MovieChat Forums > Project Runway (2004) Discussion > 'Dress maker not a designer'.. Tim Gunn'...

'Dress maker not a designer'.. Tim Gunn's critique

posted 7 years ago by jackielynnwilson
15 replies | jump to latest

I think Tim Gunn went a little overboard when he insinuated that Roberi may be a "dress maker and not a designer" in the finale, part 1. It did not sit well with me. No matter who the winner is on all seasons of Project Runway, it seems they always pick one with a "fresh" point of view, but at what point does "fresh" become a little cliche? Roberi is a true artist, and I'm glad he is going with his original vision instead of listening to Tim's "cruel" statement (Tim's words, not mine)

[–] new_york_girl55 7 years ago

Dressmaker definition: A person whose job is making women's clothes.
Designer definition: A person who plans the form, look, or workings of something before its built.

I think Tim Gunn was spot on. When I looked at Roberi's garments it lacked "design". There was nothing unique or innovative about his clothes. He kept saying "Shapes" as if his collection was strictly about shapes. Tim's words and direction were not cruel. He knows what he is talking about. If you re-watch the episode Roberi had a hard time explaining the concept behind his collection.

[–] SapphEyeR 7 years ago

If you re-watch the episode Roberi had a hard time explaining the concept behind his collection.

Artists shouldn't have to explain their intent. They shouldn't have to put anything into words. Since when did that start? Did Michelangelo have to explain his art to the critical authorities of the time and did he get more or fewer points for having a great explanation?

[–] Stirchley 7 years ago

Roberi is hardly Michaelangelo.

[–] SapphEyeR 7 years ago

What has Roberi's level of artistry to do with it?

[–] Stirchley 7 years ago

You said Roberi is an artist & compared him to Michaelangelo.

[–] me-nyc 7 years ago

These are designers, not artists.

[–] Leika20 7 years ago

Artists shouldn't have to explain their intent. They shouldn't have to put anything into words. Since when did that start? Did Michelangelo have to explain his art to the critical authorities of the time and did he get more or fewer points for having a great explanation?

Just because an "artist" doesn't have to explain his work, doesn't mean he can't.

Michelangelo himself is a poet, and knows language and how to use words, just like many other artists, because language and vocabulary is an art form in itself.

[–] strhe 7 years ago

I thought all of his feedback to Roberi was much harsher than the others. Especially when Riks collection is in far more trouble than Roberi.

[–] poordogabone-1 7 years ago

It's been pretty obvious throughout the season that Tim doesn't much like Roberi and hasn't hesitated to show his dislike. He actually praised Erin for the same lack of cohesion—calling it cacophony—that he criticized Roberi for.

He called Roberi a dressmaker rather than a designer but never called Erin out as a crafter rather than a fashion designer. There is definite personal prejudice at play here.

I'd like to be a pessimist, but this is a luxury I cannot afford.—Joseph of Cordoba

[–] Leika20 7 years ago

It's been pretty obvious throughout the season that Tim doesn't much like Roberi and hasn't hesitated to show his dislike. He actually praised Erin for the same lack of cohesion—calling it cacophony—that he criticized Roberi for.

He called Roberi a dressmaker rather than a designer but never called Erin out as a crafter rather than a fashion designer. There is definite personal prejudice at play here.

I don't see it.

Tim has been very critical of Erin, he simply doesn't like her weirdness (as do I). He's been very hard on her throughout this season, sometimes with expressions of sounding disgusted.

But he just like this particular collection. And that's just one person's opinion like all of us have.

That's not prejudice.

I don't get Ruberi's design either, nor his explanation. Its actually borderline dumb.

[–] Cookie.L.A. (2117) 7 years ago

<< He actually praised Erin for the same lack of cohesion—calling it cacophony—>>

And isn't that word pronounced as if it had the word "coffin" in it??

Tim's pronounciation was odd.
.

[–] Costumer (1790) 7 years ago

>>>And isn't that word pronounced as if it had the word "coffin" in it??

Tim's pronounciation was odd. <<<<

Not precisely. Dictionary.com and Websters list the pronunciation as

kuh-KOF-uh-nee and ka-ˈkä-fə--fə-nē respectivelynē respectively, though Websters also note an acceptable alternate is ka-ka-fə--fə-nē

The "coffin" sound is there but the stresses are a bit different in the first listings. The Websters alternate is then a it different.

[–] Cookie.L.A. (2117) 7 years ago

It sounded like he put a lot of a AY stresses in there (I'm not using the righ phoenetic notation!)

It was something like Cah-caff (like in caffein)-fah-knee

It's at the 19:21 mark HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGKFSRLrM34

Anyway...it was jarring. And I am still recovering.
.

[–] jackielynnwilson 7 years ago

I get where Tim was coming from, but I still think it was harsh. I see how one may use "maximalism" as an excuse for avoiding cohesion, but I don't believe that was the case in Roberi's argument. I agree with you that Roberi did have a tough time explaining his concept to Tim. Does this mean his concept is poor? Possibly, but probably not. Though I don't know which of the 40 different languages spoken in Venezuela is Roberi's first language, but I'm pretty sure it isn't English. He struggled to find the words to defend his vision.

Tim used the word "cruel" to to describe the comment before be made it. "I'm going to sound really cruel but If that?s what you are about, you are a dressmaker, not a designer.? Ouch. You can see Roberi's face as he deflates. He probably felt completely misunderstood.

I have always liked Tim - that hasn't changed, I'd like to see Roberi prove to Tim and everyone else that he is a designer.I hope he creates a beautiful collection that can speak for itself.

[–] Leika20 7 years ago

I don't really think it's harsh primarily because they have used that statement many times in the show.

Also, his collection is disjointed, and this concept that its meant to be disjointed because the woman travels is an excuse in my opinion, and I think he is struggling in this aspect, ie, "too many ideas", a problem that plagues designers.

A collection can still be created out of this "eclectic traveler" but that's not what his collection is.

He should thank Tim Gun for saying it, because what he showed on the runway was actually an improvement from what he showed to Tim Gun. The critique allowed him to think deeper, because right now, its "basic" (Ruberi's own words).