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The group is seriously getting smaller. On the runway, Bert even says that he's surprised that he's still there. This lady from Piperlime.com presents the challenge along with Tim. She says that their inspiration should be the Sophisticated '70s (which my mother would say is an oxymoron). The winning design will be produced and sold by Piperlime.com. Kimberly is inspired by a picture of her mother who was a secretary in the '70s and absolutely adorable. Like, sick cute. Laura feels super confident about this challenge, though no less nasal. It's like her voice is moving further up her forehead the longer this competition continues.
At Mood, Anya LOSES HER MONEY. She had this envelope stuffed in her cleavage and it just disappears. None of these designers would take it and not give it back, would they? So, they don't find it and Tim tells Anya that her options are to ask her fellow designers if they have any money left over and/or use muslin. She is, naturally, sickened by the thought. That said, if anyone can survive by asking others for help, it's her. Funnily enough, the only person who has change is the person she's watching pay -- Anthony. He gives her 11 dollars and she gets super minimal supplies. Tim points out that she was very generous during the last challenge, giving away fabric to everyone. When they get back to the workroom, everyone is sufficiently shamed into helping Anya (maybe I'm just being cynical) and everybody gives her the fabrics that they are not using. Except for Viktor. He's in the "This is a competition" mindset. He also doesn't trust Josh, who he feels is sucking ideas out of all the others. Paranoia will destroy ya', Mon Frere.
Poor Anya and the dyeing and choices and dyeing. It's so stressful. Anya and Laura and Kimberly have apparently made a pact to tell each other if they think the other is off-track, and Anya and Laura feel that Kimberly is going off the rails with her boring print. But, they say nothing. Josh copies a pleat in the back Viktor's garment. SCANDAL. It's fun watching Josh go immediately from front runner to like obvious pariah.
On the second day, Tim tells the designers that they will have to create a second look that is one piece. They get 50 bucks for this one, so Anya isn't completely out of luck. Everybody feels that Josh is way off-base. Tim even tells him to worry less about his story and more about the clothes.
Poor thing, Anya is sewing until beyond the last minute. Olivia Palermo, guest editor at Piperlime.com, is the guest judge. Oh God, ya'll, some of these clothes. It's bad. Suddenly, they start mentioning the model's names. OK, so Anya's work just isn't bad to me. In fact, it's easily my favorite pair of looks. Kimberly is the only person to make it to the round without being judged.
Everybody goes apeshit over Viktor's stuff. Josh's multi-piece look gets DESTROYED. Heidi says that it's one of the worst things that she has seen in a long time. Nina says that he has an editing problem that is not going away. Anthony gets slammed for not being fancy enough. Anya gets praise for pulling out a chic look on very little money! Bert gets kudos as well. Backstage, Josh gets really upset when the other designers suggest that he perhaps know something about fashion history. ANYA WINS THE CHALLENGE. I'm so happy right now. Her second look is the one that is going to be produced for Piperlime.com. Bert's second look is getting produced too! Laura, Anthony and Josh are in the bottom. It comes down to Anthony and Josh. Anthony is out! Heidi seems really sorry to tell him that he's out. She says that he was cute when he walks away. He is such a good sport. Tim cries about Anthony leaving!
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously:The designers made a group of burly classic rockers look like characters from a basic cable children's show. Seared on my brain. Olivier was sent home to think about whether or not he wants to live on the planet or perhaps amongst a group of perfectly proportional robots or pillows or something.
It is so getting down to the line now. The designers have their obligatory -- I'll miss him/her but this is a competition so they can rot in hell -- moment, then it's off to Parson's. Heidi also points out how the group is dwindling. She asks if anyone is surprised that they are still there and Bert raises his hand, which makes everyone laugh. Heidi says that confidence is important. Bert says that he's confident but still surprised. That's pretty honest, no? Laura interviews that everyone there knows how to construct clothing now, so succeeding in a challenge is about having good trips to Mood and a good taste level. There is nothing untrue about that statement, but that doesn't stop me from thinking about how smug Laura seems most of the time. Heidi says that, for their challenge, they are going to need to look to the past for inspiration. Everyone kind of feigns interest. In fact, there's an blanket of fatigue over this whole thing, even Heidi. They all seem exhausted. They are sent to the workroom to meet with Tim and a special guest. From the past? Crossing my fingers for Anne Boleyn.
The designers find Tim in the workroom with Heather Archibald, head apparel buyer at piperlime.com. Heather is real pretty and appears to be one of those people that really has their shiz together. Right off the bat, Tim tells the designers that the winning design will be manufactured and sold on piperlime.com. Everybody is super excited about that. Heather tells the designers that piperlime customers are very trend focused and one of the trends for Fall that they've been focusing on is the revival of the Sophisticated '70s. I guess those existed. Anthony is not excited. The rocker challenge was sort of '70s adjacent as well and that was a complete disaster. Oh what a disaster. I'm still haunted. Heather lists wide-legged trousers and silky tie-front blouses as '70s looks that are making a resurgence. Heather thinks that the '70s woman was strong and feminine. Tim tells the designers that dossiers of '70s looks will be provided for them. He reminds them that this is a SOPHISTICATED '70s look that they are trying to create, not vintage or retro. He reminds them about how the last challenge went. Tim, seriously, there is no way any of us can ever forget that. Bert asks Heather how they feel about prints and she says that consumers really respond to prints and scale on piperlime.com. They will have 30 minutes to sketch, then it's off to Mood.
Josh doesn't know anything about the '70s, because he never lived in that time. Oh, they should change the challenge then. Josh doesn't have lived-in experience with the time period he's supposed to be revisiting. That's how it's done, right? We only reference things that we remember? Dumb. Kimberly is using a photo of her mother from the '70s, when she was a secretary, as inspiration. It's adorable and looks just like Kimberly. She's doing a sexy secretary. Viktor's going '70s safari. Laura says that this challenge is totally her because she's a '70s glam sort of girl. I don't really see that, but OK. They all complain about how little money they have for the challenge. Anthony feels confident about the challenge, because he thinks he'll be able to show who he is.
At Mood, the designers take their 100 bucks and get to work. Everybody's looking for prints. Laura interviews that everyone is choosing earthy tones, while she has something more vibrant. Anthony is having a problem finding a print that he wants, but luckily just finds one sitting on the cutting table. I'm assuming they have to check around in this circumstance to make sure that no one else has gotten the same print, right? THEN -- Anya loses her freaking money. It's in a little envelope tucked in her neckline, then it isn't. Everybody searches for it, including some Gay FBI-hot Mood employees. You know Josh is buying a new body hair trimmer with that damn money. So Anya doesn't have any money and Tim tells her that she can either borrow money from the other designers or she can use muslin for the challenge. Laura thinks that they'll let Anya check out anyway, but Kimberly reminds them that the earlier they powers that be were all, "If you lose your money, that's it." Anya has tears running out of her face but still does not get freaked out. This girl could run the world.
Ultimately, Anthony has 11 dollars left over. Funnily enough, only the person that she watches check out has any money left over. I guess it's a competition and all that. So, Anthony gives her the money and she is able to pull one piece of fabric, as well as a zipper and some buttons. In front of all the designers, Tim says to poor Anya, who has mascara running down her face, that he remembers how generous she was with everyone during the last challenge. She apparently gave away tons of fabric (not that it helped anyone) and she says that she felt like a "mini-Mood." Laura says that they will do whatever they can to help her. Tim says that this is another "Project Runway first" and Anya says that, of course, it would be her that did this. She thought Bert would be the one to lose his money first. She interviews that she doesn't know what the hell she's going to do.
At the workroom, everyone gives Anya their leftover supplies. Viktor interviews that he would like to help her, but he can't. I like Viktor a lot and think that he's maybe going to win this whole thing, but that's so gross. If you really think that your success could be determined by whether or not you let someone use some fabric you aren't using, you've got larger problems, like not being a better designer than other people. You should be thinking about that instead...which I actually think he is. It's just an additional, crabby part of his personality that I wish weren't there.
Tim comes in and says that he's moved by the support that they've given to Anya and she agrees that it was very sweet. He reminds all of them that their looks need to have the Wow Factor needed for runway, but also keep their minds on the fact that the winning look will need to be put into production. Tim leaves and they get to work and Anya is still crying. Laura says, not very believably, that she's good and maybe this is a challenge where she'll end up doing something really great. She doesn't even pay Laura any mind and I don't blame her. She interviews that this challenge requires them to be dynamic and fashion-forward, everything that muslin is not. Muslin is corn flakes, she says. It takes magic to do something really special with muslin and she's not sure where that magic dust will be coming from.
Viktor asks Bert if something is '70s-inspired and he asks if he's the history source now. He interviews that he has a leg up in this challenge, not because he was alive and of age in the '70s, but because he is familiar with the kind of marketing that this challenge will need. He's using a lot of color because he says that you have to be able to catch the consumer. Anthony wants to duplicate the ease of the '70s. Josh is afraid of going to glam disco with his interpretation of the '70s. At least he's aware of it. Laura feels very comfortable with the period, in fact, she's wearing vintage right now.
Josh visits Viktor's work space and asks him about what he's doing. Viktor interviews that he can't trust Josh because he thinks that he's squeezing the ideas of others into his own work. Seriously, this guy is paranoid. He says that he's tired of helping Josh and ads, "I ain't driving you no more, Miss Daisy. You do it." I mean, I get it? But, it's just a really unattractive look, this cynical grumpy thing. Anya starts trying to dye muslin and she's having a really hard time. Bert thinks that Anthony has chosen really inappropriate fabrics. His prints say "trip to the mall" or "we're going to bury something in the woods." Heh. He actually said that last part. And, he didn't even seem particularly mean-spirited about it, which makes me wonder (and believe) that Bert actually knows people who have specific outfits for when they go to bury things in the woods. I find this fascinating and need to know more.
Laura asks Viktor what he thinks of her look. He thinks the prints from the skirt and top maybe clash. She seems surprised by this. She tells him to picture the top being filled by her model and her boobies, but Viktor is like, "No thank you" when boobies are involved. Laura and Anya wonder what Kimberly is doing. Laura thinks that her pants look like they come from JC Penney and her print for her top is not fashion-forward or any of that nonsense. Viktor doesn't think they should tell her. Maybe he's just completely self-sufficient. But, he acts like this helping of other people is some sort of cheating and I don't believe that. Laura says that they made a pact, the three girls, to share with each other when they thought the other was veering off course. Anya, however, justifies not telling her by reminding Laura that they don't have much time and they don't want Kimberly to not believe in what she's making. Laura thinks that Kimberly's look is 9 to 5 and I'd really like to know just what in the hell is wrong with that.
Kimberly is talking to Viktor about his safari jacket, then coyly says that she likes his pleat on the back. He wonders what she's talking about and she whispers, "It's become popular." Then, they turn around and we see that Josh has the same pleat on the back of his blouse! Scandal! It actually is sort of egregious. He says that he can copy him all he want, he'll still be better. Now that's the attitude!
The morning, they're all working hard when Tim arrives. He tells them that they will have to create another look for the challenge, one that is only one piece. They will have $50 for the new look. Laura is having problems with that tiny budget. Kimberly is behind with sketching the new look, because she needs to finish her first look. Anya and Bert and even Laura pin their money to their shirts.
At Mood, they're all pinching pennies. Back at Parson's, they start to work on their new looks. Tim visits for consultations. He speaks to Anthony and wonders if his look is a little too old. Anya gets a thumbs up. Laura thinks that Bert's look is Roller Barbie, but Tim isn't so damning. He thinks that it will either get kudos or be hated. Viktor's safari jacket doesn't seem safari enough for Tim. Josh's looks, which Anya thinks are completely confusing, seem to flummox Tim as well. Josh says some junk about wanting to mimic the androgyny of the times. Really? I guess you could make that argument, but Tim thinks he should watch out with the stories. The clothes should speak for themselves. Tim reminds Laura that Nina is pissy about her taste level. Honestly, can I just say that there are few things in the world that I think would bother me as much as someone saying they weren't a fan of my taste level. That's probably pretty shallow, but it's true. Laura says that she's not concerned with her brand pleasing Nina, but for this show, she needs to do that. She says that she's never heard anything about her taste level before and sometimes she thinks her taste is too refined. Viktor shoots a look at her when she says that. It's good.
The models come in for a fitting and Bert's girl says that she feels like Charlie's Angels in her outfit. Bert helps Josh with this weird bunching thing. He says it's just like putting on a.... Josh acts like he's offended (the joke was clearly that it was like putting on a condom) but Bert's laughs and is like, "What? A sock! I meant a sock!" Oh these two. The history they have. Anthony asks Anya what she thinks about his looks and she apparently says that she would buy every single piece. Hmm. Anya is having time issues.
The morning, it's the day of the show! Kimberly has made a list of things that she needs to finish and there's something about that I find adorable. Tim sends in the models. Anya is still putting her pieces together. At hair and make-up, Bert says he wants his girl to be Shelley Hack. Amazing. Daddy make-up guy is wearing a wedding ring. God bless, New York. Kimberly has to start sewing at the last minute. She has really grown on me a lot. She has to hand sew her model into her outfit without a zipper. Wait, no, ANYA is really sewing until the last minute. Like almost the last moment entirely.
Heidi greets the designers on the runway. She reminds everyone that there will be only six designers after this challenge. Heidi looks so pretty right now. She introduces Michael, Nina and guest judge Olivia Palermo, who is evidently a guest editor at piperlime.com. She's a beautiful lady, but I still have lots of residual dislike for her from her days on MTV or wherever. Looks like she's doing something with herself though. Good on her.
The show begins with Kimberly's first look. It's this loose version high-necked '70s blouse. It bares a little midriff and is coupled with a pencil skirt. I don't mind the print at all, but the cut of this thing is a little cray cray. It seems like there is so much fabric! Her second look is a jumpsuit in gray with a black belt and a little cut-out at the belly. It's very cute. There's some really nice tailoring on this thing.
is Anthony's look. No. Gross. This burnt orange mess of a skirt and a top. It's hideous. Over it is this black and white tweed print jacket that is so gross. It's not even old. It's blind. The look is a maxi dress that is simple in its design but comfortable and easy.
Here's Bert's look. He has this shimmering chiffon one-shouldered top over hot pants and a skirt of the same translucent fabric. The shorts are a little short but the top is cute. Heidi asks Michael if he saw that booty and he replies, as if someone had just told him that he was being audited, "I did." The look is a simple sleeveless dress with a Grecian draping feel. There's a thin rope belt at the waist
Laura's look is . She has a fitted sleeveless top with black and white chevrons over a maxi skirt in a green and black floral print. The back of the top has a racer strap. Eh. I don't mind the fabric mix so much, but I think it only works from the front. And, maybe it needed some sort of sleeve. I tend to like a mix of patterns, but I don't know. Her second look is a jumper with spaghetti straps. The top is gray and the bottoms is loose and black. Laura loves this.
Oh my. Here's Josh's look. He made a tailored pant and a "man's" tuxedo shirt. A man who wears hot pink and black and I'm not saying I don't but let's not go calling that a "man's" shirt. The pants... this black and white plaid, they are so completely wrong. They're horrible. They just take this lovely woman's body and makes it look malformed. The dress is a rip-off of mid-'90s Versace, a long flowing dress with constructed bodice and straps. This just doesn't seem '70s to me at all.
Anya is and thank God. With her 11 dollars, she made some kick-ass high-waisted pants that are flowing and wide-legged. With muslin, she made this scoop-necked top that has a really sexy fit. There's a lot of pleating at the shoulders and vertically on the back. It's really lovely. Bert says that's not bad for 18 dollars and she reminds him that it was only 11. The model is also wearing a wide belt and it's perfect. So, all of the designers are mentioning their models by name and talking about them as if they were humans. I wonder why that is. Anya's look is a jumpsuit that is super drape-y with very wide legs. The neckline plunges to the waistband of the piece and there is see-through fabric on the back. Anya loves it and it really is great. Can you believe it?
Viktor's girl comes out and it's his safari jacket with matching fitted pants. Everything looks great, but he wishes that you could see the shirt underneath better. is a dress that matches the shirting fabric that you can't see under the jacket. It's sleeveless and fitted on the bodice with a low neckline. It's really pretty. The skirt is asymmetrical with a white petticoat layer peeking out from below the black. Also very cute. Viktor is very happy and says for the cameras that the '70s are back. We could have done without that, couldn't we have?
After the show, Kimberly is the only person who is called forward. She made it to the round. Laura has not won Nina over. Heidi doesn't like the prints together. Neither does Nina. She doesn't think that her second look would pop enough online for people to buy it. Michael doesn't think it's fashion. Nina asks Laura if she would wear this. She, of course, says that she would.
Heidi doesn't think that Viktor's suit is sexy enough. They take the jacket off and end up loving the t-shirt underneath. Nina thinks that the suit was a little conservative. Olivia loves the pants of the suit. Michael appreciates that Viktor is wearing snakeskin print pants and a bowtie, just like the fabric on his tee and dress. I'm not sure how I feel about those things.
Josh says that he wanted to go masculine with his first look. Michael thinks the two looks are schizophrenic. Michael hates the ass of the pants. Heidi says it's one of the worst outfits that she has seen in a long time. She doesn't understand how he can put so many different elements in one outfit. He says that's him and she says that's scary. He says it's not scary and he puts his heart and soul into these garments. Did he just have his teeth whitened? They are seriously out of control. Heidi says that it's nice that he has heart, but if it doesn't translate, tough shit. Olivia thinks that the mix of leopard and that gross plaid on his first look doesn't work. Josh looks at her like she's a complete asshole, but girl is right. Nina haaaates the choice of fabric. She likes that he takes risks, but he has an edit problem that's not going away.
Heidi is stunned that Anya made her first look for 11 dollars. She likes the print of the second look. Michael doesn't like the color she ended up with on the top. Nina loves the print that Anya used and thinks that people would respond to it online.
Anthony's first look gets slammed by Olivia. She thinks that it needs sleeves. The second look she thinks looks like a tent. Nina thinks it looks cheap. Michael likes the hippie '70s take, but thinks the fit on the skirt is gross. Heidi thinks that both of his girls look boring. Nina agrees and adds that they're part of a cult. Michael says they're hippie sister wives. Anya laughs which she should be ashamed of! That's the guy who gave you your money! That said, that's the funniest joke Michael Kors has told in three seasons.
Bert says that his first look is supposed to be like Shelley Hack in old Charlie ads and his second look is like Candice Bergen. Heidi likes the shirt. Everybody thinks that the shorts are a little too long. Michael likes his top with the first look because women like to show their shoulders.
Backstage, Josh tells Kimberly that he missed the mark. He complains that he didn't have time to research (though that's what the dossiers were for, yes?). He says he was BARELY born in the '80s! Viktor says that he was born in 1980, but still watched movies and looked at pictures or whatever. Josh gets upset and says that not everyone grew up like Viktor (no, as a younger person, you spent even MORE time with the internet, Josh. Freaking photos of every period in the history of photography are at your fingertips. You have even less of an excuse than not growing up in the era) and says that Viktor's getting aggressive with him. Funny, his response seems like the most aggressive thing we've seen today. Kimberly says that she imagines what Viktor is trying to say is that it's up to them as designers to be aware of what happened at different times. Josh just gets up and walks away.
The judges confer. They really hated Josh's looks. Olivia thinks that he needs to be able to take criticism. Also, she says the girl wearing Josh's pants would not be getting laid. They think that Anthony's looks would photograph really poorly. Laura's looks seem unflattering. Again, ugly online. Heidi is impressed with Anya's effort. All the lady's say they would wear the jumpsuit. Michael says it was cut really, really well. Michael even concedes that maybe he would wear the jumpsuit. They think that Bert's looks would photograph really well. Olivia liked the silver ends on the belt on Bert's dress. Heidi and Nina are thinking that maybe they're going to see Viktor in Fashion Week. Michael thinks that he created two different sides of the '70s.
The designers return to the stage. Heidi says that this was a hard decision today. Anya... is the winner! Viktor seems just a little pissed and Bert mumbles (cause that's what Bert does) "I can't believe it." Her jumpsuit is going to be sold online. She says that she feels great about the win. Kimberly screams backstage when she finds out that Anya won. Olivia tells Bert that they want to sell his dress as well. Viktor is in.
Laura is in, but Heidi tells her that she really missed the mark. It's down to Anthony and Josh. His separates were unattractive and his dress was shapeless. Josh's looks were overdesigned as usual and didn't reflect the '70s. Josh is... in. Boo. Anthony gives him a hug before he leaves the stage. Heidi seems really upset to see him go. "He was cute," she says after he leaves.
Backstage, Anthony tries to hold it together but there are still some tears. Anya starts first. Anthony says that he doesn't feel like he got to show exactly who he is on the show, but he's proud of his effort. He says to the guys that they all want to make it to the final three but they all can't. That's when he starts crying. Sad. Tim comes in and says that the seven of them there are the Project Runway Olympics. They are all excellent designers. He says that he hopes Anthony is as proud of himself as he is of him. Then, he gives him a hug and he's all choked up. GOD, Tim, that's so touching. He touches his heart and tells Anthony that it's hard (not his heart, the watching him go). Anthony says that this is just a bump in the road for him. Anthony says that his success will be determined by how he runs with this middle ground of not winning or losing. Interesting.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com or followed on Twitter at @jblong.