LONG before you heard about it, we heard straight from the clotheshorse's mouth that Laura was going to be judging one of the challenges. "Does this mean I'm going to be in one of those 'Judging the Judges' posts?" she asked in an email. "No," we replied, "But it does mean you're sitting your ass down for an interview." And so we did.So, what was like being a judge this time as opposed to a contestant?
Oh my god, it’s so much easier being a judge but it’s kind of sad because on the judges’ side of the runway everyone is so casual and ‘Hi!’ Gossiping and all that kind of shit. In the chairs, on the other side you know how they feel. You know that to them it’s like a life changing thing.
But I was still gossiping and stuff. All Heidi cared about was her macrobiotic salad from Angelica Kitchen. "Is it here yet?’ ‘Is my salad here yet?"
So, was it difficult making a decision knowing that you were going to send someone home?
No, because in the end, I don’t know much about the personalities, I just went based on clothing, and I went based on the clothing on that challenge right there in front of me.
You don’t see any sort of portfolio on them? You don’t see any of their past work?
No.
So, you’re basically judging based on what you see right there in front of you?
Right, so the guest judge only sees what's there and you see it for the first time when it walks out on the runway, just like it looks on television.
And no music…
No music. The music gets patched in after.
And what did you think of the work in general?
It was great. First of all, they told me that it was the best work of the season yet. And second of all, it was one of those challenges that tend to push designers the same way our recycling challenge did; when you’re forced to use materials that you’re not comfortable with. That’s when the best and the worst are going to rise.
It’s definitely easier being a judge than it is being a contestant.
Why?
Because you don’t feel the pressure. It’s not like a life changing thing that’s happening to you at the moment. You’re not putting your heart out there for everyone to love or crush, you have no idea which one is going to be. It’s easier than I thought it would be. There really are clear, for me personally, there really were clear winners and losers and the things that were wrong I completely understood what the problem was and had no problem sort of verbalizing it. And the things that were right I was able to say, it looks great because… I really found that I was able to express the reason behind my particular feelings about the clothing.
Have you been watching the show?
Yes. I’m a big fan.
Who’s your favorite?
I like Korto. I think she’s very talented and I understand that as reality television her personality is not one of those that…what I’ve seen of her work on the season, I think it’s very her but there’s variety in it. I think her volume and silhouette is something sort of unique. I really like her work. I think that she’s so quiet; she doesn’t make good reality television.
Not like Stella.
No, not like Stella.
They were pretty shell shocked sitting there in the chairs, I mean, you could tell by then that they were tired; after a few challenges you really start to get worn down and nervous.
And when was that shot?
I was there at noon and it did start shortly after I arrived. They probably got to the workroom at seven or eight and by one their garment was on the runway.
And you’re pleased with the winner and the loser?
Oh, absolutely. For me, it was clearly between Korto and Leanne. They both had beautiful garments. Leanne, you could tell that she was so nervous the whole time she was on the runway. She knew she took a risk and when you take a risk it can go either way. It looked amazing but just as easily someone could’ve said ‘that makes her hips look huge’ but she placed it in such a way that it almost looked like huge hip bones as opposed to huge hip fat. It was a risk and when you take a risk, it pays off. You can’t beat that. Korto’s coat was beautiful, so for me, it was very close between the two of them but because of the risk factor in Leanne’s we gave it to her.
It’s interesting that you said Korto is your favorite designer but you still voted for Leanne at the end, as the winner. That’s good judging.
I was basing it on what was in front of me. And you have to remember that when I was judging I hadn’t seen all her work. I only saw the work that was on the runway that day.
It was a toss-up. If the other judges had leaned one way or the other I would’ve been happy to give it to either one of them. Now as far as loser, it was very clear to me which of the two was lower.
We were surprised that Stella was on the bottom. You’d think that kind of challenge that...
Right. You just gave her leather. Use the leather. It didn’t have that rock-and-roll thing going on, she tried to do something more elegant she shouldn’t have but I hope that she sticks out and makes it farther.
Based on what was on that runway, there was no doubt that Keith's was the clear loser. Now that I’ve seen the season, I’m at peace with my vote. I remember Keith kept claiming ‘but I’m cutting edge’. He did something that looked very Mallware, looked very everyday Mall. There was no clear idea. I’ll try this here, I’ll try that there. There was no overall concept or idea.
And Blayne?
Blayne had an idea, he just executed it strangely. As a matter of fact, he made this move and he did it in a weak way that you couldn’t tell if it was a mistake or if it was a deliberate move.
What was the deal with that "Excuse me?" you threw at Keith?
Editing. At some point I said "Excuse me" because he mumbled so much I couldn't hear what he was saying but they edited it to look like I was arguing with him.
So, how did it feel to be back at Parsons?
Everyone was nice. It wasn’t scary. I didn’t have some sort of post-traumatic stress syndrome or anything like that. Michael Kors is always very chatty, very nice to me and he always compliments me. He said “I talked about you the other day. I said you were my favorite.” And Tim Gunn is always nice. Tim Gunn complimented me on sort of the constructive qualities of my criticism and how I was able to use appropriate language to talk about the designs.
Many of our readers thought they picked you to be the judge because of the recycling challenge and although you haven’t won that challenge, everybody remembers your dress.
I was called as the judge at eleven asking me if I could be there at twelve because Nina wasn’t feeling well. It wasn’t like "Oh, Laura, she’s so fabulous; we have to have her back." The truth is that I live ten blocks from Parsons and I could be there on short notice. And Fern stepped in for Nina the next day.
What was Rachel Zoe like?
She had a person doing her hair the whole time. I think her critique was OK. She knows about clothes.
She doesn’t know how to dress people.
She does if they’re going to a 70s party.
All her clients dress exactly like her.
That would be like if I tried to be a stylist. I would dress everybody in a black dress. This is why I would never be a stylist. I would have all these mini Lauras.
[Screencaps: Projectrungay.blogspot.com]
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9/3/08, 7:52 AM
What a neat interview. To finally hear from a judge and know what's going on, to know how the deliberations went, if only a little bit of them.
I'm really glad that Laura "gets" Korto's approach, too. That gives me hope.
Thank you so much, TLo and Laura!
9/3/08, 7:56 AM
That was very interesting, great interview. It's nice b/c she is someone who knows what she's talking about, is honest and not full of BS. Kind of like a female Tim Gunn. I love her comment on Rachel Zoe as a stylist - spot on.
9/3/08, 7:59 AM
i love how she wasn't even supposed to guest judge, Christian was.
But he was busy
9/3/08, 8:11 AM
Laura Bennet: "All her clients dress exactly like her.
That would be like if I tried to be a stylist. I would dress everybody in a black dress. This is why I would never be a stylist. I would have all these mini Lauras."
And what is wrong with that. Come be my stylist, so I can be a mini Laura too.
9/3/08, 8:16 AM
She doesn’t know how to dress people.
She does if they’re going to a 70s party.
Bwahhh!Laura doen't mince words.
I wasn't surprised about Heidi and her salad either. You can tell they don't give a crap about the contestants. It would be better if they did, you know, actually want one of the designers to be a success after the show.
9/3/08, 8:23 AM
Where do I sign up to be a mini Laura!?
9/3/08, 8:26 AM
Love her! Thanks for the 'peek behind the scenes.'
The comment about Rachel Zoe is priceless!
9/3/08, 8:28 AM
Of course the judges don't really care. It's all about the money.
9/3/08, 8:31 AM
"She doesn’t know how to dress people.
She does if they’re going to a 70s party."
I'll take that as a very diplomatic way of Laura saying Ms. Zoe is a one-note stylist with questionable taste....
Thanks for the interview TLo, always a great job.
It also begs the question: is it that the judges aren't on crack, but that with hunger and low blood sugar levels they make the decisions they do?
I'd hate to be the PA when Hungry Heidi comes looking for her salad.... :)
9/3/08, 8:33 AM
I am not too surprised by the comments about heidi and her salad either. But I think it's at least partly a case of the judges not allowing themselves to care much about the contestants. From the get go, the judges have kept a distance from them.
I recall from S1 when Vanessa listed that amongst her many complaints of the show. I think in a contest like this, the judges can't get to know or care about them as people. After all look how easily some people slam or praise a designer and their work and it's clearly influenced by their personal feelings towards them.
Frank
9/3/08, 8:50 AM
Gawd I love Laura! Especially her take on Rachel Zoe. Laura is the master of damning with faint praise.
9/3/08, 9:00 AM
Thanks for the interview, guys! I loved having my suspicions confirmed about the editing of her "excuse me" to Keith. Also, Laura is always fabulous- also love her self-depracating comment about how they only wanted her because she could get there on short notice (not that I believe it)!
9/3/08, 9:08 AM
Thanks for the interview! Great to hear from the view from the judges' chairs.
9/3/08, 9:10 AM
Thanks for the interview. I appreciate that she reminded us that, going into the judging, she knew nothing about any of the designers.
I have to agree with Frank about the judges maintaining emotional distance from the contestants. I think this is one of the strengths of PR, and one of the weaknesses of Shear Genius. On SG, the judges get all mixed up in the short challenges. In PR, rarely have the judges inserted themselves in a challenge. And, even when they have done so, it has been to introduce the challenge: They are not in the workroom, and only see the results on the runway.
The comment about there being no music added to my understanding of the judging. I had never thought about the strangeness of the experience; sitting there hearing every footfall of your model, people shifting in their chairs, as well as the ambient noise of the production crew.
Also, I understand that Rachel Zoe was there to plug her new show, but it drives me crazy that the many of her most high-profile 'clients' have apparently suffered from an eating disorder while employing her. (IMHO)
9/3/08, 9:12 AM
Thank you, Tlo! Such a candid and intimate take on the judging/challenge.
9/3/08, 9:13 AM
LOVE HER! She's fabulous!!
9/3/08, 9:14 AM
She does if they're going to a '70's party- Zing! ooooh, good one, Laura!
Great interview of one of my all time favorite PR designers, kittens
9/3/08, 9:15 AM
But I wanna know what was the deal behind The Duchesses stinky face when Keith left the runway!
Surely there's gotta be some dirt on that?
9/3/08, 9:16 AM
You bitches are so lucky hanging out with fabulous Laura. Love the interview!
P.S. Is my donut and bagel with extra cream cheese here yet?
9/3/08, 9:17 AM
"I am not too surprised by the comments about heidi and her salad either. But I think it's at least partly a case of the judges not allowing themselves to care much about the contestants. From the get go, the judges have kept a distance from them.
I recall from S1 when Vanessa listed that amongst her many complaints of the show. I think in a contest like this, the judges can't get to know or care about them as people. After all look how easily some people slam or praise a designer and their work and it's clearly influenced by their personal feelings towards them.
Frank"
I agree with you. I don't expect them to care about the contestants on a personal level. But I think the judges aren't taking it the judging very seriously. They don't seem to care whether the "right" person is eliminated from the competition or what an important chance showing at Bryant Park could be for a designer who is serious about a career designing clothing.
9/3/08, 9:21 AM
great way to start the day with our fabulous laura!
thanks boys....JEALOUS AGAIN
9/3/08, 9:23 AM
Another Suburban Mom said...
Laura Bennet: "All her clients dress exactly like her.
That would be like if I tried to be a stylist. I would dress everybody in a black dress. This is why I would never be a stylist. I would have all these mini Lauras."
And what is wrong with that. Come be my stylist, so I can be a mini Laura too.
THANK YOU!
PS: If Laura styled people, they wouldn't be constantly asked if they're still wearing their nightgowns. Because of Rachel Zoe, LA is nothing but a Mu Mu party w/ bug sunglasses.
Hate this ridiculous maxi fad.
9/3/08, 9:24 AM
Because of TLo introducing us in a more intimate way to these designers - we begin to care for them as the judges do not - and it all adds to their possible success after the show. We know we would never have gotten to know Laura without this blog.
Stella's style is quite alien to Laura - but in maturity, spirit and integrity they are not all that far apart. I would add Elisa to that group - and,perhaps in twenty years - Leanne.
9/3/08, 9:30 AM
La Bennett always on point. I always thought that Korto's jacket could look like something she would have made. It kind of embodies her asthetic.
As for Heidi, I always thought that she got the BEST editing from the PR production team to make her seem nicer that what she actually is. She always struck me as rather detached, cold, and sometimes downright contentious of everyone around her, as if they weren't worthy of her presence.
If you see her in unscripted moments, (which are rare) she looks like she would rather be shot than to be caught interacting with the designers, or pretty much anyone who isnt Seal.
9/3/08, 9:33 AM
GAWD is she fabulous or WHAT? Talented, not uppity but just a pinch o' bitch. LURVE HER!
9/3/08, 9:34 AM
Now that you have given your minions a little taste of what your conversations are like between Laura and yourselves, may I please request a transcript of all of them? How fun would that be?!!
Like a fly on a well decorated wall.
9/3/08, 9:40 AM
This interview was fabulous. Did she say anything about Michael Kors? That man is such a dick. They should replace him permanently with Laura! (Nina is too amazing to be permanently replaced.)
9/3/08, 9:42 AM
Anonymous said...
This interview was fabulous. Did she say anything about Michael Kors? That man is such a dick. They should replace him permanently with Laura! (Nina is too amazing to be permanently replaced.)
Read it again.
9/3/08, 9:43 AM
I love Laura! I wish she had her own show with Tlo as guests.
9/3/08, 9:45 AM
FABULOUS! What a nice morning surprise!!
Laura is definitely of the most interesting designers on the show. I can only imagine what a conversation with her over coffee or salad must be like.
9/3/08, 9:50 AM
"She doesn’t know how to dress people.
She does if they’re going to a 70s party."
OMG, that is hilarious. Love, love, LOVE her. Laura Bennett is the walking, talking definition of class itself.
9/3/08, 9:54 AM
I lurve Laura. How wonderful to get the inside scoop.
And you lucky bitches are FRIENDS with her!
9/3/08, 9:59 AM
Love her! Thanks boys!
9/3/08, 10:04 AM
Laura said:
" I would have all these mini Lauras."
Jaysus honey; that would be bad in what way? Perhaps we would be able to do away with flip-flops as office wear.
Oh, and was Chica really sick, or just filing for unemployment that day?
9/3/08, 10:09 AM
We always get the straight (turtle) poop from Laura. One of the many reasons to love her.
Agree with what Frank and ProfP said in their comments.
Nice look behind the scenes. Thanks Boys.
9/3/08, 10:10 AM
Grand interview, many thanks, Boys! What insights - they enable us viewers to appreciate how those decisions are made - at least by the rotating judges. Obviously the Duchess, Frau Seal and NinaGarciaNoLongerFashionEditorofElleMagazine (when in attendance) evaluate a competition's offerings with the knowledge of the work done in the previous challenges. The guest, though, is a tabula rasa. One wonders how often that fresh, un-previously-influenced viewpoint is a tipping point in a close decision on winners and auf-ers.
The Fabulous Laura Bennett Shelton reinforces her intelligence and critical faculties here. And versatility and nimbleness - a last minute fill-in judge, called an hour before she had to be on the set.
If she ever wanted to lead some sort of Laura-Posse in NY, I'd happily be an inaugural acolyte and stalwart devotee!
All the best,
NDC
9/3/08, 10:11 AM
What a great treat!! Thank you so much for the Laura buzz!! I would so love to just sit down and talk to her.
Between Heidi's salad, and Rachel Zoe's 80's esthetic, this was one really enjoyable post!!! (But they ALL are enjoyable, how does one pick any one over the other??).
9/3/08, 10:15 AM
Oh, I see. It's ok to call a man dick (Anon @ 9:40), you just can't call a woman a cunt. Shock.
9/3/08, 10:19 AM
Laura rocks!
9/3/08, 10:21 AM
Isn't she fabulous? I want to be her, I want her shoes....sigh.
Thank you so much for this, boys!
9/3/08, 10:36 AM
Well, this interview confirmed my sneaking suspicion that there is, in fact, no music being played during the actual runway. I figured, but I had hoped I was wrong, haha. Imagine how awkward that must be.
9/3/08, 10:37 AM
runway show, rather*
9/3/08, 10:53 AM
What a great interview--and how wonderful is Laura??? She is so smart and so mature and so...gloriously bitchy when the situation warrants! Love the Zoe comment to death!
One thing: I'm horrified to know that there is no music when the judges are seeing the garments on the runway. Howcum??? There's always music in actual runway shows and it adds so much. I have even more respect for those models, now that I know they're just striding along in total silence!
And like everyone else, I too want to be a mini Laura, so Laura? If you did have any interest in being a stylist, I think you could count on a line a mile long outside your door!
9/3/08, 11:11 AM
Laura Loves Laura!
9/3/08, 11:28 AM
Great interview, very very articulate! Maybe it's all those years as an architect and going through all those assessments of the work in progress with others that just makes it natural for her to give constructive criticism.
Hats off to her, and I'm glad to learn that "Excuse Me" was done via the editing process. I thought it was something like that. Reality TV depends on edits like this, and they did it well.
And I agree with your assessment of Rachel Zoe. There are other stylists I've met who I like a lot more, and really bring out the person rather than making them all look like Mary Kate and Ashley Olson.
9/3/08, 11:29 AM
Oh, Laura, my sweet. I hope to pass you on the street one day.
9/3/08, 11:32 AM
This was great. Thanks, TLo! Great fun to get some inside scoopery.
9/3/08, 11:43 AM
The other day I thought, "Laura's fabulous, and I can definitely understand why they had her back as a judge, but wouldn't it be funny if one of the main reasons they called her is because she lived so close? Like, oh crap, Nina's bailed the and judging's in an hour. Quick, someone call Laura Bennet! She can walk here." And that's kinda...exactly what happened.
We all know they wouldn't have called you if you weren't fabulous though.
9/3/08, 11:48 AM
So let me get this straight: With one-hour notice, our Laura got her shit together, hauled her fashionable butt to Parsons and managed to look both amazing AND composed for the judging. I love her. Yes, I know she has a nanny (nannies?) for her kids, but I can barely get my act together within an hour just to go to Target, let alone judge a fashion show.
She truly is a superhero.
9/3/08, 11:51 AM
Laura is fabulous! Thanks, boys!
9/3/08, 11:52 AM
Laura,
The world would be a much more stylish place if we all dressed like you. You rock, girl.
9/3/08, 12:11 PM
I wouldn't mind having Laura as my stylist and being a mini-Laura. :)
9/3/08, 12:35 PM
If only I could look like a mini-Laura -- but I would always look like a big fat thing in a black dress -- some of us live more vicariously thru project runway than others
9/3/08, 12:53 PM
thanks for the interview! awesome Laura Bennett as usual!
I was happy to hear from her that the guest judges don't have any idea of the contestants' portfolio or previous work in the challenges, it gives the judges team with a truly objective voice that reflects only the challenge of the day, I think that's smart.
I loved her comments about Rachel Zoe!
9/3/08, 1:10 PM
Actually it came out like 2yrs ago that there's no music accompanying the girls on the runway. Also the air conditioning gets shut down because the system is too noisy
I recall both the Duchess and model Clarissa from S3 mentioning this. It's a wierd thing for sure and says something about the models' ability to sell the outfit
Frank
9/3/08, 1:15 PM
Having a bunch of little Lauras running around wouldn't be a bad thing!
So interesting to know they called her in at the last minute.
9/3/08, 2:09 PM
ITA with Jenster about how impressive Laura is:
phone call,
pulls self together
gets to Parsons
looks great
Time elapsed (one hour=priceless)
9/3/08, 2:18 PM
After reading the interview, this further demonstrates why I love Laura Bennett! She's smart, beautiful, impeccably stylish, witty and possessed with a sharp tongue!
Girl's keeping it real!
What a treat, tlo! Thanks!
9/3/08, 2:35 PM
Love Laura. Also impressed with her ability to pull it all together and be there in a flash to judge this challenge. But that's totally Laura. Who can forget the interviews where she described dressing frumpy as a "slippery slope." And how true that is.
We're almost the same age, and I completely agree with Laura that if you dress dumpy and frumpy, even around the house, you will feel that way. That extra 15 minutes to look and feel good is time well spent.
Odds are when she got that call she was already looking fabulous.
Great interview. Thanks tlo!
9/3/08, 2:45 PM
"Grackle Girl said...
Odds are when she got that call she was already looking fabulous."
I bet she was. Thanks, Tlo! That was fun!
9/3/08, 2:55 PM
OH MY!
this interview is fabulous. I love how she's so point-blank, so no bullshit, so Laura. Especially the fact that she says she's a last minute fill in for Nina.
Googling Laura Bennett in season 3 is what led me to this blog in the first place. I LOVE HER!
9/3/08, 2:55 PM
Great interview!
One other question I would love to ask is:
How "present" are the producers during the judge's private deliberations? And how involved in the conversation about who should win and who should be aufed?
The rolling disclaimer flashed on the screen at the end of each episode tells us that they exert some power, but I'd love to know how they go about it.
9/3/08, 3:35 PM
Laura can style me as a mini Laura any time she wants. I'd be embarrassed for her to see my wardrobe -- it's all jeans and T-shirts, really -- but I'd love to have her dress me. (Not like that, ya perverts!)
9/3/08, 3:36 PM
Very cool, Tlo! Thanks!
9/3/08, 3:44 PM
I want Laura as my BFF. She's so elegant and so tart.
I first came upon PR while Bravo was running a Season 3 marathon. And there was Laura--pulling off what most of us matrons of a cerain age can't manage. And that was it. The addiction was total and instant.
Laura rules.
9/3/08, 3:54 PM
Maggie at MagsRags said...
How "present" are the producers during the judge's private deliberations? And how involved in the conversation about who should win and who should be aufed?
The rolling disclaimer flashed on the screen at the end of each episode tells us that they exert some power, but I'd love to know how they go about it.
In an episode of After the Sew, Jane Lipsitz said that they only intervene when there's a tie between the four judges. Take that with a grain of salt.
9/3/08, 4:39 PM
Thanks T Lo for Laura's peek behind the curtain. My favorite part: Laura doing this last minute and looking far more pulled together than "Where is my salad?" Heidi. Of course, she also looked far more pulled together than Rachel Zoe, but that is not nearly as difficult to accomplish.
9/3/08, 5:53 PM
Ahhhhh...I've been away for almost a week, and I really missed you guys!
The whole time I kept thinking, 'I really need to get an iPhone so the next time I'm away from my computer I can still read this blog!' I seriously needed my fabulosity fix.
In any event, I return to another fabulous Tlo interview, with the equally fabulous Laura (and a brilliany comic from Alex!)
It's good to be home.
--GothamTomato
9/3/08, 6:33 PM
"She doesn’t know how to dress people.
She does if they’re going to a 70s party."
Hahahaha how true and how classic Laura.
9/3/08, 7:30 PM
Heidi sounds like she is just an empty-headed twit who doesn't actually care about the show or the contestants...or maybe it is that model thing where they are just so damn hungry. Who knows.
LOVE the dish about how they edited the comment with Keith. In the past when folks said they had been edited, like VictorYA last season, I always thought "yeah right." Now I sort of wonder how often it does happen. Maybe Mean Girl isn't that mean (hopes upon hope cuz I love Kenley). I liked the idea that Laura got a little bitchy with Keith though.
9/3/08, 8:12 PM
So inquiring minds want to know....what conversation took place btween keith and Laura that was cut out? Was Keith being a jerk to Laura? What was he whining about?
Laura is still my all time favorite fabulously glamorous PR contestant.
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