| Season AS1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 03.08.2012
The designers are required to create a ready-to-wear look within a budget for Nanette Lapore. Everybody does a pretty good job staying within their budget. Mondo is in the shiz this week. He’s super worried about failing and not having control. Michael is a little turned off by Mondo’s negative attitude. Austin and Michael are talking a lot of shiz about each other’s work in interviews. Nanette comes into the workroom for consultation and she seems really demure. She has a problem with Kenley, because her dress is looking different from her sketch.
Tensions are up all over the place. Everyone is nervous and talking smack about the others. Except, oddly, for the increasingly Zen Kenley. She’s a freaking basket of kittens this season and, frankly, it makes me nervous. Tug boat justice includes revenge served cold. This could all be a ruse. That said, everyone but her seems to be really worried about their work. Well, maybe Michael’s not that worried, but he should be if you ask me. Mondo seems to hate Austin. Right? That’s bull shiz.
With the exception of Michael, who has made this very dress before and everyone says so, the other dresses are pretty cute. Austin makes an adorable a-line raincoat with a sassy belt. The judges all have nice and not-so nice things to say about each design. Kenley and Michael are essentially the bottom two and the judges all agree that this is the hardest choice that they have had to make. They nail Kenley for not taking advice and...she’s out. Which means that Michael is one of the top three all-stars. That seems like total bullshit to me. She’s a super good sport about it.
Previously: The designers created looks that employed LIGHTS. Mondo was hating on Austin most of the time. Austin won the challenge, while Jerell got sent home.
It's morning at the Flatotel. As they're eating breakfast, Kenley wonders aloud what they'll be doing that day. Mondo cracks that they'll probably be designing something. Now, I love a good dry poke. Wait, that's not what I meant. I mean, I really enjoy a laying it down with no emotion. Why isn't this working? My point is, I wonder if they think that Mondo is joking or being mean. I've been watching a little bit of this After The Runway stuff and he seems SO unfriendly. But, no one seems to really dislike him so I wonder if maybe it's just not reading correctly on the tube. I don't know. Austin says that he's so happy to have Kenley there with him.
At the runway, Angela greets them and reminds them that they're competing to be part of the finale. She says that this week's client is a maker of affordable upscale fashion for women across the country. It's Nanette Lepore. Austin says that her work is very approachable -- bohemian chic. Nanette's office is in the Garment District in New York, which is in danger of going out of business because of rising costs in doing business. The challenge is to create a dress at a certain manufacturing cost point that will then be sold in Nanette's stores.
They go to meet Nanette in her showroom. She says that she wants them to make something timeless and feminine, but at a certain cost point. The winner will be manufactured locally and sold in her stores and the profits will go to an organization to save the Garment District. Kenley feels that this challenge is up her alley. Michael is making a "day dress/caftan/something." Austin is creating a dress that could be worn over jeans. Mondo doesn't sketch, so he's just sitting around while everyone is working. He's doodling. Nanette brings in this girl Kelly who is a fashion coster. Man, it would be great to have costers for lots of different situations. Like a soul coster -- what is a certain action going to cost your soul. Or a skin elasticity coster -- I think that explains itself. I'd probably get a lot more sleep if I had a skin elasticity coster. Oh well. This part is really interesting. They start with Michael. The arm holes of his dress are "fabric eaters" and the lack of seams reduces yield. His design leaves him with a fabric budget of $48. I guess that's how much you can spend when you need to make a certain amount of profit? Michael thinks this challenge will make him step out of his comfort zone. Reality television, let's have a talk. It seems that you've kinda cooled it with the constant talk of throwing people under the bus and stepping up to the plate. We're gonna need to add any talk of comfort zones to the ix-nay list. I'm done with comfort zones. Kenley describes a dress with a keyhole -- that would reduce fabric. Nanette seems totally into it. She has $41 for fabric and it's apparently the labor costs that determine that fabric budget. Austin describes a swing raincoat, which will require a more expensive fabric (and a lot of it) in order to stand out. His fabric budget is $65, but he thinks he can do it. Mondo's all like here's the thing. He tells them that he doesn't sketch and attempts to tell them about the dress he's planning. He has like $32 to work with and he's all sad mouth about it.
| Season AS1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 03.08.2012
There's apparently a moment where Kenley is telling Michael that he should teach Mondo how to sketch and it's really tense, because Mondo overhears. He thinks she's being mean, but -- OK, I guess it's clear that I really just don't hate Kenley at all this season -- she doesn't seem to mean it maliciously. You know, I think that she's probably a little too loud for me, but she doesn't seem NEARLY as defensive or mean as she was before. I could deal with her now. She's been supportive of everyone and I don't understand what's happening that we don't see where she's some sort of villain this season. If you ask me, Mondo's insistence on dominating any room he's in with his foul mood is the real bad guy of this season. She even apologizes because he's so upset.
They look through Nanette's fabrics. Kenley finds this peacock print and is in love. Michael goes for the jersey. Austin gets this raincoat taffeta. Michael is going with a print jersey. Kenley cuts it close with her costs. Mondo is under budget.
Back at the workroom, Kenley and Austin are to each other in the workroom and are happy about it. Mondo is upset about lack of control and a fear of failing. For reasons I'm too stupid to understand, Michael has this fabric with a print and a lot of white fabric around the edges. Apparently, that keeps him from making the dress he wanted to make. He's losing his sleeves.
Kenley decides that she's going to lose the keyhole in her dress because she doesn't think that it jibes with her peacock print. Michael interviews that he disagrees with her -- you can put the damn keyhole in the dress. That's what she said?
Joanna and Nanette show up for a consultation. Michael's like, "Hi, Joanna. Hi, Nanette." I don't know if I can relay the tone, but it was a lot like, "What? What do you want?" The other designers don't even speak. These peeps are tired. Joanna reminds them how important this challenge is, because I'm sure they've all forgotten. She says that this is also the challenge where art and commerce meet. "Kenley, I'm talking to you." You see, Kenley is still sewing through her speech. I don't know if you have watched the show that happens after the show, but it's clear to me that Joanna has a red hot hatred for Kenley. Like, she fucking HATES her. The thing with Mondo and the sketching and all that? She nails her for it and says that she was talking behind Mondo's back and Joanna wasn't even there! Sure, I guess she could have watched some other raw footage, but why didn't they just show that to us? And, like Joanna spends her time sitting in some editing bay getting dirt on Kenley. She just fucking hates her. She continues and says that, in order to be successful, they need to be able to produce ready-to-wear clothes for a customer base.
| Season AS1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 03.08.2012
Nanette and Joanna talk to Kenley. Her dress doesn't match what she showed before. Earlier it was more fitted, which Nanette says is easier to sell. Joanna points out that good fit is one of the elements of feeling gorgeous and feeling that way can of course make or break a sale. Kenley says that she wants the dress to be loose and it's beautiful the way it is. Shows me for sticking up for her. Just make the fucking dress tighter you dumb bitch. She insists that the finished product will be flattering and Nanette's just like, yeah, we'll see how that goes for you. She interviews that the dress will be about the print, because that's the way she designs. Kenley, Kenley, Kenley. I tried.
Michael's dress is pretty close to the sketch that he showed. It plunges deep in the front and back and Nanette says that they would have to have a hook and eye closure in the front, to give women an option of not J Lo-ing it. Then, Joanna brings up her main talking point of the season, women like to wear their bras. Michael says that you could have another closure on the back and I have to say that this is one of the best examples of his habit of designing in the reductive. He gets better when people push him in a corner. I'm pretty sure he thought of that just then and that was a nifty little piece of problem-solving. Austin says that it's hard to wear Michael's clothes unless you're a model.
Austin presents his swing coat. Meanwhile, Michael says that he doesn't get what the judges like about his work. Nanette says that customers respond to brightly colored coats and, provided it turns out beautifully, Austin's coat could be an entrance-making piece. Austin says that he appreciates Nanette's direct approach to critique. Joanna says that she feels like this design falls on the is-it-hideous, or is-it-fabulous? line. Austin giggles good-naturedly and says that it seems they are always dancing on that line. Austin thinks that the luxury that he has achieved in his look gives him an edge.
Mondo's dress isn't on a form yet. It's a sequence of horizontal swaths of mismatched fabrics. He jokingly relays to Nanette that she referred to his poor sketch as a tin can with a string through it. Joanna asks where his customer would wear this dress and he says a cocktail party or a date. Nanette thinks it's "playwear" and she seems to mean that in a positive way. The ladies wish them luck and exit.
Everyone continues to work. Michael feels comfortable with his design. Mondo thinks it's a retread of his earlier work. He likens his own design to a bulldog that's so ugly it's cute. Austin is having some anxiety over the prospect of getting eliminated after making it this far. The day, Austin notices that his coat looks a little more rumpled than he anticipated. Mondo says that he has never felt so wishy-washy about a design. Michael's dress looks like it is going to fall off of his girl.
| Season AS1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 03.08.2012
Mondo says that Austin's coat is "very Austin Scarlett." Now, he says Austin's name with a bit of a lisp. I don't like this. Austin is certainly a unique guy and someone who doesn't play the gender game like everyone else, but I certainly don't think that he's deserving of slurs against his masculinity, however he conceives of it. He's been, from what I can see, nothing but serious and respectful regarding his relationships with other designers. His own style and demeanor don't seem to me an invitation for ridicule or being demeaned. But, if some dude were the one acting this way, I'd at least have some understanding of the situation (i.e. fear of the feminine that happens from a lot of men). But, Mondo? I'm dumbfounded. Where does this guy get off acting like this? Maybe there's stuff that we didn't see and Austin is so comfortable being himself that he doesn't mind that sort of thing and is OK with laughing at himself, but I wouldn't be taking those liberties in an interview where he wasn't in the room. Seriously, fuck that. Gay dudes acting that way towards other gay dudes is so unacceptable in my book. I'm off the Mondo now. He's incredibly talented, but he's not going to be getting any good vibes from me, not that he needs them. If Austin Freaking Scarlett can't be as gay as he wants to be in a Project Runway workroom without being ridiculed for said gayness, I think it's time for all of us homos to just pack up and move to Toyland. Yes, the North Pole. Where we'll be APPRECIATED.
They go into hair and makeup. Mondo's going for a faux bob. Kenley wants mod. Michael wants what the male hairdresser has "the male Snooki." Heh. Mondo feels like he might get eliminated for his boxy dress, but he thinks it's young and modern. Austin thinks that Michael's revealing look is inappropriate and a little cheap-looking. He's predicting himself, Kenley and Mondo for the final three. Kenley thinks that she stands a good chance of passing through this challenge, but Mondo points out that she doesn't match up the pattern when she works with a print. That does seem like a huge flaw, doesn't it?
They make their way to the runway, where Angela greets them. She reminds them that the proceeds from the sale of the winning design will go to Save The Garment District. Then, she introduces Georgina, Isaac and Nanette. The show begins with Austin's coat. It's a lovely fuchsia rain coat with pleats at the collar. It's a-line when not belted and has a lot of movement. It's seriously adorable and I can think of tons of girls who would want to wear that, especially if they were going somewhere nice and it was raining and they wanted to complement whatever cute dress they were already wearing.
| Season AS1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 03.08.2012
Michael's dress is and I think he did a really good job of choosing a print. It's a bright green and yellow flower print and it looks very resort-wear. It's a caftan style and is really plunging in the front and back. His styling is pretty excellent though. It just... seems like so much of the other stuff that he does. But, I think maybe I don't give enough credit to expert draping, which this appears to possess.
Here's Mondo's dress. We've got the horizontal stripes and it's flapper-style with a little ruffled skirt at the bottom. It's actually pretty cute. Mondo likes it and thinks that his model is really working it. That she is.
Lastly, we have Kenley's look. From afar, it's really pretty. The colors are gorgeous and I agree that the loose fit is nice, though loose like that only really looks good on ladies who are super thin. On closer inspection, the mismatched seams really do cause a problem for the eye. It's sewn beautifully but looks less so with the print not matching.
After the show, the models return to the stage. Mondo says that he was in a dark place the day before, so he went to his sweet spot -- mixing fabrics and colors. Isaac likes the dress, but wishes it were slimmer in the waist. Nanette thinks that a lady would curves would have a problem with the boxy silhouette. Angela thinks that it should have been paired with sandals instead of heels and Isaac agrees. Georgina says that it's not his most exciting work, but it's still a nice dress.
They all think that Michael's dress is sensual without being vulgar. Georgina and Angela think it's too long, but overall everyone seems to like it. Georgina likes Kenley's quirkiness, but she has a problem with the print. Angela points out the seams not matching is a problem. Nanette says that she really wanted the special element that the keyhole would have brought. Isaac agrees that there needed to be something that made the dress soar. Isaac and Georgina didn't realize that Austin's design was a coat. In fact, Isaac didn't like it as much when he thought it was a dress. Angela thinks it would sell really well in retail.
The designers leave and the judges gab. Backstage, Kenley is unsure who's going to get the ax. Onstage, Isaac says that you know the woman Austin designs for. Nanette is not a fan of the fabric. She liked Mondo's choice of fabrics. Only Angela doesn't seem to like it. Georgina, who I swear gets more gorgeous every time I look at her, feels like Kenley should have adapted to her print. Angela is disappointed because she really thinks that Kenley is commercially viable. Isaac thinks though that her dress was a little frumpy. Ouch, that's a killer. Nanette also comments on Kenley's inability to accept direction or criticism. They should have Tim Gunn pop in now to attest to that. Georgina says that you know what you're going to get from Kenley. Angela says that she could totally see Kenley with a shop. Isaac thought that Michael's dress was very pretty. Nanette says that she thought his sketch looked old, but she was pleasantly surprised when she saw it on the runway. Angela says that she thinks Michael is a great designer (no she doesn't) and has a lot of potential, but she has noticed over the weeks that he's really hit or miss. Georgina agrees that he needs to have the confidence to stick by a point-of-view. He's a people pleaser with his designs. That's it!
| Season AS1 | Episode 10 | Aired on 03.08.2012
It's time to decide and they're having a really hard time. Angela says that Michael dresses a sophisticated woman, while Kenley dresses a younger, happier woman. Happier? I love that. She really doesn't want Michael to win. Nanette says that Kenley is the Contemporary Department while Michael is in the Designer Department. Everyone agrees. They've made their decision and Isaac and Georgina agree that this was the hardest decision that they have had to make.
The designers return to the stage. Austin is safe. He is excited and nervous for the final challenge. Mondo is the winner of the challenge! He says that he thought he was going home. He is also going to the finals. He interviews that he is shocked to be there. He goes backstage and Austin congratulates him and gives him a hug. Ugh. I have so many problems with all of that stuff.
So, it's down to Kenley and Michael. Angela tells Michael that they loved the cut of his dress, but they're not sure who he really is as a designer. She tells Kenley that they love her style, but this dress was frumpy. She needs to learn to listen to advice and her stubbornness can get in the way of her becoming a great designer. Michael is...in. Yeah, yeah. He gives Kenley a hug and promises the judges that he will get his point-of-view across, then leaves the stage. Mondo is happy to hear that he is in. Angela thanks Kenley for being a part of the show and tells her that she has a big future in front of her.
Kenley goes backstage and gets a hug from Austin. My closed captioning says that Kenley lets out a "forced laugh." Getting editorial over there at Time Warner. Mondo says, "You are beautiful." She's big about it. She says that she's bummed because she wanted to win, but life goes on. That's what they say on the tug boat. She says that the show inspired her to really push herself and see where it goes. Sail away, Kenley!
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.