Lady Mila Killjoy

Aired 02-09-2012

| Season AS1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 02.09.2012

The show starts with Mondo saying that he loves Kenley even though he initially thought she was annoying and loves to push her buttons. Mila comes out to tell everyone that it’s time to leave, which is telling. Angela meets the designers carrying a shit ton of weekend bags. Everyone picks one and inside is a placard with a season of the year on it. It’s a face-off with each season. Because we have eight now. They have to create a seasonal getaway look based on the season that they get. Austin and Kara are Spring. Kenley and Mondo are Summer. Michael and Jerell are Winter, which means that Mila and Rami are Autumn. They go to Mood and Rami looks super hot in a white tank and green slacks. Just saying.

Everybody gets really competitive. Jerell gets pissed off because he feels that Michael completely copies his design. No one really argues with that perception, though no one really thinks that he does it on purpose. Joanna comes in and senses the tension and has a group pow-wow. Though everyone pretty much acknowledges that they saw Jerell’s design first, Joanna wonders if maybe it’s OK to steal an idea from someone when you think it’s better than your own ideas. For his part, Michael doesn’t care that Jerell thinks he stole from him. There’s a weird lunchtime scene where the two of them face off. Jerell pushes the idea that Michael stole from him and, I don’t know if it’s because he’s not good at defending himself, Michael’s not very good at defending himself.

Mila makes a cape, which is a big deal, because she don’t do that sort a thang. We hear a LOT about her troubles. Rami has a problem with it, which makes me think she’s going down. Cynthia Rowley is the guest judge! The looks come in pairs, by the season. I’d say Austin wins Spring. Kenley and Mondo for Summer are kind of a draw, quite honestly. They’re both ADORABLE. Mila and Rami. Rami, I think, definitely. Mila’s idea of a cape is gorgeous, but I’m not sure she pulled it off. Michael and Jerell have the same look. But according to the judges, Kara wins over Austin, which is weird. Cynthia has a problem with Mondo’s styling. Kenley had the high score. Backstage, Mondo cries and Kenley is a super good sport. See? She’s the good one this season. Rami gets praise for his design, though Isaac doesn't like his use of GREEN. Mila has the high score! Weird. Why do they make us think she’s fucking up the whole time? Jerell slyly says that he and Michael were inspired by the same "bug." Jerell gets the high score for his season, even though they were the same exact look. It’s weird, because, though nothing is like mind-blowingly amazing; nothing feels like it’s worthy of being ridiculed.

Jerell wins the challenge! And to think, last week he made an abomination to anyone’s higher power. Kenley did not win. Weird. Michael and Mondo are safe. Which takes us down to Rami and Austin. Really? This is not right. Rami is out. Stupid. Michael and JERELL are still in. Not to mention Kara. So dumb. Whatever stupid all-stars.

Previously: The designers had to accost people on the streets of New York and beg them to give them their clothes so that they could serve as muses. Some people agreed. Mondo won the challenge. Sadly, Anthony's look got him sent home. I think it's worth repeating that Jerell created maybe the most ridiculous outfit this side of manic depression. And, he's still with us.

All of the designers are hanging out in the Flatotel, Mondo says to Kenley that the reason he gives her such a hard time is because he had a crush on her. Heh. He says that then she opened her mouth and he was like, "Wah, Wahhh." She replies, "Mondo?!!" Mondo interviews that he knows that Kenley is loud and obnoxious but he likes to push her buttons. I'll say it again -- Kenley may be straight up tug boat but she's so much more bearable now that she's not corrosively defensive and mean-spirited. I prefer this. Mila comes out of her room and says that it's time for them to get to the workroom. Gloomy Mila.

On the runway, Angela comes out with a bunch of weekend bags. Everybody has to choose one. Mondo gets to choose first since he won the last challenge and goes with an orange leather bag that he says is the most sophisticated. Inside of each of the bags is a luggage tag with a placard reading one of the seasons of the year. They have to create a weekend look using the season that they've been assigned. Austin and Kara get Spring, Jerell and Michael are Winter, Mondo and Kenley are Summer, which leaves Mila and Rami as Autumn. Angela says that this will be a face-off and each season will have a low and high score, which means they are competing directly with each other. They're only going to have one day to complete the challenge.

Back at the workroom, everyone starts to sketch. Per Angela's instructions, they're adhering closely to the guideline that they know who their girl is and where she's going. Mila says that her girl is a New York artist attending the arts festival in Marfa, Texas. That is so specific. Austin's girl has a house in the country. Austin jokes with Kara that he's certain to win if she makes what she's sketching. Then, she jokes that he should make pleated pants with a baggy top and a big cardigan. Mila tells them all that it's time for them to go to Mood and Austin calls her "Lady Mila Killjoy." Well, that's just about perfect, I'd say. She shrugs her shoulders like, "They made me say it!" But I don't care. That's going to stick for me.

By Jeff Long | Season AS1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 2012.02.09

At Mood, they have 30 minutes to shop. So, they're setting the stage for something. Michael interviews that he's always shopping around for ideas. Then, we see him studying Jerell's fabric choices. Rami says that his girl is going to a wine tasting with a friend. Back at the workroom, they get to work. Jerell's working on a coat to begin with. He says that Michael's a great designer and he's excited to see what he's going to make. Rami says that he's not intimidated by Mila because they have very different design aesthetics. Kenley's girl is going to Miami for Art Basel. Mondo thinks that Kenley is always making the same product under the guise of her "doing her." He thinks this is arrogant and she should at least try to make something new. I don't know if it's as serious as all that. Kenley asks Michael who is girl is and he says that she's going to fuck up Austin's girl in the country. Heh. Austin hears and shakes his head in dismay. Oh ladies. Michael's first attempt doesn't work for him. He's not sure what to do.

Mondo is really stumped. He asks Mila if he should make a miniskirt and she makes a face that is completely negatory. Jerell gets Kenley to try on his coat so that he can check the length of his sleeves and she wears it for like five seconds before complaining about how hot it is. Once that's over, Jerell notices that now Michael is making a coat that looks a heck of a lot like his. He asks slyly, "Where's you get the inspiration for that shape, Michael?" He replies that he looked over at Jerell's mannequin and took his inspiration from his design. Funny. He asks Jerell where he got his inspiration and he says that he came into the workroom with it. Mondo rings a fake bell to indicate that this round is over.

Here's Joanna. She starts with Kara and Austin. Kara describes a high-waisted pant that Joanna feels will be fashion-forward. She likes Austin's color palette. Mondo and Kenley are her victims. Mondo says that his girl is a girl version of himself attending his mother's 60th birthday party, which he is missing that day. Joanna says that wouldn't the greatest gift be winning the challenge? Sure, the lady has slogged through 60 freaking years on this planet and THAT'S what she wants as a gift- her kid making an outfit for a woman going away somewhere for the weekend. When I'm 60, I'm just going to be happy if someone gets in the fast line at the DMV that day. Big dreams. She notices that Mondo is using polka dots, which she finds funny since she considers Kenley to be the "polka dot queen." Mondo agrees with this but says that he is the "polka dot princess." With Mondo's approach, it doesn't feel like he's copying Kenley but rather being aggressively competitive and trying to upstage her in her own wheelhouse. Can't really blame him for that. And, it is summer, after all. Joanna calls it The War of the Polka Dots. She really likes Mila's pants and calls them her signature piece. These people really eat up praise from her. Rami is using a chartreuse that matches what Joanna is wearing! Mila thinks there's too much volume for the season.

| Season AS1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 02.09.2012

On to Michael, who explains that he found the inspiration for his look by cutting some holes in muslin and it just all came together. She points out that Jerell is also making a large coat of similar fabric with a cowl neck and leather trim. Jerell is listening and just sort of nods. She asks him what he's thinking and he says he'd be lying if he said he wasn't bothered by the similarities in their looks. She asks everyone to gather around, which is what she does at Elle when tensions arise, except at Elle they solve things with a good old-fashioned fight club. Here, Joanna asks everyone what they think about the situation. Rami and Kenley just say that they saw Jerell's look much earlier than Michael's -- meaning he had the idea first. Joanna poses the following: if you see someone's work and it seems better than yours, is it wrong to use the idea? Mila and Jerell say that you should push yourself farther in your own direction. Joanna reminds them that it's a competition and says may the best copycat win.

Later, they're eating and it's really awkward. Jerell says he doesn't want any tension and Michael agrees, but then it gets really tense. Jerell says that he saw Michael see him making his jacket, then his jacket happened. Michael says that he comes to his ideas organically and Jerell replies, "Yeah, even if it's looking to the left." Michael is pissed and stomps off. Here's the thing: I think that Joanna makes a very good point about using ideas however they come to you and being a winner and all that. I also understand that these people have gotten where they are primarily based on their own raw skills and it's probably really frustrating to watch someone essentially leech off of their own work.

The morning, they're working hard. Mila and Rami seem really nervous. Mila especially. Jerell whispers to Rami that Mondo is helping Michael with his styling. Michael says that he's seeing a side of him that he hasn't before. Apparently, he's having a lot of these little gossipy convos around the workroom. It's hair and makeup time. Mondo tells the hair guy that he wants this '50s look and tells the guy to "give her some bangs, girl." The guy looks back at Mondo like, "I do hair, yes. I don't have a vagina. Have you seen my facial hair?" Some people are sensitive about the "girl" thing.

Back in the workroom, Jerell is looking around and predicts the winners of each season to be Rami, Kara, Mondo and himself. He says that Minnie Mouse is the only person who wears polka dots like Kenley designs. I don't think that's true.

By Jeff Long | Season AS1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 2012.02.09

On the runway, Angela greets the designers while wearing a really gorgeous violet dress. She introduces Georgina and Isaac (who says "How are ya', kids?") and Cynthia Rowley. She's a perfect judge for this. The show begins with Spring. Both looks walk out onto the stage. Austin's look is "the oldest Golden Girl" according to Jerell. He's really not that far off base. This look, while impeccably made, would make Lilly Pulitzer look like Cher at the Oscars. Pleated khaki slacks (again beautifully made) topped by a floral print blouse and a pink cardigan with floral print trim. I almost think that this could be salvaged if not for the cardigan. It's just so old. On a pretty young thang like his model, it barely dances with a retro/ironic idea, which would still be pretty tired. I don't even think that's the intention though. Kara's look is her best work since she has been on this season. She made white wide-legged slacks with a fuchsia top and a long metallic silver cardigan. It's really gorgeous and relaxed and rich-looking. She hopes that the judges see her color sensibility.

It's Summertime! Kenley's look is a pale blue and white polka dot fabric. She has made a short jumpsuit. The sleeves are slightly bubbled and there's a bow at the neck. I know that Kenley makes stuff like this fairly regularly but I still really like it. Though Jerell might disagree with me, I find it really feminine without being smothering. Kenley thinks she looks fresh and young. Mondo has made a pair of graphic black and white shorts that are tailored beautifully and paired them with a shapeless black and white polka dot top. The top is kind of meh, but the rest of the look is spot-on.

Here are Rami and Mila's looks. Rami made a lovely pair of gray slacks with a high-necked chartreuse blouse. Over the blouse is a blue cowl-necked wrap jacket with super-defined shoulders. It's a pretty beautiful look. Mila sends down the runway her signature slacks topped by a tan cape with black and red trim. It's not horrible. I'm not sure autumn in Marfa gets cold enough for this sort of thing, but whatevs. She says that she hopes that the judges see that she's making classic American sportswear with her own modern twist. Plus, this is a silhouette that they haven't seen from her (or anyone else this season) before.

| Season AS1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 02.09.2012

After the show, Angela decides to start with Spring and Summer. Cynthia says that Austin's look is so dorky that it's almost cool. That was sort of my point. Isaac thinks that, though the look is tailored beautifully, the girl looks boring. Angela thinks she looks like a small town lady going to church. She thinks that Kara's look is wearable. Isaac and Cynthia find it really boring, but Georgina and Angela don't mind it. The scores were really close but Kara is the winner. Cynthia and Isaac really like Kenley's look. Georgina thinks that she should have lined up the dots of the polka a little bit better. Cynthia is confused by the mixing of eras going on in Mondo's look. Isaac thinks that the look plays too young. Mondo gets teary at their criticism, which I find a little bit pandering. Sorry. Backstage, he cries that he's embarrassed because this was meant to be a gift for his mother. Kenley tries to cheer him up by reminding him that Isaac said he'd never want to have lunch with Austin's boring girl. Austin just looks at his nails and this is my favorite moment of the season.

The other four are onstage now. Georgina loves the way Rami's jacket is cut, but Isaac and Cynthia have a lot of problems the way his blouse is constructed. There's a diagonal line on the bust (unseen when the jacket was fastened) that really does no favors for the bosom of the model. Angela almost begrudgingly says that she likes capes. It's so weird, like someone was holding a gun to her back. Cynthia, who may be packing heat, absolutely loves the cape and she's not being threatened. You can tell. Mila has the high score.

Georgina immediately points out that the Winter looks are very similar. Jerell says he made his look before Michael made his. Georgina really likes the way Jerell's coat hangs. Isaac asks if Jerell's coat can be closed, it can and he loves the results. They find Michael's look very sophisticated. And the winner is Jerell.

The judges confer. Cynthia loved Kenley's look, but Isaac and Georgina think she needs to try something new. Angela speaks her true mind and says that she thought Mila's look was boring. Isaac wasn't crazy about all of the buttons on Jerell's look, but Cynthia thinks it was really cool. Nobody really liked Kara's look that much. They feel like she kind of snuck her way into the high score.

Loser talk. Isaac says that Austin's pants were the best thing in the show today. Angela points out that he's really bad at putting things together and Cynthia points out that his intent today was completely different from what really happened. She really hated Mondo's look too. All of it. The cut, the accessories, the hair. Georgina thinks that he was just having an off moment. Angela hated the colors of Rami's look. Georgina loved the jacket but Isaac completely disagrees. Isaac says that, while Michael is not really great at design, he is really good at execution of a design. But, he's not sure if he stole the look or not. Cynthia points out that he paired leggings and heels and that was disgusting. She also says that Jerell is much more confident than Michael. Georgina says that she's not sure what she would get from Michael if he made a collection. I think she could just Google that.

By Jeff Long | Season AS1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 2012.02.09

The designers return to the stage. Mila and Kara are safe. Jerell wins the challenge! Michael smiles for him and they seem to not hate each other. He interviews that, with a doppelganger on the runway, he's glad that the judges could see his authenticity. Angela tells Kenley that they really liked her look too. Michael and Mondo are safe. Really? I'm sorry, Rami doesn't really belong in super bottom. Angela tells Rami that there was too much draping in the neckline and it looked like he'd made a mistake on the shirt. She says that Austin missed the mark with styling again. Rami is out. Shut up. This is just silly. Austin gives Rami and hug and kiss before he leaves. Angela wishes him the best and this is the best thing about her presence on this show. I love how much compassion she shows to the eliminated designer. Rami interviews that the universe will take care of him. Seriously, do not wait around for the universe. The universe has a way of being busy when you need its attention. Trust me. We'll miss your arms, Rami.

Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong