‘Project Runway’ Crowns A Winner

First Published: November 20, 2009 10:18 AM EST Credit: Lifetime

Caption ‘Project Runway’ Season 6 contestants

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- New York designer Irina Shabayeva’s collection took the gold in “Project Runway,” winning $100,000 toward her line, an agent and a trip to Paris.

Judges Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and Susie Menkes chose Shabayeva over Carol Hannah Whitfield, who came in third, and Althea Harper, the runner-up. The three women all showed strong collections at February’s fashion week in Bryant Park. The Lifetime show’s finale was shown Thursday night.

The delay came because “Project Runway” — the cult series that transformed Bravo into a hot destination for addictive reality TV — lacked a home base. Trapped in lawsuit limbo, the series was mired in a dispute involving NBC Universal, which owns Bravo, the Weinstein Co. and Lifetime.

Shabayeva’s collection was inspired by New York, right down to the detailed T-shirts worn beneath knitwear armor. Harper’s vision was a look toward the future, inspired by science fiction; Whitfield was somewhat dreamy with her soft draping and airy fabric.

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