First things first, let's all cross our fingers that Dominique and David get married and have babies by the end of this episode. Or at lest make-out. Can we agree on that? Great.
It's morning and NYC is bustling and Dominique is saying it's crazy what they've gone through in this competition. Calvin, Jeffrey and Dominique leave some building en masse. They all interview about how they knew they would make it to the finale. They go to a venue where 6 of each of their designs are showing.
Iman greets them and offers congratulations. The three of them are there but only one will make the ultimate collection. Iman says that she is reminded of the highs and lows of the competition when looking at the clothes on display. Dominique was the sleeper. Her design for the time capsule challenge is when she stepped out of crowd. Also her umbrella dress was a revelation. They're looking for more surprises from her final collection.
Iman still has nightmares about the yellow dress with all of the diamante adornment that Calvin made and was "allegedly" inspired by her. But, then his femme fatale dress was inspired. This collection is his chance to show him.
Iman didn't think Jeffrey would make it far in the competition after his weird first look. They can't wait for his unleashed vision in the finale.
Iman reminds them that there are no more Houses, no more challenges. Each of the final designers will have a base of 3600 bucks for their collection. Jeffrey will have 1000 extra, because he won two challenges. Dominique won two challenges but will get 500 extra because she chose immunity over cash once. Calvin doesn't get anything extra because bitch never won no challenges.
They will have 7 days for 9 looks. Calvin knows it's only him now, which finally makes him happy, unless, I guess, he starts being inappropriately harsh to himself. Dominique is struck by the silence now, after so much chaos. Jeffrey wants to make something meaningful and thinks of his mother, who is no longer with us.
It's the final fabric shopping. Calvin tells Dominique that he is going with all black. Jeffrey finds red fabric -- his mom's fave and a color he feels women look good in. Calvin, who cartoonishly peeks his head through some fabrics to look at Jeffrey's progress, thinks his choice looks horrible and cheap.
They go back to workroom. Jeffrey remembers his past with Calvin. He can see that Calvin has opened up. He gives it up for him being a great designer and also thinks he has great concepts. Calvin has gotten so many lessons on how to be a grown-up from these people.
Isaac enters for consults and starts with Calvin. Calvin explains that he wants to make a collection inspired by the journey that he has gone on in this competition from angry to gentle. Isaac recommends simple with one interest on each look.
Dominique tells Isaac that she is using wool and purple. She is inspired by the silence versus chaos. He thinks her work is distinct and, even by just looking at her, knows the girl for whom she designs.
Isaac likes Jeffrey's mood board. He thinks that the use of red needs to be bold and modern. He thinks that a story needs to be told, something with a simple arc. He believes in Jeffrey and knows he can do it.
Isaac is gone and they're all working. Dominique feels the pressure. Calvin has never wanted to win so badly. Jeffrey feels like a whole bunch of angels are rooting for him and frankly it seems unfair that he's getting so much attention from the angel sector seeing as how RuPaul's Drag Race has returned to the air. Those girls need some support. Dominique is standing on a skateboard as she works? Of course she is. She wants to make a line inspired by her journey. Essentially, she wants to dress herself.
The day, Dominique remarks again that it's quiet now. Jeffrey thinks it's freaky but Calvin likes it. He tells us that he only works with white and black because he's a water sign. He won't use red, because that's a fire sign and he's superstitious. Dominique and Jeffrey both note that he's a very fast executor, but Jeffrey doesn't think he edits well.
It's Day 3 and Jeffrey is still thinking of his mom. They show us some old snapshots and she was gorgeous. He says that she pushed him to do what he loves. She died when he was 20 of breast cancer and he remembers his sister calling him at some point to tell him to come to the hospital. He felt that her spirit wasn't on earth any longer and he remembers tearfully that his last image of her was on her hospital bed, lifeless. He learned a lot about strength from her. Also, she would buy him a sewing machine or fabric for Christmas, so she really showed her support for his dreams.
Dominique is dyeing a crazy print. She thinks it translates as chaos. She has confidence like panties -- you're wearing it and it feels great, but maybe (hopefully?) others don't see it. Dyeing is her homage to Cesar. Calvin thinks Cesar got the boot for dyeing and therefore doesn't consider it an intelligent move.
Jeffrey is having problems with proportion. Calvin keeps giving suggestions, like how he doesn't like the idea of Jeffrey making more leggings. Jeffrey is annoyed, but I really don't think Calvin is trying to get under his skin. Or maybe he is. Calvin is done with all of his looks! They're all gray, black and white. He says he'll make something new, just for shits and giggles. A red dress that he will dedicate to his lover. It's a superstition to not use red, but he's going to stretch. He reminds us that he will donate any winnings to the Gay Men's Health Crisis.
Day 5! Iman walks in. She says the judges really want to see range from the designers, so they're going to force it. She has envelopes that are suggestions from judges for a 10th look that the designers have to make. Calvin's is a pantsuit. Jeffrey's is a strapless dress. Dominique has to make business attire. She really got the hardest one, didn't she? To help them, old designers are coming back to assist. Cal gets Tamara. He's happy and says that she makes him laugh. Cindy comes for Jeffrey and he almost cries. And, oh Jesus, DAVID!!!!!! Her heart stops and my heart stops and she runs to him and they hug. His pants are pegged. Yes to that.
Cindy thinks that Jeffrey's collection is strong -- at least the drawings. Tamara loves Calvin's work. David is not surprised that Dominique has gotten this far and thinks that her collection speaks a lot to her experiences.
Day 6: Cindy is worried about Jeffrey finishing.
Day 7: Makeup and hair consultations. Jeanie Syfu is so freaking beautiful. Calvin is going with an androgynous hair look. Dominique's fitting goes well. David thinks it's dynamic and loves the dyeing. Calvin thinks it looks the same as everything else she has done, just like his criticisms. Seriously, that's what he always says. Maybe that's his pet peeve, I don't know. Am I turning into a Calvin apologist? Must be some sort of Stockholm Syndrome. Tamara thinks that, at this point, Calvin's pretty collection could win the competition. Jeffrey has problems with his fitting. Nothing fits right.
The designers scramble after the models are gone. Jeffrey is thinking about the prize now. He says he won't get any sleep tonight.
The day, they wheel their stuff to the site where fashion shows. Calvin is happy with his work. Jeffrey is excited and feels like his collection represents him. Dominique thinks it's crazy to be here and you remember that she's 21.
We see the designers backstage putting their girls together. Stefan, who I really wish we'd seen more from this season, calls 3 minutes. Holy crap, Mary J. Blige is the guest judge! Glenda Bailey is there too. It's time! Stefan calls them to a monitor to show them that everyone's families are there, including Calvin's aged mother. She's lovely. "Make Me Proud," he says to his models.
Calvin's collection is first. The music is really beautiful and swells. He says that he wanted simple, clean and minimal. He really took Isaac's advice. There's one major focus on everything. Je's scared for his mother's reactions. She's never seen his work presented. He thinks that this is his best work. It's all really flowing beautiful stuff. His tenth look is a tuxedo with big pants. He loves everything that he sent out. His last dress is red and just beautiful. He thinks including it was his best decision. This is really emotional and I think it's a combo of the music and the fact that Calvin dedicates the red dress to his lover, who is terminally ill. Maybe I'd be an asshole too, though I'd like to think I'd learn something about generosity or kindness or something. No feelings. Clothes!
The fun time Bravo break is Dominique and David flirting. So cute, though I hear no talk of weddings or babies. Tamara wonders what went on when she was gone. She wants details. We all do.
Dominique's show is going on in one minute and she's still cutting. She finally stops and the show begins. Her 10th design is first. It's super cool business attire, with like a petticoat/double-layered skirt. PR girls are the only people in business I could imagine wearing this, but I still love it. She says she would wear every piece. Watching the show is emotional for her. Wow -- here's a purple shawl that is amazing. Lots of stuff off-the-shoulder. She's proud that she's fearless, though she sees imperfections on the runway. Her dyeing looks good. She says she's not the quiet girl in the corner anymore. She thinks Cesar would be proud of her dyeing. Here's this weird purple bubble dress with an attached cape that is kinda rad. Big applause at the end of the show.
Jeffrey's putting finishing touches on his looks. There are candles on the runway. His first look is a white dress with leggings/pantsuit. He wants to make women look beautiful, he says. All of it is similar to his other stuff, though beautiful. He gets applause for a look with leggings, which is a first for this showing. He's crying backstage. He thinks this competition made him a stronger person. His strapless dress is red and lovely, though rather simple. It's draped like a dream though. A red dress with a high neck follows, which is a cool juxtaposition. His last dress is gorgeous and the dress he would have made for his mother. He can see her in it coming to him to tell him that he did a good job. Oh my God. His family is crying too. I think I am kind of too.
It's judging time. Mary J! Isaac introduces Laura, Glenda, and MJB. He feels that they are all real designers and should get a critique as such. Isaac is always trying to add value to this show. Dominique is first. Her collection was silence and chaos. Mary J wonders which is which. She replies that the draping is silence and prints are chaos. Isaac loved the business attire, but Iman hated it because it was hip-accentuating. Laura thought it was very modern and Isaac thinks she did something real and special.
Jeffrey gives credit to his mother for his inspiration. Glenda loved it. Isaac thinks that it was bold and fearless. Mary J. loved the strapless dress and isaac thought it was the best dress of the show. Isaac didn't like one coat that was over a weird dress. Also, a leather top looked tortured. Laura thinks that his confidence is great. Isaac ultimately felt that his show had a wonderful build and was orgasmic.
Calvin says his collection reflects his change from angry to... better? Less angry? Laura is happy that there was not a lot of adornment and he says he took Isaac's advice. Iman didn't like his pantsuit. Isaac thinks the collection was divine.
It's the final moment. Iman tells Dominique she was ambitious and bold. Jeffrey entered the competition calling himself a unisex designer, but showed that he knows a woman's body. His collection had a journey and a great build. Calvin tried to get attention with tricks but was encouraged to edit. He listened and showed restraint in his final collection.
She says it was a hard decision. This is the Fashion Show. Iman's sorry, but... Dominique's is not the Ultimate Collection. Isaac says she's so great and has a wonderful future. I don't agree with this decision, I don't think. I loved her stuff so much. She's totally happy though. Calvin thanks her for putting up with him. She thanks everyone and walks off. To have babies. With David. FOREVER.
It's Jeffrey and Calvin at the end. Both have surprised and delighted, says Iman. The model for the winner comes out. It is... JEFFREY!!!!!! Great face shots, FYI. They lingered in real time. Loved it. Jeffrey is so stunned. There's confetti everywhere! It's actually frightening the way it explodes. Jeffrey cries and hugs Iman. Calvin says the judges made a decision and the best won. He thinks Jeffrey earned it and is happy for him. Wow. That didn't even seem like it hurt him to say. Jeffrey's family comes out and screams for him. Cindy is crying. Cesar says he's proud to know Jeffrey. All of the other designers are happy for him too (at least the ones we hear from). Jeffrey says this is a life come true. Yay Jeffrey!!!!
Jeff Long is a performer/writer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com.
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