so what was your opinion of the devil wears prada?. . .

Bloopy, I was totally unimpressed with TDWP the movie. Never read the book and not likely to.

However, Ugly Betty on ABC is one of my favorite shows in a long time. Same theme.

It is a well written hour-long comedy/drama. So few of those on networks in the past few years, I can't think of many other examples offhand.

i went back and forth on it 'cuz on one hand, within about 10 minutes i had a pretty good idea of what the entire plot was gonna be (and was right), but on the other hand, my sense of fashion is at about the level where i buy new shoes when my current pair have holes in the bottom and rain is in the forecast, so it was kinda cool to see a completely different (albeit unbelievably fictional-ish) world from the one i currently reside in. . .

I completely agree, Moxie! It was so bad I practically was hitting myself with the stupidity of the show. Uli moved from a designer who was stuck in a rut- to that amazing dress about 4/5 shows back that was so clearly a turning point in her design. Every single one of her pieces would look amazing on a woman, and promotes her beauty, instead of looking freakish or detracting from her. Uli's work was very clearly to be actually worn. They were statements, but they were also made for a woman's body. Jeffrey's on the other hand tended to make women look like they came from a freak-side-show in a carnival. Do women really want to look like a side-show freak? I found absolutely *nothing* at all interesting or beautiful about Jeffrey's work. [Perhaps his designs came out of acid trips?]

The fact that Jeffrey won tells me very clearly that there is serious bias in the fashion world. The edgy guy won. It's as simple as that. He grated on nerves, and because of that, he was lauded in his work. It was easier for them to make this choice because of that, I strongly feel. They felt he was "up and coming", "on the bleeding edge" in his work.

The fact that almost everyone lauded Uli's work is clear enough. When I heard that Uli was from East Germany, I was floored. What an amazing story. She is one of the great success stories for the amazing images we saw when we were kids and that wall got torn down. [although I don't think she was in Berlin]

I think Laura sort of knew what was going to happen. I think she realized quickly how Jeffrey was being loved for his insane work. This may be one reason she brought up what was eating at her. I think it tells volumes that Jeffrey went (1) overbudget and (2) couldn't find his receipts. Personally, I think that's huge. The other three contestants had absolutely no problems handling things, and all were doing work till the very end. Only until Jeffrey was forced to, did he start working/refining. Are we seriously supposed to believe that he didn't have more work to get done? Just looking at how huge his "work space" was tells me he must have had people working with him. Look at all the work tables.

Not to mention he actually admitted outsourcing his pleating work. Oh, but, well, we can't find that receipt, can we?... woops...

The other three knew the score, I'm sure of that. It's just a sad shame that the fashion world has to mimick the art-world, where nothing but naked teenage boys is considered real artwork. Realism? That went out in the middle-ages...

Sigh is right... perhaps we'll see Uli's work sometime soon. I hope so! [Yowza was some of her work amazingly hot.]

Yeah, I was never a big fan of Uli's style during the show, but her collection was stunning. She should've won. (Although I'd beg, whine, or steal to own just one piece of Laura's work.)

I was disappointed with Michael, but I like to think his decline in taste was due to losing his muse (Nazri), rather than because he thinks strippers can really afford his clothes.

I'd love for someone to come forward and admit doing some of Jeffrey's work, but I don't think it's going to happen. Remember, there were two weeks during the regular season when his work was finished hours and hours before anyone else. He doesn't bead or embellish or do anything extravagant, and most of his hems and seams *intentionally* don't match, so he doesn't need all that time.

Ok, this is my wife's favorite show, o I've seen most of it. Last year they went with the safe commercial choice and everyone liked the freak better, this time they went with the freak rather than one of the two who made the models look, you know, pretty.

My guess is the judges are all super nostalgic for the eighties and all drove home in their crummy little GM car with the Dokken turned up loud. Because Dokken may have been really, really bad, but they had something to say about fashion.

Idiotic choice. I ended up listening to a monologue about how people who make clothes secretly hate women because they want them to lokk like sluts or idiots and blah blah blah for hours last night. There was so much estrogen flowing my damn nipples started to hurt.

Thanks Runway judges, you bitches.

Jeffrey winning was borderline criminal. Now the PR crew has joined his parents as enablers of his anti-social behavior. Although his stuff was better than during the series, (could it be he had his employees help?) it still sucked... It will likely appeal to the junior high mall rats and Paris Hilton wanabes... but who else would possibly find those rags attractive? Thankfully my daughter is in college and has outgrown that "edgy" crap. It should be a big seller in K-mart's youth department.

Uli wuz wobbed... and Nazri too... C'mon and tell me that you didn't appreciate the way Nazri worked that dress... I'd have followed behind her across the country just to watch her walk.

Tanya,

Ditto that begging, whining or stealing to own even one of Laura's pieces! My guess is, we will be seeing more of her -- perhaps in fine department stores and boutiques.

Regarding Jeffrey, one of my friends is a designer who works with one of his sweatshops in downtown LA. She asked the guy point blank and he wouldn't answer her and got very nervous when she asked him why he couldn't just say no, he didn't sew for Jeffrey's Bryant Park show.

Veeeery sketchy!

Moxie-

No crap. Wow!

Well, what's been done has been done, I guess. :(

I have to add that I loved Laura's pieces all through the show. Definitely had serious class. But the bead work done on that last dress was amazing. How the yellow of the belt spilled out over onto the beads- made it look as though it glowed. Truly awesome. All done by hand. Wow.

Tim's saying on his blog that Laura's collection really didn't stun anyone. Well- I think he's full of crap. She pushed herself past where she was in the season... the shoulders, the fur-coats all these added things that are huge stretches from where she was originally. She's definitely going to be selling in the near future. Uli did the same- we saw a serious change in her more understated half of the collection. I was shocked. She definitely grew leaps and bounds.

Anyway- it's quite interesting to read Tim's blog and the comments the post has garnered. I question wether making Jeffrey the winner was actually simply a move in TV posturing. Why go with the easy winner? Why not shock? It always pays off on TV.

A11en, I'm going to go read Tim Gunn now. I was too angry last night to even consider it.

You are right, Uli grew as a designer. I liked most of her "Uli" dresses during the season -- but she really expanded her point of view for Bryant Park. Gorgeous!

The judges hardly said a bad word about the collection and yet the circus side-show freak won? It makes not an ounce of sense other than the good TV aspect.

Yes, my comment about Jeffrey cheating has some real-life basis. I wasn't gonna say anything specific, but what the heck.

Hey Moxie! :) Well, the blog may not help you feel better. ;) Especially with the idiots praising Jeffrey's Vision... ugh.

You know, honestly, it doesn't matter if you're vocal... the only thing I worry is there's no way to prove anything anyway- all the people involved have to do is shutup about it, and everything is good... which I figure is what they're trying to do now anyway. If they didn't speak up when asked by the producers, I doubt they'll speak up now. Sad day when truth doesn't win out, eh?

It is nice to know, however, as I honestly believe the other three are equally as capable in their talent. So, it makes me feel better about things to know that he was pegged by the others. I have to admit, being the only one who does design like this and gets work done for him, he would likely be in the best position to do something like this. It was obvious that the other three weren't as far along as he was when Tim visited. That should have been a big indication of what was going on even back then.

It was fun to watch, but I'm surprised Jeffrey lasted as long as he did. I would have expected him out long ago (especially with the mother-challenge--Lordy what a monstrosity). If any one of the other contestants had done a slightly better job, I'm sure he would have been. Unfortunately, I think it was a posturing thing for the PR guys- they get to say they see he has "vision". Perhaps they had Jeffrey pegged from the beginning. They always set these shows up according to what works... they need one to grate on your nerves, one who is an emotional basket case, one that is level-headed... etc. etc.

I thought one of the most interesting points on Tim's blog comments was made about Todd Oldham. :) Very telling.

My best to ya, Moxie! I always love your blog posts! Sorry I used your comment section to vent a bit. I was totally dumbfounded last night that Uli and Laura didn't beat out Jeffrey. Totally dumbfounded. :(

It'd be so awesome if they could prove it, even though it's too late. I can't believe Jeffrey even made it to the end. He was in the bottom two like five times before he won his first week. (For good reason.)

That's what kills me -- Jeffrey isn't dumb enough to pay the shop to sew his clothes AND then provide a receipt to PR. That would be suicide.

It would have to be some sort of trade, or payment out of his company's bank account or his personal account.

Whatever the case, it makes me sad for Uli, who truly deserved to win. And I was rooting for Laura, that's how fair I am being! ;)

I was not a big Uli fan throughout the show, but after hearing her tale of living in East Germany, she instantly became my favorite. Her win would've meant yet another blow to Communism, and a much-deserved one. I was pulling for the Miami-based fraulein. Laura's collection was gorgeous, too. There's not much else to say about Jeffrey except yuck. And double yuck for the mother of his child.

Oh my god - the person holding his son is a WOMAN??? Poor thing.

And Jeffrey wasn't even wearing pants! Sorry, but if you are showing at Bryant Park, you just don't wear manpris.

How can PR determine that Jeffrey was ONLY $200 over budget when he had AT LEAST two missing receipts? It didn't add up.

Travesty... and I still think Nazri's backside was FABULOUS in Uli's dress

I hadda stop watching, the suspense was killing me.

I tried to post this in the Sept.11th, 2006 thread but the comments are not allowed for that entry it tells me. OK, so here it is, because it is of such paramount importance I am posting it here, and my apologies for it not being in a pertinent thread.

[Edited by Moxie -- long ridiculous liberal conpiracy theory. Get your own blog. They are free on blogspot.]

Hooray! The Great Wall of Text was destroyed!