Anything Clothes

Aired 12-20-2012

| Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 12.20.2012

Ivy is still sad about Casanova leaving. I am too. Carolyn greets the designers on the runway with envelopes in hand. The challenge is to create a modern look inspired by the 1920s. The envelopes are different events for which the designs must be appropriate. The designers are paired. There's an afternoon garden party, an afterhours speakeasy and an evening social soiree. Emilio and Josh are paired against each other for the garden party, Uli and Laura Kathleen have the social soiree and Anthony Ryan and Ivy are competing with the speakeasy.

Anthony Ryan keeps invading Ivy's space and it gets a little tense. Also, Laura Kathleen openly slams Uli for using feathers, saying that she uses them to compensate for her design. Then, Ivy shit talks Anthony Ryan's design in front of Joanna. It's actually pretty exciting. The fitting doesn't go well for Emilio or Uli. Emilio has to completely take his dress apart and reconstruct. Uli's dress is see-through! I don't understand how she could not have anticipated that.

Gretchen Mol is a guest judge! Designer Jenny Packham is also a judge. On the runway, Emilio's and Josh's looks are both pretty good, though I think that Emilio probably has the edge. Laura Kathleen and Uli are also both very strong. I think maybe Laura Kathleen is the winner, though her pant suit is pretty reminiscent of the look she one with during the Diane von Furstenberg challenge. Hell, I think I like all of these dresses. Anthony Ryan's and Ivy's look like they could be in the same collection and they are both very good.

On second look, Josh's is really beautiful. Georgina loves it. Jenny and Gretchen were both down with it too. Isaac and Carolyn weren't crazy about it though. The criticism was kind of vague, but Emilio didn't get a ton of praise. Uli gets kudos, but the judges are torn over her cowl shawl. Isaac didn't like the fur that Laura Kathleen used. Carolyn thought that her pants weren't perfect. Georgina went a step further and said that the pants made the model look huge. Carolyn thinks that Ivy's dress looks like a Prada rip-off. Isaac thinks that it looks better in the back. Gretchen really liked it. Jenny loves Anthony Ryan's dress and how modern it feels. Gretchen thinks it's young and fun. Isaac was not a fan of the feather capelet, but he changes his mind! Georgina likes it as well. Looks like the judges liked all them too! Emilio has the high score for his pair, Uli wins hers and Anthony Ryan wins his.

Emilio is safe. Anthony Ryan wins the challenge! Uli is safe. Joshua is safe. Laura Kathleen is... out! Ivy is shocked. I mean, they were all good and somebody had to go. Might as well be the annoying girl.

Previously: The designers had their unconventional materials challenge and it was all Christmas stuff. Kylie Minogue was the guest judge! Uli won the challenge, while Casanova and Ivy were in the bottom. Casanova sadly got the boot and Ivy was really torn up about it.

It's morning at the hotel where they are all staying. They are sitting on a beautiful terrace and Emilio mentions to Ivy that Casanova's elimination hit her very hard. She agrees and says that, though she understands that only one person wins the competition, she had hoped that her friend would be with her until the end. She interviews that Casanova's elimination has pushed her spirit to work harder, because she wants to make something that he would be proud of. Anthony Ryan points out that, for this challenge, they are all likely to stay onstage for the judging at the runway show (because they are such a small group now). Emilio interviews that it is his feelings that the remaining designers were always the strongest. This elimination will be the game changer.

At the runway, Carolyn appears behind the scrim holding envelopes. Groaning commences. Anthony Ryan says that he just prays that it is not a team challenge. Me too. I don't think I can handle these guys being too bitchy to each other right now. Carolyn reminds them that they are all close to the big prize before telling them that the challenge will be about the 1920s. She reminds us that the '20s were the moment when fashion and the modern era converged. Laura Kathleen whispers, "Flappers." Carolyn says that the Jazz Age has returned in movies and music and it is their challenge to create a modern look inspired by the '20s.

Because Uli won the last challenge, she gets to choose her envelope first. Then, everyone else chooses one. Carolyn calls them invitations. Uli opens her and it's an invitation for an evening social soiree. Josh opens his and it's an invite for an afternoon garden party. Oh, he'll be a total hit. Anthony Ryan opens his and it's an invite to an after hours speakeasy. Laura Kathleen has a social soiree as well. Ivy has the speakeasy and Emilio has the garden party. Carolyn says that it's going to be a fashion face-off. Emilio says that he and Joshua design for the same woman, but he's confident since he has won two challenges. Uli also considers Laura Kathleen a formidable opponent. Each group will have a high scorer and a low scorer. From those groups we will get a winner and a loser. Anthony Ryan says that he is not pest control but he will not mind exterminating Ivy. Whoever thought of that should be fired. I mean, seriously. Also, the hair. Anthony Ryan's hair is a problem. Wrong proportion, wrong decade, wrong species. I think he just lost me forever with the exterminator bomb. Carolyn shuffles off the stage while making a little mouth trumpet and I like her more and more every time she talks. Or plays music, I guess.

By Jeff Long | Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 2012.12.20

When the designers get to the work room, they find that they will be sharing a table. All of the extras have been removed and they marvel at the extra space. Josh says that they are going to use the extra room for a dance party and then he does a rather expert round-off. What I really like about Josh is the level of reserve that he maintains. He really likes to fly under the radar and you just have to respect that. Josh says that he is focusing on beating Emilio. Emilio seems confident and is more concerned with making something appropriate for the afternoon. Uli is going to use feathers and fringe... again. Josh asks Laura Kathleen if she is going to use any feathers in her look and she says that she doesn't need feathers to compensate for her design. Well, you know what? I like a little shade thrown from time to time and we have to admit that Laura Kathleen threw with integrity intact. Also, I think she's essentially kidding. And, Uli's clearly awesome, so I doubt Laura Kathleen thinks that she's puncturing her self-confidence or anything like that. Josh hoots and is all, "You said it!" which actually seems ruder than what Laura Kathleen said. Anthony Ryan interviews that teeth and claws are out. Laura Kathleen says that she may be using a little fur with her look. It looks like she's going in the pant suit direction again. Anthony Ryan seems fairly confident about what he's doing. He says that he wants you to want to have sex with his girl when she walks down the runway. I get what he's saying but maybe he has the wrong audience for that. Can we want to braid her hair?

At Mood, everyone seems to be doing fairly well. Emilio and Joshua keep going after the same materials. Ivy chooses a really expensive fabric and she sees it as a huge risk.

Back at the work room, Anthony Ryan feels that Ivy is trying to keep her work hidden from him, though he claims to have zero intention of copying her work. Ivy wonders why Anthony Ryan won't respect her personal space. It's probably his hair and he's not even conscious of the fact that it's crowding her. Uli had planned on avoiding feathers for this challenge, but it calls for them too much for her to resist. Laura Kathleen interviews about how she considers the use of feathers a cop out and I don't understand what the hell she's talking about. She says that use of trim is more styling than designing and I think she's completely wrong. The feathers that Uli uses change the silhouette of the look. That's design. Anthony Ryan says that Uli has Laura Kathleen beat with her ability to make something look high-end, but Laura Kathleen is the leader when it comes to construction. I think that's what Laura Kathleen is talking about, but really what she's saying is that she thinks that being a good seamstress is being a good designer. Anyway, she's going to make a fur coat for her girl because she thinks that everyone in the '20s had a fur coat. Perhaps they did. Anthony Ryan says that the competition has set in and he's starting to get really stressed out.

| Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 12.20.2012

Everybody's jamming. Josh is using a really garish floral pattern as his muslin, but honestly I had to be told that. I would not put it past him to use that as his actual fabric. It's hideous though. Uli asks Joshua if he has ever been to a garden party and he reveals that the only parties that he has ever been to in New York are fire escape parties and rooftop parties. He seems to appreciate it, but parties like that are the absolute best.

Anthony Ryan is making a capelet. A little cape. It's made of feathers. He feels like it will be a showcase piece. Josh models it for Anthony Ryan and it is gleeful and embarrassing. Ivy is trying to make chevrons and all sorts of stuff for her look and Uli thinks that she's making her life too complicated. Well, if it were as easy as just not sewing as much, I think we'd all have simpler lives. But, lots of things make our lives complicated, Uli. For instance, I just saw the film adaptation of the musical Les Miserables and now I totally have to reevaluate where I think Amanda Seyfried belongs on the cinematic landscape. Because, you know something? She was actually pretty great and Cosette is a totally thankless role that you CANNOT really win with, not with Eponine being your counterpart and belting maybe the most satisfying pop ballad in musical theater history. I mean, right? It's like real poppy pop music. You don't even really have to like musicals to dig that song. Demi Lovato could make a hit out of that song tomorrow. My point is, it doesn't matter how genius you are, no uptight blonde who is pure and sings legit is going to win to Eponine. It's a sad truth. But, Seyfried, man. She kind of pulls it off. I have a lot of soul searching to do. Don't even get me started with Hathaway oh my god.

Laura Kathleen is using a beaded fabric and, learning moment, it's pretty impossible to sew over beads. So, Laura Kathleen is looking for a hammer to break some beads. Uli offers her some pliers, which I actually think is very nice. She'll crush the beads over her seam allowance so that she can sew it. Anthony Ryan jokes about Uli helping the competition and Uli just jokes that now Laura Kathleen is going to take her down. I think this might be the moment where I've officially decided that I want Uli to take the whole thing. I want her to win this. I just think she's a quality person and awesome and talented and that's that. Laura Kathleen interviews that she has a lot of respect for Uli, but it's going to be an honor for her to take Uli out of the competition.

| Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 12.20.2012

Here comes Joanna for some quality mentorship. She mentions that the '20s are having a real resurgence thanks to Boardwalk Empire and Downton Abbey. She begins by talking to Josh. She feels that the color palette is totally him, but the draping concerns her. She finds it "too marsupial" and thinks that it will make the model look bigger. Then she asks him if he is the only designer in the room who hasn't won a challenge. He says that neither he nor Ivy have won. She implores him to channel his inner Joshua to pull this out. Is there anyone else in there? Maybe an inner Anya? Try that.

She moves to Emilio who tells her that he wants to return to form in a way. He wants to give the judges something that they know from him. He is looking for a "wow" moment. She wonders if his print is young enough. She suggests that it could be at home on his grandmother's sofa and, I can't really tell but I think, he's genuinely shocked by the realization. I don't think he had considered the youthfulness of the print. He says that he believes his execution will make the print seem nostalgic without seeming old. Then, with Josh listening, she asks Emilio if he thinks that Josh's dress would be at home at a garden party. He says that he does, though his own lady would own the estate, while Josh's would just be a guest. Josh replies that Emilio's lady may own the estate, but she's just an appetizer for her husband. Josh's girl is the main course. Well done. That's twisted but I like it. Joanna tells Josh that that's a great character for him to design for. I love it. What if Josh just started designing for mistresses. Like, Mona from Moonstruck or Amber Valetta on Revenge are his ideal clients.

Laura Kathleen is the victim. She tells Joanna that she likes the textures from the '20s. So, she is doing a modern pants and vest combo, the vest being fur. Joanna seems to really like it and feels that Laura Kathleen captured the newly liberated moment that women were having back then. She looks over at Uli's dress and says that it makes her want to break out into her Charleston moment, which she does. She does a version of the Charleston. I'm shocked that there aren't bigger laughs. Everyone just kind of grins. Laura Kathleen laughs. She tells Uli that she's worried for her because her work looks reminiscent of other things she has presented. Uli explains that she wanted to stay away from trimmings, but it's the '20s and she can just hear the judges telling her that this was finally the moment when she could intuitively and appropriately break out the feathers and trim. Joanna seems sold on this line of logic. She tells the ladies that she thinks the judges will have a very hard time judging between them because both of them are doing exquisite work. She also calls it the "face-off of the blondes." That's what I call every day of my life. I'm not blonde.

By Jeff Long | Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 2012.12.20

Anthony Ryan talks to Joanna and leads with his feather capelet. She thinks that it's gorgeous. She thinks that, up close, it's extraordinary. Also, she finds it a little naughty and thinks that it celebrates the freedoms that everyone was enjoying during the '20s. She hints that she might try to steal the capelet after the runway show. I cannot decide whether I love or hate writing the word "capelet." It's gross and exciting all at the same time, much like a nosebleed.

Ivy is the last to talk to Joanna and she immediately is drawn to Ivy's fabric. She thinks it is gorgeous and very '20s, with the lines in the fabric that one associates with that era. It reminds her of Roxy Hart from Chicago, which Ivy loves. She tells Joanna that she wants to create angles like would be present in a '20s design. Also, she wants her design to be feminine but strong. Then, Joanna decides to make it dirty. In the name of the face-off, she asks Anthony Ryan to rate Ivy's design on a scale of 1-10. He says a strong 7 or an 8. Ivy? She gives Anthony Ryan a 5. She interviews that she meant a strong 5, so there's that. Joanna says that she's being a really harsh judge and wonders why she gave him so low a score. She says that she just doesn't think there is anything original about the design. Uh oh. Is this our old Ivy peeking out? People can just be honest and all of that, but there's really nothing helpful you're doing by insulting his design. She interviews that, if you are going to ask for her opinion, you should be prepared for the truth. The thing is, Anthony Ryan didn't really ask for it. Joanna says that this is the most talented room that she has been in since Project Runway: All-Stars began and she is very excited to see the runway show.

| Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 12.20.2012

Emilio says that the real work of creating a dress happens in the fitting, because nothing really matters until you see the garment on an actual body. Then, we see Joshua trying to work in this brooch somewhere on the waist of his garment. Anthony Ryan tells him that he feels that the brooch makes his look Scottish. Looking at the dress, I can't say that Anthony Ryan is incorrect. Also, I'm not entirely sure why that would be a bad thing. Maybe he's saying that it makes it look like a kilt. Josh really wants to fit the brooch in somewhere because he thinks it speaks to the decadence of the era. That makes sense too. Anthony Ryan tells him that he can use the Nine West wall to "add some bling" if needed.

Ivy hasn't finished sewing and really does not have that much to put on her model by the end of the fitting. In fact, she's sitting at a sewing machine with her model just sort of staring at her. That's not promising. After the girls are gone, Emilio tells us that he has to take apart the entire bodice, insert lace and finish the hem. That's a lot of work to get done. Uli is also cramming and doesn't have enough time to finish. They all reluctantly leave for their hotel when time is called.

The morning, they go back to the workroom and start rocking and rolling. Ivy is sensitive about her construction and wants to make sure that everything is made well. Josh says that her fabric is beautiful but he feels like she is relying on the fabric instead of on her design. The models return for fittings for the show. Uli puts her dress on her girl and loves it. Laura Kathleen still thinks that Uli designs like a stylist, which I think is pretty dumb.

Scott Patric, make-up daddy, is in full effect this holiday season and serving macho painting realness. I've noticed that everyone is brandishing like the one 1920s reference they have at every turn. Charleston, flapper, jazz, etc. They never really add anything to the conversation.

Wow, Anthony Ryan and Ivy are talking such shit about each other. Ivy is happy with her look and thinks that it looks feminine and modern. Anthony Ryan thinks it looks like "Maw maw Georgina" going to bingo night. Now, does he mean our Georgina? Georgina Chapman? Did he just call her maw maw? I know he didn't really mean to, because that would be suicide. But, I think that's exactly what just happened. Does he know who she's married to? I wonder who is going to get to design Anthony Ryan's cement shoes? Ivy thinks that Anthony Ryan's dress looks like curtains.

By Jeff Long | Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 2012.12.20

Emilio thinks that his dress won't have a problem beating Joshua's, who he imagines will be criticized for his floral shoes, his handbag and that brooch. Joshua thinks that Emilio's work looks more like a costume than an actual real person dress.

On the runway, they're all sitting at little cocktail tables and Carolyn calls it the All-Star Speakeasy. Wow, they must feel like the space has been really transformed. She introduces Georgina, Isaac and guest judges Gretchen Mol and designer Jenny Packham. Carolyn says that the judges will be looking to see how they updated '20s looks.

The show begins with Josh's dress. It's a violet and gray wrap dress with a drop waist. That brooch found its home on the hip of the model. On the back of the dress is a line of yellow, which is pretty and seems very Josh. He's happy with the dress. I think it's pretty cute. My favorite part is the yellow stripe. It doesn't look like he really took Joanna's advice to heart about the marsupial properties of the silhouette, but I don't find it particularly unflattering or distracting. In fact, there's something relaxed about the waist that I find kind of cute.

By Jeff Long | Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 2012.12.20

Emilio's look is really beautiful but I don't find it '20s at all. It's a long fitted dress with little cap sleeves. It's '30s. I don't think you can call this a '20s look. He knows this and says it's not overtly '20s but gives a nod to vintage. Nice save. All of that said, it's a gorgeous dress. The floral print safely avoids any grandma comparisons, as far as I can see.

is Uli's look. It's a white and silver dress with lots of fringe. Uli likes it because the model is showing off her figure without the dress being too tight. For me, that's one of the signs of a really good designer. A lot of the time, it seems that anything less that skin tight looks bulky on a model. It takes a lot of smart planning to choose a fabric and construct in such a way that something can be relaxed without being unflattering. There's a shawl thing on the shoulders of the model that I don't think I'm crazy about. It has sort of an Issey Miyake architectural thing that seems dissonant to the casual elegance of the dress.

Laura Kathleen's look is and it's beautiful. The model is wearing flowing dark red pants that have lots of pleating on the sides. The top is a tank with lots of sparkly bits on it (such as a dreaded stylist might use) and a very low cut back. The fur vest is black and Laura Kathleen says that all of it is completely her.

Ivy's dress is . It also has that drop waist. The fabric that she used is indeed beautiful and looks very expensive. She has cut it so that the lines of sequins are at an angle that ends in an inverted chevron at the center of the dress. At the bottom of the dress, she has used this very delicate feather that may prove problematic. It's so sparse that it just looks accidental.

Anthony Ryan's dress is a sort of shapeless mini-dress. The fabric seems reminiscent of the '20s, but I wouldn't say the dress itself has that much in common with the era. His feather capelet is really cute. Is this the season of feathers or WHAT? I don't feel like I've ever seen as many as these guys have used.

After the show, all of the designers return to the stage. Georgina thought that Josh's dress was modern, but she wasn't wild about the brooch or the handbag. Carolyn and Isaac think that it's maybe too safe. Jenny feels that Emilio's dress is elegant, though a bit dated. Isaac finds it '30s as well. Emilio tries to say that it's late '20s. Isaac loves Uli's dress but thinks that her white fringe makes it look cheaper. Gretchen asks her to take off the wrap and they all seem to like it better without it. Isaac thinks that Laura Kathleen's look has a heavy silhouette when the girl is wearing the fur. Georgina thinks that the model's hips look big. Carolyn thinks that Ivy's dress is very Prada, which is only partly a compliment. Jenny doesn't like the feathers at the bottom. Gretchen thinks that she could see someone wearing this look. Jenny loves Anthony Ryan's look. She does think that it could have been more form-fitting. Isaac has the strangest moment, where he hates the capelet and has Anthony Ryan take it off. Then, he puts it back and Isaac says that he was wrong.

By Jeff Long | Season AS2 | Episode 8 | Aired on 2012.12.20

Uli has the high score from her face-off, Emilio from his and Anthony Ryan from his. The designers leave the stage while the judges confer. Jenny still doesn't like Anthony Ryan's capelet. It appears that Emilio and Joshua had very close scores. In fact, they won't even discuss Josh as a candidate for elimination.

The designers return to the stage. You know, all of this stuff was pretty good. Emilio is safe. The winner of the challenge is Anthony Ryan. Wow. I didn't expect that. He interviews that Ivy won't be giving him a 5 again anytime soon. Uli is in. Backstage, they point out that this is the third consecutive time that Ivy has been in the bottom. Joshua is safe. Laura Kathleen is... out. Ivy is stunned. Laura Kathleen goes backstage and says that she knew she'd get kicked off with a feather on her head. FEATHERS! She says that she's not sad because she has been given so much in life already. You know, if, say, I don't know, Jennifer Lawrence were to say that after she lost an Oscar race, I might believe it. Because, Jennifer Lawrence seems like a totally rad girl. When it comes out of Laura Kathleen's mouth it sounds an awful lot like, "Don't worry about me. I don't need this shit. I am RICH, Bitch." It just does. It sounds like that. I'm not making it up. Trying for just a moment to be generous, I suppose she could be acting from a place of insecurity. That seems like such an easy excuse though. Anyway, I hope she figures this stuff out.

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