Just One More Challenge

Aired 01-10-2013

| Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2013

Carolyn greets the designers and tells them that they are going to Paris! They are so completely excited. Once in Paris, they go to the House of Valentino. Joanna is there! They meet the creative directors of Valentino. They take the designers to the couture sweatshop where little ladies are sewing their brains out. They get a really valuable lesson in choosing fabrics and the couture process. Then, they get invitations to their fashion show the following evening! Josh turns into a complete lunatic, he’s so excited.

Afterwards, they have dinner on a boat traveling the Seine. This show just got CLASSY. Work it, Lifetime. They have a lovely time reflecting on their good luck. As they have a toast overlooking the water, I swear that I see Anthony Ryan grab Joshua’s ass. Back in the gutter.

The day, they start sketching for their challenge, which is to create a couture inspired gown. They all seem inspired to go bold. Their budget is three thousand Euros! That’s nuts! At the fabric store, they go crazy over all of the fancy things. Later, they go to the fashion show. It’s pretty sexy. There’s a lot of skin showing and it’s dreamlike, which I think will be quite an inspiration for the designers.

After the show, they immediately get back on a plane and are back to work. Anthony Ryan is really tired. They are all feeling the tension of the finish line being close. Joanna comes in for a consultation. She worries that Emilio’s trimmings may overpower his look. She thinks that Uli’s look is trending a little gladiator. She just doesn’t understand what Joshua is doing. He has this floral print that no one thinks is very couture. Anthony Ryan started over with his look and he doesn’t have much time left.

The models come in for their fittings. Y’all, Josh’s floral print. I don’t know. Anthony Ryan is really struggling though. He seems like he’s really doubting himself, but pulls it together in the end.

Carolyn comes out and asks the designers what their favorite part of the show was. The fashion show is the unanimous answer. The guest judge is designer Cynthia Rowley! The show opens with Josh. I don’t know. Two clashing fabrics, but it’s interesting? I don’t know. Anthony Ryan’s is sleek and well-made, but fairly rote in its design. Uli’s is interesting. Her styling is pretty cool too. Emilio’s is beautiful and voluminous, but not particularly dream-like.

Anthony Ryan and Emilio get kudos. Uli gets slammed for her lining, because Isaac doesn’t think it looks like couture. Josh doesn’t get exactly destroyed for his mix of print and lace, but no one’s loving it. Anthony Ryan wins the challenge! He’s going to the finale! Emilio is safe. Oh my gosh, it’s down to Uli and Josh. They have one more challenge. They are told to deconstruct their gowns and make something new. Weird. They have one hour. They have to do it on the runway, too. This is kind of badass. They finish and Uli gives Josh a big hug. Everyone loves what Josh did (reversed his bodice and shortened his skirt). Cynthia thinks Uli is telling the judges to eff off in a funny way because the lining is the main part of her new dress. But, they all love Uli’s too. Wow, this is tense. Anthony Ryan and Emilio don’t know what the hell is going on. Uli is… in. Poor Josh was so close. Uli interviews that she feels bad for Josh at the same time that she’s happy for herself. You can tell how sad Josh is. I think he really needed that prize.

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Previously: The designers created looks for women who had served/do serve in the military. Katie Holmes was a guest judge. She got to announce that Joshua was the winner of the challenge. Anthony Ryan and Emilio were in the bottom, but they both got passed through! Neither look was bad enough to be eliminated.

We start on the runway. Carolyn enters wearing this smashing ensemble of a melon colored blouse and tangerine slacks. This woman is so freaking beautiful in everything. Her agent deserves like a big fruit basket or something for recommending that she do this show. I feel like it has upped her stock and reminded everyone of how amazing she is. She reminds everyone that there are only three spots in the finale. Their challenge is to create a couture look. She reminds them that a couture look is known for its expensive fabric, attention to detail and custom tailoring. Anthony Ryan says in an interview that couture scares him because of the amount of time necessary to do it correctly. He sounds like he's trying to swallow a burp right now. Hey, I know it's gross, I'm just trying to report the truth right now. They'll be shopping for their fabrics at Janssens & Janssens...in Paris! While there, they have received an invitation to visit the showroom of the House of Valentino. Damn.

They have to go and promptly pack. Everyone is super exciting. , we see beautiful shots of Paris. They make their way to the House of Valentino and it's spectacular. The interiors are what you would expect, opulent and gilded. Uli and Anthony Ryan hug each other and she says, "Do you know where we are?" Anthony Ryan says that he doesn't want to touch anything for fear that the law of the land is "you break, you buy." Then, Joanna Coles enters the room. Everyone seems excited to see each other. They all hug her, which I think is the first time I've seen that. She tells them that she is thrilled to introduce them to two of the fashion world's most influential creative forces. Maria Grazia Chiuri and Peirpaolo Piccioli, Valentino's creative directors, enter the room. They are chic as hell. They say that they are very excited to have them there and they want to show them their couture work, which is upstairs. There are like 20 foot ceilings in that room.

Upstairs, a bunch of what appears to be only women are sewing madly on beautiful dresses. They inspect all of the beautiful fabrics and handiwork. Peirpaolo says that they are in a magic world where dreams come true. Anthony Ryan says that the experience of watching them work and seeing how they choose fabrics is invaluable. Later, when they are all sitting down, Maria and Peirpaolo tell them that they would like for them to come to their couture fashion show the following day. They lose it, but especially Josh. He says that he is like a straight guy at a baseball game. Joanna thanks them very much for their hospitality and they depart.

| Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2013

Later, they have dinner on the deck of a boat on the Seine. There are red candlesticks on the white tablecloth, which I really like. These guys really deserve this. They have worked so hard. They all agree that, though the competition is not yet over, this is a nice time for them to just share as designers and enjoy. "Aren't we lucky?" asks Uli. I really love her. The all toast to Paris on the railing of the deck and, I'm not trying to break up any homes or anything, but Anthony Ryan's arm is around Joshua's waist and his hand drifts down ever so casually to his ass. I can't say that they make the most intuitive couple ever, but stranger things have happened. We see some truly beautiful shots of Paris. I think I might move there.

The day, they go to the plaza near the Eiffel Tower and sketch on their HP tablets. They decide on things that are pretty typical for them. Emilio is going with color, Anthony Ryan is trying something completely different, etc. , they go to Janssens & Janssens. Wow, this shit is fancy. All of the fabrics are deep and beautiful and special. I wonder if Mood feels insulted that they traveled across the pond for their fabrics. Whatever, those guys are so rich from this show now. They can dry their tears with all of their dollars. They get 3000 Euros each for this challenge. That's like four thousand dollars! For one dress! This better look good. Seriously though. Anthony Ryan is going with black, which isn't something typical for him. I have to say, that's one of the things that I find really interesting about him. He mind is flexible enough and he has enough skill that he can try new and different things all of the time. I think it's what has made him so successful in this competition. That said, it may not be great for him in the marketplace. I'm not sure that I could really describe Anthony Ryan's aesthetic, except that it is modern and fairly young. Maybe that's enough. Emilio says that he didn't come to Paris to get black fabric (that's what Anthony Ryan is using, snap). He came here to find the most special fabric he has ever seen. He finds this really beautiful deep red fabric that appears to have some sort of brocade happening. It's very Emilio.

Josh finds this multi-colored floral fabric. It's insane and gorgeous. He says it's like Joshua and the Technicolor Couture Challenge. I think that Olivia Newton-John wrote the score for that. The make their final decisions about fabrics then hit the door. Then, it's on to the Valentino Couture Show! Oh my God, Josh and Anthony Ryan are wearing outrageous jackets. Joshua's is this snakeskin or black lamè get-up, very fitted. It's perfect for him, but I don't know if it's legal to wear during the daytime. Anthony Ryan's is this blue and white Van Gogh-looking thing. I can't imagine where he found it. If two people wore that jacket at the same time in the same STATE, I think there would have to be a fight to the death. Josh said that the experience of entering the Valentino show is an experience that he will hold onto forever. It was everything that he imagined and more. Emilio says that we have the "creme of the creme" of the world's fashion editors. Then, he names, in this order, Joanna Coles, Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington. I mean, that's rich. I love Joanna and all, but...let's be real. The show is gorgeous. Uli loves that there is so much skin showing without the models seeming naked. Josh was fascinated by the cohesion in the show and how the simplest looks and the most complicated looks were still married. Afterwards, Joanna speaks to them and tells them to remember what Peirpaolo said about dreams. Couture is about magical thinking. I actually think what she said is better than what we heard him say, but maybe we missed something. She tells them that they have no time to waste and sends them on their way. And, it's back to New York.

| Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2013

, we see the designers in the workroom. Anthony Ryan interviews that he feels like crap. They haven't gotten much sleep and they were just traveling. I always worry about Anthony Ryan a little bit, like maybe he's still a little weak from having been sick. I wonder if that's true. As the boys are having lunch, they discuss how they just got off of a plane and are going to have a mentoring session and be expected to have most of a dress finished in just a few hours. Emilio says that this could be anyone's game.

Joshua explains his design to Uli and she worried for him that maybe it's too much work. Joshua interviews that he is trying to win a prize that would change his life. Uli also interviews that the prize is too big to ignore. She dreams about it. Anthony Ryan, half-way through the day, decides that he doesn't like what he is making and throws his dress on the floor and starts over. I can't tell if he's super focused or losing his mind.

Joanna comes in for her consultations. She starts with Emilio. His fabric looks really gorgeous on the dress form. He explains that he is going to add some black flower appliques down the side of the bust. Joanna thinks that he has obviously absorbed what he saw in Paris. She worries though that the appliques may take away from the look. He interviews that he will have to think about that.

Uli explains that she is using a lot of nude fabric because she wants to give the illusion of skin. She is worried about this gold print fabric that she is using though because she thinks it looks a little like an alligator. Joanna sees her alligator and raises her a gladiator. Ouch. Oh wait, to put it more succinctly, she says it is a "gladiator alligator meets a Sicilian widow." Charmed.

Joanna asks Joshua to explain his fabric choices because, on first glance, they do not seem very couture to her. His bodice is the only thing on the dress form and she can't really understand how the skirt is going to integrate. He explains it but she insists that she really can't see the dress yet. Emilio hears and gives one of those "eek" looks. He interviews that Joshua has a very interesting print, but he is not sure how couture it is. He wouldn't have flown to Paris for that print. I guess that is a good point. I have to say though, it's so freaking gorgeous, this print. I'm not particularly convinced that it's couture either, but it's really beautiful.

Anthony Ryan explains that he decided to ditch his original concept. She wonders if he is making a prudent choice, seeing as he has limited choice. He says that his gut told him to change. She agrees that he needs to listen to his gut, since this challenge is all about his personal vision. She asks for her to pray for him. Uli thinks that it's surprising that he doesn't know exactly what he wants to do. She notices that he seems a little frantic.

| Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2013

Joanna tells them that they all seem greatly affected by their trip to Paris. She is loathe to remind them that only three designers will be passed through to the finals. She wishes them all good luck then leaves. Then, it's back to work. Anthony Ryan puts something together fairly quickly. Uli notes that it all came together and asks him what he didn't like about his first attempt. He didn't like the fit and feel. He still sounds sick or something to me.

The models come in for their fitting. The first thing that Uli notices is that her dress is much too big, which is a big deal since couture dresses are supposed to be perfectly fitted. The details are hugely important. Emilio says that he is making sleeves to cover up his model because he feels like it's more elegant. Josh has his model in his dress. He feels like it's elegant and has the inspiration of couture. That last phrase is a little confusing. Josh is a great defensive debater. Anthony Ryan's dress is only half finished, but he's glad that he has something to put on his model, even if it makes her look like "Tarzan the Warrior Princess." Lots of different source materials for that one joke.

After the models leave, Emilio jokes that he would love to have a sleeveless dress right now. It's funny, when they are talking, it seems like Uli is never around. She wasn't at lunch earlier either. Anthony Ryan is in a bad place. He tells Joshua and Emilio that he thinks he has lost his mind. Then, we see an interview where he says that he is really struggling with this challenge. He is feeling the pressure of being up against these great designers and it really scares him. Finally, the day is over and they head back to the Night Hotel. It's funny, someone is obviously delegated the task of mentioning the hotel in every episode. Gotta pay the bills. I hear ya, Lifetime.

The day, they are back to work, with only two hours before the runway. Emilio is freaking because he has a ton of work to do. Joshua tells him that he is not alone with the amount of work that needs to be completed. Emilio decides to leave off the appliques, maybe as a time-saving measure more than anything. Anthony Ryan still hasn't attached his sleeves. Uli is not happy with the liner for her dress. She thinks it looks better without it, but she doesn't want to send her model down the runway with her morning glory for all the world to see. Coward. Hair and make-up time. Emilio says that he wants his girl's make-up to be very "Japanese-y." That's a word, right? Scott Patric, hot make-up daddy, doesn't even bat an eye. He's that professional, folks. Joshua decides to go with a really beautiful pink lipstick

| Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2013

With a half-hour remaining, everyone is scrambling. Uli interviews that Anthony Ryan's dress is stunning and she has no idea how he managed that in six hours. Wow, that is impressive. Anthony Ryan thinks that Uli is the person to beat, mostly because they have both made black dresses. That said, he is very happy with his dress. Joshua says that he feels Emilio really let his fabric do the work in his look, while he took a risk and really worked with the clash between his floral print and the black lace. Emilio says that he likes Joshua a lot, but he thinks that he really missed the boat with this challenge. He thinks that the floral print was a huge mistake. Uli is worried because the lace layers in her dress keep getting stuck together. She is not feeling confident about this.

On the runway, Carolyn enters wearing this INSANE red jumpsuit. I can't get over how gorgeous she is. She asks the designers what their favorite part of Paris was. Somebody mentions the fashion show, the others are kind of mumbling something, then Emilio just says "everything." Uli says that it was a dream. Carolyn introduces Georgina and Isaac. The guest judge is risk-taker Cynthia Rowley. She's great.

The show begins with Joshua's gown. There's is this black and white lace brocade bodice with long sleeves and a low-cut back. The lace fades into that floral pattern, which is a floor length skirt. OK. So, I've spent a little bit of time looking at this dress. At first, I was like, no, abandon ship. Now, I'm like, maybe I'll play a little shuffleboard. It's really interesting. I think maybe it could have used some crinoline or something beneath the skirt, because the one thing I don't like is that it seems a little heavy. The skirt seems like it's pulling down the bodice. But, the clash of fabrics? I'm not sure. It's probably not a good sign that it took me this long to be able to enjoy it. Joshua thinks that it is very elegant. Then, he repeats that bit about it having the inspiration of couture.

is Anthony Ryan's gown. It's all black with long sleeves and a high neck. We're seeing a lot of sleeves today, I guess. On the hips, the fabric changes to this black lined fabric that is gorgeous and is deceptively slimming. Anthony Ryan also feels that this dress is very couture inspired. He is correct when noting that you are able to see the sensuality of the model's body almost because of the fact that she is completely covered.

Uli's gown is up now. It's this really interesting gold leaf-like fabric at the center of the bodice up and around the neck in a halter style. There is nude fabric around the center, which gives it a sculptural feel. The skirt is a lace fabric with a nude underliner. The back is the same, with a strip of the gold fabric up the middle. There's a black line of a zipper down the back. I don't hate this. She doesn't seem particularly confident though.

| Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2013

Finally, Emilio's gown walks the runway. It's a slightly high-waisted, floor-length gown with long sleeves. The shoulders are kind of pronounced, which is cool. Emilio was right about one thing (well, he was actually right about a lot), this fabric is so special. It's really gorgeous. The skirt is very full and dramatic. The waist could maybe have been a little more fitted, but there is something sort of chic about the looseness of it. He thinks it's the most couture of all of the dresses that were shown.

After the show, Carolyn asks for all of the models to return. She asks Emilio how he felt about Paris. He says that he was very inspired by the show and mentions that, while there was a lot of transparent fabrics, there was a lot of covering up -- almost austerity. Isaac wants to feel the fabric. He finds it very delicate, though it looks very heavy. Cynthia runs to feel it too and notices that it's firm but light. Isaac loves so much about the dress -- the waist, the shoulders, the sleeves. He does wonder if it might look better just a little shorter, with just a hint of ankle showing. Georgina remembers back to the last challenge when they gave him grief over his craftsmanship. In contrast, she finds this beautifully executed and elegant. Cynthia thinks that this dress is beautiful in its simplicity. Carolyn says she feels like she is in fantasyland with this dress.

Anthony Ryan explains that he really appreciated Valentino's simplistic approach to emphasizing the female form. Georgina thinks that he did an expert job of lining his dress. Wait, there's no liner? Well, she thinks it's even better now. Isaac loves the silhouette. He finds it sexy in a new way. Carolyn thinks that it's simply elegant, but she wishes that the dress breathed a little more.

Uli says that she was inspired by the idea of couture being a dream. Cynthia thinks that her dress is really interesting, but she doesn't like the liner. She feels like you're seeing something that you shouldn't see. Georgina agrees and thinks that she should have made some shorts instead of the liner. Carolyn doesn't like the zipper in the back. Isaac loves the dress but doesn't think that it's couture. He says that he sees this dress all of the time.

Isaac tells Josh that couture is an experiment that sometimes doesn't work. He doesn't think that the fabrics mesh. Georgina likes the idea of the mix, but doesn't think the scale of the floral print is correct. She thinks it should be larger. Carolyn likes the back, but she thinks the shape of the skirt is off. She's not sure that this is the way that it's supposed to look, but she thinks it's a brave combination.

| Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.10.2013

The judges confer. Cynthia thinks that the work they've seen is over the top and she can't even believe that it made it onto TV. They thought that Emilio's dress was very effective but Georgina mentions that it seems to be missing a little something. Isaac loved that Anthony Ryan's dress was so quiet, which he finds scandalous. Cynthia thinks that it was scary and pretty. Georgina would have changed the shoulder but she thinks that he really inserted his own vision into the dress. Isaac reiterates that Uli's dress was not couture. They all hate the liner. Cynthia thinks that there are too many ideas in the dress. Isaac liked Joshua's idea, but it wasn't executed well.

Everyone returns to the stage. The winner of the challenge is Anthony Ryan! He and his hair leave the runway. Emilio is also safe. That leaves us with Uli and Josh. AND, there's another challenge. They are going to have an hour and their leftover materials from this challenge to drastically remake their looks. Uli says that this is her worst nightmare. And, they have to do it on the runway. This is terrifying. Josh interviews that this will be no problem for Uli, because her dress was scraps of fabric in the first place. He's so sweet. Uli says this is like The Hunger Games, where you have to kill your friend to survive.

They begin and there's a timer near the runway. They really go for it. When time is up, Uli rushes to Joshua and hugs him. The judges come back and we see the two looks. Josh shortened his skirt and turned the bodice around, making it much more low-cut. Uli used her nude underliner to make a sort of sarong dress with a little black jacket. Georgina says that this challenge was supposed to help them think of a winner, but it hasn't helped at all because both dresses look great. She tells Josh that his dress looks so much lighter and the blend of fabrics much more intuitive. Georgina loves Uli's dress as well. She says that she would wear the jacket herself. Cynthia thinks that her dress is a big "eff you" to the judges because she used the underliner, which they all hated before. Isaac finds it influential. He thinks there are problems with both looks and jokes about sending them away for another challenge.

It's time. Carolyn makes all of the judges write their choice on a card. Backstage, Anthony Ryan and Emilio are wondering what the hell is taking so long. That's funny! They have no idea there was an extra challenge. Carolyn tells Uli that she is...in! Sorry Joshua. Yay, Uli! She interviews that she wanted to hug Josh but she knows that he is dying. She says that the moment is bittersweet. I love her so much. They go backstage and are surprised to see the others there. They are shocked to hear that there was an extra challenge. Josh tells us that he's proud of his work on the show. Also, much like the others, this is apparently not the last we will see of him and he suggests that we keep our eyes peeled. Will do.

By Jeff Long | Season AS2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 2013.01.10

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