We're near the end! Kelly Rowland tells us about the incredible journey that we've witnessed. Clothes made. Some good (tears!). Some bad (Johnny is a cheater!). The show proper begins with Daniella trudging down a New York City sidewalk with a garment rack. There are two days until the penultimate fashion show. She says that everyone told her that, at 22, she was too young to be successful in this competition. But, look at her, World! And, there's Anna. As she's walking with her garment bags (Bravo can't spring for a taxi?), she tells us that she's very excited. She feels like she has been a dark horse in the competition. She says that she has spent the last three months of her life "doing this," so she came prepared, like a girl scout. I'm not sure if she means she spent the last three months working on her collection or doing fast, crazy challenges on this show.
When Anna enters the workroom, she and Daniella hug. Daniella interviews that she's glad Anna was the first one there, and she's excited to see what she has been working on. Daniella asks Anna how she's been, and she replies, "Poor." 2009, baby. Daniella asks her if, when she was creating her collection, Anna felt like it was a culmination of her work on the show. She did feel that way, and Daniella agrees that she felt that way, too. See-through blazers for everyone! Anna interviews that she became interested in making clothes when she was in high school, and fashion seemed like the obvious college direction for her to take. She's proud of how far she has come, but now she'd like to win. Not to burst the amazing suspense created here, but you've seen the text polls that run during the show? Doesn't matter the question, if it's a positive response they're looking for -- Reco wins. People with phones like Reco. Now, the winner will be decided by the audience, yes? Seems to me that this entire episode may be unnecessary. [You would think so, wouldn't you? But no. - Zach]
Anna takes a look at Daniella's collection. She laughs that she knew Daniella would use leather! Daniella interviews (in the most Xanax-induced way -- pick up the pace!) that her grandmother would have loved to have seen Daniella's progress. When she died, she told her that everything she made would have the grace and elegance that her grandmother had. That's what I want to hear on my deathbed, someone's freaking mission statement. Here's the winner, I mean, Reco. He hugs the ladies and asks Daniella if she's smoking crack, because she's apparently thinner. She says that, no, she has been "working on a collection." He interviews that he has always seen Daniella as his competition. He reminds us that he is fashion and will prevail.
Here is James-Paul. Reco runs to hug him and interviews that James-Paul was his roomie during the show and they share a special connection. James-Paul interviews that his work is experimental and sometimes misunderstood. That's probably true that his stuff is misunderstood, but it's a shame to be in a situation where anytime you receive criticism, you just chalk it up to being misunderstood. He shows the others parts of his collection. Reco looks terrified. James-Paul continues his interview, saying that he has tried to simplify his silhouette and make dynamic detailing.
Reco pulls out a red dress with a corset that he tells Daniella took 20 yards of silk organza. He interviews that he has been working in fashion for 10 years. It has been a struggle to stay solvent. He says that he will do whatever it takes to win. That includes talking to Kelly Rowland and Isaac Mizrahi. Here they are! Isaac reminds them that they have been working on their collections for 10 weeks. Kelly says that they will be so proud.
Isaac asks Anna what the inspiration for her collection was. She says that she based her collection on The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch. Isaac knows it and seems intrigued. James-Paul says that he was inspired by the idea of indigenous (Aboriginal) people in Western clothing. "The dingo ate my asymmetrical space dress!" Reco says that he had been researching Aztec Indians, then he met Merlin, who Isaac declares is "the original Aztec." Sure, he's the original ancient Aztec. Where's Bruce Vilanch when you need him? Daniella says that she began researching Medieval and Japanese armor, which gave her the idea of a second skin. She adds that she is very proud of her work, because it's all beautiful.
Not so fast, Daniella. Isaac says that he and the judges will decide if her work is pretty. He says it's the most important fashion show of their lives coming up. They've invited the biggest names in fashion to sit in the front row. He tells them that Glenda Bailey, editor-in-chief of "the preeminent" Harper's Bazaar, will again be sitting on the front row. Kelly reminds them that America will vote for the winner. AND, we, America, will only have a chance to vote on 3 of the collections. One designer will be eliminated after the fashion show. Kelly reminds all of them to breathe. Because, seriously, they look like they stopped breathing. The models are coming in for their fittings, and Isaac tells the designers to pull it together.
Daniella interviews that she would be devastated if she didn't have the chance to be up for the vote. The models enter. James-Paul has bones for hair accessories. The judges are going to love that. Daniella tells us that she likes thin models whose bodies don't interfere with her designs. Me, too! When I write something, I like to print it out and tape it to the bodies of models. And they have to be super thin, otherwise their normal, fat bodies would create curves on the paper or something, and it would be harder to read MY writing on their bodies. I hate it when their bodies interfere with what I'm trying to do that's all about me and not them and their bodies. Reco tells his model to strip. I thought that was what he told his clients AFTER he dressed them. His wedding dress, the statement piece in his collection, is too tight for ALL of the models. One of them is even like, "I'm tiny! Who are you going to get to fit into this dress?" He says that he's going to have to let the dress out, or throw it out. After the fitting, the designers get ready to leave. All but Reco. He has to stay behind and work, which Daniella finds humorous. She reminds him that it's the most important fashion show of his life. Reco interviews that he's worried about losing everything that he has worked so hard to obtain. He works until 3:00 in the morning.
The day, as he's waking, we see an interview with James-Paul. He tells us that he worked hard to have a strong concept, but he's worried about how the audience (i.e. customers, potential wearers) will judge his clothing. You couldn't have thought of that when you were making the clothes? Anna tells Daniella that she's not worried for the two of them in regards to elimination. Reco tells James-Paul that he's not nervous, but he's tired. As they're leaving their hotels, Anna tries to pull up Daniella's dress and Reco says "Ladies first" as he opens the door for Reco.
With two hours before the fashion show, Daniella is moving around while girls are having their hair and make-up done. She says it's the craziest backstage experience of her life, though it looks pretty standard. The audience is filling up! There's Betsey Johnson! There's Markus from earlier in the season. He looks good. There's Alex from the Real Housewives of New York! But, no Simon. Also, the woman sitting to her is the spitting image of Jill Zarin, but apparently it's not her? There's Caroline Manzo of the New Jersey Housewives. She scares the shit out of me. Reco finally fits a girl into his wedding dress, but a zipper breaks. He runs around like crazy look for a needle and thread, until a girl reminds him that he has a needle stuck in his shirt. "Oh damn," he replies, which gets a good laugh from the surrounding crowd.
Kelly Choi, the host of Top Chef Masters, is in the audience. There's Lisa Salzer, president of Lulu Frost. Teresa from the New Jersey Housewives -- I'm so sure they have great fashion sense. Ramona from New York. I'm having issues with Ramona right now, but I might be over them by the time the show comes on again. We see Daniella direct a make-up artist to correct his work on a model. She wanted robotic! Not cat! That's one of the best things I've heard on this entire show. James-Paul is nervous because a dresser put his complicated coat onto a model all wrong. There's Tabatha Coffey of Tabatha's Salon Takeover. And, there's designer R. Scott French. I'm not really caring about a lot of these people. There's designer Ashleigh Verrier. Still don't care. There's designer Stan Herman. I'm sure all of these people work very hard, I'm just saying.
Here comes the mean guy who always steals the models. Daniella is like "shut up" when he gives them their two-minute call. Reco is working on the zipper on his dress until the last moment. Glenda and Fern take their places. Isaac introduces everyone to the show.
Daniella is first. She comes out and introduces her collection. She says that each of her looks is named after a woman in her family -- all strong, independent, edgy, modern women. Then, the show begins. Stuff looks good! It's all Daniella -- super modern with really feminine cuts and trims. She's dancing awkwardly backstage and sort of bumping into poor Anna. The techno song she is playing has lyrics like this, "Lust, lace, leather..." So stupid. Daniella wrote it. And, she laid down those fat beats. She made everything in the collection, including belts and accessories. Reco interviews that Daniella's collection is really good. It's what's popular right now. Daniella tells us that her family came from South Africa, with $76. Her first bedroom was an unfinished bathroom. Isaac says to Kelly that Daniella can make neutral colors dynamic. Wow, there's a floor-length gown in dark blue or black that is one-shouldered, with a nude panel at the bust. The proportions in the skirt are amazing -- flowing but not voluminous. It's pretty sharp. She'd like to be able to help her family the way that they have helped her. After the show, Kelly whoops. Daniella curtsies on the runway.
Reco is up . He thanks his mom and aunt for driving from Chattanooga to be there! He tells the crowd that they will be going on a journey with a high priestess in the Aztec Empire. Again? My days are running together now -- it's always the same thing. So, we begin. There are lots of triangles and pyramid shapes on his clothing. It all looks pretty good. It's just this side of being too much -- too tight, too ornate, too stripper. Isaac says that he likes the circle skirt of a coat that Reco made. Then, we see a model pull down her skirt as she's leaving the runway. Too short. Isaac notices. Reco interviews that his whole life has changed with this show. When he walks out for his bow, he has to help the girl in his wedding dress. She can't walk. Isaac notices. He has to pick her up and walk offstage. He interviews that he is definitely going to win.
Here's Anna! Her folks are on the front row. The show begins. The first dress looks really heavy. But, the stuff that follows looks really good. There's a shirtdress that's awesome. She interviews that she would rather have people interested in the individual looks rather than make a cohesive collection. Her dream is to have her own store and support herself with her designs. Kelly exclaims that she loves it all! Oh, my God, here's a floor-length dress with bands above the knee and mid-calf that create these bubbles. Then, there are pleats all over them. AND, the color blends from blue to green to yellow. So, it's like this shimmering, living thing. [It's like fi-yah! - Z] It's awesome. Daniella interviews that she loves what Anna is doing. She's making the stuff that ladies want to wear. Anna says that it's rare, as a designer, to get the opportunity (like she has now) to create without limits. Anna's mom looks amazed.
Here's James-Paul! His sister and friends are in the audience. His show begins and, I don't want to sound like a baby, but... I'm kind of moved. It's fascinating. Every piece is asymmetrical and, through his filter of indigenous people wearing Western clothing, kind of looks like it has been deformed in some sort of time-machine accident. You can really feel his love of shapes and surprise. It's incredibly fashion forward. There's a piece that has a pretty bustled pinafore that unwraps to become an asymmetrical coat with a shapeless dress underneath. Fern says that this is the sort of eveningwear that she goes for. Anna says that James-Paul is a designer's designer. His stuff is interesting, but not for the everyday person. James-Paul recalls something that Vivienne Westwood said -- you have your whole life to make pretty clothes, but only once to make an impression. He has certainly made an impression. Betsey Johnson applauds him very enthusiastically!
R. Scott French says that Anna's was the most wearable collection. She tried interesting things but didn't scare anyone. He felt that the audience really responded to her. Haven loved what Daniella did with leather and shoulder pads. Teresa of New Jersey liked Reco, who should consider his audience reached. Betsey Johnson loved James-Paul's collection. She found the draping beautiful, though not uplifting.
Later, the designers stand before the judges. Isaac says that they had two objectives -- create a collection and blow the judges minds. They did both. Kelly reminds them that one of the designers will be eliminated. The designers have a model who is wearing what they consider their signature look come out and stand with them. Isaac tells Anna that many audience members said that they would wear her clothes. He saw that she used techniques that she used earlier in the season, which she acknowledges and adds that she did some experimenting, too. The judges found her collection disjointed, though she tries to say that she used navy in everything. She didn't and they point it out. She says that she wanted to do a lot of different things, which made editing difficult. Girl wants to sell some damn dresses. Glenda says that she's disappointed that she hasn't seen "more" from Anna. Huh? Anna starts crying and says that she wants to make clothes that people love. She apologizes for crying (Daniella starts crying a little, too) and says that she has been working for a long time towards this. Glenda says that Anna has made a lot of desirable clothes -- it's like she has written wonderful chapters, but they lose the storyline. Well, luckily, we only wear one outfit at a time, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Suddenly, the idea of a cohesive collection actually seems kind of dumb to me. [Me, too. - Z]
Isaac tells Daniella that her inspiration of armor seemed arty and remote, but the collection won him over. He loved that every one of her pieces concentrated on the shoulder of the model, which is hot in fashion right now. She replies that she thinks the shoulder of a woman is very sexy. Isaac says that he didn't see any "second skin" on the runway, as Daniella had advertised. He saw a sort of irony about second skins, since all of her models were so thin. He reminds her that he called her a "sizeist" during the season and tells her she needs to watch that. Fern says that the super-skinny thing is very specific, and they want her to be as successful as possible. She says that she will take their advice.
On to Reco. Isaac says that he really loved that Reco worked so hard with shapes. Fern is not. She says that none of his stuff on the runway was as intricate as the stuff he made during the challenges. He says that he did research for the first time, which led to him being unfocused for the first time. Isaac congratulates him for doing research. Fern is not having it. She says she can't think of a single woman who would want to wear his feather dress, which says would make a woman look like she'd just walked out of a carwash. Kelly says that she admires that he wanted to take risks. Glenda wants to talk about the wedding dress. She thinks it was too theatrical -- not beautiful, graceful or elegant. He says that he wanted to do something different and unexpected.
James-Paul explains his odd dress. He says that indigenous people often need duality in their clothing. The judges all somberly compliment him. Fern says that she would wear a lot of the stuff in a hot minute. Kelly liked the dress with all of the belted bits on it. Glenda thought his collection was very focused. Isaac says that he respects that you always see James-Paul in his clothing. He adds that he found the last coat in his collection overpowering. Fern says that coats like that have no hanger appeal. Glenda thinks that he should simplify, as some of his designs need instructions to put on.
The judges deliberate. They loved the show. Isaac says that Anna had a lot of great ideas. Glenda thinks that making clothes for real women is an art, but she wonders how Anna, with all of her experience, could make a collection that wasn't cohesive. Have you ever considered that her lack of cohesion was, in fact, a form of cohesion? It'll blow your mind. Fern thinks that Anna made great pieces that don't hang together, making the argument for a cohesive collection, I guess. Glenda thought that James-Paul was clever, but didn't think about real people. Isaac really liked Reco's black suit and thinks that a lot of people would want it. Glenda thinks that he needs to learn about fabric -- she thinks he should work for another designer. They all found Daniella's collection to be fashionable, though Fern is sick of leather bustiers. Kelly and Glenda loved it, though. Fern thought the collection needed to be a little more feminine. Out of the blue, Glenda says that this is not a popularity contest. This must be in response to how people feel about Daniella now. The designers sit together waiting for the verdict, amazed that they have made it this far.
The decision has been made! With the designers in front of them, Kelly announces the three designers moving through. Daniella, James-Paul and Anna! Oh shit, Reco, we're not buying it. He, bless his heart, holds it in and thanks everyone for the opportunity. He interviews that he just wanted the money and wouldn't have changed anything. He thinks it's bullshit that Isaac and Fern expected more from him.
Now, it's up to America! Gosh, I don't know. They're all pretty great. I'm thinking... James-Paul? His stuff was pretty amazing.
Discuss this episode in our forums, then see how to become a fashion designer using everyday household objects in No Prior Knowledge!
Jeff Long would like an indigenous Aztec second skin for Christmas. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com.