‘Runway’s’ Gordana’s Monet Not On The Money

Week after week ‘Project Runway’s’ Gordana Gelhausen turned out sleek, beautiful creations, but when it came to last night’s look - a billowy floor-length layered gown inspired by Monet’s “The Portal of Rouen Cathedral in Morning Light” - the judges thought it just wasn’t “spectacular enough” to get her to the finals in Bryant Park.

Did Gordana, who has often been accused of favoring the simple over the elaborate, play it too safe last night? “I put it in the microwave to give it the look of a paintbrush, I used a spray bottle to mold it. Althea said it was a simple silhouette. Maybe, but to manipulate the fabric the way I did took a lot of work,” she said in an interview Friday. The 44-year-old designer also shed some light on her spiritual side, and what she hopes she accomplished during her time on the show.

Last night you talked about being spiritual, but no one knows it. Why did you keep that side of you hidden?

That wasn’t really what the show was about. When I had the opportunity with the painting and my design, something poured out of me, and I really wanted to create something that was angelic. But they really didn’t show how much I worked on that dress. I didn’t just go and buy the fabric.

As for the spirituality thing, I really do believe that somehow we’re all connected. I’m not a religious person, but I believe there is some kind of energy that is making sure things are happening; the sun is shining, the moon is there, the water, the plants, whatever. I truly believe we all need to realize we’re equal, and we should not try to compete against each other but to try to enhance each other. Only then as the human race can we be successful.

How difficult was it for you to reconcile that credo with the fact that you were participating in a competition show?

I did sign up for it, but I knew I would never lose my dignity. I was hoping that I would be given an opportunity to showcase my skills but I can still be kind to people and never say anything bad about anyone; I could help other designers through the whole show. To me it was not anything about competition. It was about, I travel so much in this world and if I had a show like this growing up and I saw a woman who couldn’t speak English and she made her way to something like this, it would inspire me so much. The main focus for me was to get to the top enough so some people in Thailand, or Bosnia could see it happening. I could at least stay on the show long enough for people to see that.

Gordana's Dress (Lifetime)

It must have been incredibly difficult to be the last one to go before Bryant Park. Can you talk about the final decision and how you feel about it now?

I mean the thing was filmed like a year ago and I am past everything now but I felt very honored to be in that spot in the first place. I kept saying that, where I came from and how far I have come. But I really truly believe that if I would have been given a chance with the budget they had given us, I would have created a collection that was mind-blowing. I think making it so far I could have been in the top three, but it’s a show and they had to eliminate somebody. What was sad in the end is that I’m the only designer in the history of Project Runway who finished fourth and wasn’t given the chance to show at Bryant Park, even if I wasn’t shown on television, still to have a chance to produce a collection where other people could see it would have been nice.

Why didn’t they let you show at Bryant Park?

Because of the lawsuit between Bravo and Lifetime. The airdate had been postponed and therefore somehow I fell through the cracks I guess.

If you could sum up your experience on the show in one word, what would it be?

The hardest thing I ever had to do in my whole life! It was very emotionally challenging. I don’t know what one word I could use to describe it.

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