Caribbean Queen Anya Wins Season 9 of Project Runway

Former Miss Trinidad and Tobago Anya Ayoung Chee was crowned the winner of the 9th season of Project Runway. Everything She Wants spotted the stunning designer shopping at a New York City H&M in September during Fashion Week; and the $100,000 prize will buy a lot of trendy looks.

Anya Ayoung Chee's winning collection./Getty Images

From watching the show, I had a sneaky suspicion Anya would win this season's competition. Her underdog story -- she reportedly learned to sew only a few months before her Project Runway audition -- was a great fit for the pro-girl-power stance the show has taken since it moved to the Lifetime network.

Although Anya has great taste in selecting prints and her clothes are well-crafted for someone with basic sewing skills, not every woman lives in a tropical climate year-round. So her flowing caftans seem limited to resort wear for spring break and summer vacation.

But what do you think? Did Anya deserve to win over more seasoned contestants like catty Josh McKinley and uber-tailor Viktor Luna (I love Brooklyn girl Kimberly Goldston but agree with the judges that she needs more time to evolve as a designer)?

Comments

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

It's the end of an era. Conway discount stores are closing . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to New York City, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore. I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued. I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store. And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and white checkered pants with a matching lime green

Celebrate the Holiday Season with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City

Watching the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater makes me proud to be a Black woman. This ballet company is graced by dancers of color who can tackle any technique or dance style. But whether the choreography is rooted in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop or ballet, they do it the Ailey way, which means they move with so much culturally rooted soulfulness and swag that I find myself marveling at their languid form and fierce footwork. In my lifetime, I've seen the Ailey company perform at least a dozen times and each time I picked a performance that included Mr. Ailey's beloved "Revelations." I will never grow tired of witnessing this jubilant homage to the Black Southern Baptist church. By the end I'm always standing, singing and clapping along with the rest of the audience's Amen chorus. Yes, rock a my soul in the bosom of Abraham ! Like most theatrical events and performing arts programs, this is Ailey's comeback season after going dark in 2020 due to

Spring Cleaning: Clean Out Your Closet and Earn Extra Cash

Remember clothing? As much as we love our athleisure, we can still recall what it was like to wake up and put on something other than hoodies, T-shirts, joggers and leggings. And now that coronavirus vaccines are available and we're resuming some sort of normalcy, we look forward to traveling again and meeting up with fellow vaccinated family and friends for brunch and outdoor fun (still wearing masks and socially distancing in public spaces). We also look forward to refreshing our wardrobe. But if you want to make room for new garments, it's time to declutter and find a new home for the clothes, shoes and accessories you haven't worn in a season. Donating to a thrift store or charitable organization is always a good option. For certain items in new or nearly new condition, however, you can also earn some cash by selling them at a consignment shop. Here are several e-commerce and retail consignment shops we love: thredUp makes cleaning out your closet easy. Simply re

Everything She Wants

Search This Blog