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

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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.
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.
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.
4 of 55 questions
Favorite designer(s)?

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

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

Full-time fashion designer and part-time college fashion design instructor.
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.
8 of 55 questions
What is a fashion must?

While working, I love wearing a black turtleneck and dark jeans.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
14 of 55 questions
Any other unusual influences?

Because I had a spinal surgery, I've been interested in human and animal bones and antler shapes.
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.
16 of 55 questions
Any more specific favorites?

Denim and the stiffer types of Ultrasuede for architectural dresses. Soft jerseys and silk chiffon.
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.
18 of 55 questions
Do you prefer sketching or draping?

Draping, always!
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.
20 of 55 questions
What are your favorite colors?

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

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

Feather boas. They're almost never right.
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.
24 of 55 questions
Who are your favorite style icons?

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

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

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

They all inspire me.
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.
29 of 55 questions
If you had to name your label, you'd call it . . .

I already have one, Pamela Ptak.
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.
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
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.
33 of 55 questions
How were you described as a kid?

Happy, bubbly, positive and talkative.
34 of 55 questions
How are you described now?

Happy, bubbly, positive, talkative and inspirational.
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.
36 of 55 questions
Marriage or kids?

Married 24 years. No kids, but consider every fashion design student student I teach my kid.
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.
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.
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.
40 of 55 questions
What's your favorite hangout back home?

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

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

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

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

Model Mayhem.
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.
46 of 55 questions
iPhone or BlackBerry?

Neither.
47 of 55 questions
Fast food or gourmet?

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

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

Desserts.
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.
51 of 55 questions
Guiltiest pleasure?

Chocolate.
52 of 55 questions
Biggest pet peeve?

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

The redesign-a-uniform challenge!
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.
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.