PR: The World of Mondo

Checks? Check.

Maybe in terms of revealing himself, Mondo already blew his wad when he came out about his HIV status.

Or maybe there are still family issues to be worked out. Given the undercurrent of tension in this scene, we think so.

Whatever the reason, the home visit to the world of Mondo wasn't particularly revealing. He's a quirky, sensitive guy who had to figure out a way to be himself in a world actively working to prevent that. We knew that already. That's not a complaint; just an observation. People who present themselves honestly during the competition have little in the way of surprises when you follow them home.


"Little in the way of surprises" is a pretty good way to sum up this mini-collection.

Again, that's not a criticism. It just means that like his personality, his work is extremely consistent.

In a way, that may be his biggest strength in the competition. With the other finalists, you're not entirely sure what you're going to get. With Mondo, you know: lots of prints, blended in unusual ways...

A chic, sophisticated customer who's young and urban-dwelling...

And bright colors, giving the whole collection a sassiness that's appealing.

Loved this skirt.

And we love that he showed so many separates.

Honestly, we don't know why so many finalists default to evening looks. Yes, they're dramatic on the runway, but the judges almost always pick a designer who's going to offer a range of purchasing options to the consumer.

Besides, if you simply must do evening wear, the you might as well have a little fun with it.

Although we have to admit, as much as we love this look, it's the one piece for which we have a slight criticism.

Namely, that it looks a little "Groove is in the heart" '90s dated. Very Lady Miss Kier.

But that's really a minor complaint. The dress is so much fun and so unexpected in terms of what we think of as appropriate evening wear, that we can't help but love it.

One other notable thing about this mini-collection:



He styled it like it was runway-ready. All of the girls came fully loaded with accessories and styling. Unlike his competitors, Mondo has a showman's understanding of how to present fashion.

At this point, we're all just waiting for them to hand him the crown. Is it an inevitability? Of course not. One never knows what grade of crack will be waiting for the judges in their dressing rooms on finale day. Still, for our money, he's been the front runner all season long. They've tried to hide that with a lot of played-up drama, but we don't think there's ever been a finale when the outcome was so expected. Even when Christian was the clear front-runner, you had plenty of people singing the praises of Chris, Rami, and Jillian as potential upsets. This year, it seems like everyone's just waiting for the inevitable to happen.

But you should never take anything for granted. WE think he's the obvious winner, but who knows WHAT those judges will say?


Tim Gunn's Workroom:


Extended Judging:


[Screencaps: projectrungay.blogspot.com - Video Credit: myLifetime.com - Photo Credit: Barbara Nitke/myLifetime.com]

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Labels: Mondo Guerra, Project Runway, Project Runway Season 8, Project Runway Season 8 Episode 13