It appears that the producers of Project Runway are spending more time thinking up challenges than thinking up bullshit drama. This is seriously one of the coolest challenges to date. Heidi brings out the models for the designers to choose and all of them have different extreme hairstyles. Heidi explains that they will be creating an avant-garde design based on the hairstyle of their model. Awesome. Then, Tim tells them that they will be paired into teams. The teams are Kit and Ricky, Sweet P and Rami, Jillian and Victorya, and Christian and Chris (aka Team Fierce).
Sweet P and Rami have a really hard time working together as Rami starts to reveal the Type A-est of TypeA personalities. Victorya and Jillian are masterful designers but right away are behind on execution due to their time management problems. Christian and Chris are a team made in Xanadu-- they know exactly where they are going from the moment everything begins. Ricky and Kit sail along loving their design and thankfully not crying.
After a day of work, Tim springs another element of the challenge onto them. They have to create an additional look, one that is a ready-to-wear version of their avant-garde piece.
Sweet P and Rami start fighting because Rami doesn't seem to trust anyone, or maybe it's just Sweet P. Victorya and Jillian are seriously, painfully pushed to the last minute. They almost don't even BEGIN their ready-to-wear look. In the end, Victorya and Jillian pull it out with an awesome look that includes one of the greatest jackets in Project Runway history. Seriously, I'm on the fence about Jillian being human and all, but this jacket is freaking amazing. Christian and Chris win the challenge (and Christian wins immunity because he was team leader) with their amazingly intricate and forward piece.
Ridiculously, Ricky remains for another week. Kit goes home. Sure, their dress was shabby and amateurish, but did it have to be Kit? What is Ricky holding over these people's heads?
Previously: Ricky's deal with the devil was finalized and Kevin was sent home for making a prom dress that wasn't great, but it wasn't Ricky. Victorya won her second challenge. Christian almost got eliminated because his teenaged client dominated him.
It's rise and shine time at the New Gotham apartments, and everyone is getting ready. Rami asks Christian how he felt about the challenge. Christian says, "What? My client? Who almost got me eliminated?" Christian interviews that he had a lot of trouble with his design, but he still doesn't think he should have been in the bottom two. His wasn't that cute, but others were not cute. That's actually probably true.
Ricky says that the prom dress challenge taught him that he still has a lot to learn. Send the Understatement of the Century Committee home, we have a winner.
At Parsons, Heidi comes onstage with the button bag. She brings out the models and they all have super-funky hairstyles. Heidi tells them that they will be creating an avant-garde design inspired by the hairstyle of their models. Kit looks disturbed by the mention of avant-garde, but maybe she just remembered that she left the coffee pot on at the apartment. Wow, this could be a really cool challenge. It's asking them to really create something new. Granted, designers could just choose the hair that's closest to their style, but I like thinking of the possibilities. Heidi says that this is an opportunity for the designers to push themselves to create something conceptual and artistic. Agreed, Heidi.
Since the models weren't used in the last challenge, two of them will be eliminated in this choosing. As someone has mentioned on the forum, the whole bit about this being a competition for the models as well as the designers is kind of a load of crap. When you are not even appearing in half of the challenges, there's not much that you can do to insure your spot.
Since Victorya won the last challenge, she gets to choose models first. She stays with Jacqueline, who has this weird manufactured mohawk/banana clip look. Kit is chosen and she stays with Marie, who has this old-style look-- smooth on top, super full and curly at the ends. Sweet P disses Katie, her old model, for Lea who has a giant mane of kinky, curly hair. She interviews that she felt bad, but Katie's hair was very flat and greasy. I totally agree with her. Plus, everyone wants a piece of Lea. I like seeing that trend continued. Jillian stays with Lauren, who has a sort of pulled back Brigitte Bardot look. Chris stays with Marcia, who has a giant bun of a braid. It looks like a hair pastry. It's much less disgusting than I described it; pretty, even. Marcia picks Sam, who has a flat wave on her crown, then her hair is frizzed and everywhere. These hairdos are certainly inspiring. Remind me to have Rhonda and Frances groomed. Christian picks Lisa, who has really straight bangs and curly, full ends. Christian interviews that she is "so high fashion." I'm starting to love that little twerp. I can't help myself. Ricky is last to choose and he picks Amanda, who has a humongo actual Brigitte Bardot do going on. That means that Katie and Aviva are going home. Bye girls. At least you get to wash that crap out of your hair now. Sweet P seems sad to see Katie go.
Heidi sends the designers to Tim in the workroom. There, he reiterates the challenge as stated by Heidi. He adds that the design doesn't have to practical or particularly wearable. Hey, I could design for this challenge. Because this is such an ambitious challenge, they will be working in teams of two. Tim will be drawing names to determine the teams. Kit and Ricky are the first team. Team 2 is Sweet P and Rami. Sweet P is excited about this. Team 3 is Chris and Christian. Holy crap. When you heard that it didn't have to be "practical or particularly wearable" what two names did you think of? If they don't knock this shit out of the park, then I don't know unpractical and unwearable. Christian interviews that since all Chris does is costumes and weird shit, he's sure to come up with something fabulous. True, but it sounds like he doesn't have much respect for Chris. That means the final team is Jillian and Victorya. They have 30 minutes to choose one model from each team to serve as hair inspiration. They will get $300 and two days to work. Each team must choose a leader. Can we talk about this for a minute? I almost feel like they should provide some guidelines for what a team leader is supposed to do, because, as it stands, the title really just means your shit gets kicked off the show if your team loses. If you succeed according to the guidelines, but your design still ends up in the bottom, maybe it doesn't mean automatic elimination of the leader.
Tim sends in the models. Chris asks Christian if he wants to be team leader, since he worked at Alexander McQueen. Christian says he's scared and doesn't want to be eliminated. Chris reminds him that it has happened to him. It's actually remarkable that Chris has lasted as long as he has since returning. It goes to show that one bad dress, and your fate is sealed. Who knows what great stuff Simone could have done if she just hadn't made that one crappy dress, which I still don't think was all that crappy. Also, did you know that Christian worked at Alexander McQueen? That's a little awesome. And kind of famous. Christian interviews that he's nervous about being leader because he doesn't want to be eliminated, but he feels very strongly about this challenge. They choose Marcia as their model because Chris finds her hair more glamorous. Christian suggests to Chris that they create their dress with thousands of circles of organza. He sounds incredibly excited about it. It makes me pause for a minute and think about how really cool this show is. Imagine if you had this thing that you did and you got to go balls out and show everyone how good you were? Not to sound high-fallutin, but there is the occasion when we really see some of these guys create art. It remains to be seen, but the sound in Christian's voice was that of someone who was inspired.
Ricky has his models together and they decide that Marie's hair is easier to work with. Ricky says to Amanda, "Sorry girl. Have a seat." Now, I already hate Ricky because he's just so embarrassingly emotional and...not a very good designer, but his remark right there irritates me SO MUCH. I've watched it like six times now. It's like he really needed her to feel inferior or something. Granted, we just see a snippet of all this stuff, but what else have I got to describe? I hate him. Kit interviews that, since Marie's hair looks like a bird's nest, they will base their design on the idea of nesting. She and Ricky seem to be working well together. She will be team leader since they are working on what is essentially her concept.
Sweet P interviews that they are choosing Sam as their model. Also, Rami is the team leader. Sweet P explains that her mind doesn't really go towards the avant-garde. I find that actually a little shocking. Wouldn't it be crazy if Sweet P got all those tattoos to conform? I realize there are more types of person than avant-garde or conformist, but it's still surprising to me that she doesn't consider herself a little fringy. Rami sketches a dress that has an asymmetrical bodice just like every other design he's made. He interviews that their concept is "hard and soft" which works with the two contrasting styles that are happening in Sam's hair. So, he'll have curvy lines, then free-flowing fabric, like Sam's hair. It sounds like Rami picked a model that worked with what he already does.
Jillian interviews that there was no "chance in hell" that either she or Victorya would cede leadership of their team freely. That's amazing. Most people are just trying to evade elimination. I think both of these ladies are kind of shrill and humorless, but I stand in great admiration of them for that alone. They're using Jacqueline as their model. They flip a coin and Victorya is the leader. Jillian says TO VICTORYA that she's fine with that, but uncomfortable about their story not being solidified. You see? It's okay to be confrontational as long as there is some sort of real objective. I don't know why I turned into Dr. Phil for this paragraph.
Tim takes the gang to Mood. Mark my words, I've decided to learn how to sew just so I can have a reason to go to Mood. I just WANT to! Does anybody feel me? I know you do. Christian and Chris realize that they need a ton of fabric for their design. Cool. 50 yards of organza, which totally means nothing to me, but it will once I learn to sew.
Back at the workroom, Kit says to Ricky that she doesn't want their design to look like Little House On The Prairie. Hmm. Well, first I would say, "Nelly Olsen or Laura?" Because, Nelly's fine. She was fancy. But I don't think that's what she's seeing. This worries me, because she should have seen this in her sketch or before she left Mood. Right? Ricky, while working, says that the dress is "some serious drama. It's the girl in me and the bitch in you." Seriously, that stupid fucking joke is so 1995 I could chew up my goddamn Oasis CD and vomit it on Ricky and his entire hat collection. Yes, Ricky, there's a girl in you. Enjoy her. But every girl doesn't like being called a bitch. Maybe Kit does...but I doubt it. Sorry, he could cure cancer right now and I'd probably be totally offended.
Christian tells Chris that, if he were a diva, his name would be "Ferosh." Their design is going to have a giant neckpiece and Chris says that he's trying to build a cell phone tower, so they can call out. Sweet P asks if it can take them to Elisa's planet, and Chris says Elisa left him the instructions. Aw, don't you miss Elisa?
Jillian and Victorya are so serious. Jillian is making a trench coat, and she will attempt to mimic the mohawk look of their model on the back of the coat. Victorya is making the shirt and pants for the outfit. Jillian interviews that she and Victorya have problems with time management, so she's worried about their progress.
Rami tells Sweet P what to do. He interviews that he's working on the bodice, because he's good at that stuff. He has asked Sweet P to make a pair of trousers, because she has assured him that she can do it. Now, I totally understand that all of these guys are gunning for the big time and it's about winning, but how freaking condescending was that? Eh, Rami's been a turn-off for a few episodes now. He just doesn't seem to know how to be very friendly, at least from what we've seen. You see tiny moments of him laughing in the apartment, but this sort of stuff is the majority of opinion-shaping material we get from Rami.
Near the end of the day, Kit asks Ricky to do something and he has to bone a corset first and they giggle because they are 12. I'd be right with them. Rami is ALL OVER Sweet P with instructions. He interviews that he is being slowed down by her questions. We see them, in the sewing room, and he tells her that the pants should be finished and she assures him that they almost are. She interviews that they are ahead of the game and she's not sure why he's such a basket case. He interviews that he is worried about being blamed for any dysfunction in the team-- and he's right about that.
The day, Sweet P interviews that she is worried because Rami seemed upset the night before. At Parsons, they all start working. Ricky interviews that he's excited. Sweet P suggests to Rami that they try some bustling on their garment, but he doesn't really listen to her. You know, a bustle might do Rami some good. Everything is so SO draped all of the time, it would give some dimension to his bodice.
Tim enters and tells everyone that they will have to, in addition to their avant-garde look, create a ready-to-wear garment that embodies the essence of the avant-garde look. He emphasizes that every major designer has to do this. They provoke and inspire with their high-end conceptual work, then they translate it into saleable garments. Christian makes this hysterical "What?" face and picks up some shears like he's going in for the kill. Jillian is freaked out at the time constraints. They have $50 for their new look. Only one team member has to go to Mood and they're going in 15 minutes.
Tim leaves them to "caucus." Ricky says that he will do their everyday look. He says its "cake" to him, which he apparently has everyday, since that's what he was trying to say. Christian is not worried and gives a defiant laugh that tickles Chris. Jillian and Victorya are so totally in the bell jar. Victorya interviews that her reaction to the new part of the challenge was "horror, nausea."
Sweet P tells Rami that she thinks that their everyday look should be navy. He so very rudely asks her to explain. She says it ties in with the pants. But the pants are background, he counters. She thinks navy makes the look day, thus "every" day. He says that navy is not day, which is so fucking stupid. Tell that to every single businessperson on the planet, all of whom have navy garments in their work wardrobe. Seriously though, he never sounded stupid until just this moment. Sweet P interviews that she was getting frustrated with Rami's attitude. He tells her to sketch her design and she says that she's better with a dress form and fabric. He doesn't like that idea. She says that he should trust her, but he says she doesn't sound like she's sure of her design. Half of the designers quickly go to Mood. Sweet P grabs some silver shantung that she really likes.
Back at the workroom, Tim sends in the models for a fitting. Sweet P interviews that she thought that Rami put too much stuff on their dress, but he disagreed with her. You see her telling him that she thinks there's too much, and he just brushes her off. Kit and Ricky are really excited about their piece. Jillian is not done with her jacket. In fact, they're still in development phase. Jillian interviews that she's worried that Victorya is immune for this challenge, so if they're in the bottom, Jillian automatically goes. Chris and Christian seem excited about the way their design looks on Marcia. Chris interviews that he hopes that, at the runway show, they judges' jaws drop to the floor and they never forget it as long as they live.
Christian does a modeling demonstration. He tells them that they "gotta bring it back. Girls, you gotta bring it back from the side and turn." It's very funny and...he's not bad at that walking.
Sweet P is doing the ready-to-wear look and she thinks it's very cute. Rami keeps breathing down her neck about the pants and the dress. She says she's finishing them and he's all, I'm entitled to know what's going on. He's pretty rude. He interviews that she's defensive and it's draining his energy. Actually, he's really abrasive and I'd imagine that a great number of people would not like working with him. Just because he keeps that faux Zen tone doesn't mean that he's actually calm. After he's gone, Sweet P starts crying in front of their model. It makes me kind of sad for her.
Tim comes back in and has the designers and models gather 'round. Nathaniel Hawkins, lead stylist for the Tresemme hair care creative team, comes in. Nathaniel is going to consult with the designers to translate their avant-garde hairstyle into everyday. The everyday look should be beautiful, effortless, and practical. The winning design is going to be featured in a Tresemme ad for Elle. All of the consultations seem to go well.
Later, Tim enters the workroom for consultation. He asks Chris and Christian how "Team Fierce" is doing. Tim says that their avant-garde look is "staggering." He thinks their ready-to-wear look appears cheap. Christian disagrees and is very strong about it.
Tim thinks that Ricky and Kit's design is costume. Kit counters that it's conceptual. Tim thinks it needs to be more dramatic and exuberant.
Tim thinks that Rami's avant-garde look is predictable. He asks if they have gone above what they've done before. I can answer that for you. Rami argues that he hasn't worked with corsets before. Big effing deal, dude. Have you looked at your dress? Same asymmetrical draping and cording and pleating. Nothing new. Rami, at this point, decides to blame their lack of progress on working with Sweet P. She interviews that Tim told them that their dress looked to much like typical Rami, which has nothing to do with how they work together as a team. Good point. She says he won't let her in. Hee. That phrase always makes me laugh.
Tim says that Jillian's coat is fabulous, if they can achieve it. They tell him that they haven't even started on their second look yet.
Sweet P says that she and Rami are having a tense time. She's totally expecting to be in the bottom at the runway show, so she's focusing on the ready-to-wear dress so she'll have something to stand on. Jillian has a freakout in the sewing room and uses all of her allotted emotions for the year. Victorya interviews that, at the end of the day, neither she nor Jillian are done with their garments for the first look. They haven't even started on the second look yet.
The day, Sweet P says that she's worried about getting into a fist fight with Rami. At the workroom, Jillian finally starts on the second look. Tim enters and sends in the models, they will have 2 hours to get ready before the show.
Ricky says that their ready-to-wear dress is really simple, but it's Kit's story. Way to stand behind your work, Ricky of my hate. Hair. Makeup. Christian says that he knows they are going to win. Jillian finally gets the second look on their model. Kit likes their garments, but is worried because it's much different from the other designers.
Heidi greets the designers on the runway. She introduces Michael, Nina, and "acclaimed Italian designer" Alberta Ferretti. Sweet P seems really excited about Alberta. The show begins.
Sweet P and Rami's dress goes first. There's not a single thing that is avant-garde about this dress, except, I guess, that the model has slacks on under the dress. It creates the same effect as my mom when she had pants on but still had her bathrobe on because her blouse was still in the dryer. The bodice of the dress could be the dress from the first challenge or his prom dress. it's the same asymmetrical draping. Pretty, but seriously not avant-garde at all. The gown is in several shades of gray that criss-cross at the waist. There's a lot going on at the bust. Lots of stuff is on there. Rami says that he's very happy with the design. He thinks it was original and beautiful. Their second look is a one-shouldered dress in silver. The strap is silver satin and pleated silver shantung is on the bust. There's a sash of shantung, then more pleating in the skirt. It ends above the knee and is adorable. Sweet P says that she loves it. She loves Rami's dress too, but she doesn't think that it's grand enough.
is Chris and Christian's design. It's tremendous. It's layer upon layer of champagne organza in a mushroom column. At the shoulder, there's a huge extension of further organza layers. It's really beautiful. Chris says that Nina's face was showing how impressed she was. Christian says that the couture pose is about the cinched waist and the hunched shoulders, and they got it down. Their ready-to-wear look is a sleeveless champagne satin dress, with an tan organza skirt. There's a brown belt at the waist. And the bodice has tuxedo ruffling to mimic the organza avant-garde dress.
up is Kit and Ricky's dress. It's a hoop skirt with a bodice that has lace straps. There are different panels of fabric on the skirt and it looks like what my cousin Jennifer wore when she was Martha Washington for our fifth grade history project. Not good. I was the Boston Tea Part, FYI. Kit is worried because they weren't as "serious fashion" as the other designers. Their ready-to-wear look is a baby-doll dress with a halter neck and a v-shaped cutout at the neck. The fabric is one of the same rustic fabrics used in the avant-garde dress. None of it looks very good.
Lastly, it's Victorya and Jillian's look. It's out of this world. There's a black satin, double-breasted jacket with a floor-length train. It's fitted like a glove and there is tartan fringe. It is, to me, the most accomplished garment that has ever been on Project Runway. I can NOT believe that Jillian made that in two days. The fit and the detail in the collar and the movement and depth of the train. Beautiful. Short khakis are below the coat, as well as a white blouse with lots of ruffles and darts at the waist. Their ready-to-wear is a black mini dress that is one-shouldered and has an asymmetrical hem. There's a hint of tartan in a tiny bustle on the back of the skirt. Jillian says that she's glad that they finished the second look, but she's not happy with it.
Heidi calls Rami's team and Kit's team forward. They have the lower scores. They leave the stage, while the judges talk to the people who didn't suck.
Christian says that he was going for a romantic, old-world feeling. Nina asks who came up with the design, and Chris says that Christian thought of the color and, once they'd chosen Marcia, they just started thinking of it together. Christian tells them that their dress is 45 yards of fabric. Again, that doesn't mean anything to me. Soon. Alberta says that the back is very complicated. She thinks that the dress is amazing and congratulates them. Michael says it's heaven. It's important and exciting and soigné. He thinks the skirt of the ready-to-wear look is a throwaway, which Christian acknowledges. Nina says that the avant-garde look could be a "cover try" for Elle. Well, well, it's a good thing Christian already has a big head or this might give him...a big head.
They love Jillian's coat, as well as the pants and blouse underneath. Nina even likes their black dress. Victorya says they really had three looks, so they should win.
The losers return. Rami tries to explain his design. They love the ready-to-wear dress and think it's better than Rami's dress. Nina wonders if he can do anything but drape. Michael thinks the slacks give the model a front butt. Sweet P says that Rami was taking ownership of the design and didn't want much help from her. He says that fighting her all of the time took away from the drama of the piece, which I frankly think is bullshit. Michael says that the best teams aren't of people who are just alike. Good point.
Alberta thinks that Kit's dress looks cheap. Scarlett O'Hara but cheap. Michael reiterates the Scarlet jibe. Heidi thinks that it looks wrinkly and cheap. Nina thinks that the ready-to-wear look is equally disappointing.
They loved Chris and Christian. Nina thinks Marcia looked like a fashion shoot. Alberta was all over Jillian and Victorya's shit. They're bored with Rami. Michael points out that he blamed it all on Sweet P, but her ready-to-wear dress was really cute. Alberta hated Kit and Ricky's dress. Michael points out that the hoop for their skirt was well made.
The designers return to the stage. Heidi names the winner-- it's Christian's team. Because he was the team leader, Christian will be immune for the challenge. Christian interviews that the Tresemme ad is a good thing, since he's young and doesn't have a lot of press yet. Jillian and Victorya are in, too. Ricky is in. Dear GOD!! Sweet P is in.
Rami's design wasn't dramatic. Kit's design wasn't modern. Kit is "out." She seems really sad. Rami kisses her and leaves the stage. She kisses Heidi and leaves the stage. Kit interviews that she doesn't believe in regrets. She's very sad that she's leaving, but she's leaving early. You made it a long way Kit! She says that it's bad for her, but also bad for the competition that she's leaving.
We see Marcia and Lisa get shot for the Tresemme shoot, with Chris and Christian. Team Fierce has conquered!!
Comments and evites can be sent to Jeff Long at jeff.long75@gmail.com. He loves you.