It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, it’s Project Runway!

Okay, confession time…after last night’s return of the long-awaited Project Runway ‘lost season 6′ on Lifetime, I’m ready to do the ‘Meaty Cheesy Happy Dance‘ *(see end of article).

I even missed my normal Thursday night date with USA’networks ‘Royal Pains‘ to satisfy my long-delayed Project Runway craving.

Was it worth it?

Yup.

I admit it, in the recent Project Runway TV void, I tried to like Bravo’s ‘The Fashion Show’ -- a weak attempted to recapture the success (and audience) of Project Runway. But, even an episode of ‘The Fashion Show’ that was dedicated to shoe-themed challenges could not get me past my loathing for the overly-catty confessional-style emphasis of this show.  It was “Project Runway meets The Surreal Life” ……**Shudders**

I just could not enjoy the orchestrated drama and juvenile name-calling, let alone bring myself to actually care about the contestants or judges enough to come back and watch it week after week.   Plus, no amount of cheesy catch phrases like “You’re hanging by a thread”, and “Sorry, but we’re just not buying it” could replace the warmly mentoring personality of Tim Gunn or the occasionally harsh but generally informative critiques of Heidi Klum and Michael Kors. The whole dynamic was a no-go for me.

I want talent. I want creativity. I want to see the contestants’ creative processes and maybe get some idea of who these people are both as artists and designers.

Let’s hope last night’s premiere was the start of a whole new Project Runway love-fest: A whole new crop of designers. A new city (Los Angeles). New sponsors (Macy’s Accessories wall, anybody?)…and a gang’s all here reunion of Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn and Michael Kors.

Too much good stuff:

• A past-contestant reunion competition -- the “All-Star Challenge” -- featuring eight former runway alums competing for another shot at seed money.
• The season 6 premier episode -- a red-carpet challenge!
• A behind the scenes aftershow ‘Models of the Runway’. (Not really my thing, but I’ll reserve judgement for now.

This season 6 premiere episode was a ratings monster. It was seen in 3.78 million households.

Wow.

Did you miss it?

No worries, Lifetime is replaying episodes tonight.

For your daily listings, check the schedule here.

Now, back to the happy dance:

* Just substitute ‘When I say Tim, you say Gunn’  for ‘When I say Meat, you say Cheese’ in the lyrics…..Woo Hoo. It’s dancin’ time:

Okay, so I am that excited.

Summer Wardrobe Accoutrements

I have freelance assignments that require me to be on my feet all day long sometimes. For that reason, I absolutely love shoe inserts, and have tried the gamut. There’s a new kid in town, though, and it’s Dr. Scholls’ Adjustable Arch Pain Orthotics. They come in light, medium and high adjustable arch support levels, with little arches that go on the bottom of the inserts, and they’re a wonder! When I’m going to be working or shopping or walking all day, I do high. When I’m going to be sitting most of the day, I do light. And when I’m going dancing, I do medium. Hurrah!

Of course, I got them at Duane Reade, the New Yorker’s answer to everything. I also spied these wonderfully helpful items at DR and snapped a photo of them.

Who doesn’t need these in the summer? Hollywood also makes a variety of other very helpful items, like wardrobe tape.

Thanks to Twinkletoes, I use Topstick like a loyal maniac, especially on a DVF wrap dress that has the tendency to come peeking open at the decollete at the most inconvenient times, like when I’m helping some poor woman carry her baby stroller down the subway steps (I was horrified! Gasp! I couldn’t put the baby stroller down mid-stairs and I didn’t have a hand free to adjust!). Luckily, major wardrobe malfunction was prevented ever after by Topstick, a men’s grooming tape that they use on the runways and that you can get at Manhattan wardrobe supply stores. Now, I can just buy a similar tape Hollywood makes at Duane Reade.

Double Hurrah! Here’s to a comfy-footed, wardrobe functional summer!

Bill Cunningham Spies Gladiators and Flower-Matching Fashion

I have a great deal of affection for Bill Cunningham, as I’ve mentioned before. Bill bicycles around New York and snaps fashion photos for the New York Times slideshow On the Street.

A couple weeks ago, Bill went to the Greenmarket, as New York’s urban farmers’ market is called. What he saw there included Marimekko and some wicked calf-high gladiator sandals, as well as clothes to match the flowers. It finally feels like summer, and as Bill mentions in this video, eyelet lace with venting and summer dresses are finally in order. That calls for keeping the sandals out for a good several weeks at least. I don’t see any reason to put away the summer sandals and white dresses at Labor Day, honestly.

I love Bill’s voice and his observations of New Yorkers that we are too busy to really realise sometimes in the midst of all our running around busily. He’s one of my favorite New Yorkers, and that says a lot. He has an impeccable eye and a wise, charming view on the joys of street fashion that I cherish.

Enjoy!

(Un-)Styling Beyonce

We all know Be loves Zanotti. But I was surprised to see her styling this McQ dress. I worship Alexander McQueen, but this dress has no structure, and very little style in my opinion. It looks like a mistaken babydoll dress grabbed off the back racks at Topshop. I’d much rather have Michelle Williams’ hip wardrobe than Be’s flashy wardrobe, but you’d think she’d try something hip from his line for once and not this sad sack of potato-lumpiness fallen off the vegetable truck. Ok, cruelty switch off.

We can all (well, most of us) give three non-snarky cheers for Be’s boots, which are fabulous Zanotti zip ankle boots that I saw at Saks a few weeks ago. Check out the whole outfit’s deets and purchase links here.

I suppose Be wouldn’t really find it easy to wear some of what were my favorite McQ looks with her curvaceous bodacious self. But I would like to see her inject a little Rihannaesque oomph in her divalicious style vixen looks. A little bit of hipness could do her good. As much as I love the Zanottis, they’re pretty predictable, don’t you think? I’d love to see her in lesser known, vintage brands personally picked out for her by a great stylist.

Some of my favorite McQ looks she could have adapted for herself with a tailoring tuck, dart, ruffle or flounce here and there. Just because a look is severe doesn’t mean you have to keep it that way. Sometimes, also, a very feminine, voluptuous body can be very well contrasted with severe looks with occasional feminine touches. I know it’s hard to visualize, but imagine how sexy she’d look in these outfits with some adjustments.

Tailoring at the waist and a different belt on this look would do her right:

A playful flower on the lapel and a sequined or sheer high-necked or lace camisole under this jacket would also do her right:

Rachel McAdams in Christian Louboutin Pigalle

I think Rachel McAdams is cute.  She is promoting a romance movie with Eric Bana.   He is cute too.  Real Cute.   Anyways, Rachel arrived at the premier of this movie wearing a pair of Christian Louboutin Pigalle pumps.

When I saw these shoes on the web site I thought they were nice.

$565  at Saks Fifth Avenue

In fact I had been thinking about using my piggy bank money to buy them.  However, when I see them on Rachel, I am not so sure.  I don’t like the amount of toe cleavage that shows.  When she walks it looks like her pinkie toe is trying to come out.

I typically don’t mind toe clevage, but this is a little too much for me.   Cross one more shoe off my lust list.