NCWITB: Joshua McKinley Will Change the World (Or At Least Your Closet)

 

I have been a huge Project Runway fan since the very first season. It's a show that has a special place in my heart because it beings my friends together every week and gives us something we can all talk about together. Every season provides us with an amazing group of talent to choose from, and every year there are contestants that push the envelope... both with their designs, and with their attitudes. For season 9, the clear front runner when it comes to personality is 25 year old fashion week finalist Joshua McKinley. Nobody cares what I think, but... I honestly believe Josh will not only shake up with world of high fashion, but his looks will be in our closets in  no time. Here's my proof:

My favorite Project Runway designer of all time was Season 4 winner Christian Siriano. Deemed the fashion wunderkind from the beginning, Siriano could whip out an amazing design almost as fast as he could spit out a sassy comeback. Having brought "fierce" and "die over it" back into our vocab, viewers rooted for Christian whether they loved him or hated him. Much like Joshua McKinley, his designs were often overworked, over-designed, and definitely quite often over the top... however... the judges took a chance on him and he ended up creating a runway show to die for (sorry, to die over) as well as a successful commercial career. 

With this support behind him I know that McKinley will do the same thing. He's got the same cutting attitude as Christian, and he has the thing that I feel is most important when it comes to fashion: he as a person is just as memorable as his clothes. Middle Class Fashionistas (MCF's) shell out the big bucks for big designers we've heard of, simple as that. My closet is filled with pieces I've starved to afford by designers such as Michael Kors, Diane Von Furstenburg, Betsey Johnson, and Calvin Klein. What do these people have in common besides their impeccable creations? They are all icons. Christian Siriano is trailblazing his way right on to that icon list, and I have no doubt that prancing right behind him will be Project Runway Season 9 finalist Joshua McKinley.

Those of us who donate our miniscule paychecks to fashion are having our moment in the sun. Thanks to Target's HUGE success with their new philosophy of bringing high end fashion to the mainstream (hello, Missoni merger!) I know that the time has come in which the voice of MCF's will be heard louder than ever. Credit has to be given to Siriano for creating looks that we can actually achieve. Having collaborated with Payless, Victorias Secret, BlueFly.com, Starbucks, and even O-Cel-O sponges... Siriano is doing his part to put high fashion into every day diva's hands.

If God is on our side, "Joshua McKinley for Target" will have a nice ring to it.. and because of his ability to be over the top while also being wearable, I think Josh will follow in Christian's footsteps and find his way into our studio apartment's already over stuffed closets. He doesn't necessarily need to be #1 to achieve these things, but with a Project Runway win under his belt there is no doubt that we'll be washing our dishes with McKinley designed sponges by this time next year.

Follow Josh on Twitter @JMcKinleyNYC
Follow Christian on Twitter @csiriano