Well, no great surprise, the winner of season-five "Project Runway" is ...
Leanne Marshall, the soft-spoken gal from Portland, Ore., with a thing for pleats.
Leanne's win was somewhat expected. Fashion Week was more than a month ago, and while word hadn't leaked of this year's "Runway" winner, there were plenty of reports from the final six contestants' collections (the final six actually show at Fashion Week, to throw off spoilers) -- lots of oohing and ahhing over Marshall's stuff.
Which, I gotta say, I don't really get. Coming into the finale, I was sure Leanne would win, and I was even cheering for her. But once I saw the runway parades, Korto Momolu's collection seemed infinitely more interesting, marketable and, frankly, mature. Leanne's thing with the folded-over fabric waves ... after look No. 3 or 4 just screamed "gimmick!" Judge Nina Garcia voiced a valid concern about what else she can do, how she could develop that one-note trick in the future, but then emphatically voted her in.
I'm curious: any women out there, would you buy those pleaty things of Leanne's? Seems like they'd fill with crumbs or something ...
Kenley, glory be, went swiftly into that good night, and if there is a God we will never hear her lazy, whiny voice ever again. Worst attitude ever. Worse than Santino.
The finale wound up with a last-minute guest judge -- after the scheduled guest, Jennifer Lopez, was absent due to an injured foot. (I don't recall any news about that, does anyone?) So they drafted the designers' mentor, Tim Gunn, to fill in. I wouldn't be surprised if this comes back to haunt them in some way. It seemed terribly unfair and possibly a major conflict of interest, given his access and advice to the contestants throughout the last several weeks. I mean, the room is full of people who could make excellent judges on the spot -- name designers as well as dozens of previous winners and contestants (they should've collared lil' Christian) -- so I can't fathom why they made this dicey choice.
''I'm thrilled that Leanne won,'' Gunn later told USA Today. ''All of the strong architectural elements that are Leanne were clearly present, but her looks possessed a buoyancy and an ease, an effortlessness that belied each item's structure.''
Leanne's predecessor agreed. ''Thank God, because I can't even handle it if it was someone else. I'd be so over it,'' said Season 4 winner Christian Siriano.
Season 5 was ''Project Runway'''s highest-rated yet, but the show has hit a snag. Bravo's parent company, NBC Universal, has sued ''Runway'''s producer, The Weinstein Co., to block the series' move to Lifetime. (Season 6 is shooting now in Los Angeles.) A judge granted a temporary injunction and the suit is unresolved, which means the scheduled January premiere is uncertain.
Contributing: Gannett News Service
I thought Leanne's collection was beautifully crafted. I also thought kennley was extremely talented in terms of tailoring. However, Michael Kors referred to her many times for lacking originality. That is a no-no in a competition. Korto was most close to a tie for her versatality and her originality. I definitely think there is a place for her work in the industry. Although I am a big fan of Tim Gunn ( I watch Guide to Style faithfully) I think this was a poor choice for a last minute stand in judge. Tim did the best job he could ,but anyone else would have been a better choice because of the role he had throughout the season.
I can't believe Leanne won...I was bored with the pleats pretty quickly. However I appreciate the comment by someone that Leanne did separates. Too bad they all look the same.
I really thought Korto was going to win. Her collection was the most exciting to me.
I think Kenley behaves like an idiot but I like her work. And they kept her for the drama. What better than a bad attitude and a good or even okay designer? Think back to that hag from season 1!!
I was not happy to see that Leanne won. Her designs were ok but did not wow me at all. Leanne style was not something that I see in the streets everyday and i would have say that i do live an area where fashion is everything. In all honesty i thought that korto would win. i loved pretty much all of her designs except for a few throughout the whole season.
Why on earth would Project Runway want to move to Lifetime...the most worthless channel ever? Bad move.
I have loved project runway, from the first season, but I have to agree with the judges choice for a winner. And the reason? Not the pleats, not Korto's wonderful style, not Kenley's horrible attitude. It was quite simply, separates.
Leanne gave a set that could easily be mixed and matched. Pants, shorts, skirts, jackets, blouses, and dresses. I have found consistently, the winner of each season gives us these things down the runway, just like every other great designer's collection in fashion week. Korto's line was beautiful, and she could easily dress any size woman, and make them look wonderful. (if they wanted to wear dresses) Korto was by far my favorite throughout the whole show, but she like Christian likes to overwork things. I have no doubt that Korto will be back in Bryant Park, and will shine. Since she is so good at dressing all sizes, I would have loved to seen Korto use full sized models for her runway show. It would have been different, and I think would have rocked the fashion world.
I was so happy Leanne won. Right from the beginning she showed how she can work with many textures and create exciting young clothing. On many shows, both Heidi and other guess, said they would definately wear her design. Some even stated it looked like it just came off the designer racks.
Korto picked up her designs, at the runway show. I felt though that throughout the season, her clothes looked to much like a coat design, with a belt. The last 2 or 3 episodes she had been moved to the bottom two. I think she will do fine, now that the show has ended. Good luck to her.
Kenley, yuck. She should have never made it to the final 3. I'm not sure why Michael Kors kept defending her work. I could see that Nina Garcia, and Heidi wanted her to go along time ago. She always acts like she didn't know what other designers had produced, styles. But she stated there is no bodice like what she had put on her wedding dress. So obviously she was lying about not knowing what designs had come out on the runway.
I loved the show this year, and am looking forward to next season.
I agree that Korto designs were beautiful. I thought that she was the first real designer I saw who's clothes could relate to so many different people. That 1 white dress made me want to run out and get it and go on vacation lol!
I think that's why Leanne won. The average person could relate to Korto's line and who could truly relate to some of the stuff that goes down a fashion runaway!
I don't know about the Tim Gunn remark, never saw him be biased that I recall.
Thought the same thing about the JLo thing, here's an article dated back to Sept.
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf/2008/09/jennifer_lopez_finished_the_na.html
I definately feel that Korto's collection was the best and that she should have been named the winner. She had variety and it left me wanting to see what was coming out next. To me, Leanne's collection was the same look, just different colors and different lengths! I think the judges got it WRONG!!!!
I was surprised that Korto didn't win. I believe her collection was great and very marketable. Leanne's line was interesting but boring I was shocked they went with her. As for Kenley I liked her collection but I did not like her.
Of course Leanne won. She is an amazing seamstress, innovative, and can capture a wide variety of difference with fabric.
Korto sadly is the second African American to loose. I think the fashion world has yet to accept the palet of the African point of view. Her line was beautiful, BUT I do have to say that I think that the wedding dress, brought down her points a bit. When she kept it simple she really does amazing work. I do wish Korto had won because you can tell she would use that money to have an amazing boutique to showcase her fabulous line.
And clearly Leanne is such a talented and amazing designer, she could get a job anywhere within the industry.
Kenley is clearly only just a copy cat, even if you never took art history, she is so stuck in an era that "has passed" maybe she is great at sewing, but she had no actual interesting clothing designs/talent. (Thankfully we never have to hear her nasal voice again - I had to turn off the sound whenever she spoke) I feel for the editors who had to listen to her day after day.
I was disappointed that Leanne won. I also thought that her pieces were boring and one dimensional. I wasn't surprised that Korto didn't win even though it would have been a wonderful surprise. I just don't think the fashion world is ready to have another diverse designer at the tents. Look how long it taking to have black models walk the runways. I knew she would not win when Tim Gun was selected as the judge. He is very bias and petty.