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Seriously though, it fully illustrates something I've noticed after spending some time looking through posts on various sections of this message board i.e. that the division here isn't so much between the Wendy haters and the Wendy lovers, but between the creative types and the non-creative/anti-creative types.

I too am creative (visual artist) and have always loved fashion from an artistic/creative standpoint. I don't necessarily buy or wear the clothes that I see, but I adore looking at them, imagining the creativity that went into them, the craft that put them together physically i.e. garment construction, etc. since I also sew. So when I saw Project Runway, I thought prayers for more artsy type TV, vs. the DIY scrapbooking crafty lady crap we normally see, or fashion as makeover shows, had at least been partially answered. I saw every episode from day one, and fully thought it was a competition..almost more like a documentary than a "survivor" type reality show...you know, being on Bravo and all. I mean, had it been on the Fox Channel or something, I may have at least had a clue. And I'm not a huge TV fan, but really worked myself around Bravo's schedule, and when I couldn't watch, I taped the show for later viewing. I so enjoyed seeing the challenges, and watching unfold before me the CREATIVE PROCESS...how the designers would pull from thin air, as creative people do, works of art. Good bad or ugly. And when it was ugly, or slightly missed the mark, I could relate. And when it was great, wow! I mean, a dress out of corn husks or a beach chair. Amazing. I can't even imagine the thought processes there.

So here are all these creative people, more or less like me, wrestling with these almost impossible challenges and deadlines. And one who is talking about strategy, how she wants to use other peoples weaknesses against them to win etc. etc. Hello? I think you're on the wrong show, my dear. There is no way your Big Brother/Survivor tactics are going to help you if you're no good.

And again and again I watched, as this person wasn't eliminated when she clearly should have been. But it was okay, because I knew eventually she would be. And when she turned on Austin and said he wasn't a good leader I thought, okay this is it. The judges will clearly see that she's not a team player...because it is obvious from the footage that she did nothing to contribute to the team i.e. telling Austin about her concerns about the dress as Vanessa tried to do. And Austin, oh Austin. Turning in Vanessa because she didn't sew as well, even though she at least provided you input...where Wendy told you everything you were doing was fantastic, only to stab you in the back for not being a good leader. Basically the same thing with Kevin. If she thought he wasn't a good leader, than as a good part of the TEAM, she should have at least said something rather than playing the passive aggressive sucking up game she played with him. In fact, the only time she talked about being part of the "team" was when she turned her back on her good friend Morgan (the model) and eliminated her because she knew the "team" wanted her gone. Give me a break. The only reason she was able to be nice to Morgan was because she didn't feel threatened by her...as she clearly was by the ages, differing mindsets, lifestyles, and talent of most of the others in the group. Argh.

But as a non-creative person or one who is threatened by creative people, I would not be interested in anyones talent, or clothing construction, etc. etc. I would look for personalities or people I could relate to and root for. So over and above the whole "controversy" factor that Wendy brought to the group, which I think was just a side benefit for Bravo casting, Wendy brought something else. The "O" factor, i.e. appealing to the every woman Oprah Winfrey type watching folks who couldn't care less about art, creativity etc. I think Bravo knew that they wouldn't have a strong enough draw with the purely creative faction, and they needed someone with broader appeal. Like I said, the fact that she chose to meet this challenge as a survivor type reality show and use subversive and passive aggressive tactics as her strategy, vs. focusing completely on creativity, design, and pure talent was probably just a bonus for Bravo, and their ratings. And this isn't to be "elitist" as some have said. I can no more relate to Wendy and her mindset than a non-creative person could relate to that of someone like Austin's or Jay's, Kara Saun's, or even Mario's. Different kinds of minds are just attracted to different things, that's all.

I think the fault here lies in Bravo's inability to clearly communicate that this was no more a competition of creativity than something like Big Brother or Survivor. Sure, they had to pull something passable out in the end to send to Fashion Week...so they did have to have some talent there. And I'm guessing that Banana Republic wouldn't completely compromise what integrity it has by backing a show with no talent. But judging from the results, and from the perspective of a creative person, they may as well have had a bunch of people pretending to be designers to see how many people they could fool as cast someone like Wendy...or at least keep her in as long as they did purely for demographic and/or ratings.

I'm sorry to say it, but you can't have it both ways. You can't have a controversial "reality show" with a broad ratings draw and keep the integrity of a show with an actual premise. Which is why everyone here is so po'd at one another. One group thought this show was a reality show, and in their minds, Wendy played the "best." And the other group is offended to their creative cores that someone who didn't deserve to, got as far as she did. and you can't really blame either side. Both were tricked and mislead to some degree imho. Which is probably fine with Bravo, since the creatives are in the minority...again, probably their rationale in including the "everywoman" in the first place. Oh well. Hopefully another cable channel will take Bravos concept and present it with a little integrity. You know, for the rest of us who don't merely want to be "entertained." *sigh*

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It seems every one is picking on Wendy, and I happen to like her and I hope she wins. She really hasn't done anything to any one except react to what people have done to her, and quite frankly people have been truely unfair to her and I would have reacted the same way.
She's the only one who's at least from this planet. God forbid if the under dog won! They are all just jealous of her and are acting very childish about it. That's my thoughts.

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When did having an opinion become reprehensible? People may refer to the Wendy fans as "one-hit wonders" because we just didn't have the time or inclination to post to these message boards that are inundated with "regular" losers. Well, unfortunately, we've finally decided to voice our opinions along side the rest of the Austin flame-boys, Jay emo-punks, and the Kara pro-martyrs.

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Wendy's designs may not be couture, but who walks down Fifth Avenue or any other street in couture. I will never see anyone wearing Kara's magenta Chinchilla inspired jacket. Why? Because a Chinchilla is a squirrel-like rodent, and rodents are ugly. Jay's outfits are great for the emo-inspired punks of this world. Great, leave it to the unwashed miscreants to decide what the next "big thing" is going to be. I mean, how dare we mainstream forget that the weirdos are the only ones with any "creativity." "We like to make clothes that don't 'fit the norm'; therefore, we have TALENT." No, you have a personal style. I won't even touch costume design flame-boy. Join a theatre company.

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These designers will go nowhere, except maybe to the Surreal Life on VH1. Anybody stupid enough to watch a reality tv show, or sign up for a reality tv show, and expect something other than a reality tv show should be dragged out into the street, shot, and put out of their misery. On what planet have you been living?

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Thanks for the check Wend! I'll give it to the equally corrupt Catholic church to help buy back your soul. Apparently Kara has a direct line to God.

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Seems like, some of you are hating on Kara Saun, its obvious that she is the best and she's going to win this.. i mean all her designs are well put together, outstanding, and extrodinaire, so i dont know why yall going around saying [censored] like "aww i just cant seem to see threw her work" or "or i just dont like her style" ah shut that [censored] up you all know she tha [censored] so...

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wow. I guess wendy must be the anti-christ. maybe we should take her out back and beat the living snot out of her.

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I just wanted to say that after watching the show last night, it's obvious that Austin was the one that marked on Wendy's picture. You could tell by his body language when Heidi was telling them to be grown-ups and confess which one did it, he rolled his eyes and laughed. Then he said, "Well, whoever did it, did it out of uncontrolled anger and it's silly and I don't think we should even be talking about it anymore". Could you be more obvious? I'm sorry to say that I suspected Jay at first but being malicious really isn't his style, he likes to watch things happen, not really make them happen. I was really bummed when Austin was cut but since I know that he's the one that did that, I believe that the decision was the right one. He's obviously got some issues that either stim from a psychological problem or immaturity. Either reason, he needs to grow up or get some help before he tries out the professional world again. I think Austin really made a mistake and lost some fans last night, women with children (which let's face it, probably make up most of the Bravo viewers) are not going to take kindly to his antics.

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Wendy's designs may not be couture, but who walks down Fifth Avenue or any other street in couture. I will never see anyone wearing Kara's magenta Chinchilla inspired jacket. Why? Because a Chinchilla is a squirrel-like rodent, and rodents are ugly. Jay's outfits are great for the emo-inspired punks of this world. Great, leave it to the unwashed miscreants to decide what the next "big thing" is going to be. I mean, how dare we mainstream forget that the weirdos are the only ones with any "creativity." "We like to make clothes that don't 'fit the norm'; therefore, we have TALENT." No, you have a personal style. I won't even touch costume design flame-boy. Join a theatre company.

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These designers will go nowhere, except maybe to the Surreal Life on VH1. Anybody stupid enough to watch a reality tv show, or sign up for a reality tv show, and expect something other than a reality tv show should be dragged out into the street, shot, and put out of their misery. On what planet have you been living?

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This following quote from the Boston Globe disgusts me. Even though I suspected the producers kept Wendy in for drama, I though they truly hadn't intended for her to make the final three, but that they screwed up by having O'Dell judge. Guess not...

(in response to Austin being eliminated in leiu of Wendy in the last challenge...):
"It's the kind of drama that Bravo president Lauren Zalaznick said the television network was aiming for when it created the reality program"

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/ar...les/2005/02/17/
project_runway_is_true_to_form/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--
+Living+%2F+Arts+News

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Seriously though, it fully illustrates something I've noticed after spending some time looking through posts on various sections of this message board i.e. that the division here isn't so much between the Wendy haters and the Wendy lovers, but between the creative types and the non-creative/anti-creative types.

I too am creative (visual artist) and have always loved fashion from an artistic/creative standpoint. I don't necessarily buy or wear the clothes that I see, but I adore looking at them, imagining the creativity that went into them, the craft that put them together physically i.e. garment construction, etc. since I also sew. So when I saw Project Runway, I thought prayers for more artsy type TV, vs. the DIY scrapbooking crafty lady crap we normally see, or fashion as makeover shows, had at least been partially answered. I saw every episode from day one, and fully thought it was a competition..almost more like a documentary than a "survivor" type reality show...you know, being on Bravo and all. I mean, had it been on the Fox Channel or something, I may have at least had a clue. And I'm not a huge TV fan, but really worked myself around Bravo's schedule, and when I couldn't watch, I taped the show for later viewing. I so enjoyed seeing the challenges, and watching unfold before me the CREATIVE PROCESS...how the designers would pull from thin air, as creative people do, works of art. Good bad or ugly. And when it was ugly, or slightly missed the mark, I could relate. And when it was great, wow! I mean, a dress out of corn husks or a beach chair. Amazing. I can't even imagine the thought processes there.

So here are all these creative people, more or less like me, wrestling with these almost impossible challenges and deadlines. And one who is talking about strategy, how she wants to use other peoples weaknesses against them to win etc. etc. Hello? I think you're on the wrong show, my dear. There is no way your Big Brother/Survivor tactics are going to help you if you're no good.

And again and again I watched, as this person wasn't eliminated when she clearly should have been. But it was okay, because I knew eventually she would be. And when she turned on Austin and said he wasn't a good leader I thought, okay this is it. The judges will clearly see that she's not a team player...because it is obvious from the footage that she did nothing to contribute to the team i.e. telling Austin about her concerns about the dress as Vanessa tried to do. And Austin, oh Austin. Turning in Vanessa because she didn't sew as well, even though she at least provided you input...where Wendy told you everything you were doing was fantastic, only to stab you in the back for not being a good leader. Basically the same thing with Kevin. If she thought he wasn't a good leader, than as a good part of the TEAM, she should have at least said something rather than playing the passive aggressive sucking up game she played with him. In fact, the only time she talked about being part of the "team" was when she turned her back on her good friend Morgan (the model) and eliminated her because she knew the "team" wanted her gone. Give me a break. The only reason she was able to be nice to Morgan was because she didn't feel threatened by her...as she clearly was by the ages, differing mindsets, lifestyles, and talent of most of the others in the group. Argh.

But as a non-creative person or one who is threatened by creative people, I would not be interested in anyones talent, or clothing construction, etc. etc. I would look for personalities or people I could relate to and root for. So over and above the whole "controversy" factor that Wendy brought to the group, which I think was just a side benefit for Bravo casting, Wendy brought something else. The "O" factor, i.e. appealing to the every woman Oprah Winfrey type watching folks who couldn't care less about art, creativity etc. I think Bravo knew that they wouldn't have a strong enough draw with the purely creative faction, and they needed someone with broader appeal. Like I said, the fact that she chose to meet this challenge as a survivor type reality show and use subversive and passive aggressive tactics as her strategy, vs. focusing completely on creativity, design, and pure talent was probably just a bonus for Bravo, and their ratings. And this isn't to be "elitist" as some have said. I can no more relate to Wendy and her mindset than a non-creative person could relate to that of someone like Austin's or Jay's, Kara Saun's, or even Mario's. Different kinds of minds are just attracted to different things, that's all.

I think the fault here lies in Bravo's inability to clearly communicate that this was no more a competition of creativity than something like Big Brother or Survivor. Sure, they had to pull something passable out in the end to send to Fashion Week...so they did have to have some talent there. And I'm guessing that Banana Republic wouldn't completely compromise what integrity it has by backing a show with no talent. But judging from the results, and from the perspective of a creative person, they may as well have had a bunch of people pretending to be designers to see how many people they could fool as cast someone like Wendy...or at least keep her in as long as they did purely for demographic and/or ratings.

I'm sorry to say it, but you can't have it both ways. You can't have a controversial "reality show" with a broad ratings draw and keep the integrity of a show with an actual premise. Which is why everyone here is so po'd at one another. One group thought this show was a reality show, and in their minds, Wendy played the "best." And the other group is offended to their creative cores that someone who didn't deserve to, got as far as she did. and you can't really blame either side. Both were tricked and mislead to some degree imho. Which is probably fine with Bravo, since the creatives are in the minority...again, probably their rationale in including the "everywoman" in the first place. Oh well. Hopefully another cable channel will take Bravos concept and present it with a little integrity. You know, for the rest of us who don't merely want to be "entertained." *sigh*

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WELL SAID! >>>APPLAUSE!!!<<< I swear, you should be a public speaker! You understood and laid out the two sides PERFECTLY!

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Wendy's designs may not be couture, but who walks down Fifth Avenue or any other street in couture. I will never see anyone wearing Kara's magenta Chinchilla inspired jacket. Why? Because a Chinchilla is a squirrel-like rodent, and rodents are ugly. Jay's outfits are great for the emo-inspired punks of this world. Great, leave it to the unwashed miscreants to decide what the next "big thing" is going to be. I mean, how dare we mainstream forget that the weirdos are the only ones with any "creativity." "We like to make clothes that don't 'fit the norm'; therefore, we have TALENT." No, you have a personal style. I won't even touch costume design flame-boy. Join a theatre company.

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FYI: Emo people are extremely clean. I believe the term you're looking for would be "grunge?"

Blonde, flannel, torn jeans w/bleach and dirty = grunge
Scrawny, band shirt, shiny black hair and puppydog eyes = emo
Hott = both!

Dunno how our Ms. Chinchilla will deal with your derrogatory comments.

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These designers will go nowhere, except maybe to the Surreal Life on VH1. Anybody stupid enough to watch a reality tv show, or sign up for a reality tv show, and expect something other than a reality tv show should be dragged out into the street, shot, and put out of their misery. On what planet have you been living?

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Yeah, that Kelly Clarkson girl was just a fluke of nature.

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