Ripping the Collections: Laura, Part Zwei

Thursday, October 26, 2006 by





And here is a perfect example of why we kept our mouths shut about the collections until we could see them move, because we did not like this dress at all when we saw the pictures. Our first thought was "She looks like a muppet wearing a mantilla."

On the runway however, it was absolutely gorgeous. The way the feathers delicately shimmied and flounced...loved it.

Nina, put the crack pipe down. "Is she creative? I don't know." Oh please.





We keep referring to this one as the Krystle Carrington dress. Lorenzo loved it right off the bat, but it wasn't until we saw the video that Tom started loving it too. It's not for every woman and yes, one could argue that it's "mature" (if one defines mature as "having a near-flawless body"), but it moves beautifully and the "lattice" detailing is absolutely stunning.



We half-love this dress. Meaning, the bottom half. The skirt is beautiful and delicate and the beadwork on the bottom is outstanding. And while we love the idea of a feathered bodice, it didn't quite work. The feathers are beautiful but the effect is a little breastplate-y. Xena, Warrior Princess at a cocktail party.




*standing ovation*

We could wax rhapsodic, but suffice it to say, we absolutely loved this dress. Just stunning. And check it, when she comes down the runway you would swear the beads were moving in time to the music. You don't have to be a good dancer in this dress. In fact, you don't have to dance at all. The dress'll do it for you.

By the way, Laura designed all the ribbon shoes.



"Laura had no range! She only did floor length gowns, mini-dresses, separates, shorts, jackets, pants, and shoes!"

Right.

Sexy and sophisticated. Take notes, Michael. The one and only quibble is that the beading on the sleeves looks a little too heavy to us and the chartreuse against the black is a bit much.







Girl, we fell out.

That fucker is GORGEOUS. The MOST beautiful thing that went down the runway - out of all four shows. And Camilla worked it with just the right amount of sass, doing an ever-so-slight dip and turn at the end of the runway. That girl knows what she's doing. This is not a dress that needs the wearer throwing around a lot of attitude. The dress IS the attitude. In fact, as much as we love Nazri, this is one dress that she probably couldn't have sold as well as Camilla, because Nazri is ALL attitude.

As for the dress itself, we don't even need to say anything. Just LOOK at that. Nevermind how impressive the beading is, what we love most about it is the way she placed the chartreuse beads to make it look like they were reflecting the color of the belt.


And that's what Laura has that the other three don't: wit. There's a certain playfulness to her clothing even when it's something as classic as a beaded floor-length gown. As an architect, she has an understanding of how to use form to her advantage and to make a statement. Uli's clothes are the joy of the sun on your face, but Laura's are a smirk and a cigarette holder, a bon mot with a martini.


Laura's no fool. She knew going into it that the judges were going to say it was too expected, but her thinking here was along the lines of her thinking for the final challenge. "I'm going to do what I do best, better than I've ever done it." Win or lose, the girl had a national stage and she used it to make her statement. And why not? If you've got one shot to show the world what you do best, why get distracted with trying to prove something to the judges? Think about it: what would be more important to Laura, winning a car and a hundred grand or showing everyone that she has style, class, sophistication, wit and mad fucking skills? Go, girl.


[Photos: First View]


Post a Comment

121 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, she has wit and style and that indefinable something called class. I've named her style tongue-in-chic.

My jaw dropped when I saw the last half of her runway collection. I am saving my hard earned pennies for a Laura dress. Must have one, because I KNOW I will look sexy and gorgeous, and I'll move just like Camilla. (Well....)

Istar73 said...

Win or lose, the girl had a national stage and she used it to make her statement.

We get to see it halfway across the world.. New York to Singapore.. so I guess its an international stage after all.

The last dress is the best. Camilla has a greater walk than Nazri.

Warren

patsystone said...

I absolutely LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the Krystal Carrington dress, sans the white panties underneath. As soon as she got closer to the camera and did her turn, boom...there they were. I say give the poor girl a Brazilian and lose the undies.

Anonymous said...

Oh my God, she *is* wearing white panties! WTF?! Surely common sense would tell you that the dress needs a black thong.

It's weird, I liked the second half much better than the first half of this collection.

Hated the ribbon shoes, sorry. I thought they were stupid, and distracting. They looked like her ankles were untied.

Remember when Laura made the white dress, and it looked so plain coming down the runway, adn then Camilla turned around and it said "Not for Nuts" or something on the back? I loved that. I think too many designers (and their initials are Jeffrey Sebelia and Michael Kors) take themselves too seriously. Dude, it's a dress. Let's all keep a little perspective.

Anne

Anonymous said...

Don't the designers get to talk to the models at all, to tell them what they'll be wearing? "You'll be wearing a slightly sheer black evening dress, don't wear big ol' Granny panties, okay?"

Remember that red-headed actress at the Oscars, who wore the dress cut so far down you could see the jeweled black thong? I loved htat.

Anne

Chgo_John said...

Yes, yes, YES! Laura's collection did more for her new career than the 100k ever could. My hat's off to her for remaining true to herself.

(And Ms. Stone, you never cease to crack me up. Cheers, Darling!)

DolceLorenzo said...

Hi Boys,

I love this post. What wonderful commentary on Laura, her collection, and Camilla.

Fabulous! Thank you.

James Derek Dwyer said...

Loved the final dress, sooo beautiful. Laura's so classic yet sassy. I hope she has a lot of success moving forward.

Anonymous said...

Nothing mediocre about Laura at all.

She's fabulous, her clothes are stunning, and in a world of grown-ups, she's the clear winner.

rakshan said...

I think we all fell in love with Laura in the first challenge when she made that faux fur coat thing out of drapes and chandeliers.

That was "fabulously glamorous"!

If I were a girl, I'd want to grow up and be as fab as Laura.

patsystone said...

Did you notice when Camilla came down the runway, the entire front row just about fell out of their chairs & breaking their necks following it down? That was one of the only times during all four designer's shows that it happened. Talk about drop dead gorgeous. I imagine there were quite a few appointments to local chiropractors/massage therapists the next day.

Anonymous said...

Great commentary. I soooo claimed that gorgeous gray and chartreuse beaded thing. My favorite colors. I know Laura made that for me.

junior_goddess said...

Girlfriend needed a skin-toned thong. Period.

Wednesday nights SUCK without a new episode to run home to.

Embeedubya said...

Hey - since you guys know her, what happened to the red dress she showed Tim (and there was another one on a dress form)? What she showed was indeed fabulous. The feather stuff was a bit iffy -- Krystle Carrington yes! But that last dress, oh mama!

Anonymous said...

Love you, love Laura, but the top 2 dresses are still fugly, though they both have beautiful elements. First one did move well, but the feather skirt starts at an odd place and the model looks like she molted before the walk -- too few feathers to really "make it work."

The Krystle Carrnington dress would have looked better sleeveless -- it was beautifully made, of course, but those things on the top just looked like she had black parakeets stapled to her shoulders. Particularly during the runway walk, when they fluttered in the air.

She gets high style points for trying though, and I did ADORE the last 3 dresses. Love the woman, and I will buy that last dress as soon as it is commercially available, no matter what the cost.

Anonymous said...

Wait, I thought the belt WAS being reflected off the beads/sequins/rhinestones on the Camilla's dress.....even from the up-close view of it when Tim visited her home, I made sure to look closely and see if it was a reflection or colored beads, and for the LIFE of me I coulda sworn it was a reflection. Dayum, that woman has skills!

April

Linda said...

I loved Laura's last dress when it was on the dress form, but seeing it in motion was a whole new form of love! Did anyone else get a creepy-yet-fabulous alien vibe from Camilla's walk? It's hard to make "alien" look sexy and sophisticated, but Laura sure accomplished it!

Gigi said...

I thought Laura's entire collection was impeccable. I am beyond impressed that she did all of the beading herself. Talk about being focused - hand beading can be incredibly tedious!

TLo said...

Hey - since you guys know her, what happened to the red dress she showed Tim (and there was another one on a dress form)
We asked her about that. Tim convinced her to edit her color selection and she took all the red out. She wore the red dress with the slit for her People Magazine photo, which you can see here.
(click it to make it bigger)

Bill said...

"a muppet wearing a mantilla"

Falling out of my chair here when I should be doing my Legal Memo for class tonight.

You did a great take on Laura's talent and strengths.

I think Bravo should play a little game of Ditch the Duchess next season and put the PRGayBoys in a judges chair for two...

yawningdog said...

I would love to see Camilla in that red dress. She would have snapped necks at the runway show.

patsystone said...

OH MY GOD, is there nothing that Laura isn't capable of doing? She's about to domino and she makes that dress look HAWT! BRAVA, la Laura!

Anonymous said...

Oh, BRAVO, boys! You nailed exactly what it is that makes Laura so fabulous.

Lisette said...

Bravissima Laura, I just wish I had somewhere to wear her stuff! -a body like Camilla's would be priceless!

You guys nailed it martini and bon mots

I think I need to have cocktail party soon!

Anonymous said...

I think Tim misguided her - I think I'd have sent the red down last. Come to think of it, I'd also have done the first dress in red, the very first one.

Anne

stmkent said...

"Girl, we fell out."

See, I knew the two of you were just two black women in disguise.

Laura was totally my pick to win. Your comment about wit was spot-on; for her, I don't think this was about the 100K or the car. It was about taking the opportunity to show the world what she can do. And, child, she worked the hell out of it. Jeffrey may have won the show, but Laura won the public.

Lunar Chick said...

Project Runway only showed once here in the UK, but it was the British version with Liz Hurley presenting... it wasn't too bad but I'd much rather see what things are like on the other side of the pond... hmmm, DVDs...

Anonymous said...

What did you mean about Laura designing the ribbon shoes? Did she have the shoes made and still manage to turn out all those fabulous clothes and stay in budget?

Anonymous said...

Well, I understand y'all like the glam, but I still don't "get" the Laura love, sorry. The whole collection was HEAVY with all those beads and feathers. This was supposed to be a Spring show. And the final dress was Andrae's gutter water dress reduced to a sheath with a FUGLY belt attached that didn't match. WTF? (Camilla is awesome, tho.)

No accounting for taste, I guess. I still love you gayboys. (a muppet in a mantilla! hahahaha)

Anonymous said...

Of course she wanted the money. She cried on one episode about it, saying how she had never had the money to get started because she had so many children. I'm sure she'll get some investors because of the exposure, but I think you minimize her drive to try to win the competition.

Anonymous said...

I love, love, LOVED both the final look & the 'standing ovation' dress; the short one with the beaded fringe. They were THE best two looks in the entire finale, bar none.

If only I was a size 2 I would have bid on them.

--Gotham Tomato

Anonymous said...

What an audacious debut! Laura's presentation was orchestral in its subtle nuances with mood, intensity, sophistication and artistry working in perfect harmony to evoke emotion (and on my end -- gasps). How anyone can view any of her pieces and not think 'this is unbelievably brilliant' is beyond me. The Camilla gown was a crescendo if I've ever heard one.

If ever there was a breakout star on PR ...

Ms. Bennett, take a bow.

-Oz

Anonymous said...

I was obsessed with the shoes from the start...and now that I know that Laura designed them, I know why.

patsystone said...

Hey Boys,

did you know that Outzone now has Laura blogging? It's called "Ask Laura". Here's the link:
http://blogs.outzonetv.com/laura/

KarinGal said...

I cannot WAIT until Laura's items become available in the marketplace...somewhere, anywhere.

My only hope is that I'll be able to afford them--they could go straight to the exclusive, high-end boutiques. EIther way, she's gonna make a mint -- oodles more than if she had won this competition!

patsystone said...

P.S. Love the "gay posse" mention.

Anonymous said...

"macasism said...
Well, I understand y'all like the glam, but I still don't "get" the Laura love, sorry. The whole collection was HEAVY with all those beads and feathers. This was supposed to be a Spring show. And the final dress was Andrae's gutter water dress reduced to a sheath with a FUGLY belt attached that didn't match. WTF? (Camilla is awesome, tho.)"

Thank god someone else feels the way I do! I just figured I was completely fashion ignorant- which is true anyway. I'm sorry, I HATED this collection. All the feathers and beads, yuck. That last dress, I gagged. I absolutely hated it, especially that belt.
But that's fashion, everyone has their own tastes and we should celebrate that! :)

Anonymous said...

PRGays--
You 2 are the funniest black chicks ever (myself included!). The Divine Miss M agrees!

This collection was archetypal. It had a beauty and depth of purpose the other collections lacked. The wit & the beauty bespoke of optimism and aspiration, but didn't take itself too seriously. It wasn't just about what the woman had in her closet but how she lived her life.
I await La Laura's next move w/ baited breath!

Michael said...

GAYEST QUOTE EVER: "Uli's clothes are the joy of the sun on your face, but Laura's are a smirk and a cigarette holder, a bon mot with a martini."

Please girls, your slips are showing! But I couldn't agree more. ;-)

Anonymous said...

no serious ugly to be seen. she's right. Fabulously Glamorous. period.

Anonymous said...

Again, love your commentary, and so appropriate--I started up Laura's music and was able to listen to the music while reading your comments!

As for the "granny panties": obviously Laura was concerned for the models' modesty--she used the nipple covers for the sheer lace dress and probably asked the model to wear something with coverage, especially if she was concerned about thong lines or how the dress "hit" the model's hips or so. And since you can never be sure how things will work under the klieg lights (hello, transparancy!), I can't see Laura *ever* telling a model to go commando. Rachel Zoe maybe, but not Laura.

Anonymous said...

I'm disappointed by all the models haircuts. It needed more volume or drama I think!

Anonymous said...

Why am I always double-posting?

FYI, on the Bravo site final collection auctions, Laura's look for Camilla made the most money of any designer: $4500. Her Krystal Carrington dress was her second highest bidder at $1525. Laura's collection also brought in the most money of all four designers: $13,323. Uli was a close second at $13,225; Jeffrey at $10,490; and Michael at $4,587.

Kate said...

Except for the six kids (I'd lose my mind!) Laura is everything I'd want to be - she's sophisticated, but with a real down-to-earth sense about her, she's intelligent, she's witty, she can dish the snark as well as take it, she's elegant, she's practical, she has immense talent and ability, and she shows a sense of humor and whimsy in her work. Her clothes are spectacular. I used to think that if I were thin and rich, my closet would be full of Carolina Herrera garments. Now, I want a closet full of Laura Bennett originals. If I could afford it, I'd buy that last gown, even though there's no hope I'd ever get my fat ass into it, and put it on display as a work of art. I love her. And I mean it.

Anonymous said...

the vast majority of laura's pieces were gorgeous. understated, but brilliant. however, what was up with the formal shorts get-up with the rediculous tulle window valance stapled across the front of the jacket? i don't understand!

Brooklyn Bomber said...

anonymous said:
"I HATED this collection. All the feathers and beads, yuck. That last dress, I gagged. I absolutely hated it, especially that belt."

Well, I didn't hate it, and there's a great deal to admire (and the beading around the belt in the Camilla dess was brilliant). But I kept thinking about how Daniel Franco got auf'd for all that black lace. Remember? And I think about Laura's winning b&w dress, which seemed like something I've seen a million times, compared to Michael's asymetrical stunner (oh, Michael, why didn't we see more of that brilliance in your collection??).

Malan has a very similar (to Laura) hi-glam esthetic, but to my eye his OFW clothes were more inspired. It was old-style glam with more modern touches and more daring-- while still being wearable (mostly; there were several exceptions). When it comes down to it, Malan showed several pieces that made my heart skip a beat, whereas Laura's collection was beautiful and admirable, but didn't make my heart go pitter-pat.

Clearly, though, there's a place for her in the industry, and her desired career change seems guaranteed.

Anonymous said...

Kids, kids! I don't think it's big white panties. I think it's the underskirt or lining or whatever you call it. If you enlarge the picture you can kind of see it throughout the dress.

Aww said...

Oh, that woman! So now it's shoe design? Raising kids, painting portraits, designing clothes, fine jewelry, buildings and now stilettos? Yes, I'm awestruck. Just throw me on the pile with the rest.

BigAssBelle said...

Laura's are a smirk and a cigarette holder, a bon mot with a martini.

Precisely. Elegance. Sophistication. Love it. Love her stuff. Hope she carries on and becomes the epitome of glamour worldwide.

BigAssBelle said...

But just one question . . .

HOW DO YOU SIT DOWN ON A FEATHERED DRESS?

just askin' ~ only feathers i ever wore were the boas 'round my neck back when i was a disco queen. oh, and of course, my little queenly feathered slippers ;-) for around the house.

BigAssBelle said...

and that gray/chartreuse number. it is beyond fabulous. love it, love it.

TLo said...


BigAssBelle said…

But just one question . . .

HOW DO YOU SIT DOWN ON A FEATHERED DRESS?


Honey, fabulous people don't sit down.

XO
T&L

The Scarlett said...

The 'standing ovation' dress is an example of how just seeing the collections via Getty doesn't mean you've seen the collections. That dress was pure magic on the runway. The dress moved effortlessly even thought I'm sure it was heavy with the beading. It was one of my favorite dresses of all 4 collections ... it was young, fresh, witty and timeless.

Anonymous said...

Oh for God's sake bigassbelle, us cool people don't *sit*. We stand with an elegant drink in our hand and make witty conversation as we move from group to group, sprinkling our fabulousness like pixie dust.

Geez, do I have to explain *everything* around here?

Anne

Thombeau said...

"A muppet wearing a mantilla"! You guys are TOO MUCH!!!

Anonymous said...

The beaded numbers were great. Hated the feathers, though. And this second half is just too much black for me. I really wish she had included the red. How the heck does it fit her pregnant body when it was made for a runway model? Lots of alteration or just lots of stretch?

And about fabulous people not sitting down, I thought Laura's girls took taxis to their cocktail parties.

Anonymous said...

Laura also got the last laugh with her grey and chartreuse dress. It's final price on the bravotv.com auction was the most any buyer paid for a dress from any of the final collections, or all season for that matter. That dress was gorgeous. Bravo, Laura!

NahnCee said...

somebody paid $10,000 for Jeffrey's rags? Huh.

If I was Cher or Barbra Streisand or Bette Midler or some other song-bird chanteuse who's definitely in the mature category, I'd ask Laura to help me plan my concert wardrobe. Someone like Aretha Franklin who NEEDS (desperately) a fashion sense - I would love to see how Laura would deck her out.

And I think Laura would do her best for her client no matter how not-bony, tall and red-headed the person might be.

To me, THAT is a great designer. Jeffrey and his tattered kleenex look -- pfoooey!!!

(P.S. I love Laura's look - I just never get to go anywhere that I could WEAR clothes like that!)

Anonymous said...

BigAssBelle said…

"But just one question . . .

HOW DO YOU SIT DOWN ON A FEATHERED DRESS?"

Darling! Don't you know that fur coats are lined in silk? Very gentle on feathers and protect one's feathered booty from the backseat of those nasty NYC cabs.

Seriously, I have to say that I find Laura's lazer-beam concentration on an older, more sophisticated customer very exciting.
Middle aged women are all but invisible in the eyes of the fashion industry and it's heady to think that she could lead the way in making that demographic into a visible, viable customer that is specifically targeted and designed for.

I can smell my credit card smokin' now...

Aww said...

Red carpet fashionisti I'd like to see in Laura's gowns--

Nicole Kidman (it's definitely feathers for her)
Cate Blanchett
Charlize Theron
And was Monica Belucci born to wear black lace or am I on glue?

Anonymous said...

I agree anonymous, it's time someone was designing for WOMEN and not the Olsen twins. Let's push aside fad and bring back FASHION! Can't wait to see the influence Laura has on the way women dress!!!

Anonymous said...

And that's what Laura has that the other three don't: wit.

Exactly!!! Remember her dress for the "recycled" challenge? This simple elegant dress, and the model turns to show you it's "For Nuts Only". What a hoot!

Nora had nothing on Laura.

Anonymous said...

Okay... I've crossed over. I'm reading this blog at work. I've resisted ALL season, but I've given in.

It's alright, though. I'm the BOSS!
:-)

profp

Anonymous said...

She's magnificent. Her clothes are gorgeous. While all four finalists made "statements" (Michael's being a tad bit questionable...), Laura's is the only one that I truly LOVED.

Laura was brilliant to do what she does best. She has a following, a huge market to tap and those of us that love her don't care what the judges thought. Period.

Does this woman EVER disappoint??

Anonymous said...

I would just love to go throw some back with her at the Ava Lounge at the Dream Hotel. She's the bomb. Best collection by far.

Anonymous said...

Ladies, love the post! Did everyone notice that none of the models had trouble walking in her very full-length gowns? We had some of that trouble last year, but not with Ms. Laura. She is impeccable and a master of construction and probably better off for not having won!

Gidget Bananas said...

I adored the lattice detail on the Krystal Carrington dress, but the shoulder feathers ruined the look for me. I suggest a rule for any designer -- no extended Buck Rodgers shoulders, ever!

And boy, youse guys are all so observant -- I completely missed the granny panties. I'm actually grateful.

Anonymous said...

She used chartreuse beads?! Wow, I thought the silvery beads actually were reflecting the belt!

She's a smart one, that Laura.

Also, the crisscross dress was my favorite of her collection. So sophisticated!

Anonymous said...

2nd verse same as the first!

LOVE her collection & everything Laura.

i just got a barbie collectible catalog yesterday. 2 page spread of clothes from robert best. wouldnt laura make a FAB barbie? :)

xo
sissy

Unknown said...

"Girl, we fell out.

That fucker is GORGEOUS. The MOST beautiful thing that went down the runway - out of all four shows."
********************
Amen!

The last dress is not only the most beautiful creation of this final four but of all 3 seasons. Hell, it's a dress I would remember on my death bed. It is downright stunning.

I only wish she had removed the feathered bodice dress and replaced it with it the red dress.

I also wish she had found some way to salvage the chartreuse coat that Tim hated. But that's me.

The woman is timeless. In my opinion, ten, twenty years from now, NO ONE will remember who won this competition and the designers will have all faded. With ONE exception -- Laura. She will live on through her designs, her wit, her example to get women off their asses and look their best, and to wear red lipstick. Oh yes, and to have martinis and dish with the boys.

Anonymous said...

re: the auction. Bad daddy won quite a few of the dresses. I'm wondering (and hoping)that it's her husband. Could you please ask her and let us all know?

debimama said...

That pant suit was just the most incredible outfit out of all the collections. I want it now! So fab. And I love Laura. Her idea that fashion can make our lives better really gets me and it's so true. So pleased too that she doesn't neccesarily want to jump into the super high-end of the market (though she could) because she wants to help more women be creative and create through making patterns. I love you LAURA!

Anonymous said...

Right on, BOYZ. As a matter of fact I think Laura, Uli, and Michael ALL did their own collection in their own way for their specific audience, and it should pay off for each of them. At least I hope there are bright people out there in the fashion world who will snap them up and support their collections!

Anonymous said...

I honestly don't see why you guys fawn over her so much. Her collection really didn't look that great and I think you're looking for excuses to suck up. It wasn't an awful collection by any means but it's very obvious why Jeffrey won and Uli was closer to winning than Laura.

BigAssBelle said...

okay, okay, so fabulous people don't sit, but fabulous people . . . well, how does one lie down in a feathered dress in order to throw said dress over one's face and kick up one's heels? so to speak.

just askin' . . . and don't tell me all y'all elegant, sophisticated yankees don't have round heels just like us southern belles.

BigAssBelle said...

oh, oh, wait a minute. i get it. you throw down the mink, then you fall back and kick up your heels. or your beribboned pumps. got it.

Anonymous said...

Did you see the news that the garments from Laura's collection sold for more money than any of the other designers' at the auction? The dress Camilla wore sold for $4500!
I hope she sticks with this fashion thing, she's definitely got a market!
kath

Anonymous said...

"Nina, put the crack pipe down."
Yeah, seriously, Neens, get off the crack. No way all that shit you smoked before the runway shows was good for lil' baby Garcia.

Anonymous said...

I absolutly LOVED the fourth dress that you have standing ovation under,and the shoes to go with... just beautiful. My daughter who is 3 even pointed to that one before I said anything and said oohhh mommy I like that one and want it, and I like the shoes too!!! Fashion sense at 3, got to love it!!!

Desarae

Anonymous said...

Jas, I noticed, too, that baddaddy was the winner of a bunch of the auctions.

Even if it was hubby buying up the collection, if you look at the bid history for the winning look, there was another $4,500 bid, just came in too late.

Anonymous said...

Yes, Laura WOULD BE fab if she could lose her "potty mouth."

I didn't care for the dress with the feathered jacket on her model.
If you look at the pic, it looks as if a head is put on top of a dress.

The feathered short dress looks as if it is too top heavy.

What I don't understand is why did she try and put Jeffrey on the chopping block because he was completely finished? She would have been finished also if she didn't have to redo 4 dresses: The 3 green and 1 red.

Laura...PLEASE make yourself some clothes. I am so tired seeing you in only ONE maternity dress with the buckle in the front.

The dress everyone loved, apparently, was the last one. Do you know why I wouldn't wear it? With all that beading around the armpits, that would hurt!

Laura is a great seamstress or sewer - but does that combine with the next American designer? I think not.

My favorite outfit? The black pants and overlay in lace. I also loved the gold jacket and shorts, but I would have liked it a short skirt instead.

Laura, remember that women older than 40 need some kind of sheer sleeve so their arms don't flap.

BigAssBelle said...

oh my goodness!! . . . Laura has a potty mouth?? Where? When? Intensely potty? Sort of potty? Examples, please, because I watched every single episode and I missed it!!!

Shit! Sonofa!#@#%$% Mother$@#$@#$ ~ I love me some potty-mouthed grown up women!

patsystone said...

anonymous (of course) 6:54pm said...
"The dress everyone loved, apparently, was the last one. Do you know why I wouldn't wear it? With all that beading around the armpits, that would hurt!"

Darling, anyone with an ounce of fabulosity and a brain will tell you that with a gown that damn glamorous is NOT going to be entirely comfortable. And if you look half as hot as Camilla does in it, you can guarantee it will not be on long enough to make a difference.

And Laura a potty mouth??
Fuckin-A right she is. And a good one at that. It's one of her most endering qualities.

Anonymous said...

Laura, remember that women older than 40 need some kind of sheer sleeve so their arms don't flap.

Anonymous honey, get thee to a gym and your triceps won't flap either. I'd wear Laura's sleeveless outfits *any* day -- and I'm well passed 40.

Striking a pose to proudly show cut upper arms.

--Granite Janet

eric3000 said...

Laura definitely opened and closed with the right dresses! That last one was the best thing of the night (and apparently brought in the most money at auction).

Thanks so much for the link to her in the red dress. Although I thought the dress was cool, I'm glad she didn't have red and chartreuse fighting with each other on the runway. But I would have loved to have seen more chartreuse and less black.

Anonymous said...

Bigassbelle and Patsy Stone you two fabulous babes are something. Laura IS a potty mouth, which is why I adore and love her.

She makes "you don't just pull something like that out of your ass" sound like a love song.

Anonymous said...

Here's a tip for flapping arms. If weight training doesn't work, wave like Queen Elizabeth II, keeping your arm still and only moving your hand.

You'll look like a fool, but those flabby triceps are guaranteed to remain stationary.

Lisette said...

Patsy, Belle, Ms. Place, if you fabulous bitches wanna haul your asses over to my place -pick your poison! I'll be drinking vodka neat!

Anonymous said...

Arm flapping? We call those "Hi, Betty's!" Why? Because those things flew like the wind when grandma waved at the neighbor lady... Picture it....
"Hi, Betty!" (flap flap flap)

profp

- said...

What a great Blog! I'll stay tunned!

Anonymous said...

Think about it: what would be more important to Laura, winning a car and a hundred grand or showing everyone that she has style, class, sophistication, wit and mad fucking skills?

WORD. I just have nothing to add to that.

Anonymous said...

Wait! I *do* have something to add -- I've had that gray beaded show-stopper of a dress as my desktop background since the pictures of the collections first came out, and it was even more beautiful on the runway. Love it, love Laura, love Camilla, and love you guys for loving it all as much as I do.

Anonymous said...

As always, you guys are dead-on.

The dress that Camilla wore is HANDS DOWN the most beautiful dress to ever grace PR's runway. I mean, it's a serious GASPer.

Pageant Mom said...

As a pageant mom & ex prom date of a beatiful drag queen - I happen to like ANYTHING with beads or feathers!!!! So SHOOT ME... LOVE the dress Laura, but could you make one in RED???

Anonymous said...

Now here's something that's been making me slightly nuttier than usual (For Nuts Only) but about 3 years ago I recall fashions by a designer named L.K. BennetT. Spelled the name with a capital T on the end. The two that stand out in my fuzzy brain are a coat and a pair of sizzling pink heeled suede boots with big purple buttons up the side. Wondering if this is our own designing wonder woman's early entries into the biz?

Anonymous said...

that's Linda Bennett, out of London. You can google and find her. Not bad but it's not our Laura

Anonymous said...

nso,

The red dress was made out of jersey, which if im not mistaken has some stretch in it.

personette said...

does anyone else find themselves absolutely DIZZY with love for Laura? Im a grown man - a professional - a serious person. And yet I am reduced to absolute jelly by ms. bennett i love her so. maybe it's a gay thing.

I just can not get enough.

katiecoo said...

Lovelovelove the ribbon shoes. Although, I would, after a martini or two, demonstrate my fabulous skills in the double twist trip. :shrug:

katiecoo said...

Damn, I shoulda said "mad skillz".

Another missed opportunity.

Vic said...

does anyone else find themselves absolutely DIZZY with love for Laura?

Yes, Scott. And I'm a hetero woman. She's inspired me to pump up my wardrobe and change my makeup. Compliments have been coming my way.

Her aura works magic.

Anonymous said...

me too msplace. I teach an all day pre-k program so sometimes its hard to "dress up". Also we cannot wear heels higher than two inches or open toed shoes among other things. We can also not wear jeans. So I took that as an opportunity to look a little nicer. Im 24 and I look about 12 so Ive got a lot of compliments so I started putting a little effort into my wardrobe.

Anonymous said...

I'm the only person who loves Laura but didn't like that Camilla dress. Of course, I don't know what chartreusse (sp?) is either, so maybe I'm just not fabulous enough to get it. But there you have it.

Didn't get the ribbon shoes, didn't get the Camilla dress, would have liked to have seen more red.

I'm just not worthy.

Anne

Anonymous said...

Lisette, darlin' ~ put the vodka on to chill. Be there shortly.

BigAssBelle said...

Oh wait! Don't drink anymore. (Note to self: Must take up drinking again to be entirely fabulous.)

Anonymous said...

You have made my day and I feel much more peaceful now. I haven't even watched the last show because I couldn't bring myself to. Laura was my girl from day one, and I hated hear them rip her. She can only do one thing! Yeah, damn that girl is limited, she can only make beautifully fitted, exquisititely sewn and tailored clothing, and oh yeah, she has a point of view firmly in place. THAT will never do for a fashion designer! And you unerringly called it, she has wit. Her clothes have a wry ability to say, oh yeah, I'm gorgeous, but dude, we're not saving lives here. Thank you for putting it out there so accurately. LOVE all your comments. Mwahhh. :-D

Anonymous said...

even if i had not watched the first part of the finale show, i would have expected laura's collection to be dramatic, sophisticated, over the top let's drink martinis and dance until the sun comes up. put a mirror ball over any one of her models and watch her designs truly sparkle.

did anyone really think she would send out holly hobby or catholic school girl uniforms?

her design aesthetic is flawless, as she approaches it with a discerning eye that is fashion at its apex. i saw a couture element in every design.

istar73 said it best:
"win or lose, the girl had a national stage and she used it to make statement."

Aww said...

Miss Thing, if you are reading this, consider me tantalized by your beguiling eveningwear collection. I now MUST KNOW what you recommend for the daytime/office.

NahnCee said...

LOVED the ribbon shoes and how they strutted down the runway. What a brilliant new idea - or at least I've never seen it before.

Considering what would happen if you tried to wear them on an escalator or any of the other tricky urban battlefield settings.

And ... wouldn't you always sort of have to have background music when you're walking in them?

Anonymous said...

I absolutely ADORE Laura, but I wish she would also make clothes that were more everyday clothes. I need to wear Laura Bennett clothes NOW, but the things she makes currently have no place in my wardrobe, no matter how much I love them.

Anonymous said...

anonymous, if you'll look back to the Fashion Icon challenge, you'll see that she can make every day clothes.

That shirt and trousers are gorgeous, and I would absolutely wear them to work. (Albeit with a lower waistline on the trousers)

Anonymous said...

I have to question the wisdom of using feathers in the first place. Unless these dresses are just a one-time outfit for ladies who have so much money that they can just throw outfits away after one wearing, what is the point? After even one dry cleaning, won't the feathers all be a mashed, flea-bitten, ruined lump? This is hardly useful and, to my mind, a waste of money. The thing should at least be able to survive a few wearings before looking like a rotten squirrel nest. Where, exactly, is the concern for utility here?

Unknown said...

Have y'all seen this site?

www.i-dressup.com/fashion/Project_Runway_Laura_Bennett.php

It lets you play dress up doll with Laura's clothes. It's good because I picked up some shadings on the clothes I hadn't seen before.

Unknown said...

The url was cut-off prematurely. It should end with a ".php"

Anonymous said...

I totally adored the dress Camille wore and would vote it the best design of the season and loved the nude-colored dresses, but sorry, the Krystal Carrington dress made me think of the illustrations at the beginning of every PBS Mystery! episode. I've been calling some of the black lace dresses the Mystery! dresses.

In_Flight said...

Laura's the best. I just loved her classy sophistication. If I had to rate the designers I like best from this season, it would be: Alison(her getting kicked off scared me for life), Laura, Uli and Micheal. The rest I could have cared less.

Anonymous said...

The shoes look dangerous! I'd trip all over those floppy ribbons.

Anonymous said...

God bless Laura Bennett! And God bless you, PRGay, for all your insight.

Has no one else noticed that PR1's Josiane was in the "Xena" cocktail dress?

Anonymous said...

Hey guys,

I just wanted to say Thank you for all the compliments. I must say, I kept logging on to the blog, nervous about the commentary and I have been suprised to date on the love, which is why I have to send the love back.

Laura is my hero. She is the coolest person I've met in a long while. The world would be a much better place if there were more Laura Bennetts.

Have a Happy Holiday!

Cheers

Camilla Barungi

ps. I love Project Rungay! It's wicked!! I even have my mother in Uganda reading it now.

Anonymous said...

I loved Laura's collection, but I felt that of all the collections, it had a very "fall '07" or "holiday" collection feel to it (probably her penchant for black), that looked contradictory for the Spring '07 Fashion Week.

Anonymous said...

procrastinating from uni work...
Its weird..going back to laura's collection.. it is EXACTLY what stella Mc cartney is doing right now with the lace tops...

it just shows that as soon as something is on trend and its on several celebrities... suddenly its no longer "old" and it becomes trendy lol