JP: How many people did you like? How many did you let through?
DV: I saw roughly around 200 the day I was there, and I know it’s a smaller amount of people that get let through. The people we did (let through) I liked, the people we didn’t, I have no regrets. (Laughs).
JP: You were like “YIKES!”
DV: Yeah, exactly. I did notice a trend of fewer students. I think Tim kind of scared people away last season about how it is very difficult for someone to come right out of school and hit the ground running, and I think that Project Runway and Bravo and NBC in general wanted to see and be proud of someone who can take that win and literally can just roll with it.
JP: So it looks like we have to start wrapping it up here (as crews are breaking down tables and such and Daniel’s car is literally outside the door), let’s talk about some fashion industry “hot topics”. What do you think of these Disney wedding dresses (reference to the recent item in Yahoo’s fashion section)?
DV: No….(in disbelief)
JP: Yes. Apparently Disney is going into the wedding dress business.
DV: Because of all the weddings they do?
JP: I guess they are trying to fill the need of brides who want to look like princesses? I thought it was kind of ridiculous.
DV: It’s the beginning of the end. Good God. I am doing my sister’s wedding dress. She’s getting married at the end of September, and so she just came for a fitting…but doing a bride, it’s…hard work, it’s a handful.
JP: Please don’t make her look like the Little Mermaid. (Laughs)
DV: Are you kidding? I would never! (From the background you can hear Keiran saying Daniel’s sister wants a Princess Jasmine look instead). She wouldn’t want Little Mermaid, she’d want Princess Jasmine. She is covered with tattoos, so I’m trying to make her a more chic version of who she is.
JP: So what’s next?
DV: What’s next is I have a friend who, possibly depending on when this interview goes up, I am trying to get a dress on a good friend of mine for a high profile event to be televised in a few weeks, so that will be a nice little fun thing.
JP: Don’t worry, I won’t tell anybody…come on you can tell me! (laughs)
DV: Yeah right! (Laughs) The NYLO stuff is still progressing, for which I am shooting a double spread for a magazine at the beginning of June, and they’re going to showcase that and that will be out two or three months from now. I am speaking at this global television conference in the second week in June. It’s about bringing in inspiration to the forefront of the TV industry. It’s for about 3,000 people and they asked me to come speak about design and stuff, and I’m honored to do that. That’s June 14th, and then the whole job, getting done, cranking back into interviews. Like I said there are some cool prospects…so exciting, so exciting.
JP: I am glad that things are going really well for you, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
DV: Thank you, thank you.
JP: I have to say that you were a big part of why Season 2 was just so successful and so well-loved. I know a lot of people who say that that was by far the best season, and I think that you and your character and how you interacted with everyone definitely contributed to that.
DV: Thank you so much and a big thank you to BPR for the all the support you guys continue…CONTINUE to give! And the thing is it’s growing...it’s ridiculous! (smiles). Laura (K) will thank me for saying this “HBIC…the HBIC, Laura…do you know what that is? It’s the Head Bitch In Charge! I LOVE IT!” (Laughs)
JP: (LAUGHS) Alright! Thank you very much!
Interview and introduction written and conducted by John Patsais on Saturday, April 28th, 2007
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