Last week’s double-elimination proves my belief that the Project Runway producers don’t give a damn about the show anymore. They’re in a hurry to sabotage the show before going to Lifetime. I’d say a designer may come back, even this late, but not with this disastrous season.
Leanne gives the producers their next crazy challenge idea, saying she thinks they’re going to be making evening gowns for infants this week. I’d like to see a designer panic if a baby threw up on their garment. Kenley’s become quite a moron. You don’t go around saying you’re not going to listen to what the judges say and have things end pretty.
Heidi brings out this week’s special guests, and they’re six older women. Fear not, Korto and Leanne, this is not a repeat of the mom challenge. They are moms, but the mothers of the six recent college grads the designers will be giving a head-to-toe makeover. Heidi pulls buttons out of her bag to decide who gets paired with what girl.
Joe comments that this is going to be a challenge because of the mother-daughter dynamic – what the mom likes, the daughter won’t like. Kenley’s girl, Anna, works as an assistant buyer. It’s a match made in heaven, because she loves vintage. Megan works in her school’s lab, so Korto plans on designing a wrap dress she can wear under a lab coat. Lanky and awkward Caitlyn’s into art, so Jerrell creates an androgynous look with a high-waist pencil skirt, blousy top, and man-cut blazer. Holly and her mother yammer on about how she wants to be a teacher, she’s got to look professional and other business I tune out. Poor, mousy Leanne just stands there waiting to get a word in. The mother goes on about how dresses are easier to wear because you don’t have to worry about matching, yadda yadda yadda. Avital’s a photographer, so she wants something she’d be comfortable shooting in, which disappoints Suede because pants aren’t his thing. Joe’s girl, Laura, doesn’t have a job yet, but went to school for graphic design (my people!), and brings up the idea of making a skirt-suit.
Once in Mood, Korto gets her fabrics and claims that since Stella’s gone, she’s the new queen of leatha. Excuse me; no… you are the queen of boxy coats. Don’t make Stella have to come out and beat you with her grommet hammer. Suede’s on a mission to find a Pucci-esque print with purple. Speaking of Pucci, I want that pooch they showed as they were leaving – so cute.
In the workroom, Leanne says she’s designing a dress for Holly that will give her a more grown-up look. Her first job was designing for a small clothing line, and I swear that is Jennifer, not Leanne, in that picture. Joe says his first job was working in the Gucci stockroom, where he got his love of fashion. Kenley says right out of school she moved to New York all on her own with little money. Jerrell’s first job was at good old McD’s, where he got free food and bad skin.
The mothers and daughters come in for a fitting. Jerrell’s happy that his girl likes the design, and that he got a good team. Avital tells Suede the jacket looks too professional for her, and her mom suggests adding colored ruffles on the sleeves. Joe’s girl isn’t a fan of pinstripes, so he’s worried. Holly’s mom claims Leanne’s dress makes her daughter look flat-chested, so Leanne’s has a lot of work to do. Megan likes Korto’s contrast in texture. Jerrell calls out Kenley as a one trick pony, since she can’t seem to make anything other than a 50’s style dress. After coming in for a second fitting, Holly loves the new dress, and Avital likes the look of the dress and lets Suede nix the pants.
Tim calls a ‘gather round’, and introduces Jeanie Syfu, a Tresemme stylist who will be helping the girls with a new hairstyle. The winner and their girl will be in an ad in Elle magazine. Tim’s not a fan of the pockets on Suede’s jacket, and thinks the sleeves are uneven. He thinks Joe’s outfit looks too much like a laywer, not like a graphic designer. Being a former graphic design student myself – I definitely agree. Joe, you should know the rules by now – listen to Tim, Tim knows all. Tim loves Jerrell’s look, and cautions him to watch the extra fabric. Tim doesn’t like the tulle sticking out of Kenley’s dress, but she ignores him as well.
Jerrell, what could possibly inspire you to wear a dead bush on your head and think it looks good? On the runway, Joe’s outfit looks too stuffy for Laura’s field. Leanne’s coat looks very dowdy, but the dress is cute. Caitlin awkwardly walks down the runway, but Jerrell’s outfit suits her. Korto’s jacket looks like it was made out of a potato sack, and I don’t know anyone outside cow country that would wear a potato sack. Kenley must be planning on taking over the 50’s, as she sends her little Mini-Me down the runway. All she needs is a cat to pet while cackling maniacally.
The judges love Kenley’s outfit, with Heidi calling Anna her Mini-Me. Kors says Joe’s outfit is a 60 year old’s idea of ‘professional’, and was poorly made. The judges say Korto’s outfit looks like she put a lot of work into it. Nina likes Leanne’s dress, but the coat is frumpy. Jerrell’s outfit gets rave reviews, saying he really transformed his girl. Suede’s look doesn’t look like a photographer and made Avital look older.
Korto’s in, and Jerrell wins again, causing Kenley to give him a death glare. Sore losers are not cute, girlfriend. Kenley and Leanne are in. Suede and Joe are in the bottom, and Joe, as his daughter would say – gets his ‘outsy-daisy’.
Kiera Vallone hails from Long Island, NY. She is currently a junior-year journalism student at SUNY Purchase.
