Brrr, looks cold!

It's no ANTM casting but, hey, still a decent turnout!

Twice a year, Henri Bendel holds a casting call at its Fifth Avenue flagship store where aspiring designers can have their collections sold in the store. Called "Open-See", the 40-year old event gives these hopefuls an opportunity to personally meet with the stores buyers and show their designs. Although doors didn't open until 9 a.m this Monday morning, the crowd began arriving around 11 p.m Sunday with a student from Parsons being the first in line. Open-See is where designers such as James Purcell, Anna Sui, and Todd Oldham were first discovered...I guess you can just call it the Original "Project Runway".

Where Are They Now: Jaslene Gonzalez

So, after investing a lot of time and interest into fashion-themed reality television shows I often wonder where the winners (and some of the other top contestants) actually ended up. You don't see last season's ANTM winner Whitney gracing the cover of W or Vogue. In fact, an ANTM winner has never landed the cover of a top fashion magazine. Or how about Jay McCarroll, season one winner of Project Runway? Apart from the occasional cameo on Bravo or the Style Network, I've yet to see his rise to fame. Therefore, I've set out on a weekly journey to find some of these "winners" and see what they've really been up to. My first subject: Jaslene Gonzalez (Winner, Cycle 8, America's Top Model).
Print Work: Latina Magazine cover, 8-page spread in Colures, Scene Magazine spread
Runway: Ashley Paige (Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim 08), Armani Exchange, Jillian Lewis (Project Runway), Jose Duran, Indashio, Custo Barcelona, Adolfo Sanchez
Other: "Love is Not Abuse" campaign by Liz Claiborne, two billboards in Times Square, ShopBop online ad campaign, Ryan Leslie's "Addiction" music video