Where they are now
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They are more likely to be recognized at the local Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf now, but these “Project Runway” alumni are still struggling. In anticipation of the third season of the Bravo series, which begins Wednesday, we caught up with former contestants living in the L.A. area.
John Wade, 25
For the record:
12:00 a.m. July 22, 2006 For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday July 22, 2006 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 38 words Type of Material: Correction
“Project Runway”: A graphic accompanying an article about former “Project Runway” contestants in the July 8 Calendar said Kirsten Ehrig’s claim to fame on the show was designing a too-short skirt. The skirt was designed by Zulema Griffin.
Education: Cal State University Northridge
Known on the show for: Being the first man out
Home: Fairfax district
Work: Assistant manager at Marc Jacobs in L.A.
Celebrity client: Dreaming
Favorite L.A. hangout: Dime bar in the Fairfax district
Lesson learned: “Don’t inhibit yourself.”
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Nick Verreos, 39
Education: UCLA and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Known on the show for: Winning the Barbie challenge with a hip girly-girl look
Home: Los Feliz
Work: Preparing for a trunk show of his Nikolaki collection on Wednesday at fellow “Project Runway” contestant Emmett McCarthy’s New York store, emc2; teaching at L.A.’s Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Stores: Sirens and Sailors
Celebrity client: Brenda Strong from “Desperate Housewives”
Favorite L.A. hangout: El Chavo in Silver Lake
Lesson learned: “Don’t take on more than you can accomplish in the time you have.”
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Daniel Franco, 32
Education: Otis College of Art and Design
Known on the show for: Being the nice guy, with predictably classic clothes to match
Home: Mid-Wilshire district
Work: Designing his collection; pitching a TV show
Stores: Iconology in October
Celebrity client: Dreaming
Favorite L.A. hangout: The Short Stop in Echo Park
Lesson learned: “Never give up.”
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Guadalupe Vidal, 30
Education: Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Known on the show for: Earthy designs, including a dress with kooky removable flowers
Home: Koreatown
Work: Producing a gallery show about the influence of skateboarding on pop culture; designing her Plain Lucid collection
Favorite L.A. hangout: Pacific Design Center
Lesson learned: “There’s no hard feelings; it’s just fashion.”
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Kara Saun, 39
Education: Rutgers University
Known on the show for: Her Type A personality and techno-militaristic designs
Home: Sherman Oaks
Work: Just finished costumes for a Barry Sonnenfeld TV pilot; designing her own line
Stores: Laura Gambucci in La Jolla and Posh in Manhasset, N.Y.
Celebrity client: Dreaming
Favorite L.A. hangout: Toast on 3rd Street
Lesson learned: “Be true to yourself.”
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Kirsten Ehrig, 38
Education: USC, Hastings College of Law
Known on the show for: Refusing to use her heirloom Hermes scarf and producing a dress that didn’t cover the model’s bum
Home: Bel-Air
Work: Producing O Maillots de Bain, her swimwear line embellished with 14 karat gold and semiprecious stones
Stores: www.omaillots.com
Celebrity clients: Kirsten Dunst, Mandy Moore and Jade Jagger (her husband is an agent at William Morris, which helps)
Favorite L.A. hangout: Koi restaurant and the Chateau Marmont
Lesson learned: “You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.”
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Raymundo Baltazar, 24
Education: Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Known on the show for: Being eliminated after dressing Barbie like a mom
Home: Los Feliz
Work: Designing puppet costumes for a TV pilot; freelance styling for Ed Hardy and designing his collection
Stores: Rocket Queen, Red Zone
Celebrity client: Still dreaming
Favorite L.A. hangout: Cha Cha Cha
Lesson learned: “You can’t always be the leader; sometimes you have to be part of a team.”
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Andrae Gonzalo, 33
Education: Otis College of Art and Design
Known on the show for: Crying on TV, and being Tim Gunn’s pet despite designing a dress out of dried moss
Home: East Hollywood
Work: Writing a book about “taking the fascism out of fashion”; designing
Celebrity client: Dreaming
Favorite L.A. hangout: The Thai grocery store on Hollywood Boulevard
Lesson learned: “You have to keep moving.”
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Santino Rice, 31
Education: Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising
Known on the show for: Arguing with the judges and designing lederhosen lingerie
Home: Culver City
Work: Custom-designing gowns; looking for investors to back a ready-to-wear line
Celebrity client: MTV VJ SuChin Pak
Favorite L.A. hangout: The Roxy
Lesson learned: “Until you know someone, saying anything negative about them isn’t appropriate.”
