Episode Report Card Jeff Long: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Cuckoo Couture
By Jeff Long | Season 8 | Episode 12 | Aired on 10.14.2010
Andy chooses Central Park. He says that he was inspired by the organic lines created by the winding walkways and the sunlight. Then, he adds that this is the final challenge and he just wants to make a dress. Hmm. There's something about the grin on his face. I'm wondering if he already has a dress in mind and is just trying to shoehorn that idea into an appropriate muse.
Gretchen chose the Lower East Side. I am immediately feeling like she has made a mistake. The LES is the site of inspired people, but I'm not sure one finds inspiration from the LES. Like, Gretchen would maybe design for people who lived there, but, other than old synagogues and tenements, the actual substance of the place is not really high fashion. But, I could be wrong. She tells us that she feels under-inspired for this challenge. She says that she doesn't want to do something literal. She wants to make something that reminds her of the type of woman she designs for. Exactly. But, I think she's making a mistake.
At Mood, they get a whopping 45 minutes to shop. Andy tries to give himself options in texture. Gretchen goes for stuff that reminds her of the bricks she saw in the LES. No. Other Michael doesn't know what he's looking for yet. He talks to Tim, who tells him that his design doesn't need to be literal. He tells April that she should consider a "surprise" in her color palette. Surprise means "any color at all besides black." She says that she has something in mind. Mondo's going to use color, per uzh. They thank Swatch the pup as they leave. He/She appears to be wearing a nun's habit.
They have two days to finish the challenge. At the workroom, Tim reminds all of them that one of them will be eliminated. He encourages them to give their best work for this challenge. Other Michael interviews that it's essential that he do great work for this challenge, seeing as he has been in the bottom for more challenges than anyone else in the room. Then, Tim's gone for the day. Andy announces, "Ladies, this is not a hobby." There's something profound and terrifying about that statement. So many creative professions are ephemeral and dreamlike until the moment it's reality and it often takes some weird brain shift that's really sort of clinical to make it all happen. If that sounds confusing, that's because it fragging IS. Andy interviews that everyone is being very careful with their designs. April says that she wants to show the designers some of the crazy shit that she can bring to the runway. She wants to go out with a bang. I'm not sure that's the phrase she was looking for.