Anna McCraney Wins "The Fashion Show"

Tonight design teacher Anna McCraney won Bravo's Project Runway replacement The Fashion Show. Compared to the other contestants, she was the only one with restraint and marketability. She falls somewhere between Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters on the aesthetic chart.

As for the other finalists: I have no idea why James Paul's origami bullshit (he's often like a way less wearable Yamamoto, isn't he?) even made it to the finals aside from the fact Reco gave the judges no choice by busting out a bedazzled Tello's/Joyce Leslie/Texas pageant fiasco all over the runway. I'm also pretty sure Reco was a Dave Chapelle character. Daniella's collection was okay, but aside from a couple of the sequined numbers (which I would probably wear) all the sheer fabric got a little too Fly Girls for me.

I just want to make a side note about the "version of the winning designs for sale on BravoTV.com" situation. In nearly each case, a terribly sad iteration of the designer's winning piece was created and then sold for a laughable price (upwards of $99.) Supposedly James Paul's blobby black dress "sold out." Really? I think that may be a lie. Look at the Fashion Show designs for sale and tell me what you think.

Bravo's Fashion Show Winner Announced Thursday

Voting has closed, but tell us - which of these designer-wannabes would you pick to win?

James Paul's designs

Daniella's designs
Anna's designs

Who should win?
	James Paul
	Daniella
	Anna
	They all suck
pollcode.com

Check Out the Project Runway Season 6 Cast

While I've actually enjoyed Bravo's replacement "The Fashion Show" (admittedly just as a Mizrahi fan) most of y'all have dissed it and are waiting impatiently for the 6th season of the original Project Runway.

The show is now on the Lifetime Network (a tough pill to swallow for the straight male fans out there, no? I know there are PLENTY of you...) and the premiere slated for Thursday, August 20 at 10 p.m.

The panel of judges has not changed (designer Michael Kors, editor Nina Garcia, token idiot Heidi Klum and fashion mentor Tim Gunn) but the cast of course has. Lifetime just recently posted bios and portfolios for this seasons crop of sartorial competitors on the network's new official Project Runway page.

The Fashion Show: Review

The basic components of Bravo's "Project Runway" replacement "The Fashion Show" are the same - near-impossible challenges, team projects, judges wandering through asking questions while looking concerned (minus the elegant Tim Gunn "elbow hold and two fingers on the cheek" pose), runway showdown, and tense elimination round. The judging panel formula is also basically the same - gay designer + useless idiot + aging fashion powerbitch + guest judge. The exception being that the Tim Gunn figure actually sits on the judging panel at the end, instead of handing the baton to another designer.

For a "knockoff" it wasn't half bad - and it had a few subtle differences that gave it an edge in terms of charm - first and foremost, Mr. Isaac Mizrahi. He's hilarious but kind, and he seems genuinely engaged in the process. He's not just there to zing the designers about their final product Kors-style. To compensate for his lack of entertaining cruelty, I forsee Mizrahi treating us to some emotional breakdowns in the later episodes during judging.

Watching Project Runway I always found myself yelling "what the f*ck do you know? You model mall underwear!" whenever Heidi shared her opinions on design. I feel the same level of disbeleif and annoyance whenever Kelly Rowland opens her over-glossed lips. Seriously? You're a Destiny's Child leftover. Interchangeable with any Go-Go member that isn't Belinda Carlisle. Nobody cares what you think!

So how is The Fashion Show different? For one, the contestants seem genuine. Over it's 5 seasons Project Runway producers fell into a Real World-style casting format where you could clearly see who was filling the shoes of which contestant from the previous season.
"He's supposed to be the Jay, and he's the new Santino..." and so on.
It got old, and turned me off to the show in the end. On a whole, The Fashion Show's contestants are far more likeable and seem to be less flamboyant. That is, with the exception of a 40 year old Guatemalan elf-monster that calls himself Merlin (pictured at right in an equestrian Star Trek uniform of his own design), who is nothing short of disgusting in every way.

The sad part? I'm not yet convinced The Fashion Show cast is of the same caliber of design skill as past PR casts, but that remains to be seen. So far they have called silk harem pants, tube skirts and super-short bolero jackets must have pieces...

The Fashion Show is on Bravo Thursdays at 10 p.m.
Watch episode 1 HERE on Hulu.