Hmmm…this is actually… quite good?

I’m not sure how avid/enthusiastic people here are about shows like Project Runway or the UK equivalent Project Catwalk.  I must confess to be a tad addicted when they are on but what about the results?  The winners who get a huge fanfare at the last episode of the season?  What happens beyond that?  I can’t say I’ve been tracking the successes of winners of Project Runway as it was aired with quite a bit of delay on British TV.  The winner of the first season of Project Catwalk however, Kirsty Doyle did surprise me a little when I just went through a Google frenzy and g’d Doyle’s name to find her website and to further find that her current AW07-8 collection is….not…half….bad….

Yes, so predictably, the pleats, the foldings, the ruffles are Susie-attracting features but I do like the way she has incorporated those structural detailings without rendering the pieces unwearable. 

I did find it disgusting/amusing at the same time that Julien McDonald (one of the judges on the show) continually badgered Kirsty, probing her about her ‘Scouse’ (Doyle hails from Liverpool) roots (‘Why do you think there hasn’t been a famous Scouse designer?’), implying that all Liverpudlians are somehow unfit to be fashion designers (honestly…the man is repugnant is all manners and ways…).  But yes, to see designs like this coming from a place which is known for WAG-wannabes, orange tans and a lot of over-grooming, it is admittedly a little surprising.  Origins of course don’t mean a thing and I’ll be eyeful of Kirsty Doyle, the label. 

20 comments

  1. not bad, not bad at all… like the way the pleats for the silver shift dress and red skirt look like large tied ribbons too.

  2. Good to see someone coming from a show like that and producing good work. So often they fade into obscurity

  3. LOVING the grey/black dress, infact loving it all, especially the strange cowl/ruffle collar, you don’t see many fusions of different types. I’m really impressed that she still has an ongoing career rather than most fashion reality tv (antm…)Also little did orange Julien McDonald know that origami pleats would be huge right about now

  4. I also like the fact that she used a model that isn’t scrawny beyond belief. Some people are slim, some are not, it’s nice to see that reflected a bit. The girl is slim, but she looks “healthy”
    And the designs are fab too of course!

  5. Wow. What a great site you have. I came here through a recommendation on WGSN (enough said)
    Sure to be back. Frequently.

  6. ahh i remember Kirsty Doyle – her clothes were being stocked on my-wardrobe.com and possibly Sarah Coggles at one point. I remember watching the series but those kinds of programmes (Project Runway, ANTM etc.) don’t focus on the construction of the clothes or the models as much as they deserve. But, (and how’s this for selective geeky memory) I do know the model is her sister!

  8. Kirsty had the best accent, the best hair, and in the end the best designs – that remains the only season of either show where I felt good about the winner and their eventual future.
    Sucks to Julien McDonald’s ass-mar.

  10. I am pretty surprised that something this good came out of another of those annoying “reality” tv shows… I mean, what ever happens to half the winning idols/supermodels??? ugh.
    I really like that skirt in the second picture, and after looking at the collection, there is certainly more when that came from!
    A designer to watch, me thinks.
    http://www.fashionfake.wordpress.com

  11. if you’re interested in tracking Project Runway winners’ success, there was an interesting article a few months ago on Jay McCarroll (Season One):
    http://nymag.com/news/features/35538/
    according to mccarroll the article is apparently a little biased/inaccurate (only to be expected with most media outlets in general) although the conclusions are the same.
    also that one-shoulder dress is iiiiiinnnfinitely better than the version kate moss spit out for topshop! i am actually attracted to it. C:

  14. I love that red skirt and the white dress with the clever collar. The grey dress is also not bad. This girl has a future!

  15. off topic, julien mcdonald is so crap
    on topic, wow, really like her stuff! wearable but with a kick!

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