Runway's Jerell: There Were a Lot of Divas

TheInsider.com caught up with Project Runway All-Stars' oh-so-colorful, buckets of fun designer Jerell Scott after his departure from the hit Lifetime show. From all dietary diva demands to whom he thought couldn't cut it, the candid Jerell spilled it all!

The Insider: Were you shocked to be sent home?

Jerell: It’s always a little shocking, but I definitely see the issues with my outfit. The black skirt was a little unnecessary. In my defense, going into it, had I ever designed anything for a black light? No, I hadn’t. My objective was to really control what the eye saw, but in retrospect I probably should have done it with some booty shorts or something like that, and come across a lot sexier. I know better than strappy sandals and panty hose! [laughs]

The Insider: How do you feel about leaving?

Jerell: I’m totally fine with it. I’m a pretty easygoing kind of guy, I had so much fun doing the All-Star season, and I got what I wanted to get from it. It was fun! Fashion and design is my passion. It’s great to get the opportunity to not have to focus on real life, and to get to just go and do what you love, and compete against these people who are amazing at what they do as well. There’s no greater catalyst than this show in the world for designers. The show plays to a global market and it’s so respected. Being on the show the first time has opened so many doors for me, so at the end of the day, more people know who you are, and are familiar with your aesthetic because of it. It’s a win-win situation. I didn’t get the big a** check, but that’s okay!

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The Insider: What brought you back on the show?

Jerell: First of all it’s fun, and my first time on the show I made some incredible friends, and it changed my life because people know who you are. You get to go and talk to kids at schools and you get to travel and do fashion shows in all these exotic places and people cry like you’re Michael Jackson with the glittery glove! So for signing up for a second round of that, it’s pretty much for the exposure. That’s why I think a lot of us did it, but also it’s an honor. At this point, 140 people have done the show. To be one of 12 that they asked back is amazing.

The Insider: What have you been doing since you were first on Project Runway?

Jerell: I have been doing lots of things. Some correspondent stuff, I definitely love television, so I’ve been working on developing different show ideas, and I have also developed and launched a lower price-point line. The first time I was on the show, there was a ton of disconnect between the fan base of the show and the price-point of my garments. The economy tanked in 2008, so before that I made a sexy living just doing $2,000-10,000 dresses. Most people can’t really afford that, so this time I’ve launched a lower-priced line called Haute Catastrophe by Jerell Scott. I’ve met all these really great girls who are not your average size two or four skinny a** models, but they want to feel fabulous and want clothes that speak to them. That’s kind of been my focus. That line is available on my website jerell-scott.com, and it’s pieces that real women can actually wear. I’m also talking to a couple of companies now and trying to lock something down, so hopefully by the end of the year we will have some things available on a wider scale.

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The Insider: Do you feel like the judges have some favorites this season?

Jerell: I do feel that fashion is subjective. There really isn’t anything that’s right or wrong, it’s just a matter of opinion. We are playing to this certain group of judges. So do I think they have favorites? Probably so, but this is a position that they have been put in, so I can do nothing but respect that. For me, the elimination of Rami [Kashou] was probably the only thing this season that I could not wrap my mind around, I didn’t understand it. His look was better than Mila’s [Hermanovski], but then again, that’s just my opinion. I would think that anyone with at least one semi-working eye can see that his look was stronger than hers. It’s just an opinion!

The Insider: What was your favorite challenge?

Jerell: I can’t say that I really had one challenge that was my favorite, but I really just enjoyed the whole experience. It was fun; a lot of the designers were just fun to hang out with. Probably my least favorite challenge was Miss Piggy. It was difficult to wrap one's mind around because it just felt like a trick. It’s not like she has one style! It was maybe the slipperiest slope that they presented us with.

The Insider: How was it to deal with all of the differing personalities and cliques on the show? Jerell: I pretty much got along with everybody! There were some personalities there, especially with a lot of the women towards the beginning there. Some people thought they were Madonna, or Mariah Carey. Girl, relax! I just have a go-with-the-flow personality. You speak to people with respect.

The Insider: What was the most difficult thing that you saw?

Jerell: It wasn’t really a lot of on-camera stuff, but there were a lot of diva moments. If you’re not happy with something, I think it’s okay to express that, but you have to give people the opportunity to correct that. Certain people had particular dietary restraints. If all you can eat is grilled chicken, and you don’t want Mongolian, then just say it! Give people the opportunity to fix that.

The Insider: You often use the word "ethnic" to describe your clothing. What does that mean to you?

Jerell: Definitely. I’m really influenced by the world’s different ethnic cultures. I like to do mixed things, and I like embellishments that you wouldn’t think would necessarily work together. I like finding a balance where you don’t really know why it’s pleasing, but it kind of is. I generally gravitate towards being opulent, so I guess I would describe myself as bohemian luxury, because it’s always kind of flowy and ethnically inspired.

The Insider: What do you think is every woman’s wardrobe must-have?

Jerell: A great pair of shoes goes a really long way. Invest in shoes and bags because you really get the bang for your buck with those. Also, a pair of jeans that fit properly. People are all shaped differently, so what works on one person doesn’t necessarily work on the next. I would suggest even if you are not the type of person who spends $200 on a pair of jeans, at least go into a store that sells those types of jeans and have someone that really understands that market explain to you what you should wear. Someone who knows body types should explain to you what works. It’s about getting to understand your body type and dressing appropriately for that.

The Insider: Are there any trends that you just hate?

Jerell: The Louis Vuitton colored highlights! Those are a no-go, and I think people do too much of that. Rihanna also gave up the red hair, so to my black sisters, let Kool-Aid man have his color back! Unless you’re Ariel living under the sea working for Disney, you really don’t need to have fire-engine red hair! That’s not cute. Also, pear-shaped girls in skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans on hippy girls, and yeah, if you’re like 5’2 and have baby-making hips, you don’t need to have on boyfriend jeans, they’re not doing anything for you! I think it really just comes down to knowing how to dress for your body type.

The Insider: What is next for you?

Jerell: I am in talks right now with a couple different companies, which I really can’t talk too much about yet until things get signed, but it’s looking really good! I am also very much pursuing different television opportunities, because I feel like I have a voice that needs to be heard! I’m just living life and enjoying it! I’m working on a lot of outerwear for my fall 2012 pieces. I think for every designer it’s about showing your growth and pushing yourself. I’m working with a very controlled color palette, it’s pretty much all black, white, gold, and silver, but it feels very me and it’s kind of fantastic!

The Insider: Who do you want to win?

Jerell: Honestly, I have to say that out of the remaining four, they all have such different and unique perspectives and points of view that it could really go to anybody. I just want them to do their best work, and I think when they’re good they’re good, and when they have their missteps, they have their missteps. For me, I saw some things from Kenley [Collins] this season that really impressed me. I really loved what she did for the Clothes Off Your Back challenge, so it will be really interesting to see what she comes up with for the finale. I’d be curious to see that. I love that Mondo [Guerra] loves to mix things, and so I’d love to see what he does. Michael [Costello] makes clothes that women actually wear, it’s not highly conceptual, but it’s clothes people would actually sell. And Austin [Scarlett] is like a Golden Girl, he’s not afraid of the absolute fabulous stuff!

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