It's morning at Le Parker Meridien when the doorbell of the suite is rung. Reco answers, and there is a man there with bags from Saks Fifth Avenue. He says it's a delivery from Isaac. Reco calls everyone to open the packages. They open them at the same time, and it appears to be light blue satin, which makes everyone groan. Everyone but Johnny. He interviews that his first thought was lingerie, which he's excited about. Excited about making. He's on a high from winning the elimination challenge last week.
Reco reads a card that was inside one of the packages. "Fashion never sleeps. Bring this robe to the workroom for your Harper's Bazaar Mini Challenge." Fashion never sleeps. What a fucking stupid thing to say to the world. The dancers file into the workroom with the blue robes over their arms. Isaac is stunned that there are only six of them left. Merlin says that his dream is to win this contest, and when he has to win, he has to win. Isaac introduces Laura, who introduces a special guest, Beth Kanfer, who is the fashion director of women's accessories at Saks Fifth Avenue. Beth tells them that they are each holding a Fernando Sanchez robe from Saks. Isaac explains Sanchez is credited with the idea of loungewear -- that people would look as elegant lounging at home as they would in eveningwear.
Their task for the Mini Challenge is to make matching garments for the robe, with materials that have been provided. The winner will have his or her design sold at Saks. That's huge! Everyone's very excited. James-Paul was inspired by his grandmother wearing a kimono and Vietnamese trouser pants. Anna's thinking baby-doll top and shorts, but it still feels like pajamas to her. Reco is making a onesie. Johnny has no experience with lingerie, but thinks that it can't be too difficult. Well, using shears is apparently a problem as he cuts himself and ruins his top at the same time. So, he decides to finish the skirt he was making and make it a dress. He's kinda fooling around like he doesn't care. Anna just wants to finish without embarrassing herself. She calls her shorts homage to Haven. James-Paul has issues with the sewing machine.
When time is up, everyone brings their work forward. Daniella has created a jumpsuit in pink satin that was inspired by wearing your boyfriend's shirt. She says that she sleeps in a jumpsuit and Laura sniffs that they have nothing in common with each other. Anna says that her baby doll top and bloomers are made for a lady to flit around the house. They don't seem impressed. Merlin has a long top and pants. Beth says that they would work better as separates (and more tailored), but she likes his approach to lifestyle. Johnny's is a mess, and he says so. He says that he is embarrassed to show it to them. Luckily, his embarrassment doesn't keep him from laughing as he's talking to them. They think that James-Paul didn't have enough time to finish his design. Also, the crotch in the pants is way low. Reco has made a jumpsuit, which really seems to offend Laura. Afterwards, Beth says that the winner, who incorporated youth into her design, is Anna. She seems totally shocked. She is happy to have won two of the Mini Challenges in a row.
Isaac says that winning this competition could be the most important thing to happen to them in their entire lives! When he's in a stressful situation, there's something special that he likes to do. He tells them to meet him and Kelly at a location on 29th Street. Fight Club! While the designers are walking, James-Paul is afraid of getting shot. It's not that bad of a neighborhood. Then they arrive at their destination -- a psychic. Inside, in an impossibly large studio, Isaac and Kelly introduce the designers to psychic Nancy Stark. "One of the great psychics of our day." Hmm.
Johnny gets a Tarot reading first. James-Paul finds it "witchcrafty." Johnny chooses a card, the Six of Swords. She says that he will be traveling, which makes everyone gasp. They think that this means that he's going home. Johnny interviews that he needs to give himself more credit. Reco is . He chooses the Four of Pentacles. He reminisces about The Craft. Nancy tells him that he needs to let go of constraints, though he has great possibilities. Daniella is and chooses the Six of Pentacles. Nancy says that she needs to trust in her own creativity more. Daniella tells a story about how she was "an artist as a child." She was in kindergarten, and her teacher called her mother to tell her that, while the other children were playing with blocks, Daniella was drawing. SAVANT! That's a sign of some sort of molten genius if I've ever heard of it. James-Paul chooses The High Priestess. She tells him that it's a sign of intuition, but he should try to be more practical (which makes everyone give a look to the other). Anna chooses the Four of Cups. It represents love and affection (I love that song) but also nature. Merlin chooses the Six of Swords as well. The same card as Johnny. She says that he's going somewhere and there's competition involved. He thinks she's telling him that he's moving to the level in his career.
Kelly and Isaac return. Kelly tells them that they will be designing looks inspired by the Tarot card that they picked. They'll have 14 hours to complete the look. At the fabric store, they have $175 each. Anna finds a floral print that is gorgeous and nature-inspired. James-Paul vows to make everything basic and simple. Merlin thinks of sweat pants when he thinks of traveling. Back at the workroom, they get to work. Johnny is going to try to make something playful. They reach the end of day one on this challenge.
The day, it's back to work. Reco is making a pantsuit. Johnny tells him that he likes the movement in his piece. Merlin murmurs that someone took his pants again. Daniella interviews, since Merlin and Johnny have the same card, she thinks one of them will be going home. Though she will miss Johnny, she really doesn't give a shit if he leaves. I'm not paraphrasing. James-Paul asks Merlin and Reco who they think will be in the final four. Reco doesn't know, except that he will be one of them. Merlin says that the three of them have something to offer. He tells us that he came from a poor family in Honduras, and he has come here to build an empire. Meanwhile, Johnny is telling Anna and Daniella that he doesn't want to compete in the finals against James-Paul or Merlin, because he doesn't take either one of them seriously. Anna says that neither of them could create a collection.
The models come in for their fittings. Daniella tells her girl that her card told her to be more internal, so she's finding inspiration in the meaning of her Hebrew name ("Bird"). Merlin puts his sweatpants on his girl. He cuts the bottom and does some fancy knot, which he thinks is very young and fresh. James-Paul's model has a slight curvature of the back, and he's afraid that he might accentuate her "hump," or that her shirt might pop off on the runway. It's always someone else's fault with him. People don't get it, or the model's deformed. It's never him. Anna has made a skirt with petals that have red linings. She's afraid that it might remind the judges of vaginas. Oh God. It's like a magnificent vagina dress.
With four hours remaining, they're all jamming. Daniella thinks that Merlin's outfit is gross. "A sweat suit and a yellow pea coat? This is a fashion contest." She's so nasty. Isaac and Kelly enter. They talk to Johnny and congratulate him for using silk instead of his usual burlap or barbed wire. Then, Isaac gives his typical vague, doubt-inspiring nothing answer about the design of the outfit. It's cruel. Johnny interviews that it took this long for him to realize how much he wants this. Isaac thinks that Anna's silhouette is very strong. She agrees that it's a risk for her. James-Paul says that he is thinking of "shapes that are projecting outside of the body." Isaac gets all bug-eyed because he thought Nancy told him to be more practical. This is practical, he says. It's only two pieces. He tells us that no one every understood what he was doing. Reco says that his card means to take structure less seriously, which doesn't really relate to a pantsuit. He interviews that he's been holding back, but he needs to push himself. Merlin presents his travel costume. He interviews that he has been stuck in his career, without recognition. He wants to show what he can do. Outside, Kelly and Isaac discuss how nervous they are. Isaac can't bear losing another one of them.
The morning, Merlin says he's wearing a kilt. Merlin's never seen one on a man, except a drag queen. Merlin interviews that he will be shocked if Johnny is not eliminated.
Backstage at the show, the designers haul ass. Johnny interviews that he thinks that James-Paul will be going home. James-Paul's model says that Merlin, in his long red skirt, looks like the Pope of Fashion. The audience is starting to file in. There's designer Erin Fetherston. She has some rocking long bangs. There's Patrick McDonald with his eyebrows drawn to his sideburns. We have Andrew Saffir, the founder of Cinema Society. And, our guest judge is Vivienne Tam!! That's awesome. Here comes that mean guy dragging all of the models away.
The show begins with Merlin's look. There's a lot happening. A gray sweatsuit with a yellow pea coat over it. is Reco's pantsuit. Black with white tracing stripes. Underneath the jacket is a shimmering gray top. It's nice. Here's Anna's dress. It's great. It's a red halter-top over this tulip-shaped skirt. Daniella's is . It's a sleeveless long coat over a transparent shirt with a bikini top underneath. This is matched with a skirt in a bird-inspired print. Here's James-Paul's. The top is too tight. It's in gray and there's a bustle. Johnny sees Erin Fetherston in the audience. He says that he has ripped her off a ton. His outfit is , and it looks great. One-shouldered silk blouse over a lime green skirt. There's a floral print basket weave overlay on the skirt and it's topped off with a denim belt. Adorable.
After the show, Erin Fetherston says that she liked Reco's outfit the best. Patrick McDonald liked James-Paul's, but thought it had construction problems. Andrew Saffir liked Johnny's, because it was sexy and young.
It's back to the judging dungeon. Isaac introduces the judges, including Vivienne. Isaac congratulates everyone. He thinks they did a great job. Kelly calls out the winning designers. They are Reco and Anna! Isaac says that these looks were a triumph. Kelly tells Anna that an audience member said that no one would look at the date of the woman wearing her dress. Anna says that she was trying to work with a print that made her happy. It makes Vivienne happy, too, and Fern loves the proportion. Vivienne finds Reco's suit romantic and modern. Isaac commends him for making something that's sexy and covered. He says that hanging by a thread was good for Reco. The winner is... Anna! She interviews that she has surpassed all of her expectations.
Now, the other designers return to the stage. The two losers are James-Paul and Merlin. Isaac says that he is disappointed. Kelly tells James-Paul that 92% of the audience said they wouldn't buy his design. Someone said that his design looked like a curtain crossed with droopy diapers. He says that he followed the card (it's the card's fault). He does show that he tried to match the sleeves with the bustle of the skirt, but Fern finds the bustle really unforgiving. Vivienne says that he has great concepts, but he needs to think about the shape of people. Isaac says that he needs to make his vision communicated. Fern says that he has a point of view, and it needs to be encouraged. Vivienne adds that she was the same way when she started, but she had to change for the buyers. Kelly tells Merlin that audience members found his outfit too junior. He says that he's happy with those comments, because he was trying to make something young. The judges point out that there is too much going on, making the design unflattering. He says the fabric wasn't speaking to him, so he had to add stuff. Fern says it looks like a designer didn't design it. Ouch. The judges deliberate. They discuss whether it's worse to be generic (which is what Merlin's overdesign turned into) or impractical. Back onstage, Merlin is being a really bad sport. He says that Johnny's design was a piece of shit. An artist takes chance, he says. He doesn't care about the competition, he cares about showing what he can do.
The judges return. Isaac reiterates that they had a tough time making their decision. But, they're not buying Merlin. He thanks them, hugs James-Paul and Reco... and leaves. Bad sport. Fern tells James-Paul that she wants to see some passion from him. Merlin interviews that he is happy with what he did. He was being experimental.
Discuss this episode in our forums, then see how to become a fashion designer using everyday household objects in No Prior Knowledge!
Jeff Long is the Pope of Recapping. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com.