Our final three -- Chloe, Daniel Vosovic, and Santino -- are sent home to work on their Fashion Week collections. Tim Gunn visits them to check on their progress. He's kind of a proxy therapist for them, as we are treated to stories of struggle for each of the designers.
And Santino? He has a really touching story. Dude's been through a lot. Thank God for male semi-supermodel of the nineties, Tony Ward. That was Tony Ward, right? Madonna's ex-boyfriend Tony Ward? Like, one of the mermen from the Cherish video and Justify My Love video Tony Ward? I've only watched it three times and he was bearded, but I'm pretty sure that Tony Ward is Santino's best friend and helped him out during some pretty rough times. His generosity guarantees Project Runway stripping from another show the title of "Gayest Show Ever."
Once in New York, Tim's responses to the designers' collection leads us to believe that Santino is the frontrunner (and that Daniel is toast). Then, a post-pregnant and drop-dead Heidi joins Tim to tell the designers that they have another challenge. They have to design one more dress that will be a part of their runway show. To help them, they are allowed to choose one of the eliminated designers as an assistant. Daniel chooses Nick, Santino chooses Andrae, and (warming my heart) Chloe chooses Diana. Andâ¦scene.
This is it, folks. Well, this is the first half of it. The finale is split into two separate episodes this season, which is probably a pretty smart move on the part of Bravo. Finding out who the winner of Project Runway is won't seem any less like an event just because it won't be revealed in a two-hour episode.
The action begins at the runway. Santino, Daniel V., and Chloe are sitting together when Heidi comes out. I know it's redundant for me to say it, but she looks really gorgeous. She's wearing a burgundy satin-y top and just looks the absolute picture of healthy. I know she's working this whole cloverleaf jewelry thing, but I feel like she should front a maternity wear line. At least be the spokesperson for whoever's designs she has been wearing. At this point, to me, she almost seems synonymous with super-chic maternity clothes. The fashion industry is a bitch, though. She probably knows better.
Heidi tells them that the hard part has just begun. It's about time; they seem like they've been bored out of their minds. Finally, some rigor! They will each be designing a twelve-piece line for Fashion Week. Twelve-piece. Mmm, KFC. …I don't even think that's funny. I have no idea why I wrote that. Each of them will be given eight thousand dollars and "the few months" to complete their collections.
It's time for model-choosing, and let's just cut to the chase -- bye, Eden! You were great. Rebecca is going to Fashion Week for Daniel. Chloe has got Grace, and Santino has the lovely Heather. Backstage, Eden gets a hug from Rebecca.
At the Atlas apartments, on the roof, Tim pops a bottle of champs and tells the kids that "this is your last reprieve." He wants them to look at the New York skyline and "take it in." Heidi joins in with some cider. Heidi and Tim agree that the remaining designers are "a good bunch."
, we hear Santino say "Later" and close the door of 35D for, presumably, the last time. Daniel, who is buttoning his shirt and has hair in his eyes, responds with a smile and a shake of his head. Santino interviews with glee, "I made it! I wanna blow out eardrums with how loud I can scream! Woo!" Then, he holds three fingers up to the camera and bends one ("Daniel") and another ("Chloe"). What remains outstretched is his middle finger, remarkably unblurred. I guess his little trick of making it look like a countdown got past the censors. He points at his flipping bird and says, "Santino!"
Daniel kind of sums up Santino (at least the one we've seen) by interviewing, "No matter how much Santino pisses me off, the arrogant prick is extremely talented. I have to say, I'm excited to see what he's going to show at Fashion Week." I wonder if he really means that. Then the camera pans down to Daniel's opened underwear drawer. I feel like a stalker, and that doesn't feel as bad as I was afraid it would.
Chloe is zipping up her Chloe-sized suitcase. She interviews that it "has finally dawned" on her that she is in the final three and she's excited. She and Daniel hug on the street before she gets into a taxi.
As Daniel is stuffing his suitcase into another taxi, we see an interview with him where he says that he is very grateful for the opportunity Project Runway is giving to him.
Cut to five months later. We're in Los Angeles, zooming down a thoroughfare lined with shops. There's not a mannequin in sight. There's a Tim Gunn voice-over announcing that he is going to check on Santino's progress. Tim's driving a hot little red Saturn (thanks, sponsors!).
As Tim knocks on a door, a graphic appears on the screen telling us that there are seven weeks remaining until Fashion Week. Tim giggles as he's waiting for the door to be opened, and it makes me wonder if Santino screamed something from inside. Better yet, I like the idea of Tim being so excited to see Santino that he can't contain himself. It's like Diane Lane on the train home after she did the dirty with the French guy in Unfaithful. Finally, Santino opens the door. With big smiles, they both seem really pleased to see each other. Tim gives him a big hug and says, "Can you believe this?" Santino interviews that he is glad to see Tim. He adds that there was a period when he first got back to Los Angeles when he couldn't believe that he had just done the show. He says that he is renting a house in Hollywood. He has a Virgin Mary bedspread.
Santino shows Tim his collection. He says that his theme is "'40s glamour Hollywood, boudoir, publicity still." He shows a lovely dress with sunburst pleats and very rich, dark colors. From it, Santino says he gets "a rock 'n' roll vibe." Tim points out that Santino is taking risks and he's glad to see that. Santino proceeds to show Tim bits and pieces of his collection. It's looking pretty good. There are a lot of those pleats. Tim seems really excited about what Santino is doing, but Santino says he is "freaking out."
Santino interviews that he has just quit his job as a designer for his friend's label; therefore, he's broke.
Santino interviews that he wants to take Tim to Venice Beach because he has spent a lot of time there. We see them walking and talking. Santino tells Tim that he as moved around a lot in the two years that he has been there. The music is really somber. He interviews that he moved to California from Missouri, alone. Now we're seeing snapshots of Santino as a little kid. He was a cutie. We see a photo of his family, which includes his parents and an older brother. His mom was a schoolteacher and his father was a disabled veteran. It feels weird to classify someone by an injury, but that's how Santino described him.
Santino continues, saying that life in Missouri was hard because he was misunderstood. Maybe adding to his alienation was the fact that his mother is African-American and his father Caucasian. There couldn't have been a whole lot of other families like that in Missouri during the mid-seventies. He has always wanted to be a fashion designer and has given up a lot in order to pursue it. This all feels pretty poignant. Certainly, it confirms that a lot of his nastier behavior probably comes from an insecure place.
Santino tells the cameras that he designed a fashion line a few years back that went bust and left him destitute. Aside from the basic context of the story, there's something really sad about the way he's telling it. You can sort of sense the residual shame he's feeling about the situation. Yep, he tells Tim that he was embarrassed about his position. He adds that, at times like that, you need help.
Back in the interview, Santino tells us that he may seem arrogant, but he deals with a lot of insecurities. "If you think you have something to say about the way I look, or what I do, or what I say, or what my voice sounds like, or any of that? You can't imagine that…I've thought it and I've thought it, you know, ten times more in depth than you have." Funny, he has had someone make fun of the way he talks? That must have been really hard for him. This part is starting to bother me. I feel bad that things have been rough for him; however, we all have an opportunity to learn from the crappy things that have happened to us. Now, I'm not suggesting that Santino dedicate his life to the youth of St. Charles, Missouri or something huge like that. What I am suggesting is that Santino, with his awareness of his own insecurities and how those probably caused and still cause him a lot of pain, have a little fucking empathy. Don't sit in front of a camera and talk shit about arguably the least threatening person in the room (Diana). It's so cheap. It's like the weird kid in school making fun of another weirdo before everyone made fun of him. I can kind of forgive that kid because, well, because he's a kid, not an adult who knows perfectly well how that kind of shit can hurt. Part of me wonders if Santino assumed everyone would be talking major shit about him in their interviews, and if a lot of his smack talk was then a sort of preemptive retaliation. Otherwise, this whole moment is really frustrating.
Santino explains to Tim that, after his fashion line flopped, his friend Tony and his wife invited Santino to live with them. Tim says that their offer to help was a tribute to Santino's character. The sun sets on these two as they continue talking.
Santino takes Tim to his friend Tony's house. This Tony happens to be Tony Ward, who dated Madonna. I…hyperventilating…paper bag. I'm so excited at this development. Suddenly, Santino's bedspread is making a lot more sense. Santino explains that Tony is his best friend and has helped him a lot. They're all sitting in Tony's living room, with Tony's wife and three daughters, eating take-out Chinese food, when Santino tells him that he is going to be showing at Fashion Week. Tony's all, "That's bleep!" for which he apologizes. Then, with maybe the world's most adorable little girl hugging on him, Santino tells Tony and his wife that he would not have been able to do what he has done without their support and friendship. For real, the little girl! She needs to be put in baby jail for the criminally cute. Santino chants, "Olympus Fashion Week!" in a high-pitched voice. The little girls go, "No!" That's kind of funny. What could the little girls possibly have against Fashion Week? Santino says that he is going to keep on shooting for the stars, not just for himself, but also for his friends and loved ones. He will die trying for his dreams, he declares. One more shot of him playing with the little girls. He should just keep one of them with him at all times. They really soften his look.
, Tim visits the travel-weary Daniel Vosovic, who, upon leaving the Atlas Building, had to trek all the way…across town. They're in New York. He visits Daniel with only six weeks before Fashion Week. The holiday wreath on Daniel's door also clues us in a little to the date. Tim and Daniel hug at the door. Daniel got his haircut. It's a little Joyce DeWitt, but I will deal.
Daniel interviews that, with time to spend thinking about his designs, he has lost the doubts that he had during the Project Runway challenges. He feels that his collection is "solid gold." He tells Tim that his theme is to fuse military influence with Japanese culture. The Iwo Jima Collection. Tim seems to like some of Daniel's choices. He gives Daniel this chestnut: "The easy part is steps one through nine out of ten. The hard part is what happens between steps nine and ten." Did he get that shit from The Matrix? My brain just hiccupped. Daniel says that he totally agrees, while I say he's totally lying. Brown-noser. They're talking about all of the small details. They're important. Tim says that he likes Daniel's collection, and that there is an "element of risk" in the work about which Tim is excited. Daniel is thrilled at the news.
The boys go shopping for a jacket for Daniel. Mr. V. explains that designers don't always look their best because they're spending all of their energy on making someone else look good. In a store, Daniel tells Tim that he is looking for a slim blazer to wear at his runway show. "You don't want to call Nick?" snarks Tim. Hey, if you can't say something nice, come sit by me.
Now, we get Daniel's background. Cute family -- mom and dad and an older sister. He grew up in Michigan where it was hard to be an individual. He explains that, in Michigan, to be a designer is to be a "fag." Okay, cutest picture of him with short hair. He looks like a little Dior model right there. I hope it's not a competition, because Daniel is totally losing if there's a sad-story-off. He says that his family is great and has been very supportive of him. He also adds that if you stop worrying about the things in life that you can't control, you have more time to concentrate on being yourself. Pretty wise for a twenty-four-year-old. In the most tear-inducing part of this entire episode, Daniel picks out a really cute blazer. I get really choked up when good clothes and good people find each other. Daniel interviews that he loves his life and "this is just the beginning. Bottom line. This is just the beginning."
In Houston, with five weeks until fashion week, Tim arrives at Chloe's house, this time driving a kicky blue Saturn. She answers the door with much excitement and gives Tim a big hug. Her mother is behind her and very demurely (and very camera-consciously) shakes Tim's hand. She's really cute. Chloe interviews that she is very excited to see Tim because "he's such an amazing person." She gives Tim a tour of the house. First, she shows him a painting of Chloe and her seven sisters. Cute thought, but the painting is seriously nightmare material. All of these floating heads. My mother had a picture of me and my brother reproduced in charcoal when I was like four, and she finally had to put it away because it really freaked my shit out. It was just weird. I'm feeling a similar thing with the floating Dao sisters' heads. Tim is stunned that Chloe has seven sisters. Chloe explains that because there are eight of them, her store in Houston is named Lot 8. There's another, less frightening picture of the Dao sisters that was taken when all of them were in their thirties. Tim comments on their beauty.
Now, Chloe shows Tim a picture of a young girl (maybe four years old) and says that was her when she was in the refugee camp. Before I continue, both Daniel and Santino are lucky the sad story contest doesn't exist. Failed fashion lines and awkward childhoods do not hold a candle to refugee camp. That's hardcore. Apparently, their family tried to escape from Laos in the seventies, but were caught and kept in a prison for families for four years. Finally, they got out and joined Chloe's uncle in Dallas, Texas. There's a picture of all of the girls playing. Chloe interviews (with just a hint of tears) that their family has been very lucky.
Chloe then takes Tim to her workroom. She tells him that she doesn't have a concept for her collection. She prefers to think about the client and what they need as opposed to any particular concept. Things seem kind of incomplete. Tim seems a bit flummoxed. He asks to see her sketches, and she tells him that she doesn't make sketches. Now, Tim's worried. How is the collection happening, he wonders. Organically. She shows him the fabrics she's using, which confuses him even further. "What's in your head?" he implores her. She doesn't know. This seems odd. Chloe always seemed a little ahead of the game during the challenges. I wouldn't expect her to be weirdly unprepared. Chloe says in an interview that she doesn't blame Tim for being concerned about her collection. Tim has his picture taken with the Dao ladies, and then he's off. Chloe acknowledges in an interview that she has a lot of work to do.
With five days remaining before the runway show, the designers start coming back to town (or downtown, in Daniel's case). Daniel says that he started working as soon as he got the money for his collection, and he has yet to stop. He enters a suite in the Westin Hotel. He says that he used to sneak into shows at the Bryant Park tents for Fashion Week, and now people are going to be sneaking into his show. He unwraps a handbag with large wooden handles and says, "Didn't know I designed handbags, did ya? Well, I do." He also says that he wants to keep the bags hidden from Santino because Santino would be "all over" them. I'm not sure what he means. Maybe he would make fun of them? Steal them? Break them? I don't know.
, Chloe arrives. She says that her collection is finished now. She declares that she is passionate. When she sees Daniel, they hug and kiss.
Santino says that he is nervous to come back to New York, because "since the show started airing, Santino Rice is the man you love to hate." He's worried about how Chloe and Daniel are going to react. Apparently, Chloe has talked to the press and expressed that she doesn't like Santino.
Meanwhile, we see Chloe and Daniel lounging together in the hotel bed. Chloe says that she was bothered by some of the stuff that Santino said. She interviews that she is still angry about the runway comment he made about her being a pattern-maker instead of a designer. As she is telling Daniel that Santino's comments still hurt her, Santino enters. The music implies awkwardness.
He sits and they discuss how time has passed since they saw each other last. Santino says that he watched the show and read every "shitty blog." Fucking blogs. Then Santino interviews that he has learned to think twice before talking about people that he doesn't know. Okay, now we're getting somewhere. Chloe calls him on his pattern-maker comment. He kind of insinuates that he didn't mean it the way it sounded, but Chloe notes that his demeanor wasn't contrite during the filming of the show. Daniel acknowledges that Santino got the demon edit on the show, but adds, "You made your bed, so lie in it."
The day, Daniel interviews that the show has been a "sobering experience" for Santino. Then they all travel to the Banana Republic workroom. They start hanging their collections. Daniel interviews that his back was to Santino when they were hanging their stuff, but he wanted to turn around and see if Santino had made a "dildo dress." For the lady on the go, I'm assuming. Chloe says that it was hard to not look at the other designers' collections. Santino, no longer sober, says that Chloe's collection looks like "a couch was coming at ya."
Tim enters, to much fanfare. He has the designers "gather 'round." He starts to look at their collections, starting with Santino's, which Tim loves. He moves on to Chloe. He says that her first piece looks like Balenciaga. She interviews that she didn't leave her workroom for two months. Tim says it was good work.
When he moves to Daniel, we see an interview where Daniel says that he loves his collection and expects Tim to love it as well. He starts showing Tim his stuff, and there's silence. Tim isn't saying anything. Daniel interviews further that he was shocked that Tim wasn't "piddling in his panties" over his stuff. Oh, that's funny. "Panties." He shows Tim his handbags, and Tim says, "It looks like wood shop. It bothers me." Daniel says he wanted that look, and Tim says, "Well, then you got it." Afterwards, Daniel says to Tim that through all of the challenges on the show, this is the least that Tim has had to say about his work. Tim replies, hesitantly, that he is waiting to see how the clothes look on the models. Daniel reiterates that he is happy with the collection. He seems a little miffed. He interviews that he was slightly offended by Tim's lack of enthusiasm.
, the designers go to meet Michael Kors. He tells them that model selection is very important, because, as a designer, you have "twelve minutes to last six months." For these designers, every moment is even more important. He tells them not to settle. Models start arriving and walking for the designers. Chloe says she's looking for "sexy and strong." Daniel is looking for "fresh-faced." Santino is looking for "high energy."
The day, Santino explains that they will have fittings. Shirtless Daniel. Moving on.
Grace, Heather, and Rebecca arrive and hug and kiss their designers. Once Daniel has fitted Rebecca, Tim still doesn't seem to like what he's seeing. Daniel seems really frustrated. Tim asks Daniel to put Rebecca in another design. Santino interviews that he noticed that Daniel was upset about Tim's reaction. Once Rebecca is wearing another design, Tim says that there are a lot of issues with the details. The hem is uneven, and the lining is showing. Santino adds that, if Daniel doesn't recognize that there is something wrong with his collection, he's "worried" about Daniel. At least that's a more diplomatic way of ripping on others.
Tim leaves, and Daniel says, "Tim hates me." , the designers discuss their hair motifs with Nathaniel Hawkins from Tresemme. Grace, Heather, and Rebecca are the templates. They all seem happy with the results.
Back at the workroom, Daniel jokes, "Oh, someone finished all of my stuff." He interviews that he is now nervous, because there is a lot of work to do. Chloe's and Daniel's models arrive for fittings, but Santino's only got no-shows.
The day, the designers look exhausted. Santino says that he can sleep when he's dead as he's rolling a lint remover over his Basquiat t-shirt. There's something really off about that moment, and I kind of love it. Chloe said that she is "designed out" and couldn't possibly design another piece. Daniel says that he is beginning to get nervous.
At the workroom, Tim and no-longer-with-child Heidi Klum Seal arrive. Very seriously, Tim starts describing how they made it through the contestant stage to the finals, and now Fashion Week, with their design and improvisation skills. Chloe, clearly scared, grabs Daniel and Santino around the waists and pulls them to her. As one last challenge, the three of them each have to design another look, and it will have to be shown on the runway. Daniel interviews that he wanted to punch someone. Chloe looks very upset -- she's starting to cry. Santino says he wouldn't be surprised if he had a cardiac arrest or a brain aneurysm. A dental fistula? Yeah, that would have surprised him. But, not the other two things. Chloe interviews that it is impossible for them to design another piece.
It's not over yet. Tim says that they get "an extra set of hands." Suddenly, all of the eliminated designers enter the workroom. Heidi is going to pick the designers' names out of the velvet button bag, and then they will choose one of the eliminated designers to help them. First is Daniel. He chooses Nick, which surprises me. I'd have thought he would've chosen Andrae. is Santino. He chooses, in Tim Gunn tones, Andrae. Andrae calls him a "madman." , Chloe chooses "Miss Diana." Diana seems really thrilled, and runs and hugs Chloe. Kara looks a little pissed that she didn't get chosen. Holy shit, John Wade lost a lot of weight.
Tim gives them thirty minutes to design the look. Then they will shop. Chloe is over Mood. She is in no mood for Mood. Oh my God -- all of them are FRIED. Santino seems like he doesn't even want to talk. Chloe says, "I have been saying since day one that I couldn't design another piece if my life depended on it. And, ironically, my life depends on it!" That's a great line.
Daniel says he is looking for whimsy in his design. Nick interviews that they are trying to make something easy that will fit into the collection. Chloe and Diana decide on a baby-doll dress. Diana interviews that she is Chloe's assistant and just wants to help. Santino seems stumped. Andrae is running ideas past him to see if anything sticks. When they go to Mood, Santino still doesn't know what he wants to make. At Mood, they have $250 to spend. Tim tries to discourage Chloe from buying gold fabric. Andrae suggests to Santino that they make a coat, and it seemed for a second like a light-bulb moment, but Santino says, "I can't take it anymore." Santino interviews that the new look will be like "trying to disguise a piece of shit amongst a bunch of diamonds." There's a reason that Prince sang "Diamonds and Pearls" instead of "Diamonds and Poos." It's just not pretty the other way. Tim tells Santino to not over think the challenge. I feel really bad for him. Fried, people. He can hardly formulate a sentence. He quite evocatively describes his mood as a scene from a movie where someone looks into the sky and just screams. Then, we're treated to Santino's primal scream as the camera pulls farther and farther back over the New York skyline. I don't even think it's amplified.