By Jeff Long
Heidi and Tim start us off telling us that the designers are going to be working in teams and they don't know it. Tim says that it's his favorite season ever because of the teamwork. There are billions of people. They meet at the runway. James seemed stoned when he came in and was tripping over everything. Cindy runs a funeral home. She just graduated from fashion school. She seems super sweet.
Heidi and Tim enter the runway to applause. My optimistic side feels, on first glance, that no one is horrible. They begin splitting into two teams of eight. Hmm. I was wondering if they would have the same small teams throughout the entire competition, but this means they will have to change often, if they do it like that. Tim tells them that their first challenge is to show something that displays their personal aesthetic with the input of their teammates. I don't understand. New York City is the inspiration for the challenge. One team will go on a boat ride on the Hudson for inspiration. The other team will see the city from above.
The team on the roof has a champagne toast. People are voicing in their interviews some reticence about the group work. On the boat, that team decides they are Team Keeping It Real. The others decide they are the Dream Team. Benjamin from Sydney doesn't seem to like James very much. Patricia is Native American and her native name is Water Lily. She uvulates when they are on the boat and it is awesome though Layan thinks that she needs to take it easy.
The day, they go to Mood and get to work. Patricia paints a print onto her fabric and everyone seems to doubt the logic in doing that. Daniel from Austin seems adorable and he has a really interesting moustache. Tim comes in to consult and starts with Dream Team. Emily started out puffed up but becomes more humbled as the consultation continues.
Team Keeping It Real's consultation is interesting. Patricia doesn't get any grief from Tim for her handmade print. Daniel seems to have the approval of all of his teammates.
When the models come in for their fittings, Cindy and Emily seem like the people who are suffering. It's unclear if Patricia is in danger or doing really well. At the end of the day, Emily doesn't even have anything completed. The day, Cindy like makes a skirt for Emily (who, incidentally, was ragging on her earlier.)
On the runway, Zac Posen is replacing Michael Kors. Cute. There's Nina. Christian Siriano is the guest judge. Team Keeping It Real is first. Patricia's print is a hit, if you ask me. They were all pretty good. Dream Team has some good stuff too. Matthew, who is maybe the only crushable dude -- sorry, it's what I do -- has a pretty good showing. Samantha's looks pretty good too. James's looks a little boring. Emily's is, in the words of Siriano, a hot mess. Cindy's is not poorly made, but it doesn't look very tasteful. Team Keeping It Real wins the challenge. The top three designers are Daniel, Richard and Patricia.
The lowest scores from Dream Team are James, Cindy and Emily. I know crap when I see it. Daniel wins! He is really emotional about it. It's sweet. James is safe. Cindy is...in. Wow. The old ones always go first. Nina did say though that Emily's garment was the most unfinished she had ever seen on the show. She's really sad about it.