After weeks of drag queens and car parts, the Project Runway designers are hoping to tone down the crazy and work with some normal materials. Stella wonders how to properly make coffee, then gives us the “I’m afraid of being in the bottom three again, I must make it to Bryant Park” interview. Suede’s sad that he lost his roommate, Keith, but is proud to be one of the last four guys.
A sparkly Heidi goes through the routine of bringing out the winning and losing models, and Leanne chooses to keep her girl Am I the only one who misses the parts of the first season where we got interviews and such from the models, so we got to know something about them? It’s a competition for these girls too. Then again, maybe none of the girls are as interesting as the monster that was Morgan.
This week’s special guest is none other than good ol’ Tim Gunn, who tells them that they will be designing for a fashion legend. Leanne ponders over whether it’ll be an older celebrity, but is relieved to not have to make an outfit for Tim. During their trip through the meatpacking district, Blayne makes everyone aware of his Mary-Kate Olsen obsession and hopes they’re designing for her.
The designers wait cautiously inside a pretty showroom, “because it’s Project Runway, so anything is possible”, as Terri reminds us. Tim welcomes the fashion legend, Diane von Furstenberg – which proves how little I know about fashion because her name doesn’t ring a bell. Kenley gets teary, saying this is the biggest opportunity ever for her. Diane explains that their challenge this week is do design an outfit for her fall collection inspired by the movie “Foreign Affair” – about a woman in the 1930’s who’s a singer or a spy, that travels around the world. The perk of winning will be that the top design will be produced for American Express card holders, and part of the proceeds will go to the CFDA, which beats immunity.
The designers get to run amok in Diane von Furstenberg’s sample room and use her fabrics. Jerell’s amazed by all the fabric and states the obvious, “you know it wasn’t cheap.” Kenley gets emotional about how she loves Diane von Furstenberg and that she wants to win badly. Stella stands around whining about how she can’t get the fabric she wants down from the shelf. Tim tells her to move onto something else if she can’t get anyone to help, but Kenley comes over and yanks down the bolts of fabric like she’s the Hulk. Terri pulls out a fabric with neon fireworks, which doesn’t say “elegant” to me.
In Diane’s look-book, majority of the pieces involve layers. Kenley looks around nervously, since everyone else is making a three-piece outfit while she’s planning on just doing a Shanghai-inspired dress. Suede’s taking inspiration from Brooklyn and camouflage, making a long dress and vest. Blayne surprises the other designers by using normal colors instead of a neon explosion, saying he “wants to show versatility and doesn’t want to make another pair of the same pants, like somebody else does.” Who could that be? Cue to a closeup of Terri’s legs in said pants. She’s making pants, a shirt, vest, and blazer. It doesn’t slip by the other designers that Terri is a one trick pony.
Over dinner, Leanne and Terri share their design ideas, while Stella sits tight-lipped. Jerell’s using a blue fabric and is making a coat, turtleneck, gloves, and an A-line skirt. He and Korto chat about how they’re afraid of Diane’s critique, proceeding to impersonate her. Korto is making a flowy evening dress, which is a nice change from her big, boxy coats. Stella wants to show Diane her aesthetic, so she’s making a cape, vest, and pants. Joe is inspired by Shanghai and is making an open-back pink top. Its not looking too good, but to steal Suede’s word, this season has been “wackadoodle”, so nothing is for sure. Leanne’s making a cropped trench and a silk dress. She then sneaks around the workroom, pretending to spy on the others.
Tim Gunn critique time! He doesn’t get Suede’s design, thinking everything looks too full. Leanne’s dress is very pretty, but the coat looks too floppy. Joe’s plans look ambitious, and Tim questions if he can pull it off in time. When he gets to Korto, Tim says the bit of yellow under the dress straps looks like a bra strap peeking out, but the rest of her work gets positive remarks. Stella doesn’t even know anything about the character she’s designing for, then insults Rachel Zoe about her comments last week. Tim likes that Kenley’s dress is has a simple shape, but warns that the judges could go either way on it.
On the runway, Nina Garcia is MIA again, being replaced by Fern Millis. Joe’s girl is first, and his outfit looks shiny and cheap. Leanne’s dress is very elegant and classy. Terri’s is not poorly made, but doesn’t stand out. Jerrell’s outfit looks like it would suit Diane’s line. Korto’s outfit came together very nicely. Blayne’s outfit is nice, and he should be safe this week. Suede’s outfit does not look cohesive. Stella’s outfit does not look well-executed. Terri, Jerrell, and Blayne are called out and deemed safe. The judges like Korto’s use of yellow and her jacket. Michael Kors calls Joe’s outfit a “what was she thinking?” moment. Heidi criticizes Kenley for only making one piece, but the other judges love her work. Stella’s outfit is said to lack her usual edge. Leanne’s outfit looks well-thought out and has nice surprises. Suede’s look is not flattering on his model. In the end, Leanne is deemed the winner. Korto, Kenley, and Suede are deemed “in”. Unfortunately, the judges decide that it is Stella’s time to go, but she takes it all in stride and leaves in good spirits.
Kiera Vallone hails from Long Island, NY. She is currently a junior-year journalism student at SUNY Purchase.
