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Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 14 (Finale)

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And so we have arrived at the end of this long, strange, and overall unfashionable season of Project Runway. Though I hold this show near and dear, I have to get two grievances off my chest before we begin.

First, the episode began with the final four attempting to completely revamp their collections in one day, in response to the judges’ critiques of their mini-collections. I cannot believe the show didn’t give the designers more time. Why not have the judges critique the designers a week or two before Fashion Week and give them time to make meaningful changes? Show, you’re losing me here.

The second thing that lost me? Last week, the judges were quite harsh on all four designers’ preview collections. This week, however, they loved everything – their comments were overwhelmingly positive. There’s no way the designers improved their collections that much in just a day, so the complete shift in reaction from the judges just felt fake and forced. And, it only underscored how completely pointless last week’s outing was. Show, please fix this.

Okay, time for me to quit complaining about the direction the show has taken and start complaining about the designs that walked down the runway at Fashion Week. Here’s how I would rank the designers, from best to worst.

Fabio’s Collection:

  • Overall: I loved the colorful fabrics Fabio chose; particularly compared to the other three collections, his felt like a welcome breath of fresh air. I also thought his collection was the most innovative; it didn’t look like things I had seen before. Fabio was the biggest revelation of the finale for me. I never would have thought I’d rank him above Dmitry but…I have to give Fabio the edge.
  • Favorite Pieces: The blue shorts and over-sized sleeveless cardigan (the only pair of shorts from anyone’s collection that I liked), the white cropped pants and blousy top (I know nobody could wear this in the real world, but it looks cool and modern), and the pink flowy top and grey pants/skirt (were they pants? Were they a skirt? Who knows, and that’s part of Fabio’s genius).

Dmitry’s Collection:

  • Overall: Dmitry’s collection was polished and refined. I liked the touches of yellow here and there, and everything was perfectly tailored. There were a few random lapses in taste, however – I hated the sheer tops. They simply weren’t classy enough for Dmitry’s collection.
  • Favorite Pieces: The white jacket with winged sleeves and geometric cutouts on the front, the yellow dress with glimmered, beaded shoulder pads, and the dress with chevron print and black fringe (loved how unique this was).

Melissa’s Collection:

  • Overall: This was pretty standard Melissa: big collars, lots of leather, lots of black. Props to her for having a distinct aesthetic, but…it’s not an aesthetic I particularly love. Also, her models were clearly having problems walking in a few of her dresses – so points off for that.
  • Favorite Pieces: The coat with the crazy big collar (the collar was standard Melissa, but I loved the fit of this coat and the collar added just the right amount of edginess to the look), the black dress with blue belt, and the black dress with the white back (this was super simple, but the white back added just the right amount of surprise to the look).

Christopher’s Collection:

  • Overall: The color palette Christopher used was very drab and dull – I hated it. There were also far too many pairs of shorts; seriously, you come to Fashion Week and show shorts? I didn’t see anything particularly special about this collection – Christopher was, by far, the biggest disappointment.
  • Favorite Pieces: The blue pleated coat with printed purple pants (the piece of Christopher’s I most loved), the ombre gown (that was definitely a wow piece, although the fabric didn’t match up in the back and that really bothered me), and the asymmetrical shift dress (which I didn’t like very much, but it was the only other look of Christopher’s that I found acceptable).

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Chris, he has no direction. He doesn’t know what to do and what to make. I think…he lost it.” (Dmitry, delivering an accurate assessment. Christopher was a train wreck this episode).
  • “Blood orange? She’s so pretentious. Shut up, it’s f–king red.” (Christopher on Melissa, completing his transformation into a bitter, evil jerk).
  • “You sent the girl down the runway in a dress that no one could walk in. I literally wanted to nail her shoes to a skateboard and have someone pull her.” (Michael on Melissa’s dress, which was, indeed, insanely tight around the ankles).
  • “To take these Jordan almond pastel colors…I was like, oh God, is he really going to go there?” (Michael on Fabio’s collection. I was trying to figure out how to describe Fabio’s color palette and, of course, Michael found the perfect way).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Christopher needs to keep that ego in check; after the judges critiqued his mini-collection, he seemed appalled that the judges had dared criticize him: “I’ve been a front runner this whole competition…the judges are making it seem like they’re doing me a favor by moving me forward.” Oh, honey. Your collection was heinous. The judges did do you a favor.
  • In addition to that, Christopher was just a raging jerk throughout the entire episode. From mocking Melissa to being rude to Tim to generally being a huge downer, I totally lost any love I had for him.
  • I am SO SICK (all-caps most definitely warranted) of the time wasted in the L’Oreal Styling Room each episode. This is deathly boring. Can’t the show find a way to work L’Oreal into the episode without wasting so much time every single week?
  • This week’s guest judge? Jennifer Hudson. She looked absolutely fierce in her bright teal pantsuit. Her critiques, however? Not so fierce. She’s very soft-spoken, and I don’t think PR bitchiness is really her metier.

The Result: The judges’ decision came down to Dmitry vs. Fabio, and I agreed with the judges there – those two were clearly the standouts. While I liked Fabio’s final collection slightly better, Dmitry’s overall work throughout the season was stronger – so I was happy the judges gave him the win (although watching Fabio cry at the end kind of broke my heart). Nonetheless, it was good to see my favorite dour Belorussian come out on top.

(Judges, contestants, and runway photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 13

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By now, the rhythm of Project Runway has become familiar; this many seasons into the show, it wasn’t hard to predict how this episode would play out. The designers would leave, Tim would come visit them at home, the designers would return (so happy to see each other again! Besties!), and the designers would have mini-meltdowns as they tried to select which of their looks they would present to the judges to make it to Fashion Week. There were no trips to Mood, no montages of the designers sketching, and no wacky challenges – and while this made the hour relatively low-key, it also meant the focus was on the fashion. Which, given that this is a fashion competition, is probably just as it should be. So let’s get right to it: who’s going to Fashion Week?

The Challenge: Heidi and Tim informed the designers that they would each get $9000 to create their collections…but that not all four were guaranteed a spot in the finals. This was meant to be shocking, but since this happens pretty much every season, it barely registered. The designers headed home to create their looks and then, upon their return to New York, were told they would have to show three pieces to secure their places at Fashion Week.

Here are my thoughts on each designer’s look, from my most favorite to least.

Dmitry’s Three Looks:

  • Look One: I did not love how shapeless this dress was, but I adored the geometry of the piece – very cool.
  • Look Two: Not sure about this. I loved the pants – they were impeccably tailored and just all-around quite cool. Dmitry started to lose me on the top, though. Something about the sheerness of this just didn’t read “chic” to me, which is the word I typically associate with Dmitry’s style.
  • Look Three: Yikes! Not sure about the fringed arms on the jacket, and again, the sheer top underneath. But, the jacket (and the material it was made of) were fantastic.
  • Overall: I wanted to love this because I love Dmitry, but I just didn’t. These pieces were solid but not wonderful. You could see the architectural look that Dmitry was going for, and everything was impeccably made as per usual, but some of his choices just felt off. But, I thought everyone’s looks were lackluster last night – so I would still rate Dmitry’s mini-collection at the top.

Fabio’s Three Looks:

  • Look One: Loved the pants, loved the necklace. The top looked cheap to me (though I liked the fabric it was made of) and the vest wasn’t anything special.
  • Look Two: I hated the way this top puckered; it was an interesting idea with the geometric cutouts, but Fabio did not execute it well. The back of the top, with it’s lace panel, was quite pretty.
  • Look Three: Hated this. It just looked like a bedsheet, to be honest. I did love the geometric neckline though.
  • Overall: These pieces did look like a cohesive collection, and I loved the geometric flourishes Fabio added throughout. But, I wasn’t crazy about his color palette – it looked too washed out. And, as the judges noted, some of these pieces looked cheap. I still rate this above Melissa and Christopher though; at least Fabio tried to do something different and special, whereas what we saw from the other two were drab, blah messes.

Melissa’s Three Looks:

  • Look One: GAH! This look is a gothic nightmare. The shorts aren’t anything special (why did everyone think sending shorts down the runway was a great way to get a ticket to Fashion Week?!), and I hated the cut of the top. Also, the model’s wig is atrocious.
  • Look Two: I hated the asymmetry of the coat. I’m pretty sure it was a deliberate design choice, but to me, it just came off looking haphazardly made. I also wasn’t wild about the over-sized cuffs.
  • Look Three: I liked this dress – simple and chic, though not exactly groundbreaking. But, as per usual, Melissa just had to add an exaggerated collar. The judges love to complain when somebody is one note – so why haven’t they criticized Melissa more over her collar obsession?
  • Overall: This collection was very Melissa – of the four designers, her looks were the most predictable, based on what we saw from her throughout the course of the season. But, it contained a little too much black and a few too many exaggerated collars for my taste.

Christopher’s Three Looks:

  • Look One: This was WAY too simple. I mean, what was special or fashion-forward about this look? Simple shirt, simple shorts, simple vest. I just didn’t get why Christopher chose to send this down the runway.
  • Look Two: Again, what was special about this? The leather shorts were fine, but 99.9% of women couldn’t wear them. The ostrich belt, allegedly the cool detail here, was so tiny that I didn’t even notice it.
  • Look Three: And, again, SO simple. What the hell? This is a skirt and a bandeau top – no more, no less. Also, I hated the way Christopher placed his silly x-ray print on the back of the dress. It almost looked like his model had a tail!
  • Overall: I’m not sure why Christopher chose these three looks – they didn’t make much impact, and they were all too simple. They didn’t show off any of his skills! I would have liked to see Christopher show a gown to the judges, or at least something with more impact and workmanship.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “I really don’t feel like she pushed the envelope…her white collared jacket, I feel like I’ve seen it before. What’s so special about this?” (Christopher on Melissa’s collection. Dude may have had a point there).
  • “I’m definitely underwhelmed by Christopher’s collection. He has some very classic pieces and then he has some slutty pieces. It just doesn’t flow.” (Dmitry on Christopher’s collection)
  • “That little sweater and those shorts…if you have the opportunity to go to Fashion Week, you cannot send that down to the runway…It’s so boring. I don’t even understand why you would show this to us today.” (Heidi on one of Christopher’s pieces. I couldn’t agree more, Frau Klum).
  • “I would also rethink the sleeves on that jacket; they look a little Robin Hood to me…just cut them off” (Nina on Melissa’s jacket. It did have ridiculous sleeves).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Tim was killing it, wardrobe-wise, during his visits to each designer. His tie during his visit to Christopher was fabulous, especially when paired with his checkered shirt. And then his pocket squares when he visited Fabio were equally fabulous. So dapper, that Tim.
  • In an attempt to be innovative, Christopher played around with bleach on leather. Tim went nuts for the technique, but to me, it looked like…Christopher had accidentally spilled bleach on leather. I just didn’t get why this was so special.
  • I love when Tim mingles with the ordinary folks (aka, the designers’ families). Upon seeing the food Christopher’s family had provided: “This looks so…caloric!”
  • Melissa was super confident about her look when Tim came to visit her in San Francisco, but when she arrived back in New York and headed to the workroom, her confidence evaporated almost instantaneously. I’m not sure what it is with Melissa, but she really seems to choke under pressure. Fabio said it best: “She loves what she’s doing, but she’s not as confident as she should be.”
  • The designers only had five weeks to put together their collections?!? Anybody else remember the halcyon days of Project Runway when the designers had months to create their final collections? No wonder they were almost universally crappy. Producers, let’s adjust this, stat.
  • This week’s guest judge? There wasn’t one. I have to say, the show was just fine without an extra chair; it allowed us to focus on the judges whose opinions I actually respect: Nina, Michael, and, heck, even Heidi. When deciding between a vapid young actress and thin air for the guest judge, thin air appears to come out on top.

The Results: You’re going to Fashion Week! And you’re going to Fashion Week! And you’re going to Fashion Week! Sorry, I didn’t mean to go all Oprah there, but everybody got to move on, making this episode completely meaningless filler. I suppose I am glad that all four are still in it, since I like them all, but this episode was just a waste of time, and I’m a little bitter about that.

(Judges, contestants, and runway photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 12

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It’s the final challenge before Fashion Week, y’all! I mentioned this awhile back, but I feel like this season has gone on for a long time so, despite my overwhelming love for Project Runway, I am ready for it to wrap up. Overall, this episode was a bit “meh.” I wasn’t terribly inspired by any of the creations and the workroom “drama” was predictable, with everyone falling into the typical “Oh-my-god-it’s-the-last-challenge-before-Fashion-Week-and-I-have-to-pull-out-all-the-stops” poor me routine. Let’s discuss.

The Challenge: The designers trekked to Oheka Castle (where?), a place that, per Tim, was meant to “inspire” their designs but ended up feeling more like a meaningless field trip to Long Island. Also serving as an alleged “inspiration” was a slew of L’Oreal products (gotta get that product placement in!). All of these elements were smoke and mirrors, though, as the heart of the challenge was to create an avant-garde look. The designers were given $400 dollars and two days to create their looks which, given the nature of this show, was downright luxurious.

My Top Two:

  • Dmitry: This was just cool – I loved how Dmitry made a suit, but pushed it to the extreme with every little detail (and it looks even cooler when you see the model in profile, because of the sleeves). From the zig-zag shape of the collar to the pointy sleeves to the deep V in back, every detail was amazing. My one complaint? I wasn’t totally sold on the color of the fabric; it looked drab.
  • Fabio: This is not a design I would like in the real world, but since this was an avant-garde challenge, I think it fits the bill. I love what Fabio did to his coat – literally flipping it upside down. That was pretty ingenious, and I loved the way the jacket billowed on the runway. I was less sold on garment underneath, particularly how sheer the pants were.

My Bottom Three:

  • Melissa: Something about this just felt…tacky to me. I didn’t like the shiny leather top and vest, and I thought the high collar was a bit expected, given what we’ve seen Melissa do throughout the season. I also didn’t like the pops of coral; they seemed to clash with the rest of the garment. This was my least favorite look so, naturally, all the judges (except Heidi) loved it. I gotta go with Frau Klum on this one.
  • Christopher: Something about this just felt off to me. First, I didn’t like the way Christopher styled the look, adding feathers to his model’s arms – that felt like overkill. I also thought the design of the gown was a tad simple, and I hated the puffy hips, even though they were supposed to be the gown’s “avant-garde” element.
  • Sonjia: I didn’t like this, as it was a tad too Little Mermaid-esque. I also hated the random missing pieces up top. And, sorry to say, this didn’t look that different from your standard issue red carpet gown, so I don’t think it met the standards of an avant-garde challenge. I did agree with Heidi, though – the emerald green color was gorgeous.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Me and Fabio have the same character and the same palette, so I want to see whose they like better…mine will be better.” (Christopher, capped off with what can only be described as a diabolical chuckle).
  • “But does that make it avant-garde or a mistake?” (Tim to Christopher, after Christopher said the avant-garde feature of his gown was fabric shaped to make the model’s hips look wider. Tim was right about this one).
  • “Unfortunately to me, it looks like an ice skating costume that, you know, Nancy Kerrigan skated through a banquet hall.” (Michael on Sonjia. Welcome back, snarky Michael!)
  • “It’s like an old lady’s answer to wearing a bare back dress.” (Michael on Sonjia. Someone was cranky about Sonjia’s look, huh?)
  • “To me, she looks like she has hairy forearms.” (Michael on Christopher. Spot on, I tell you).
  • “To me, she looks like she’s going to a funeral.” (Heidi on Fabio’s garment. I don’t know whose funerals Frau Klum is attending, but nobody I know wears anything like that).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Heidi always wears dresses that are way tight, short, and shiny, but the one she wore at the beginning of this week’s episode was pretty bad, even for her standards, amirite?! The dress she wore for judging was also fairly atrocious. Step up your personal style, Frau Klum!
  • Sonjia’s gold fabric, critical to her design, went missing somewhere between Mood and the workroom at Parsons. I always find it harsh that the producers don’t let the contestant retrieve their fabric when they make a mistake like this – it seems unnecessarily cruel.
  • Christopher has the best facial expressions; this episode, they ran the gamut from sheer bitchy disbelief to silent rage as he looked at Dmitry’s work in progress and deemed him the toughest competition. Say what you will about Christopher’s propensity for theatrics, but boy is always entertaining.
  • What do you know, Melissa had time management problems this week! Seriously, this happens Every. Single. Episode. You would think she might learn to manage her time a little better after so many challenges, but I guess not.
  • What was with every designer saying “Goodbye, Atlas!” each time they left their apartments this episode? Did Atlas suddenly decide they weren’t being pimped enough and encourage the show to work in a few extra mentions? It was odd.
  • I hate when Heidi asks each designer why they should go to fashion week and which other designers should come along with them. It’s just unnecessary drama creation which, I know, is the name of this game, but still. The show does this year after year, and it always annoys me.
  • This week’s guest judge? Zoe Saldana. I usually complain when actresses are guest judges (see: Duff, Hilary), but Zoe has got to be one of the more knowledgeable actresses when it comes to fashion. Her critiques were thoughtful and articulate.

The Result: Christopher, Dmitry, Melissa, and Fabio made it to Fashion Week; Sonjia was sent home. I really expected the producers the judges to send Fabio home before Sonjia and, even though I liked Fabio’s garment this week more than Sonjia’s, overall I would have preferred to see her go to Fashion Week.

(Judges, contestants, and runway photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 11

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This week’s Project Runway was one of the more amusing episodes in recent memory, as the six remaining designers bumbled their way through caring for their “babies.” While this was a completely ridiculous premise for a challenge, I decided to forgive the show for it because it was so damn hilarious. Let’s discuss.

The Challenge: Product placement alert! Heidi and Tim met the designers at Babies ‘R Us, where Heidi told the designers all about her clothing line for children. Heidi also informed they designers they would be creating a look for a toddler and the winning boy and girl looks would be manufactured and sold at Babies ‘R Us. And then (in a twist anyone who has watched PR for awhile could have predicted), the designers were later tasked with creating a “companion piece” to their toddler outfit – a garment for each child’s mother to wear.

My Top Three:

  • Sonjia: I liked the cute little suit on the baby (it even had elbow pads!), but I hated the fabric Sonjia used for the shirt. Not to reinforce silly gender stereotypes or anything, but that is totally not a boy’s shirt. Still, the suit was so cute that I’m willing to overlook that detail. I also thought the mom’s look was nice – it was put together, but still looked comfy enough for a mom on the go.
  • Christopher: I loved this, and I am SO glad Christopher ignored the mom’s criticisms of his outfits because his instincts were spot on. The baby looked adorable – the flowered dress had such a wonderful texture. And I think Christopher chose the perfect fabric for the mom’s dress; it was gorgeous!
  • Fabio: The kid kinda looks like a little pimp, but in a cute and loveable way. He had baby swagger. I liked how Fabio incorporated the printed fabric sparingly so that it made the outfit interesting but wasn’t tacky. I also really liked the mom’s dress, particularly how the hem was shorter in front.

My Bottom Three:

  • Melissa: The baby’s dress was boring – it was just a white dress, and it was too short to boot. The little vest over the baby’s outfit added nothing special to look, and I found the smiley face on the back of the vest tacky. The mom’s outfit was a complete throwaway; it wasn’t ugly, but it wasn’t really a special design either.
  • Elena: I liked the idea Elena had for the baby’s ruffled jacket, but the stuff she paired it with was awful. The color combination – navy, bright pink, and a sage-y green – just didn’t look great. Plus, I think Elena over-embellished the baby’s look: a sequined top, flower appliques on the jacket, a ruffled waistband on the pants, and a headband. Her mom’s look was okay but forgettable (a theme for all the mom outfits tonight).
  • Dmitry: I loved the mom’s dress – simple but chic, and oh so Dmitry. But…the baby’s look was atrocious. Sonjia called this a firefighter costume, but to me, with that hood, it reads more like a red crayola crayon (which, I swear, I typed in my notes before Nina said it. Just for the record). It pains me to put Dmitry in the bottom, but it had to be done.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “It’s like you are making an outfit for a cat.” (Dmitry, on designing for children. Ladies and gentlemen, we have found the future winner of “father of the year”).
  • “Her name is asshole” (Elena, on the name of her “baby.” Ladies and gentlemen, we have found the future winner of “mother of the year”).
  • “I really don’t see myself ever putting my kid in Dmitry’s firefighter jumpsuit. He looks a little homeless, in my opinion.” (Sonjia on Dmitry’s look. This was funny, but I’m still standing by my crayon theory).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • While making baby clothes was definitely a great way to stress out the designers, I am not sold on this type of challenge so late in the game – it’s completely unrelated to the sort of design these guys generally do, and I’m not sure it helped tell us who was deserving of moving one step closer to Fashion Week.
  • My favorite (non-bitchy) line of the night came from Christopher: “Now I know why Judy went off the deep end with Liza.” Bahahaha.
  • Remember last week when I called this show Project Friendship? Well, the friendship times are over, as Christopher, Fabio, and Dmitry mutually agreed not to help Melissa even though she was far behind. Honestly, I’m surprised they didn’t reach this conclusion sooner – girl may be nice, but at the end of the day, she has to lose if you want to win.
  • This week’s guest judge? Hilary Duff, whose primary contribution was repeating the same things that whoever spoke directly before her said. I get that she just had a kid and all, but couldn’t the show have found some other stylish celebrity mom? My dream choice would have been Stella McCartney. How amazing would that have been?!
  • Today, the cast of the next Project Runway All-Stars was announced. It is completely egregious that, less than a year after the first “All-Stars” (quotations used to highlight my incredulity), the show is doing another round. Shouldn’t there be several seasons between each edition of All-Stars? That said, there are a few designers I’m excited to see again – namely, Ulee (yay!), Kayne, and Andrae (“Designers, look out for Andrae – he’s our little lamb”). As for the rest of the bunch? Meh.

The Results: Sonjia had the best boy’s outfit and Christopher had the best girl’s. I probably would have given Fabio the win over Sonjia (though it’s a close call), but I agree with Christopher’s win. The judges sent Elena home, which felt right – she had never won a challenge, and it was definitely her time to leave.

What did you think of last night’s Project Runway? Was it complete nonsense to make the designers create clothing for toddlers? Did the judges make the right choice sending Elena home? And can you believe that another season of “All-Stars” is coming in just a month?

(Contestant photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 10

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After this week’s episode of Project Runway, I’m going to have to rename the show Project Friendship. The producers can attempt to manufacture all the drama they want, but you cannot convince me that these designers aren’t friends. From the chatting at dinner to the funny moments in the workroom to everyone helping everyone else out, I have come to the conclusion that these designers are practically besties (except Dmitry and Elena, because, you know, that would mean hell had frozen over). I know the producers think nice people are lame, but I like seeing the camaraderie – it allows you to focus more on the fashion, which is (allegedly) the point of this show. With that said, let’s get to discussing those fashions.

The Challenge: The designers headed to Radio City Music Hall, where they were greeted by Tim and treated to a performance by the Rockettes. As the Rockettes took the stage (joined shortly thereafter by Heidi, who displayed a solid talent for kicking in time with the professionals), the challenge became obvious: the designers would have to create a costume for the Rockettes.

My Top Three:

  • Christopher: I absolutely LOVED Christopher’s skyline top. What a brilliant concept, and oh so perfect for the Rockettes. I agreed with the judges and too would have given Christopher the win because his idea was just so much better than anyone else’s. However, as with all the looks in my Top Three this week, I found flaws in Christopher’s dress. Namely, the skirt – it looked a little meh, and I don’t think it would work well during the trademark Rockette high kick sequences.
  • Dmitry: I was a bit on the fence on this look. I thought parts of it were amazing. The fringed skirt, for instance, was beautiful and moved well. I also adored his color palette: the midnight blue with the black was striking. On top of all that, the garment looked incredibly well-made; as the camera panned in on the details during the critique, you could see that everything was perfectly executed. I wasn’t wild, however, about the cutout zigzag thing going on. It almost looked space-like to me, a little “Star Trek meets Flapper.”
  • Melissa: I liked how modern this dress was – I think Melissa met one of the key requirements of the challenge, which was to create a splashy, sparkly uniform but also make it modern and cool. However, this costume was not without its problems. I’m not sure about the collar – that look works on Melissa’s more high concept designs, but maybe not on a Rockette costume. The dress was also undeniably short. In the words of Frau Klum, “You have to have your bits covered.”

My Bottom Three:

  • Ven: I did not find this look offensive, but it was a definite snoozefest. The shape was too simple and the pale color, while pretty, wasn’t providing the pizazz that Ven needed to do well with this challenge. Also, the fabric was quite odd; there appeared to be some sort of mesh netting thing going on?
  • Elena: Throughout the episode, people commented that Elena was making a marching band costume. Even Elena herself made this comment, yet – puzzlingly – she did nothing to remedy the situation. This look was just hideous. I’m not sure how Elena escaped elimination for creating something this tacky, unsophisticated, and cheap-looking.
  • Fabio: I really hated this, and I would have put Fabio’s look in the bottom before Sonjia’s (the judges, clearly, disagreed). Every season on PR, there’s a designer who skates through the competition, never making anything remarkable – and to me, that’s Fabio this season. I detested the bright, metallic silver fabric, and this look didn’t say “Rockettes” to me at all; it was more Xena: Warrior Princess.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “But honestly, it doesn’t read Rockettes…it reads cheerleader.” (Ven on Elena. Clearly their dinnertime bonding worked wonders).
  • “I feel like you should go to the Lord & Taylor accessory wall and look for a baton.” (Tim, on Elena’s band uniform-esque garment. I love that, even during a moment of fashion crisis, Tim remembered to get in his product placement. What a professional).
  • “Dmitry’s garment is very high school dance team.” (Christopher. Initially, I agreed with this assessment, but I think Dmitry – for lack of a better phrase – made this look work).
  • “When I look at Sonjia’s costume, all I think is bawk bawk bawk bawk…” (This soundbite was amazing. There’s nothing I can type that approximates the gloriousness of dour Dmitry imitating a chicken).
  • “I mean, just think about it. You’re going to see 36 identical dresses made of feathers. It might be like a turkey-fest up there.” (So good, Nina G. So good).
  • “To me, she looks like a Las Vegas cheerleader. I mean, it’s just tacky.” (Michael on Elena. I have to say, MK has not been as quotable the past few episodes. What’s going on, Kors?)
  • “It felt like it would actually be a beautiful costume…for the circus.” (Debra on Elena. Oh, snap).
  • “A molting group of Rockettes is not really something that would be great.” (Thank you, Debra Messing, for conjuring up this hilarious image in my mind).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Did anyone else think that Dmitry, as a former professional ballroom dancer, had a leg up on this challenge (Rockettes pun totally intended)? It seems like his background would be tremendously helpful here, and I guess it was since he made a fantastic garment.
  • They have never shown people going over budget at Mood before, and I have always wondered whether it happens, or if the producers intervene and give the designers more money. But I guess it does, as we saw Elena struggle with her budget ($150 over!) and end up with far less than she needed or wanted. Honestly, how can you go that far over and not realize it?
  • I typed the previous bullet at the beginning of the episode, but later on we learned: wait, the producers do intervene, in the form of giving the designers the chance to go back to Mood and get more fabric. This has never happened before, and I was a bit shocked they allowed it. My conspiracy theory? The producers loved Christopher’s garment and wanted it to win, so they gave him the opportunity to get the starry fabric he needed to complete the night sky portion of his dress.
  • Speaking of Christopher, he was flat-out adorable this episode. My favorite moment? “Thank you, Debra Messing.”
  • Sonjia’s head wraps are fabulous. I wish she designed clothing with a similar aesthetic to what she chooses to wear herself; she has such a cool personal style, but it doesn’t always translate to the runway.
  • This episode confirmed to me that Melissa must be a genuinely nice person, because all the designers were eager to help her: Christopher gave her money at Mood, Ven helped her sew her garment, and Fabio, Sonjia, and Christopher worked on reattaching her zipper.
  • Did anyone catch this? Elena said, “I think I’m going home” and there was Ven, nodding in agreement beside her. Sorry, buddy. The joke’s on you.
  • This week’s guest judge? Debra Messing, who makes an excellent judge. Normally, celebrities contribute very little to the conversation, but Messing always delivers thoughtful (and funny) critiques.
  • Hearing Tim say, “bitch slap that bitch” is fabulous. The end.

The Results: Whoa. I was shocked by this week’s result: in the battle for last place, the judges sent Ven packing before Elena. I truly thought Ven’s prior body of work, which was superior to Elena’s overall, would save him. Even Tim could not contain his surprise, saying, “Well, isn’t this a bit of a wake-up call? Look who’s going home. It’s a scenario I don’t think any of you wrote.” Indeed.

If you watched this week’s Project Runway, what did you think? Were you surprised that Ven (cross-dresser name Origami Rose, thank you Michael Kors) went home? Will Elena ever stop crying? And how bananas does next week’s baby clothes challenge look?

(Rockettes and judges photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 9

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This week’s Project Runway featured a time-tested theme: “let’s humanize the designers we’ve previously depicted as Bitchy Fashion Villains by having them break down in tears when their families visit.” Even though they do this every year, I will admit that it was pretty cute to see the designers get so worked up. Even Robot Ven shed a few tears. Look, everybody – Ven is becoming a real live boy!

What about the fashion, you ask? Let’s get down to it.

The Challenge: Egregious product placement alert: it’s the HP Touch Smart Challenge! Tim tasked the designers with creating their own pattern, which would then be printed into fabric for them to use in creating a look that reflected their heritage. While I liked the idea of the designers getting the chance to design their own textiles, I was a little less thrilled with all the shilling for HP.

My Top Three:

  • Dmitry: I adored the cutouts in the jacket; they looked so cool. I also loved his print – I just thought it was a pretty pattern. The judges complained that the print was “hidden” under the jacket, but I thought it looked fantastic that way. Bravo, Belarus, yet again.
  • Elena: This was the first time I think I have ever liked a design of Elena’s. This look was cool, modern, and wearable – all without losing Elena’s signature aesthetic. She created a very interesting print too. Nicely done.
  • Melissa: I loved the pattern Melissa created, perhaps because it was so un-Melissa. The cut of the dress was simple, but it fit very well. It’s not a revolutionary garment, but I give Melissa high marks for doing something so outside her comfort zone.

My Bottom Three:

  • Gunnar: I was really bored by this; it was just a jacket and a skirt, with nothing at all innovative going on. I wish Gunnar had used the print for the dress instead of the coat.
  • Ven: I initially found Ven’s dress non-offensive, but the more I looked at it, the less I liked it. The dress almost looked cheap to me – just a cheap white fabric and a slightly tacky print. I didn’t like that Ven only used a strip of the print; the asymmetry just didn’t work. I also thought the rose detailing on the skirt felt odd (not to mention, we have seen it a million times from Ven).
  • Christopher: Two words: snooze fest. This looked dark and drab, and it’s a silhouette we’ve seen many times before. I also hated the gathering of the dress in the front. Overall, this outfit just looked sad.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Everyone’s prints are kinda crazy. Dmitry’s…kinda looks like cowboy handkerchiefs…Elena’s is like a kindergarten doodle.” (Christopher, clearly the arbiter of taste when it comes to printed fabric).
  • “Sonjia’s print, I’m not sure. Right away I thought pajamas. I don’t get it.” (Oh Ven, do you really “get” anything besides sculpted rose bodices?)
  • “I see an homage to a menstrual cycle…I just hope no one’s offended by it, because they look like maxi pads.” (Thank you, Tim Gunn, for providing a literal laugh-out-loud moment).
  • “To me, she looks like a Hawaiin airline hostess…I’m just waiting for her to put this lei around my neck and welcome me.” (Heidi. Over the years, Frau Klum has really gotten snarkier, perhaps because she’s learning from the best in the business – Michael and Nina. Love it).
  • But the print itself is not compelling. It looks like a sheet of postage stamps. She looks like a suburban twirler, but she’s missing a baton and a hat.” (Once again, Michael says two completely different things within the same thought, yet the combination of ridicularity is compelling).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Christopher said he couldn’t believe the competition was “half over.” To that, I say, “is that all?” What does it say about this season that I feel like it’s been dragging on forever? I love me some PR, but I’m a little surprised we’re only halfway there, if Christopher is to be believed.
  • Gunnar said he needed to win the competition so that, among other things, he could “buy his mom a boob job.” Um, for serious?
  • I loved seeing everyone’s families. Some favorites? Dmitry getting a video message from his dad (“Greetings from your family in Belarus!”) and Fabio’s super adorable boyfriend. Awww!
  • This week’s guest judges: Anya and Mondo, winners of the past two seasons. While Anya offered constructive criticism, Monda was a tad bitchy. Perhaps he was tripping on his new found power from being on the other side of the runway, so to speak. Also, Mondo telling someone that something is over-designed? Pot, meet kettle. You’re both black.

The Results: The judges gave Dmitry the win – finally! Thank you judges, for finally taking notice of Dmitry’s awesomeness. The judges sent Gunnar home, which felt right – as with Alicia last week, I felt it was “his time” to go. Gunnar left on a very positive, grateful note – he made a classy exit, and that’s the best way to go.

(Runway and judges photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 7

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This week’s episode of Project Runway was a bit of a snoozefest, to be honest. While the producers attempted to create a “rivalry” between the men and women, it wasn’t that compelling. Curiously, not even seeing several of the women melt down in the workroom could make this episode exciting; something about it just felt dull and expected. Perhaps it was the fact that everyone sent dark colored, muted cocktail dresses down the runway. While I agree with Heidi that there were “no real trainwrecks” this week, there weren’t any showstoppers either (with the possible exception of Melissa’s garment). Let’s discuss.

The Challenge: Tim tasked the designers with creating a cocktail or evening dress. The winning look will be manufactured as a part of the Project Runway Capsule Collection at Lord & Taylor. While this was a cool opportunity for the designers, the parameters of the challenge (using Lord & Taylor’s selection of fabrics and keeping the dress relatively inexpensive to manufacture) seemed to stifle the creativity in most of the designers.

My Top Three:

  • Melissa: I absolutely loved this look. Her model looked like a chic space alien (I mean that as a compliment) and stood out from the crowd. The fabric was a cool choice and the fit of the dress was visually interesting. The high collar was awesomely unique (though I did see a bit of side boob peeking out; I’m not quite sure that is very Lord & Taylor).
  • Christopher: I liked that Christopher took a risk and made a long gown (everyone else made a cocktail dress) and I thought this look was simple but stunning. I loved the pale top and it paired perfectly with the black gown at the bottom.
  • Dmitry: I adore the fabric Dmitry chose and I love how the dress was pleated from top to bottom. It fit perfectly and looked well-made, as Dmitry’s clothes always do. My favorite Belorussian ballroom sensation continues to be robbed, week after week. In the words of Gob Bluth, come on!

My Bottom Three:

  • Ven: Womp, womp: this look left me bored to tears. This just was not visually interesting on any level. Maybe I have soured on Ven after last week’s fiasco, but I wanted the judges to call him out for doing more of the same.
  • Alicia: Something about this look felt “off” to me. I didn’t think it was a bad dress, but it was missing something. The drop waist looked strange – like it was accidentally droopy instead of deliberately designed that way.
  • Gunnar: This looked cheap – it was just too shiny, almost to the point of being leather-like. The design of the dress did not feel special either; I feel like I have seen that silhouette many times before.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Simple dresses are harder to make. You can’t really hide your mistakes behind the ruffles, drapes, and details…I think a lot of the designers are going to have a problem with that.” (My favorite dour Dmitry quote of the week).
  • “I think men are usually stronger designers while women are a little more…practical.” (Oh, Ven. Will you never learn to pipe down?).
  • “It kind of looked like a holiday garment. Like I could see a 13-year-old girl wearing it for Christmas.” (Christopher on Ven’s dress).
  • “Who puts a harness on a baby doll dress? I don’t get it. I don’t wanna get it. I don’t like her.” (Christopher on Elena. I’ll admit, this made me chuckle).
  • “Unfortunately, you ended up with something that almost looks like a field hockey uniform, ’cause I think even the neckline, she looks…she’s Amish.” (Michael on Alicia’s dress. These two things – field hockey-esque and Amish – make absolutely no sense together and yet I love it, if only because Michael said it).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • The episode began with a thought-provoking observation from Sonjia: “I think men design clothes that they want women to wear. Women design clothes that women actually really wanna wear. Like, what we create is way edgier and harder than the beautiful silk chiffon-ies.” I’m not sure I totally agree, but doesn’t that sound like the foundation for an interesting women’s studies or sociology thesis? (Nerd alert!)
  • When Elena’s hair is down, doesn’t she look like Morticia Addams? Kind of? Anybody?
  • Gunnar continued his streak of kindness this week, giving Elena a pep talk during her mini-meltdown. I’m beginning to suspect that the producers were seriously manipulating us by painting Gunnar as a “villain” at the beginning of the season.
  • This week’s guest judge was Bonnie Brooks, the president of Lord & Taylor. I know she was the appropriate guest judge for this challenge, but yaaaaawn. Bring back Alice Temperley!

The Result: Christopher is the winner; and…nobody is out! While I was glad that nobody got sent home as nobody was truly horrendous this week, I think it’s silly that Heidi tried to pretend that was the reason for the non-elimination. Nope, it’s because two people quit earlier in the season and you have a pre-determined number of episodes to shoot. Nice try, though, Frau Klum.

(Runway and judges photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 6

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This week’s Project Runway will forever be known (in my mind, at least) as the one that featured an incredible transformation: see Ven go from mildly offensive to flat-out jerk in record-breaking time. While we have see many instances over the years of designers clashing with their clients, Ven just might take home the top prize for all-time worst (which is truly saying something when you think of the showdown between Jeffrey and Angela’s mom in Season 3).

The Challenge: This week, the designers were given the traditional (and traditionally hated) challenge of giving “real” people a makeover. It never fails to baffle me that the designers react with shock and disgust every time they have to design for a person who isn’t a size 0. Honestly, I know it’s a different body type, but is it really that difficult to make a few adjustments? Apparently it is, as most of this week’s designs were lackluster. In fact, I wasn’t even that crazy about the ones I put in the top.

My Top Three:

  • Christopher: I liked this dress a lot, particularly how well it moved on the runway. True, there wasn’t much groundbreaking here; on a stronger week, this would have been solidly middle-of-the-pack in my book. But among what was presented, this was one of the few flattering looks. The dress was cut well and I loved the shade of grey he chose.
  • Dmitry: Yes, this is a crazy simple garment, but it looks incredibly well-made and professional. I loved the color he chose and the tailoring was impeccable. The bodice work on top was also fun. I would have given Dmitry the win this week.
  • Elena: Like Christopher’s dress, I would have considered this a middling look on most weeks. However, I did think Elena made her client look good; you could just tell she was happy when she walked down the runway. I do question the top though – I’m not sure the slight ruffle along the bottom is flattering.

My Bottom Three:

  • Nathan: When Nathan’s client asked for terribly tacky things and he started obliging her, you just knew he was doomed – doing whatever the client wants without any regard to what’s, you know, fashionable is always the kiss of death in these types of challenges, as any longtime PR viewer knows. Though his client was happy, Nathan’s dress was truly awful – it was too tight and the fabric was horrendous. It looked very ’80s to me, but not in a fun way.
  • Alicia: I was surprised this look escaped the judges’ wrath. To my eye, this looked trashy and cheap. The dress was too skimpy and I didn’t like the cutouts, the shape of the dress on top, or the super thin straps.
  • Ven: This was awful, particularly since Ven chose ugly fabric and cut the clothes in the least flattering way possible. I loathed the color of the top and those sleeves simply aren’t doing anything for her. I also thought he placed the skirt’s slit in the absolute worst place. Again, it was just unflattering to her figure.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “This is the first time I see Elena is actually being nice to someone, so…it’s about time.” (Oh, dour Dmitry. I love you so. Never change).
  • “Maybe if you had a different designer, we would have found a better outfit for you. Ven, it’s your fault.” (Heidi to Ven’s client. Loved it).
  • “To me, you look like a hoochie mama” (Heidi on Nathan’s dress. Accurate assessment, I’d say).
  • “It is so super short, which makes it a little slutty looking…it needs to be a little longer because otherwise it looks like you’re going to work…somewhere else.” (Heidi, who was on fire in terms of bitchiness this week).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Dmitry remains my favorite designer of the bunch. As the episode began, Dmitry said he was losing confidence because he hasn’t won yet. This reminds me: why hasn’t he won a challenge yet? He absolutely should have at least one in the bag. I hope my favorite Belarussian ballroom-dancer-turned-designer keeps his spirits up.
  • While Ven came off terribly this episode, other designers really shined. I thought Elena treated her client quite well (especially given her past outbursts), but it was Gunnar who took the crown. He had a wonderful attitude this week, saying, “I think it’s extremely important to design for the everyday person…I make clothing for regular women who want to look great.” This begs the question: has Gunnar transformed over the past few episodes, or did the producers just edit him to look awful at the beginning of the season, only to reveal now that he’s a decent guy?
  • I loved Heidi’s takedown of Ven. Heidi: “I always find it so amazing when you guys say you ‘had to design for a real woman.’ Like, who is not real?” Major snaps, Frau Klum. You tell him.
  • Another Heidi note: her dress this week was fantastic. Absolutely loved it.
  • This week’s guest judge was Alice Temperley, who designs pieces frequently worn by Kate Middleton and is therefore awesome. I love when PR has guest judges like Temperley and like Rachel Roy last week: successful, smart designers whose opinions have real weight and thought behind them. Dear PR: more of this, less of Hayden Panettiere, please.

The Results: Fabio was declared the winner (for a grey dress with a mismatched brown belt, whaaaa?) and Nathan was sent home. Considering that Nathan has been a non-entity most of the season and Ven has been consistently good, I’m okay with this outcome, despite the fact that Ven was awful (both design-wise and human being-wise) this week.

(Runway and judges photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 5

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On this week’s Project Runway, the designers were split into two gigantic teams, prompting exasperation, outrage, and a whole host of other juvenile emotions from the group. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that none of the designers’ parents taught their children how to play well with others. A sample quip from Ven reflected the general attitude in the workroom: “Honestly, I want to kill myself.” With that kind of positive attitude, how could the designers possibly go wrong?

The Challenge: Heidi and Nina tasked the designers with creating a cohesive collection targeted at “the working woman.” Each team also had to style a photo shoot featuring their looks; the winning team’s photo spread would appear in Marie Claire. While I thought this challenge produced good results, I was still bored by its premise. Can’t we get some crazier challenges up in here?

My Top Three:

  • Dmitry: My current front runner; I think Dmitry has been criminally underrated all season. His stuff is understated but always impeccable, which is perfect for a “wear to work” challenge. Loved the black and navy combo, and how he color-blocked it in a cool way. The little cap sleeves were also cute.
  • Melissa: I liked this, albeit in a “Judy Jetson goes to work” sort of way. I adored the stark blue color and thought the shape of the dress was nice. The collar and zipper were a bit cray cray, but I liked how inventive this piece was. Overall, I agreed with Nina – this look was a showstopper. It was also good to see Melissa (finally!) embrace color.
  • Ven: I know he always does the same thing, but I love Ven’s aesthetic nonetheless. The top was just perfect and I loved the stark black and white combo.

My Bottom Three:

  • Elena: This look was too drab, and I hated how the jacket’s sleeves were tight but the rest of the jacket was billowy – what an odd fit! This did not look like something anyone I know would wear to work.
  • Fabio: An utterly boring garment. I’m channeling Nina Garcia here, but what about this piece was exciting or innovative? Michael called this his favorite garment of Team 5 and to that I can only say, “Ummmm, what?!?”
  • Elena/Alicia: The pants (made by Alicia) were nice; I love a good wide-leg trouser. But the blouse was hideous, making it Elena’s second strike of the week. I hated the billowing sleeves, which seem to be an Elena trademark. If Melissa can embrace color, Elena can sure as heck find a way to escape her oppressive, bulky jacket fascination.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “Oh my god. I’d rather eat dirt than work with Elena.” (Gunnar. I would bet my life she feels the same way about you, honey).
  • “Raul is the last person sitting there, like the schoolyard reject.” (Nathan. That was way harsh, Tai).
  • “I just hope he can deliver…for a change.” (Dmitry, with some stealth bitchiness there at the end of that sentence).
  • “I feel like Elena just escaped from the woods. She is an animal right now.” (Christopher on Elena. When your fellow designers repeatedly liken you to a wild animal, you might want to reconsider your behavior).
  • “I’m going to be candid with you. I was very, very worried about you because I was anticipating walking in to a hot mess.” (Oh, Tim. Never change).
  • “It looks like a f&$%ing drag queen cocktail hour on our side of the room.” (Gunnar, in a hilarious assessment of his team).
  • “Everybody hates Elena. Even if they say they like her, they hate her.” (Dmitry. Come on, dour Eastern Europeans! Don’t turn on each other now!)
  • “I think Ven is one-way monkey. Oh no…he’s one-trick pony, that’s what I meant.” (Dmitry, delivering a delightfully adorable insult. And, no, I did not forget articles in that quotation – that’s exactly what our favorite Belorussian said).
  • “Her boobs were kind of all over the place. It was kind of like a souffle that went down.” (Heidi on Gunnar’s dress).
  • “And I don’t hate a lot of things at all. That I hated.” (Heidi on Elena’s jacket sleeves. Tell us how you really feel, Frau Klum).
  • “When that dress came down the runway, I thought it looked like two puppies wrestling in a sack.” (Joanna on Gunnar’s dress. Line of the night, by far).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • As you may have noticed above, I found more bitchy lines for this week’s episode than ever before. These team challenges bring out the worst (and by worst, I actually mean best/most entertaining) in these designers. What a train wreck.
  • The producers actually showed Nathan tonight! After getting zero screentime the first four weeks, he was all over the place this episode. Naturally, I assumed this meant he would be eliminated – but the producers fooled me. Perhaps this signals the beginning of an upswing for Nathan?
  • Raul deserves a major party foul for his lack of teamwork. At one point he said, “I’m not going to change my direction just because they want me to.” I get the self-preservation thing, but he seemed hell bent against working with his team from the start.
  • Tonight’s guest judge was Joanna Coles, aka the only part of PR All-Stars I miss. I wish she could be on every episode.
  • If my personal Top Three for this week (Dmitry, Ven, and Melissa) were the final three of the season, I would be really happy. Of course, knowing PR, that will never happen and someone egregiously undeserving will sneak in there.

The Result: Melissa got the win (hear, hear!) and Raul got sent home, though not before hurling a steam of insults at Elena (ummm, what was that about??). I am more than okay with this week’s outcome; Raul consistently created tacky garments and needs a major attitude adjustment.

What did you think of this week’s episode? Did the right designer get sent home? And why can’t everyone just get along?

(Runway and judges photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)

Project Runway: Season 10, Episode 3

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The Challenge: This week, Tim tasked the designers with creating a look for a designer from past seasons to wear at the Emmys. And, in a bit of egregious product placement, the designers had to use the color of the Lexus they travelled in to meet their “client” into their design. The designers were paired up randomly, which thrilled nobody and caused Elena to gripe, “I don’t like to work with anyone. And who does?” The pairings were as follows:

  • Christopher and Andrea designing for Anya. At first, I liked this pairing – Christopher expressed respect for Andrea and said he would use the opportunity to learn from Andrea since she has the most experience of any designer (read: she is old). However, Christopher’s enthusiasm quickly devolved into an all-out freakout at Andrea’s slow working speed. You keep it classy, Christopher.
  • Elena and Buffi designing for Laura. Elena again displayed her sunny personality by assessing her partnership with Buffi: “My heart sinks down to my stomach. My worst fear came true.” Honestly, I could care less about Elena and Buffi – I was just excited to see Laura Bennett, one of my all-time favorite PR designers, back on the show.
  • Ven and Fabio designing for Kenley, who surprised me by being gracious, enthusiastic, and helpful throughout this challenge. Where was that attitude when she was actually competing?
  • Gunnar and Kooan designing for Irina. Though there was tension between these three, I expected even more fireworks given that Irina is one of the harshest contestants ever. She expressed disgust over Gunnar and Kooan’s sewing skills but otherwise kept things relatively drama-free.
  • Melissa and Dmitry designing for April. This pairing seemed like a complementary match of aesthetics, but I must admit I was rooting for Dmitry and Elena, the dour Soviet wonder twins, to be paired together.
  • Alicia and Raul designing for Mila. This was a very “meh” trio, mostly because I could not have told you Raul was a contestant on this show.
  • Sonjia and Nathan designing for Valerie. When their designer was revealed, my reaction was: “Who?” I barely remember Valerie existing on this show, and I couldn’t tell you what season she was on. Couldn’t the producers get any other female designers to come back? I was hoping to see Jillian or Ulee.

While I found the episode’s premise intriguing and thought it sure to produce ample drama (designing for Irina, Kenley, and Laura?!), the finished looks were lackluster overall and the episode was not as compelling as expected.

My Top Three:

  • Ven and Fabio: This was a fantastic dress; it was true to Kenley’s style, but with a classier, more refined twist. The fabric they chose was gorgeous and the pleating was very Ven. That’s clearly his signature move and, for now at least, I love it (but how long until it bores Nina?). I agreed with the judges that this dress looked expensive. I’m glad Ven got the win; there really was no other candidate.
  • Gunnar and Kooan: This dress grew on me the more I thought about it. The gown was sleek and well-fitted and suited Irina quite nicely. The silver neckline (or was that just a necklace?) was an awesome touch. While the sashes in back were a bit long, the dress was otherwise successful.
  • Sonjia and Nathan: I don’t think their gown photographed well, but I liked it on the runway. It fit well and looked elegant. I also liked that they added a few pieces of non-glitter fabric, which you can’t see here but which added visual interest and were a clever touch.

My Bottom Three:

  • Buffi and Elena: Ladies, how could you do this to fabulous Laura? This was like a gothic bridal nightmare; it looked wrinkled and poorly made. This dress baffled me because Laura has such a distinct style – how could they not draw inspiration from that? Full credit to Laura though: she smiled on the runway and attempted to work this dress.
  • Melissa and Dmitry: I don’t like this dress at all, but I will give Melissa and Dmitry credit: this look was very much in keeping with April’s personal style. But, I hated the dress – it resembled a piece of silver fabric that was draped across the front of her body and then pinned in back (which is possibly just what they did). Overall, this look was boring and unflattering, though I liked the back of the dress much more than the front.
  • Raul and Alicia: One word: BORING. Okay, two words: boring and drab. Essentially, what we have here is a shapeless, basic black dress with a tiny red belt. There really didn’t seem to be any design or effort put into this look.

Bitchy Lines of the Night:

  • “I can’t tell if it’s arrogance or confusion. I just want to smack her.” (Gunnar on Irina. Way to respect your client, dude).
  • “Ven and Fabio’s dress…to me, the fact that that dress could be worn at the Emmy’s is mind-boggling. She could go to church in that dress and nobody would think twice.” (Sonjia. All I have to say is: that’s way harsh, Tai. Ven and Fabio’s dress was fabulous).
  • “It is boring. It is really boring, and it has not one piece of sex appeal.” (Heidi on Raul and Alicia’s dress).
  • “This is like you guys made zero effort. Where was the effort here?” (Nina on Raul and Alicia. Her delivery was much more scathing and filled-with-disgust than it sounds if you just read the quote).
  • “I think that this looks like a Halloween costume you can get at a drug store. Sorry guys.” (Krysten on Andrea and Christopher).

Random Bits + Pieces:

  • Kooan’s voice is strongly reminiscent of Franck from Father of the Bride. Am I right or am I right?
  • The great thing about Kenley is that she never changes; her self-delusion is as rampant as ever: “I like to think I’m young…and cool…and fresh…and fabulous.”
  • Gunnar continues to be uber-annoying, though I did feel slightly bad for him being paired with Kooan. It looked like Gunnar really carried the team.
  • Dear Melissa and Dmitry: if silk charmeuse is SO difficult to work with, why did you choose to work with it??
  • Dear Raul: if you hate the red carpet, Project Runway is not the show for you. You always have to create red carpet gowns on this show!
  • Loved this accurate assesment of Elena, via Christopher: “Elena’s personality sometimes seems like she escaped from the woods and she’s ravenous and she will bite your head off until she gets what she wants.”
  • Krysten Ritter amused me as a guest judge; she was snarky and pulled no punches. I loved that she could barely suppress her laughter when Christopher started crying on the runway. Supreme bitchiness at its finest – and the perfect match for Project Runway.

The Results: The judges sent Raul home. Honestly, I’m puzzled why this wasn’t a double elimination – when the designers work in pairs, it’s hard to say who exactly is to blame. Especially in this situation, where neither designer had any good ideas, it seemed like Raul and Alicia were equally deserving of Heidi’s auf wiedersehen.

What did you think of last night’s episode? Did the judges send the right person home? And can anyone stop Ven?

(Runway and judges photos via Lifetime; Michael Kors’s face of brilliance via Entertainment Weekly)