In Defense of Kenley
Posted by Marisa September 24th, 2008 at 10:15am In Project Runway
Psst! I have a secret opinion about Project Runway that I’ve learned—the hard way—not to share in public. But the Internet doesn’t count as public, right? So I’m going to let all of you in on it.
First, let me say that I watch Project Runway knowing nothing about fashion. I came of age in the ’90s when grunge was in, boys and girls wore the same clothes (flannel), it was cool to say you got a bloodstained shirt at the Salvation Army for a dollar, and everybody looked like they were dressed in their PJ’s all the time—and I secretly hope that, with this whole economic-downturn thing, we’ll go back to those blissful days.
With that being said, are you ready for my secret? Even if it gets me in trouble with some of my fellow TiFaux writers?
Fine. here goes: I actually like Kenley.
Most people I know revile her. Yes, she’s pompous. Yes, she’s kind of a one-trick pony. Yes, I know she said something bad about Tim Gunn last time, which is the fashion equivalent of a cardinal (well, venial) sin.
In spite of all that, I still like her. The preview for this week looks like she’s about to get her comeuppance. I don’t know if that means she’ll be kicked off, or slapped on the wrist but kept around for drama. Either way, I might as well step in and defend her while I still can.
Mean and Mini-Mean
Here are the reasons that you Kenley-haters should lay off:
No one complains when men are overconfident.
I’m not saying that everyone who doesn’t like Kenley is a sexist. I’m just saying that there have been many Project Runway Bryant Parkers who made it to the end without keeping mum about how they perceive their own talent. When was the last time anyone said that Christian or Santino should get kicked off for running their mouths? (In fact, in our TiFaux poll, people voted that they wanted either Christian or Jillian to win.) It doesn’t make the men endearing, but nobody counts it against them. Sure, I cringe when Kenley says, “I nailed it!” to the judges on the runway, but I suppose I’d rather have earnest arrogance than false modesty.
You sort of have to hand it to her.
Sure, even I gasped when Kenley out-and-out laughed at Daniel—her supposed best friend on the show—when he said he had impeccable taste. But didn’t part of you agree with her? I mean, he was designing old-lady dresses for Olympic athletes. And, last week, when the judges were criticizing Joe’s outfit and Kenley and her client laughed in his face, that was awful. But Joe’s outfit was kind of awful too, right? And didn’t Joe get kicked off that week? Sometimes, her barbs have extra sting because they’re true. I don’t think she should be faulted for confirming (with giggles) what we were all thinking anyway.
My girl can sew.
Smack-talking isn’t any fun if you don’t have at least some talent to back it up. Kenley might not be the most innovative or versatile designer in the mix, but almost anything she’s made so far I can see people wearing in my (sometimes painfully trendy, I admit) neighborhood. Everything she does is well made, and at least a little cute. Contrast with the heinous, sloppy outfits others have sent down the runway, such as the one pictured here. (Sorry, Joe—you should’ve been kicked off when you made this asymmetrical bit of Chinoiserie for Diane Von Furstenberg.) Plus, I wish I could pull off the Mad Men bangs, bright-red lipstick, crazy-shit-in-the hair look that she has going on.
This is a new kind of douchebaggery.
I’ve read complaints that Project Runway has fallen into the reality-show pitfall of casting for “type,” and that the designers are falling into patterns set by previous Runway participants. Yet, of all the contestants that have come before, nobody’s had a bone to pick with Tim Gunn. They’ve sassed Michael Kors, trashed Nina Garcia, slighted Heidi Klum, but Gunn has always been the sacred cow. It takes balls to dismiss him so blatantly in those confessional-type interviews, and bigger ones to give him attitude to his face, so you have to give Kenley at least a little bit of credit for that. Even if it is terrible. (I still love you, Tim!)
9 Comments Add your own
1.
Kyle | September 24th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Actually, I hated Christian’s 21-year-old overconfidence almost as much as Kenley’s. Even though Christian’s boasts were backed up by a winning show at Bryant Park, he was still almost as insufferable as Blaine. I think Kenley has made some good clothes, but why is it a good thing to utterly fail to learn or grow? Saying you never adjust your clothes based on what Tim suggests takes a lot balls because Tim is an incredibly good and experienced teacher who has lots of useful ideas. What’s so admirable about ignoring his friendly and helpful advice?
2. Marisa | September 24th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I’m not saying it’s good for Kenley as a designer to ignore or bad-mouth Tim. (If I had Tim Gunn in my life, peeking over my shoulder and offering advice, you better believe I’d listen to him!) But it’s good for me as an audience member, because I get to say, “What? Did she just say that? About Tim Gunn?!” So she makes the show less boring for me. And I like her clothes and personal style. So I like her.
3. Brian | September 24th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I just caught a few episodes during a marathon last Sunday so I didn’t get a season-sized dose of Kenley, but from what I saw I actually liked her. Sure, she’s far too overconfident, but she is talented. And I found Christian’s overconfidence to be far more insufferable — from what I saw Kenley generally talked herself up during interviews instead of ragging on everyone else like Christian did.
I also don’t think it’s terrible for her to disagree with Tim Gunn. If she honestly feels that the two of them have completely different design aesthetics, why should she compromise her own vision? Tim Gunn also annoys the shit out of me, so I’m her side anyway.
4.
sara | September 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
You knew this would make me see red, didn’t you? That’s okay. I fully support your right to choose whichever Project Runway designer your heart desires, even if that choice makes me want to hurl.
(Aside: I am so happy I was a teenager during grunge. How much would it have sucked to be 13 years old and trying to form a decent body image when Britney was writhing with a snake? Or with those damn Pussycat Dolls tramping around everywhere? Get off my lawn, skanks!)
My main problem with Kenley isn’t that she’s a twee hipster poser with lousy taste. (Although there’s that.) My main problem is her bad behavior. Say what you will about Santino and Christian being over-confident, but we never saw them laugh out loud at another competitor on the runway. That is just bad manners. And if I wanted to see bad manners I’d watch I Love Money.
5. jesse | September 24th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
Honestly, I think it’s about time someone stepped to Tim Gunn, even if it’s completely unjustified or rude (I wouldn’t know ’cause I haven’t seen the episode in question). Nothing against the guy, but I find all of the deference to him, on and off the show, kind of creepy. He seems like a nice, smart man. Last I checked, this does not in fact qualify you for sainthood. (I’m Catholic, so I know he has to like, perform a miracle or something. Which he totally does not. He just stands in that tweedy way with that exact same expression on his face.)
6.
sara | September 24th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
You’re Catholic? Huh.
7. jesse | September 25th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Well, technically. Confirmed, but far from devout. Never a big fan of various Popes, either, so it’s not just Tim Gunn that makes me skeptical about sainthood.
8. kim | September 28th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
pst I like Kenley too. She’s interesting, her outfits are interesting, and I’m not going to hate on the girl for being too confident. All of the contestants are super judgey of each other & its not like most of them listen to Tim. Kenley’s brutally honest, which I happen to think is refreshing.
9. michelle | October 6th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
i am totally late here but i just caught up on PR yesterday.
the main thing i like about kenley is that she is the only thing about this season i’ve found at all interesting! everyone else is such a YAWN.
but i still don’t LIKE her. i don’t think the problem is that she’s too confident — just the opposite! this week she was going on about how she’s always been an outcast, everyone always hates her, blah blah blah i-have-to-be-tough-because-otherwise-people-walk-all-over-me, and really, i have no sympathy for her lack of social graces. people don’t like her because she is mean to them! and if she would just OWN that, instead of playing innocent and put-upon, i would probably like her more.
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