Yes... I'm digressing

To the reader who disagreed with my review of the Coco Chanel movie:

I am sorry you feel that I reviewed the movie inadequately. I was very attentive as I watched the movie and did notice all of the things you pointed out. In fact I stayed up to watch most of the encore show because I wanted to make sure that I had used my words the way I intended, and I still feel like the movie was too relationship-centric and I wish it had given more insight into her designs. Little stories about how she received her nickname "Coco" gave the insight I sought, however still left me with many questions. I may have been harsh, but critics are allowed that luxury, as are you as another critic, and you are even allowed to be harsh on me. However, I will always be observant. I will never write about something that I haven't completely understood and spent time observing.

Coco Chanel's love interests were pertinent to her career as a designer and to her personal life, but I feel like the movie could have made them less of a central theme and more of a side note, while still maintaining the integrity of a film dedicated to a designer's career and life. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the movie, I definitely did, I just had higher expectations.

Before you criticize someone, please consider that they have reviewed all of the facts and paid attention to the details just as you have.

Now! On a lighter note, Project Runway. (P.S. if you don't want to read about Bryant Park, don't go any further).

The final six designers showed their collections (of 10, not 12 looks) at NY Fashion Week, which ended last Friday. (Note: each season, the last six or seven designers show their collections so the tent audiences don't know who is in the top three, those sneaky Bravo producers!) If the final three consists of Leanne, Korto and someone else, I will be incredibly happy. The last few challenges have proved to me that Leanne and Korto stand behind their designs, but welcome criticism without getting pouty. Joe is probably third to roundout my top three - I know, a few weeks ago I said I liked Kenley the most... - because he's been so underplayed and his designs can stand up for themselves. BUT based on the fashion week images, Korto and Leanne are my top two going into the home stretch. Let me know what you think (and read Chris March's blog on Elle Tell All!!).

Coco Chanel

Tonight Lifetime premiered its movie chronicling the life of influential designer Coco Chanel. The movie did what I wanted from it by giving viewers an inside look at the life of this couturier, however I was left wanting something more. I'm sure, in order to maintain the demographic, Lifetime chose to spend more time developing romantic relations, than focusing on the career. While romance is fun to watch, I would have rather watched a movie chronicling the life of a designer, not a Nicholas Sparks-esque flick. Granted, the romantic thread throughout the movie did lend itself to present her designs differently than I expected, I would have rather watched a movie which described to me how Coco developed her aesthetic and the iconic image for women which is still present today, 35+ years after her death, in her clothing. Once a man was introduced to the plot, it took a half hour or so until designs took the stage again. If I were to watch this movie at the Starplex Theaters, I would be happy, but on Lifetime and after being advertised as an artistic film, I was disappointed.

Although the movie let me down, there was one particular plot that intrigued me and made me feel like I sat through three hours with a purpose. When Shirley MacLane described how she designed the little black dress, a staple in any young fashionista's closet, I had a sense of Coco Chanel and what she wanted to create with her designs. I expected more of that when I flipped over to the movie. I had envisioned learning a bit about Chanel's designs and how they became what we see today. I liked learning about how she flourished into what we now knew her to be, I liked watching a young Coco grow up, learning how she acquire the name Coco. These things kept me affixed to my TV, these things answered the questions I had before I turned the movie on. I just wished more of these similar questions had been answered.

Watch the movie, create your own opinions and then comment here.