The challenge this week is for the designers to create a look inspired by a distinct NYC neighborhood. And, Collier Strong is there! He's performing his usual task of helping the designers create a make-up look for their design. They work in teams of two and have to create both a look for day and a look for evening. Emilio is immediately begging the reality competition gods to not have Mila as a partner. Anthony chooses Maya to work with, Amy chooses Jonathan (I was as happy about this pairing as they were!), Emilio chooses Seth Aaron, and Jay is stuck with Mila. He's apoplectic about the situation. She's not happy, either. Didn't know that those two hated each other [Emilio sure did. - Zach], but that's terrific. In reverse order, they choose one of four neighborhoods offered to them. Jay and Mila choose the East Village, Emilio and Seth Aaron choose Harlem, and Jonathan and Amy choose the Upper East Side, which leaves Anthony and Maya with Chinatown. They visit their inspirational neighborhoods for a half hour. Different problems arise for each group -- clashing styles and personalities. Per usual, everyone has serious time management issues. Francisco Costa from Calvin Klein and model Molly Sims were the guest judges. Amy/Jonathan and Mila/Jay have the lowest scores, which is crazy to me since I thought Amy/Jonathan's stuff was pretty rad. Seth Aaron and Emilio get kudos, though the judges wonder a little if they went overboard. Nina loves the Anthony/Maya collaboration, because it was tasteful and restrained. Maya's day look got a little more praise. Wow, they really hate what Amy did. Emilio AND Seth Aaron win the challenge. But, I don't think they win anything. The bottom two are my picks for this season's winner! Amy is out. BIG POOP. Balls.
Discuss this episode in our forums, then see what were the best and worst looks of Season 6. And check back soon for the full recap!
Previously: The designers were challenged to be inspired by one of the four elements. Ben was a disaster from the get-go. Amy made this hair-filled piece that was a not appreciated. Ben tearfully exited.
It's a bouncily edited morning at the Atlas Building. Amy says that it's time for her to get back in the game. She has been off for the last couple of challenges. So says she. I know that her hair suit was a mess, but I still admire her for having the crazy balls to even think of it. Mila and Maya are having hair-ironing time. Mila, bless her heart, resembles a desiccated version of that woman from the "Father Figure" video. All severe hair and stern face. Guys, we've found a theme for the season in George Michael videos! Praise be. Mila says that it's time for her to redeem herself. Maya replies that she finally would like to win a challenge. She interviews that she's jealous that she hasn't won a challenge. Also, I'm realizing that the model from the "Father Figure" video is the meeting point of Maya and Mila. Everyone has won a challenge but her.
At the runway, Heidi shows off her math prowess and announces that HALF of the designer have been eliminated. Sounds like someone's plotting a move to Blue's Clues. I don't know why I lashed out at Heidi like that. She says that, for this challenge, they want the designers to get into a "New York state of mind." They're designing for Billy Joel! Awesome. I recommend a breathalizer holster. Tim will give them the details. Anthony is the poor stooge who they make ponder what Heidi's clue could mean. He's awesome. He says that, well, he doesn't know what she means. So, he'll just wait to find out from Tim before filling his mind with unnecessary thoughts. Take that.
In the workroom, Tim greets the designers and is joined by teddy bear, Collier Strong. Tim explains that the designers will be using New York City as a point of departure for this challenge. "Yes!" exclaims Mila in a kiss-assy sort of way. "Yes," says Tim. And, they will be sent out into the city. This gets everyone excited, because they'll be free, for a short time at least, of the ankle weights and electric fences used by the production team of Project Runway. They will be going to one of four neighborhoods that have been selected for their cultural significance and their impact on fashion. The neighborhoods are Chinatown, East Village, Upper East Side and Harlem. Emilio hoots. He interviews that he really should win this challenge because he's from New York. If he doesn't win, it will be a real disappointment for him and his "people."
Tim has more exciting news. They will be working in teams of two. Jonathan kind of smiles to himself, while Emilio looks petrified. He interviews that he really doesn't want to work with Mila. The mannequins are like, "Indeed." Mila interviews that she's not a huge fan of working in teams because you never know who you're going to get. The mannequins are like, "Are your ears burning?" They will be creating two looks -- one for day and one for evening. Tim will determine the team leaders by selecting buttons from the velvet button bag. They are Anthony, Amy, Emilio and Jay. Jay interviews that, since his name was chosen last, he's going to get stuck with whomever no one wanted. The mannequins are like, "This just keeps getting better." Anthony chooses Maya. Amy chooses Jonathan and they hug excitedly. He interviews that he really wanted to work with her and hoped that she wanted to work with him. She did! Emilio chooses Seth Aaron. He interviews that choosing Seth Aaron was strategy, because Jay and Mila do not get along. I did not know this. I knew that she was generally disliked by all but Maya, but I didn't know that Jay had particular beef with her. Despite it being a surprise, I am thrilled to know this new information. Jay interviews that he can't breathe and Mila smiles and says, "Oh shit." She also calls him the guy she never talks to and the guy she doesn't like. This really is a complete surprise to me, though Mila being half of the equation makes is easier to understand.
Tim says that they will choose their neighborhoods in reverse order. Jay and Mila choose East Village, which seems appropriate, especially for Jay. Emilio and Seth Aaron choose Harlem, which Emilio interviews was a no-brainer. Jonathan and Amy choose Upper East Side. That doesn't seem entirely intuitive to me. That leaves Anthony and Maya with Chinatown. Collier tells them that he is there to help them create makeup looks that will complement and expand on their designs.
Now, they depart for their respective neighborhoods, where they will have 30 minutes to explore before going to Mood. In Harlem, Emilio says that he is happy to be back in his old neighborhood. He tells Seth Aaron that Harlem is about churches, liquor stores and fried chicken spots. He doesn't even know me. Or, so I thought. Seth Aaron interviews that he and Emilio are very different and this could be a disaster. He leaves open the possibility though that they could weave their designs to make something extraordinary. Emilio points out an older woman in tight denim who he thinks looks awesome. He tells her so too and she thanks him. He points out that she's probably 70 too. Emilio says that most people they saw were wearing denim. They find a mosaic on a wall and decide to incorporate the pattern into their design.
In Chinatown, Maya tells Anthony that she's most struck by the "structure." I don't know what she means by that. For me, Chinatown is one of the few parts of New York where the set-up is fairly asymmetrical, which is a word I apologize for using so often in my description of the finished designs (but it works!). There are a bunch of different kinds of architecture present. It's dizzying. The signage alone makes everything seem kind of disorienting. Perhaps that's because I don't speak Chinese? But, I'm also talking about the shape of the signs. It's almost like a more authentic Times Square. Don't kill me for writing that Chinese-Americans. I like Chinatown. Anthony agrees though about the structure. Maya mentions that there is a lot of red in Chinatown, which is absolutely correct. Anthony interviews that there were tons of people on the streets in Chinatown. He notices that the streets are narrow and everything is very colorful. Maya interviews that she's very glad that Anthony chose her. She says he's being really funny and silly, something she sometimes needs. That's cute. Maya is really serious. Anthony sees something in a window. "Are those pigs?" No, they are ducks. Dead cooked ducks hanging in a window. They take a closer look and are both disgusted. Ya'll Chinese duck tastes so freaking good. Maya thinks that the fire escapes on the outside of the buildings (or "ladders" as she calls them) might make a good detail for a daytime look. Anthony sees a paper dragon in a window and thinks that the geometry of the folded paper might be of interest. Maya agrees.
OK, I have to interject something. You know, last week I was talking about how Tim seemed a little sub-par this season. I still think he has not been at his best, but I'm thinking it may have less to do with him. As loathe as I am to admit this, I think there's a problem with the cast. Now, I've had problems with casts, but this is different. These guys are just here to work. They're so serious. The remaining people are all super talented, but... they're no fun. I'm wanting to scratch my own eyes out right now, but I miss Wendy Pepper. And, not just because I want drama or anything. There just seems to not be much discovery here. Anthony is the only person who is growing at all and I think that's only because (don't hate me, Hotlanta) he's away from his home. He'll be designing pageant stuff as soon as he's back home. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but I don't really want to watch it. No one here has an artistic temperament. It's essential for this show to work. Otherwise, Tim is pointless. There's nothing for him to reign in or guide, because everyone knows exactly what they're going to do. Sorry, just needed to say that. I'm right, aren't I? Something's missing and I think that's it. Nina's on fire this season, but everything else, though a lot of the fashion has been very accomplished, has been pretty bland. Someone please confirm for me that I haven't just lost the ability to feel the magic but that there's actually just no magic.
Amy and Jonathan are in the UES. Jonathan interviews that it feels very high-end, then we see him mention to Amy that the architecture is very stark and grey. I seriously don't know why they're accompanying this segment with bouncy something-SILLY-is-happening music, but I guess they had to give it to someone. He mentions that the neighborhood seems static. There's no movement. That's because it's the freaking wealthiest place in the entire world, except for maybe Dubai or some shit. You pay people to move you if you live there. Amy laughs the loudest we've heard yet and exclaims, "Houston, we have a problem!" OK, I detect a problem. And, not necessarily with Jonathan and Amy, though their heads are not in the right place. They are looking for the neighborhood to give them inspiration, as opposed to the people who live in it. The people who live in the UES aren't just hanging out on the stoop. Bitches are filthy rich! They don't HANG. They need more than 30 minutes. They need a day. This isn't fair. There were other neighborhoods to choose too. Like Tribeca (former punks who now own the world) or Greenwich Village (former Connecticut residents who now own the part of the world that the people in Tribeca don't own). They're going to end up designing for nannies and supers, because those are the only people visible at this time of the day in a 30 minute period. I know because I was one of those people. Or, they are going to design pieces based on buildings that were constructed 150 years ago. Jonathan interviews that Amy's style and the UES might be a clash. We hear her tell him that she thinks it's important to stay true to the people who live in the neighborhood. Still, I think there's something about the UES that takes a little getting to know. It's particular and I while, ultimately, it may seem like "high-end," I think it's more specific than that. They show a few shots of people as Amy is saying that and they don't look UES at all. She points out some brick that she likes and they start talking about wrought-iron shit on mansions. They're going to use Jonathan's cut-away technique to represent the iron on their nighttime look. I respect what they're doing, but it's not going to work. This challenge isn't actually fair.
In the East Village, Mila says to Jay that she's "feeling" the graffiti. They are a block and a half from my first apartment! Jay says that he'll just have to get over his hatred for Mila and concentrate on the work. He thinks that it is an exercise for him to be a leader. Of Mila. He tells her that he wants to concentrate on a woman from East Village, someone modern who appreciates things from the past. Substitute "appreciate" for "fetishizes" and I think you've got it. Mila interviews that she understands the East Village. She says it's "kind of rock and roll" then she says to Jay that it's "gritty." God, seriously, don't get me started. It's poverty theatre. I love it with every smidgen of my being, but it's a farce. They are drawn to the graffiti. Jay tells Mila that he wants to do a look with a jacket and an elaborate pant. Mila interviews that she feels that Jay is a little scattered, but I wonder if that's because he's not comfortable staring into her Manson lamps. Well, then we hear him say that he wants lines to create texture and he wants to make a jumper. She tells him that she's having a hard time visualizing what goes on top.
Somehow, they all end up at Mood at the same time. Jonathan says that he and Amy are having to agree on the fabrics, which cuts their time in half. Emilio has to steer Seth Aaron away from black, since they want to work with denim. Anthony wants to not be so literal as to use red and gold, but Maya is worried about his textile choices (since he's had criticism in the past).
At the workroom, Tim says that, since the group has been whittled down to the best, no one should assume that the team leader will be the one who is eliminated. Everyone gets to work. Mila says that Jay is taking charge of the day look and designing pants that she would never design. However, she says that she can't judge since he's the leader. Emilio says that he's working on the nighttime look, which will be a throwback to classic Harlem (i.e. Billie Holiday, Cotton Club). Anthony discovers that Maya has control issues. She mentions that she has begun to dislike a print that they got at Mood. Jonathan says that both his and Amy's ideas are very complicated. Amy is making a bunch of pleats.
Anthony, who is working on the evening look for his group, says that they are trying to use the diamond shapes from the paper dragon that they saw. He's worried that Maya can't seem to focus on her own garment. He takes issue with the fact that she prefaces her comments with the mention that she's an artist. At this point, he says that everyone is an artist. Emilio says that, since Seth Aaron works so quickly, it's important for him to keep an eye on the work that he is producing; for fear that he does something that they didn't discuss. Jay and Mila are working "professionally" and keeping to themselves. Jonathan interviews that he and Amy are both designers of immense detail and volume, which means that they probably won't be able to finish both looks on time.
Tim enters with Collier. It's time for the makeup consultations. Collier does a giant L'Oreal ad. Later, it's time for Tim's consultation. He starts with Seth Aaron and Emilio. Tim suggests that they maintain an urban edge (I think in response to the Billie Holiday look). For Anthony and Maya, Tim thinks that they should use the print that Maya rejected earlier. Jay explains his pants, which have a flair at the thigh. Tim says that Heidi and Nina are likely to say that a woman wouldn't want to look wider there. Jay responds that the flare won't be at the hips. He and Mila are still undecided about portions of the nighttime look. Tim reminds them that someone is going home and Jay says to not look at him. He asks Amy and Jonathan if they are perhaps overdesigning and they have no answer. He reminds them that it's not about how much work they got done. It's about how good the look is. True.
After Tim is gone, Jonathan and Amy worry about the overdesign comment. Anthony is having to do a lot of hand-stitching and is worried about time. The models come in for a fitting. Jay tells his girl that he's having a hard time with Mila. This is the first time that Emilio is not ready for a fitting. Jay is happy with the fit of his pants. Seth Aaron's jacket doesn't fit correctly, so he takes it off and cuts it right away. Everyone vomits. Kidding, but they were freaked. Mila notices that Jay hasn't finished his top yet. Emilio laughs about they're lack of togetherness. Jonathan interviews that Emilio is naughty for putting them together. Emilio is still laughing. Dear God, why don't they have reunion shows anymore? Jonathan and Amy are fucked (Jonathan's word). Their stuff is so complicated that they haven't been able to help the other person.
The morning, as they are lying in their beds, Emilio asks Jonathan how he feels. "Disgusting," he says with no affect. He interviews that he doesn't know if he can physically sew fast enough to do all of the things that he needs to do. Mila also freaks out to the girls about how she doesn't know if she can finish. Anthony pledges that the boys will leave as three and return as three. Emilio and Jonathan are in the other apartment.
At the workroom, everyone is worried about finishing. Maya expresses some regret about not using more color. Anthony takes the opportunity to shame her for being so controlling. Who's got textile problems now? Tim sends in the models. Mila is worried about Jay's top for his look. Emilio thinks that Amy and Jonathan are in trouble and he says it in a typically nasty way. Jay is worried about Mila blaming him for any flaws in their designs and he's right. She's going to blame him. Jonathan and Amy are working until the last moment.
Heidi greets the designer. She introduces the judges: Francisco Costa is sitting in for Michael Kors (he's the Women's Creative Director for the Calvin Klein Collection), Nina Garcia (she's the nastiest woman in fashion, thank heavens), and Molly Sims (she's completely unqualified). The designers clap for Molly. No! The show begins.
First up is Maya and Anthony. For the day look, Maya created a black skirt with pleats. Inside the pleats are swatches of red. The top is the striped print that she hated earlier. The sleeves end at the middle of the forearm. I don't really like it. It's pretty bland. A thin belt at the waist kind of saves it, but not really. Maya thinks it's modern and unique. The skirt, maybe. Oh wait, there are ladder cut-outs on the sides of the sleeves. They don't blow me away, but they represent the concept. Anthony's look for nighttime is . It's a short cocktail dress with a plunging neckline. It's a black fabric with a helix sort of wandering from the right shoulder down to the left side of the dress. Pretty cool. Anthony thinks it's pretty original.
Jay and Mila's stuff is . Jay's daytime look includes pants of a tan fabric. The shape is puffed at the mid-thigh and tight on the calf. They're pretty cool. But the top. It's a tank of black and red stripe. It would be alright if it were fitted, AT ALL. It's like the model was naked and I painted the top on my TV screen. Jay is really proud of himself. For the pants. Mila's nighttime look is, wait for this, black and white color-blocking. BORING. I can't even describe it. Sorry. It's too fucking boring for words. Do something else, Mila, before I... I don't know. Anyway, black, white and red tights. Blah.
we have Amy and Jonathan. Wait, that's not a shirt dress. Oh no, Amy. That's a shirt. With a belt. And black tights. The shirt is peach. Cerri may look alright in peach, but it's still not a contemporary color. That said, there's really interesting vertical pleating in the shirt and... if were only LONGER. Amy thinks that the details speak to her style. Jonathan's dress is . Yikes! It's a brown and darker brown(?) thing that has all of these crazy cut-outs on it. I totally see the wrought-iron influence, but it's just too much. It's fitted, and perfectly fitted, but no. Jonathan feels that they took a unique view of the Upper East Side which is completely and totally and absolutely true, though not correct.
Jesus, all of this shit is ugly. Here's Seth Aaron and Emilio. Seth Aaron's daytime look comes out first. It's a denim two-piece thing. The top is his usual puffed shit with stuff everywhere. She's wearing the craziest like plaid toque. I don't know what to say. The pants are high-waisted and there's some sort of crazy floral print poking out from beneath the jacket. I seriously have been to Harlem. I don't know. And Emilio's look is a black evening gown of black. There's a slit in the front that ends mid-thigh. The lining is chartreuse. Um, tacky. Seriously, Billie would be asking you to ring up Dior and bypass this shiz. Oh God, this is so ugly. The neckline has very clear references to the Billie era, but the fabric is sooo cheap-looking. Emilio thinks that he hit a home run, for all that he knows about sports.
Heidi calls Jay/Mila and Jonathan/Amy. They have the lowest scores. Seth Aaron and Emilio congratulate each other. The losers leave the stage while the others' models come back. Heidi is in love with both of the Emilio/Seth Aaron pieces. Weird. Am I losing it? I think this stuff is riDONK. Francisco says that he initially thought that the gown should have been shorter, but everything else sucked and he had to like something. He didn't say that last part. Emilio says that he brought color to Seth Aaron's design. Bravo, Emilio, you made that stupid denim thing look even crazier. I never hate anything as much as I'm hating this right now. I just think it looks so BAD! I'm even thinking that Collier Strong was wrong. The makeup is atrocious on the day look. She looks like a chemo patient. Nina likes the color, but thinks that Seth Aaron needs to lay off all of the details. Molly loves it, but I don't care about her. She thinks all of the metal and shit on Seth Aaron's look is great. Fuck off, Molly. Heidi asks them how they worked together and they say it was great. They "meshed."
Anthony says that he was sidetracked by the ducks in the windows -- they don't do that in Georgia. He explains the paper dragon and fire escape inspirations. Nina is digging it. She points out the makeup design, with the red lips picking up the red of the skirt. She likes the architecture of Anthony's dress, but wishes there were more color. Maya, that's your fault, which she seems to acknowledge with her face. Heidi thinks the night look is too subtle. Molly likes the day look more too. I'm maybe having a stroke or something. I just thought Maya's look was so boring, especially the top. They're loving it though. Heidi asks them how they got along and Anthony says that he was worried about driving her crazy because she's so quiet. However, he says that you should not be fooled by Maya's pretty face because she will let you know when she doesn't like something.
It's time for the losers. Amy says she was inspired by a building with peachy tones. She says that Jonathan's look was inspired by wrought-iron. I think that's cool that she took responsibility for his look too. They say, with much warmth, that they loved working with each other and have a lot of admiration for each other's design sensibility. Nina doesn't think that Amy's look is polished and Molly makes a gross smooshed face to agree. I didn't know I hated her, but I do. She thinks that the peach is a really hard color to wear. Does it punch you? I don't know what she means. It looks pretty fine on Cerri. It's not super current or anything, but I'm just going to shut up now. She doesn't see UES. Francisco thinks it should have been white and the model should have been wearing flats. This is what I mean about the time they spent in the neighborhood. Those chicks aren't always outside! They're rich! They don't have to walk around! Heidi thinks that Amy's look is ugly. She doesn't think that Jonathan's is as bad, but she finds it busy. Well, I think your uterus is busy, Heidi. That's stupid. Apologies to Heidi's uterus. Francisco agrees that the nighttime look is more successful. Nina feels the same way, but thinks that the panels on the side make it look.... "Heavy," offers Jonathan. That's balls. She also thinks it looks cheap, which is what she was probably going to say in the first place so he only just gave her an extra thing to hate about his look.
Jay says that he and Mila were drawn to the boldness of the graffiti. Nina loves the styling of the nighttime look, but hates the daytime look. She thinks the top looks like a leotard. Frankly, a leotard is pretty East Village. Heidi rightfully doesn't like the fit of the top. She thinks that the girls boobs are floating around. Nina realizes that Jay was trying to make a cool "pant"(I can't type that without quotations), but doesn't think he was successful. Francisco sees a synergy with the top and pants. After the leotard comment, I kind of agree with him, which is funny considering that was a criticism. Molly hates the top too, but do we care? Jay says that the tank "tanked." And, Molly repeats it like she thought of it. I never knew I could hate someone so quickly. Heidi asks how they got along. There is a pause, then Jay says that they worked professionally and organically. Mila just nods, kind of begging for someone to ask her to elaborate, but no one does.
It's time for the judges to confer. They start with the losers. Nina says that she "had" high hopes for Amy, however, she gets too technical. She says that the vibe of UES didn't come across, which, again, I'm not sure could happen in 30 minutes. The architecture is the only thing guaranteed to be out. Molly says it looked Lower East Side in the '50s, which I think has a tiny kernel of something but nothing in the end. Heidi didn't like the length and fit of the shirt and Nina agrees, saying Cerri looked like an umbrella. They thought the night look was better but still overdone. Nina hated Jay's look. She was surprised. Heidi thinks that Mila took over.
Now the winners. Nina loves Anthony and Mila's vision. They love the daytime jacket. OK, I didn't see how it was a wrap earlier. It looks better to me now, though the belt is still the best part. I guess I shouldn't fault her for that. Nina loves the attitude and vibe of Seth Aaron and Emilio's looks. She thought it was cohesive too. Francisco thought it was sophisticated and that they worked well together. Nina vocalizes an agreement, which is, I think, the first time she has done that all season. Nina was disappointed in the evening look, because she "knows" Emilio can do more. I apologize for the editorial nature of the preceding quotation marks. They have made their decision.
The designers are on the stage. Emilio wins. Boo. Seth Aaron wins too! They hug. How sweet. Heidi says that their designs were mature. Seth Aaron interviews that the double win is PR history. Emilio says that there is more designing to be done and gives an evil laugh. Anthony and Maya are in. Mila and Jonathan are in. Jonathan kisses Amy before he leaves. Heidi tells Jay that they hated his top. She says that Amy's shirt dress was a bad concept. Amy is... out. POOP. Amy is a total class act and gets her kisses and leaves.
Amy says that she's proud of herself. She says the most amazing thing: she wishes she could pack her life with these experiences of quick growth. She's got this shit in perspective. Sure, reader, you might wonder if I'm overly invested because I chose Amy (and Jay, the other guy in the bottom two) as my potential winner, but she's special. She has a sort of focus that she just described. She's interested in growing and not in being validated by some sort of celebrity machine. She already believes she's worthwhile. I love her. Jonathan is really tearful and says that it's really hard to watch her go. He's holding it together because she's so strong. He interviews, also tearfully, that she's a wonderful person. Geez! I'm so upset right now. Tim tells her that she's incredibly talented and she seems to be really listening to him and taking it in. She says that she likes to take risks and she's glad she didn't change that about herself. Bye, Amy. I'll miss you to pieces.