Project Runway Season 8 Finale Speculation

On the kickoff day of New York Fashion Week, I had the early morning pleasure of attending the Project Runway Season 8 finale...all 75 minutes of it.

With a front row that included judges Nina Garcia and Michael Kors, a tragically dressed Jessica Simpson as guest judge (seriously, PR. If you deem her worthy of guest judging, help the girl find some figure-flattering clothing), host Heidi Klum, Tyson Beckford, Betsey Johnson, and the family and friends of the contestants, the giant audience that filled the Theater at Lincoln Center may not have agreed on their picks for the Season 8 winner--but all could agree that the show was much too long. As lovely an opportunity it must have been for the booted contestants to show at Fashion Week, the collective groan that swelled through the Theater when Heidi Klum announced 10 collections said otherwise.

Nonetheless, Andy, April, Casanova, Christopher, Gretchen, Ivy, Michael C., Michael D., Mondo, and Valerie all had the opportunity to show their collections in Lincoln Center. Project Runway's season finale airs October 28, but the speculation as to the final 3 (possibly four?) began as soon as I left the Theater. Those who watch the show can already cross Casanova and Michael D. off the list, as we'd predicted; Casanova's collection was yet another jarring juxtaposition between his grandmother and a hooker, and Michael D.'s Mark Rothko-meets-X-ray looks seemed a bit sloppy.

Without getting lost in reality-show drama, I've tried to be as objective as possible with my picks. Considering inspirations that travelled from the Hawaiian islands (Ivy) to dreamscapes of statues (Andy) to tea-party dolls washed away at sea (April), there were surprisingly few flights of fancy as most designers kept it safe. Gretchen produced ten refined takes on her crunchy-bohemian aesthetic, but all in all, her show was pretty dull. Ivy, for all her talk of Hawaii, presented little to no color; with relatively basic, relaxed tops in white and pale blue, it read more Nantucket than Honolulu. Only one yellow sundress with rhinestone detail down the back was a knockout. Valerie certainly had a lot of fun with her "Rainbow Brite and David Bowie love child" collection, and her candy-colored frocks were a welcome fruit punch to an otherwise neutral procession; however, while many of her pieces were clean and polished, a few were much too overdesigned. She could still pull through to the finale.

Potential finalists? Andy could very well be Project Runway's young visionary. He cites Yohji Yamamoto as an inspiration, and it's apparent in the way he plays with cut, impeccable details, and draping. His futuristic collection of statues come to life--appropriately outfitted in silver and surprisingly romantic grey with a punch of chartreuse--stood out from the altogether basic finale. April was another pleasant surprise; finally, someone did some neutrals with power. There was an ethereal quality to her dusty dolls, and while some pieces read "art-school dropout," she has a way of making gently soft, romantic pieces look strong. Finally, Mondo injected a much-needed shot of whimsy--he's adorable and a clear audience favorite. He's a bit kitschy, but everything is finished with such polish that it works. I had the most fun looking back on his op-art prints and neon charms...Mondo is our wacky, fun little underdog.

Who would you put in your finale?

Photos: GettyImages.