Don’t expect to find Suede down in the dumps. After getting the boot on Project Runway last week, our favorite third person narrative has emerged with his glass half full. “The world is next for me,” Suede optimistically remarked. “So many doors have opened,” he predicts for future endeavors. Whilst in an interview, of course Suede was questioned about the tense situation on the show. And to our surprise, Suede’s answer included some tidbits about war and the economy.

“I certainly can explain it. It’s fun, it’s not meant to be taken so seriously, it’s cheeky, and let’s face it, we’re living in a world right now where the economy has gone into hell in a hand basket, our environment is in a lot of trouble, and the world is just not a great place, we’re still at war. If I can throw some humor out of speaking in third person, it’s really not that serious, and I think we have a lot bigger issues in this world to worry about than what tense I’m speaking in.”

While we do admit he has a point, one has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Definitely not the answer we were expecting, but we’ll take it.

Thanks to NYMag for the tip!

Is it just me, or are the producers of Project Runway Season 5 really scrambling for for creative challenges these days?  Wednesday nights used to mean an hour of neck to neck fashion design, but now, having sat through challenges for drag queens and designs made of car parts, I am reluctant to even turn on the television. Really people, this isn’t fashion design. This is a contest to see who smoked so much weed in high school that they have the ability to make garments out of used tires and table cloths. 

And last nights episode just put the cherry on top of an awful season. Not only did designers have to create outfits inspired by different music genres, they had to design it for a fellow competitor! You call that a challenge? They didn’t even have to take the other designers style or preferences into consideration! Basically, the challenge was to create a music inspired Halloween costume for someone who isn’t a 00. Let’s take a look how the garments turned out:

Korto’s punk rock design for Suede had him looking like he got stuck in the washing machine. Bleached jeans. Chains. Sideways studded belt. Torn strips on a shirt. This is what you need to win? Suede looks like a tool…and a woman.

Kenley’s hip-hop design for Leanne looked like clothes for one of those borderline slutty, pathetic Bratz dolls. Those have got to be the most unflattering pants I’ve ever seen…and what’s with the 80’s print shirt? Personally, I think little Miss Bitch and Moan should have gone home last night. 

Uhh, so did Suede decide to skip the rock and roll designing and send Jerell straight onto the runway? This looks like something he would wear on a daily basis (minus the ridiculous head pieces or military hats). And those pants…a bit too tight. Those of us who watched last night got a zoom-in on Jerell’s family jewels. 

My props to Leanna who had to design around Korto’s trunk junk, but if it weren’t for plaid, I wouldn’t have known this was a country inspired design. Anyone else notice the pucker of fabric in Korto’s crotch?

Jerell’s pop design for Kenley wasn’t trashy, but it sure as hell wasn’t flattering. Kenley looked like a slightly sexed up version of Hannah Montana with silver cups over her AA sized boobs. Really, I could find this exact outfit at Party City in the clearance section. 

Anyone else miss Christian Siriano or Jeffrey Sebelia just as much as I do? At least they were talented. So long Suede. Your awful blue mohawk and irregular third-person commentary were fun while they lasted. Here’s to you Corey…

This is what love looks like.

Thanks for the photos BRAVO TV!

SPOILER ALERT: For those of you who actually care about this half-ass season of Project Runway, you may want to scroll down, because I have the photos from the soon to be aired final episode. There was some good, a few bad, and a whole lot of ugly. For those following this season you know that they are down to six finalist. Due to the progress of the show all six designers get to show at Bryant Park. So technically you don’t need to get to the final three to show at Bryant Park, although your collection will be edited out of the final show. Oh Well. Who do you think will make up the top three? Judging by these collections I’m going with Kenley, Korto, and Leanne.

The Good

Kenley

Leanne

The Bad

Joe

Jerrell

The Ugly

Suede

Korto

Jerrell

Last week on Project Runway, Natalie Portman helped Suede win the grand prize: seeing his dress made and sold on Bluefly.com. Today Bluefly announced that the 150 re-creations of Suede’s winning design it put up for sale at $286 sold out in less than a day. Wow! That’s amazing. Here’s what Suede had to say about it:

“I was so excited about this challenge and really wanted to win. Selling my dress on Bluefly is the opportunity of a lifetime. I knew I had to pull out all of the stops to impress this client and especially celebrity judge Natalie Portman, and Suede, “ROCKED IT!” And, now to see the customers responding to my “winning look” like this what a thrill. It is a million times better than immunity! Suede LOVES that!!!”

Thanks NY Mag for pointing this out.

For a mag hag such as myself, I’ve often yearned for a magazine that was just for me and others like me—brown twenty-something young women with an affinity for innovative, high fashion and an unconventional disposition toward style. Then one day back in 2004, in the magazine aisle of my former campus bookstore I found Suede, and it was bliss. The edgy and creative fashion and beauty spreads, the overwhelming presence of multicultural (not just eastern European) models, and the pithy, refreshing articles were enough to make me fidget with anticipation for next month’s installment. And then, just like that, it was gone. After four measly issues, my number one was no more, at least for the time being.

Recently, while reminiscing and wondering when this supposed hiatus (said Essence) would come to an end, a doubtful Google search turned up a petition to bring back my beloved publication. As I eagerly signed and added my impassioned two cents, I became hopeful that maybe, for once, bigwig heads would pay more attention to public demand instead of the needs of advertisers. First Suede, now Jane…it just sucks to see the good ones go. Here’s to hoping they’re listening. And pour a little liquor for Jane too.