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AE: Kayne, how did it feel to see Tara Conner wearing your dress at the Miss Universe pageant?
KG: Oh my gosh! Don't even talk about it! Literally, it was one of my absolute proudest moments, especially where she did so well. I couldn't have been more excited and more proud to work with anyone.

AE: Kayne, at one point during the dog challenge episode, you compared yourself to Laura, saying you were rocky road and she was vanilla. Do you still stand by those flavors?
KG: You know, if I would have thought about it, I would have said something more exciting like, I don't know, banana split ice cream. I don't even like rocky road, to be honest. I was just trying to think on my feet. She was definitely vanilla, and rocky road was just what came up, but it's probably more like Moose Tracks or something. Just definitely not vanilla.

AE: What flavors would Robert be?
RB: Answer carefully! [Laughs.]

KG: Robert would definitely be dulce de leche.

RB: Oh, perfect! My favorite.

KG: It's caramelly and rich and smooth and suave.

RB: Good answer!

AE: Robert, in the casting special, you mentioned that you had worked with Isaac Mizrahi and that it was very difficult. I think you said there were times when you wanted to stab him in the heart.
RB: I said I wanted to drive a stake through his heart, which is how you kill a vampire. I have a theory that Isaac is actually a vampire, so I'm still trying.

I'm kidding. It's funny how that statement got blown out of context. I said at times I wanted to drive a stake through his heart, and I think he would probably have said the same of me. When you're working for a designer of that level and caliber, it's just a heady, busy, crazy experience. You're in the eye of the storm. It's just really high pressure and sort of consumes your life. I think certainly, at the time, when you're working with someone and every decision becomes an epic-proportion, life-or-death situation, it becomes very difficult. It's hard to live at that kind of pace constantly, so that's why I eventually had to get out.

There were also good things about it. I met amazing people, and I got to work at the top level of my field for quite a while, but it takes a lot out of you. There comes a time when you don't want to be at the studio doing dresser cards at midnight. I maybe want to be at a bar with friends kicking back. You start to think you want to have more of a personal life, and a lot of times, with a job like that, there's very little room for one.

AE: So, which was worse, working with Isaac or being on Project Runway?
RB: God, working with Isaac! Project Runway was awesome. It was like a vacation. It was so great to meet different people from different walks of life that are passionate about the same things as you are. What other chance would you have in your life to be crammed into incredibly close living quarters, sleep-deprived and tortured with these same people and a very attractive, German supermodel? That doesn't come along every day. [Laughs.]

AE: Let's dish about some of the other designers.
RB: Bring 'em on!

AE: Was Bradley [Baumkirchner] really as unprepared for the dog challenge as it seemed?
KG: Bradley definitely beats to the tune of his own horn, or drum, or however that expression goes. He was just bizarre. Like there were several times when I'd ask him, “Hey, how are you feeling today, Bradley?” And his exact response was, “Like a plum tree.” So I'm like, “That's great! That sounds good.” I don't know how to respond to that, and I just left it alone. He always just kind of pulled stuff out. I never knew what he was doing until we had an hour left and an outfit started coming together.

RB: I loved Bradley. He had such a different aesthetic. He just comes from a different place, and nobody really knows where that place is. He's the only one with the map, but it's kind of fun to try and figure it out. You can't fake that kind of personality. I think though, to his credit, in the dog challenge, a lot of that was editing. He was definitely struggling, but he wasn't completely useless. He wasn't totally out to sea. I think the Cher thing was more of a challenge. What was hilarious to me was that he was like, “Who is Cher? Tell me about her.” And I'm thinking, “Bradley! What rock have you been living under?”

KG: It's so funny, because I clearly remember that he was asking everyone, “What would Cher wear?” And I was like, “What wouldn't she wear?” I said, “Bradley, just trust a gay man. Buy half a yard of stretch fabric and spend the rest of your $150 on beaded fringe and you'll be fine.” And he was literally like, “I don't know, Kayne.” Because of course, that's just not Bradley. He just tried his best.

RB: That was one case of the icon not matching its designer. I mean, Bradley should have picked Joanie Mitchell or Twiggy or something. Just not Cher.

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