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Raul loves Christopher? I don't know. Raul's talking about a connection and it just seems like that. Who cares though, because Nina shows up on the runway and all love scatters. She tells the designers that two teams will be creating collections that are supposed to be editorial and right for a working woman. The winning look will be featured in Marie Claire. Christopher doesn't choose Raul for his team and it causes drama. Then, Raul is super-defensive with his team and worried from the start about being eliminated.
The other team hates Gunnar, which I understand. Mood is very stressful because these people do not know how to work together, especially Raul. Once they're back at Parsons, Elena realizes that she left a bag of fabric at Mood. From that point on, she's bat shit. Raul cannot work on a team. He's so worried about being eliminated that he can't think for a second about the team's collection and it's cohesion. Sonjia's team starts calling the other team the Silk Chiffonies, because Christopher, Nathan and Ven all use a lot of silk chiffon. Jokes! Can you even take it? Hysterical.
They have a photo shoot and Elena is an absolute nightmare. I mean, seriously. It's like she's Jason Bourne or that movie Hanna. She seems like a trained assassin sent to off Dmitry because he left the Russian ballroom dancing team. Or something similar. Joanna Coles is the guest judge for this challenge. Nathan's team got along really well but they used this print that's gross. Heidi calls Gunnar's look "floating souffle boobs" while the girl is still on the runway. Sonjia's team? Not so bad. I really liked a lot of the stuff that's happening. Raul is so unhappy the entire time, though. That said, it appears that he may have been right to insist upon asserting his aesthetic. Nothing he does is so crazy, but I imagine that if he'd bent to the will of the others his work would have come off a little wonky.
After the runway show, Heidi tells everyone that the teams earned the same score, so everyone is eligible to win and everyone could potentially be sent home. Nathan has to defend his skants (pants that are also a skirt?) and Gunnar gets smacked for his dress. All of his teammates other than sweet sweet Fabio choose Gunnar as the weakest link on their team. Melissa's dress, resplendent in an electric blue, gets huge kudos. They also really like Dmitry's look. Raul and Elena both get in trouble for their work. Michael doesn't think the entire thing was very cohesive. When it comes time to choose the weakest link, Sonjia chooses Raul, Raul chooses Elena, Melissa chooses Raul, Alicia chooses Raul, Dmitry chooses Elena. Wow. I'm glad they all didn't choose Raul, just for dignity's sake.
Sonjia's team wins the challenge! But, I think that still means everyone can die. Melissa wins the challenge! Yay. Also, Fabio was essentially second place, which means my two faves were tops. Happy me. It comes down to Raul and Gunnar. And, Raul is...out. That's sad for him. He goes backstage and tells Elena that he hates her, which is sort of refreshing.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously:Andrea and Kooan left the show. Raul was brought back but he didn't do very well. Sonjia won the challenge and Buffi got the boot.
It's morning at the Atlas Building. In fact, it's morning all over New York and probably most of America (Who knows?) and there's a lady in a pink top trying to catch a cab. Good luck to her. The boys are waking up and Gunnar says that he's going to miss the lightness that Buffi added to the group. Fabio agrees and says that a lot of that is going to be missing from now on. I'd agree with that. This group seems really tightly wound to me. But, let's just talk for a moment about how Fabio's personal style is banging. White cap, pink shirt with a thin white shirt over that, baggy jeans, cool beard, cool tats -- he's just a really cool guy. And, he's sweet on top of it. And, it looks like he keeps a little collection of essential oils on the bedstand to his bed. That's awesome.
Gunnar, who needs desperately to locate his diaphragm or even just his chest cavity (no joke, the whine is so intense that I'm wondering if we hear his voice via vibrations emanating from the back of his head), says that it's sad that people have left but he's come here to win and so he's just going to focus more than ever now. Melissa has had three of her roommates evacuate, so she has to move to the apartment with the other girls. That happened really fast though, so she should consider herself lucky that she didn't get too attached or anything. She thanks the other girls for having her, as if they had a choice.
The other set of boys are discussing the challenge and Christopher says good for Sonjia that she won. Ven says that he "had a feeling" she would win. It's interesting to hear him say something nice about someone else's work. Christopher asks Raul who he "put down" to win (do they take a poll or something?) and he answers that he put down Christopher. Christopher goes "aw." Then, Raul interviews that he loves Christopher. He developed an awesome connection with him. And, he hasn't felt that way in a very long time. Damn, Gina. Boy's in love.
Christopher says that he hopes that they're not all partners for this challenge because it was a mess last time. Nathan says very drily that Christopher made Andrea run away, to which he responds with a mouth agape. He interviews that he hopes that he didn't cause her departure, which I think is fairly insincere. It's so odd. I liked him so much. We had such an awesome connection and it had been a long time since I'd felt that way. It must have been love, but it's over now. It's where the wind blows. Anyway, let's get back to work. Christopher says that they need to get back to work. Maybe there's still something there after all.
At Parsons, Heidi greets all of the designers on the runway and she's carrying the lovely velvet button bag. But, she's taunting then with it. Fabio sees it and interviews with horror that she's carrying the bag and that's never a good thing. I mean, sometimes it's a good thing. I wish we could have some model drama. Remember when there used to be model drama? Like Morganza? Does anyone else miss that? It's just these guys sitting in a room trying to think up witty or provocative things to say. Where are our coked out models? Where are our grumpy models?
Heidi tells the designers that there's a special guest to tell them about their challenge. Then, she calls out a la Ricola, "Nina Garcia!" Then, Nina walks onto the runway. Christopher shakes his head with fear and disgust and interviews, "Nitpicking Nina." Alicia interviews that Nina is very opinionated and she's nervous to see what she has in store for them.
She tells them that Marie Claire recently launched Marie Claire @ Work. Great. They want to showcase the sophisticated work lady, which is apparently one of the largest growing sectors of the fashion world. Their challenge is to create a capsule collection for the working woman that is editorial and practical. Christopher says that he's all about the idea of designing for a fashionable woman at work. They will be working in two teams to create the collection. Elena immediately throws her head back. She's not happy. I know, she never seems happy. She interviews that she's very disappointed because she doesn't like working in teams. Ven says that he wants to kill himself. He says this in the exact same tone that he says everything. You know, he kind of exemplifies the whole seriousness of purpose thing about Project Runway, because why the hell else would you EVER cast this guy on a TV show. He's a black hole. They must have really loved his designs. Raul says that he hates working with teams -- he likes to work alone. Nina adds that the "fun part" is that each team will be directing their own photo shoot. The photos will be displayed on the runway and will factor into the judging. The winning team's photos will appear in Marie Claire @ Work.
Christopher, who appears to have taken his style cues from Keifer Sutherland in Lost Boys (acid washed denim jacket with tons of studs, the hair, earrings -- it's cool but actually insanely literal), says that this is a very good opportunity for them. And, wow, the editors love this guy. He must be the only one who consistently offers good sound bites. He's essentially narrating this season for us. You'd think that we'd hear more from, say, Nathan and Melissa, both seemingly level-headed, articulate, likeable people. But, no, we only get Christopher. Aside from thinking he's sort of a douche, I don't mind, but I do find it a little odd. I'm trying to think of seasons that were so dominated by one person's voice. Jay did talk a lot in the first season, but it was only really towards the end. Gretchen talked a lot? I guess she's a good example. She was sort of equal parts narration and editorializing. Christopher is mainly narration though. Dmitry and Melissa are both very happy for this opportunity.
It's time to choose teams. Since Sonjia won the last challenge, she gets to choose first. She is SO cute. I think that more every time I see her. She says that she's nervous because she has a pretty good relationship with most of the designers and she doesn't want to offend anyone with her choice. She chooses Elena because she's very good with technical stuff. And bad with humans. Gunnar bleats that he would rather eat dirt than work with Elena. Heidi reaches into the button bag to see who will choose first for the other team. It's Nathan! I hope we see more from him. I've been thinking of how sweet he was when he got all emotional about Kooan leaving. He chooses Ven and explains to us that it was a very logical and "strategical" choice. Ven has been faring very well with the judges so he thinks it makes good sense. Ven comes onstage to stand beside Nathan and he whispers to him, "Good choice."
, it's Elena's turn to choose. She goes with Melissa. Ven chooses Christopher. He replies, "Hey girl hey." Melissa chooses Dmitry who replies, "Yes, baby" and gives a thumbs up. It's Christopher's turn to choose and there's a pause in the pace. He's thinking that he wants... Fabio. Raul interviews that he's disappointed Christopher didn't choose him because he thought that he had his back. Oh Raul, you must be crazy. Christopher reasons that he was doing Raul a favor because he doesn't get along with Ven and he and Nathan don't have the same aesthetic. He knows that he can "marvel" in the other group. Wow, that's some remarkable bullshitting happening right there. Dmitry chooses Alicia. Fabio chooses Gunnar, which means that Raul has the chance to marvel. Nathan says that it makes Raul look like a schoolyard reject. Raul says that it sucks to feel like you are leftovers. He's angry. Each team will be making as many outfits as there are people in the group. So, six for Sonjia's team and five for Nathan's. Nina tells them to have a lot of fun then leaves the runway.
In the workroom, Christopher enters with an enormous scarf over his already overworked look. And sunglasses. My goodness, this one. Tim Gunn greets them and tells them that they will have to finish their looks today. There will be absolutely no time to work the day. It's sketch time and Sonjia says that she wants them to concentrate on their strengths. Everyone will make two garments. If someone is particularly good at tops, they will make two tops. Alicia thinks that it's a good idea, because you don't really have to make multiple patterns. The group seems to get it and they're going around saying who will do what. They look to Raul to make some great tops but he says that he wants to do pants. Pants are his strength, he says, which... is funny. I seem to remember some pants that he made that were legit BUSTED. Wrong all over the place. Last week! And, it's hard to really have perspective because they always seem under the gun in terms of time, but it seems like they are under even more of a crunch for this challenge so I'm not sure he could do much better of a job this time. But, Raul is feeling defensive.
Sonjia points out that he has made a cute top for a challenge and he doesn't deny it so much as say that he needs to do stuff that's true to him as a designer and covers his ass. Well, Raul, they all need to be able to cover the asses of the models, which you don't seem so good at doing. He says that he needs to be able to defend himself in front of the judges. Dmitry interviews (because Christopher isn't even there -- how is he supposed to be able to narrate this?) that Raul is talking about being eliminated (again) before the work for the challenge has even begun. He makes a good point. Raul seems sort of permanently altered by having been eliminated before. He has an inferiority thing going on that may have already been a part of him before, but post-elimination/resurrection, it seems sort of crippling. Alicia realizes that he is feeling defensive because he has been in the bottom two twice before. Dmitry just hopes that he'll be able to deliver "for a change." Ouch.
The other team decides that they should start with a theme. Ven thinks that it needs to be bold. Good one. They decide that Fall is their season and they want to use color. "Fall Into Color" is our theme. Kind of icky. Just the name, not the idea. Fabio thinks that it will be easier to be cohesive as a collection if they have a joint color scheme. Gunnar is offering ideas that are, how do you say? Wrong. He suggests a "warm plum" as their common color, which maybe fine for his aging Southern lady demographic but weird for the modern sophisticated @ work woman. Then, he suggests "a touch of nautical" because of all of us that go boating in the Fall. He's designing for women who work on tug boats. He did say that he wanted to design for Kenley when the former designers came back to the show. He needs to let go of that.
Nathan interviews that Gunnar is a bit of a wild card. He doesn't always understand his point-of-view. We see Christopher pull some stuff from the Lord & Taylor accessories wall. Gunnar bitches that Christopher, Nathan and Ven are dictating everything. You wouldn't really be able to have three dictators. Sort of goes against the whole idea of what a dictator is. It's really more like they're oligarching everything. He thinks they chose an ugly-ass "Barney" purple, fuchsia and turquoise as their colors. Nathan had pointed out that jewel tones are used often in Fall collections, so at least he's working from some place of knowledge. Gunnar thinks that their color choices mean that they are going to be designing "the best of the fucking 80's." OK. Don't think I really see that but OK.
Melissa proposes that they use some sort of common graphic or print. Sonjia's into it. Hey, everyone's into it... except Raul. He wants to work with lace. Melissa makes the best face. Sort of like, "I don't want to get nasty and I'm used to working with people and I don't want you to feel bad, but... ew." Elena "reminds" him that they have to be cohesive as a group and how the hell does lace have anything to do with anything that anyone else has been saying. Raul insist upon the lace but Melissa remarks that she's not sure how much lace is appropriate for the workplace. Raul interviews that the type of shirt that he's doing works great with lace and he's not going to change how he does things. Can't he just use a little lace on his top and make it work in regards to fitting in with the other looks? I'm not sure that he has the taste level for all of this. It seems like you would be able to look at what everyone else is planning on making and just be able to tell if lace could be a component of one look and not the others and still be appropriate. Instead, he's sort of trying to shoe horn it into the process which seems pigheaded and misguided.
Nathan's team is discussing which garments each of them will make. They are assigning different projects and, with the help of an issue of Marie Claire @ Work, tell Gunnar to make an A-line skirt with pleats. Seems pretty specific. He hasn't even really spoken up. Ven interviews that Gunnar's point-of-view is not as strong as the others' are. Gunnar shows a small sketch to flesh out what his skirt will look like and Ven says that he doesn't like the top. Gunnar says that the top is just a preliminary sketch. Then, Christopher says that he thinks that an entire gown of one color. Gunnar interviews that his team needs to stop micromanaging him. He's really frustrated. He says that he doesn't want to work with all of these fucking people. Understood.
Tim comes in and takes them to Mood. Elena is straight-up negative and it's really stressful to watch her interact with her team. I wonder if she and Dmitry speak the same language, besides English. I'm so ready to see them start screaming at each other in Russian or something. Mood is really difficult for Sonjia's team because fabric selection seems to be the place where everyone is really sticking to their guns in terms of their aesthetics. Nathan's team has a much easier time, mostly because their season and color scheme has been decided already. Raul is supposed to be searching for prints, but Sonjia can't find him anywhere. Raul interviews that everyone wants a print but he doesn't and this is about six designers, not one or two. He is so defensive that he isn't even making sense. Isn't that exactly what the point is? He's not the only one or two designers on the team? If everyone is asking for one thing, it's the team. I honestly feel bad for him. He's not even thinking from a creative place at this point because he's so terrified of being judged again. Man, Nathan's team is CHILLING compared to Sonjia's group. They're casually thumbing through zippers and knick-knacks while Elena's tearing through there like a wild stallion.
Back at the workroom, they quickly get to business. They start unpacking everything that they have. Elena discovers that they are missing a bag. How does that happen? The wool that Elena cut for her jacket is missing. She interviews that she is so shocked that she doesn't know what she's going to do. She doesn't even freak out, which is appreciated. Well, yet. Melissa proposes that she use a different fabric that they have. She'll have to revise her design, but she keeps her cool though she interviews that she's very stressed out.
They're having a really hard time with Raul. Melissa proposes an idea to try to at least integrate his designs with the rest of the team but he really sticks to his guns in terms of "being true" to himself as a designer. Again, he doesn't even seem to have his head in the right place. Dmitry says that Raul worries about being eliminated before a challenge even begins. Fabio says that he's glad that his team is not the "fucking mess" that is happening on Team 6.
Nathan says that there is more pressure for this challenge because it's for Nina. Oh! Christopher finds a GIANT comb underneath one of the work tables. It was Kooan's! He puts it on a table and says, "That's sad." It's so crazy. I find Christopher so sinister now. Elena is starting to flip out. Having to redesign her look and she is acting crazy. She leaves the workroom for something and Christopher says that he feels like she just escaped from the woods. "She is an animal right now."
Gunnar is having problems with his design. He feels like he is being bossed around and treated like a tailor and he doesn't "do that shit." Mostly, I think he's upset because his design isn't working. His muslin mock-up is not making his teammates happy. Raul is working his top with muslin and says that it represents who he is as a designer 100%. He does acknowledge that he has a lot of stuff running through his head. Elena and Sonjia both critique his look and he interviews that they are difficult because they won't listen to him. Elena interviews that he has a bad work ethic because he is only concerned about his own aesthetic.
Elena is still having problems with her own design. She hates the fabric and the colors. She won't stop cursing. It's horrible. Tim comes in and asks how they are doing. He gets a wan greeting in return and he remarks that it was "lackluster." When Raul presents his top, which has ribbing along the bib, to Tim, it is greeted with really ominous music. This is a haunted top. Gunnar says that the ribs look like fish fins and he does not approve. Tim says that he likes the volume of the top and the sleekness of the skirt it is matched with, so Raul feels like he is moving in the correct direction. Elena is complaining that her design is boring and matronly, but Tim tells her that he doesn't see any of those things. She agrees to stick with the design. Tim says that he's pleasantly surprised by their progress, because he anticipated walking into a "hot mess."
Nathan's team doesn't have much stuff on their forms yet. It appears that most of their collection is prints and silk. Tim thinks that it's circus-like. Gunnar says that he's having such a hard time not speaking up at this critique that he can't even look at Tim. Tim's really not into their color scheme and he finally calls out Gunnar for not looking at him. He says that he's just stressed out and wouldn't normally sew with the purple fabric of his skirt. Tim advises them to go in a different direction.
After Tim is gone, Gunnar tells his team that they're going to be fine, which seems nice. Then, he decides to ditch his original design and make a dress. Then, he recites a letter to himself where he scolds Gunnar for not following through with his original thought. No one responds.
Elena asks the rest of her team what they're doing about Raul. Sonjia needs to make a skirt that is based on the vest that Raul hasn't even sketched yet. He says that he'll make a pattern, but Sonjia tells him to just make a sketch if he's not at the pattern-making stage yet (though she does say that he should probably already be there). Sonjia decides to just make what she's going to make and hopefully it will work with what Raul is making.
As Nathan's team is quietly working, someone sings in a falsetto, "Silk Chiffonzies." I never see it coming out of someone's mouth but I think it's Christopher? Anyway, Elena and Melissa interview that Nathan, Ven and Christopher are called that because they always use silk chiffon, even though it's not terribly practical.
I'm sorry, Elena is a crazy bitch. In the middle of their work day, she says that she doesn't know WHO wears navy blue anymore. Then she calls out Dmitry, who is halfway done with a dress in navy blue. He says it's a different shade of blue, like everyone else is using. He thinks it adds diversity to the collection and he also thinks she should have said something earlier if she feels that strongly about it. She says that she did say something. She's just a complete asshole. What good can she possibly think that she's doing? I hate that shit. Dmitry interviews that everyone hates Elena, even the people who say that they don't hate her. He thinks that she doesn't have the ability to work with other people.
The models come in for a fitting. Ven says that Gunnar doesn't have taste. I'd probably agree with that. Dmitry says that Ven is a "one-way monkey." He means one-trick pony and that is amazing. He thinks that his designs are old. Melissa is super stressed. After the fitting, all of the designers scramble to finish. Elena insists on trying on Raul's vest, because she's a jerk. Her boobs are too big, Raul insists. She says that he needs to add darts and, well, a shape. She interviews that "Eddie Munster" doesn't know what he's doing.
The day, the teams go to their fashion shoots. Elena keeps bossing people around and it looks like it isn't so horrible. Then, it gets horrible. She's so insulting about Raul's design, even though there's nothing he can really do about it at this point. Nathan's team has a much easier time. Elena is so fucking obnoxious. She's just spraying out combat. There's no real object. She causes this huge argument because she doesn't want props in her shot. It's ridiculous. She even screams at Melissa, the nicest girl ever.
At Parsons, Tim greets the designers and starts the hair and make-up countdown. One of the make-up guys jokes that one of Nathan's models is a Summer. Heh.
On the runway, Heidi greets the designers and asks them how they liked working in teams. Team 6 doesn't answer. She introduces Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and guest judge Joanna Coles. It's time for the show! Nathan's look is . It's a one-shouldered silk print blouse with white slacks. Cute. A little casual, but I could see this in media. is Christopher's look. He did his pleating thing with the skirt (it's in the same print as Nathan's blouse) then added a white blouse and black jacket. Again, cute. Here's Gunnar's dress. It's a black skirt with a side panel of the print. The top is white with pleating on the bust. He says that he likes it but can tell that the judges do not. In fact, we see Heidi say "floating souffle boobs." Nailed it. Fabio's dress is here and it is rocking. It's a black and white color-blocked dress. White at the shoulders and black everywhere else. It fits beautifully. He has a little head wrap in the print that everyone is using. Nice idea. Ven's look is . It's a black top with his requisite architectural pleating paired with a white skirt. It's belted at the waist. Ven says out loud that "the look is powerful" as it comes down the runway. He thinks it makes a statement.
Here's Team 6. Melissa's dress is first. It's great. It's electric blue with a high modern cowl neck. There's a zipper exposed and running at an angle all along the back. Elena's black jacket with black top and gray slacks is . Raul's ruffled blouse and Sonjia's blue skirt are . I don't mind the blouse so much. The skirt is kind of brilliant and Sonjia says that it's one of the favorite things she's made for the competition. Elena's other top, this one with puffy shoulders, along with Alicia's pants come . The pants are great. Elena doesn't love the blouse but I don't think it's horrible. Dmitry's dress, color-blocked with black and navy, is . Man, it fits perfectly. Tiny cap sleeves and sleek and tailored. Beautiful. Sonjia's skirt and the top of Raul's that Elena insulted are . The skirt is great and the top seems fine on a girl with small boobies.
Heidi congratulates the designers for putting on a good show. Both teams did well and received the same scores. Anyone could win or be out. They talk to Team 5 first. Nina says that they were cohesive and it looks like they worked well together. She liked the skirt that Christopher made. Michael loves the dress that Fabio made. He thinks that any aged lady could wear it. He doesn't like the headgear, but Joanna does! Nina has a problem with Nathan's pants, but Heidi defends them. She thinks that they're right for an older lady. Heidi hated Gunnar's dress. "Gunnar, I don't love this one. Explain this." So German. He can't really explain it. Heidi thinks it looks cheap. She asks them who was the weakest. Fabio says Ven because he thinks he's the strongest. Christopher says "the one you said" which means Gunnar. Ven does the same thing. Nathan at least has the balls to say Gunnar. So, does Gunnar. Backstage, they all apologize to Gunnar.
Team 6 is in the house. Nina thinks that Melissa's dress is really editorial. She thinks that Alicia's pants are very wearable. Michael likes Melissa's dress too. She's edgy but believable. He thinks the ruffles on Raul's blouse are a little overwhelming. Heidi agrees. Joanna thinks that it's commercial, but she hates Raul's top as well. Heidi likes Melissa's dress and Dmitry's look, though Joanna says that a professional wouldn't wear a dress with a cutout on the back. Michael doesn't think they really worked together well. Sonjia chooses Raul as the weakest. Raul chooses Elena because she can't work with others. Melissa chooses Raul's top as her least favorite. Elena chooses Raul and says that his construction is horrible. Alicia chooses Raul. Dmitry chooses Elena because of her poor work ethic, which I loved.
Backstage, Sonjia sort of calls out Dmitry for saying that Elena has a poor "work ethic" but I think it's obvious that maybe he was having a one-way monkey moment. He just meant that she's not good at working with people. Elena tries to leap up his ass but he just says that she's impossible to talk to with her cursing and screaming. Raul, who seems ready to burst with rage and just upset, says that he can't stand Elena but he thinks that she's very talented. That feels so uncomfortable to watch.
The judges confer. They love Melissa's and Fabio's look. Heidi liked Christopher's whole outfit. They think Elena's constructed look was weak, though they liked her other one (the one where she had to compromise and use fabric that didn't allow for her theatrics!). Heidi hates her overworked stuff. Michael thought that Raul's ruffled top was ugly and his other one was boring. Michael thought that the boobs on Gunnar's dress were unfortunate. Joanna thought the boobs looked like "two puppies wrestling in a sack." Nina was impressed with both teams. They all thought there would be more drama.
The designers return to the stage. Nina congratulates Team 6 -- their photo shoot wins! Alicia is in. Christopher is in. Melissa wins! Heidi says that they all loved her dress which they found strong yet appropriate. Backstage, everyone hugs her. Fabio gets a "good job" and he's in. Sonjia is in. Ven is in. Dmitry is in. He wishes everyone good luck before he leaves. He's a sweet guy. Elena is in. Bottom three, bitch. It's down to Raul and Gunnar. Raul is..."I'm sorry, you're out." Heidi says that she gets to kiss him twice, which makes him giggle. He interviews that he doesn't care. Backstage, he says that he hates Elena and she says that she doesn't like him very much either. It's really uncomfortable. He hugs everyone and tells them to get her out of there. He says that making a garment in five to seven hours is not for him, so he's ready to go home. Geez, so defensive, this one.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer living in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com.