The designers go the Metropolitan Museum of Art for this challenge. They are asked to create a look inspired by one of the works of art in one of three rooms: the Greek and Roman statuary, a room of European paintings, and a room with Egyptian ruins.
Jillian chooses a painting of a battle scene. She makes this shiny dress (resembling armor) and a militaristic jacket covering it. Awesome, per usual. Also per usual, she is super slow while she's working. Christian makes fun of her at one point and she comes as close to really freaking out as Jillian probably ever will in her lifetime. She doesn't sound like she likes Christian very much.
From the second you see a headless statue with a one-boob dress on, you know Rami is going to drape something. It's totally predictable, as Michael Kors points out. Also, very pretty. While he doesn't stretch at all on this challenge, he works up a pretty good argument for why he shouldn't be required to do anything but drape: it's his PASSION.
Chris is inspired by a painting of a French noblewoman, and creates a dress almost identical to the one that he and Christian made. But the judges, including Roberto Cavalli, thought it was beautiful and dramatic.
Christian's inspiration is a painting of a man in a black suit. Christian creates a look of four pieces, all impeccable. Oh -- and a hat. He made an effort to go over the top, and it paid off in drama and showmanship.
Sweet P is inspired by a painting of a peacock. She makes a simple dress with fabrics mixed to create a print. It's wearable and commercial, but the judges are pretty bored by it.
Christian wins the challenge and is going to Bryant Park. Jillian is going as well. Rami and Chris get to create a collection, but only one of them is going to show at Bryant Park. They will show their three best looks after three months, and then the judges will decide who goes on. Sweet P goes home, and it's really sad. She's not a baby about it, but there are tears, as there should be, RICKY.
Previously: The designers created wrestling costumes for the Divas of WWE. Chris won the "tackiest" challenge. Sweet P barely survived, and Ricky was sent home.
As Sweet P is getting herself pretty for the day at the New Gotham apartments, she reminds us that there are only five designers left in the competition. She says that she was surprised that Ricky was sent home instead of her. To be fair, though Ricky's was thematically fubar, he created a cuter garment than Sweet P did. She tells Jillian that she is "so not ready to go home."
In the boys' apartment, Chris is having coffee and he interviews that the other designers are nervous, but he is "used to the moment that comes when you have to do it." As Rami is staring out the window at New Jersey, we hear an interview where he tells us that it has been his dream to be a fashion designer since he was five. Years old. I'm imagining five-year-old Rami draping himself with his Buck Rogers bed sheets right now. Do you have dreams for your future when you're five? It has been a while for me, but I don't really recall being that plugged in at five. Anyway, Rami says this whole thing is deeply rooted for him and he's very hopeful. On the way out the door, Sweet P tells Jillian that she hopes the challenge is not group work.
At Parsons, Heidi greets the designers and begins the proceedings with some good old fashioned model-choosing. Amanda and Marcia come onstage, and Heidi reminds us that it's a competition for the models too. Amanda really tried her hardest when she didn't model Ricky's last outfit, and I think we can all agree that Marcia could have put a little more effort forth when she wasn't modeling Chris' design from the last challenge. Chris stays with Marcia and Amanda wishes the designers luck as she leaves the runway and our lives. I think Amanda just came the closest of any of the models to crying when she got eliminated.
Heidi asks the designers if they are ready for their challenge. She tells them that the challenge will decide which three designers go to fashion week and which TWO go home. Ah damn, I did not know this would be like this. This is hardcore. They are going to go on one more "field trip." They are meeting Tim at 5th Avenue and 82nd Street.
On the way to meet Tim, Sweet P interviews that, because she doesn't live in New York, she's unfamiliar with the Upper East Side (which is where they are going to meet Tim). The other designers told her there were museums and fabulous stores. They forgot to tell her that you can also find baby strollers that are handled like battering rams. It's not enough that the get to roll around in their bags and bags of money (another feature of the UES), they also need to take out the shins of poor folks.
Jillian says that they were speculating where they would be going "east of Madison that was worth visiting." I can't tell if she's being facetious or not; 5th Avenue is one block west of Madison. The mannequins are like, "Wonder Mannequins Power, ACTIVATE! Shape of...a COMPASS!" Maybe her speculation is just an entirely different research project that she decided to discuss right now.
Here we are, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Tim is waiting for the designers on its magnificent front steps. Rami interviews that he has never been to the Met before, so being there was "quite exciting." One mannequin says, "I'm sorry, I fell asleep. Did Rami say he was excited?" The other is like, "Maybe I'm not understanding. Did something change? Does 'excited' mean totally over-serious and humorless and bored? We really need to get out more. The language is changing and we're sitting here...naked."
Tim welcomes them and says that the Met is one of the "premier arts and cultural institutions in the world." He leads them inside to tell them about their challenge. When they walk in, the first thing Rami notices is that it's huge. Chris interviews that it was a great privilege to be in the final five of the competition, in the Met, with no one else there. Jillian interviews that there is "nothing more phenomenal and inspiring in this country" (at least east of Madison) than the Met.
Tim leads the designers to a room with a bunch of Greek and Roman statues. He begins the description of the challenge. He says that "throughout time" art has been an inspiration for fashion. Their challenge will be to choose a work of art to serve as inspiration for a runway look that they will create. Rami says that he is "extremely happy." The mannequins are like, "Seriously, it's not even the same language anymore." Jillian says that the challenge is amazing and all that any of them could ask for. It's nice to see them inspired this far into the journey.
Because the Met is so huge, they've narrowed down the areas where the designers will look for their inspiration. First is the Greek and Roman sculpture courtyard, where they are. Also, they have access to the European painting wing and the Temple of Dandur. They will have 45 minutes to look for inspiration and Tim has digital cameras for all of them.
The countdown begins, and Rami is already where he wants to be, the Greek and Roman stuff with tons of draping. Chris interviews that there is no way that Rami won't be using something from the sculpture courtyard. Rami says that the statue of Aphrodite was like a "soul mate situation" for him. He felt like he instantly met his match.
With 30 minutes remaining, they all head to the European paintings. Christian interviews that, "of course," that was the most exciting part for him. He loves European art. He is inspired by a Spanish painting of a man in military garb.
Chris interviews that the paintings were beautiful and there was "actual clothing on people," which I hear as another dig at Rami and his love of the Greek and Roman stuff. There is a boob showing on the statue of Aphrodite that I'm interested to see interpreted. We see Chris giggle and take a picture of one of the paintings.
Sweet P says that there was no one there and she could have touched a painting, but she didn't. Thanks, Sweet P.
With 15 minutes remaining, they go to the room with the Temple of Dandur. It's an ancient Egyptian temple that was taken apart and transported to New York and put together again in the museum. That's amazing. Chris says that Joan Rivers carved her initials into a pillar when she was a little girl, Christian tells him that's fierce, and Chris bellows and echoing laugh. He probably awoke some ancient god who's gonna be pissed he's in New York. Jillian says that being in the room was inspiring and it was almost spiritual.
They're done, and Tim takes them back to the workroom. Sweet P says that she has taken 238 pictures. She wants to choose something quickly and get to work. On the way out of the Met, Rami says, "Hopefully there are no surprises." With you Rami, there are never any surprises.
All of the designers have these handy-dandy digital printers at their work stations. Tim tells them to choose one photo for inspiration. They will have an hour to sketch and $300 to use at Mood. They will have two days to work on the challenge, and Tim emphasizes that hair and makeup will play an important part in the challenge.
Christian tells Chris that his inspiration is Don Andrew De Andrade Y La Cal by Bartolome Esteban Murillo. That old thang? It's the military painting he was looking at earlier. He's going to make the female version of the man in the photo. He thinks it has a Zorro-like quality, but he doesn't want it to look like costume. He's shooting for high-fashion or avant-garde.
Sweet P is using Peacocks by Melchior D' Hondecoeter from 1683. Chris tells her that he had thought of using that painting. He loves it.
Rami says that he feels no shame in choosing the Grecian draping, because draping is something that he's "passionate" about. The marble statue of Aphrodite that he's using was made by Kallimachos. Tim enters to take everyone to Mood.
Sweet P chooses purple, teal, and rusty red fabrics. Because they're peacock-y? Christian says that he doesn't want to be safe at all with this challenge.
Back at the workroom, everyone gets to work. Jillian has chosen Master of the Argonauts by an unknown artist. The armor worn by the figures in the painting was inspiring to her. She wants to express her edgy side with this challenge.
Chris is going dramatic. We see him explaining his design to Christian, who responds that he thinks the colors Chris chose are pretty. His painting is Marie Francoise De La Cropte De St. Abre, Marquise D'Argence by Jean Marc Nattier. He is going to create a couture version of a French noblewoman from the 18th century.
Christian shows Chris a sleeve that he has made. It's enormous. Chris asks if there is any more fabric left at Mood. Rami interviews that, because everyone knows that two people are going home from this challenge, everyone is over-designing. Whatever gets you through the night, Rams. You're not being Same-Note Johnny by draping the same dress you've made a dozen times already, everyone else is OVER-designing. I understand that it makes no sense to completely change your aesthetic for the sake of a challenge, but the dude has GOT to finds some nuance. If this dress is just like all of the others, I don't know what I'll do. He says that he's not there to make noise, he's there to make beautiful work. That makes a lot of sense, but I'm afraid he still doesn't have a broad enough perspective. At the opposite end of the spectrum, we see Christian try out some black feathers to his neck to see if they work.
With 2 hours remaining in the day, Christian has already created like five pieces. Jillian asks him if he's making an entire collection. Sweet P thinks it's crazy that Christian already has that much done when she's still making her pattern. Christian tells the "bitches" that it is the last challenge, so he has to do "something." He interviews that he sews fast, and everyone should get over it. He thinks everyone else should be sewing quickly too and, if they can't, that's their own problem.
Jillian is working on pressing some pleats and Christian laughs about how she has been doing it for hours. She says that she is already self-conscious and doesn't need Christian's comments. Christian says, "Ew, don't get bitchy. 'Cause damn!" Jillian interviews that Christian is always monitoring what everyone else is doing and he's always ahead of everyone. She finds him very arrogant. "Jillian, I'm just not saying anything around you anymore. I'm so over it." "I'm so over it too," she replies in that super-dry Jillian way. These are definitely the moments when Christian shows his age. I can totally give it up for Christian being a prodigy and all, but he has seriously got some maturing to do.
The day, everyone returns to the workroom. Sweet P has a muslin mock-up of her dress, and she asks Jillian her opinion of whether or not she should lower the neckline of her design. Jillian says that, at this level of the competition, the decision should be Sweet P's. Direct and to the point and without any unnecessary drama. It makes perfect sense that she wouldn't want to help Sweet P at this point. I love me some Sweet P, but I think it's time for her to go. She never really found that stride. She had little pockets of getting it right surrounded by stretches of insecurity. Sweet P says that Jillian is right and she decides to lower the neckline. She interviews that she was ready to quit her business before the show started, because she has no more funding to keep her fashion line going. She needs to win to save her business. That is so sad. Because we all know that Sweet P is not winning this competition, right? She just isn't.
Tim brings in the models for 30 minutes of fittings. Lea has a personal emergency situation and can't be there, so Sweet P justifiably kind of freaks out. As we see him fitting his model, Rami says that his piece isn't the "loudest," but he thinks it makes a strong statement. Christian says that Chris's design is very costume and over-the-top. He also thinks it closely resembles the dress that they made together, which he finds weird.
Jillian has finished most of the work on the coat for her look, and Christian is stunned, though he should probably just be minding his own business. She interviews that she is not a fast mover, and the most difficult part of the challenge will be total execution of the design. She still has a lot of work to do.
Lea never shows up for Sweet P. Tim enters and introduces Collier Strong. He's going to consult with the designers on their hair and makeup for the challenge. Collier says that this is an opportunity to think artistically outside of just their outfits. Everyone seems to take Collier's advice completely.
Later that day, Chris says that he is finished. Rami suggests that he take a nap and he says he was going to, but he didn't want to get up. But he eventually does get up and passes out in the back on some couch and starts snoring. This is not pretty, Chris. I would not offer this vantage point if I were you. Christian interviews that he can't believe Chris is taking a nap. Even though he finished early as well, he is using his time to refine his look.
Christian interviews that his style has a very European, classic look to it. He tells us that he moved to London after graduating from high school and stayed there for three years. That would bring us up to right about now, wouldn't it? He worked for Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood (which seems so completely perfect, doesn't it?), and he feels like working for them has been his biggest influence. He says that, though he is the youngest of the designers, he feels that he has the most cohesive aesthetic. We see him modeling a short black jacket that he has created, and Sweet P loves it.
Tim comes in and asks where Chris is. When they tell him, Tim says that no one is finished yet. He goes to find Chris and wakes him up. They argue about whether or not Chris could be finished yet. Chris insists he is and that it's "wow-able," but Tim asks that he at least show it to him. In the workroom, Tim says that he doesn't think Chris's gown is refined enough. Chris says that he wouldn't add anything to it and says that it's made to fit his model, not the dress form. Tim walks away and says that he is worried.
Tim likes Christian's look. Christian says that the blouse looks great on him, and they laugh and laugh. Tim feels that this little poncho element of the look might be extraneous. Christian says that all of his pieces can be work individually. Tim is just worried since it's the last challenge. "I know, lady," replies Christian. Lordy.
Tim isn't seeing the peacocks in Sweet P's design. There's nothing feathery about her design and it's not exuberant. He tells her to make it work, but it doesn't seem like that's going to help very much at this point.
Jillian tells Tim that she's doing well. As she's describing her jacket to him, he says it's gorgeous. She says that she's worried about finishing.
Tim tells Rami that his dress is stunning. Rami says, "It's what I do." That sounds so moist and gross. Tim asks if he can be honest and tells Rami that he thinks Nina might say that she has seen this dress before. Rami smiles this really fake grin and says that the show presented him with the challenge and he had to take the Grecian draping. You didn't actually have to. I don't think anyone's expecting him to not drape ever again, but his vision is so limited. He could have at least applied his "passion" for draping to one of the other periods. It's just so obvious and literal of him to choose Grecian draping. Tim says that it needs to be fresh. Rami interviews that he's trying to stay true to himself.
Sweet P is at a standstill without Lea, and finally she arrives. We see her getting fitted and damn that girl is skinny. Sweet P says that she is overwhelmed. She has a lot of work to complete and is worried that she is going to get eliminated.
The morning, we see a shot of studly, towel-wrapped Rami. Christian is flat-ironing his hair and trying to make it extra fierce for this, the last of the runway challenges. We see Rami grooming his weird little beard. Chris says that no one on the show this season "absolutely hated each other." Christian responds, "Who didn't hate each other? I sure did. I mean damn. Every five minutes I was ready to cut somebody."
At the workroom, Sweet P jets to finish sewing. Jillian says that she's worried because the bottom of her dress is not finished yet. She says that she doesn't want to go back to working in a cubicle attempting to realize someone else's vision. Shit, that is sad.
Tim comes in and tells everyone it's "Make It Work!" time. He tells them to blow the judges' socks off, then he sends in their models. Lea "sends" Sweet P confidence and peace, which normally I would find pretty stupid, but it actually seemed really sweet. Jillian comments that Christian has made a full collection of work for the challenge and she's not sure she really likes the outcome. She finds all of it a little "marshmallowy." Chris says that he is happy with his dress and, if this is the challenge where he gets eliminated (again), he will be content that he presented something that he believed in. He says that showing at Bryant Park would be like winning the lottery-- so he doesn't count on it. But, he doesn't count it out either.
L'Oreal gets an even bigger plug than usual this week. We see a lot of the hair and make-up happening. Christian says that he wants to see "brow for days." Christian hugs the Tresemme guy when he's done. Jillian is scrambling to finish and the steamer stops working when she needs it. She is trying to even out the hem on the dress and barks at Lauren to stay still. Then, she finds a steamer that works and shoots hot steam onto poor Lauren's ass.
Rami tries to show his model how to walk. Chris says that he can't imagine why Rami would make another dress like this. He thinks the judges are going to eat him alive. Jillian is not happy with the bottom of her dress. She says that she will be really disappointed if she doesn't make it to Bryant Park because she has worked her ass off and she deserves it.
The question this week is pretty cool: "How do you feel about Rami's draping addiction?" A. Enough draping already! B. Keep draping Rami! I trust America to vote correctly here.
On the runway, Heidi congratulates the designers for making it that far, but reminds them that two have to go. She introduces Michael, Nina, and legendary designer Roberto Cavalli.
The show begins with Chris's dress. It's a very good interpretation of the inspirational painting, but it does bear a striking resemblance to the dress he made with Christian. Mainly, it has the same rising one-shouldered sculptural element that the other dress had. This one is made with different fabric and has a kind of dark cloud-like appearance, but it's still really similar. The shoulder is gray and the rest of the dress is a dark tan color. The waist is cinched and has a small bow at the side. It's floor length with a long train behind it. Aside from the shoulder, which is pretty dramatic, the rest of the dress is pretty simple. It looks gorgeous on Marcia though. Chris thinks she looks like a "couture Cinderella." He also thinks it looks very expensive.
Christian's design is . Okay, this is intense. There are short black pants that fit like a glove. A white blouse that is voluminous. Its sleeves bubble at the shoulder and are cinched at the elbows, then balloon again and are cinched at the wrist. There's a short black sleeveless jacket over the blouse, with flaring shoulders that mimic the movement in the sleeve of the blouse. The jacket ends above the waist and has a flaring black fringe, exposing the bottom of the white blouse. There's a short black poncho over the outfit that Lisa removes as soon as she's on the runway. Also, she's wearing a black fedora. It's incredibly dramatic. Christian says that he knows the look is avant-garde, but it is perfect for a runway show. He's right. I can't believe he conceived and executed all of this so quickly. This outfit is amazing.
Here's Rami's dress. It's a dark lavender, draped, and empire waisted gown. There's a lose strap over one arm. The draping is vertical, creating a slit up the middle of the gown. There is a cut-out on the side opposite the strap, revealing the model's back, below the bust. Rami says that this judging could go either way, but he's so passionate about draping. I guess passion is the word he's using as an argument against being limited or boring.
Sweet P's dress is . She's getting eliminated. This is something that would have been middle-of-the-road for the first challenge. It's a cocktail dress with different vertical panels of satin. There are some loose pockets at the front of the dress. It's wholly unremarkable, and I really liked Sweet P. She really needed to take a chance here, though, and I'm afraid she hasn't done enough. She thinks the dress looks good on Lea. She explains that she thinks she is a good designer and knows merchandising and what will sell. I believe all of that about her, but I still think she needed something a lot more exciting for this challenge.
Up last is Jillian's outfit. It's a long-sleeved militaristic black jacket. It's closed and ends halfway over Lauren's bottom. There's a short metallic skirt peeking out below the jacket. The jacket has a high collar and light-colored piping that compliments her bust. At the end of the runway, Lauren unbuttons the jacket and reveals a full dress beneath the jacket. It's dazzling. It's a simple dress with a plunging neckline that is belted with a thin metallic rope. There is tons of pleating in the dress, and it's gorgeous and surprising. I just did not expect that dress to be underneath that jacket. I know Christian's a genius and all, but I think Jillian is fucking rad. Jillian says that she's happy with the design and doesn't see any of the imperfections that she was worrying about earlier.
The models return to the stage with the designers. Christian explains that he likes to play with masculine and feminine. He also says that he tried to create as many pieces as he could that could be worn separately. Cavalli says that he loves the design because he knows how much love goes into creating a look like that. He started appreciating the details of the shirt when Christian removed the jacket. Nina says that he really thinks about the show, but he is also practical. Michael thinks it's "super, super, super chic." Christian is really happy to hear this.
Chris explains that he wanted to do a modern couture of version of the French noblewoman. Cavalli says that Chris is the most artistic of all of them. Chris seems floored to get the compliment and like he might cry. Christian glares at another person getting a kudo. He wants them all, okay?! Cavalli says that he could see Chris showing in Paris for haute couture, and Chris says that's what he loves. Michael says that Chris certainly understands drama, but he points out that the dress is reminiscent of the earlier gown. Heidi concurs and says that it's hard to recognize how beautiful the dress is when you've already seen it before. Chris says that the shoulder-piece was his interpretation of the pewter colored neckpiece in the painting. Nina says that, without the shoulder-piece, the dress would still have been beautiful. She says that Chris has other tricks and she wanted to see them.
Jillian says that she thought she could give a very modern interpretation of the painting she chose as her inspiration, and Nina says she loves the interpretation. She says that Jillian is always surprising her and that's a good thing. Cavalli loves the details and says he would love to have Jillian on his staff. She says that would be an honor, but is probably thinking, "I just said I wasn't going to work on anyone else's vision! Do you even watch the show?" Heidi loses her words for a moment and just utters a series of "Wow!" "Woo Hoo!" and "Woo!" Michael says that he can see she was inspired by the painting, but he doesn't feel that Jillian made anything costume-y. The dress is very flattering.
Michael thinks that Sweet P's dress is wearable and flattering, but not dramatic enough. Cavalli thinks that the peacock tail is so fantastic, and she should have done much more with it. Michael says that he knows Sweet P can make wearable, commercial clothing. He needs to see the thing.
Rami talks a bunch of crap about how he loves draping and that he chose something that had an ease to it. He insists again that he's very passionate about draping. Cavalli says that his dress is "too normal." He says that Rami is there to show what he can do. Rami repeats that he's passionate about draping, which sounds more ridiculous every time I hear it. He adds that bit that he said to Tim about the challenge being presented to him, as if they forced him to choose the Greek statue. Rami, they were also choosing that room for the other designers. And you had the option of choosing anything else from the tons of works of art you guys saw. Just because they offered your crutch as an option doesn't mean you should have chosen it and that it wasn't your responsibility to stretch yourself. Rami says that sometimes an idea can be interesting without hitting you over the head. Michael says that he knows Rami is talented, but he expected more from him. He says Rami makes dresses that many women would like to wear -- Heidi pipes in to say that she likes it -- but it was very predictable that he would choose draping. Heidi says that they always know that his dresses will be beautiful...and Grecian drapery. He asks why that's negative and Nina says that it isn't, but she wants to see if he can do more. He forces a smile and says, "Okay."
The designers and models leave the runway so the judges can chat. Cavalli says he loved Jillian's jacket. Nina repeats that she is surprised by Jillian. Heidi feels that Jillian is ballsy. Cavalli says that Christian is "a talent." Michael says that Christian understands how to make clothes that are emotional during a fashion show, but can also be taken apart and made into practical pieces for consumers. Nina says simply that he delivered. Cavalli says that he doesn't have much to say about Sweet P's dress. Michael and Nina agree that Sweet P has a more commercial vision, which is fine. "But that doesn't make for fashion," says Michael. We see a shot of sad sitting duck Sweet P backstage. They agree that Chris made a wrong choice in duplicating his dress, but it did look like a couture dress. Cavalli gives it his highest vote. He saw art in the dress. Nina thinks he was playing it safe, but he has "drama in his blood." Michael says that he's a showman and Nina agrees. Even if it's not her taste, they know Chris will put on a show. Nina says that Rami is a good technical designer and Cavalli agrees, but he doesn’t want to take any risks. Nina thinks you can't get ahead as a designer without taking risks. Nina wants him to show more. Michael thinks that Rami is in fact passionate about fashion.
The designers return to the stage. Commercials. And 72% of voters think Rami should lay off of the draping. Yay! We're back. Christian wins the challenge, which means he's going to Fashion Week. Jillian is in -- she's going to Fashion Week too!! She thanks everyone and says that she has learned a lot. Sweet P is out. Heidi says that they believe in her talent, and they hate to see her go. She goes backstage and gets a hug from Jillian. She cries in her interview and says that she knows that what should happen will happen, but she's sad right now. This must totally suck for her right now.
Onstage, Rami is told that he is consistent but safe. Heidi says they question if he could bring anything new to Fashion Week. He looks a little pissed right there. She tells Chris that they know he'll bring the drama, but they were disappointed that he didn't do something new. Chris is in. Rami is in too! Chris starts crying, I guess. It's a little hard to tell. They are both getting a chance to work on their collections. The judges will look at their three strongest looks and one of them will be chosen to show in Fashion Week. What a mind fuck. Rami says that he will create a strong collection. Chris interviews that he won't disappoint them. Sweet P congratulates everyone and Rami hugs her. Tim consoles Sweet P and she says the other designers deserve their victory. In the last of her interview, she says that she really wanted to go to Bryant Park. Wow, that really sucks. But, we'll see her week at the Reunion!!!!