Project Runway: A Study in the American Dream

Over the weekend, H and I were discussing my future in style and style writing.* From where does my inspiration come? Where have I learned what I know?

Among the expected magazines, biographies, museums, and now "traditional" bloggers, as cheesy as it sounds, up pops "Project Runway."

I'll admit, I'm a sucker for a trashy reality TV show. I'm that horrible human being watching the train wrecks in gleeful vapidness. That being said, Project Runway isn't all that. Not at all. Once I think about it for less than 30 seconds, it's clear it's so much more. In my mind, Project Runway is not only an inspiring show about fashion, but it - yes, here's where I aim high - it marries much that is good and unique about the United States.

First, there's the entrepreneurial spirit of design, of taking a chance, and the passion that comes with a true belief in what you're doing and creating that some of the first immigrants and colonists had when they crossed the oceans. I'm sure others will disagree with the comparison of political and religious refugees to fashion designers, but these designers - some of them, at least - and the judges and Tim live and breathe fashion and design. They believe they can make it, and make money off of it - or already have. They believe it can change people's lives and outlooks on life. It does.

Secondly, there's the crassness of reality TV. Like it or not, this is an American phenomenon (yes, yes, the Swedes started Big Brother, but Real World? Wholly and unabashedly American). As a culture, we revel in the normalcy - or not - of others' lives. We take delight in the ridiculous that only we Americans can create. Project  Runway doesn't shy from its origins, and gloriously embarks on set up drama and despair.

Lastly, there's the intellectual. As designed as the drama might be on Project Runway, the creators and producers don't leave out the finest elements and points of the craft of design. They don't leave out the business aspect of the industry. As revealing as it might be about my design background (or lack thereof) I learned more about how to design and build a document from the designers, Tim, Nina, Michael, and Heidi, than from any other one source. From them, I've learned how to judge a piece and understand what may or may not be a critical design element. It's not just about "what works," but also about the brains of design and fashion.

Putting all of this on TV is purely American: Nowhere else in the world can anyone be an intellectual with the ease we can here. Despite our global connectivity and communications, nowhere else in the world can we plug in to crass entertainment and learn. Nowhere else in the world is the most average person given the chance we are here. That is the American Dream: taking an idea, a belief, and "making it work."

*Speaking of taking chances and getting the chance, I'm thrilled to say that I'm part of a new project: Finessed Fashion. An online mag, Finessed is "fashion, intellectually speaking." Check it out? Please?

Style Scoop: marimekko crosses the Atlantic to DC

Important details first.

marimekko
(marimekko DC's home and blog)

8519 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland
Right by all the new growth, and right across the street from cakelove, for you devotees (I'm not, but more on that later).

Quick summary second.

Brilliant textile-based design from Finland. Clothes, bags, linens, small housewares, and bolts and bolts of lovely patterned fabric. Non-fluffy, dry-worthy towels, too (which H and I can never, ever find here).

Mission: Create beauty for people's everyday lives.

Relatively reasonable prices (adorable child's t-shirt, $30 - ridiculous, on one hand, but on the other, the things really are gorgeous).

Close enough to Chipotle that you can swing by there (despite the brilliant catered food at the opening) afterwards, even if it is 9 o'clock at night and you know that you'll regret it later.

What it reminds people of? IKEA. Yup. It's a little bass-ackwards, but when you walk in, you just might think - oh! they're copying IKEA! The other way around. marimekko is known for their simple, sophisticated patterns and colors. It's that simple elegance I think defines Scandanavian style - and yet, they somehow retain a sense of humor that American competitor brands never achieve. If we could only get our office building to install a KONE Deco elevator in which there's a marimekko image on the back wall), I'd be happy.

IKEA references aside, marimekko is a design concept - and store - worth visiting. And to go on a mini-rant, the Daily Candy pitch this week just didn't do it justice, in my estimation. It's an intelligent brand, perfect for the cerebral fashionista of DC. Clothing is simple and structured, yet easy and no-nonsense. Architectural, to a point. The fabrics are amazing - jerseys are the softest cotton you've ever felt (H couldn't keep his hands off of one understated logo T), and the "oxfords" are jauntily textured.

And then there was the party.

As Babsie D wrote, it made people happy (at least me, H, pandahead, and a few others we partied with). The feel was as bright and airy as the design. Fortunately for me, there were no cakelove cupcakes in sight (Warren Brown was a co-host). Cookies, yes, cupcakes, no.* The few models wandering the party were inviting, not intimidating, and the crowd was, like the designs, smart, curious, and clearly willing to buy (the registers were ringing all night). My one real disappontment? I didn't get to meet Pamela Deutsch, one of the What Not to Wear producers, and another host. I'm of course not sure what I would've talked to her about, nevertheless... (check out Kelly's review of the store at DC Culture and Fashion, too).

H and I resisted buying a itsy-bitsy Bean outfit. It's just the kind of childlike sophistication I imagine my Brilliant Bean to have (and yes, yes, yes, I do realize that everything will eventually turn one color and I won't care anymore, but please let me hold my fantasy for just a little while longer). A return trip is definitely in order.

Oh - and nearly forgot. Must say that the press materials and guest gift bags were some of the most thoughtful I've seen. Sweet pieces from the Paaryna (Spring 07) collection - a mug that now graces my office desk (much better than the lame sample one I have from the mug supply company), and a darling little tray that now holds my (IKEA, ironically enough) water pitcher and glass on my nightstand (M people get incredibly thirsty during the night).


*The one I had last year (and yes, it was at room temperature) was a disappointing disaster. How can one screw up chocolate raspberry?