Leanne and Kenley whine like high school girls about the drama of last week. Leanne wants Kenley gone (right on, girl!), and Kenley’s mad at Leanne because she didn’t show off her outfit last week. Your outfit was crap, face the truth. Poor Jerrell needs some friends – he’s sitting on the floor playing with a Tim Gunn bobblehead, an apple, lemon?, and an Aunt Jemima bottle.
Tim takes the designers on a field trip to the NY Botanical Garden for their challenge this week, where they learn they will have to make an evening gown inspired by nature. Jerrell’s idea sounded more fun – making an outfit for Hedda Lettuce at Gristede’s (hello next… nevermind, no Gristede’s in California). Apparently, bees are not fans of Leanne, as she gets stalked by them everywhere she goes.
On the way out of Mood, Korto notices that someone left a pile of black tulle behind – I hope its Kenley’s because the bitch deserves it. Korto’s worried because she doesn’t have a background in eveningwear. She’s chosen an orange/peach textured flower. Jerrell wants to play with all different shades of purple, based on a picture of purple roses. Leanne’s chosen a lavender plant, and wants to go for a tiered effect with her dress.
Kenley asks if anyone saw her second Mood bag, which means it <i>was</i> her tulle left behind. HAH! That’s karma showing you who’s boss! Jerrell and Korto snicker and watch Kenley freak out, as they have piles of tulle on their tables that they won’t share. They don’t even plan on using it, nice!
Jerrell wants to feel pretty for Day 2, so he asks Korto to do his makeup too. Kenley bitches and moans about her forgotten tulle, then asks Jerrell if he’ll sell his once they’re at Parsons. He refuses, and Korto makes a show of hiding her tulle. Loving the cattiness! Unfortunately, Tim rains on my parade and tells Kenley she’s allowed to go back and get her fabric from Mood. The other designers are not feeling Kenley’s scaly mess – Jerrell calls it “Purplezilla” once Kenley’s out of the room. The high school drama continues, as Kenley whines about sitting in the corner by herself and not being included. Hmm… maybe if you weren’t a whiny, rude brat, you’d have some friends.
Tim comes in for his critique, and tells Korto he’s not a fan of the massive amounts of lace. He likes the front of the dress; she just needs to fix the back. He doesn’t like how the fin/leaf things are attached on Kenley’s dress, and that it looks like fishy. Kenley’s thrilled, because she wanted a scaly look. Um, this is a flower challenge, not a reptile/ocean animal challenge. Tim likes Jerrell’s plan for layers, but the dress looks unfinished. He’s concerned for Leanne, not liking the bottom or the back of the dress.
Everyone brings out the waterworks in their interviews. Leanne says she’s wanted to show at Bryant Park since she was 12, Jerrell says this is a huge opportunity for him, and Korto’s praying to win. Meanwhile, Kenley keeps up the Queen Brat routine and says how she doesn’t like the other designer’s work. She says that all Leanne does is pleated details in a muted color palette, and that’s been done before. You wanna know what’s also been done before? The 50’s.
Korto’s dress looks pretty on the runway, especially since the abundance of lace is toned-down. Leanne’s ruffles definitely look like a lavender plant, but the girl is pooing blue fabric in the back, yuck. Jerrell’s look looks frumpy and unpolished. The top looks especially jacked up; I know I would not be able to wear it because unlike most of these models, I actually have boobs and don’t want them hanging out. Kenley’s… yeah, just a mess.
The judges like the balance of structure and softness in Leanne’s dress, and thinks it’s a pleasant surprise. They definitely see Leanne has a signature look. Korto’s dress was made well, but looks too pageantry. The judges also think she went too far, and it doesn’t look like Korto. I, for one, like that it doesn’t look boxy. Jerrell’s dress is youthful and interesting, yet looks unpolished. The guest judge this week thinks Jerrell was the only intriguing designer. Kenley’s dress doesn’t look organic, is clichéd. When the judges say it doesn’t look pretty, Miss Attitude says she didn’t want it to look pretty and mouths off at Heidi. Heidi looks like she’s ready for a smackdown, and I would put money or her to win. Her attitude overshadows her dress, and Kors is afraid Kenley would pull out a knife on a buyer if they didn’t like her work.
The designers are all asked why they should go to Bryant Park, who should go with them, and who should get sent home. Jerrell says this has been his dream and that he’s been consistent, and that Kenley should go because the 50’s are old. Leanne says she wouldn’t put on a boring show and that Jerrell and Korto are on her level. She’s bored with what Kenley makes. Korto says that since she’s married and has kids, she wants to prove she can get her dream. Jerrell and Leanne are good designers and good people so they’d go to Bryant Park with her. Kenley cries because no one loves her, claims she takes the most risks, and that Korto doesn’t put on a show so she should go.
Jerrell surprisingly wins, but everyone’s outfit was kind of a mess this week so I don’t care all that much. I immediately headdesk, because AGAIN they refuse to chose a loser and send someone home. The other three get to make collections, and then someone will be chosen to go home before the finale. Come ON! It’s not like these designers have been good!
Kiera hails from Long Island, NY. She is currently a junior-year journalism student at SUNY Purchase.
