Episode Report Card Jeff Long: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Designers in a Bell Jar
By Jeff Long | Season 8 | Episode 9 | Aired on 09.23.2010
After the show, April and Christopher are safe. Michael, Valerie and Ivy have the lowest scores. They leave while the winners get some stroking. Ivy tells everyone backstage that she didn't think she would be in the bottom. April says she's surprised that Gretchen made it into the top. Onstage, Gretchen is such a good talker. Michael thinks her high fashion dress is very wearable. Heidi likes the beading on the back and wishes it were the front of the dress. Naeem tells her that the front should be the most interesting part. Michael's not a fan of the hair, which is a little costume-y. Nina loves the make-up though.
Naeem loves that Andy stuck to his vision. Michael thinks that Andy's "boot pants" are ultimately very wearable. Nina likes the blend of metallics that Andy used, as well as his far out make-up. Heidi's not wild about the high fashion look. Mondo explains his kaleidoscope idea. He says that his ready-to-wear look was supposed to have an absence of color, which actually makes me like it more. Heidi is crazy about the hat he made, which is this black skeletal thing. Naeem loves his styling -- his girl has frizzy hair under the hat. It is awfully cool. He points out that Mondo used different stripes with a lot of skill. But, Michael thinks the dress is too short and Nina thinks the fabrics look cheap. Michael loves the back though and thinks it's sort of Kentucky Derby horse ribbon explosion. Yes. Nina loves the brightness.
It's loser time. Gretchen says backstage that she thinks all of the bottom people belong there. Michael thinks that Ivy's dresses look like pageant underwater bridesmaids. Nail on the head. Nina thinks that her high fashion model looks ancient. Naeem notes that she tried hard, but he doesn't think any of it works. Heidi thinks that it's all over the place but doesn't hate it as much as the others do.
Valerie says she was going for Audrey Hepburn in multiple movies. Seriously. Naeem doesn't think that Valerie was imaginative enough and used her fabrics improperly. Nina thinks her high fashion look is very Miss Guatemala. Valerie says that's where her family is from. Damn. Nina's all "no offense." Michael hates that stupid strap. Nina laughs as he rips it apart. He thinks the ready-to-wear look is pedestrian. Other Michael explains his look and giggles that he's nervous because he's not used to being in bottom. Nice way to plant that in their heads. Seriously. Naeem doesn't like the color, but he likes the cocktail dress. Heidi thinks that you have to choose between boobs and legs, while the cocktail dress has a lot of both. Michael thinks the ball gown is ridiculous and costume-y.