It's getting really real for the designers, now that Anthony (Ryan) is gone. I never could call him Anthony Ryan. It just felt weird. They don't really suit each other, those names. They meet Tim for the challenge and Collier Strong is there! Also, there are a bunch of exotic birds. I'm scared for those birds. This is the Paris Challenge. The designers have to create a couture look that is inspired by a bird. The winner of the challenge will be featured in Marie Claire and will take home 20 grand. Seriously. They have to work in teams of two which, of course, excites no one. But, they are randomly matched with the button bag and it's Anya and Laura, Bert and Josh and Viktor and Kimberly. Everyone seems pleased with their teammate. They are matched with specific birds -- Anya and Laura get a raven, Bert and Josh get a parrot and Viktor and Kimberly get this fluffy pink bird. Tim adds that this is a head-to-head challenge. The people on the teams are actually working against each other. One person from each team will be on top and one person will be on the bottom.
Josh thinks he's more high fashion than Bert. Is that true? Tim tells the designers that they have to make a second version of their look, a read-to-wear look. A cockroach makes an appearance in the workroom and Kimberly freaks OUT. Then, she sews through her finger. Poor thing is not having a good day. She has a moment in the bathroom but pulls it together. Kimberly has had a rough go of it -- her mom, stepdad and brother have all died -- and the stakes in this challenge bring all of that up for her.
Josh decides to scrap his original dress and start over and gets upset that Anya won't lend him any fabric. Tim comes in to consult and gives Kimberly a huge hug and tells her to stop thinking and just feel. She scraps her original idea and ends up with a one-shouldered gown that Viktor feels is a rip-off of his look. On the day of the show, Tim tells the designers that they have to (get to?) choose the favorite of their two looks to walk the runway.
Most Important Moment In This Episode: We learn that the hot make-up daddy's name is Javier. Of course it is.
On the runway, the designers really make a good showing. Everybody loves Anya's look and the designers are getting really antsy about how much praise she gets. Anya, Josh and Kimberly are in the top! Kimberly is in the top! That's awesome. Anya wins again and it makes Josh furious. Not a good sport, that one. Laura and Bert are the bottom two. And, Bert's going home. Heidi says that he's a great designer but botched this challenge.
Previously: When Anya was at Mood, she lost the money for her supplies. It never turned up ever, which is a little odd, don't you think? The other designers, minus Viktor, come together to help her out. She had previously given tons of fabric to other designers, so it's not like she didn't have some good karma coming back to her. Josh says, in an interview that we have never ever, ever seen, that he'd really like to spend some more time with BERT, because he's really a sweet man. Certainly, that's what I think of when I think of what has happened previously on Project Runway, stuff that has never been seen and is totally the opposite of the stuff we have seen. I don't know what I'd do without them refreshing my memory like this. I'm right, right? That has never been seen, Josh talking about lunch dates and craft hours with Bert. Anya won the challenge because she's amazing. She's getting some serious backlash from the other designers. Not Anthony, but, sadly, he got the boot.
It's morning at Atlas. Laura is curling her hair and says to Anya that she is standing by Anthony's dress -- she liked it. I liked it too, but his first look was so awful that I think he was kind of doomed. Coupled with the fact that, while Josh's look was ridiculous, he was taking a bold risk and they don't usually like to punish people too much for that. Laura interviews that Anthony leaving makes real the fact that they are all really talented now and it's every person for themselves, though she has lots of issues with gender and pronouns and the mannequins are all, "Eats, Shoots and Leaves -- minus the eats. We want the other two to happen."
In the boys' apartment, Josh says that the best thing to do (for himself) after the challenge is to put it behind you. Then, Viktor offers that it's like Heidi says, one day you're in and the you're oooot. It's been a while since I've done that. Viktor. There's been this weird inverse reaction for me where the more I like his clothes, the less I like him as a person. He seems so desperate, even as he's doing well. So afraid to see other people get help in any way. He's kind of the opposite of Valerie from last season. She struggled as the season went on but worked hard to recognize the talent around her, while Viktor seems like he's trying to vilify the others in his mind a little bit. Look how cold and tight he seems most of the time now. Granted, he's more successful in the competition than she was, but I imagine that she's a happier person. He seems to have that notion of success as a zero-sum proposition -- there's just only so much to go around. Anya, meanwhile, the absolute opposite of that point-of-view, has the exact attitude I'd want a daughter of mine to have. Treat other people as well as you can and you're own success is up to you -- it doesn't have anything to do with anyone else. That's probably not entirely true, but look what a confident, inspiring person it makes of her? I know that I'm reaching bizarro heights in my worshipful stance about this girl, but I so don't care. He says that Josh is the only competition that he has, but he's a very bad editor. These people are not paying attention. Anya is winning. Just because she came with less sewing experience is not a reason to discount her. In fact, she's probably getting better at it every challenge. I'd be afraid of her. As the boys leave, Viktor makes a remark about how it's always a pleasure to see Tim and the other guys laugh. Sounds like they're not that fond of his critiques?
At Parson's, Heidi greets them. She tells them that, for this challenge, she wants them to spread their wings. Viktor interview that his, "wings are spread, mmkay, girl?" Heidi leaves and everyone thinks this is going to be about skydiving. How horrible. What if they had to sew while falling from the sky? Laura, whose voice is really getting to me -- sorry, that's mean, I just -- she could use some elocution lessons. Tighten up that speech. Anyway, Laura slurs that maybe they'll be designing a skydiving harness or a parachute. This is the challenge when I'd quit modeling if someone came to me and said I'd be jumping from a plane wearing a harness designed by one of these guys.
The designers enter the workroom to find several exotic birds on perches. Kimberly is not into this. She's a city girl and does not like closeness with animals. Collier Strong is there too! You see, Collier is the consulting make-up artist for L'Oreal Paris. The birds are supposed to serve as inspiration for a high fashion look. The winning design will be featured in an advertisement in Marie Claire. The birds are a cockatoo, an owl, an Amazonian parrot or somesuch and a raven. Tim adds a little something- the winning designer will get a cash prize of 20 GRAND. You heard me. Shit. Josh interviews that he's really strapped for cash and could really use this prize. Viktor is coy about wanting the money. I think maybe he has a little crush on whomever it is that's filming these interviews. He seems really flirty a lot of the time when he's being interviewed. There's another thing, Tim says that they are going to work in pairs. Anya throws her head back. Kimberly interviews that she is over the team challenges. I think we all are.
Tim is pulling buttons from the lovely velvet button bag to determine the pairs. The first is Anya and Laura. Anya is happy! So is Laura! Josh and Bert are working together. Bert interviews that he and Josh love each other now, so this is a good thing. The mending of Josh and Bert happened very quietly, didn't it? Viktor and Kimberly are the final pair and Viktor interview that "Yay!" (accompanying eye roll) he and Kimberly can both make good work. Each pair will be designing for a specific bird. The button bag is responsible for these pairings too. Laura and Anya get the raven, Josh and Bert the Amazon and Kimberly and Viktor get the cockatoo. Kimberly is excited because she finds Viktor to be a fantastic person all around.
But, first, there's ONE MORE THING. The pairs are working against each other. One from each team will be in the top, the other in the bottom. It's a head-to-head challenge. Laura interviews that she loves Anya but she won't be helping her in this challenge. That seems fair. Kimberly feels like the reduction of the challenge to one competitor will help her bring her A-game. They're going to sketch now, then they'll go to Mood. Later, they'll have consultations with Collier. Josh says that he consistently brings a "high fashion eye," which he feels Bert won't be able to do. Viktor wants to make something that wouldn't feel out of place at a Paris couture show. Bert is not feeling that parrot. It's green and he hates green. Really? Oh Bert. Kimberly is worried about her work seeming repetitive.
At Mood, Kimberly decides to work with chiffon, though that's not her sweet spot. Anya is using a solid color, which is out of her comfort zone. Tim makes a remark about how Viktor always shops quickly. Teacher's pet. Laura is going to make tight pants and a fitted jacket because she believes that the judges are going to expect from her a gown with feathers. She wants to defy gravity. As we watch Josh peruse fluorescent plumage, he says that, while he was a little embarrassed to get the bold color given his past work, he's feeling it.
At Parson's, Kimberly and Viktor get to work. Kimberly interviews that Viktor is a great competitior and she needs to keep her eye on him. Anya says she feels Laura is trying to be edgier for this challenge. She says that her goal is to be as different from Laura design-wise as possible. Laura and Viktor talk later about how it's hard to compete directly with the people that you really like. Then, though, he interviews that Kimberly's designs aren't elevated. They lack polish. Frankly, that's fairly astute. Kimberly knows fit. She has an interesting dignity about her look, but there's some sort of versatility of vision that she lacks.
With four hours until the end of the day, Bert is still not feeling that parrot. Viktor thinks that Anya's dress is really sexy. He's making a dress that is a gown with feathers on it. Kind of yawn, but he's making the feathers by hand-shredding organza, which is pretty cool. He says that the final effect is going to be "glamazing." Aight. Tim comes in and reminds everyone how competitive this show is. There's a shot of Kimberly rolling her eyes and exhaling, because you know something's coming. There's another dimension to the challenge. They need to design a second look inspired by the bird. That's all. Second look. High fashion and all. This is hard. Anya decides to make something structured and solid, which is unlike her. Bert seems really blah about his new idea, which he is designing mostly to be easy to make in the time remaining.
This is the most stressful looking trip to Mood that we've ever seen, in my opinion. That said, they seem really inspired. Back at the workroom, Anya and Laura have to fight their urge to be friendly with each other. Kimberly says that Viktor has the edge on her construction-wise. Bert feels that having Josh as his competition is probably a good thing because they are already so different. At the end of the work day, Kimberly says that she doesn't think anyone has started their second look yet.
The day, as they are getting ready, Kimberly is lying in bed and tells Anya that she's going to take a sick day. At the workroom, Kimberly is struggling. First, she can't get her dress form to lower in height. She hasn't even put anything on the form yet. Then, there's a big cockroach and the poor girl gets on the table to get away from it. Anya saves the day and kills it with a giant shoe from the piperlime.com accessories wall. Josh says that she was like Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. She just saved everyone, ya'll. Anya is a hero.
Tim comes in with Collier and the consultations begin. They spend a lot of time talking about L'Oreal products. There is a really funny moment where Josh says that he thinks there should be a streak of purple in the make-up look and Collier very quietly tells him that it's too much. Then, he laughs that Josh needs to step away from the purple. Collier is a genius. It all looks so good.
Back in the workroom, Bert is talking to himself. He tells everyone to tell him if he starts to annoy them. They say that they like it. Bert interviews that people didn't get him in the beginning, but they seem to like him much more now. Viktor compliments the jacket that Laura is making and Anya says that he's not supposed to be taking sides. Funny! Right? No tension! Right?
Poor Kimberly. There's a stain in her very light fabric. She's starting to lose it. She interviews that things are not going well. She can't get that stain out. So, Josh really isn't feeling his first look. In order to take his mind off of it, he turns his attention to the look. He looks at the fabric that he purchased and focuses on this bright orange. Of course he does. It says to him "Amazon" and "beauty." Back to Kimberly. It's clear that she's starting to lose it. She says that she needs to step it up, then she interviews that she's not sure her looks are going to be as polished and finished as they need to be. Don't we all like Kimberly? It makes me sad at the thought of her going out like this. Viktor and Anya discuss what is happening on her dress form, which is not very much. Anya says that she's impressed that Kimberly is pushing herself for this challenge. She points out that Viktor has a lot of experience, whereas Kimberly taught herself how to sew. She really hopes that she's able to finish the challenge. Anya feels like the current state of Kimberly's looks reflect her current emotional state, which is not good. Then, Kimberly stabs her finger with the sewing machine. She tries to keep it together and its really a scene of quiet desperation. She kind of wanders around then goes to the bathroom and cries. Anya says it feels like she's watching her unravel in front of her. She and Laura go to check on her. Poor thing. She pulls it together and tells herself to focus. She interviews that she lost her mother at 17 and it has been hard being a young girl without a mom. Jesus, that's moving. There's something so warm and lovely about Kimberly. Then, she lost her step-dad and brother. Damn. She feels like life has been about her fighting to get where she is.
Josh has decided to scrap his original design because it's heinous. Well, bless his heart for trying to be objective. But, then, he asks Anya for some fabric. She's cool with him but interviews that the time has passed for that. I guess some could question her ethics there, but she has been generous in the past. Her timeline for when it was no longer time for helping seems like maybe it's a little arbitrary, but you could make an argument for why this is the perfect time for that line. Josh says that when the stakes are high, you seem people's true colors. That doesn't really make sense. When the stakes are high, you see people competing like competitors. He says that maybe some people aren't remembering the help that she was given earlier, but we already remember Tim saying that Anya was very helpful to her fellow designers. He says that she gave him a little attitude too. Whatever. She thinks that there's something inappropriate about even asking for help right now. I'd agree with her, mostly because that's just what I'm going to do. He says that he doesn't need her fabric.
Josh decides to make a circle skirt for his first look. He gets really pissy watching Anya talk to Bert about her second look. She doesn't really have a plan for actually getting her model into the dress and Josh interviews that it's obvious that she has only sewed for four months. He says that he has been working for this for years and here she is jumping in and expecting to be a success. He says that true talent will shine through, which actually favors her more. Anybody can just study sewing for a long time. It takes true talent to transcend your lack of sewing skill.
Tim enters the quiet room. He talks to Laura and suggests that she ditch her second look. It's not delicate enough and doesn't reach the heights of the jacket in her first look. On to Anya and the arm holes in the first dress don't match. Laura is watching and feels more confident because she's a much more experienced seamstress. Tim loves the shape of the second look. Tim asks Josh in French what is in front of him and Josh makes some joke about not understanding what he said. Unless that's really not a joke. Tim wants to see the first dress that Josh was working on. He feels that the new skirt looks craft-y. Josh isn't hearing it and Bert interviews that he has real problems with reigning things in. The second look gets a thumbs up. Tim doesn't feel that Bert's looks are high fashion. Bert disagrees and Tim hears what he says and moves on. Tim thinks that maybe Viktor needs to pull some color into his looks, to make it look a little less bridal. Kimberly scares Tim with her state of mind. Her second look is costume-y to him. She just says that she doesn't know. He tells her to stop thinking and just feel things. He gives her a big hug and it's really sweet. She interviews that having him as support was very emotional for her. Tim mentions the prize money again and Josh says that the 20 grand could change his life. I don't like him, but you can tell he really needs that money. I almost hope that he wins it.
The models come in for their fittings. Bert says that Josh's second look is kind of a rip-off of his style. I hadn't seen that, because it's bright orange. Oh God, poor Kimberly. She's trying to work with her model and the dress is kind of looking vulgar, so she throws it to the side and it lands on a powered hot glue gun... and burns a hole in the dress. I think that hug did her some good though. She doesn't freak out and instead says that she has to have an Anya moment and go from tragedy to triumph. She's going to have 3 hours to make this dress.
The day, Kimberly is remarkably composed. She makes a one-shouldered gown that Viktor feels like is a copy of his look. Then, Tim enters. He has an announcement. Only one of their looks will walk the runway. Big relief from everyone, except for Bert. He feels like he needs both looks to represent his point-of-view. Kimberly is sending the three hour gown down the runway! Laura interviews that the match-up of her and Anya ("two beauty queens") is a good one. Did she just compare whatever pageant past she has with Anya's? Heh. Bert wants to see Josh get his ass kicked on the runway. Kimberly wants to beat Viktor really badly, especially because the judges have put him on such a pedestal as of late. Beating him would be "major."
Hair and make-up happens. So, I misunderstood something earlier. I thought we heard that the mustachioed make-up daddy's name was Javier. What was actually happening was I was misunderstanding the pronunciation of "Collier." Can we just call him Javier though? Thanks for making this work. So, Javier fulfills Collier's vision on these model faces. Anya has to rip seams then sew her model into her dress. Josh notices it and thinks it's a problem.
On the runway, Heidi greets everyone. Francisco Costa, the women's creative director for the Calvin Klein Collection, is the guest judge. The show begins with Viktor's dress. It's a gown with some Grecian draping and feathers. Not terribly original, but it is well made. Kimberly's dress is and it does have a very similar silhouette, though it's more structural and less drape-y. There's a cut-out in the middle of the bust that is young and sexy without being too much. There's a nude panel in the skirt that mimics the cut-out and is very sexy as well. Kimberly is happy with it, though she spots some imperfections. The gowns walk out together. Kimberly says that she thinks Viktor's silhouette is tired and one side of it is voluminous. Viktor thinks that Kimberly's is horrible and not stitched well.
Bert's dress is . It's a strapless snakeskin top with a flowing skirt that mimics the colors of the parrot. The skirt is just a little too short and Bert doesn't think it flows properly. Josh's dress looks great. An orange sheath that is short and one-shouldered. Viktor says that he wishes that guys could wear stuff like that. Hmm. Something to think about I guess. The dresses come out together. Bert likes Josh's dress, save the flower on the shoulder. Josh thinks that Bert's attempts to not use the colors of the parrot ultimately hurt him.
Anya's dress is . Holy shit. It's this cap-sleeved black dress that is longer in the back than the front. Lots of structural detailing all around it. Seriously? Fuck everybody and their noise about her sewing skills. This look is HARD and more difficult than half of the stuff that Josh has attempted. That she takes it on in the first place is a testament to the passion behind her vision. Laura's look is and it's a tailored black jacket that is low-cut with purple fringe. And, tight satin pants. Not a huge fan of the fabric for the pants, though the fit is near perfect. Laura is really happy with it. Both looks come out and Anya says that Laura's look is beautiful, though she's not a huge fan of the fringe. Laura loves Anya's design, but finds the construction problematic.
Judging begins and Heidi tells Anya that she loves her dress. She think it's very fashion-forward and cool. She also sees the influence of the raven. Michael thinks that Anya was inspired and it wasn't a literal translation. Nina says that this is her favorite look of Anya's. Francisco thinks the cut is great. Nina was impressed by Laura as well, but she wasn't so much into the feathers and tight pants. Heidi thinks it's too literal. Michael says it's the edgiest thing that she has presented and he appreciates that, but it still looks a little costume-y. Anya has the highest score!
Bert says that he hated his parrot. He says he's not in love with his look. Michael thinks it's pagaent-y. The bustier is cut perfectly. Francisco thinks it's not very new. Nina is disappointed as well. Michael loves that Josh's dress doesn't look too "worked," with the exception of the corsage. Nina likes that he embraced a version of minimalism. Francisco likes the non-literal inspiration apparent in the gown. Bert had the lower score. Josh says that the editing helped him. Also, he says that his main goal for being here is to improve as a designer. That's probably not untrue, but for some reason I don't want to believe him.
Kimberly says she was trying to be soft and romantic. She tells the story about her first dress getting ruined and kids that Viktor set her dress on fire. Michael says it's cut very well. Francisco thinks the look is too mature, but loves the mix of fabrics. Nina thinks there is a pageant feel to the dress. Viktor says he was trying to be whimsical and fun. Michael loves the colors but feels that it's too literal. Heidi says that, though she has more imperfections in her dress, she likes Kimberly's dress more! Wow! Talk about a comeback! Nina thinks there are too many feathers. Kimberly has the high score!
Wow, so Laura and Viktor are part of the bottom. Interesting. Kimberly is feeling good, especially after beating "the mighty Viktor." As the judges confer, Heidi says that she really liked this challenge. They loved Anya's design. Michael even tips his hat to the construction. Michael also loves Josh's dress and Francisco asks him if he'd wear it. He jokes that he's a very "orange kind of guy" and I wonder if he's making a reference to the public's feelings about his self-tanning practices. What do you think? He has never really seemed that self-deprecating to me before. They are proud of Kimberly for stepping out of her comfort zone. Heidi thinks that all of the lower scored folks were too literal. Laura's and Bert's were the actual bottom. Heidi liked the hidden color of Bert's look, but not the outcome. This was not his challenge. They feel that Laura was waaay to literal. The women seem to really hate her.
The designers are back. Anya is the "clear winner" of this challenge! You can feel Josh seeing that money leave him. She leaves the runway and Josh looks pissed. Josh is in. He goes backstage and is very quiet. She asks if he's mad at her and he says no, unconvincingly. He interviews that he's infuriated because her model had to be cut out of her dress. He laments losing the prize money and she reminds him that there's a grand prize cash award and gets up and walks away from her. He interviews that she has a strategy for this game and is doing well. Yeah, that strategy would be making stuff that she believes in and represents her taste more than her sewing. Right? She's pure evil. Kimberly is in. Viktor is in. It's down to Laura and Bert. Laura is... in. She is relieved and verklempt. She promises to take risks before giving Bert a hug and leaving the runway. Heidi says that they all think he's a great designer and he says he made the wrong choices for this challenge. He interviews that he wasn't surprised at being eliminated. He says he was grateful that the other designers seemed to like him when they were saying goodbye.
Tim comes in and says that the runway show was fabulous. He sends Bert away with a big hug. Bert interviews kind of tearfully that three or four years ago, he would never have been able to imagine that he could do what he just did, so he's feeling grateful. He is excited about returning to LA and using the new knowledge that he has.
We see Anya at the photo shoot for L'Oreal Paris. She's so awesome and I don't care who knows!
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com or followed on Twitter at @jblong.