gt.com: tell us a little about your life
after the finale of Project Runway.
KARA SAUN: It was a whirlwind after the finale! I actually have not stopped since.
These days, I'm so busy going from one job to the next. I started out doing a lot of press
and exposure, and the first job to call was R U the Girl? with TLC. That was a
lot of fun, and I got to travel with that one.. Literally, the day I got home from that
one, I got the America's Next Top Model campaign advertisement job, the twelve
leather dresses. We had two days to put that one together! That was another challenge!
gt.com: two days? must've brought you back to the design challenge
deadlines of Project Runway!
KARA SAUN: Yes! Ever since Project Runway, now that people have seen the show,
they are like "You can do that by tomorrow!" No...I mean, I can, but I
don't like telling people that. Especially entertainment people, because they are like,
she can do that in time!
gt.com: haha, understandably so!
what was it like to work on the set of "What I Like About You?"
KARA SAUN: That was a really fun show to do! They wanted me to come in and change the
whole look of the show. The girls were fun, and the guys were adorable. It's funny,
because the producer, Drew Brown, had seen me on Project Runway, and thought I
could work with the cast and crew. All of the people who called me was because they had
seen Project Runway. You almost don't have to interview anymore, because they
feel like they know you! With Drew, I go in and he says "Do you mind coming down
to the writer's room?" I'm like, the writer's room? That never happens! So, I go
in there, and everyone had seen Project Runway, and they kept me there for like
45 minutes talking about the show! It was hilarious! And, I got the job right after that!
gt.com: not a bad way to snag a gig! now, can we look forward to seeing
you premiere your line during Fashion Week?
KARA SAUN: Yes! I'm so excited! Just on the heels of wrapping "What I Like
About You," I'm going to be showing at L.A. Fashion Week with Smashbox.
gt.com: congrats! can you share any scoop about the new designs that we
can look forward to?
KARA SAUN: Around the time I started to work on the line, it was around the time
Hurricane Katrina happened. So much was going on, I was doing a lot of fundraising, and I
just did not feel like sitting there designing a line! I was a little conflicted. You
know, I thought my talents and creativity would be better served elsewhere. I come from a
service-oriented family, a military family. My dad was in the military, my sister-in-law
is on her way to Iraq, and I'm like, I'm designing clothes! I was thinking about the whole
thing, and I was reminded when I was talking with a friend in New York, that without war,
we wouldn't understand what peace is. I sort of extended that, like without ugliness in
the world, we couldn't understand true beauty. How would we know it? The whole line
started developing out of that feeling. The colors I usually use are like, metallics and a
lot of embellishment. But this line is very deep and rich, with not a lot of extras. It's
based on bringing out beauty from really dark places. There are so many things I can do to
use my talents and my abilities. The focus after Project Runway has been to do
things that I want to do. Designing's great and I love it, but there is so much more I
want to do.
gt.com: wow, that sounds
amazing! speaking of Fashion Week, with New York City's in full swing, whose collection
are you most excited about?
KARA SAUN: I was really happy to support Project Runway and go back and see
the shows! I think they all made really good collections. I understood the whole
experience! I had already done some things in the field, but Project Runway
really gave me that extra door, and helped me establish a more brand name out in the
public and with the exposure. So, I supported them and talked backstage. I enjoyed that
and catching up with Jaybird (winner Jay McCarroll), Nora, and hung out with the
cast members from the last season. And even the cast members from this season were great,
it was like fashion boot camp. It was so funny, we had a good time together!
gt.com: that's great how you are so supportive of the new cast. what did
you think of the finalists' collections?
KARA SAUN: I really enjoyed all of the collections. Kara Janx, [the decoy
collection], was really surprising with what she showed at Fashion Week. It was
great, colorful, fun, and it reminded me a lot of Jay's work. The hats, knit, layers and
stuff, so that was kind of funny.
gt.com: any bets on who you think can take it all the way this season?
we're 0 for 1, we thought it'd be you!
KARA SAUN: ::laughs:: I don't know, it's hard to say. If I were to guess who
would walk away with it, you can't, because as soon as you think you know which person it
is, it's the other person! You have to remember too, you never know what the judges are
looking for. They could be looking for something for completely different than what you
think. It honestly comes down to what they think is going to be the next trend in American
design.
gt.com: good point! on that note, did you initially expect Project
Runway to be such a hit on the small screen when you tried out for it?
KARA SAUN: When it first came out, I thought it was so completely me. I saw it in a
magazine, and I was in the middle of making a design for a pageant. So when I longed on to
look at it, all of the auditions had passed already, except for one: the audition in South
Beach. I flew to Miami and caught the very last audition, and got in! At the time, I'm
thinking Bryant Park Fashion Week: I have to get to the final three. It was an opportunity
to get money for my fashion line. I thought it would be the perfect way to start my line
on a larger scale. When I first went for it, I didn't know how it was going to be edited.
Production value-wise, I did know that the producers from Project Runway also did
Project Greenlight and Last Comic Standing. I did some research before I
got involved. It could have been really cheesy, and it wasn't. Project Greenlight
and Last Coming Standing really focused on the talent of their participants. It
really got into and tried to promote each one. I had a feeling that if they could do that
with those shows, then this one will focus on our talent. That was really important to me!
gt.com: take us back to the first day, first challenge. what were you
thinking when you were led to a grocery store instead of a fabric shop?
KARA SAUN: I swear to you, I'm walking and trying to think mentally of a list of all
the fabrics they would have when we get to the fabric shop. Then, when we got to the first
challenge, I was thinking, this is not what I expected at all. But it was so fun! It
allowed you to be crazy. I really enjoyed it. I think I enjoyed it the most, because it
was the first day, we didn't know what was going to happen, and we got to see how everyone
worked.
gt.com: very cool! now fast forward to the finale -- there was a bit of
controversy over the Dollhouse shoes provided for free for your runway show from
a friend. we're thinking it may have been jealousy that sparked such a debate from the
other contestants. do you think a big deal was made about nothing?
KARA SAUN: ::laughs:: I can let you say things, but I'm actually still under
contract. I do want to say, to all the people that supported me and to all of the fans out
there, I absolutely did not do anything wrong with the shoes. I would not jeopardize
my reputation or standing in the competition, nor would it be something that would be in
my mind anyway. There was a very good reason, I wish someone would investigate what that
reason was, that none of us had shoes when we got there. For all nine episodes before, we
always had shoes. I think we can just sort of leave it up to the audience to figure things
out. Some people have actually figured it out! But I mean, I would've never done anything
wrong like that. I am truly thankful for Dollhouse, because they really worked
with me and came through. I think it may be a lot to do with other people, like you said.
At the end of the day, people have to realize it is still a show. You can't let things get
to you. People saw what I could do, so I don't think they were too concerned about the
shoes! And although they blew up the shoe thing, in the end, I think people remember my
design, my work, and how I was throughout all nine episodes. It was kinda funny to see
that play out!
gt.com: good answer! another little controvery was a designer by the name
of Wendy Pepper. it's not really a new theory that people think that she was placed into
the final three from the producers, because they wanted to create drama. do you think it
was her talent or her tension with you and Jay that had Wendy premiering at Fashion Week?
KARA SAUN: I hundred-percent absolutely believe that the final three should have been
me, Jay, and Austin. I felt really sad for Austin. The three of us towards the end kept on
saying how we would be the final three. If you look throughout the history of Project
Runway, the person who was supposed to go never left. There's always a twist. It's a
competition, as well as a show. If they were going strictly off of talent, creativity, and
design, then the final three should have been me, Jay, and Austin.
gt.com: agreed! being runner-up in general, it seemed like you were
happy for Jay, but really disappointed with not winning. did you ever feel you were
cheated?
KARA SAUN: I think that it was just the way it was supposed to be. At the time, you may
not realize, but I'm glad it happened exactly the way it did. So many people came to me,
and said "You know, I wasn't going to call you, because I thought you were going
to win and would be really busy." It was almost like they were saying, "I
thought you should have won, and this is what I'm going to do for you." When I
say that I think that's how it should have ended, you have to remember that there are a
lot of reasons that it happened like that. I mean, me and Jay are great friends, we talk
all of the time. It was really difficult for him and he is so super talented, but a lot of
things are very frustrating for him. I am really happy with the outcome for me!
gt.com: that's a great attitude! back in the competition, who were you the
closest with?
KARA SAUN: There were a couple of people! There were so many great people that even
though I don't talk to them as much as Jay, we're still friendly. Robio, [contestant
Robert Plotkin], he was such a gentleman. He would carry my bag! I keep in touch with
Austin from time to time, and I just saw Nora when I was in New York. Starr was really
sweet, and I like her a lot! She did not cry as much as she did on the show! She is so
super smart, she is a lawyer. Mario I liked a lot, too. Those were the people who I had
fun with, supernice personalities. That one episode, the postal uniform episode; me, Jay,
Austin, and Robio had so much fun. We were just singing and acting crazy! It was toward
the end, and everyone was just getting delusional. Good thing it only lasted that amount
of time!
gt.com: that was a great episode! do you still keep in touch with any of
the contestants or models?
KARA SAUN: I would love to see Jenny [Kara Saun's model from Project
Runway] again! I loved her, she was such a sweet girl. I mainly keep in touch with
Jay. When he comes to Los Angeles or when I go to New York, we get together. You'll see in
Project Jay, I'm right there. We hang out! We also catch up with each other in
e-mail.
gt.com: it's so nice to see you all still supportive of each other!
another person who was in the cutting room a lot was Mr. Tim Gunn. what was the best
advice he has ever given you?
KARA SAUN: Tim Gunn is my mentor! That's one person I keep in contact with quite a bit.
Wow, his best advice I think is... a lot of times he would tell me to go with my first
thought. I always said, "If Tim Gunn comes into here and says something to you,
even if you think it's something small, think about it." Like when he asked me
about the pants in the Nancy O'Dell challenge, I should've ripped those pants off the
model. Anything that he brings up into question is obviously something that makes you
think, "Hmm..something is not right here." I didn't follow my own
advice! Sometimes in the competition, you may overthink or overdesign. I think Tim just
brings it back to the basics; brings you back to who you are as a designer and what your
aesthetic is. I can always count on him to give an honest opinion of what he thinks about
my designs. If he starts something with "Let's think about this," then
trust me, it is not good! I just always appreciate his input. Out of everyone involved in
the show, he was the one person that I felt truly had genuine interest in designers is far
as what we were doing and where it would lead us. I think he was really there for us, and
he was on our side.
gt.com: as much as we'd love to keep talking about Project Runway, we want
to know more about Kara Saun herself -- take us back to the first time you knew designing
was the path you wanted to travel. what was the first thing you did to jumpstart your
career?
KARA SAUN: Oh, Lord -- that was in junior high school! I was always sketching from back
in grade school. When I got to junior high in Home Economics, where I learned to sew, I
made this cute three-piece outfit, with a pleated skirt, a jacket, and a shirt. Then, my
parents got me a sewing machine for Christmas, and it was over! I was designing for my
friends, myself, ripping up clothes, making shirts for my brothers...I would also design
all the clothes in my high school's fashion shows. But, my first contracted job was
designing the cheerleading outfits for my high school. I had an early start! Even when I
was in college, I went for Communications, but I was designing dresses and selling to
stores in SoHo! It's funny how that works, because you go to fashion design school, and
everyone's a designer. But at my school, it was just me, so everyone was coming to me. It
really worked to my advantage!
gt.com: how nice! in your years of designing, what piece are you the most
proud of?
KARA SAUN: I was in a competition quite a few years ago, and it was the first time I
had done the design at that level of couture. I put every dime into those clothes, it was
so expensive and the fabrics were so rich. And, I actually won the competition and a trip
to Paris! That really changed my direction in fashion, because when I got back from Paris,
I was so inspired. I quit my job, broke up with my boyfriend, and moved to New York all in
a couple of months! It's always good to get that inspiration, and I think that's why it
means so much to me. That's when I started doing entertainment design! That was a central
part of my design career.
gt.com: on the topic of New York City, we heard that you had first pursued
designing there but ultimately landed in Los Angeles. what do you feel L.A. offered to
your practice over NYC?
KARA SAUN: Los Angeles offers celebrities, red carpets, and costume design. I started
out in fashion, which is New York City, but my clothes were so entertainment! I had groups
and different artists coming to me, and I liked the feel of costume designing. It's two
totally different things, which a lot of people don't understand. So, when I got the
opportunity to costume design for a show, traveling to Los Angeles was because of a job. I
had two weeks to get here! But I do love Los Angeles in that when you're costume
designing, it's the place to be. The television, movies sets, and entertainers are here,so
you do a lot of red carpets. Now that I'm venturing back into fashion, I'm going to be
very bicoastal. I'm going to show in New York City again!
gt.com: good move, because your list of celebrity clients is impressive --
who has been your favorite celebrity to work with?
KARA SAUN: You're thinking in entertainment, you're going to work with all of these
crazy, horrible people, but I've really been blessed to work with some really fun, nice
people! I love Eve. She's supersweet, I've never worked with her when she's having a bad
day. I also liked working with Queen Latifah, who was fun. One of the funniest people I've
ever worked with was Eddie Griffin, I did all of his personal stuff for two years. He
would have the crew laughing like crazy! One of my most favorite people is Heidi Klum. I
did a lot of her pregnancy clothes, her outfit for the VH1 Fashion Awards, and
did a lot of her clothes for Project Runway 2. Love Heidi, love Seal, love the
baby! The whole cast of "What I Like About You" was fun, too; they were
crazy, it was like high school. I was like, is this a fraternity? It was funny. I've been
lucky in that I've worked on some pretty great stuff. I haven't had the horror stories
that I've heard.
gt.com: very nice! but if you could choose, who would you like to work
with at this stage in your career?
KARA SAUN: I met Debra Messing [of Will & Grace] at the finale for Project
Runway 2, and she was like "Kara Saun, I love your work! I want your stuff!"
I was like, "You know what, Debra? I would like to make you a gown!"
She's so funny! I would love to continue to work with Heidi. I also think I could design
some really cool things for Angelina Jolie. But my number one person that I would love to
create something for is Oprah Winfrey. For my mother alone! In my mother's eyes, you will
reach the pinnacle of your career when you design for Oprah! Oprah is like my sister, she
doesn't know it yet. ::laughs::
gt.com: we're crossing our fingers for you! okay, we've always wondered.
do designers design clothing for themselves, as well, or is that more difficult to do than
it sounds?
KARA SAUN: Oh, all the time! I haven't had time lately, because I've been so busy. If I
have to go somewhere like a red carpet, I'll make sure I'm in a "Kara Saun."
Back in high school and college, I was in one of my designs every day. But it just gets to
the point now, that I'm so busy designing for other people, so I don't have time. So, I
just throw on my jeans and boots. When I have to go and represent Kara Saun, I
definitely do! A lot of times, I'm working in my studio on the line, so I'll be in a pair
of jeans.
gt.com: that's so great! how about your bedroom closet -- what would we
find if we toured it?
KARA SAUN: Boots! I am the boot queen! I have containers of boots. At my job, we
started like boot wars, when I came in once, they loved my boots, and went out to find
another pair of boots. We had so much fun getting the funkiest boots we can find! If you
went into my closet, you would find a ton of boots.
gt.com: love it! and finally, where would you like to be five years from
now?
KARA SAUN: A year and a half ago, I didn't know I was going to be here! I thought I
should leave my future open. I know that I want to be doing what I love, whether it's
designing or my nonprofit work. I want to bring about positivity. I've been working with a
lot of young girls, after Project Runway, and I'm about to speak with the Girl
Scouts at their national convention. There are so many things I want to do! I think that,
five years from now, I just want to be doing what I love and creating beautiful things.
gt.com: we have no doubts that will happen for you. thanks for the
interview, Kara Saun!
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