The challenge this week is to create a nighttime look inspired by New York at night. Leanne, Daniel, Rayon, and Jennifer get dropped off at Columbus Circle. Blayne, Keith, Stella, and Kenley get Times Square (which conjures disgusting images in my mind). Joe, Korto, and Kelli get the New York Public Library (where Carrie Bradshaw tried to get married). Terri, Jerell, and Emily got Greenwich Village.
Everybody seems pretty inspired, but Stella can't work her camera. Keith is gay and from Salt Lake City. Kenley doesn't like him. She and Stella think he's too competitive. The winner of this challenge has immunity in the challenge. Rayon keeps referring to himself. Everybody spends a lot of time criticizing the design of other designers. Kenley doesn't like Emily's, Stella doesn't like Keith's, Jerell doesn't like Kenley's, Daniel doesn't like Jennifer's, etc.
Tim tells Emily that her dress sucks. Then, Blayne teaches Tim to say "Holla at your boy." Low moment in culture there, folks. Keith's model, Runa, had to drop out of the competition. He gets Alyssa and has to fit her quickly with the dress that he had made.
Sandra Bernhardt was the guest judge! As boring as these guys seem, a lot of the designs were really beautiful. Kenley, Terri, and Leanne were the top designs. Keith, Emily, and Jennifer were the bottom three. Nina hated Emily's so much that she didn't even have a comment. Kenley wins the challenge! Emily is out, which is a bummer.
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Previously: Rayon won the challenge, thus facilitating increased screen time for Rayon. And, going home? The super cute and relatively dignified Wesley. Sure, his design was lackluster, but, more importantly, I think we needed to make some sort of sacrifice to the Project Runway gods. They're mad and things are going horribly awry.
It's morning and we see a few jazzy shots of the streets of New York. Oh look, they found an issue of Elle. The one with Mary-Kate Olsen on the cover. She's really never going away, is she? On to the Atlas apartments.
Daniel rises and shines and interviews that he's very sad that Wesley was eliminated. He really felt that they were "connecting well." So, yeah, they're apparently a couple, and worldwide gays are a twitter. I think that's kind of sweet. They seem like nice guys, though I can't imagine the drama with two fashion designers in a relationship.
In the girls' apartment, Kelli is trying unsuccessfully to wake Stella. Kelli interviews that she hopes that this challenge allows her to show her point-of-view. Terri takes a stab at waking Stella by dancing beside her bed. We have a winner. So, I want to hear more from Terri. I've enjoyed her first two designs and she seems like a pretty cool lady. More please.
At the runway, Heidi greets the designers. She reminds them that they were allowed to pick their models for the last challenge. But we're getting crazy this time. Oh yes. Designers, do you think you're going to choose your model once more? Think again. Prepare to have your minds blown, because this is how we're doing things this time: The models of the winning and losing designers will be brought on stage. Crazy, right? And, OK-- breathe, the winning designer will decide if he wants to stick with his model or he can choose one of the other models. It's so fucking revolutionary that I feel like we've done the same exact thing dozens of other times. Oh that's right, we have. Don't waste my time, Heidi Klum Seal.
With Alyssa and Tia onstage, Rayon is given his choice of model. He says, "Rayon loves Tia. He could never change. So, Rayon's gonna keep Tia." Kenley looks at him like he's a total jackass, but I feel like those designers are not quite as annoyed by Rayon's narrative glitch as I am. I'm wondering if I should give him a break. I won't, but I wonder. Seriously though, if ever there were a justification for being nice to someone's face and eviscerating them in an interview, this would be mine. He's all smiles and Oprah-isms, so it's not like you could openly hate him, but I would let loose about the whole Rayon package once it was just me and a camera. Anyway, Alyssa is sent home.
Heidi says that she feels like the designers have been working pretty hard already. So Tim Gunn is going to take them for a night out on the town. Uh, yeah, that's gonna happen. Back at the apartments, everyone contemplates where they might be going. Jerell jokes "Disneyland." He interviews that he did let his mind wander and thought maybe they might end up at a nice dinner. Sucker. Stella has a firmer grasp on reality and says, "We all know Tim ain't taking a bunch of us to his house." But she still thinks maybe they might go to a restaurant. Still cold.
There's a knock on the door and Blayne checks the peephole and asks if the person has an appointment. He opens the door to reveal Tim who says, "Hello Blayne," barely masking the contempt we all feel for the little troll. Then, he calls Tim "Timlicious." Seriously. I can't. But fuck him.
Tim tells them that they are going out-- and it's raining. He does the same with the ladies and they are on their way. Oh my God, Tim is wearing jeans. There was a part of me that thought maybe he didn't even own any jeans. That part is, of course, dead now. Tim's wearing the nattiest black raincoat. I love it. The designers are all in orange or taupe ponchos. They don't look pretty. Kelli, in particular, seems a little indignant about the look.
Tim leads them to the thing you'd least like to be on during a rainy New York night -- a double-decker tour bus. Rayon, in his super-rehearsed clip-ready manner, says that when he saw the bus he thought, "What?" Blayne says that being on a tour bus, in the rain, in horrible clothes is not his idea of a good time. Fair enough. He adds that he wants to get "all dolled up and go out dancing." Soon, and I mean very very soon, either he or Rayon need to leave us. It needs to happen.
Tim explains that the challenge is for the designers to create a look for a night out on the town, inspired by New York at night. So they're going to take a bus tour. Daniel whoops in response, which seems really unlike what we've gotten to know about him. He doesn't seem like much of a whooper to me. But he is cause I just saw it. Korto says she doesn't know what to think, and is really just worried about her hair right now. Just like Blayne is probably worried about his tan streaking.
So off they go. Kenley giggles and says that the bus is fun and like an amusement park ride. They pass the Dream Hotel with it's neon lights. I think it's a pretty hideous defacement of a lovely old building, but Stella really likes it. She says that she has lived in New York her whole life and always thought the tour buses were cheesy, but the experience of seeing everything from that vantage point is pretty amazing. When my best friend got married, all of her in-laws were in from England, so as a way to show them a bit of the city, a bus took us from the church to the reception, with a little tour along the way. It was pretty delightful.
They stop at Columbus Circle, home of the Time Warner Building and my favorite Whole Foods in New York. Tim says that this is the stop for Rayon, Daniel, Leanne, and Jennifer. Everybody will have an hour to take pictures. Way to luck out there with the great group, Daniel. Rayon tells us that he has lived in New York for 15 years, he loves it, and can walk out onto the street for inspiration. Bully for him.
Times Square is the stop for Stella, Kenley, Blayne, and Keith. Blayne says that he's stimulated just stepping off of the bus. Wow -- to have to create a design inspired by Times Square. At least one that was pretty. My mind immediately goes to fanny packs, claustrophobia, and comedy club barkers. Kenley very sweetly tells Blayne that Times Square is "so" him. I love her for saying that.
The New York Public Library is the stop for Korto, Kelli, and Joe. Joe likes this spot because they have clear views of Grand Central and the Chrysler Building. Um, I'd suggest staying away from the Chrysler Building.
Terri, Emily, and Jerell are dropped off in Greenwich Village. Emily takes a picture of a bank and says, "I was inspired by money."
Back at Columbus Circle, we see Jennifer taking a picture of a huge clock. It reminds her of the saying that New York is the city that never sleeps. Daniel says that he's in his element. He takes a photo of a woman walking and her shadow reflects on the wet sidewalk, creating a halo effect.
Stella is having problems using her camera. She's asking everyone a bunch of questions. She finally seems to get the hang of it. The crew at the Library looks like they're having an easier time. Kelli sees a fire hydrant that's black and silver. It has a Mad Max look to her, so she's going to go with it. We don't need another hero, Kelli.
In the Village, we see Emily's photo. It's of a stop sign and there are streaks of light in the photo. She interviews that the photo captures movement and energy. Terri finds some graffiti on 7th and Barrow Street (Where my play is! I know, I hate myself.) She takes a blurred photo, because it seems more abstract to her. More Terri. I want. Emily goes to a sex shop to "take pictures."
It's let's-hear-about-Keith time. As he's taking pictures, we hear that he's from Salt Lake City, from a family of practicing Mormons. Growing up there was really difficult for him. He has thought about moving to New York because he wants to be known by the world, not just Salt Lake City. Dude, there are places in between too. Detroit would be more hospitable. Oklahoma City? Seriously, I'm not even being facetious. I'm sure it's lovely and some people really like living there, but a gay, tattooed fashion designer in Salt Lake City? I'd have an easier time being the President of the College Republicans in Berkeley. Kenley tells Stella and Blayne that Keith is being crazy and competitive. Moments later, Keith steps in front of Stella to take a photo and it pisses her off. Keith interviews very solemnly that the "negative energy" that he is getting from Stella and Kenley is ridiculous. But he doesn't care because he's not here to make friends. Mmm, I haven't heard that one in a while. Welcome back, third most repeated phrase in all of competitive reality television behind "stepping up to the plate" and "thrown under the bus." So, Keith. I feel bad for him because of all the SLC drama, but he's a little socially awkward, no?
Back at the Atlas apartments, it's time for bed. Blayne stands outside the bathroom and asks Jerell if he has his "mask" on yet. Jerell replies that he does indeed have his mask on, because he's good. Jerell tells Blayne that he's got to have his smooth skin. He interviews that he's ready to rock the challenge because he's "in it to win it." Most repeated phrase number four!
The morning, the designers arrive at the workroom. Tim greets them and tells them that they have a half hour to choose the picture that will serve as the inspiration for their design. Kenley says that there's a lot of pressure in this challenge because it is the first real chance that they have to show the judges who they are as designers. She chooses a photo of a map that looks like a print. They all have these nifty little printers that they plug their cameras into to make prints. Blayne uses a photo that incorporates multiple neon colors. He says it's all he has ever dreamed of and he can't wait to get started. Keith chooses a photo of a tattered magazine -- he wants to make something voluminous and sexy. Tattered magazine...? Sure.
Stella can't work fabric stores either. She has a really hard time at Mood. Kenley says that she wants to incorporate the 40's and 50's aesthetic in her look. She wants to create a modern day calendar girl. Emily went straight for bright chiffon. Stella starts screaming for someone to help her. Terri finds a print that has every color from her photo. She asks for three yards then says, "Let's bounce."
Back at the workroom, everyone gets to work. Tim tells them that they will have until 1am to finish, and the winner will have immunity in the challenge. After he leaves, we see Rayon put his nametag on his winning design. Then he kisses it. He says that he cannot rest after winning his first challenge. Then he points his goddamn fingers again and says, "Rayon is going to rock it!" This season is either some sort of performance art or someone is playing a joke on us. This douche can not be for real. He's going to make a shirt dress.
Kenley is excited about the print that she found. She thinks her design is colorful, fresh, unique, and chic. Joe interviews that Kenley's print is tacky. We pop into the middle of a weird moment with Terri and Leanne. Terri says that she thinks Leanne is a great designer...even if she didn't like what she did before. There was some truth-telling going on it that sewing room, it sounds like. Leanne says that she's just worried that she's going to be "too creative. Again." I love that. Leanne interviews that she chose a photo of the metal grid of a tree planter, because it is architectural and "organic." I don't know what she means by that. Maybe because it's near a tree? But, it's metal and man-made. Since she was in the bottom two during the challenge, she says that she wants to show the judges that she is "just an amazing designer.
Kenley looks up from her work to see Blayne staring at her. He growls, "I'm gonna eat you." She giggles it off, but interviews that Blayne is a total weirdo. Supports my whole performance art idea. Just saying. Keith says that he's creating his "own progressive idea on a fringe dress." What I see is a dress with lots of little bits of fabric sewn to it. He says that he comes from an abstract art background and his designs "are the best." Stella says that she thinks Keith's dress is a lot of work, but she doesn't know who would wear it.
Terri describes her design idea to Kelli and she seems to like it. She calls it "tough and dirty." Emily is having problems deciding what to do with her silhouette. She keeps on changing her mind about how many ruffles to add. Kenley interviews that she saw Emily's dress and immediately thought that she was in trouble because it looked old, clichéd, and poorly made. Ouch.
We see Stella hammering something, then she steps back, looks at it and says, "What a gay little grommet." She chose the blinder on a horse, because she's, duh, "into leathah." She says she's going to make leather pants and a vest, and it's exactly her aesthetic. She says that she's rock n' roll and she's going to die rock n' roll. Her hammering seems to be getting to people. Blayne says it pisses him off. Here's hoping it drives him to do something real crazy. Something so crazy, they ask him to leave. America. Stella responds, "If you don't like it, get the fuck outta here."
With three hours remaining in the workday, Tim arrives to check on everyone. He starts with Jennifer. She has three hemlines on her design and they all need finishing and Tim is wary that she won't have enough time to finish. Daniel interviews that Jennifer's garment is matronly, like "an old vintage garment that no one would touch." He says it doesn't look chic at all.
Tim approaches Keith . Keith explains his tattered magazine idea, and Tim asks whether the dress will have a shape or not. Code for "your dress has no shape." Keith says it will and Tim moves on. He moves to Kenley and questions whether or not her design is costume-y. She's stunned by the thought. She loves her idea and she's sticking to it. Terri confidently describes her design and Tim doesn't seem sold, but he doesn't really have a particular worry to voice. Tim loves the skirt that Leanne has made, but he tells her to make sure she doesn't overwork the top.
Emily describes to Tim the energy and movement of her photograph, but Tim tells her that she has made a black dress with an oversized corsage. He tries to emphasize to her the high expectations of the judges, but she interviews that she has her own "style direction" and she's happy with her dress. Famous last words.
As Tim is leaving, Blayne says, "Holla at your boy." It's all I can do not to put a hit out on him. Tim asks what that means. Blayne says it's like, "Holla at your dawg, Shadow." Terri unfortunately tries to help Tim pronounce "holla," which I find to be encouraging to Blayne. Is he going to win this competition? I'm sorry, I just got frightened for a moment. Tim repeats "Holla at your boy," which is just humiliating for him.
With one hour remaining in the day, we've got our usual mad dash of designer panic. Emily is kind of talking to herself. Keith says that because it's his first chance to really show himself to the judges, he feels it is his responsibility to present something very ambitious. Blayne feels pressed for time. In an interview, he strokes his straw hair with his eyes closed and says, "I'm done with looking at my garment for the night."
The morning, as Kenley is blotting her lipstick, she says that she is nervous because she still has a lot of work to do on her garment. Daniel says that he's freaking out because he has so much work to do and Keith says that he's not even close to be done.
At Parson's, they are all working really fast. Joe interviews that it will be interesting to see how many pincushions walk down the runway. Then we see his unfinished skirt fall off of his dress form. There will be at least one pincushion. Tim enters and tells the designers that they will have an hour to send their models to hair and makeup. He also tells Keith that his model, Runa, dropped out of the competition. He's getting the recently kicked off Alyssa. It's a "make it work" moment, per Tim. That would piss me off. He tells poor Alyssa that he wasn't prepared to have to refit his entire dress. We see Korto tell her model that her design will either win or be in the top three.
The models go through their hair and makeup. Jennifer is still working on her dress. She interviews that she is racing the clock, which she finds ironic since her design was inspired by a clock. Ironic, yet totally humorless. Can't we have more in-between people? Not self-conscious Blayne and Rayon but not boring Jennifer or Leanne? Please?
Tim comes in and tells the designers that they will have 10 minutes before they head down to the runway and he's serious about the 10-minute thing. Crickets. He asks if anyone is even listening to him and everybody answers. Terri says, "You're good, baby." Ooh, if I'm not incorrect, I believe Terri is sporting one of those Bono charity t-shirts. Yes, she is.
As they are heading downstairs, Emily says that she's happy with her dress. Again, it's like she's writing her own eulogy. The poll this week is "Should 'Holla At Cha Boy' Be Tim's New Catch Phrase?" (Their spelling of "Cha"? I refuse to participate.) The choices are "A) Absolutely B) Nothing Will Replace 'Make It Work.'" Oddly there's no "C) I will kill you."
Heidi greets the designers on the runway. She introduces Michael and Nina. Our guest judge is "New York nightlife aficionado" Sandra Bernhard. OK, in the recaplet, I spelled her last name "Bernhardt" which was totally stupid of me. I love Sandra Bernhard. If you've never seen the film version of Without You I'm Nothing, you've got to cozy up to your TV with your Netflix and your Remy Martin and do it. It's so good. That said, there's some unfortunate pin curl action going on with Ms. Bernhard's hair. It's a mistake. She says "hi," and the designers applaud. Rayon just sort of kisses at her in the air, he doesn't even blow it to her. Apparently, in the fall she's going to take Without You I'm Nothing on a nationwide tour. Uh, rad.
The show begins with Keith's design. It's still totally shapeless, except for the shape that lots of little clumps of fabric gives something. Keith thinks it has texture and movement, like the city. He's right about that, but the dress doesn't look pretty on his model. And on someone with less than a model figure? Scary to think about.
up is Blayne's design. It's a black dress with three-quarter sleeves. Starting at the neck, there is a trail of neon fabrics that travels down the left side of the dress, ending with a hot pink handkerchief panel to the skirt. It's pretty cool. Blayne thinks it's flirty.
is Joe's design. His inspiration was a metal and glass lighting fixture. His dress is a gold bustier and black skirt. The bustier has ribbing that mimics the metal that was in his inspiration. It's pretty literal. There's a chain that runs from the middle of the neckline of the bustier to the neck where it meets a black choker. It's kind of ugly. Joe feels like the design conveyed exactly what he wanted.
Emily's dress is . It's a one-shouldered black minidress. There's a cluster of chiffon ruffles across the bust and down the right side of the dress. Honestly, it's not horrible. A bit boring and of questionable taste, but we've all seen worse. She thinks that the dress is a clear depiction of the photo she chose, but she's not sure she representing herself as a designer clearly enough.
Here we have Leanne's design. It's a black and gray multi-tiered skirt topped by a simple black camisole. It's really nice. The tiers of the skirt look a lot like her picture of the tree planter. Leanne says that she feels like the design is her. She edited, which she thinks the judges will appreciate.
is Jennifer's design. No. It's a blue, cream, and black dress with an empire waist and elbow-length sleeves. Daniel was exactly right. It's matronly. It almost looks like maternity wear. Jennifer says that the dress is a pretty literal depiction of her photo, but it's not as fun and young as she would like for it to be. She's getting very nervous.
Here's Jerell's dress. It's a floor-length dress in two shades of earthy, yet opulent green. It is strapless and and there's a long ruffled train in the back. This night out in New York City apparently includes no walking. His inspiration was the fountain at Washington Square Park. He says that he hopes that the judges see his design as fulfilling exactly what the challenge asked for.
Wow, here's Kelli's design. It is tough. And it is dirty. It's a black leather skirt, topped with a silver ruffled waistband and a black cutout top. It's really cool. Kelli is very happy with her model, Germaine.
Daniel's design is . It's a strapless party dress with a black bodice and a gold lamé skirt. There's a bow at the waist and a swath of gold fabric that extends from it over the right shoulder. Daniel is very happy with it. It's a pretty dress.
Here's Kenley's dress. It's a minidress with a high collar and puffed three-quarter sleeves. It is super-fitted in the bodice and is made almost completely of a tropical blue print fabric. The skirt is bubbled and half of it is made from purple tulle. Kenley says that she loves it and wouldn't do anything different.
Rayon's dress is . It's a shiny brown halter dress with a collar. There is gold beading along the bodice. His photo is a streaked night shot. He says that he loves his dress, but he's afraid that the judges will think his interpretation of the photo is too abstract. We can hope.
Stella's design is . It's tight gray leather pants and a silver vest with a halter-top. The top is tied in the back and the pants are tied in the front. Stella says her design is bright, pretty, and hard. That means she likes it.
Korto's design is and it's a black pantsuit with wide flowing legs. The collar is circular and it is backless. It's very pretty. Not very young or hip and I'm not sure how it manifests the photo she took, which is of the elaborate ceiling of some room. I guess it's in the collar.
Here's Terri's design. It's this fancy print fabric that she found. The fabric is transparent and flowing. She has made a high-collared, long-sleeved dress that comes to the knee. When the model turns, we see it's mostly backless. She has paired the dress with a pair of black slacks. It's very cool. Terri loves it, but she knows she has taken a risk.
Afterwards, Keith, Kenley, Emily, Terri, Jennifer, and Leanne are called forward. The others are moving on to the challenge and leave the stage. The models return to the stage. Kenley is asked to describe her design. She says that she wanted the dress to look artistic. Sandra says that you have to be as thin as Kenley's model to wear that dress. Kenley disagrees and thinks that maybe the bubble skirt could hide something, but that argument doesn't go anywhere. Michael says it's very 80's, but he likes it. Nina feels that it's updated. She loves the volume.
Keith says that he wanted to create something where the beauty was hidden within. Michael says that it looked like toilet paper when his model walked down the runway. Heidi doesn't like the shape. Nina doesn't feel that it's polished. Keith says that it was his point-of-view, but Nina persists and says that the effect is sloppy instead of "together."
Terri says that she knew she wanted to work with graffiti. Her girl, she says, is the life of the party. Sandra wrote, "Fierce, sexy, in control." Terri thanks her. Heidi believes that if Terri's girl were walking down a dark street and someone were following her, she would turn and say, "I've got a knife and I will cut you up." Charming. Heidi loves it. Michael thinks that she's a girl that you'd want to know.
Emily describes the movement in her photo. Sandra says that she would have been more interested if the movement had been incorporated into the dress (as opposed to tacked onto it). This is over-the-top and "cha-cha." Nina thinks she's having a "Carmen Miranda moment," which makes Emily cringe. Michael tells her that "when in doubt, keep it simple."
Leanne explains her inspiration. Sandra thinks that it's very pretty. Michael likes that it's separates. Heidi finds it impeccable and says that she would wear it in a heartbeat.
Jennifer describes her inspiration and describes the "surrealism" in her personal design style. Michael doesn't get any surrealism in her design. He thinks the finishing is off as well. Heidi says that she wrote "matronly" immediately when she saw the design. Nina thinks it's "OK," but boring.
The judges liked Terri. Sandra adored it. Michael loved the pants and dress. They liked the energy of Kenley's design. Leanne's was modern and wearable. Heidi explains to Sandra that Leanne was almost off during the last challenge because she over-designs. Sandra replies that you would never know that from her design for this challenge. Michael says she learned how to edit.
They sigh when they get to Emily. Michael says the placement of the ruffles was really unflattering. Nina says that she has no comment, which provokes gasps from everyone. That girl is finished. Michael didn't like Keith's design. Sandra thinks that he should have gone with grays or blacks to manifest the magazine thing. Michael doesn't think Jennifer is showing much of the surrealism that she talks about. Heidi says that she's bored and doesn't care if she sees anymore of her stuff. They have made their decision.
Commercials. Eighty-seven percent of voters say that nothing will replace "Make It Work." I think they were voting for the missing "C." We're back. Terri is in. Kenley is the winner! Leanne looks like she's going to cry. Backstage, Terri tells Kenley to relish it. She's crying and she interviews that she has never won anything major in her life. This is huge for her. It's a nice moment.
Leanne is in. Keith is in. Emily is told that her look was distracting and clichéd. Jennifer is told that her dress was boring and matronly. Jennifer is...in. Emily seems like a sweet girl. This is kind of sad. She disagrees about her dress being the losing one. She tells everyone that she's glad to have met them. Then she's off to clean her space. She says that she's going to take this experience and run with it. [Ed's note: Most repeated phrase number five! -- Lauren]
Jeff Long's play is opening at the Barrow Street Theatre on August 12. Check it out at www.forreasonsunknown.com.Check out Week Without Pity for our TWOP vloggers' take on this week's P-Run.