'Project Runway' Recap: The Winner Is a Major Letdown!

on October 27, 2011 at 11:03 PM

project runway anya ayoung-chee Tonight was THE night! The Project Runway runway finale featuring the moment we've all been waiting for: New York Fashion Week and finding out who was crowned the winning designer of season 9. Four made it this far, to show at Fashion Week: Kimberly Goldson, Joshua McKinley, Anya Ay-Young Chee, and Viktor Luna. While the designers themselves claimed they believed that, at this point, it was "anyone's game," I'm not so sure.

The first half of the show was spent tidying up or completely overhauling their 10-piece collections, which was made a WHOLE lot easier once Tim gifted them with $500 to spend in 30 minutes at a last-ditch trip to Mood. Anya clearly had the most to gain from this, being that the judges were not so pleased with her mini collection. She also seemed to be the one who had been at the greatest risk of being out last week.

So it wasn't all that surprising that she grabbed a ton of totally different fabric (mostly black, white, and flowy) and got to work making all new looks. Kimberly and Joshua also seemed to be doing minor overhauls, while Viktor seemed to be simply perfecting his line and creating a couple of new (and, let's be honest, totally flawless!) designs.

But before we knew it, it was on to the runway at Lincoln Center. And I've gotta say, you could really see that Anya "pulled a rabbit out of a hat" at the last minute, whipping out 10 flowy, delightfully Caribbean looks. Seriously -- how on earth does she do that?! But ultimately, I thought her looks seemed very "one-note" like Michael Kors said. Like you could buy them in a shop on a beach vacation, but that's it. On the other hand, Josh had a soft-meets-hard, fun, bright, edited-style, solid collection ... although I wasn't really in love with the neoprene and electric green shorts! Kimberly presented her modern, gorgeous, urban-glam vision. And Viktor's self-made prints mixed with clean-tailored black looks were absolutely impeccable, exquisite, and definitely editorial. His was my fave.

But in the end, the judges gave the grand prize to ... ANYA. OH. MY. GOODNESS!!! The rationale was that they could see what an "Anya line" and "Anya following" would look like, but isn't that just like how you can visualize what you'd wear to the beach? Sigh. I'm not saying the woman didn't make some beautiful pieces, but seriously, I feel a bit gypped. Where's the tailoring? Where's the diversity? How many versions of the same dress can one line have? How could all different types of women in various climates wear her looks? Not gonna happen. Like the judges said, not every woman can "float around" in a caftan all over the world all the time. Laaaaaaaame! Ah, well. Hopefully, someone who knows better was paying attention at Fashion Week and will give Viktor a call. Because his pieces were the ones that will truly sell.

How do you feel about Anya winning?

Image via Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

About the author Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

Filed Under: project runway, accessories

Comments (20)

Nonmember comment from Tiffany M

on Oct 27, 2011 at 11:50 PM

I knew 5 episodes ago that Anya would win tonight. Not because she's an amazing designer or tailor, but because she has been the judges favorite the entire season. This is not to say that she isn't talented, because she is. I just don't think her win was 100% based on her skill as a designer. As you said, her clothes are very one note. Oh well, best of luck to her in her career.

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Nonmember comment from Some Poster

on Oct 28, 2011 at 12:36 AM

After an hour of Project Runway followed by an hour of that waste of time known as Project Accessory, I guess I must have spaced out during After the Runway at some point. Can someone please tell me who won fan favorite? I know it was between Anya and Anthony Ryan, and one of them won, but I thought last season's winner presented a check to this season's winner. Did I miss that entire thing?

kkey75

on Oct 28, 2011 at 12:47 AM

I loved Anya's collection. Every piece was beautiful. I liked pieces of the rest but there were several in the other collections I didn't care for.

Nonmember comment from kate

on Oct 28, 2011 at 12:57 AM

Anya had no new innovative or interesting ideas or designs. It was the same look and silhouette week after week and model after model on the runway for FW. I understand that this is not Project Seamstress, but I think the esteem of being the champion of Project Runway is knocked down quite a bit when it's bestowed upon someone with no construction skills or range. Anya was judged on a huge curve. Viktor and Kimberly's collections were stronger. Much.

Nonmember comment from anya!

on Oct 28, 2011 at 1:35 AM

anya has been my favorite since the beginning.. i LOVE her sense of color & pattern in the fabrics she chooses ~ she has RARE TASTE.. and an impeccable eye * though i liked viktor too this year & there were a couple of amazing pieces in the runway show by kimberly ~ anya is the only designer in all the years of project runway that has excited me and i am thrilled she won!!! (even though i won't be able to afford her clothes now ;)

Nonmember comment from lalah

on Oct 28, 2011 at 2:35 AM

I'm pretty much heartbroken that Viktor was placed third. He had some missteps in his collection but his strong pieces were stronger than anything else I saw on the runway.

LittleFrogsMA

on Oct 28, 2011 at 3:22 AM

I think Viktor was by far the best FASHION designer in the group. But I thought Mondo was a better designer and frankly, there were few winners that I have agreed with.

Anya is an artist who is currently using fashion as her medium. I think why Anya was winning and kept winning is that she talked about her pieces from as an artist would do. She has vision, a keen understanding of line and color but she doesn't understand fabric. I think they were swayed by the artist in her.

Do I think she deserved the win? Probably not. Do I think she got it because she was a beauty queen? No. She got it because she's an artist.

Nonmember comment from Kristine

on Oct 28, 2011 at 3:55 AM

Just happy Josh didn't win because of his attitude. I think he is creative, but most of his clothes too bright, bedazzled & funky. I thought Viktor would win and was surprised at the outcome. From the judging (they were confused this year) they said what will Anya do next collection and how did she do that so last minute? Not even really taking in the entire season and I think they were blinded & impressed b/c she just learned how to sew. The problem is I root for and like them all (except Josh) personally. Did I miss a reunion show? The after the runway is not the same as a reunion.

lauraloft

on Oct 28, 2011 at 10:06 AM

I'm disgusted! Anya's designs over Josh's??? Or in fact any of the others? I don't understand it. She does nice work, but the other contestants fashion week designs were superior to hers. I couldn't help thinking Anya's had the flavor of "Oolie (sp?)'s designs. Remember her? She was the German girl, one of the three several seasons back. She created a lot of those kind of flowing dresses. The other designers had 'fashion forward' and original looks (which I thought the project was suppose to be all about). I don't think I can ever watch the show again.

Facebook comment from Anita Muncy McArthur

on Oct 28, 2011 at 12:53 PM

Anya and Josh didn't even deserve to be on the runway. When it comes to creativity, beauty, and consumability; Viktor and Kimberly were pretty much tied.

Anya has never designed anything. Not really. The clothes she showed have been made and sold millions of times.

And Josh... don't get me started. Has he ever designed anything that anyone NOT on crack would wear? His clothing is so ugly.