BPR Interview with Project Runway All-Star Designer, Elisa Jimenez

Tbone and Elisa Jimenez Sept. 2011

Elisa, I was thrilled to learn that you were in the cast of the All Stars because I felt like we really didn’t get to know you in season four. I am broken-hearted over your elimination.

Good morning BPR and thank u! I still do not feel that I have been able to truly reveal the array of my skills, and yet I hope that my work and my life's work history show an inkling of my capabilities. I can say that all my press and opportunities have come thru the world alone...that is definitely something to be proud and grateful for.


Tell us about your dollar store design. What are the shorts made from?

My shorts were made of a paper gift bag and clear duct tape...I was being a bit "cheeky", (no pun intended!), about the rose and the gift bag. The character Fancy has just returned to a Celestial Garden of unconditional Love, Beauty, and FullFillmeant. I am making the shorts bodysuit and wrap for this Spring to purchase.
And by the way, Fancy is a character my mother invented in a painting when I was very little. She wore a long maxi 70's dress and had this huge wings, written on the painted was "Fancy didn't how or when, only that she had flown once or twice". I remember being about four and resonating that this woman had flown, remembered slightly that she had, but didn't realize she could again at any moment! Fancy evolved into my iconography as a symbolic character illustrating the capacity for us to all evolve, if we can just remember we have everything we need to evolve, as individuals and a conscious species!

What message did you write on the wings?

The writing on the two winged sleeves was the part of the Fancy story where by She has returned to The Garden and is being welcomed lovingly back by the all the Flowers. I will be doing the next installment of this petite rock opera fashion performance for the up-coming New York Fashion Week.

You looked gorgeous on the runway. Did you make the pink dress?

Why thank you so much for the compliment! I actually made everything you see me wearing on my brief yet delicious stint on Project Runway All Stars. Yes, I did indeed make that "one seam" dress and hand sewed it with my signature monofilament after my morning yoga and shower before we departed. As my dear friend and sometime collaborator Gerald De Cock always says about my client coined "spontaneous couture: "Elisa is great, fast, and not cheap!" Thank you again, I felt good and hot fuchsia is one of my fave colors, ever.

Click here to continue.

Elisa Jimenez and Austin Scarlett at Neiman Marcus All-Stars Event

Project Runway All-Star designers, Austin Scarlett and Elisa Jimenez were at Neiman Marcus in White Plains on Saturday. BPR Field Reporter Mark Y sends us this report. Thanks Mark!



Austin Scarlett and Elisa Jimenez had a busy day Saturday making their way from The Garden State Plaza in Paramus NJ to The Westchester in White Plains NY where they greeted fans and sipped red wine at Neiman Marcus.

Dueling a cappella choirs of young Glee-types sang in the background - a festive holiday gathering.

They were each much taller than I anticipated but as slim as I expected. Austin is rocking a mustache these days and Elisa is exotically beautiful. Both are as charming and as gracious as any fan could expect. They signed All Stars posters (mine has a special backwards wish from Elisa) and photos, hopped up down to take pictures with fans of all ages and chatted as if they had all the time in the world for each of us.

They both enjoyed Project Runway the second time around and promised that the challenges will be fun to watch and very different from what we saw during their seasons. They also promised great designs to enjoy and that all the designers really showed great creativity and technical expertise.

During filming, Austin and Elisa became good friends and he also enjoyed getting to know Kenley, Kara (one of my all time favorites) and Anthony Williams. Elisa told me that she's much more herself on All Stars than she was on Season 4 - she really has spirit and positive energy to share. To stay in touch, Elisa invited her fans to take cell phone pictures of her fabric business card - so unique.

After hugs and kisses, I said good-bye and wandered off, as Elisa would say.

I can't wait to re-connect with Team BPR and all the regulars the BPR Party Room on January 5.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all!

News from Elisa Jimenez, Kara Janx and Carol Hannah Whitfield

Photo: The New York Chocolate Show

Project Runway All-Star, Elisa Jimenez teamed with "Top Chef Just Desserts" chef to create a fashion design for The Chocolate Fashion Show at The 14th Annual New York Chocolate Show. Their design is inspired by Broadway’s Wicked. Click here for more information. Click here for a photo gallery.

Kara Janx Designs are on sale here (reduced 60%) at Fashion Stake.

Carol Hannah Whitfield will be a featured speaker at the "Women Today" event in Anderson SC November 18-19. Click here for more information.

Project Runway Alums Enjoy Viewing Party at Casa Nonna in Manhattan

Project Runway designers had a great time last night at the Season 9 finale viewing party at Casa Nonna.



We love it when seasons collide! Jay McCarroll and Wesley Nault (S5).




Two beauties! Carmen Webber (S4) and Elisa Jimenez (S4).




Jason Troisi (S8) - a real sweetheart!



Ivy Higa (S8) and friend, Angeli Saijwani.

Project Runway All Stars Cast Revealed

The Project Runway All Stars have been announced and it looks like a great mix of designers.



Elisa Jimenez, Kenley Collins, Austin Scarlett, Mila Hermanovski, Michael Costello, Kara Janx, Sweet P, Anthony Williams, Gordana Gehlhausen, Mondo Guerra, Rami Kashou, April Johnston, and Jerell Scott will compete.



A couple of these surprised me!



Isaac Mizrahi, Joanna Coles, Georgina Chapman and Angela Lindvall round out the cast.



Click here for the full press release.