Pamela Ptak

OUT 01/21/2010

Age: 47

Hometown: Pittsfield, MA

Profession: Full-time fashion designer & part-time college fashion design instructor

Favorite Designer: God.

PAMELA'S SCORECARD

The Fashion Farm: Out
View Pamela's scorecard

Exit Interview: Episode 2

Designer exit interview: Episode 2. See which designer failed to impress the judges in the challenge to create a party look from a burlap potato sack, and was voted off on "Project Runway" Season 7 Episode 2.

PAMELA'S DESIGN IN EPISODE 2: The Fashion Farm

The designers must create a party look from a burlap potato sack. Guest Judge: Lauren Hutton Lauren Hutton Aired January 21 at 10 pm et/pt

Tim Gunn's Workroom

See what Tim says about Pamela
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Rate Her Design

OVERALL RATING:2 /5
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Rate Her Model

Sarah

OVERALL RATING 2.7 / 5
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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
1 of 55 questions
What was the first garment you ever made?

Fourth grade: I made my first full-size garment without a pattern, a jumper skirt with large ruffles.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
2 of 55 questions
What is your music of choice when designing?

Not music but old black-and-white movies, recent Harry Potter films and educational TV.
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3 of 55 questions
When did you realize you had designer potential?

At about five. I started drawing fashions very young, making clothes for dolls.
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4 of 55 questions
Favorite designer(s)?

God. Because looking at God's creations in nature teaches such perfections.
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5 of 55 questions
Any fashion designers?

Charles James, Balenciaga, Junya Watanabe and Issey Miyake.
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6 of 55 questions
Current occupation?

Full-time fashion designer and part-time college fashion design instructor.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
7 of 55 questions
Can you describe past jobs you've had?

Advertising art director in NYC, working at two of the world's top 10 global ad agencies.
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8 of 55 questions
What is a fashion must?

While working, I love wearing a black turtleneck and dark jeans.
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9 of 55 questions
What is your design training?

BFA from Pratt. I studied couture methods at the Maison Sapho School and also studied at FIT.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
10 of 55 questions
Have you won any awards related to design?

Houston Film Festival Gold Award for a Cover Girl mascara TV ad with Christie Brinkley in '90 or '91.
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11 of 55 questions
What are your strengths as a designer?

I'm excellent with line and proportion. I can drape anything. I'm meticulous with finishing garments.
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12 of 55 questions
What are your weaknesses as a designer?

I have no interest in doing menswear, if you can call disinterest a weakness.
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13 of 55 questions
What's influenced your designs over the years?

Modern architectural shapes, huge metal sculptures, and the works of Brancusi and Louise Nevelson.
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Any other unusual influences?

Because I had a spinal surgery, I've been interested in human and animal bones and antler shapes.
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15 of 55 questions
What's your favorite material or fabric to work with?

Stiff and crisp with architectural potentialities or extremely delicate and sheer.
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16 of 55 questions
Any more specific favorites?

Denim and the stiffer types of Ultrasuede for architectural dresses. Soft jerseys and silk chiffon.
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17 of 55 questions
What's the item you're most proud of designing?

A beautifully fitted pair of pants for a young man with physical disabilities.
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18 of 55 questions
Do you prefer sketching or draping?

Draping, always!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
19 of 55 questions
Do you prefer patterns or solids?

Love solids because of how light and shadow playing across them can reveal their sculptural forms.
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20 of 55 questions
What are your favorite colors?

Black, lime green, fuchsia, orange, red, robin's egg blue.
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21 of 55 questions
What's your biggest fear as a designer?

I don't fear much except disappointing God.
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22 of 55 questions
What fashion faux pas drives you crazy?

Feather boas. They're almost never right.
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23 of 55 questions
What's the ugliest thing you've ever worn?

A very '80s metallic peach bridesmaid dress with dyed-to-match shoes.
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24 of 55 questions
Who are your favorite style icons?

Iman.
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25 of 55 questions
How would you dress first lady Michelle Obama?

Comfortable and luxurious knitwear tops to pair with intricately seamed wool skirts.
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26 of 55 questions
What celebrity would you like to design for?

Demi Moore, Halle Berry and Madonna.
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27 of 55 questions
Who's your supermodel muse?

They all inspire me.
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28 of 55 questions
What do you look for in a model?

For my shows, I look for 5'9" to 6'1" models and size 4. Love all ethnicities, eye and hair colors.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
29 of 55 questions
If you had to name your label, you'd call it . . .

I already have one, Pamela Ptak.
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30 of 55 questions
If you weren't designing, you'd be . . .

Sculpting with metal, stone or wood on a huge scale. Also making jewelry.
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31 of 55 questions
Dream place to set up your design business?

In NYC's garment district near the buyers and editors. I mean to make it BIG. :D
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32 of 55 questions
Any other cultures or places you wish you could design for?

As a Baha'i, I see myself as a world citizen. Mankind is my family. I'd want to design for them all.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
33 of 55 questions
How were you described as a kid?

Happy, bubbly, positive and talkative.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
34 of 55 questions
How are you described now?

Happy, bubbly, positive, talkative and inspirational.
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35 of 55 questions
Can you describe your family?

Very kind, generous, spiritual, humorous and loving. I was fortunate to be born into my family.
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36 of 55 questions
Marriage or kids?

Married 24 years. No kids, but consider every fashion design student student I teach my kid.
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37 of 55 questions
Do you have any pets?

Two rescued tabbies, Mr. John Steed and Mrs. Emma Peel, named after TV's The Avengers.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
38 of 55 questions
Do you have any nicknames?

Terms of endearment like joon, which is Persian for love or dear when added to your name, like Pamela joon.
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39 of 55 questions
Why are you (or aren't you) easy to live with?

Easy in that I always try helping others and am VERY positive. Hard 'cause I have high standards.
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40 of 55 questions
What's your favorite hangout back home?

My studio.
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41 of 55 questions
What are your hobbies besides designing?

Jewelry making and mentoring youth.
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42 of 55 questions
What are your favorite movies?

Old black-and-whites, Harry Potter films, and movies where animals get revenge, like Jaws.
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43 of 55 questions
What are your favorite TV shows?

50 percent cartoons like the Disney Channel and the other 50, educational TV.
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44 of 55 questions
What are your favorite websites?

Model Mayhem.
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45 of 55 questions
What are your favorite books and authors?

Scholarly works about the faith. If I'm truly reading them, there isn't time to read anything else.
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46 of 55 questions
iPhone or BlackBerry?

Neither.
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47 of 55 questions
Fast food or gourmet?

Nutrisystem, baby! It's fast and easy. I love the shape it makes me!
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48 of 55 questions
Cooking or takeout?

Fresh live veggies and, of course, microwaves.
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49 of 55 questions
Favorite food?

Desserts.
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50 of 55 questions
Beer or wine?

Neither. Baha'is don't ever drink alcohol. Since I became a Baha'i in '82, I gave up alcohol.
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51 of 55 questions
Guiltiest pleasure?

Chocolate.
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52 of 55 questions
Biggest pet peeve?

Dishonesty and laziness are equally offensive.
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53 of 55 questions
Project Runway challenge you hope they bring back for your season?

The redesign-a-uniform challenge!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
54 of 55 questions
Your take on team challenges?

Would love to do one. I'm an AWESOME team player, but have ruthlessly high standards.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: PAMELA'S TAKE
55 of 55 questions
How did you end up auditioning for Project Runway?

Because my fashion interns and design students kept bugging me to do it.