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The show begins with Andrea missing and Kooan showing signs of stress. So, Tim says that Andrea left without anyone knowing. And, then Christopher says that he feels like this was a joke being played on him, displaying tell-tale signs of a narcissism that I feel like had already started to say show last week. Then, they interview everyone else who fairly bashes her for leaving, including Ven who says that it was bad form for a teacher. Whatever being a teacher and being a reality TV show dancing monkey have in common beats me. They work hard to conflate the rigors of this show with the difficulties of working in fashion and maybe they have some sort of point, but... I don't know.
The challenge is presented at the Michael Kors flagship. They're challenged to create a look for a woman on the go. Fucking A, these people talk a lot of trash about Andrea. I think it's super presumptuous of them to pretend they know what was going on. Everyone develops a scenario for their woman on the go and they're mostly completely fictive, like Christian's girl who wears Louboutins to a dive bar? Yeah, that's a whole type of person. They go to Mood and there's a lot of tension hanging in the air. Then, back at the workroom, Kooan announces that he thinks he should go. God, they make this show seem like the worst place to ever be in the world. Tim comes in and tells us that Andrea is fine and is not coming back to the show. Kooan announces that he wants to find another way to make it in the industry. This means that Raul gets to come back. Ven bitches about him complaining to much and Alicia says that his construction skills suck.
They're calling this the Michael Kors Challenge. During consultations, Fabio looks like he might be in a little trouble. Buffi's taste level also comes into question for a lot of the designers. Tim tells Christopher that he's worried about him because he seems ambivalent, but he assures him that he's happy to be there.
When Heidi greets everyone on the runway, she takes the opportunity to bash Andrea and Kooan some more, which just seems excessive. Can we leave them alone for a minute? Hayden Panettiere, who is credited as a singer now and who is starring in my most awaited show of the new season Nashville, is the guest judge, along with the lovely Rachel Roy. Buffi's dress looks ridiculous, like a dress with a giant pink bib. A lot of the designs are quite accomplished though. Sonjia, Dmitry and Christopher are in the top, while Fabio, Raul and Buffi are the low scorers. Michael says that Buffi's girl looks like she's wearing a hairdressing smock. In the end, Sonjia wins the challenge and Buffi is sent home.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously: The designers created Emmy dresses for former contestants. That Irina girl was pretty horrible. She terrorized poor Kooan. The designers worked in teams and Christopher just skewered Andrea on the runway for the mistakes that he felt she made. Raul was eliminated and Andrea fled in the night.
It's morning at the Atlas building and Christopher says that he's not sure how things are going to be with Andrea. Why? Because, she deserved him telling the judges how she was. Hmm. Interesting turn of phrase. That really isn't an answer to the question that he has put into the air, which is why would Andrea be upset with him? It might be an answer to the answer but I think it shows a little discomfort with his own behavior that he leapfrogged past evaluating his own actions and just started blaming Andrea some more. Christopher interviews that he was unsure of what to do on the runway and he pushed her in front of a bus. I at least appreciate the slight nuance in the freaking dinosaur of a cliché. I think the thing that bothers me most about this whole thing is the way people get attacked when they show any signs of being unsure. Seriously, God forbid a person reflect for a moment and wonder if they are in the right place. No! Must be completely obsessed with Fashion Week. Done. Nathan tells Christopher that people get over shit and I think he's just saying that because maybe Christopher hasn't stopped talking about it and it's morning and he just wants a little caffeine infusion before having to dance that dance again. Roger that.
Kooan is kind of meditating in bed. He interviews that this morning he does not feel good. Gunnar interviews that Kooan was very quiet when they were working together as a team, probably because Irina was such a monster. Gunnar says that you can tell that the pressure is really getting to Kooan.
The designers go to Michael Kors's flagship store on Madison Avenue to meet Tim and hear about the challenge. Michael is waiting with Tim when they arrive. The store is really beautiful. Lots of light and reflective surfaces. Melissa says that the Michael Kors business plan is her ideal. Tim has some business to talk about before they discuss the challenge. So, apparently Andrea left without telling anyone. Production hasn't been able to contact her but they have every reason to believe that she's fine. Now, here's the fun part. I mean, I guess it's not the greatest form in the world to walk out on something like this, but they spend the two minutes of this program dedicated to character assassination.
First, Buffi says that she didn't think that Andrea would have gotten much further in the competition if she had stayed, but she thinks it wasn't right to quit like that. Am I missing something? I'm almost confused by how bothered I am by the way this is being spun. Not everybody has got to be so invested in being on television that they will sacrifice all of their dignity and that's really what we're talking about here. She was being made to look like a fool and she was being abused for voicing some reservations about the competition. Now, you can claim that maybe you're made of stronger stock because the rigors of the competition didn't bother you as much; but, if you are bothered? And you stay? I don't know. I could make the argument that you're worse than her.
Let's be real. This show has been on for ten seasons. Has the grand prize really launched any companies of note? I mean, effing Lee Ann from a few years ago could be in the goddamn Witness Protection Program for all I know. She's not on anyone's radar, mostly because she didn't seem terribly interested in being a TV star. That's the real prize here. You can be a Personality after being on this show. And if you're not interested in that? And suddenly the grand prize doesn't seem like high enough stakes to justify giving up your dignity? Well, then maybe it's perfectly fine to grab your shit and leave in the middle of the night. I mean, it's not business as usual to stand on a stage and have people work really hard at cleverly tearing apart your work while the kid standing to you imagines he's in the freaking Hunger Games.
Christopher says that he thinks this is a giant joke being played on him. That is not a typo. Andrea deciding that the competition was not right for her is actually all about Christopher. He has no words and neither do I. I actually do. Ven says that he's in shock and he thinks that this is a very poor example for a teacher to set. Oh, apparently Ven knows everything about the situation. I wish he'd fill us all in. Alicia says that it's lame and a poor way to represent yourself as a designer. What is everyone talking about? What does that even SAY about someone as a designer? I think I'm going to have to take a step back from this whole set of circumstances, because it's driving me a little crazy to talk about it anymore.
Tim acknowledges that the competition is difficult but says that the fashion industry is also difficult. Michael says that he's been in fashion for over 30 years and it's still a challenge. Heidi's phrase about being in one day and out the still rings true for him. Elena interviews that the fashion industry is a shark and if you can't handle it, maybe you shouldn't be in it. Isn't that the point? I find it disingenuous that everyone is so personally offended that this woman chose to leave this competition. I think they are just being mean.
Then, Michael says that fashion isn't for sissies, which he has said before. I know that he's sort of co-opting the pejorative nature of that word and using it for his own less sinister purposes, but I still hate it and there you go. Melissa says that being in this competition has made her more aware of how cutthroat the business is. Michael says that you have to stick to your guns and do what you're good at. Tim adds that the show can knock you around a bit but they have to be able to bounce back. That's the old Tim that I loved so much. He's showing real empathy and awareness which seems to be almost entirely missing from the rest of this crew right now.
It's challenge time now. Michael describes his customer as a woman on the go. She needs to be able to dress for a flight, then go to a cocktail party as soon as her flight arrives. I didn't think you could make attending a cocktail party seem like no fun, but the thought of being forced to go to one right after a flight? Sounds horrible. This is the Michael Kors Challenge and they are supposed to create a look for the woman on the go. Their look should represent their own aesthetic and be fashionable and versatile. Tim says that he can't think of a challenge where textiles are more important than this one. Michael agrees and reminds them that this look has to be able to last a whole day. To Tim, that means thinking about wrinkles. Buffi interviews that this is a great opportunity to show who she is as a designer, an opportunity that she's happy have since she feels like a lot of her personality sort of got buried during the last challenge. She's happy to take control for this one. Tim tells them that they'll have a half-hour to sketch in Michael's store. The mood there seems really horrible.
As they're sketching, Fabio asks Melissa, who was Andrea's roommate, if she saw Andrea leave. She says that she saw her get up, but she herself went back to sleep. Gunnar butts into their conversation and says that he understands that this might not be her game but he thinks she gave up an enormous opportunity. Opportunity for what? He interviews that he feels like she took the cowards way out. Even if he buckled under pressure, he would never do it like that. Then, he congratulates Andrea for being immature. Whoa. Wow. What a little shit heel. I can't wait for this fucker to have his ass handed to him on that runway and, frankly, I hope that it happens pretty soon. If he even makes it to Fashion Week... I don't know. I don't want to watch him anymore. His voice reminds me of curdled dairy products. And, he's so NOT COOL ENOUGH for all of the piercings and adornments that read like, "I'm cool because I like cool, fringe-y things." Fabio ignores him and just says that all of this is really emotional.
While some of the designers are working, Tim approaches them and makes the suggestion that they should try make a story for their woman on the go. They should know the narrative of her day. He thinks that it will "concretize" their ideas. Never heard that one before. Sonjia says that she imagines her girl working in an ad agency. Dmitry is working with jersey and wants to add a leather mosaic to the waist, making it appropriate for day and evening. Fabio says that his girl is very avant-garde and high fashion. Melissa, though acknowledging all of the bright colors on display in the Michael Kors store, decides to go with her favorite, black. Gunnar says that his customer is going to the PTA meeting after work, suddenly making a cocktail party after a flight sound awesome. He's going to make a paneled skirt that will hopefully have an ombre quality. Buffi's girl is a people person who works in nightlife. So specific.
It's time to go to Mood! Fabio says that Mood is a real challenge. There are too many aisles and if you're not sure what you want, you can spend the entire allotted time just wandering. Christopher says that his girl is one who you would find wearing Louboutins to a dive bar. He means chic, sophisticated and relaxed. It sounds fun too, being that girl. Like, you're all dressed up but you can still enjoy the simpler things. That said, whenever I try to imagine a girl wearing Louboutins to a dive bar, I imagine it's to pay someone off. Someone who has a sex tape of her sister or something like that. They're moving along and Kooan seems down. Fabio remarks in an interview that Kooan seemed completely devoid of energy. Kooan says that he just has a lot to think about, so he's being quiet. Sonjia, who really is so freaking cute, is really cutting it close with time. She interviews that she was so obsessed with what she wanted that she was having a hard time focusing on getting what she needed.
They head back to Parsons, where Christopher stops everyone before they begin. He asks what happened with Andrea. Melissa, who is probably already really tired of telling this story, says that she saw her get up but she went back to sleep. Then, she was gone. He says it's horrible to think that she just fled, but Buffi says that Andrea flipped out. Then, they show a moment during the last judging where she says to her fellow contestants that it might be a relief if she was eliminated then. Let's get real here. That moment occurred before she went onstage and was completely backed into a corner by Christopher. Say what you will about tough skins and the stupid fucking fashion industry, but I think she was saying that as a way to cope with the stress. I think the moments that followed were more important in regards to her deciding to leave the show.
And, you know, maybe there was some petulance involved in her decision to leave in the middle of the night. But, she's only got her. This brand is not invested in making Andrea look good, it's interested in perpetuating itself. So, the only thing she really hurts is the show and I can imagine being like, "I was just made to look like a fool. I'm not hurting the show any more than it just hurt me." Yeah, I feel like it wasn't the most level-headed decision, the one to leave. But, I GET it. Christopher tries to comfort himself by saying that she was interested in getting eliminated. He's really sort of whining right now. He at least owns up to the idea that something drove Andrea to quit and he was probably a big part of that. Buffi tells Christopher not to feel bad and he says that he does in fact feel horrible.
Buffi is going on about how Andrea should have known what was in store for her when Kooan interrupts her. He has an announcement to make. He says that he knows he's a little funky weird person but... he's going to leave the competition. Everyone is stunned. He says that he's leaving right now. Christopher reminds him that he was chosen out of tons of applicants to be on the show. He's special and he should remember that. Fabio is starting to cry. Kooan just bows a little bit and thanks Christopher for telling him that. Elena says that it's starting to hit her that Kooan is serious. Buffi tells Kooan to take a breath but he shouldn't leave but he just thanks everyone and wishes them luck. I'm kind of impressed with just how "Later, Skaters" this dude is right now. Wow. Nathan, who is incredibly upset, says that everything is falling apart and he knows how Kooan feels because he wants to leave the show too. He's not going to but he wants to. Then, he hugs Kooan and tells him to do whatever is right for him. Nathan hasn't made much of an impression so far, but that was very sweet. Buffi tells Kooan that she loves him and would love to wear one of his dresses.
Tim enters with news. He says that Andrea sent them an email. She no longer wants to be a part of the competition. This flabbergasts Tim because all of them have worked so hard to get there. Then, Kooan stops Tim. He says that he's aware that the fashion industry is difficult, but he thinks he needs to find another way to become successful. It seems that Tim is unaware that Kooan is interested in leaving. I wonder if that's authentic. Kooan interviews that he's leaving because he wants to do fashion in his own way. Tim says that they want the designers to want to be there, so he takes Kooan out who screams "Make it work!" as he's leaving.
The designers get to work and Sonjia remarks that you have to have a tough skin to survive this stuff. She's sad for the people that have been eliminated who wanted to be there. I guess that is sad for them. Everybody settles in starts to work. Tim comes back and laughs that he's afraid to make any more announcements. He says that he's a firm believer in all things happening for a reason. So, they're ready to move forward. He says that they want the competition to be equitable and they don't want the judges to not have as many people to choose from, so they're bringing Raul back. Hmm, I guess I don't really care about that.
He comes in to much fanfare though. Buffi says that she's so happy for him that he gets another opportunity to express himself. Ven, who is such a DRAG, says that he's not excited to see Raul again. He thinks that Raul is a complainer and always deflecting blame for everything and Ven doesn't have time for that. Bleh. Raul says to everyone that he put everything he had on the line to be on the show and he didn't even have the opportunity to show what he's all about. Alicia interviews that she was sad to see Raul go, but she thinks that she got to stay instead of him because of his poor construction skills. Raul will have extra time to work because he is starting late. Raul says that he's back to win, bitches.
Tim arrives four hours before the end of the day to consult with the designers about their work. Dmitry is making a dress with one seam, which Tim finds ambitious. Fabio interviews that Dmitry is a great designer and designs for a very strong woman. Sonjia also seems to be in good shape. Tim likes what he sees. Fabio is using a print that Tim really likes. He tells Tim that his girl is on a day off, which worries Tim. Elena interviews that she feels like Fabio has been creating work that he imagines the judges want to see instead of showing himself as a designer. Fabio says that he's creating a jacket as well. Tim tells him that the proportions of the jacket will be very important.
Ven explains some zipper work that Tim calls "fascinating." Gunnar explains his design and Tim tells him to be sure that he doesn't over design. Sonjia interviews that she does not like what Gunnar is putting together. She thinks that his skirt looks like it's made from felt and that is a very bad thing. Elena says that she wants her look to be appropriate for heels or sneakers, but Tim is more interested in having her be ready to defend the silhouette that she's making, seeing as she has already presented it before. Buffi tells Tim that she thinks she's doing fine and he does that thing where's he like "you think?" because it's really, really horrible to reflect. Don't think about yourself! Have a really just rock solid, immovable opinion of yourself that is not affected by any real circumstances. That is incredible advice. Anyway, so Buffi is using pink, per uzh.
Christopher says that he's making something basic and turtleneck-y. Tim says that he feels like it's a little dressy. Sonjia, who has a LOT to say suddenly, interviews that she thinks that Christopher has something to offer as a designer but she doesn't think he's very innovative. Consistent is a good thing though and she feels he's that. Tim says that he's worried about Christopher because he seems ambivalent. He says that he's only concerned about not being in the bottom three and he's really excited to still be there. Nathan is designing for a mom on the go and Tim tells him that it looks sad. He tells Alicia to watch the proportions with her pants/shirt look, because she needs to be sure that there is some variation. Melissa is doing a lot of layering with jersey.
Raul tells Tim that he's very excited to be there. He's making a suit for the challenge. Ven interviews that Raul has no point-of-view because everything he makes is a mess and he needs to go home again. What a jerk. You see? There's something here that kind of gels with my point about why leaving is OK. There's such a lack of respect in how a lot of these guys talk about each other's work. To me, it's disingenuous to go on about the opportunity that they've been given and what a responsibility that is when you can't even talk with respect about your fellow designers. Tim tells Raul that he needs to nail down what he wants to do. Raul interviews that time management is his biggest problem.
Before he leaves, Tim tells everyone that he has never been more excited about what the designers are producing than this season. Well, that's just a damn lie. I don't even think that the designers believe him.
Everybody gets back to work. Buffi experiences a rare headache when she's at the sewing machine. But, she lives. Christopher tries to get Buffi to try on the jacket he's making, but she's not having it. The models come in for a fitting and Fabio's dress is very, very short. Christopher says that he can see her "fish whistle" but I've grown cold to him. Normally, I'd really laugh at that. Melissa has a lot of stuff to finish. Buffi's look is a mess. Christopher asks her if it's resort wear because, yeah, it looks like that. The cheapest, least joyful resort in the world.
The finish and the morning, Buffi and Melissa are talking about finishing their work. Buffi seems pretty anxious right now. In the boys' apartment, Raul says that he doesn't think that he's the one who should have gone home. Christopher, who seriously just does not know how to leave well enough alone, says that Andrea, instead of "fleeing" in the night, should have said onstage that she didn't want to stay, in order to save Raul the stress of having to be eliminated. I'm not really sure that's how that would have worked, but OK. Seriously though, he should just stop talking about her. He was horrible to her and there's really no taking away from that. Remember how he was trashing her and she finally brought up the stuff that he fucked up and he was all like, "I'm not even going there"? That just really pissed me off. The lack of awareness is just gross.
At Parsons, everyone gets to work. Melissa stays calm while still needing to finish a lot of stuff. Christopher, out of the kindness of his heart, suggests to Buffi that her look is shit and maybe she would want to use some of his leftover fabric. Hey, he's just offering because he's a friend. She kind of freaks out about it in the sewing room and he overhears it and she's like, "No that's great, what you did. Having to defend myself like that is awesome." Wow. That's pretty cool. He interviews that he's not sure if she's lying but he would want the same constructive criticism that he gave her. There's also that whole time and place and appropriateness thing.
Tim comes in and tells the designers that their models are due shortly. The girls come in. Fabio loves his jacket, but Elena says his dress is too short and he could be in the bottom. Raul's pants are too small. Hair and make-up happens. Buffi is really scrambling. Sonjia thinks that Raul doesn't have what it takes to win here. Raul just throws some accessories onto his girl.
On the runway, Heidi greets the designers. She says that one day you're in, the our out and the you're in again. She says that she's disappointed that Andrea and Kooan left because so many people are dying to have this opportunity. Again, I point out that the opportunity offered is not necessarily the opportunity that people are hoping for when they sign up. She introduces Michael, Nina, Hayden Panettiere (yay!) and Rachel Roy. Everybody... Nashville. It's going to be amazing.
Sonjia's dress is first and it's great. It's gray jersey that is draped and fitted with lovely folds in the fabric. She's super happy with it. Alicia's look is and it's a cool white shirt with gray capris. There are little gray patches on the elbows of the shirt. Cool. Melissa's look is finished! Lots of jersey draping, with leggings. I like it a lot. Buffi's look is and it's a disaster. A lavender cheetah print with an overlay of bright pink chiffon. It looks like something a British soccer players wife would wear to her husband's brother's wedding. I guess that's a woman on the go.
Here's Fabio's look. It's a black and white print that's exotic and fun. The dress is short and there's a short little jacket with it as well. He's happy with it. Gunnar's look is . Meh. It's a brown skirt with a petal quality at the bottom and a sleeveless purple top. It's looks like it was well made but it's also ugly. Nathan's look is . It's a mustard dress that's fitted with a flowing jacket. He feels like it looks good and it does fit very well, but I think he chose the wrong color. Dmitry's girl is . She's wearing a sleeveless black dress with criss-crossing fabric across the bust. It's beautiful and certainly versatile. Ven's look is and it's a one-shouldered dress in taupe. There's sort of a fan of his architectural specialty that runs up and down the dress. It doesn't seem that versatile to me. Like, it seems more like a cocktail dress than anything.
Raul's look is . It's a long belted jacket with pants that don't fit. Elena's look is and it's a girl in slim pants and a David Byrne jacket. She was very content with the look. Christopher's look is . She's wearing a jersey turtleneck dress with a small leather jacket. Christopher really likes it.
After the show, Gunnar, Melissa, Alicia, Nathan, Ven and Elena are safe. Backstage, Melissa says that she thinks Fabio will win. Onstage, Heidi says that she thinks Sonjia's dress is stunning. Michael loves that she used gray instead of black. Michael thinks that Fabio is much cooler himself than his design. True, Fabio is legit gorgeous right now, with his red turban and white ropes around his neck. So cute. Heidi loves Christopher's dress and Hayden is all about the little jacket. Nina thinks that it looks easy and sexy. Buffi tries to make it sound like the pink shit on her dress is on purpose. Heidi thinks it looks inexpensive. Rachel says that she needed to edit. Michael says that it looks like she's wearing a hairdressing smock. Raul unbelts his jacket and Michael likes it a lot more. He gets slammed for his pants. Michael says that Dmitry sent out the best made dress, but he should have used a brighter color. Nina likes it a lot.
The designers leave and it's time to confer. Rachel thinks Sonjia should win. Michael thinks that it looked classic and versatile and effortless. Heidi claims though that it's not a head-turner. Nina thinks that Christopher is the winner. Michael doesn't think the technical skills are there.
Michael thought that Fabio was boring except for his print. Rachel has no faith in Buffi. Hayden hates Buffi's personal style even. Heh. They all agree that Raul was too ambitious. The designers return to the stage. Christopher is in. Sonjia is the winner! Also, Hayden asks if she can wear the dress to a red carpet event. Sonjia says that she can. Dmitry is in, so is Raul. That means it's down to Sonjia and Fabio. Buffi is... out. Well, I guess that's as it should be. I kind of thought that Buffi was interesting but Fabio is one of my favorites. Buffi goes backstage and cries that she doesn't want to say goodbye to everyone. She hides behind the couch before Tim comes into say goodbye. He tells her that he's proud of her for being true to herself. She vows to be tacky and glittery -- even more than before.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.