Episode Report Card Jeff Long: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Trendsetter
By Jeff Long | Season 4 | Episode 4 | Aired on 12.04.2007
In a hurry? Read the recaplet for a nutshell description! Finished? Click here to close.This week, the designers partake in what may just be the most creative overall challenge in the series' history. Nina Garcia visits them in the workroom (who knew she could stand?) and presents them with 12 different fashion trends that are no longer in vogue. Names are drawn, and each designer picks one of the dead trends. Then they are told that they will be working in groups of three, and will be required to incorporate each of their dead trends, while also creating a cohesive collection. Expansive, yes?
Jillian, Rami, and Kevin work with overalls (which Jillian was wearing when Nina visited the workroom…awkward!), poodle skirts, and '70s flares. Chris, Steven, and Sweet P have shoulder pads, dancewear (that's a dead trend? Tell that to my closet), and baggy sweaters. Christian, Kit, and Jack worked with zoot suits, pleather, and fringe. Ricky, Victorya, and Elisa use cut-outs, underwear as outerwear, and neon. Jillian was the leader of her team and was freaking the entire time that Kevin was not going to have enough time to finish his design, but he did, and it was great. Victorya and Ricky, meanwhile, did not enjoy each other's company. Victorya passive-aggressively blamed Ricky for not stopping her from making mistakes, and Ricky just barely controlled his rage (which I'm sure would have been followed very closely by tears).
On the runway, Jillian's and Christian's teams were the clear winners. Their stuff was modern, cohesive, and really incorporated the elements required of the challenge. In the end, Jillian was named the winner for being the leader of her team. She declared that she would always be in the top from now on, and would continue winning. Ricky and Chris were the bottom two: Ricky had the worst design of the three looks in his group and was an ineffective team leader (and it's probably a little because he's such a basket case); and Chris made some old-fashioned shoulder pads that everybody (including guest judge and cougar Donna Karan!) hated. Ultimately, Ricky was given yet another reprieve and sweet Chris was sent home. I have a feeling this isn't going to sit well with everyone. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
Previously: Carmen and Ricky landed in the bottom two for their menswear designs for Today show bore-respondent, Tiki Barber. Carmen was deemed the greater offender for not even making a shirt for her model and was sent home. Ricky cried.
It's morning time at the New Gotham apartments, which I just realized last week are down the block from the Crunch gym in New York with the swimming pool. Kit explains to Sweet P that she was probably saved from elimination because the judges liked what her design "could" have been, while even if Carmen's outfit had been completed, the design wouldn't have passed muster. I guess that's true, but I still sorta liked Carmen's design. Tiki Barber is a snore.
Sweet P interviews that it's sad that Carmen left, but the apartment is more comfy with three people. And of course she prefers Carmen having gone home to herself having gone. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
Chris and Rami are having their morning conversation in the boys' apartment. They think there should be a Project Runway perfume that is a mixture of sweat, tears, and Chinese food. Sounds delightful, and a little like the smell of my apartment post-Oscars 2001. Julia was a shoo-in, but it was still an emotional time.
We see a quick shot of what appears to be Steven...dusting. Doing the dishes, I can understand, but they don't send in a maid for these guys? Maybe he spilled something.
At Parsons, Heidi greets the models and presents a model-choosing technique more complicated, and possibly pointless, than the Electoral College. Because they used male models for the last challenge, Jack's model is brought onstage along with the models of the last two eliminated designers, Cheron and Annelita. Jack can stick with his model, Christina, or choose from all of the others. He decides that he would like to swap, so all the models come out. He would like Lea, Ricky's model. Ricky interviews that now he sees Jack for his "true colors." Colors that he perhaps shares? Seriously, though. How stupid is that? He did the same freaking thing. Ricky automatically gets Jack's old model, and Cheron and Annelita get the boot. Much ado about not so much.
Heidi tells the designers that Tim is waiting for them in the workroom with an "old friend" who will help deliver their next challenge. We see Sweet P get really tickled, and she interviews that her first assumption was that they'd be designing for senior citizens. You can actually see that flash across her face when Heidi says it -- it's kind of funny. Hey, senior citizens need clothes too.