Best Magazine Covers of the Year

Ad Age posted their favorite magazines of the year, along with the ones no longer with us:

TEXAS MONTHLY
This cover took home the "Best Coverline" award from the Magazine Publishers of America at last fall's American Magazine Conference, but it's even more than that. It's also a genuinely frightening image. Beyond even that, the cover is an hommage to perhaps the best cover ever, National Lampoon's 1973 masterpiece that threatened, "If You Don't Buy This Magazine, We'll Kill This Dog."

Obviously I'm biased. I think I love that cover even more because talking to TJ Tucker about designing that illustration makes me feel like I was part of the original hype behind it. It's prol a good idea I don't work there, I'd be too busy gushing over everyone's perfection to actually get any work done. I mean, I should TOTALLY work there, every place needs lackey's like that.

Project Runway: Tim Gunn makes the worst decisions at 3 am....

So did anyone else almost miss the Tim Gunn audio clip last night? I was like...wait a second, did Tim Gunn just admit to hooking up in the early hours with 'some of the worst mistakes' of his life? Too hysterical. I loved how the editing also missed it too, the bit went on for a good 30 seconds, as if the editors themselves couldn't believe what Tim had just said. That man is wonderful. He's so classy...even as he admits to one night stands.

He must have known I've been planning a 'TIM GUN: MIA' post today, because last night's episode not only saw his much needed return to the PR spotlight, but also his blog, Tim's Take, is back. This was my favorite extra for the show...because he usually spends more time discussing the designs and actually has some interesting things to say. So far this season he's been gone...and I'm sorry--Santino just won't do it for me. Here's hoping his Podcast comes back too....I'm just saying...

Last night excluded, I'm still disappointed in this season, and I think how the show is using Tim has a lot to do with it. I've always thought the show was genius for two reasons:

1. Singling out the best with the worst designs during judging at the same time.
2. Tim's role as mentor and not as a judge.

It's this second one that works the best. He's like the den mother, comforting all the designers through the ordeal and acting as a voice of reason to their inflated egos. He will tell you if what you have is crap, and yet before last night I really didn't see much 'tough love' from Gunn this season. It's felt more like he's making cameos as opposed to being a member of the team. A lot of times he just appears, as if flown in for a scene, and then vanishes just as quickly. The designers, more than ever, are ignoring his advice and turning him into more of a figurehead than a mentor. It's become 'Oh, here's Tim Gunn...nod, nod, do something completely opposite, make fun of him and Andrea after he leaves.'

I realize Tim's stretching himself pretty thin. Between his flop of a Bravo show (we don't want to see you be mean, Tim! You lose your lovibility) and working for Liz Claiborne, I'm sure this is more of a PR stunt for him by now. I understand he has to move on, but with him leaves the best parts of the show. Halfway through last night's episode I realized Season three was probably the pinnacle of PR: it'll be downhill from here.

Second sign of decline: There's really nothing I want to say about the clothing last night. It was definitely more about the drama of Jack leaving than the competition. Why bring back Chris when Jack's half-made outfit prol could have walked as is and still beat out the funeral-wedding dress. Finally, I don't understand the judge's love affair with Christian when Kevin rocked it so much harder:

Project Runway: Finally, something to inspire me

So I haven't said much about PR this season, because honestly, it hasn't been that great. Before Thanksgiving you had Sarah Jessica Parker, which was fun to see on one hand, but very blah on the other. Victorya's win was deserved, but did anyone really remember the outside afterwards? Even the prize itself---to be included in Sara's line of clothing--isn't that great. Instead of letting these designers show some ingenuity and originality, the winner basically had to conform to the line's tone and style...it wasn't suppose to stand out, just fit in.

Last week was really dismal. The badly designed or boring elements weren't even showcased because too many others couldn't even complete their look. Carmen completely deserved to be kicked off for not producing a shirt.

This week, however, things are looking up. They had to take fashion trends of the past and modernize them, as well as blend three trends into an overall collection. I love these 'collection' challenges. You get to see everyone work together, which is always filled with crazy drama, but everyone still gets to make their own outfit, which I feel is important in judging.

My gal Jillian's team won:

They had overalls, 70's flare and poodle skirt. I think this was the perfect collection really, and it makes sense that they won outright, without discussion first, because they really rocked it. Each piece represents the individual trend, but the designers showed cohesion by selecting one fabric. What was genius about this collection was the subtle use of the other trends in each design. The dress is a great mix of poodle skirt and flare: you can't really tell from the photo, but it's poofy, while the tan lines help tone it down, and create great angles, while the denim relates it to overalls. The overalls I really just love. The skinny top combined with the flaring leg create a great silhouette, and the lacy shirt brings in the 50's style. It's a homage to the past, but still firmly designed in the present. Finally, the shorts are great. Would you actually wear flared shorts? Maybe not, but as a collection piece they were much better than creating another pants set, when Jillian's overalls took care of that look. Once again, the poofy collar brings in poodle skirts in an original way.

Whereas Jillian's team could have gone straight to a runway collection, Christian's team definitely had that 'Project Challenge' feel to it:

They were all well made, but the continuity wasn't there in the same way. Choosing black as a color to carry the collection was a mistake--everyone creates black outfits, so the color really doesn't pop in the way the denim does. These looks were zoot suit, plether, and fringe. I also didn't think they carried off these trends that well. I understand the lines acting as the zoot suit in all three pieces, but where is the plether? Where is the fringe? I remember Christian saying they would use those elements as accessories--but that wasn't the point of the challenge! I honestly can't tell you which one was suppose to be fringe...I see no fringe anywhere---unless they interpreted the pattern on the left dress as a fringe quality? Overall, I think these designs were just too separate from each other--they lacked the single dress that would connect the other two the way the overalls did.

Lucky for them, the other teams really got it wrong:

I was really scared for Ricky this week. He's been getting a bad rap, his dress was pretty hideous, and he had to work with the Queen of the Land of PassiveAggressiva (my shout out to Grey's). If you judged based on construction, he would have been gone--and I honestly thought the judges would 'auf him, as opposed to Chris. I think Victorya and Elisa actually stood up for him, unintentionally, but mentioning how much he helped their designs along. He stepped up as the team leader and took responsibility for his fabric choices by sharing his knowledge, and his own design suffered for it.

Compared to Chris, on the other hand, who would not listen to reason about his jacket. They knew on day 1 that jacket was not fitting, but he didn't have the energy to 'rethink' what a shoulder pad could be. Granted, it's a hard one, but he set himself up by designing a look that was better without the jacket than with it. His team also suffered because they chose not to combine all three trends into all three looks, hoping the fabric color would bring the cohesion. Compare Chris' group with Jillian's and you can see the difference those subtle little additions make. Even with the same, boring color, Chris' group still has no connection with itself. He deserved to go home based on his lack of originality, and his inability to take charge of his team and convince them to design one cohesive group. The team obviously was looking for an easy way out---hoping to pass under the radar--but when only four teams show looks, that's not as likely.

Here's hoping this episode is a trend, and the challenges get better from here.

Project Runway: Hello Crazies!

Was anyone else disappointed? I'm not sure what Tim was saying there at the beginning, but here is what I heard:

"In season's past the designers had to create a garment out of unconventional materials. This season...no. Boring fabric. Just like a normal fashion designer. Because we don't want to push to tooo much, it's only a reality show after all...oh right. best designers to date. that has to go in...it's in the contract."

As much as I complain about how 'not fair' making a dress out of grass or coffee filters might be, that's why I watch the show! Maybe my recent fascination with Top Chef has hardened me for other reality competitions. That show took contestants to a GAS STATION and expected French cuisine...

...but then again, looking at these outfits, maybe the producers felt the need to hand-hold the designers when the was the best outfit produced was THIS:



While nitpicking over the dresses the judges liked and disliked is all well and good, I think it's a little more interesting to examine the ones in the middle. This goes back to Michael's first dress (coffee filters) and my friend has a theory they edit out the ones that do really well in order to save those juicy clips for the end (think about it--when did Michael and Laura start getting air time...midway into Season 3?)

I noticed last night they spent even last time on the dress details and more on the designer reactions. I DONT WANT TO SEE some designer looking smug about his or her work, I want to see the craftmanship. It's hard enough I have to work with a 13" non-HD TV that periodically loses color...but that's no excuse for the judges who were there in person. I mean, how did this dress get by the judges scrutiny:
That looks like carpet scraps tied together in some sort of faux-lingerie style...how did this get past the judges? Maybe it moved better, because I honestly don't remember it when it walked, but jesus, it makes me cringe now.

As for my favorite non-picks, they all have varying degrees of inspiration. But again: THE WINNER WAS A TOGA!

First I have to give a shout-out to my new favorite designer. I'm pulling for Jillian until further notice. She's got that Michael feel to her: she's not some overpowering character foil so the cameras are shying away from her, yet her dress seems well-executed and beautiful. That color is fantastic, and it's such a flirty dress, you could see this actually in stores.

The Others:

Finally, if a winner HAD to be chosen out of the ones the judges singled out...I'd go for the slightly S&M dress over a toga any day:

My God, it's that time again already !?

Season four of Project Runway starts tonight!!

For some reason this season snuck up on me. I kind of fell off my usual blogs over the past few months--without the show to blog about, I kind of got tired of all the fabulous-me commentary that filled the void.

But today it's all come back! Here's a video from Bravo of a kick-off runway show. Each designer this season shows three items, which makes me wonder if this was the first challenge a la 'bring three outfits that define you'.



My favorites, strictly based on how I liked all THREE outfits as one singular statement are:

Favorite: Jillian Lewis
What can I say? I like the colors, I like the embellishments, I like the risk (especially on that coat). They are all different, yet all well made. It makes me think she can do a lot of different things, which is always a plus in this competition.




Second Favorite:
Elisa Jimenez. Sure, it's neutral, but at least it has a singular theme to it. It's also well made and I love that two-piece hoodie.





Honorable Mention: Jack Machenroth
I really don't like the pink dress. It screams Uli...but the other prints I think are very sophisticated. It always seems that PR has certain 'characters' that evolve each season. The Santino who didn't win was transformed into the Jeffery who did. Wendy who was a good seamstress/bitch transformed into Angela who could sew rosettes until the apocolypse. Could this be a non-beach crazed Uli evolution?




Hated-it, but was Intrigued: Ricky Lizalde
He did lingerie...the pig. But I'd wear it, so.....


Single outfits I liked as well:
The First is Victorya Hong. It won't win the show, but I'd definitely buy that color.


The second is Carmen Webber. I'm a sucker for large hooded coats, what can I say. I'll admit it's still a little fuggly, but someone's gotta take risks.


Lastly, there is Christian Siriano. With a name like that, you've got be a winner. I love the big scarf, saves from dragging a coat around with you.

Why TV can strike and the news can't....

So I've been following strike news very closely because in my fantasy world I became a writer and develop plot lines on all my favorite shows like Lost and Mad Men.

BY the way, this was my idea first, but then I realized I was the only one who reads this blog, and striking against myself is a way of letting the man win!

My comment is about CBS News' possible strike of their own writers. While I wholeheartedly support writers receiving their fair share of benefits and compensation, striking against a failing medium seems a little risky.

Here's how it will play out:

Writers at CBS will strike. Shows like 60 Minutes and 48 Hours will stop producing new content. (Not really sure if the strike also covers the news, news....here's hoping it doesn't...I'm pretty sure the networks would thank writers for kicking the ratings-troubled Katie Couric off the air)

Without the news programs, networks will replace these shows with classics like "Meet Your New Babby Daddy" or "America's Psychic Challenge" (Okay, the first show I made up, but the second is actually airing on Lifetime).

Once they realize these reality programs get higher rating than the news, adios Mike Wallace. Welcome to Armageddon.


Network news shows are in a pretty sad state right now. I mean, they're no print media, but their lack of viewership is pretty pathetic. Striking, it seems, would only worsen the situation.

W's turn at a multi-cover issue

I'm sure everyone heard about the W dueling covers: Angelina and Jen competing for revenues:


Glossed over peaked my interest when they mentioned apparently nine covers were shot for the issue.

While the two covers didn't really seem that creative to me, considering it's a two-year-old story, somehow, looking at all nine, I'm a little more impressed? It makes sense now, seeing more current headline-hoggers in the mix too. Adding in more of the shots clarifies the style and theme of the design a little better.

I still think it's a dumb followup to last year's award nominee.

Here are the shots [Slideshow on W here]

Old fashioned design...

This slideshow from Design Observer was fantastic. I was so impressed with Stephen Doyle's work, and was glad to see most of his samples are done physically, and not in Photoshop.

Photoshop is a designer's tool, in that we need to create something for a client/boss to fill a need, usually on a deadline. An artist should not use Photoshop, they are creating art, and art should have some base in reality.

I know, I'll get a lot of crap for that.

I should really get a subscription to...Blueprint

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
I was scanning through the Nov/Dec. Blueprint today and remembered why I love this magazine. I don't even care it's a blatent rip off by Martha Stewart to push her own products without having to go around 'editorial guidelines' that prevent her from doing the same in MS Living. (It's great how they treat her own products just like everyone else's....as if they didn't even know she writes their checks!)

Anyway, I found these gift wrapping techniques interesting, and wanted to save them for future leave-behinds or other creative boxes:


[Nov/Dec. 2007, Blueprint]

Best Covers of 2007

ASME announced 21 finalists in the cover of the year contest, althought these are all spread out over various categories like 'Best Cover/Fashion Cover/Celebrity Cover/Coverline' etc.

Some notes:

• Texas Monthly got props for its Dick Cheney photo illustration, nominated for the tagline “If You Don’t Buy This Magazine, Dick Cheney Will Shoot You in the Face”. Now it's a fantastic cover, wonderful example of a well-executed Photoshopped image, and considering the issue is the annual "Bum Steer" Awards, it seems appropriate that they invoke the National Lampoon 'Dog/Gun' cover. I hate to be the one to spoil the party, but they didn't really do much in terms of cover lines, did they? It's a clever take on an old joke, but does it deserve an award? I suppose it depends what the award is honoring-- Amusement? definitely. Originality? not so much.
  
  
• Props to "D magazine" for continuing it's award run for the "Parced" cover. I remember this specific cover when it first came out, and I love to see the smaller city magazines get notice.
  
  
• Vanity Fair was honored for one of the 13 covers they produced for the Africa issue, specifically the one with Ali and Obama. That seems a bit unfair, to not judge that issue based on all 13 covers? I think you have to address them as a whole, especially when the whole point of that issue was to create a 'chain letter' across the world. When you split them up, it takes away from the entire point, doesn't it?
  
  
• Finally, the New Yorker was nominated for "Best Cover", along with Vanity Fair's previously mentioned Africia issue and Esquire's George Clooney "Genius" Cover. It has to be a shoe in, it really is genius and somehow the perfect tribute to the fifth year anniversary of 9/11. What saddens me is that Esquire has been doing such great things this year, I'm sad it has to go up against it. Talk about reinventing cover lines...
  

Imitation is the easiest form of flattery...

Back in the days of my first blog, I discussed a Vanity Fair cover where Annie Lebowitz copied a famous Irving Berlin photograph for a Green cover. This imitation courtesy from the photographer who has been known to be a tad testy when other people copy her own work, I think specifically of the Naked Gun rip off of the famous naked, pregnant Demi Moore photo.

Well, apparently, Radar has decided to start ripping off Vanity Fair. Here's the image from their November political issue:



(Folio has the whole article here)