| Season AS1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 01.26.2012
Angela tells us that the challenge is about taste. They are required to create a look based on the colors and flavors of a tasty dessert. Damn, shit just got esoteric up in here. And, not just any dessert but a specific dessert- gelato. Weird. There's a list of flavors to choose from. The flavors are even listed in a way that doesn't necessarily tell them what the colors will be. Diane Von Furstenberg is the guest mentor/judge and, seriously, Michael needs to stop acting like Andy Cohen at a Cher concert every time a freaking celebrity fashion designer is around. Diane tells them that they will have a whopping six hours to complete the design. These should be really pretty.
They go to a baby Mood near the workroom and it's heinous -- several people couldn't find the things they wanted. Oh my God, Austin wears a wife beater and it's completely adorbs. Mila uses color and the world grinds to a halt. People go nutso while they're working, because, well, this is crazy crap town. From the looks of things, Kara is either winning or losing. They eat a lot of gelato as they're working. Mila may be in a little bit of trouble for not being fabulous and extravagant enough. Mondo says “Yes Ma'am” to Joanna Coles, which makes me love that little street urchin. Rami is built like a shit brickhouse and let's all RECOGNIZE. April. I don't know, things just seem like they're getting really weird for April. The more rigidly driven she gets, the less she seems able to adapt to any curve ball thrown her way. Be the ball, April.
On the runway, Isaac's back! Diane Von Furstenberg is indeed a guest judge, as well as Miranda Kerr! She's so lovely. Miranda is going to wear the winning look to an "industry event." Mondo's cantaloupe dress is gorgeous. Anthony's green tea look is...OK. Kenley's passion fruit dress is pretty and fits like a GLOVE. Rami's kiwi look is decent. Mila's sour cherry biz is, you know, I think pretty OK. Jerell's fruits of the forest dress is gross, but I think I'm the only one who feels that way ever. Kara's chocolate dress is either great or totally wrong, I don't know from looking at it. The grapefruit thing that Michael made is unimaginative but pretty. I like April's blueberry look, but I seem to like her stuff more than others do. The vanilla dress that Austin made is gorgeous, though he's worried about all of the hot glue he made to use it.
Austin, Michael, April, Kara, Anthony and Mila are the top and bottom. Specifically, Kara, Anthony and April are in the bottom. Holy crap -- Michael wins again. I lose. It comes down to Kara and April. They felt April's look was poorly constructed and Kara's dress was passionless and looked like maternity wear. April's OUT. Crap. She was my favorite. She starts to cry and it's so, so upsetting. Ugh.
Previously: The designers created a red carpet look for Miss Piggy, which I still think is pretty awesome. Gordana was sent home, because that's where she left the drama necessary to make Piggy want to wear her dress. Also, Michael won for a dress that I thought was kind of dumb. But, whatever.
The designers are all at the Flatotel and Michael interviews that winning the challenge does not give him confidence that he will be in the top every time. Rami, Kenley, Jerell and Anthony poke a little fun at him regarding his excitement when he won. I'm still... did anyone really like that dress? I just thought it seemed like an old person's idea of what a young person would wear. Michael says that he's feeling the pressure to deliver something amazing.
At the runway, Angela greets all of them wearing this shimmering tawny brown dress that makes her look YUMMY. Man, that lady has some sort of body. She reminds them that we're four challenges into the competition. Then, she says that the challenge this week is about taste. Good taste comes in many forms but it has to start somewhere; so why not be inspired by taste itself? I'm just being picky here, but there's something really forced about that thought. Does good taste have to start somewhere? Is it completely impossible that someone could be raised in, I don't know, a barn and come out and know how to accessorize super super well? It could be innate.
Their challenge is to create a tasteful outfit inspired by the colors and flavors of a seriously tasty dessert. And, the dessert is chosen for them- gelato. Angela introduces a gelato stand that's in the corner, in open sight. I'm not sure if he was just in darkness and that's why the designers weren't like, "I wonder if our challenge will have something to do with gelato or that pink and white gelato cart over there with the clean-cut guy behind it or that poster of different gelato flavors named on it. Maybe they're just giving us a treat before a day of hard work? That's plausible, yes?" No one says that though. Everyone claps for the gelato cart which is what I do every time I see some sort of food serving device/vehicle. Brick and mortar food eating places? For lame-o's.
L'Arte del Gelato is the name of the cart. Jerell calls the boy behind the cart a "gelato-slinging cherub" then asks what this is all about. Everything is tangential today, because they don't even show us a close-up of the guy (I had to watch it three times to be sure it was actually a guy, which I guess supports the cherub part, but still) but he's important enough to be included in an interview, as if he were part of the challenge. Also, how much more does he need to know? Angela already said what the challenge was going to be -- you don't need to be a genius to know that you are going to make a dress based on one of the flavors on that list. In fact, I think Jerell was probably just talking about the fact that he found the gelato-slinger kinda adorable. Even from here, 30 feet away from the dude's face, he is pretty cute. It's like they think that the audience needs to be in constant suspense. Do we? I don't know, I'm wondering if the real Project Runway editors are on vacation or something. A lot of this stuff is patched together in a way that I think is a little sub-par. Anypoo....
| Season AS1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 01.26.2012
Yeah, so they are going to make tasteful looks based on the flavors of gelato on this menu board. April interviews that some of the names of gelato don't really reveal what the gelato will taste or look like (i.e. "Fruits of the Forest"). Yeah, that's hard. Michael gets to choose first because he won the challenge last week. The cart is on the other side of the runway, so he has to walk over there and put a button with his name on it beside the flavor of his choosing. He sing-songs in an interview that he knew he wanted grapefruit. As he's crossing the runway, he stops and does a little hip cock, which gets a laugh from Rami who is seriously growing more muscular by the episode. When Michael is finished putting his button the menu, he is given a cone of grapefruit gelato and a fabric swatch. It's a pale pink and Michael says that he was hoping for more of a ruby red color, though he thinks that the color he got was beautiful as well.
Michael gets to choose the person who picks and Rami interviews that he knows how this cookie is about to crumble. Yeah, you see, there's not even the slightest hint (except for maybe Mila not being wild about Kara and Kenley's codependent relationship) of drama with this group. Is it just there because it's a dessert reference? Anyway, Michael chooses Mondo, which, sure, is not a surprise. It's also not exciting news. Mondo's shorts are so short. And, he's wearing boots. He looks like really early Hannah Montana, which I suppose makes it all amazing. Mondo chooses cantaloupe and tells us that he's getting his cantaloupe... and eating it too.
Mondo chooses Mila, which I find interesting and sort of cool. Mila chooses milk and sour cherries and is given a swatch of white with red polka dots on it. The dude dishing the gelato gets some actual face time right now and he does honestly look like an angel. Mila say that she loves white and red. Fantastic. She chooses April and I could totally have predicted a kinship between the two of them. She says that she had hoped that no one would take blueberry, which is what she gets. Jerell wanted fruit of the forest. I don't know how. But, the swatch was a deep red, which made him happy. Kenley gets passion fruit. Austin chooses Vanilla Madagascar, naturally. It is only the most dashing of all of the flavor names. Anthony gets green tea. Rami says that he had his eye on kiwi from the beginning, so he's happy. And, that leaves us with Kara. Her flavor is chocolate with cayenne pepper. That could be hard. She interviews that she felt like the kid who dropped her ice cream in the park. I like.
| Season AS1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 01.26.2012
Angela says that their guest judge is there to talk to them a little more about the challenge. She's very famous and the President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Michael gasps, GASPS, with anticipation, which frankly looks even dumber than he usually does because he's holding a half-eaten cone of grapefruit gelato. It's Diane Von Furstenberg. She comes onstage to Michael's screams. He interviews that he's so excited and Mondo interviews that Michael is hyperventilating and practically crying. Give that bitch a pill. Austin states that Diane is the Queen of International Ready-to-Wear Fashion. Well, that's some fancy title.
Angela warns the designers that this challenge is going to have the fastest turnaround in Project Runway. Then, Diane announces that the challenge is going to be SIX HOURS. Wha? Kara almost drops her gelato. Please drop your gelato. Mila not excited about having to try to put out her best work in such a short time. Diane says the challenge is about how quickly they can realize an idea and what inspired them. Diane wishes them luck and leaves the runway. Angela sends them on their way and April doesn't know what the fuck she's going to make in six hours.
In the workroom, they all begin sketching on their fancy Intel gizmos. Kenley says that she's not going to try take any major risks with such a short time to work. They've created a "mini-Mood" in the designers lounge. April already had her design in mind and she needed black jersey, which the mini-Mood did not have. So, she has to re-jigger her design in her head. Kara says that she wants to work with color. It sounds like she has convinced herself that she somehow doesn't really have to use brown, but I'll bet that she's wrong about that. Mondo doesn't get to buy as much fabric as he needed, because of poor time management. You can't really blame him for being distracted amongst the many wonders of mini-Mood.
Now, they get to work. This recap may end up taking me as long if not longer than it takes them to make their damn ice cream clothes. Something weird about that. Mila says that she has probably made a pair of leggings in six hours, but an entire look? No way. The mannequin behind her is like, "Hey now, Mila, you're an all-star. Get your game on. Let's play." They have five hours left and Michael is not stressing. He says that he has clients who sometimes need clothes in 45 minutes to an hour. Really? Are they just irresponsible or do they get invitations to things at the last minute? He has already started draping on the dress form. Jerell tells him that it looks pretty and he can tell where he's going. That last part seems a little shady. Then, he interviews that it's a six-way stretch choir robe with two seams. "So easy a chimpanzee could do it." Then, there's some subtle teeth-sucking and eye-rolling. My, my, my. Welcome, Jerell. I don't even recall him having that sort of bite. I remember he could be a little hot-headed but this is altogether something new and different from him and I love it.
| Season AS1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 01.26.2012
Kara tells us emphatically that she must have a color palette that is chic and simple and reads well. I still say that she's getting progressively crazier. April's current inspiration is Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Jerell thinks that she needs to soften it, but he doesn't get nasty about it. Kenley gets a case of the giggles, due to the craziness of this challenge. There is no black in Mila's outfit. What? I repeat, no black.
Michael finds, once he has put his fabric on the floor, that he cut a sleeve incorrectly. Kara is going to be cutting her skirt without a pattern. And, Austin has trouble with his sewing machine and starts to flip out. He interviews that an actual fashion designer would never be put in this predicament. Anthony says that he could really use a cocktail. Also, through all of this, Austin is wearing a wife beater. His jeans (also a shock) reveal him to be seriously ass-deficient, but the shirt is super cute.
Joanna comes in with more gelato. They're really pushing these sweets on them. She tells them not to stop working, because she knows it's the shortest challenge in Project Runway history. Well, they're not going to have time for snacks now either, Joanna. But, they've got a concept here and they're not giving up on it. She starts with Kara, who sounds like she may be sticking with the obvious color scheme a little more than she hinted at before. Joanna reminds her that she's under a lot of pressure to perform after her disastrous showing last week. April says that she's trying to stay inside her comfort zone for this challenge, but Joanna questions if she can achieve a fashion moment while playing it safe. Now, come on. April points out that she's working with color, but Joanna thinks the dark tulle overlay might be obscuring the color. She really likes the versatility of Mondo's look. Austin tells Joanna that he's going to use a blouson draping technique and she flat-out says to not channel the "wedding thing" but the fabulousness instead. That hurts. Rami is doing a wrap dress and Joanna wonders if he's trying to suck up to Diane. He giggles and says it's really more about time restraints. Anthony tells us that he doesn't like what Mila has designed. Whatevs. Joanna tells Michael that he's the envy of the other designers because he works so quickly. He tells her that he has been sewing since he was 10.
Joanna leaves, their models arrive and everybody starts jamming. Anthony tells his model that this challenges isn't about being a talented designer, it's about being a fast seamstress. True. Austin starts using a hot glue gun to finish his dress and he's mortified that it's all come to this. I have a feeling that he would rather eat human flesh than do this. There's really a lot of shit talk this week. Anthony thinks that Mondo's dress is a simple caftan and not special at all. April realizes that her dress doesn't fit her model and she doesn't have enough fabric. There's a moment where Austin approaches the sewing machine that he has been using and Kara is using it. He just looks at her. I don't really understand the feelings of ownership people have regarding the sewing machines, but it seems like they would have figured out all of that stuff by now, right?
| Season AS1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 01.26.2012
With two hours remaining, everyone is kind of delirious. Kenley's dress fits her model perfectly. Jerell actually says something nice about Mondo's dress! I was beginning there would just not be any love this week. OK, things look like they're going to be peaceful at the accessories wall this week. I don't see make-up daddy! I was really hoping to see if there would be a love connection with him and Rami. Jerell says that Kara's model looks like a pregnant cupcake in her dress. "That's not the business." He's making me like him. This could get interesting. April knows that the fit on her dress is off, but she doesn't really have time to do anything about it.
So, this movie The Vow. I'm not judging Rachel McAdam's character's choices, but I'd like to put this into the ether: if I ever wake from a coma and Channing Tatum tells me he's my husband, just tell me to go with it.
Angela greets the designers on the runway. She introduces Georgina, Isaac (do you think there's anything to the idea that he and Miss Piggy are never in the same room together?), Diana and supermodel Miranda Kerr. She looks like an actual dewy flower. Miranda will wear the winning design to an industry event. Mila says that would be a huge deal for her career.
The show begins with Mondo's dress. It's a drape-y kimono-style dress in a lovely bright orange, in honor of our friend the cantaloupe. The sleeves are giant and open and are a light green fabric. It is low-cut in back and belted. It's very cute. Very Palm Springs. Mondo says that he hopes that the judges realize that he's outside of his comfort zone.
is Michael's dress. Hmm. His gelato flavor was green tea. He made a short skirt of ivory tulle. The bodice is this structured asymmetrical green thing. It's interesting. Anthony says that he sees Diane wink at designers when she likes them. He did not get a wink.
Here's Kenley's dress. It's as straightforward as it gets. A sleeveless dress that ends above the knee and has a flowing skirt. That said, the color is fantastic and vibrant and the fit is perfection. Rami, who had kiwi, is up . I don't know. it's these different swaths of green fabrics draped along the bodice and a wrap skirt. The fabrics on the bodice seem really inexpensive. Rami says that seeing the dress on the runway is actually the first time he has a chance to look at his design. It's hideous, but seriously I can't even blame him.
Here's Mila's dress. It's cute. Red and white and like a belted tunic. She feels good about it. OK, here's Jerell's look. It is a lot of look. There are straps and layers and his signature drape-y boob area. On a purely aesthetic level, it's a fucking disaster. Oh my God. Pure costume. But, when you consider the conditions under which this was created, it's remarkable. I hate it though. So, ugly. But, Diane gives him a thumbs up and Angel Cohn loved it, so maybe I had a stroke or something
| Season AS1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 01.26.2012
Kara's dress is and it's this tiered cocktail dress that I think may be unintentionally empire waisted. Kara thinks that Isaac and Diane love it. I don't agree with her assessment. Michael's dress is here and it's pretty. It's actually grown on me during repeat viewings. It's, yeah, a belted choir robe that is low-cut in the front. It moves beautifully and was a smart design choice for this short turnaround.
Here's April's dress. It's several shades of violet, all dark. It's strapless with peaks at the bustline. I think it's pretty. April likes it, but she wishes that the skirt were longer. It certainly has some finishing issues, but I still think it's pretty cool. Austin's dress is up and it's a pretty one-shouldered white dress that reminds me of something a wood nymph might wear. Pretty ruching on the bodice and you can't tell that all of the appliques on the shoulder were applied with shameful hot glue. Austin seems happy with it. He thinks it's pretty and elegant.
The designers return to the stage. Rami, Kenley, Austin and Jerell are called forward. They're safe! The models return and Kara begins. She says that she was trying to depict the layers and layers of flavor in her chocolate pepper gelato, which sounds amazing by the by. The judges find her explanation so much better than the actual design. They slam her for making a dress that looks like maternity wear. Anthony explained that the top of his dress was inspired by melting ice cream. His concept is appreciated by the judges, but they think he went a little too far in that regard. Isaac thinks that Mila's look really screams cherry ice cream and Angela agrees. Diane feels that it looks like it was made quickly. Duh. Miranda likes that it looks easy to wear. Michael says that he wanted to make something beautiful because Diane is one of his idols. She loves his dress and tells him to call her after the show. Dear Lord. That's all we need. He makes a little too much of a deal about it, but fine.
Georgina feels that the darker purple overlay on April's dress was mistake. Isaac hates her accessorizing. Diane thinks that it looked unfinished. Angela says that she likes her ideas, but they don't often translate to the runway. Diane loves that Mondo's dress looks like a cantaloupe. Georgina likes that the different colors work so well together. Angela thinks it's really flattering.
The judges deliberate. They think that April and Anthony were too ambitious. Angela thinks that Kara's dress was offensive, but no one else seems quite as bothered. Diane thinks that April's look was Halloween and Georgina wonders if she doesn't have enough confidence.
| Season AS1 | Episode 4 | Aired on 01.26.2012
Miranda loved the way Michael's dress flowed. Isaac thinks that it was almost too perfect. Isaac says that Mila's dress was his favorite, but Georgina says that she doesn't like seeing red through white. Huh, that's interesting. Angela loved that Mondo's dress was so literal. So, it's down to Mondo and Michael. Angela thinks that Michael was more creative, but....
The designers return to the stage. Mila is safe. Angela says that the winner is Michael! He says that Miranda is going to look great in his dress. He gives Mondo a hug and kiss and leaves the stage. Angela tells Mondo that they loved his dress before he leaves.
Anthony is safe. It's down to April and Kara. Kara is... safe. No! Poor April starts crying immediately. As Kara is leaving the stage, she stops and tells the judges that she's really passionate about what she does and she gets a cry face. Angela says that they know and then Kara says that she's sorry to April and hugs her. Backstage, she and Anthony share a really loud and excited embrace, which I just wasn't expecting. But, it happened. It takes Anthony a minute to acknowledge that April was going home, or at least a moment before he realized he should say something about it. Onstage, April is still crying. Angela wishes her luck and says that she has a lot of potential and that she's an all-star. Bless her heart. She interviews that she's young and still has a lot of time to become successful. She says that she's going to expand her brand and I hope that happens! She hugs and kisses everyone goodbye and then she's on her way. I don't want this!
Jeff Long is obsessed with The Art of Fielding. Please talk to him about it at jeff.long75@gmail.com and on Twitter at @jblong.