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Project Party
What does one wear to meet Tim Gunn and a room full of fashion designers? That panicked question filled my head 30 seconds after I received confirmation that I'd be attending the Tresemmé-sponsored Project Runway Season 3 finale party. Thankfully, my husband Allen's excitement got me back into the right frame of mind — and besides, no one ever pays attention to what the reporters are wearing anyway, right? (I went with all black, just to be safe.)
The party was at the Tribeca Grand Hotel, whose dimly lit glamour has been featured in tons of movies and TV shows in its short life — you can see it most clearly as the abode of Hugh Grant in the annoying Two Weeks Notice. I assume that for the sake of privacy, the festivities weren't in the more glamorous lobby bar but rather in a more, shall we say, intimate location underground, conveniently close to the screening room. We made our way to a small room in which Laura, Uli, Jeffrey, Michael and Michael's entourage stood safely behind a velvet rope while reporters, photographers and cameramen patiently squeezed in for a chance to talk to them. Not much of interest can be said in such a situation, and after having a 45-minute phone interview with Jeffrey two weeks ago (thank you, Bravo, for saving me time!), I didn't really need to compete with everyone for noncommittal quotes. But I edged my way into a conversation with Michael about whether he'd stay in Atlanta ("Definitely"), what his real-life collection would be like (everything from sportswear to gowns, with a fragrance line in the works), and how much I dug the braces. He had four tall guys and a cute, short woman at his side, and he kept his sunglasses on the whole time. Jeffrey's lost the punk mullet and is much shorter than I expected. He was noncommittal about his next moves: "Things are popping up, but it has to be the right thing." I knew I wouldn't get much more from Laura, who was wearing the most revealing maternity dress I've ever seen, her breasts covered only with that black lace she used in her final collection. Uli was more subdued but wearing much more makeup than I'd ever seen. I was tired of this weird indoor red-carpet situation and moved on to the champagne. That's where we met Malan, who is sweet, adorable and really humble. He was wearing a black velvet blazer in this really hot room, but didn't look the least bit uncomfortable. He's so excited about his new collection and said he was opening a store in New York soon. Talk about using your 15 minutes (or three episodes) of fame to a complete advantage. As we were talking, I almost stumbled on top of Laura's husband, who I at first thought was some random professor or newspaper guy, until his image flashed on the screen opposite us showing the first part of the finale. I also almost smacked into Season 2's Kara Janx as I went into the bathroom. She's so small and cute in person!
After Allen nearly pulled my sleeve off with repetitive tugging, we talked to his crush, Alison. "Can I take a picture of you and my husband? You've brought so many straight men to the audience," I told her. "I know," she said, in not at all a conceited way. We talked about Brooklyn, where we both live now, and Allen asked a very (disturbingly?) detailed question about something she'd made and left off of the paper dress that got her booted. When we talked about Laura's accusations that Jeffrey had outside help for his collection, she was more frank than he'd ever been, saying, "I think someone had green eyes."
We stood around staring at people from Seasons 1 and 2 for a while: Austin Scarlett, Daniel Vosevic, Jay McCarroll, Marla Duran, Emmett McCarthy and I'm sure some others I can't remember. Finally, we worked up the nerve to talk to Tim Gunn. He's relieved to be done with the season, so he can concentrate full-time on Parsons. Shockingly, they haven't made plans for next season yet. "I can't film while school is in session," he said. "But everybody's expendable," he added, meaning he thinks it'd be possible they'd go on without him. Over Bravo's dead body!
At last, it was time to pile up at the door to the screening room. It was finally seeming normal to be mingling with all the designers, and I was feeling completely comfortable with the fact that Jay, Daniel V. and Austin were in our row. But then the show started, and Allen said, "It's like we're in our living room, except the people came out of the TV to sit with us." Very weird. There was so much cheering we couldn't hear half the dialogue, and there were a few moments when we had to bite our tongues when we really wanted to say something snarky about the clothing. Even in this balanced crowd, Michael got the most applause, and the gasps were audible when he was the first to be Auf'd. At least no one booed Jeffrey. When the show was over, the lights went on and a Tresemmé representative brought out one of those huge display checks for the hundred grand. Funny how that tradition never gets old, right? Once we saw the handoff, it was time to head home (to write more!), but not before we picked up our gift bags packed with Tresemmé products and a Tim Gunn bobblehead. See, we're all winners!
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Oct 19, 2006 2:01 PM
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A Tim Gunn bobblehead?!!! Are you serious? Where can we get one?
And I loved your post, esp your husband's comment on watching the finale with the show's current/past competitors: "It's like we're in our living room, except the people came out of the TV to sit with us!" Don't we wish that could be in true in real life though sometimes!?
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Oct 20, 2006 12:10 PM
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You can get a Tim Gunn bobblehead on the Project Runway website at bravotv.com. Go to the Store link. I have one but I was disappointed that my mini-Tim's head was unglued when it arrived in the mail. He nods with his head slightly tilted to the right, which gives him a bit of a knowing air. Just like the real Tim Gunn.
Sabrina, I think it's adorable that your husband is so into the show.
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Oct 22, 2006 1:56 AM
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