This was the most forgettable season of Project Runway. I knew from the very beginning Irina was the most talented of the bunch, and none of the other designers really compared. Carol Hannah and Althea are good, but not great. Personally, I think both tend to be one-note in their designs. Carol Hannah ALWAYS makes dresses. Althea ALWAYS makes low cut tops that are a little oversized that she features on a braless model, which I think is slightly unflattering.

I'm a little disappointed Epperson didn't make it farther, as I thought his designs were pretty nice and perhaps the only real challenger to Irina.

But in the end, I came away unimpressed with this season as a whole. Moving to L.A. was a bad idea. Not having mainstay judges Kors and Garcia hurt the show. Having celebrity judges certainly didn't help (Lindsay Lohan? ..Really?) Heidi Klum seemed like she didn't do much this season. And Tim Gunn did a little too much. Did we really need him backstage at Bryant Park telling everyone they were running out of time? or eating with the families of the final three?

It's a shame, because Project Runway WAS a good show at one time. If they do another season they really need to find designers with real talent so it's more of a competition.

The one thing I've never understood about any of these designers is why do they all dress so awful. The things Althea and Carol Hannah wore were straight out of trash bins with no style whatsoever. It's amazing to me that season after season, with the women, this is always the case.

Irina's collection was cohesive, but "cohesive" translated into "boring". Dull as dishwater color palette, too many pieces with the same silhouette, a lack of the infamous 'wow factor'. Vision, certainly, but limited, and no faults with the tailoring.

Althea's was similar, but a lighter shade of dull. I thought maybe the judges might see her collection as 'understated, but elegant'. No such luck.

Carol Hannah took the prize for my money. I just took another look at her collection and the difference is stunning. There's not that strong a thematic sense of cohesion (though I could see some consistency of silhouette), but her vision tied it all together strongly enough to outweigh that, and the style, taste, impeccable construction and creativity put her easily ahead of the other two.

Interesting bits. According to Tim Gunn in the L.A. Times, we saw some video editing artistry last night. There was no crowd when the designers did their introductions.

"Owing to the fact that we couldn't reveal to the audience who the finalists were, we wanted to tape their introduction before the audience came in. We had to do a pre-fashion show, and we taped the whole thing. Through the miracles of editing, it's going to look as though the designers are speaking to the audience, but there isn't one."

Also, Irina is a former student of his. Make of that what you will. I don't make much of it myself. Tim Gunn strikes me as very ethical and straightforward, and beyond that he's not a judge anyway.

Someday they will show us Gordana's line or someone will post a copy made while she showed at Bryant Park, because, of course, she did show and that was reported in February when the actual runway happened.
In the end, this season was not so much. Talk about a lack of cohesion: With rotating judges there is no follow-through on if the designers get the message from one episode to the next and the new judges have little or no knowledge of what has been criticized.
I was sad that with all the time to correctly edit this series, it was still so boring. That tells me it was truly unexciting if this is the best they could do.
If model/host Heidi Klum is the centerpiece of judging, then we are in trouble.
At the end, the transvestite won (do the helmets effectively project phallic symbolism or what) and that is breakthrough enough for me.
The next season has already been taped. Nina and Michael are there for almost every episode. So they can edit until January and produce a better show.
As all the contestants are under contract for a year after the final show airs, don't expect to hear from any of them again.

Truthfully, I think Gordana's line would've been much more interesting than any of these 3 ladies' designs...

I'm with the post-ers about me. I loved Carol Hannah's looks, I'd wear most of them if given a chance and a place to sport the lovely gowns. But I agreed with the judges that Irina's was the most interesting and cohesive of the three.

I'm just excited the next season starts so soon! In January!

http://www.orble.com/teevee-project-runway-finale/

i really like Althea's collection, but i do agree with everyone that it was a show of separates. if i am honest with myself, the only reason i didn't want Irina to win is because it validates her horrible personality, but i did love her aubergine pants.

I liked Carol Hannah's the best. Irinia won because she has been the best all season. You can't just give it to someone because the finale was better.

I think they had to force the suspense as I believe it was Irina going in and all the way. Personally I like Carol Hannah as I like soft dressing and romance but it was always going to be Irina. I might not love Irina's personality, she really has crazy talent -- some of those sweaters were so unique and to die for. What irks me is that Althea was runner-up, just no way her stuff merited that.

I would have loved to see a collection from Epperson, Ramon, or Gordana or even Shirin over Althea.

I think Suzy stole some of Ben Stiller's hair gel from Something About Mary :-)

As much as people disliked Irina's personality, they have to admit that she was consistent all season. She had a vision since day one and it was apparent. She edited her clothes well and they were well made. She's not someone you necessarily want to have coffee with, but she is someone with a future in fashion.