Each designer has nine thousand clams to design their collections. Of course, only one of Jay or Mila will get to show at Bryant Park. Tim tells the designers that he's very proud of them. Also, he will be visiting them when they are at home. Emilio, believe it or not, is sure that he will win the whole thing. All of the designers leave each other on ostensibly good terms.
Tim visits Seth Aaron in Washington. While Tim is impressed with his work, he tells him that he won't win because it's the same thing he did during the competition. Seth Aaron was stunned, but he takes it pretty well. Tim asks Seth Aaron's wife how they met -- he was the boy door. Obviously, right? Oh shit, Seth Aaron bounces the shit out of Tim on his trampoline. I'm not sure what to say about that.
, Tim visits Emilio and meets his brothers who are apparently the most important thing to evil Emilio. Tim notices all of the color in Emilio's collection. There's a whole bunch of STUFF. They get heated. Tim tells him that his work is not up to snuff. Emilio interviews that Tim's not a woman and doesn't get it.
Then, Tim goes to visit Mila in Los Angeles. She tells him that shadows are her inspiration. Tim notes that it's black and white but still likes it. She says Jay's a little shit and annoying and doesn't want to lose to him. We see pictures from Mila's past -- she hasn't changed. And, her boyfriend is a gay man.
Lastly, Tim visits Jay in San Francisco. Jay says that he's inspired by Japanese Samurai. Tim is apprehensive about some of it, but loves some of it too. Jay says he doesn't have to worry about Mila. He cries in an interview about wanting to give back to his parents.
Back in New York, the designers meet in a hotel suite. Jay's a bit of a bitch about sharing a room with Mila. Seth Aaron and Emilio arrive and are very confident. The day, Tim tells Mila and Jay that they have to show their three strongest looks -- that day. Tears. All of their stuff looks pretty good. Mila is in! I am stunned.
Previously: The designers had their final challenge. They were to create circus-inspired runway looks. Seth Aaron and Emilio got through to Fashion Week. Anthony got the boot. Jay and Mila have to create collections, then compete for the final Fashion Week spot.
Here we are! We've made it to Shangri-La. Oh Bryant Park, hold these designers to your bosom. They are weary and in need of gift bags. We don't get an early morning windowsill pondering for this episode. It starts at the runway. Heidi enters and congratulates the four designers for making it to Fashion Week. Seth Aaron stands and does some hip-thrusting action in Jay's face in the spirit of celebration. She tells them that they will be sent home with nine thousand dollars and they will have four months to work on their collections. She reminds Mila and Jay that they will both be creating collections, but only one of them will be showing at Fashion Week. They will have to show three looks from their collections for judging. That sounds like a long way to go to be told no, but I'm sure they would still be able to have someone look at their collection, right? The person that doesn't make it, that is.
Then, Heidi welcomes Tim to the stage. The designers applaud. They really make the designers clap a lot. Anyway, Tim tells the designers that he is exceptionally proud of each of them. "Look where you are?" he exclaims with arms extended in first position, his hands telling us exactly how proud he is. He tells them that he will be visiting each of them as they are working on their collections. Heidi tells them that she wishes them luck and can't wait to see them at Fashion Week. Then, she and Tim escort each other behind the scrim, where they do a little booty bump. Heidi is really pregnant.
At the Atlas building, as she is packing, Mila says that she and Jay both of strong points-of-view, but hers is better. She smiles and says that she has to make sure that she beats Jay. As he's packing, we hear Jay says that his mind is boggled that he has made it this far. Then, Seth Aaron comes in, play tackles him and locks him in a place he hasn't been for a while, the closet. That joke makes me sound like Joan Rivers. Hack much? Why, yes, I do. As Jay steps out of the closet (cannot stop), he interviews that he knows he has what it takes to beat Mila and win the competition.
As Emilio is packing, he tells all of the "bitches' that they will be going down at Bryant Park. He interviews that, "from my first day at the competition, I know [sic] what I'm doing for Bryant Park." Can someone tell me where the hell Emilio is from? He doesn't really have much of an accent, but he flubs tenses and pluralities like Gerard Depardieu. I know he speaks Spanish. That is all. He tells us that his collection is going to be another showstopper. Then, he tells Seth Aaron to not forget his purse. Lots of purse talk from Emilio this season. Either there's some sort of inside joke that we were not made privy too, or emasculating his fellow male designers by describing them as purse-carriers was a tactic of his. Actually, after writing that last part, I'd kind of admire him if he did that. That's some Wendy Pepper shit right there.
We see Seth Aaron scrambling to pack. He interviews that his collection will be true to his aesthetic and will be "not boring." And, fuck yeah, he thinks he can win this brioche. Downstairs on the sidewalk, all of the designers hug and say that they will see each other at Fashion Week. Then, they walk off camera, presumably to the curb where they wait anticlimactically for cabs.
Cut to three months later, Tim is flying into Vancouver, Washington. Tim is shot walking down the middle of a street in Vancouver as he VO's that he is on his way to check out Seth Aaron's collection. And, he didn't have a rental car or anything. Tim had to walk from the airport. And, Vancouver doesn't have sidewalks. Seriously, Lifetime, green screen this shit if you have to, but this feels really contrived. It's ridiculous. "Just let us get a shot of you just like walking down the middle of the street, Tim. We'll watch for traffic." I understand that we're all really stupid and apparently need visual clues a la Dora the Explorer, but I'm certain that there was a more authentic and still interesting way to do that. We come upon a little cottage with a "Beware of the Squirrel" sign in the yard. He knocks on a red door and Seth Aaron answers. He seems really excited to see Tim and gives him a big hug.
Seth Aaron interviews that he's glad to see Tim and excited to show him his collection. He takes Tim into a room that resembles a Tim Burton film or a lesbian leather club, if there is even such a thing. What would it be called? I'm guessing The Barbed Wire. Or, Spanks. Seth Aaron has already completed fifteen pieces. Tim marvels at the shear volume of work, to which Seth Aaron responds that his goal is to take twenty pieces to New York and edit there. Tim says that he hasn't seen anything like it in Project Runway history. Seth Aaron says that it's not enough for him to win, he wants to stomp the competition.
Most of the stuff is what you've come to expect from Seth Aaron. There's a lot of volume and leather and tchotchkes. As he's describing one look, he tells Tim that he likes the idea of a little skin showing but otherwise very covered. That's interesting. We didn't really see any skin at all from Seth Aaron this season. Even his red carpet looks were oddly modest. Tim finds it beautiful. He goes through the rest of the looks that he has made and Tim regards all of it very thoughtfully. Then, he breathes and tells Seth Aaron that he could show the collection as is and it would be successful. It's cohesive and people unfamiliar with him would be impressed. However, he won't win. He tells Seth Aaron that numerous designers have created lovely collections for Bryant Park that still didn't surprise the judges. It was too similar to the work that they created during the challenges.
You know, that's a real conundrum. Because what Tim's saying is true and it's an honest assessment of the theatrical moment that a designer's collection at Fashion Week is supposed to be. The Project Runway arc is supposed to be this culmination of worker bee moments that finally explode into this creative metamorphosis butterfly thing in a Bryant Park tent. That was seriously the most mixed metaphor. But, anyway, it's a bit of theatre and the judges aren't susceptible to the emotion that. In fact, they crave it. That said, how can you be true to yourself as a designer, this show's and ESPECIALLY this season's mantra, and not have all of your stuff bear some similarity to the other things you have created during the season? If it's all completely surprising, you'd have to be a complete schizophrenic in order for it to always be true to you. Which you? Oh, that one. It almost makes the theatricality an inauthentic part of the experience, like a politician needing to be telegenic in order to win an election.
Tim goes further and points out that many looks in his current collection have all of the elements that are considered "classic" Seth Aaron. Nothing is surprising. Tim says that he needs to dig deep and stretch himself. Seth Aaron asks him if he thinks that any of it works and Tim tells him that he would prefer he completely re-conceptualize the collection. Wha? Tim just fell out the crazy tree. That's insane! Between now and Bryant Park, Tim expects most of the current collection to "go away." Lordy.
Seth Aaron is stunned. He interviews that he wasn't expecting to be told to start over. Half of his money is gone and over half of his time is gone. Tim says that he needs to find another level of himself, so that something new and exciting emerges but still identifiably Seth Aaron. That's the conundrum. That's subjective, both sides of the coin. You could argue any combination of yea or nay regarding the new and Seth Aaron parts of that riddle. Tim says that he knows Seth Aaron can do it, which is why he's pushing him. I believe that.
There's an uncomfy silence, then Seth Aaron says that his wife and kids are dying to meet Tim. He laughs and asks if Seth Aaron still wants him to meet them after that difficult talk! Yes, he does. Seth Aaron says that he has been going full steam, but maybe it will benefit him to slow down and think about things and start over. Egads. I can hardly stand starting over a list, much less a fashion collection.
In Seth Aaron's living room, his family has congregated. Tim asks his teenage children, Megan and Aaron, how they feel about what their father is doing. They're excited. Tina, his wife, says that she told the kids they're going to have to go to counseling to know how to deal with all of this. Everyone laughs, but that's probably not a bad idea. Tim is sitting to Carol, Tim's mother, who is possessed of a red vest and a kicky little white asymmetrical hairdo. Granny look good.
Tim asks Tina how she and Seth Aaron met and she says that he was the boy door. We see old shots of them at their wedding and pics of them when they were younger. Is Seth Aaron a natural blonde? I think I may like that better than his current look. It makes the normal lines on his face from being a grown-up and being a lean dude look harsher than they need to look. That's all. Seth Aaron interviews that being away from his family has been hard, but he has been doing this for them, in order to give them a better life.
Now, the family plays a friendly game of Pictionary. Megan's at the easel. Tim guesses frantically and, at one point, throws out "fallopian tubes." Oh, Tim. Yes, 14-year old Megan was drawing fallopian tubes. Wrong. It was a stethoscope. Then, Seth Aaron says that he has something special for Tim. Cut to, Tim, Aaron and Seth Aaron mounting a trampoline in his backyard. "Papa Gunn's on the tramp!" exclaims Seth Aaron. Then, he and Aaron each hold one of Tim's hands and jump on the trampoline until Tim collapses under his previously undiagnosed glass ankles. Or, one of the squirrels attacks him. I'm frankly too busy laughing and crying to really figure it out. Tim Gunn just got tramped! The only thing better would have been if he'd just been bounced off the thing all together. Not that I wish any ill on Tim Gunn, but GOD HELP ME, I love it when people fall. It's a genetic thing. My mom and dad almost got divorced at the beginning of their marriage because she couldn't stop laughing whenever he hurt himself. We're nice people and not proud of this trait. Seriously, my mother fell down a flight of stairs twice in one day and I was HYSTERICAL. I'm practically weeping right now just thinking about it. It's a huge character flaw and it provides me with more joy than just about anything in this life. I realize that there is a show you're waiting to read about, but I just lost myself. OK, I'm under control. I need a safe word for that sort of stuff. I'm going to use "mango." Seth Aaron says that it was wonderful to have Tim spend time with his family. Before leaving, Tim tells Seth Aaron to think and reflect and work slowly.
, Tim is in New York to visit Emilio. They are walking in some park in Manhattan underneath some bridge. Emilio says that he's excited for Tim to meet his brothers because his family is the most important thing in his life. In the park, Tim meets Nicholas and Filipe. He asks them how they feel about Emilio and they say they are proud. "How proud?" pushes Emilio. He's such a charmer. "Very proud," they answer happily. One of the brothers says that Emilio is the hardest worker he knows. Emilio adds that they got their work ethic from their parents, then he interviews that his father came from the Dominican Republic with only one relative in New York. I guess that answers my question about where Emilio is from. It's funny, he doesn't really have any accent -- it's just his conjugation and stuff that reveals that maybe English wasn't his first language. Language is fascinating. Emilio tells Tim that his father worked as a janitor and his mother worked in a factory for thirty years so that he and his brothers could have a better future. We see some super cute photos of the boys when they were little. One of the brothers tells Tim that growing up in the South Bronx during the '70s and '80s was not easy. God, I bet not. We see some footage of the South Bronx during the '70s accompanied by period music. Emilio interviews that his upbringing was very urban and low-income. He saw beauty in the graffiti and was present for the birth of hip-hop.
At Emilio's place, he shows Tim his collection. He says that he was really inspired by color and Tim says he can see that, though it doesn't really seem like a compliment. There's a lot of color up in there. Then, Tim clarifies and says that it's refreshing. Emilio nervously laughs and says that, for Fall looks, other designers usually use a lot of black and gray, but he's thinking... turquoise. OK. Tell me more. Tim asks if his entire collection is a nod to the '40s and Emilio gives a non-committal affirmative, but adds that the color really takes it "to the level." Whatever that truly means. He says that he created a print and shows Tim this very vibrant swatch of fabric. He tells Tim that it's a camouflage of his name.
Emilio says that, for the first time, he believes that Tim is speechless. That won't last forever. He shows something that he calls "spray paint brocade." It's a jacket with a lot of detail and Tim says that the details get lost in the fabric. Emilio, never one to absorb a critique, says that he's designing clothes for his clients, not for the cameras. So, Tim reminds him that the judges will experience his collection by seeing the clothes pass them on a runway. Emilio's rebuttal is that he made a strong showing during the competition ('Indeed you did!" responds Tim) and he thinks the judges know him. Tim insists that he can't go into Fashion Week thinking that will carry him through. This is getting tense. Mango. Emilio counters that he isn't going to not include a detail on a jacket that he wants because of fear of the judges. Tim breaks it down: his point is that Emilio doesn't have a lot of time left and he's not sure that spray paint brocade is worth Emilio's time, but he tells him to do whatever he wants to do.
Emilio interviews that he's designing a collection for women and "as far as he knows," Tim doesn't wear women's clothing. I find that comment offensive on several levels. First of all, I doubt very seriously that Tim looks at clothing as if he were a woman. Secondly, Emilio? Not a woman. There are a few other levels too, I think, but maybe I'm just being too sensitive. Mango. Tim doesn't have a safe word. He tells Emilio that he sees a lack of sophistication in his work and clothes that look old. Emilio interviews that his collection isn't going to have Tim Gunn's name on it. He tells Tim that he sees the big picture in his head and Tim leaves it at that. Emilio concludes that he is confident that his collection is going to knock the socks off of everyone. Then, he and Tim half-jokingly end their consultation with Emilio kicking him out of his apartment and telling him that he'll see him at Bryant Park.
Moving on! Tim goes to Los Angeles now to check on Mila's progress. It's three weeks until Fashion Week. He knocks on her door and Mila seems thrilled to see him. She interviews that she's very excited to show Tim her work. She adds that she's not currently focusing on the three looks that she's showing the judges for her final challenge. She's going to build all of her looks as a cohesive collection and pull the three looks from that. Inside her apartment, she introduces Tim to her Dalmatian, Ziggy. Black and white. That's crazy. She tells Tim that shadows have been an inspiration for her collection. Tim asks if she's sticking to black and white in her collection. She says that there will be black and white (he interrupts her to say, "Of course there will be!" and laughs and laughs) but she will also be introducing aubergine. Tim says, just to be clear, that it's a black and white collection with spots of color. But, he thinks it's her.
She interviews that she knows she's taking a risk by not using much color, but she's committed to it. She shows Tim a coat that he thinks is beautiful. There's one look that she says she's having a problem with and she thinks it's maybe too conservative. Tim says that he's feeling that way about a lot of her collection. He even finds it a little matronly. Ziggy's ears perk up at that. She interviews that no way is her stuff matronly. Tim points out how chic and fabulous Mila is. Her collection needs to exude the same feeling. She interviews that her work is not as crazy as a lot of the designers' work in the competition, but she's ready to defend her choices.
Jay shows him this very interesting kimono jacket. Tim loves the bodice and the wrap. However, the sleeves are these basket weave sort of armor looking things. Tim feels that it's gimmicky and screams student work. Jay interviews that he wanted to vomit when Tim said that last part. He doesn't want his collection to look like he was pushing the drama too hard. Tim reminds him that he and Mila are going up against each other. He says that he's not worrying about that part, because he has the ball on his side. His metaphor. Jay interviews with a laugh that he doesn't have to worry about Mila. Pride cometh before a Nina Garcia critique, my friend. He adds that he already knows that he's going to beat her.
He shows Tim a complicated vest contraption that Tim loves, but... what do you wear it with? Overall, Tim says that there is a lot of beautiful elements in his collection, but they same to just get a little bit... cuckoo. Jay corrects him, "It's Cuckoo Chanel, girl." Shut the fuck up. That was the most amazing line of the season. Tim agrees and laughs heartily.
Touchy feely time. Tim goes to Jay's place to meet his parents and partner, Rolondo. Speaking of, whatever happened to Rolonda Watts? I'm dating myself right now. IMDB tells me that she has been working steadily in soaps. Good for her. And, thanks to Jay's life for reminding me of that fine journalistic talent. In other news, what are we going to do when Oprah goes off the air? Exactly how am I supposed to live my best life without her?
Anyway, Jay's mom is cooking and the kitchen is the most beautiful vibrant blue. Tim meets Jay's dad and aunt and they all sit down to eat. Jay says that these people are all very supportive of him. His father doesn't know anything about Fashion Week but is still very proud of him. Jay's mom announces that she can sew dresses and pants -- and taught Jay's dad how to do it as well! Jay says that, when he was growing up in the Philippines, his parents had to work very hard so that he could pursue his dreams. It makes him feel guilty. His mother leads a toast saying that Jay's perseverance and talent and courage have made him an amazing fashion designer and she will pray for him to do well. Oh, that's really sweet. Jay tearfully interviews that winning Project Runway would allow him to pay his parents back for all of their hard work. His aunt says that if Jay can dream it, he can do it. And, they all toast!
Oh, game on, it's Fashion Week in New York City. Mila arrives at the Westin and says that it feels amazing to be back in New York. She says that her adrenaline is going because she wants to show her whole collection, not just three pieces. Here's a thing: won't the drama for whoever wins the Mila/Jay showdown be lost on the judges since they will have already seen a chunk of their collection? It's already apparently impossible for them to put aside that any of the work is similar to earlier work of a designer. There will be no surprise! She's the first to arrive in the suite and says she has never stayed anywhere like this. "This is what it must be like at the top!" I don't want to be rude, but... that's not the top. The Westin is not the top. Sorry, Westin.
Jay is the to arrive. He's happy to be back, but is thinking about his showdown with Mila. He's confident that he's more relevant than Mila. When he enters the suite, it's weird. Mila interviews that she can feel the awkwardness, especially when it's revealed that they'll be roommates. Jay just responds in an interview with a gaping mouth.
Jay tells Mila it's weird talking to her, because they never really talked before. Mila says that she knows she can be a little hard, but that was the byproduct of the stress of the competition. She rightly points out that everyone handles pressure differently. Jay says that it's nice to see this side of her, which I find to be a touch condescending. She says that she's not such a bad guy and he responds by saying that the conversation feels really intense to him. She says it's nice though and he reluctantly agrees. He interviews that he needs to get over their "drama" (seriously, this constitutes drama? Santino Rice is coughing up sequins and control-top panty hose right now) in order to concentrate on the competition.
Seth Aaron arrives and is excited to show his collection. He listened to Tim's advice and thinks that he will offer a lot of surprises. Emilio arrives and the other three are hiding behind a sofa and jump out to scare him. It doesn't really work. So, Emilio is a complete cipher. He interviews that his consultation with Tim encouraged him to make sure his collection is very young. What Tim sees here will not be what he saw earlier. So he was listening? Gah, this guy confuses me. I think maybe I read him incorrectly or something. Emilio thinks that Seth Aaron looks thinner and appears to take it as a personal affront.
Tim arrives and greets everyone. Jay, smart to get more mileage out his little chestnut, says, "Cuckoo Chanel is back!" Tim says that he's thrilled to be with them. They're in the Presidential Suite. The morning, they will be in the workroom. The pop some bubbly and have a toast. "May the best designer win," proposes Tim. Mila interviews that she is so close to her dream.
The morning, they are in a for real workroom, except Jay and Mila have to share a table. With such a tight fit, Mila says that it's a good thing they're speaking now. Jay laughs and agrees. Tim enters and tells Jay and Mila that they will be presenting their three looks for consideration that day. They're both stunned. They have three hours to fit their models and go through hair and makeup. Seth Aaron actually laughs at their predicament. Their muse models enter as well as other pre-assigned models. Seth Aaron and Emilio help Jay and Mila. Jay's having a problem with a zipper on his accessory. Mila sees that his collection has color and is worried. Mila uses a lot of color in the makeup story, since her collection doesn't have much color. That seems smart. Mila interviews that she gets chills when she thinks of how close she is to Bryant Park. This has been a dream of hers for twenty years. Jay cries that he would be devastated if he didn't make it through. Mila even cries that she can't imagine making it forward, but I almost feel like the producers coaxed those tears to make us like her more.
On the runway, Heidi greets Jay and Mila. She introduces Michael and Nina. Heidi says that both of them are talented. Mila's looks are first. The first look is a long coat of gray with a black lining. It's draping is very modern and beautiful. Underneath is a short dress with a loose fit. There's all this graphic color-blocking with stripes and houndstooth and black. Mila thinks that she has some surprises in her collection, even though it's true to her work. is this striped cloak dress thing. There's interesting pleating in the sleeves that gives it a really elegant volume. Kinda reminds me of Yohji Yamamoto, even the black and white. Her final look is a shimmering silver dress with a severely straight neckline. At the center is a strap that connects to a band around the neck. It's all very Peggy Moffitt, which isn't horrible.
Jay's first look is a short dress of purple. It's fitted with a zipper up the middle. There is interest at the hips, like gills. is a silver blouse with this black shoulder strap/pad/shrug thing, kinda military. He's paired it with some modern slacks that have cool detail, all in black. Lastly, he presents this elaborate high-collared waistcoat. It's black and gray and there is tons of detailing on it. It is paired with red slacks. On the shins of the model are these strappy shin guard things that I personally think are pretty cool. I like that Jay's work doesn't infantilize women. He makes them strong and sexy at the same time. Jay feels that his collection is innovative, fresh, modern and fashion-forward.
Afterwards, the models come out again. Mila says that the shadow was her inspiration. Heidi "actually" likes her looks. She would want to wear all of them. Michael thinks that the first girl actually looks like Mila. He likes that. He thinks that maybe her girls look a little too retro. Nina loves the separates in Mila's collection, but thinks she should try to be more modern. She wonders what she could do with such a narrow point-of-view if she had to make six collections a year. Michael notices some gloves on Mila's last look and asks about them. She designed them and had them made. He thinks that they provide a little bite to the look. She also had some multi-fingered rings produced and Nina thinks they're fantastic. Also, the cowl neck on her second look is removable and Nina likes the look even more without it.
Jay says that he wanted to feminize the samurai look. Heidi says that Jay pumped up the volume with his collection and he thanks her. Michael thinks that the slacks on Jay's second look are extraordinary and represent a lot of work. Uh oh, that could be a "student work" slam. Michael also loves the shin accessory that Jay created. Nina loves Jay's tailoring and innovation, but thinks the silver top and shrug thing are too much. Her favorite look is the first one, because it's simpler. She thinks he needs to edit. Heidi loves the purple dress. She would wear it in a heartbeat. She also loves the shin whatsit. She thinks it should extend to the thigh and connect to a garter belt. Michael laughs and says, you know, maybe if you're Heidi Klum Seal. Heidi does question how cohesive the collection is, since he has so many contrasting fabrics. Michael admires that there is nothing retro about Jay's clothes and we see a little reaction gulp from Mila. He adds that these aren't clothes that could happen at any other time. In regards to the gloves on Jay's models, Heidi asks if he and Mila called and agreed to both make gloves. He responds that they actually didn't talk at ALL before Fashion Week, but have managed to put the drama behind them. Michael laughs and says that they're "dear friends" now. Mila adds that they are also sharing a space. Michael welcomes them to the fashion world.
Heidi says that now they're fighting for the last place at Fashion Week. 'How lovely." That was chilling. Heidi can be scary sometimes. She tells Mila and Jay that they have made judging very difficult. Michael agrees and says that the clothes were made beautifully. It's time for the judges to confer!
Heidi asks who should be at Fashion Week. Michael says Jay. Heidi says Mila. Nina is on the fence. Michael feels like Mila is too retro, while Nina wonders if she can be surprising. Heidi doesn't think being retro is wrong, if there's a twist. She also thinks that Jay had some spot-on pieces. Michael thinks that his dress was perfect. He also loves the shin guards. They all agree that the last jacket was overwrought and wrong. It reminds Michael of a Yiddish word that means "too much." Heidi worries that Jay's work would look over designed, while Mila's look was polished. Michael counters that it's better to start with too much than too little. He begins to make an example of some pants of Jay's, when Heidi stops him and tells him that he's redesigning. He's a designer! That's what he does! That's Michael freaking out, not me. Nina still doesn't know. This is weird. I don't believe her. Michael says that this is tough and adds that this is really about curiosity. Whose work are they most curious to see? This seems to strike a chord with Nina. She knows who she likes, but she's not telling us. They've made their decision.
The designers return to the stage. This is it! Heidi tells both of them that they have done a great job and should be proud of themselves. She says that Mila's work is impeccable, though they worry her line might be too retro. She tells Jay that his work is intriguing but over designed. She says they had to ask themselves who is ready for Fashion Week. Mila is... congratulated! She's in. She thanks them and says it means the world to her. Jay is out. He thanks them for their feedback and Mila hugs him. He interviews that he's numb and shocked. He tells Emilio and Seth Aaron backstage. They hug him and Emilio says, "Don't cry, puppy." Or, papi. I'm not sure. I like puppy better.
The judges give a tip to Mila. Her hair, make-up and styling of her models should be young and modern. She says that she understands. She interviews tearfully that this means the world to her. It means that she's a step closer to her dream. The guys hug her backstage. Tim arrives and says their presentation was fabulous. Jay interviews that his journey on Project Runway has been a validation. Tim sends him to the workroom with a hug and again commends him for a fabulous presentation. He says that there is nothing he should be ashamed of.
As Jay is cleaning his half of a workspace, we see him interview saying that he has proven to the world that he's a talented designer. He is very grateful for this experience. So, that's my other pick of the season and he ALMOST made it to Fashion Week. Well, Fashion Week proper. I'm assuming he had to present his collection as a decoy. In any event, I really enjoyed a lot of the stuff that Jay created, especially at the beginning of the season. I do feel that his stuff became a little overwrought as the competition progressed. And, after the presentation, I do understand how Nina could be more curious about what Mila would do. Almost all of Jay was present on every one of his garments. There is still the feeling that Mila has parts of her remaining to show. I'm sad for the puppy though.
Jeff Long is a writer/actor in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com
Look back at the worst moments of this season and then check back soon for the full recap.
Want to immediately access TWoP content no matter where you are online? Download the free TWoP toolbar for your web browser. Already have a customized toolbar? Then just add our free toolbar app to get updated on our content as soon it's published.