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Valerie Mayen

OUT 09/30/2010

Age: 29

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Profession: Owner and Designer of Yellowcake

Favorite Designer: Rudi Gernreich, Stefano Pilati, Leanne Marshall

VALERIE'S SCORECARD

There's a Pattern Here: Out
View Valerie's scorecard

Valerie Mayen Video Blog: Episode 14

Valerie Mayen returns for a reunion with the other designers from "Project Runway" Season 8. In this video blog, she shares her experiences of being on the show, including what she learned, who she liked and disliked..

VALERIE'S DESIGN IN EPISODE 10: "There's a Pattern Here"

The designers must create an original fabric look using HP/Intel technology. Guest Judge: Rachel Roy. Aired September 30.

Tim Gunn's Workroom

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OVERALL RATING:1.9 /5
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Episode 10 Photos

View her Episode 10 moments
SEE VALERIE'S PHOTOS

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
1 of 56 questions
What was the first garment you ever made?

A navy polka-dot sleeveless dress with pink buttons.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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What is your music of choice when designing?

La Roux, Discovery, Little Boots, Junior Boy, David Bowie, The Cars, Sleater Kinney, Ryan Adams.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
3 of 56 questions
When did you realize you had designer potential?

In junior high, when I turned my generic, bland clothes into things that I actually wanted to wear.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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Favorite designer(s)?

Rudi Gernreich, Stefano Pilati, Leanne Marshall.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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Current occupation?

Full-time fashion designer, educator, freelance illustrator.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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Can you describe past jobs you've had?

Waitress, nanny, bartender, tabletop opera singer, NASA Space Lab test subject.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
7 of 56 questions
What is a fashion must?

Boots. Preferably slimming, knee-length leather boots with a small heel.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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What is your design training?

BFA in illustration from the Cleveland Institute of Art, 2005.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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Have you won any awards related to design?

Creative Workforce Fellowship, 2009; COSE Arts Business and Innovation Award, 2010.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
10 of 56 questions
What are your strengths as a designer?

My craftsmanship and aesthetic.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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What are your weaknesses as a designer?

My efficiency.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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What's influenced your designs over the years?

The marriage of mod vintage looks with contemporary cutting-edge style.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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What's your favorite material or fabric to work with?

Interlock cotton knit and wool. They are so substantial and generally natural fibers.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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What's the item you're most proud of designing?

Any one of my coats. I love them all.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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Do you prefer sketching or draping?

Sketching.
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Do you prefer patterns or solids?

Solids.
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What are your favorite colors?

Mustard yellow, cherry red, cerulean blue, eggplant purple, titanium white.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
18 of 56 questions
What's your biggest fear as a designer?

Being unappreciated.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
19 of 56 questions
What fashion faux pas drives you crazy?

Uggs with flouncy tiered miniskirts, and disposable clothing.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
20 of 56 questions
What's the ugliest thing you've ever worn?

As a kid, a blue-gray Western-style shirt with gold thread and fringe all over it.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
21 of 56 questions
Who are your favorite style icons?

Peggy Moffitt.
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22 of 56 questions
How would you dress first lady Michelle Obama?

A coat that doubled as a dress.
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What celebrity would you like to design for?

Gwen Stefani or David Bowie! I would design anything they asked me to.
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Who's your supermodel muse?

Agyness Deyn.
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What do you look for in a model?

An ethnic and unique look. Features and skin tone are more important to me than height and hair.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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If you had to name your label, you'd call it . . .

I already named it . . . it's called Yellowcake!
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If you weren't designing, you'd be . . .

Thinking about designing.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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Dream place to set up your design business?

I'm already here. I love Cleveland! I'd like additional bases in California and South America.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
29 of 56 questions
Websites that feature your work, including your own site(s)?

yellowcakeshop.com, valeriemayen.com, Facebook, coroflot.com, Etsy, yellowcakeshop.blogspot.com
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
30 of 56 questions
Any other cultures or places you wish you could design for?

French or Italian cultures.
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How were you described as a kid?

Goofy, awkward, geeky, that pretty much sums it up.
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How are you described now?

Not much has changed, except now I don't have braces and a pudgy belly.
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Can you describe your family?

Funny, dramatic, sensitive, emotional, outgoing, adventurous.
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Marriage or kids?

Single, single, single. Would love to be married before 30, though.
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Do you have any pets?

None yet, but I'd love to get a pygmy deer!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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Do you have any nicknames?

My parents call me Balo, and my best friend, her husband and kids call me Nuni, from an SNL skit.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
37 of 56 questions
Why are you (or aren't you) easy to live with?

Easy because I'm considerate. Maybe not easy because I have A LOT of stuff.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
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What's your favorite hangout back home?

The Lava Lounge in Tremont, my best friend April's house and on the shoreway, at Edgewater Park.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
39 of 56 questions
What are your hobbies besides designing?

Tennis, break dancing, painting, woodwork, writing, singing, trying new restaurants, bike riding.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
40 of 56 questions
What are your favorite movies?

Eagle vs. Shark, Monsoon Wedding, Shawshank Redemption, The Labyrinth, Fantastic Mr. Fox.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
41 of 56 questions
What are your favorite TV shows?

The Office, Modern Family, My So-Called life, Seinfeld, Friends, Facts of Life.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
42 of 56 questions
What are your favorite websites?

fashion-incubator.com, for those who are into the real fashion industry and how it operates.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
43 of 56 questions
What are your favorite books and authors?

Franny & Zooey, Catcher in the Rye, Ragamuffin Gospel; Salinger, Rilke, Sylvia Plath.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
44 of 56 questions
iPhone or BlackBerry?

iPhone, hands down!
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Fast food or gourmet?

Gourmet, unless it's good fast food like In-N-Out or Five Guys.
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Cooking or takeout?

Both, but it has to be good takeout and good cooking.
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47 of 56 questions
Favorite food?

Mangos, homemade Rice Krispies treats and homemade enchiladas.
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Beer or wine?

Wine.
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49 of 56 questions
Guiltiest pleasure?

The Bachelorette and Olivia Newton-John (i.e., Xanadu).
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
50 of 56 questions
Biggest pet peeve?

Rude people.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
51 of 56 questions
Favorite designer from past seasons of Project Runway?

Leanne Marshall, Alison Kelly, Jay McCarroll.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
52 of 56 questions
Project Runway challenge you hope they bring back for your season?

The car-parts challenge. I love that one. It's a breeding ground for innovation and creativity!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
53 of 56 questions
Project Runway challenge you hope they don't bring back?

The grocery-store challenge. It's getting old; I think they've used it quite a bit now.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
54 of 56 questions
Your take on team challenges?

It'd be fun to work with someone else. But I may hate it if I get paired with a bum partner!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
55 of 56 questions
How did you end up auditioning for Project Runway?

I'd auditioned before and was an alternate last season but didn't get on the show.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: VALERIE'S TAKE
56 of 56 questions
Why are you going to win?

I'm going to work my tail off, I have a good aesthetic, strong craftsmanship and I'm genuine.

VALERIE'S PHOTO GALLERIES

Check out Valerie Mayen's personal & work photos

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