Her work has been seen on “Project Runway” and at the Emmy Awards, and on Thursday, fashion designer Korto Momolu brought her designs to Baton Rouge.Momolu, two-time runner-up of “Project Runway,” appeared at Dillard’s to promote her line of handbags and jewelry, Korto Momolu for Dillard’s.The pieces, marked by their chunky structure and vivid colors, are affordable and appealing to women from 16 to 60, Momolu said. Most of the line retails for less than $100.Momolu said the line fits right into a college woman’s wardrobe.”You can wear the totes to class, and they’re not so glitzy that they’ll be out of place,” Momolu said.Textiles, apparel design and merchandising junior Katherine Bynum went to Dillard’s to meet Momolu and said she liked the line.”The bags look like they could be worth more than the price,” Bynum said.Momolu’s “Project Runway” experience was longer than most contestants. She returned for “Project Runway: All-Star Challenge” and placed second for a second time.”I call myself the first-runner-up girl,” Momolu said.She said losing was hard after giving so much to the show.”It’s five weeks of your life, so when you get to the end, you want to win,” Momolu said. “When you don’t, you feel defeated.”But she looks at her experience on the show as a gift because it has helped build her brand and given her opportunities to become a public speaker and inspire others.”When you go on [‘Project Runway’], you’re thinking of yourself — it’s kind of selfish,” she said. “But I’ve been able to become a role model and a muse for others.”The Dillard’s line is only one of Momolu’s projects since appearing on the reality show. She also created an environmentally-friendly jewelry line called Saba and will design a dress for Tanika Ray, former co-host of “Extra,” to wear at the Academy Awards.Momolu said designing for a specific person is all about merging her point of view with the client’s needs.”I create something that’s very Korto, but still them,” she said.Momolu recently debuted her clothing line at New York Fashion Week, in the same venue as Leanne Marshall, the season five winner of “Project Runway.”Momolu said she still keeps in touch with “Runway” contestants including Marshall and Jerell Scott from her season, and contestants from other seasons like Santino Rice from season two and Jay McCarroll, winner of season one.Jamie Davidson, president of Korto Momolu, L.L.C., said   Momolu’s genuine and friendly demeanor contributes to the success of her line.”Half of fashion right now is media,” Davidson said. “Without personal magnetism, you lose a lot.”Becky Adams, Dillard’s assistant store manager, said one of Momolu’s handbags sold out by the middle of her appearance.Momolu’s line stands out to customers because of the bold, eye-catching colors that make it unique, Adams said.”It’s not your typical Ralph Lauren,” Adams said.Momolu said her career keeps her busy, but she said her dream would be to style Oprah Winfrey.”Oprah is my idol — she’s at the top of her game,” Momolu said._____Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]