I have to say, it was pretty cool that the designers went to the Getty Center. I've been, and I think it's spectacular, and the trip almost made it seem like the old Project Runway was back — when contestants would be inspired by architecture, art or Postal Service uniforms. That said, the clothes that came out of this challenge were atrocious. These people have got to be some of the WORST the show has ever had. Where's the dreamy romance, a la Leanne? The couture drama, courtesy of Christian Siriano?

Where is anything that looks like this?

Anyway. Althea was inspired by the architecture of the Getty.

Carol Hannah was into one specific Frenchy French bed.

Irina liked this painting, with its different textures: Fur, marble, flesh and sheer dresses.

Christopher was inspired by a fountain: Specifically, the rocks. And the algae.

Gordana was moved by Monet.

Of course, putting the inspiration in action was mostly a disaster. Tim thought Irina's fur was apacalypto.

Tim Gunn: Perplexed by preposterous, problematic pebbley puckery panels.

Christopher painted himself as a martyr, saying "I know who I am, I'm the wacky weird guy." Wacky? No. Repetitive? Maybe.

Anyway, the runway was rough. Did you catch the look Althea gave Irina's dress?

Guest judges Cynthia Rowley and Cindy Crawford joined Nina and Heidi in trashing Irina's dress… Or at least, the styling. And the length.

But guess what? Irina was the first one to be told she was going to fashion week. Were you rooting for her? I wasn't.

Althea's dress was called a "messfest." But she went to fashion week too.

Carol Hannah's dress was kind of meh. And yet! She rounded out the final three.

Christopher's rock dress was really similar to his Vampire bride gown. And it was too stiff, the judges thought. And so he was out.

Poor Gordana really put her heart and soul into her angelic cathedral dress. But it wasn't enough to get her into the final three.

As you know, Fashion Week already happened. In February. So if you want to see images from the final three's shows, Racked has photos. Now that we know who the contestants are, it's fairly easy to tell that the one with all the fur and knits? Irina. I'm guessing collection one is Althea; collection two is Carol Hannah. But I could be wrong! In any case, the three shows got terrible reviews. Cementing my gut feeling that this was the worst season ever.

Liveblogging the Shows: Project Runway [Racked]
Earlier: The Tragedy That Was The Project Runway Show

A Yale graduate...


A Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiast...


...a person who's seen the dark side of life and can appreciate the struggles of Jean Valjean...


An entertainer...


An intellectual...


A polyglot...


A sophisticate...


And, yes, a fellow devotee of the male skirt.

[Images via Getty]

So yeah, my friend J used to joke about being a modern urban cavegirl, wearing little fur stoles and eating steak and dragging boys back to her cave apartment. This is bone print is a less subtle take on that.


I don't even know what this print is supposed to be. Snagglepuss didn't have spots.


I can almost imagine a situation in which this ensemble would be appropriate, and it involves Taylor Momsen and Halloween. The gloves are fierce, but the jagged sleeves on that jacket just make the Fashion Gods cry Chanel No. 5-scented tears.


Wilma and Betty had better accessories.


Are you ready to barf up your Brontosaurus burger yet?


Just in case you don't "get it" — bones on the shoes, too.


This looks like the infamous dissolving bikini.


I don't know whether to laugh or to cry... Laugh, I think. Like this: HAHAHAHAHA! CAPTAIN CAVEMAN GOES TO SOUTH BEACH!!! LOL! Unrelated: The limited edition sneakers are hot.


This sabre-tooth tiger swimsuit isn't really that bad…


…When you consider this painful Borat-ish contraption, complete with faux-paws. Yeah, I said it. FAUX-PAWS. Faux-paws are a faux pas.


"I'm just gonna pretend I'm naked. Naked, walking in a spotlight. That's way less horrifying than thinking about what I'm actually wearing."


Jeremy Scott himself. He probably thinks his pants are GRRRRRRREAT.


[Images via Getty.]

[Mumbai, September 18. Image via Getty.]

<odels showcase creations by designer Rajesh Pratap Singh during a special 10th year commemorative show featuring 20 Indian designers on the first day of Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Spring/Summer 2010 collection in Mumbai on September 18, 2009. The LFW celebrates its 10th year and will feature creations by over 50 designers, culminating with a grand finale on September 22. AFP PHOTO/ Indranil MUKHERJEE (Photo credit should read INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/Getty Imag

[London, September 18. Image via Getty.]

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 18: A model prepares backstage before the Emilio De La Morena fashion show at the BFC tent at Somerset House on September 18, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

These eensy-weensy, teeny-weeny triangle tops are something of a P-S signature. Those of us with breasts? Movin' right along.





The fellas did a lot with playing with sportswear ideas, evoking casual, sporty elements in a sharper context. In other words, enormous shirts that look like they've got sweatshirts tied around their wastes.





The rteurn of tie-dye: I guess now that Phish has reformed, this was inevitable.


I'm intensely concerned about how scuba-princess is going to translate to Forever21.





Leighton Meester: obviously the intended customer.


Well, this looks fun and relaxed.

[Images via Getty]

We know lots of words, but sometimes only "beautiful" does the trick.


Oh. My. God. Does old-school lady get any jazzier?


There's something deliciously 50's working-girl about this canteloupe situation.


Oh, wait, Carine Roitfeld disagrees.


But, come on, Madame - this Degas-adorable frock must make you smile!


Or, what about this Spanish-widow-inflected midcentury day-dress?


And, yup, there's the dirndl! The hills are alive!


Maybe she's confused by this Lawrence of Arabia headdress?


And would I wear a bowler with a silk chiffon gown and a stole? Possibly not.


But Zac Posen, that stone-cold dandified fox, likes it.

[Images via Getty]

I worry about where crotches are going, what with dropped crotches and harem pants and so on. I really do. The color of her top is divine, though.

Wearable, if not entirely original.

Shiny! Short!

Short! Shiny!

The pattern and ties on these shorts? Actually pretty cool. And I liked the layered tops.

As long as this is a dress and not a jumper, it's gorgeous.

That model is the only one who can pull this off, or should try.

I don't know what is going on here, but I suspect that Taylor Momsen wants to order two.

Oh, hello.

As you can tell, this collection is all over the damn place.

And most of it doesn't look very high-end.

That said, this dress with a metallic warrior corset breastplate thingy is pretty hot.

More shiny. When it's not short, it's tight.

I do tend to like hot, bright, blues, pinks and purples. So the palette appeals to me.

Some pieces, like this blue jacket, seem fun and fresh.

Oh, hello.

Baby Phat swimwear: Not for the shy, or the non-thin.

Oh, hello.

Meh.

Well, the kids are cute, at least!

Check out the new baby!

[Images via Getty.]

So obviously he was doing something subversive or whatever with the juxtaposition of "ladylike" and "Cutco demo."


Sometimes he does basic, slightly adventurous "classic American sportswear" that has an obvious market...
Then sometimes, when looking at garments like this, I'm just left wondering what his customer base is.


Oh, wait, it's Cruella DeVille.


I mean, this is cute and crisp in a Linda Evangelista sort of way...


And I can imagine any number of questionably-attired socialites doing the garden party thing in this...


But the only man I've ever seen in anything remotely similar was Matthew Modine, on 6th Avenue. And he was riding a scooter, so.



Yes, everyone like Joan Cusack in Toys (or do they?) but bathing suits are generally not where you want to rock the paper doll thing.

[Images via Getty]

Fringe and patterns make for island-y vibes. For me, this doesn't say "spring" as much as it does "hot summer concert in the park." Which is not a bad thing!

Love, love, love seeing black models! The one sitting down is like, "Where is that cappuccino I ordered 10 minutes ago?" The graphic black and white dress in the back might be amazing, but it's hard to tell.

This reminds me so much of Anjelica Huston's character in The Life Aquatic WIth Steve Zissou: The elegant ex-pat island dweller with enormous statement jewelry. I long to be her.

Yes on the crocheted cropped jacket; no on the crotch of the pants on the left.

Hey look, it's Mary J. Blige! Catherine Malandrino, right, must have walked her through the show.

That berry-colored dress is ridiculously cute and made for dancing all night on the beach; the turquoise top in the back on the right is probably pretty great, too.

Although this is also very Anjelica Huston in Life Aquatic, it also reminded me of the maharajah in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom.

I really do love that Malandrino's playing with proportion: The teeny jacket, with a jumpsuit that goes from being voluminous to skinny. But there's only one person this looks good on, and she is wearing it. Also: These three women would make a badass motorcycle gang.

Aloha, ladies! Gorgeous sea-colored dress, and cute shorts, too.

Another winner: Easy, relaxed, but still flattering and not at all messy. And if barefoot is in for spring, then I'm super stylish right now!

[Images via Getty.]

I guess, speaking of clichés, it's become one to note what time Jacobs' shows start, since the debacle of two years ago. This show kicked off at a couple minutes past 8, even though guest of honor Lady Gaga hadn't graced the front row with her presence. (She was let in, late.)


As you can see, ruffles were a theme of the collection. But they weren't treated as pretty-pretty trim, but rather as something more sculptural. There were thickly ruffled rompers and mini-dresses, and ruffles standing stiffly at the hems of skirts. Ruffles took on dimension. This pantsuit wears its ruffles like Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons.


Many of the looks were worn with organza pants the likes we haven't seen since I Dream Of Jeannie was on the air. We sense a coming trend, for better or for worse.


However, that's all part of the larger theme of lingerie, and layering — what goes underneath and what goes on top — which Jacobs loves to toy with.


It was also lovely to see his old staple, the long, full prairie skirt, done with a sharply tailored military jacket.


And I cannot wait to wear a (slightly longer) version of this ensemble, come spring.


This one, not so much. But I love the torsolette.


Because this is Marc Jacobs, of course there would be plaid. Only this time, it's studded with pearls.


This handkerchief-hem dress actually has pearls at the joins between the points on the bodice. Others have already pointed out that the reference is to legendary 1970s designer Zandra Rhodes.


And don't you just love the pearls at the collar points?


Ruffles also turned up on a number of lovely longer dresses.


Like this one, modeled by Jamie Bochert.


One unflattering jumpsuit got the same treatment.


And in any show, there's always that one look that makes you recoil. This was the one point where Jacobs' aesthetic tended towards the girlish, the unfinished.


But sticking to the tailoring, to the inspiration of Kawakubo and Kabuki theater, Jacobs looked right on the money.


And certainly never less so than with this ethereal confection.

Many of the clothes, in fact, looked as though they were constructed out of stapled-together doilies, with a load of rick-rack and reams of 70s-lampshade bobbled fringe for added oomph.

There were even doily coats — with feather trims — to match the doily dresses.

And outrageous his 'n' hers ensembles, for the couple with what might kindly be called "confidence."

And, for those who feel that women get to keep the fun of all-lace ensembles too much to themselves, Custo Barcelona offers this powder-blue patched lace two-button suit.

The collection as a whole looked very much like things your palm-reading aunt might make out of her curtains. The trailing hem of this asymmetrical offering even cause Alice Gibb to stumble slightly during her last turn on the runway.

OK, things your palm-reading aunt might make out of her curtains, plus a cringe-worthy quantity of trims.

There were even dresses made, mummy-style, entirely from trims. Versatile!

Craft project gone wrong.

This is like a Prada warrior dress from fall 2009, sissified and dolled up.

And for those men who desire shiny suits in a microchip print, Custo's got you covered.

Doilies, feathers, rick-rack, and fringe, oh my: it's a wonder Rose Cordero could keep a straight face on the catwalk.

And, as always in Von Furstenberg World, that's a wrap!

Alexander Wang: Actively Sporty [FashionWireDaily]

Ms. Obama ended up wearing Wu designs on a Barbara Walters special, on inauguration night, and on the cover of Vogue, catapulting the young designer further into the spotlight. For Spring 2010, the 26-year-old served up ladylike glamor with narrow waists, strong shoulders and that certain something that politically-minded women look for. There were a few misses here and there, but the hits keep on coming, in a gallery which begins below.

You could be 26 or 62, and this would work. The modern twinset, the swingy shorts — it's just fresh and springy.

A little bit '40s, a little bit quirky, a little bit Lucy-goes-mad-in-the-chocolate-factory. Is that a good thing?

Ew. Can we pretend we never saw this?

Crisp, tailored, refined, yet relaxed. A winner.

Patterns you wouldn't think go together, but totally do.

This strikes me as very Ladies Who Lunch.

Meh. I want to like this, but I don't. It's not the polka dots, it's the color. And execution.

This dress could go Hollywood or Capitol Hill. Choose your own adventure!

Slightly edgy for Ms. O, perhaps. But completely awesome for the red carpet.

These dresses have vision and a point of view, but they're still wearable.

Jason Wu: Not afraid to do "pretty." Ms. O should order two.

The most whispered-about woman in Washington!

Sexy, yet sophisticated. This one is divine from the back:

It's just such a beautiful shot.

Deep, divine color, completely delicious dress.

Chanel-esque, but with a twist.

I'm not a fan of the plunging neckline, but the proportions on this frock are cool.

Exquisite. What do we call this? Retired fairy princess? Bored heiress? Debutante gone mild?

Everyone needs a punk metal goth ballerina dress. Everyone.

Wu does rich color so well.

Michelle Obama has this on hold. How much do you want to bet?

Feathers! Gorgeous, airy, light.

Charming and cheerful, for parties that dreams are made of.

[Images via Getty.]

[New York, September 10. Image via Getty]

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 10: A model has her hair done prior to a fashion show for the Brooklyn designer Hayden-Harnett on September 10, 2009 in New York City. As part of Fashion Week in New York, the company unveiled their Spring/Summer 2010 collection. Hundreds of fashion shows and designer parties are currently taking place in all throughout New York for the next seven days. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

• They said it would never happen, but a judge ordered that Google reveal Liskula Cohen's anonymous online tormentor. The model sued Google to find out who was behind a hate-blog about her, in order to file a defamation suit. [NYPost]

• Marc Jacobs does not "enjoy", "look forward to," or anticipate seeing any shows besides his own at New York Fashion Week. "Enjoy?" said the designer, at a party in the Hamptons, "Enjoy is a weird word. It's work — work is more what it's about." So it's not fun? "No." In addition to his two collections to show, Jacobs has a wedding pull together just now — his nuptuals with partner Lorenzo Martone will take place privately in Provincetown, Massachussetts, "soon." [The Cut]
• Hopefully Jacobs was put in slightly better humor by a visit from Miss Piggy. She needed a dress for a red carpet affair in Chicago, and the designer was happy to oblige, so the porcine starlet popped in for a fitting. [WWD]
• Keira Knightley and a strategically arranged suspender star in the newest ad for Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle perfume. [Egotastic]
• Sass & Bide, the Australian denim label which generally shows internationally in New York, has announced it is joining the thundering horde heading to London Fashion Week this season. A raft of British designers have made special arrangements to return to London to show in this, London Fashion Week's 25th anniversary year, and even Anna Wintour — who normally drops the city from her fashion calendar — will be showing up. [Telegraph]
• The cast of the next season of Dancing With The Stars has been announced, and Vera Wang's name is not there. Kelly Osbourne, Melissa Joan Hart, and an Ultimate Fighting Champion might not make the best company, anyway, and Wang has a company to run, so we're not that surprised. [Us]
• Elettra Weidemann, Isabella Rossellini's daughter, scored another fall campaign, for G Star. Anton Corbijn, who directed the Joy Division movie Control, and has photographed U2 for years, was the photographer. [Fashionista]
• Eugenia Kim's diffusion line for Urban Outfitters, branded Eek!, includes a nice looking cloche, and some potentially interesting headbands and fascinators. For $28-$48, as opposed to Kim's main line's $200-$300 pricepoint, this line looks like a winner. [FabSugar]
• Speaking of Urban Outfitters, is there any other chain you would expect to take up the noble cause of saving Polaroid from obsolescence? [Elle UK]
• Hermès is reissuing one of its classic scarf designs to benefit the International Federation of Human Rights. The blue-green scarf will be sold on fidh.org for 215 Euros, starting early next month. [WWD]
• Fashion blind item! "WHICH rising American model has stopped getting snapped backstage by photographers? She's dated so many of them (and their important friends) that now they refuse to give her any exposure!" [Fashionista]
• Wal-Mart is expanding its reach into the tween market. In addition to having Taylor Swift design dresses for L.E.I., and selling Miley Cyrus's line with Max Azria, the world's largest retailer has inked a deal with Nickelodeon to partner with the young stars of a show called True Jackson. [WWD]
• Presumably in order to give Toby Keith a run for his money, Kenny Chesney is launching a fashion line. [People]
• Zara is expanding its outlet chain, Leftie's, into France, after successfully opening the super-budget stores in Portugal and Mexico. This is clearly something we need stateside, stat. [WWD]
• Saks' net loss in the second quarter widened to $54.5 million, an increase from the $32.7 million loss the company experienced during the same period last year. However, Saks actually beat analysts' expectations. [WWD]

• The return of Mad Men is a mere 37 days away, and the AMC show has struck a deal with Banana Republic:

The retailer will be selling a line inspired by the suits worn by the gentlemen of Sterling Cooper. (The show has also partnered with Clorox, so look for cheeky collar-bleaching spots.) [Vulture, NY Times]

• It's riveting to watch one of Chanel's couture looks being made. Whatever one thinks of the design, the craft of couture is magic. The concentration in the atelier flou's eyes as she makes the toile is an inspiration. [The Cut]
• David Lauren thinks now is as good a time as any for Ralph Lauren to launch a watch division selling $10,000-$80,000 timepieces. Marie Claire will probably still advertise them. [WWD]
• That gorgeous nude-and-black dress Emma Watson wore on David Letterman's show on Tuesday night to promote her movie was by Christopher Kane. [Grazia]
• Come this September, you'll be seeing Justin Timberlake starring in ads for two simultaneously developed and released Givenchy scents, called Play and Play Intense. [WWD]
• Accessories designer Tarina Tarantino marked the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz with an Oz-themed collection — and by shooting Kelly Osborne and Debi Mazar as Glenda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively. [CBS]
• Couture week closed yesterday, which motivated the Daily to reflect on those comrades who were missing. Anna Wintour, who has never missed the couture collections before, wasn't there. Nor was her counterpart at British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, or T magazine's Stefano Tonchi. Celebs down for the count included frequent couture customer Dita von Teese. [FWD]
• Another fashion mystery: Why has Peter Copping's first collection for Nina Ricci, Resort 2010, been delayed by one month and counting? Time's Kate Betts hasn't seen the collection, but says "an extremely reliable Parisian source" says it's "great." Copping, formerly Marc Jacobs' right-hand-man at Louis Vuitton, replaced Olivier Theyskens in the middle of his contract earlier this year. [Fashionologie]
• Fendi is "taking a break" from producing a men's wear collection. The 84-year-old Italian company is hoping to be back in the men's game by next season. [WWD]
• Do you ever question the entire nature of fashion week? The tug-and-pull of the trade/consumer focus? The fact that retailers have come to expect new deliveries monthly, not semi-annually? Do you ponder the impact of nonetheless timing the ready-to-wear collections twice per year, and the effects of having pictures of next season's clothing available instantly online months out from production? If so, you're probably a designer, and the CFDA wants to hear from you this July 28, at a townhall meeting that promises to put up for discussion everything about fashion week. What with MAC looking to produce competing shows at Milk Studios, and the coming change in venue from Bryant Park to Lincoln Center, the talk — moderated by Diane von Furstenberg — is timely. [WWD]
• Alexander Wang is debuting his first menswear collection later this month in the pages of T. And according to rumor, for his women's wear show this September, Wang will be eschewing the styling help of his friend, model Erin Wasson. In Wasson's place will be Karl Templer, who styles Calvin Klein (and worked for Interview magazine last year — or maybe he's been hired back, we can't keep track of that revolving door anymore). [Sassybella]
• Meet 20-year-old Rochelle Owen, whose job it is to help customers with Beth Ditto's clothing line at the Evans store in the Meadowhall shopping center in the UK. Her pic is fierce! And the "voluptuous size 20" says: "Beth's style is very much my look, I dress to be noticed and love girly clothes, bright colours and funky dresses with leggings and loads of accessories." [The Star]
• A day at the office with Aussie brand Ksubi: "Shit fucking happens." [BlackBook]
• Uh-oh: "The Consumer Product Safety Council recalled 3,200 pairs of Charles David of California women's shoes sold at Nordstrom." One report of a heel breaking off, resulting in bruising. [WWD</a.]
• Juicy Couture is closing its 3,300 sq. ft. store at Madison Avenue and 70th St. The rent ran $2 million a year, and the company simply cannot afford to continue paying it. [WWD]
• This June, retailers saw on average a 4.7% decline in comparable sales, supposedly because it was such a rainy, miserably month, nobody felt like shopping — and certainly not for summer clothes. But if that's the case, why were sales in the largely sunnier month of May down 4.2%? We think it's the economy, stupid. [Crain's]
• Abercrombie alone saw sales tumble 32% on last year. And a lot of companies' spin-off brands — like Abercrombie's now-closed Ruehl — are suffering even worse. American Eagle's Martin + Osa isn't faring well, and Aeropostale's Jimmy'z has already closed. J. Crew now thinks it priced offerings at its Madewell spinoff too high. [WaPo]
• And the apparel crowd doesn't expect the back-to-school season to be much better. [WSJ]
• One sector that still has the luxury of 35% margins: online, members-only designer sale e-tailers, like Gilt Groupe, RueLaLa, and HauteLook. They have virtually nil marketing costs, and their small inventories actually enhance demand by creating scarcity. [WSJ]
• New York-based fashion chain Scoop, which is being sued for employment violations by 17 ex-staffers, is allegedly behind in its payments to numerous of its creditors, too. "They're unresponsive in their accounts payable department," said Gary Wassner, president of Hildun Corp. "They're not cooperative. They're not providing any financial information to make any kind of analysis of how they're doing. In today's market, it's important to be transparent...Clients are shipping at their own risk." Rosenthal & Rosenthal's Michael Stanley said, "We're very concerned about the status of the account." Robert J. Wichser, a representative of Scoop's owners, says the company is "financially sound" and currently looking for a new CEO. The last one left in February, which is when Hildun Corp. says the company stopped paying its bills. [WWD]

[Sydney, April 29. Image via Getty]