rack of a Saturday Market booth had nothing tying it in with the other pieces. Where was the similar line, fabric, detailing, concept, any of it? It just plain didn’t go. And her third outfit was oh-so-close to being good, but never quite made it. The circular fabric didn’t lay right on the body and the white underneath came off a little bedspread like. A swing and a miss.

Anya’s first take on the little black dress was a new twist on the LBD. I loved the front handkerchief hem and the flow of the fabric. Her rust piece resort wear pantsuit floated down the runway on her red-head model in a picturesque moment and finally the white dress with a slit up to there still entertained despite construction issues. Overall, the collection was one of the most interesting ones on the runway easily. However, as far as showing a range, there was none. No sleeves, no jackets, no tailoring, no zippers, no buttons, no anything. She does what she does very well, but it’s quite obvious that is all she can do.

Finally, Viktor the reliable workhorse in the bunch sent a ready to wear collection with pants, jackets, skirts and all kinds of range. But that final black dress with a weird hoop skirt at the hip was a little cringe inducing. I spend most of my life trying to make my hips look smaller, not putting a circle around them. And as far as a wow factor, I might have yawned a little, but the judges were right in saying it was extremely sellable. That is the goal, right?

After the show, the awkward pleas from designers to make it to fashion week always makes me squirm in my seat. We know they want to be there, making them cry seems cruel. The final reveal sent Laura home with her off the target collection and Kimberly just barely squeaked by thanks to that cocktail dress. I actually felt really bad for Laura, it has to be hard to be that close and then leave. But such is life in the reality television world.

And we’re off to the final lap!

Add a Comment »

Tags: television, Bryce Black, Project Runway, Becky Ross

Portland Fashion Week

PFW – Catapult: The Emerging Designers Competition

How do you kick off an annual fashion week? With a competitive bang.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Oct 06, 2011 at 03:00PM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

Photo: Yi Yin

Catapult: The Emerging Designers Competition

View Slideshow »

Has it already been a year since the last whirlwind of Portland Fashion Week? My ankles have just barely healed from traipsing in 5” heels around the Swan Island shipyards, so the answer must be yes.

Last night was the kick off to the annual runway extravaganza with the Catapult: Emerging Designer competition. Nine newbie designers produced collections for the show with the hopes of being selected for this year’s prize package. Included in that prize package is a little coverage in this here magazine by moi, which is why I was on the judging panel and why I am keeping it real in the constructive critique area. The truth is all have some amazing promise and I’m quite proud that our city has a constant stream of talent bubbling from it, but there was also evidence of some growing pains. It’s the reality of being new and starting out. You don’t even want to see some of the first fashion articles I wrote….

The show began with a little speech from Mayor Sam Adams and then Sue Bonde, director of the fashion departments of The Art Institute, introduced the panel of judges. Finally 90 minutes after scheduled (thanks to a broken projector) the show began!

House of Summer
What I loved: Designer Summer Gunter took her 60’s mod inspired line to the next level by designing her own prints and creating one-of-a-kind layered outerwear pieces held with magnetic closures.
Hoping to be helpful: The jumpsuits weren’t particularly flattering on a size 2 model, potential customers are going to be all sizes and everyone wants to look slim and feel good in their clothes.

Silkwood Boutique
What I loved: Sandy Varzarschi knows how to create lux looks. The fabric looked expensive and the color palette and line were completely cohesive.
Hoping to be helpful: Some pieces reminded me so much of other designers (i.e. a Chanel boucle top) it made me momentarily lapse on who I was watching.

Michelle Is Well
What I loved: Michelle Franklin makes cool coats. The effort she puts into the detailing and pieces are impressive. Plus, her last little shift dress was something I would wear in a heartbeat.
Hoping to be helpful: Without a consistent fabric, color or theme the pieces felt like good individual pieces, but not like a collection.

Photo: Yi Yin

Grishley

Grishley
What I loved: Amanda Grisham conceived a line that both caught on the Pendleton craze, but would also look great in a variety of other prints. And the styling of the outfits was hands down some of the strongest of the show.
Hoping to be helpful: Ditch that tulle. It caps off the demographic younger than necessary and looks like a newbie designer move. Women in their 30’s would happily wear these, but tulle scares them off.

Chicago Harper
What I loved: This line Joshua Buck designed for Sharon Blair’s Studio SKB company featured impeccable tailoring. I have one word for the pants: amazing.
Hoping to be helpful: If the goal is to hit up the Portland market, I’m worried the innovation will be a tough sell, but simultaneously I don’t want discourage creativity. It’s a tough one.

AM Renegade
What I loved: The blue and white dress. I really loved the ease and movement of that bold stripe little dress. And that huge fringe necklace? Come to me!
Hoping to be helpful: The same suggestion I had for MichelleisWell. The pieces never gelled into a collection for me. It needed a consistent story to draw the viewer/buyer in.

Moontess
What I loved: Designer Mihaela Munteanu knows how to work swimsuit and lingerie. Those pieces aren’t easy to fit or sew and she has real strength in that area.
Hoping to be helpful: Please ditch the props. If I never see another umbrella on the runways of a fashion show, I would be thrilled. In addition, pursue the swim/lingerie route. You’re much stronger here and not many people are good at those things.

Lizz Basinger Designs
What I loved: Ms. Basinger had no shortage of interesting designer details that had my fashion editor eye looking up down and all around. The finale jacket was so well done with the pleating and princess seams, it’s the first hooded coat I’ve ever wanted to own.
Hoping to be helpful: That yellow killed it (not in a good way) for a lot of folks. Color is the first thing you see about a garment and if it’s not flattering you’ll lose them before they even look to see how cool the clothing actually might be.

Photo: Yi Yin

Studio SKB/Chicago Harper

Becky Ross for Wicked Quick
What I loved: The dip-dyed ombre pants were an unexpected delight and something I actually can’t remember seeing before. The finale dress was both cool and the comfiest looking “gown” ever.
Hoping to be helpful: This one is tough. Ross designed the collection for Wicked Quick, which is a T-shirt line, but the tees were the things throwing me off the outfits. I wished there were cute little blouses or something in its place.

With all that massive amount of thought, praise, suggestions and confusion in my head I went into the longest judging deliberation we’ve ever had for Catapult. With panel members ranging from educators, to other designers, writers and shop owners there were a lot of conflicting opinions. After it was all said and done, we agreed with the audience vote and chose Amanda Grisham and her Pendleton based coatdresses to be the next Emerging Designer. We also wanted to make a special acknowledgement of the innovation we saw Joshua Buck making with menswear.

Congratulations Amanda, I am excited to see what you do next!

(And we’re back on to the races. Night two of PFW devotes itself to activewear and rumor is a couple of hunky Timbers will take the runway.)

Add a Comment »

Tags: Becky Ross, Studio SKB/Chicago Harper, Moontess, Silkwood, Grishley, Lizz Basinger, Wicked Quick, Michelle Is Well, AM Renegade, House of Summer, Portland Fashion Week 2011, PFW: 2011

Reali-TV

Project Runway Recap: E.6

The designers go all out this week with an avant garde challenge. Or do they?

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Sep 05, 2011 at 08:00AM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

~~Humpty Dumpty~~, uh Bert

View Slideshow »

In a rare, but welcome moment in this season of Project Runway, the producers actually (theoretically) had a challenge I respected. The designers teamed up with tweens and teens from the Harlem School of the Arts to do shared paintings that would ultimately inspire an Avant Garde runway look. Some of the young artists were a little more vocal than others. Skyy, 12 cracked me up with the constant peppering of questions for Viktor, including, “What’s your favorite activity?” Who says that at age 12? Awesome Skyy does. Most of the paintings were really quite impressive, offering up a sky’s-the-limit kind of inspiration for everyone to work from.

At this point in the show, we can see the stress starting to take its toll on some of the kiddos. Olivier admits that sometime after the second challenge, he started to get lost, and he seems more so than ever here. I think that kid needs a hug, a pep talk and a strong espresso. Everything is a little subdued and sad. Poor Josh C. has more pressure than anyone does on him after being eliminated and brought back.

The producers tried to revive my long lost love for Josh M with his heartfelt revelations about losing his mom to cancer. I was just slowly warming back up to him when he goes on camera and talked about his ruthless bullying of Becky helped improve her design skills. Uh what?? We also got to see Bert talk about his partner that passed and again I felt a lump in my throat. Those editors really know how to manipulate your emotions.

Josh C’s 2nd “Go Home” look.

All that mumbo jumbo aside, let’s talk about what really matter: The runway show. Kimberly’s began with her pleather interpretation of the wild eagle. I thought it looked pretty cool considering the potential to make it into a giant bird costume. Becky Ross was up next with her solar system dress. Overall, I thought this dress was pretty rad. The idea was great and the execution was well done. My one critique is I think the dress being made from denim held it back from looking couture.

Olivier’s ensemble was just a sad mess from top to toe. The model even looked sad in her messy hair and the dress that seemed half finished and was glue to one of her breasts. This was obviously a hard challenge for him with his minimalist style, but I had hoped for more from him. Then Josh M sent out his tree concoction, which seemed a little literal for my taste, but that skirt was really quite flattering. And he created his own textile by painting neoprene (scuba diving material) and the judges love when anyone does that.

Bert’s Humpty Dumpty insanity deserves an entire blog post unto itself. Those high waisted Jodhpur pants are officially the most unflattering pant I have ever seen in my life. Then it appears he stole several of my cat’s toys and glued them to the front of a bustier. Avant Garde means forward thinking, not hilarious funny pant. Translation error perhaps?

Anthony Ryan

Viktor’s look appeared to have the most work put into it with his hand shredding each piece and all the complex roughing. I wanted to like it so much more with all that effort, but the heart wants what it wants, and mine didn’t want this. Before I could finish the thought, Laura’s giant peach concoction came out from behind the screen. Initially, I was adamantly opposed to this dress. It seemed very Southern Belle/Blanche Devereaux/Huge Prom Dress to me. The next day I was looking at the runway pics up close and it sort of dawned on me, I kind of love all those things. And with that realization, I did a full pendulum swing into the “love it” category. Sometimes, I even surprise myself.

Bryce was next with his straightjacket insanity look. It turned out well, but after seeing the original sketch I wish he had gone through with that idea. It had a full matching orange creepy face cover with jagged eye slits and the arms were actually tied behind the model. I think that would have turned this look up a notch into full cool cray-cray territory. However, it was still far more dramatic than Josh C’s look. The vampire huntress concoction seemed to be the result of frazzled nerves and you knew the judges were going to have issues with it the second it appeared.

Josh M.

Anthony Ryan’s brush stroke inspired dress initially was one of my favs, but as time wore on it seemed to grow increasingly familiar. Methinks that’s because it had many similarities to his birdseed dress challenge. The neckline, the way the embellishments cascaded down from the top, the form-fitting silhouette…. And the dress wasn’t even hemmed! When Anya’s came our after, it looked like it had a lot more actual sewing work in it, though I felt pretty Switzerland about the whole ensemble in general. It was cool, but a few tweaks and it probably could actually go towards ready to wear.

So once again, we have the designers out on the track and not a clear-cut winner in sight. After some awkward deliberations with Heidi claiming to actually like Bert’s look (Really? Did a producer make you say that?) and discussion of Olivier’s Valium clothing, the results were in. Anthon Ryan won which I think he definitely deserved to be a challenge winner by this point, but it should have been for the bird seed dress – not this one. We also said good-bye to Josh C. again. Perhaps proving that nice guys finish last, then not last, then last again….

Add a Comment »

Tags: television, Bryce Black, Project Runway, Becky Ross

Reali-TV

Project Runway Recap: E.3

As if models aren’t tall enough already, now we’re putting them on stilts.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Aug 12, 2011 at 02:00PM Speech Bubble 7 Comments

Photo: Courtesy MyLifetime.com

Laura and Anthony’s winning look.

View Slideshow »

Let me be the first to declare: I have no idea what is going on this season of Project Runway. Forget the idea of actually designing amazing garments within a budget to show your chops. This has only been about pajamas, pet food and now stilt walkers. I am getting bored. Give me a couture challenge over fake, extended legs any day of the week.

I get that in the real world people are expected to work in group projects all the time. But this is not the real world, this is the Project Runway world and here group projects are a recipe for disaster. Looking at our Pdx designers, Becky Ross was thrown into a partnership with Kimberly who just said, “Hmmmmmmmmmm, her designs are very plain” while giving a beyond questionable look. And just when Bryce Black was trying to crawl out of the bottom of the barrel from last week’s debacle he gets paired with a self-taught designer who appears to not know the fundamentals of sewing. Oh vey.

At least neither of our local kids were thrown into the lions den with Bert or Viktor. Those two found any and all things to argue about. The only thing they never seemed to get around to was saving the hideous fabric combination I’ll dub “Mother of the Bride” from actually walking down the runway.

Photo: Courtesy MyLifetime.com

Bryce and Fallene’s Black Swan.

Once the camera pans back to Bryce and Fallene, I knew things were going south quickly. Issue number one, the brown polka dot fabric with the black tulle was not good. And Fallene attempting to add a royal blue sash was not going to help that at all. Do the colors black, blue and brown remind you of anything else? Oh yes, a bruise.

Issue number two quickly surfaced and trumped everything else: Fallene doesn’t know the basics of construction. The fact that she doesn’t know how to cut something on the grain is like a cook that doesn’t know to pre-heat an oven before throwing muffins in there. I learned about the importance of cutting on the grain my first day of sewing camp….when I was 11. And one more point here, the fabric was a grid polka dot, which means it’s even easier to see the lines of the cloth!

What does that mean then? It means while everyone else was working in two’s (Except Bert and Viktor who were working in two teams of 1), Bryce was flying solo. Fallene was unable to complete the top, so he had to create every piece for the model under the pressure and was only able to churn out something fair-ish. There was so much drama going on in that room, I felt tense watching it through the television.

Ready or not, the designers and their extra tall models headed off to the first live runway show in the history of Project Runway (which incidentally is, how I broke the news of our Portland contestants) in New York’s Battery Park. The guest judge was a super important player in the world of high-end fashion. Just kidding! It was Kim Kardashian. After one quick shot of Fallene crying in sweet Tim Gunn’s arms over her lack of sewing anything (and leaving Bryce to dress and prepare the model on his own), the runway show began.

The Gucci outfit I kept seeing in my mind after looking at the Laura/Anthony ensemble.

First off was the combo of tomboy Julie and the still hilarious Joshua M with their twist on a Matador look. I actually liked the concept in theory, but the pants were far too high and the model looked dreadfully awkward swishing around her one armed jacket. Next was Bert and Viktor’s monstrous creation. All I can say is there is nothing good that can come from the fabric combination ever. Except maybe a good bonfire. Bryce and Fallene’s combo ended up coming off far too simple and the all black ballerina outfit is ill timed thanks to Black Swan’s massive success this year. Becky and Kimberly sent a solid looking military inspired concoction down the runway and seemed to have some of the least amount of drama of the teams. “Dream Team” Anya and Oliver sent a fairly mundane, but pretty, outfit in tones of gray that I almost instantly forgot the second it left. Immediately following it was the ensemble Danielle and Cecilia created. I thought it looked like something your aunt would purchase at Kohl’s. The pleating of the pants was kind of cool, but the whole thing was so matronly. Finally, Anthony and Laura sent out their dramatic red piece that was obviously the best. However, the second I saw it I said, “That looks like Gucci’s Fall collection.” (Well, to be honest I initially thought Marc Jacobs, but the point is I recognized it.)

Once everyone was back in the judging room at Parson’s surprise, surprise the judges liked outfits that looked more like ready to wear and hated all the outfits that had any idea of costume. Because stilt walking is obviously not the time to have any flair for the dramatic right? What!

In the extended judging Nina called out Anthony and Laura for their design saying it looked similar to something else she’s seen. Hmmmmm, like Gucci’s Fall collection?! Then they miraculously commended the Kohl’s aunt ensemble with pumpkin hair (I’m still in shock over that) before Michael Kors told Kimberly and Becky they were “kick ass tailors.” That’s not something you hear everyday.

Photo: Courtesy MyLifetime.com

Proof that nothing comes out of bickering: Bert and Viktor’s look.

For the bottom three groups they dove right into hashing apart Bert and Viktor’s outfit while the two bickered back and forth in front of the judges. Then they turned to Bryce and Fallene blasting the simplicity before asking Bryce point blank who should go home. I am extremely impressed at his response when he said that they both should and shared the responsibility for the look, despite the fact that Fallene didn’t sew anything, can’t construct a basic bodice and didn’t even help him prep the model back stage. Most people in his spot would have thrown her under the bus and he didn’t. Fallene then piped up and declared she should be the one to go and it seemed like she secretly wanted to after the pressure cooker of this week. Finally, they bashed on the Matador circus look a bit, which did look even gaudier in close up.

At the end of the day, blondie Laura won the challenge and Fallene was sent packing. There does seem to be a tendency for self-taught designers to go early, so maybe those tuition dollars spent on fashion degrees are well spent in the Project Runway world. I’m just glad our Portland designers both made it through the infamous team challenge.

In exciting news for next week, it appears the designers will be making outfits for Nina Garcia. Now, this is the kind of challenge I’m talking about. Fashion editors have many opinions and this promises to be quite entertaining.

Check out the additional scenes and behind the scenes gossip of Bryce and Fallene’s turbulent pairing.

Add a Comment »

Tags: television, Bryce Black, Project Runway, Becky Ross, Tim Gunn

Reality Rundown

Project Runway Recap!

Portland Monthly’s viewing party brought out designers and friends to watch the whole circus begin again.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Jul 29, 2011 at 11:00PM Speech Bubble 1 Comments

Photo: McKenna Johnson

Portland’s Project Runway contestants Bryce Black and Becky Ross have a lot of love for each other after spending weeks filming in the shark pit together.

View Slideshow »

It’s here! Last night was the Season 9 premier of Project Runway including our two Pdx contestants Bryce Black and Becky Ross. Ross and Black were both in attendance for our Portland Monthly viewing party, as well as a billion other people and we crammed in together to watch the drama unfold.

The show opened with a particularly fierce twist. 20 designers made it to New York to present their work in front of Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Nina Garcia and Michael Kors who instantly cut 4. Not only did our Portland peeps make it through the cut, but Heidi Klum hopped out of her chair to take Black’s feather cape and stomp around. I watched Black, watch it on screen and I have never seen him look happier in my life.

After the selected designers made the cut, they moved into their living quarters and hunkered down for a nights rest after the adrenaline gave way. But before they could finish resting Tim Gunn came pounding down on their door at 5am commanding them to get up at once and head to the Parson’s workroom just as they were. Ross was even denied putting on her bra! (An unfair advantage to the male designers.)

Photo: Courtesy MyLifetime.com

Round 1 winner – Bert Keeter (Ditch that bag Bert)

The challenge given to the sleepy contestants was to immediately design an outfit using only the pajamas they were in and the one bed sheet they just carried from the hotel to the workspace. As to be expected some controlled chaos ensued and we saw bits and pieces of other personalities as well as garments. Right now there are still far too many people running around to keep track or pick out this seasons’ darlings and demons.

The runway show started with my total teen girl crush Christina Ricci as a judge looking super fabu. Our own contestants easily made it through the first round of cuts, though methinks Black was completely robbed of a top 3 spot. Designer Bert Keeter won the first round with his asymmetrical cocktail dress made from his checked boxers, a tee and sheet. The guillotine fell on Rafael Cox and his awkward camel-toe inducing legging and split open shirt. And it might just be due to, what I call, “The Curse of the Goatee.”

All in all I’m pleased to see Heidi & Co still trying to shake up the game this many seasons in. Looking at the teasers for what happens this season looks like a very strange ride to come. I’ll be blogging weekly so check back in for the rundown on fashion Friday’s and any insider gossip I can squeeze out of Black and Ross. In the meantime you can support these two by voting them as fan favorites. The winner with the most votes at the end of the season gets a cool $10,000 and it should be one of our kids. Check out the Lifetime.com fan page to vote and do it often.

Photo: Courtesy MyLifetime.com

The first elimination look. (Yikes)

To vote for fan favorite and check out all the runway looks visit Lifetime.com

View the slideshow to see more runway looks and party pics!

Add a Comment »

Tags: television, Bryce Black, Project Runway, Becky Ross, Tim Gunn

boob tube

It’s Official! Project Runway Designers Announced!

My sleuthing skills were right, two Pdx designers will be on P.R.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Jul 13, 2011 at 09:00AM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

Heidi-klum-project-runway-season_9-poster

Ahhhhh victory is sweet. If you recall almost three weeks ago I identified two designers for the new season of Project Runway by internet stalking. Well, today the line up was officially announced and I was right, right, right. (I like to be right).

Get your virtual self over to Lifetime.com to take the official tour and check out the new roster. Pay particular attention to our own Becky Ross and Bryce Black looking especially adorable. And a big thanks to Black for all the Portland Monthly hints. We’re on the wall in the videos, mentioned in his press and he even listed Shop Talk under his favorite websites. Plus Ross gave me credit for her getting seen by the show. That’s called remembering your roots!

And because we’ve already declared them winners in our eyes (Heidi, Michael and Nina should feel the same) Portland Monthly is throwing a big viewing party! Keep your calendars open for the evening of Thursday July 28th as we all congregate together for cocktails, fashion and most importantly yelling at the television all together. Details to come very soon.

Auf Wiedersehen.

Designer List

Bryce Black’s Page

Becky Ross’ Page

Cast for Season 9 of Project Runway.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Bryce Black, Project Runway, Becky Ross

News Bit

Breaking News: Two Portland Designers Identified for Project Runway Season 9!

And the Project Runway love for Portland continues on.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Jun 24, 2011 at 05:00PM Speech Bubble 11 Comments

Photo: Jess White

The looks from today’s public runway challenge. And the back of Becky Ross blonde bob down there.

View Slideshow »

I know who two of the contestants are for the upcoming season of Project Runway. How? Because I personally handed them over as recommendations to the show. In April I received an email from the casting director asking for my thoughts as a fashion editor on potential Portland talent they should scout. (Maybe since we have won half the seasons?) I replied with a very small, thoughtfully curated list.

Turns out they cast not one, but two of them after that. (Do I get a handwritten thank you or something?)

Who are those two Portlanders? And how do I know before any official announcements? First things first. The two from our fair city are actually both recent grads from The Art Institute of Portland’s fashion program: Bryce Black and Becky Ross. Black’s name might sound a bit more familiar as I have used him in my last two fashion editorials and been touting his name on the blog for months.

And I know because today Project Runway kicked off its first challenge by having a public runway show in Battery Park with celebrity guest judge Kim Kardashian. Well, I assume first challenge because there are clearly 16 designers sitting in the two rows at the runway, but the show is famous for its decoy attempts so who knows. As soon as it was over I hunted through every open Facebook profile, Flickr account, Tweet, blog post and You Tube video I could find until I was sure I recognized Black and Ross sitting in the contestant bleachers. I found one of Black as clear as day and Ross has platinum blonde “look at me” hair in an unmistakable bob and even though most pictures were mainly of the back of her head she sat in my classroom long enough (with me looking at her head) that I am willing to bet money on it. Finally, the Associated Press put out a fancy video moments ago that showed all contestants and sealed the deal for me.

A dress by Black from Portland Monthly’s Fall Fashion Editorial

Obviously I was already suspicious because I handed over their contact information and then I never heard anything again, from anyone. That alone seemed odd. But Black is also a friend of mine and a couple weeks ago he left town rather quietly and I couldn’t get so much as text reply from him. RED FLAG RAISED. Although when I went psycho internet stalking today, I have to admit I thought there was a good chance I would see him, but to see him AND Ross was a little mini heart attack.

The interesting thing about this is what does it mean? Have they ever cast two designers from the same school and class before? Is it purely a coincidence or did they want to push more people from Portland since we have become the indie fashion capital? Or is our talent pool just stronger? And did me just saying all that curse them into being the first two voted off?

I sure as hell hope not.

Be sure to check the blog every week once the season begins July 28th for a full break down of what worked, what didn’t and how to pronounce Auf Wiedersehen.