In the second installment of the all-female finale, Althea, Carol Hannah and Irina were on an even playing field when it came to concept, good models and makeup consultations.
Going into the final runway show at Bryant Park, it was anyone’s game!
When it comes to drama, the final show did not disappoint. Irina and Althea’s similar taste caused some conflict when it came to the makeup consultations (both wanted to use smoky eyes!), and Carol Hannah was still fighting off a major bug.
The show was filled with tons of running around, last-minute additions to the designers' last-minute 13th looks and help from their PR partners. Nevertheless, these ladies had to get it together! It was their final chance to battle it out on the runway and impress the final judges: Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and guest judge Suzy Menkes.
Althea gets funky and futuristic.
Let the show begin! Inspired by sci-fi movies of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the judges thought that Althea's pieces were well-made and wearable, but they complained that her collection lacked cohesion and might have been a little TOO down-to-earth. Missing a much-needed splash of color, it seemed to be a collection of opposites, with each piece looking great individually but out-of-place when you put 'em all together.
C.H.'s elegant and impeccable tailoring
Carol Hannah's tailoring was top-notch per usual. The best at playing with color, her blue one-shoulder draped dress (psst! This one was her 13th and final look, too!) wowed the judges. Her collection was by far the most creative out of the three remaining designers. But overall her pieces didn't mesh well, and she did not have a collective theme.
Black is ALWAYS chic...but did Irina go overboard?
The judges gave Irina a hard time for using so much black in her designs. Her collection was inspired by “what it takes to survive in the city as a woman,” and obviously, her urban inspiration ultimately served her well! Heidi praised her collection, saying it was, “sleek, modern, cohesive, and it told a story.” But the judges applauded Irina for her attention to detail, from hair to makeup to the warrior-like helmets that each model wore.
And the winner is...
Not only did Irina win a fashion spread...she also snagged a Paris vacation and $100,000! We can’t wait to see her designs on future catwalks!
BLOG IT OUT! What do you think? Should Carol Hannah or Althea have won? What other contestants would you like to see make a collection? What were your favorite pieces of the evening?
-Claudia Notarangelo
Photo Credit: myLifetime.com
BY CAITLIN R. ON 11/20/2009 12:02:00 PM 68 COMMENTS