Leanne Marshall Project Runway winner
Filed under: News
Leanne will win Project Runway. Although Korto and Kenley are both wonderful talents, Leanne brings structure and lightness together in a way too incredible to deny. Throughout the season she was dead on and her flawless finale at Bryant Park was no exception.Let's take a closer look:
Leanne Marshall
When the Bryant Park challenge began, Leanne sat by a lake in her hometown and sketched for several days straight, literally, drawing on the water for inspiration. This focus is apparent in her collection. The fan pleats, bubble silohoutte and soft colors certainly give her collection cohesiveness and point of view that nearly all of the designers lack. To boot, Leanne can actually create many different shapes versus the one trick pony, Kenley. The collection had bubble skirts, shorts, pants, tops, and dresses of all kinds.
We were unsure if Leanne had anything but pleats to bring to the table but after checking out her Leanimal website, we fell even further in love thanks to the title's witty play on words and wearability of what we saw. Best wishes Leanne!
Notes on the other two designers...
Korto Momolu
Korto hits on our personal style. We have adoration for her creations because they are wearable and real. Her African/nature inspired collection drew on her roots as well as her surroundings. The jewelry was stunning and some of the beads even came straight from her homeland, Liberia. We also loved how she brought a careful editing eye which diminished any overkill. She even added some playfulness to her show by allowing models to carry fans and traipsing down the runway with daughter in tow for her final bow.
But, as much as we love her, Korto's looks are already out there. We've seen natural inspiration from designers like Diane von Furstenberg for a long time now. Plus, as well crafted as the majority of the looks were, one of the skirt's was much too short and showed the poor model's who-who to the world.
Kenley Collins
Despite ungrateful attitude, Kenley's fresh take on 1940's and 1950's fashion is a recycling project worth talking about. Kenley's show was chock full of dresses; obviously her forte. If you're going to be a one trick pony, you've got to make that one trick work. And she did. The clothing was well made, dreamy, and all showcased Kenley's unique point of view. We were practically drooling over the beautiful handpainted dresses!
While she definitely has the vision and drive, there are a few things that take Kenley's crown away. Her lack of variety (not a pant leg in sight), her "copycat" collection (Balenciaga and McQueen anyone?) and her angry outlook all show that she has a lot to learn before making it big. But, on the same note, if the judges didn't see something divine in her, she would've been "auf wiedersehn'd" at the first eye roll. We sincerely think she has a shot but this just isn't it.
It's a very close race and we had a hard time choosing who might take home the crown. But now, it is up to the judges. May the best designer win. Good luck!
*Please keep in mind this is a prediction! We have no idea who really won!












Eva 10-13-2008 @ 2:40PM
Could you post a spoiler warning for this article? Thanks!
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Jonathon Morgan 10-13-2008 @ 2:50PM
This is just our prediction - the actual winner hasn't been revealed yet. :)
Dana 10-13-2008 @ 3:40PM
I agree w/ the last comment. I was pissed that this article was posted before the big finale!
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Eva 10-13-2008 @ 4:09PM
Thanks for the clarification.
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Cheryl 10-13-2008 @ 10:52PM
Way to give me a heart attack. Let's make it clearer FROM THE BEGINNING that these are just guesses, shall we?
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PB 10-14-2008 @ 1:21AM
Lame! I was also fooled at first, but obviously that was the writer's intention.
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GoldenGod 10-14-2008 @ 5:46PM
Kenley wasn't the one ripping off other designers.. that was LEANNE..
Leanne's favorite designer listed in her bio was this guy..
Zac Posen
"Zac Posen Wave Pleat Blouse"
She took the Wave idea and copied this dress from Kenley's from the SHOW.
We don't know if Kenley saw McQueen's stuff.. but we do know Leanne saw Kenley's dress up close and personal.
http://www.bravotv.com/widgets/bin/gallery/cache/7b36a44adbc666d8229fad787dac183d/watermark/portfolio_kenley_501.jpg
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Jen S 10-14-2008 @ 10:50PM
What? You're a moron. That looks nothing like Leanne's. Kenley is a blatant copycat and liar.
lakendra 10-15-2008 @ 9:56PM
Korto did the best out of all she used alot of color and alot of different styles. She wasn't scared to show her african designs like the others designer were.So i personally think that Korto should win.
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Michelle 10-16-2008 @ 4:08AM
Korto and Mychael Knight were robbed, anyone seeing a pattern? Hmmmmmmm......
Thank god for Vogue Italia and the fashion sect that loves mulitculturalism in the fashion/real world.
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carlos 10-16-2008 @ 12:44PM
Personaly I think Michelle who wrote a comment above has been robbed of a brain and good lucks
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