Previously: Heidi toddled through a description of the competition and what the winning designer will away from the show. Kara Saun's model, Morgan, was late for the challenge and had a meltdown, while Kara Saun kept it together. Rough moments were had by Mario, Wendy, and Starr. Daniel Franco was gloriously ushered out of our lives. At least for now. Roll the credits.
It's 7:30 AM in the Atlas apartments, where we see Vanessa waking up on a couch, Jay grabbing a cigarette, and Robert working out. Jay and Mario discuss the fact that they don't care that Daniel was eliminated. "He always had jazz fingers," said Mario, and demonstrates. Mario's pretty funny. He and Jay are getting along really well.
Starr is forlornly lying on her bed, waiting to die. Someone on the forum said it best: Starr is totally Wednesday Addams. Odd, considering her designs all have happy strawberries and stuff like that on them. She speaks in an interview about how much she loves fashion design and how happy it makes her, all while not cracking even a hint of a smile. Starr seems like one of those people who is constantly second-guessing herself. She probably never wanted to be a lawyer but doubted that she could make a living as a designer.
Austin -- who is described here as a "theater/film costume designer" -- is relieved that he is immune this week. He makes air quotes when he says "immune, as they call it," which I appreciate. I don't like it when contestants on reality shows use words like "immune" and "alliance" and "reveal" and whatnot without acknowledging that the primary use of those words takes place mostly on said shows. It just seems really disingenuous and it embarrasses me a little. Austin, though he is "immune," still wants to win the challenge. He is wearing a lovely black and white kimono and ironing his pants.
At the runway at Parsons, Heidi tells the contestants about their challenge. They will be using Project Runway's official fabric, cotton. Their inspiration is the word "envy."
When it's time for the contestants each to choose a model, all of the girls from the week are brought onstage. Heidi explains that, each week, as each designer is eliminated, a model will be eliminated. The model who survives until the end will get a fashion spread in Elle. Heidi doesn't say it, but I'm assuming that the winning model will be modeling the designs of the winning designer in the Elle spread. This is a pretty good idea. It gives an incentive for girls like Morgan not to fuck everything up. Which brings us to Kara Saun, who says in an interview that it is getting "more and more important" for Heidi to call your name first for the model-choosing. This must be a later interview, because they have only chosen models once. How could there be multiple "more"s in importance? Anyway, Kara Saun says that she would never choose Morgan again, because she was three hours late for the last challenge. We see a flashback of Tim Gunn scolding Morgan. Stupid Morgan.
Apparently, immunity in the challenge also grants you first choice of a model. After Austin chooses Martinique, Heidi starts pulling large red buttons out of a bag. The buttons have the contestants' names on them. We see Morgan looking very uncomfortable on the runway, and hear her say in a voice-over that the designers probably won't want to work with her because she was late. At least she is not acting like it's the whole world's fault and not hers. That must have helped her karma a little bit, because Vanessa chooses her. The designers choose their models, and one girl, Mary, remains. She is eliminated. Heidi still has to tell her she's "out" -- just to rub it in a little bit. I feel a tiny bit thrilled, until I see Mary backstage. She is such a good sport, and the other models seem really sad to see her go. Good luck Mary!
Heidi wishes the contestants luck, and they are on their way.
In the Project Runway Workshop, a giant bolt of cotton jersey is wrapped around all of the pillars and drawing tables. The silver fox, Tim Gunn, tells them that the cotton is their blank canvas. They need to be creative and convey "envy." Then he introduces Linda DeFranco, director of trend forecasting at Cotton Incorporated. Linda is lovely, sweet, and seemingly pointless in her appearance on the show. My only guess is that she won an appearance on the show at the Cotton Christmas Party the year. Linda tells the designers that cotton is great because it can be dyed. And, that's all. She wishes them luck and is off. Even Tim seems mystified by her lack of purpose. She's like the Tori and Randy Spelling of Cotton Inc. (Conversely, Tori and Randy Spelling are the cotton of Spelling Productions.)
Wendy leads the cutting of the cotton jersey. We see Mario and Jay, in separate interviews, saying that Wendy is calm and maternal. We see her ration the cotton according to who has short versus long dresses. She seems helpful. Then, in an interview, she reveals that every move she makes is strategic: "I know that exploiting my role as a mother is kind of evil, truly." She doesn't care, though, because she wants it all! And nothing is going to stop her! Thus, we are introduced to one of the greatest villains in TV history. Wendy "Leave Her to Heaven" Pepper.
Later, before Tim Gunn takes the designers to shop for supplies, he tells them that they will have until midnight that night (as well as a couple of hours the following day) to finish their designs. Everyone seems frantic. Once again, they get $50 apiece for supplies. This time, they go to an actual fabric store.
Alexandra says in an interview that her goal in the competition is "to do the best that I can." That girl's an open book, huh? Nora, however, is looking for respect from "the fashion world of the future." Everyone buys their supplies (lots of dye is purchased), and then they are back to the Workshop to get to work.
Alexandra says that dyeing the cotton is really difficult, and it does look like some people are having problems. Starr, for one, ruins an entire wall's paint job by splashing it with dye. Vanessa and Robert have this weird argument that I'm not sure I understand. Everyone is dyeing their fabric in plastic boxes (like the kind you used to hold stuff under your bed at college), and Robert has his resting on the sink. I guess it is the only sink, because Vanessa demands that he move it. He just kind of rambles on unintelligibly and walks off as Vanessa looks really pissed. It was that unclear. I'm sorry.
Kara Saun says in an interview that people are getting "paranoid and delusional." Then, we are witness to Kevin looking frantically around his workspace. He can't find his dye. Then, Kevin says in an interview that he asked Jay if he'd seen Kevin's dye and "[Jay] just blew [Kevin] off." Not to be blown, Kevin is on Jay like white on rice. We don't really hear anything that Kevin says, but we get an earful from Jay, who is plenty peeved that he is being asked to prove his innocence. Finally, he shows Kevin his own fabric, which is being dyed, and offers, "If I used your black dye, my stuff would be black right now. Not purple. It is impossible for me to have stolen your dye, you [bleep]ing bitch." Then, in an interview, Jay says, "I did not take the bitch's dye. That's fo sho." Excellent. Commercial break.
We're back, and Kevin still cannot find his dye. Mario and Jay are smoking outside, and Mario mentions that people's true selves show when they are under pressure. Jay says in voice-over that he and Mario have become really close. Then, as they are walking back into Parsons, Mario says, "After you, bitch." Precious moments. Inside, Jay is feeling really uncomfortable because he's a person of interest in the case of the missing dye. In an interview, once again wearing the white mink stole and Björk buns, Jay says, "I am not a thief, and I am not a stealer; but I want to be one, and I want to play one on TV." I think he's just talking image and not action. Finally, Wendy Pepper finds Kevin's dye. Since no one but the interview crew knows that Wendy Pepper is evil, no one suspects her of hiding the dye. I wonder if she did. We see Jay and Mario exchange grins after the dye is found. Also, Kevin lamely apologizes to Jay, who replies, "You're an asswipe."
Vanessa says that she really wanted to go deeper, in terms of creativity, with this challenge. So, she's making a maternity dress. That's a pretty clever idea, and it tells a lot about her as a person. None of the other designs have been shown yet, but I can't imagine that anyone will think of an idea much more human than pregnancy as a manifestation of envy. She adds in her interview that she has the goods to be one of America's top designers. Then, you might want to remove "LONDON" from the door of your boutique in Houston, Texas.
Austin based his design on the evil queen in the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He says, "I think there is a little evil queen in all of us." No comment. His dress is going to be long and severe.
Nora's dress is, in her words, abstract. She is designing a dress with cut-outs over areas on a woman's body that might be envied. That's a pretty good idea, especially since you know an envy-inducing model will be wearing the dress. She likes the design because it is subtle and "gets the point across without having to write 'envy' across the chest."
I don't think Nora was trying to slam Jay, but his design has writing all over it. He says he was inspired by the models, and by all the criticism that they endure. "My agent told me I had to lose a 16th of an inch on my hip" is an example of one of the criticisms the models have received. His design will be "a walking commentary for how these girls feel about themselves." He should attach an alarm clock to the neck.
Mario's dress is white and short. And, like the one he designed last week, it is very simple. Mario, remember, does not compromise his art. If his art tells him to make an extra-large tube top, while his competitors are making social commentaries and literary allusions, then that's just the way it has to be. He CANNOT compromise that. He says that he doesn't like to overthink things, and that some people take fashion too seriously. Methinks Mario had a bong hit too many this morning.
Wendy says in an interview that she has a lot of problems with envy. Nora says in an interview that Wendy told her that she thinks of Nora when she thinks of envy. Also, Wendy tells Nora that she has so many chances ahead of her and that this is Wendy's last chance. That's kind of creepy. This, to me, is an example of what I call the Wendy Pepper Dichotomy. She's totally calculated and manipulative, like she was with Nora. At the same time, in her interview, she was so self-aware and raw. It takes a lot to be honest about your shortcomings, and she seems to be doing it in a healthy way. She is listening to a portable CD player. I'm not sure why, but it makes me sad that she doesn't have an MP3 player of some kind.
With four hours left in the workday, Mario takes off. We see a scan of his dress. It's cute, but looks incredibly simple. It's a white tube dress, with a large black pin-striped sash. The interest of the sash is on the side, where it's bunched and pinned with a jeweled pendant. There are splashes of red beading on the front of the dress, which are kind of pretty. Looks like blood. I kind of think that whole trend of clothing with gunshots, bleeding models, and bruised street urchins is kind of tired. It's been happening for a few years now. In fact, I think that Hedi Slimane made a jacket with red beading that resembled blood in, like, 2002 or something. Seriously, I think it was the same idea. Nora says in an interview that Mario's dress is one of the first things that they teach you in fashion school. That's pretty damning. With a massive scarf tied around her head, Nora adds in her interview that she doesn't think Mario is going to be in the competition much longer if he doesn't "pump it up."
Tim Gunn enters. He talks with Kara Saun. Her design is inspired by military gear. She mentions in an interview that her father was in the Air Force. The idea behind her garment is that envy is one of the causes of war. That's pretty good, only it seems like she wanted to make this military dress and shoehorned it into the envy idea. It works, though. The dress is very sexy. V-shaped front that looks like it extends to the navel. Light green color. She has added a gold cross necklace and an military-like hat that matches the dress. Tim repeats to everyone the length of time they have. Every time they are told, the designers moan and gnash their teeth like it's brand-new information.
Everyone seems to be having problems with their sewing machines. Austin says in an interview that the problem was everyone's nerves, but maybe cotton jersey just isn't that great a fabric. Nora is kind of spazzing; Kevin mumbles something about negative energy, and Nora snaps, "I cannot chill." Yeah, Kevin. He's got his iPod earphones in anyway, so I don't know why he cares what she's saying. Maybe he could tell Wendy her options in the MP3 player market. Suddenly, Austin sews over his finger. Poor guy. The needle even broke. He handles it like a champ.
We see scenes of everyone working frantically. At one point, Starr screams. Everyone's hands are black from dye. Except for Mario, who's probably onto his third mojito by now.
Later, at the apartment, Wendy is hand-sewing in the laundry room. Vanessa enters, looking really beat. She says in a voice-over that the competition is really getting to her. She makes vague references to the show's being televised. I think she is uncomfortable being filmed all the time. She says to Wendy that she is not having a good time. Wendy asks, "Are you sorry you came on?" Now, my intuition tells me that I'm not going to love Vanessa throughout this entire show, but I really love this moment. She just calmly looks at Wendy, and then says with a faint smile, "Wendy, don't interview me for the camera, please." I'm sure Wendy was probably playing to the cameras, but Vanessa also seemed a little paranoid. I like her for the right and the wrong of it. Not to let this moment be Vanessa's, Wendy Pepper freaks out. First, though, we hear diabolical Wendy say in her interview that she has hatched a plan to lure the other contestants into her web and then end their days. The plan is so despicable, so outrageous, that only a mind festering with disease could be behind it. The plan is as such: she will be nice to them. Evil! She asks Vanessa why she is being mean to Wendy. She escalates, saying that she is always nice and caring to Vanessa: "You say, 'Don't interview me.'" By the way, Wendy said the last part with a British accent, and just like we the television viewing audience did when it aired, Vanessa laughs. Wendy huffs and leaves the laundry room, while Vanessa hides a smirk and looks at the camera like, "Get a load of that?" Vanessa says in her interview that Wendy Pepper considers this her only shot at success in the fashion world. She adds, "If you can't be strong, you cannot be a fashion designer." Oh, really? Wait until Wendy is nice to you. We'll see who's strong then.
In the apartment, Austin and Robert have put on clay facial masks and are having a beer. Though it really shouldn't need explaining, Austin supplied the facial masks and Robert the beer. Robert jokingly tells Austin, who is donning a nightshirt straight out of Peter Pan, that he feels like he is looking into a mirror (because of the mask). Austin goes right into a mirror exercise with Robert that continues to just the other side of comfortable. In an interview, Robert says that he likes Austin a lot.
The day, everyone goes to the workshop. Starr likes her design, but is worried that she won't have enough time to finish it. Her dress is pretty: it's a tight-fitting full-length dress with a slit up one leg, in a bright green color with red trim. As well, it's one-shouldered, and at the top of the shoulder is an interest of reddish...things. Lumps of fabric. They look kind of like tomatoes. In an interview, Starr kind of defines envy, but doesn't explain how that has anything to do with her dress. She says that she looks around at the work of the other designers and envies them. Tim Gunn enters and abruptly tells the designers to bring their designs and get into vans that are waiting outside for them. Everyone is all, "Huh?" Commercials
The contestants are taken to 30 Van Dam, a clothing store. Tim Gunn tells them that fashion is not just about vision, but also about selling your vision. Then, we hear from Paul Berman, the owner of the store. He informs the designers that their designs will be offered in a silent auction today, which he says will be attended by some of New York's "most fashionable" people. Tim tells them that the designer with the garment that receives the highest bid will be the winner of the challenge. However, the judges will still decide who is eliminated. So, someone could get the second highest bid but be eliminated. Yikes.
Everyone dresses mannequins that are hanging from the ceiling. Jay expresses a tiny bit of regret that he has dressed as Jesus on this day. You see, the designers aren't just selling their designs, they are selling them. They have to answer any questions and generally explain their garments, so personality will play a part in how this challenge unfolds. Vanessa has made a maternity dress so, "unless someone walks in who's bloody pregnant, [she's] completely screwed."
We see everyone trying to get attention from the shoppers. Robert and Alexandra are flirting with people. Wendy gets really anxious when she sees them. I imagine she'll make them a sandwich or something to get back at them.
Most of the designers seem to be doing a fairly good job talking with the prospective bidders. We see both Kara Saun and Austin get complimented. Starr is shown explaining her piece to a woman, and we learn that the lumpy things on the shoulders are supposed to be LUMPS. Like tumors! Oh God, Starr. That's not very pretty to talk about, is it? ["Also, Comme Des Garçons five years ago much?" -- Wing Chun] Jay sees some women looking at dresses on the racks behind his mannequin (they are regular retail items, not part of the auction) and marches up to them and demands, "Why are you people looking at this stuff?"
The lady who got the lump talk from Starr really likes Nora's piece. We also see her talking to Jay, who tells her, "Vote for Jesus." When the auction is finished, Wendy tells Austin that this challenge showed off her weaknesses: marketing and self-promotion. If only this had been a fashion espionage mission. Outside, Jay reiterates his wish that he'd not dressed like Jesus. He reasons that people are made very uncomfortable by "religious icons": "They don't want to talk to Jesus."
The day is the runway show. Tim wishes the designers all luck. We see all of the models getting dressed. As well, we see Austin doing a little makeup work on himself.
On the runway, Heidi replays last week's spiel about being in or out. She reminds us that Austin is safe this week. She introduces the judges: Nina Garcia from Elle, Paul Berman, and Constance White, the style director for eBay. I guess eBay has diversified, because I'm not seeing the need for a style director at an internet auction place. Does she make phone calls to random people saying, "Fur is in this season. Sell your coat"? She's really pretty, though. The designers will be judged on originality, wearability, and concept. And the show begins.
Robert's piece is first, and it's hot. It's a super-tailored pant suit, in a rust color with orange accents. The pants are patterned in an exaggerated pin-stripe, and the top is low-cut with lapels. It looks absolutely gorgeous on the model, Melissa. It's practically painted on her. She has a scarf tied around her neck to resemble a man's neck tie, and is carrying a cigar. Robert himself, however, has chosen to wear his hair in cornrows today. He looks like Juliette Lewis. No.
Kevin's outfit is . It looks like a black sack with the shoulder cut out. The model's legs are shown to great advantage, to which he alludes in a voice-over as the connection to the "envy" theme. I guess. There's some intricate beading and stuff near the shoulder and the bottom, but it doesn't seem all that wearable.
, is Wendy Pepper's dress. The model is wearing a large mask adorned with peacock feathers, possibly in an attempt to make the viewer totally miss her gross dress. It looks like a tie-dyed nightgown, and who needs one of those? Wendy explains in an interview that she wanted the dress to "exude" envy. She says that a long gold rope that is on the dress is supposed to be a snake, and that "envy always bites you on the ass." It's a shame that Dale Carnegie courses aren't part of the winning package on this show, because if Wendy wins, she is going to need some help making friends and influencing people.
is Jay's piece. It's a really punk-y jumpsuit. It's all black and white with lots of shredded fabric. It looks really cool. The writing on it is not totally readable from afar, so its coolness goes beyond what is written on it. Jay says in an interview that he just did whatever he wanted.
Austin's dress is . It's a very long dress with no sleeves, dark purple with a green heart over the bust of the gown. It's really beautiful. The dye job looks a little bit amateurish, but the dress is made of cotton. The fabric has its limitations. ["But...it's the fabric of our lives!" -- Wing Chun]
Kara Saun's dress is . It's beautiful. The color is gorgeous. It hints at being militaristic, but has hints of gold as well. The bodice is sheer, and the skirt is multi-layered. The back is mainly cut out.
Vanessa's maternity gown is . Morgan is modeling it. Whoever dressed her must never have seen a pregnant person before, because she's stuffed from crotch to neck. It's like she's giving birth to a bobsled.
Now Nora's model enters the runway. The dress looks a lot less provocative than it did in description or on the mannequin. It's still pretty, though -- just a little boring. The model has some cotton strips loosely tied around her wrists, probably in an "envy is bondage" sort of metaphorical way. Because her hands are held together, though, it looks like she is holding a bouquet, thus making her dress seem like a wedding dress. It seems cooler in that context. Nora says in an interview that she thinks she might win the challenge.
Alexandra's dress is , and it is pretty. It's a dark green floor-length gown with a gold leaf halter bust. There is pleating along the whole dress, and it looks very pretty. Alexandra says that her inspiration was Venus, the Goddess of Beauty. And the color is green for envy.
Starr's model comes out . She has beautiful 1940s hair and makeup, which is perfect for the dress. The dress, however, does not look that great. It's not fitted very well; there's a weird bunching happening on the sides.
is Mario's model. She comes out all punk rock and flips the bird. Nina Garcia shakes her head, which Mario notices.
It's time for the judging. Mario, Starr, Nora, Kara, Wendy, and Robert have their names called. The others leave. So, these are the best and worst of today. The models join the designers. Nina asks Mario what he was doing with his gown. He basically just says that models are nasty. The red beading represents blood: "They were envious of her beauty and...they killed her." Work on the storytelling, Mario. Nina seems unimpressed.
Constance asks Robert what his inspiration was, and he says, "Penis envy." Which kind of rocks, because it's so thematically present in his design. But, then he goes on about how his mother had huge balls and he grew up around women, etc. I guess he didn't want to seem chauvinistic. Again, as I said in the last recap: the man loves the female figure. Jesus, the top on this suit is just so sweetly tailored. Paul also likes the cut of the suit, which he expresses with a deadpan delivery.
Nina asks Wendy about her piece. Well, she acts like she's asking a question, but, really, she's just telling Wendy that it sucks. She says it looks unfinished. As well, she reminds Wendy that her design for last week (Life Savers and string) was "bare." Wendy...oh my god, Wendy Pepper has so much makeup on, she could join the cast of Wicked. She has base three shades redder than her skin, her lipstick is fire-engine red, and she has green eye shadow caked on. It's a train wreck, people. Disaster. She goes on about how her model is the goddess of envy and spreads envy wherever she goes. She sounds like she's telling a bedtime story to her daughter. Constance nails her by saying that she "talks a good game," but that Constance doesn't see it in the clothes. Connie's being generous, because I just heard Wendy talking and that wasn't good game. Nina goes on to (so much makeup on Wendy. Who let her do this?) say that Wendy's ideas are not well-executed. You are in trouble, Wendy Pepper. Who are you going to be nice to now?
Starr is asked to describe her dress. She talks about how envy can be like a cancer, hence the tumors. Paul -- again, with no hint of any emotion, save "Have Engine Checked" -- asks whether Starr thought that describing a dress about cancer might be difficult. And, pitiful Starr just nods. C'mon, that's awesome! She just nods. There is something tragic about her that makes me hysterical. I think I can laugh because it's obvious she will land on her feet in the end. That nod was naked, though. Starr's model looks like she wants to give her a hug. Nina reminds Starr that dresses are supposed to beautiful.
Kara describes her dress for Nina. Nina seems to like it.
Nora is asked about her dress. Constance says, "The dress is as simplistic as your explanation." Constance seems offended by the dress. Nina, as well, tells Nora that she was expecting more. The designers leave the runway, while the judges deliberate.
Nina says that she could feel the emotion in Starr's dress, but Heidi says, "It did look like cancer." She says this with a giggle, and Nina agrees. Nina says that Wendy's dress was unacceptable. She says "unacceptable" twice. She remembers last week's candy bikini again. Damn, she is not forgetting that ever! Backstage, we see Wendy (or the drag queen who has taken her place) telling Austin that the judges hated her designs both this week and last. The judges think Nora's design lacked personality. She is practically hyperventilating backstage. As well, Mario's design seemed uninventive. Heidi HATES it, though. I've never seen so much life in her. She says, "The dress was not sexy!" I think that's probably the worst thing you can do, in Heidi's book: make a dress that's not sexy. Backstage, Mario and Jay discuss what will happen if he is eliminated. Jay ponders, "Did you shave your legs?" Heidi reveals to the judges the high and low bids in the auction. Nina says that they are not surprised.
It's time for the elimination. Robert is "in." Starr is "in." The winner of the auction is Kara Saun; $405 was the winning bid. Not bad. Wow, Starr was one of the best then. Nora is "in." She cries backstage. Jay says, "My bowels are churning." Evocative. Wendy is told that she sucks. But, so does Mario. He received the lowest bid at the auction. Wendy is "in." Mario goes backstage. He says in an interview that this has been a positive experience. Jay cries really really hard. It's totally touching. Jay says in an interview that he hadn't cried that hard in decades. I guess he just didn't see Forrest Gump, then, did he? Then, Tim Gunn comes in and tells Mario that he has to clean up his space. Everyone is sad to see Mario go, Tim Gunn included -- I think. Mario's goodbye interview is some rote speech about being true to yourself. I really like his rapport with Jay, so I'm a little sad to see him go.
week: Those "bitchy moments" that Jay was wishing for appear. Jay and Robert face off, as do Starr and Kevin. And, it looks like Starr turns into some sort of pyromaniac.