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Stanley and Daniel are weirdly talking smack about Kate in the beginning, though she really hasn't gotten any criticism. The designers go to the workroom and Tim tells them that they will be working with an important client: Heidi Klum formerly Seal. They will be designing a look for Heidi to maybe wear in an advertisement for her new fragrance, Surprise. They need to stick with the color scheme for the perfume bottle, which is pink, black and gold. The teams stay the same. They have to present looks for press events and looks for a commercial for the fragrance. Michelle mentions that Dream Team gets to work on individual looks, while Team Keeping It Real has to team up for some looks. At Mood, Layana and Kate almost don't have enough money for supplies, but Layana works it out.
Joe and Amanda are working together and have problems understanding each other from the beginning. They finally really come together in a big way and I hope it's a success because they are both such great sports about not seeing eye to eye. Matt is feeling really insecure about the challenge, because he's not really a dressmaker. During Tim's consultation, he notes that Matt seems full of despair. Layana kind of throws Kate under the bus and makes it look like Kate's choices have made her nervous.
Oh man, Benjamin has a moment where he tells us that he was in an emotionally abusive relationship that really affected his self-esteem. He breaks down talking about it and his pain and fear is really palpable. This episode is a real nailbiter because you're seeing all of this stuff and you don't want anyone to get eliminated. It looks like my fears are founded though, as Benjamin's look is almost a total disaster and everyone from his team has to help him finish.
Kristin Davis is the guest judge! Team Keeping It Real keeps it strong, with the exception of Richard. Matt hates his dress, but the rest of Dream Team (except for Benjamin) has pretty strong looks. Team Keeping It Real wins. Again. The bottom looks belong to Benjamin, Matt and Cindy. Zac tells Matt that his look is trashy. He tells Cindy that the iridescence of her fabric is like aurora borealis. Nina thinks that Benjamin's girl looks shipwrecked. They tell Stanley and Richard that they hated their looks. Daniel, Layana/Kate and Patricia have the top looks. Zac tells Patricia that her dress is too young for Heidi. You can imagine how well that goes over.
Kate and Layana's dress wins! It's Kate that gets immunity though. Daniel also wins! He's so sweet. He says that he can from nothing and now he's something. This episode is really emotional. Matt is in. That's cool. It's down to Cindy and Benjamin. Cindy... is out. She interviews that she is very grateful. She tells Tim that he changed her life and he's why she is a fashion designer. Man, tears all around.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously: Dream Team lost again. Layana won the challenge and immunity in the challenge. The bottom two were Cindy and James and it was James that was sent home.
It's morning at the Atlas Apartments and Michelle is trying to bolster Cindy's spirits, but it doesn't seem to be working. She interviews that if Dream Team loses again, she is going to need some sort of happy drug. Perhaps this is a cry for help. Stanley and Daniel are talking about who they consider the weak links on their group. Daniel says that Patricia, Joe and Kate seem weak to him. Stanley agrees that Kate needs better ideas. He interviews that her clothes are staid and old and she needs to, as they say, step it up. I have to say that I think it's a mistake to think of Patricia as a weak link. She's a little awkward socially, therefore she's not great at explaining herself or being a team player, but, as others have said, sometimes that weirdness goes hand in hand with genius. I think Patricia might be a little touched -- in a good way.
Meanwhile, in one of the girl apartments, Kate is defending herself, almost as if she knew that Daniel and Stanley were talking about her. She tells Samantha that people may think that she's weak, but she's a fighter. Also, she interviews that she has been playing nice but now she's ready to throw down. Seriously? What were you waiting for? "It's fight or die," she says to her reflection as she's brushing her hair in the mirror.
The make their way to Parsons, where they are greeted by Tim in the workroom. There is a pink box with black ribbon at each work station, as well as a tray with bowls of different things. There are some rose petals, red peppercorns and citrus, and some other stuff that I don't exactly recognize. Benjamin is not sure what the challenge could be. Tim says that, for this challenge, they will be working with a very important client. This client has a lot of strong opinions about what she likes to wear...
...And, then, to much fanfare, we have the entrance of one Mrs. Heidi Klum Formerly Seal. Great. I'm not that big of a fan of the challenges where they work with one of the judges. I find that they sort of go out of their way to be difficult and it's not cute. Everyone seems excited though about the prospect of designing for Heidi. Daniel, for one, seems really just flabbergasted. He should watch the show some time. It's not that unusual for this to happen. She comes up to Tim and administer the Euro double-cheek kiss, but she makes contact on the first cheek and Tim is like super sure that she only gets air on the second cheek. Maybe he has a cold and doesn't want to give it to her?
It's incredibly convenient that this challenge is happening right now because Heidi is getting ready for the launch of her new fragrance, Surprise. She says that Surprise is a very feminine and sensual scent, with notes of red pepper, mandarin and jasmine (that's one of the things I didn't recognize from that tray). She is going to do a big ad campaign for the launch and she's going to need something to wear, which is where the designers come in. Matt interviews that a celebrity wearing your garment can make your whole career. Yeah, maybe Michelle Obama at the Inauguration. Heidi Klum at a perfume launch event? I'm not so sure. Seriously, I'm not even sure, but it just doesn't seem likely that it would be a career-making event. Amanda says that the opportunity (however big it might be) is being handed to them.
Heidi says that there is one more thing... she's a little picky. This is the annoying part, but I have to say that Heidi's delivery right there was pretty funny. Tim laughs too. She says that each team will create four looks for her TV and print ad and two looks for her PR event. Tim asks if Heidi has any special "directives" for the challenge. I wish there were a little book of words that Tim Gunn likes to use. I mean, sure "directives" isn't the most unusual word I've ever heard, but it really belongs to La Gunn for the most part.
Anyway, Heidi does have some directives and they're in the pink box. That felt weird to write. So inside the box is the actual perfume packaging. It's pink with lines of black and gold through it. She calls that feminine but hard. Like Jessica Lange. She likes to look sexy but not slutty. Tim seems to find that a point that needs to be emphasized. She thinks that they should stay with the color palette of the perfume. Also, the ad dress should look good in the back as well as the front, because they have the storyboards for the ad and there are shots of her from behind. Lastly, she provides them with a book of pictures of Heidi by Rankin. That's so generous of her. He'll be shooting the ad as well. Benjamin interviews that he is pinching himself because he is being asked to design something that is exactly within his comfort zone. You know, Benjamin seems really sweet. Tim says that each team will have a half hour to sketch and consult. Then, each team will have $1200 to use at Mood and one day to finish the challenge. Heidi says to have fun and to surprise her, then Tim escorts her out of the room.
Dream Team starts and it looks like Michelle is taking a little bit of control this time. She tells everyone to sketch and then they will decide which look is appropriate for each event. Team Keeping It Real sits down and Daniel says that a couple of looks will need to be made by a pair of designers. Layana and Kate volunteer to work together as well as Joe and Amanda. Amanda is another one who I'm really beginning to like. There's something really authentic and cool about her. Layana says that their team is doing really well and is really good at listening to one another, so she thinks that they're going to win again.
Back at Dream Team, Benjamin says that he would prefer to make a look for the ad campaign. Fine. Michelle interviews that she and Matt are going to make the looks for the press event, while the rest will be making the ad campaign looks. Cindy describes her look, which includes a very plunging neckline. She interviews that this is sexier than anything she has made before, but it's what Heidi asked for. Benjamin describes his look, which includes a mix of chiffon and leather. Matt says that Benjamin has an incredible taste level and his sketch was beautiful. The sketch really is something. Matt can't wait to see the dress and neither can I. Before they head to Mood, Benjamin spritzes a little Surprise in the air for good luck. Nobody sneezes! That's such a good sign.
Michelle says that it might be to their benefit that they have fewer team members than Team Keeping It Real, because that means they don't have to work as teams. Not a bad point. Except, they are already teams. That's been the problem over there -- none of the stronger team members are helping anyone edit. I feel like I wish we had heard from Samantha more at this point. She seems like someone who could recognize when something is going wrong with a look. Amanda says that, on her team, Patricia and she and Joe are making the press looks. Everyone else is making the ad campaign looks. Kate has sketched a floor-length look with a black corset. She proposes to Layana that they match a blush pink fabric with the corset. Layana wants gold and black because she thinks that the pink is too cutesy. Joe and Amanda are having a little bit of a conflict as well. They have both made sketches and Amanda tells Joe that she thinks his silhouette might be a little too loose, as she is used to seeing Heidi in form-fitting and sexy garments. Joe is more interested in interesting textiles, and then draping to find the shape. There's totally a middle ground to be found here and the fact that they are talking so openly and non-defensively about their differences is a really good sign that they will find it.
At Mood, Patricia looks for stuff to make her own leather mesh -- little squares of leather laying on top of a skin-toned fabric. She says that it would read really well at a press event because no one has ever seen this sort of fabrication before. Not ever? In the history of fabrication? Not even once. That's a big claim. But, whatever, it does seem pretty unique. Daniel says that he got a Bond Girl feel from the storyboards that Heidi showed them. He's thinking low back and high leg and very special. Matt, meanwhile, is not having as easy a time making decisions. Tim asks him if he's lost on this challenge and he confirms that he is. He says that he's not a dress maker and Tim's just not having it. "It's Heidi," is his response. I mean, for real. Matt interviews that since Heidi is a gorgeous model and can wear anything, the expectation is that he should be able to nail this challenge. Joe is being wishy-washy about what he wants and it's really worrying Amanda. Layana and Kate spend more money than they have budgeted, but they manage to get the other team members to give it to them! Kate credits Layana's charms and I had no idea that she had this effect on the others.
Back at the workroom, Joe and Amanda still have not finalized their idea yet. Amanda is freaking out. Cindy is trying to decide between two different pink fabrics and Benjamin nixes one of them because it looks like Madonna's "Material Girl" dress. Cindy says that she trusts him, so she's going to go with his choice. Matt is doing a tube dress because he can't get the shape out of his mind. But he thinks it's going to bite him in the ass. Kate is afraid that Layana might be getting too comfortable, since she has immunity for this challenge.
Joe and Amanda are STILL in the decision-making phase. Richard tells Joe that his sketch is one step away from making Heidi a server. That's not helpful, but it's teamwork, I guess. They are very conscious of their differences though and I still say that's a good thing. Richard makes an esoteric comment that they should make something that ends up on the Best Dressed list as opposed to the What Not To Wear list. Well, obviously. Now, I really like Richard, but I put that comment in the category of "Creating Problems So That You Can Solve Them" in the Things People Do That Make Me Crazy File. My go-to example of that category is the following convo:
ASSHOLE
Hey, so, I'm going to have to ask you to not hit me in the face.
ME
Hit you in the face? That's crazy! I would never do that.
ASSHOLE
I'm glad I said something and cleared that up.
Anyway, Joe says that he actually likes making stuff that would be picked out for a What Not To Wear list. Ugh, I get what he's saying but this is not the moment for that. Amanda, who is truly such a good sport, says that she respects Joe's desire to be really avant-garde but she's just going to do her best to reel him in for this challenge.
Patricia is cutting out a lot of little squares of fabric. Like, a lot of them. She says that the danger of creating your own fabric is that you might not be able to finish it exactly like you wanted. She wonders if maybe she bit off more than she can chew. Benjamin, meanwhile, hasn't really even begun. Samantha mentions this and he says that she doesn't need to worry about him. He laughs and says that he has got in under control. Famous last words. Stanley is in love with the fabric that he bought for the challenge. He has this gold shiny fabric that really is something. He says that it's going to pop on the runway. Joe finally comes up with a textile concept that Amanda loves. This is perfect! The shape will be hers and the textile will be his.
Tim comes in for his consultation and begins with Dream Team. He asks Benjamin how comfortable he is. He says that he likes his design but he is not as far along with the construction as he would like. Eek. Cracks are beginning to show. He interviews that his confidence was shaken by his performance in the last challenge. He plans on doing this pink goddess thing with gold metallic straps wrapping around the bodice. Tim thinks that it should look like it's one long piece of fabric. Matt is worried about the metallic fabric, but thinks that it could have a moment on the runway if executed correctly. There's not much on the mannequin at this point and Cindy points out that it makes it difficult for Tim to offer any help. Benjamin notices that Tim is looking at him like he's thinking that he has a lot of work to do. He agrees with Tim. Matt says that he heard "bondage" when Heidi was describing the challenge, so that is what his inspiration is. He's doing a strapless dress with a faux collar, which seems like a big no. Also, he says that he is feeling that his dress is too matronly. Tim says that he senses despair in Matt. He says that he just feels that his look is boring. He wants it to look sexy without looking "ho." I have that same debate with myself every morning in the mirror, though ho wins nine days out of eight. Tim tells him to go with the S&M angle, though through a fashion lens instead of a "sexual deviant" lens. Well, someone's revealing themselves to not be very GGG. My sympathies to all of the PR-loving sadists and masochists out there.
Cindy presents her look and Tim tells her that there is not enough skin showing. Also, he thinks that, instead of different fabric for the sleeves, it should all be the same fabric. Michelle says that Cindy is her own worst enemy. She has no idea why she chose the color or the fabric that she chose. The one bright spot that we see on their team is Michelle. Tim says that he's crazy about her idea.
Team Keeping It Real starts with Joe and Amanda. Tim says that he gets what they are doing and he approves. Before Patricia even begins, he tells her to explain her idea in 100 words or less. Heh. Everyone laughs because she apparently never shuts up. Tim finds her leather mesh incredibly ambitious. The rest of the team wonders if she has enough time to finish. She says she does because the whole look isn't going to be covered in the mesh. Daniel thinks it might look unfinished in that case, but she is confident about what she has in mind. Tim seems really impressed. Richard explains that he's using a little bit of ruffle on the rump for his look and Layana jokes that it may be too Dancing with the Stars. He replies with, "Watch it!" Then, he laughs. Tricky bastards. They showed him saying that as a reply to Cindy complaining to Benjamin about being micromanaged so we'd think some big fights happened. Kate says that Daniel is a very strong player, but she is worried because he is not using silk for Heidi's dress and she believes that Heidi should wear only silk. Well, OK. That's a way of thinking.
Kate explains her look and then Layana freaks out and says to everyone that she hates the pink they are using. Now, we know that she didn't really want pink to begin, but this is a really shady way of trying to get consensus on your side. Tim tells her that the pink they are using is very similar to the one on the Surprise box. Layana keeps complaining about how she's worried. Kate interviews that she should keep it to herself, and then points out that Layana has immunity so she's the one who should actually be worried. Tim asks if they already had their concept for the dress at Mood and Layana concedes that they did. I think he wants her to shut up now. Basically, she's just trying to trash Kate's idea because she had a different one. Kate points out that most of the pink is going to be covered by black chiffon. Ya dumb bitch.
Tim leaves them and tells them to use their teams. Stanley says that it takes a village to make a dress, which really is just not true. Someone remarks that helping others is good karma and Amanda cracks that she thinks she left her karma at home.
Daniel realizes that he forgot to buy a contrasting fabric for his look. He sees some leather on Patricia's work station that would be perfect, so he steals it. Kidding! He asks her for it and she generously donates to his design. He says that he gave her a hug and a kiss and she saved his design.
The models come in for their fitting. Cindy is happy with how her dress looks on her girl, Gina. Gina's really encouraging to Cindy, which I think is really sweet. Benjamin still doesn't even have enough done to put anything really on his model. Richard's model says that she's going to want to buy his dress. Matt thinks that Team Keeping It Real is getting a little cocky and pride cometh before the fall. He thinks that this would be a great time for Dream Team to snatch a victory. That said, Samantha is worried because this is the first time that she didn't have something to fit onto her model.
Later, Cindy is at a sewing machine and says to herself that this is harder than it looks on TV. Benjamin, Amanda and Michelle are eating together. Benjamin says that he's eating his pain. He's so sweet. He interviews that he has a lot of personal stuff flowing through his brain that is making it difficult for him to concentrate. He was in an emotionally abusive relationship. It affected his personal relationships and his career. It has taken a long time for him to build himself up as a person and as a designer. At this point, he starts crying and it's heartbreaking. It also makes me love him. Jesus, I have a problem. This is just like Keith in Season 5. I find him so attractive now that he's bawling. Seriously, I love him now. I love him. I'm gross. Anyway, he feels validated from being accepted onto Project Runway but some self-doubt is still sneaking in.
The show begins with Daniel's look. It's a floor-length gown with a thigh-high slit. The color is a sort of tawny color that is really beautiful. The bodice is a halter, with black leather serving as the straps. Daniel thanks Patricia again for the leather as it makes its way down the runway. This is really beautiful. Patricia tells him that is a tough act to follow, but she does it anyway. Her dress is up and it's a short dress with a skin-tone color. You don't see much of that fabric though. What you do see is her leather mesh. It's pink and super delicate at the top, then there are like gold medallions at the bottom. It's so unique. I freaking love this dress. What a weirdo. I love Patricia. She's excited that no one else will have what is in her look.
Joe and Amanda are up . It's a short fitted dress. Along the center of the garment and on the shoulders is this textile that is gray with bars of black criss-crossing along it. Very modern. Joe is happy with the dress. Amanda thinks it looks really good too. We'll take this time to comment on how freaking cute Zac looks for this show. He's wearing a little kerchief tie with a pink shirt and red velvet jacket. Wipe that always vaguely smelling shit look off of his face and he would be the cutest boy on Seventh Ave.
Richard's look is . What is happening? Y'all, I have no freaking clue what he was thinking. He has this sequin fabric (that I think Ivy used once during the last All-Stars season -- the '20s challenge?) and he has cut it on the bias, then attached below the knee a panel that is cut differently. That's ugly. Also, he has a HUGE ruffle of black on the backside. It's out of control. He says that he wants to gag when he sees the dress. I mean, how far this guy just fell. It's a disaster. Michelle says, out loud, that it looks like she has a tail. Luckily, I don't think he can hear her. He thinks that his girl looks like an exotic chicken. Really, I'm not even sure you could say this is exotic.
Layana and Kate's dress is and it is hella sexy. It's a long flowing black skirt with a super-structured corset. The pink is covered with black chiffon, so nothing looks that girly, stupid Layana. Kate is incredibly happy with it and says that it came out just like she wanted. Kate says that she's tearing up, she's so excited.
Stanley's dress is . It's gold sequins and short. At the bust there's back silk that makes one shoulder. Then, there's a long panel of black hanging on that shoulder. He likes the dress, but wishes he hadn't styled the girl with what looks like legit six giant gold chains. It's out of control. Samantha thinks that Dream Team will triumph.
The designers leave the stage while the judges confer. They really loved how much of a statement Patricia's dress made. Zac thought that the corset work on the back of the Kate and Layana dress was too much, but Heidi likes that it was multi-dimensional that way. They loved the silhouette of Daniel's dress as well. Zac is very impressed with the leather work on the bodice of his dress. As for the losers, Nina thought that Matt went overboard with the sex. Heidi thought the fit was weird. They hated the iridescence of Cindy's fabric and Zac thinks that it was a perversion to use it. They were baffled by the lack of structure in Benjamin's look. Zac thinks that he was just trying to keep himself in the game with his excuses.
The designers return to the stage. Heidi tells Kate that she is the winner of the challenge! She starts crying again. She and Layana leave the runway. Kate interviews that she's so excited. They both go backstage and get hugged. Daniel is also the winner! She is going to wear it to the press event. He tearfully interviews that he came from nothing and he is something. "Look what I've done?" Shit, that's powerful stuff. Amanda hugs him backstage and tells him that he deserves it so much. Patricia is in. Matt is in.
So, it's down to Cindy and Benjamin. Cindy is... out. Benjamin leaves the runway. Heidi wishes Cindy the best and kisses her. She interviews tearfully that she is so grateful for this experience. Everyone is hugging her backstage. She thanks the show in her interview for the agonizing and amazing experience. Tim comes backstage and says he's not ready to say goodbye. She tells him that he changed her life and it's because of him that she's a fashion designer. OH MY GOD. I don't expect to cry this much during one damn episode of Project Runway. He hugs her and tells her that she is now. She is a fashion designer. Michelle interviews that she is sad to see Cindy go and thinks that she is amazingly talented. Cindy interviews that she has great plans. You know, she is a great example of how important it is to always stay curious and to follow that curiosity.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.