Okay, so I was wrong about the challenge this week having to design outfits for Delta Airlines flight attendants... but I was right about the Delta Airlines part. I loved the looks on the designers' faces when they were told to get the eff off the runway, pack their bags for an unknown destination, and get to the airport in their newly minted ensembles... to see how well the "jet setter" outfits they designed would hold up after they stepped off that other runway. Classic and clever.Even better that they ended up in Paris, one of the world's fashion capitals (if not THE fashion capital) though half of me was hoping they'd end up somewhere truly un-exotic and mundane. You know, completely take them out of their element altogether and force them to dress the people of St. Olaf or something. To really see if they can design for the runway and the masses. But I'll take Paris any day, as they were all so excited to be there. Even if I did think it was so completely mean-spirited to fly someone across the Atlantic, have them pull up to Parsons Paris, get eliminated and then fly right back to the States. Runway producers, you are cruel!
Speaking of eliminations, it had to happen eventually as Project Runway nemeses Angela and Jeffrey finally faced off both on the runway and in the studio, after last week's disastrous pairing of Jeffrey with Angela's mom in the challenge. (Could the producers have picked two less matched people than the two of them?) Eye rolling and name calling ensued, but it was all rather too tame compared to what I thought would happen. Point to Jeffrey for mentioning Angela's "weird, sad eyes." Though I do have to sort of admire Angela for not sinking to his level. As much as I don't admire her skills as a designer, she has managed to pretty much avoid getting dragged into the fray. But it was at Parsons Paris that the dreaded twosome ended up on completely opposite spectrums. Angela's "jet-setter" design consisted of messy brown linen shorts that were creased and wrinkled by the time she stepped off the plane, complete with hideous granny florets on the bum, a classic kooky Angela top, and some ill-matched boots. A disaster by all accounts.
Jeffrey, on the other hand, had the winning design with a rock and roll outfit that looked like it cost thousands of dollars more than the $75 budget they were given: a gorgeous purple jacket that looked like sumptuous leather, paired with a fish eye t-shirt, and tighter-than-tight pin-striped pants with some sort of crotch detail that seemed vaguely dangerous after one too many drinks. I was really torn between his design and Michael's: a hip-hop Harlem-meets-the-Hamptons ensemble that was as comfortable and wearable as it was stylish, consisting of a modern take on the classic white button-down shirt and *amazing* white seersucker cargo pants that were classy and cool at the same time. Plus, he looked impeccable, even after trans-Atlantic travel. (Hard-to-please Michael Kors even loved it; he's turned into quite the Michael fan.) In the end though, I am glad that Jeffrey won as his outfit was not only perfect for him, but also stylish and fashion-forward.
I really liked Laura's dress as well, which was more of a departure for her than usual. It wasn't 1940s at least and the knotting was very beautiful. Plus it held up well, once she moved the knot to the front. And I have to give her credit for being so game about the whole thing, despite being pregnant. Meanwhile, what was with the judges giving Uli such a hard time about her dress? I thought she looked amazing and comfortable and very stylish. They pointed out that her outfit would look great in Miami, LA, Hawaii, or St. Tropez but not really anywhere else. But wasn't the entire point of the exercise to design something for a jet-setter? And aren't those popular destinations for the Paris Hilton set? Color me confused, because I didn't really understand what the judges wanted then. Uli was stylish and her patterns beautifully balanced and while she doesn't always deviate from that sort of breezy aesthetic, her stuff is consistently gorgeous and wearable.
Oh, Kayne. Where to begin? You need to tone down the pageant queen within a little bit and stay away from the whole Dollywood influence because the judges outright HATED your design this week. I want you to make to the final three, but you're not going to have a shot in hell unless you stick to couture and not country.
Finally, I am still baffled as to why Vincent is still there. This week, he took off his pants to copy them into a pants pattern and created the most boring outfit I've seen on Project Runway thus far. (Yes, even more boring than poor Robert Best's designs.) His jet-setter ensemble consisted of black pants and a charcoal grey v-neck shirt that looked like something he picked up at the GAP on the way to the airport. And was it just me or did the top seem oddly ill-fitted. It kept bunching up at the shoulders and was very unflattering. Yet somehow, guest judge Francisco Costa from Calvin Klein called Vincent's design an "intellectual" response. Um, excuse me? Did I just hear you correctly? I'm completely gobsmacked. How is his laziest design yet an intellectual response to the jet-setting task? Am I the only one baffled as to why the judges seem to be coddling him?
Yet it was only fitting that it was sketch-phobic Angela who was the one to be sent packing (literally) back to the States. I've never been a fan of her designs and she's managed to crest by so far because there were other weaker designers. But besides for her "whimsical" florets, was there anything that she'd done that stood out as being original or visionary? I can't think of anything. (And side note: what was up with that extended exchange between Jeffrey and Vincent about Angela coming in to smoke and waking Michael up?) Fortunately, guest judge Catherine Malandrino wasn't too impressed with Angela's sloppy "Holly Hobby" design and sent her home.
Only six contestants remain from the original fifteen and the competition is only going to get more fierce as we narrow it down to the final two. Who will be the next to go? I can only hope it's Vincent, but the judges seem to disagree with me on this one..
Next week on Project Runway: the designers remain in Paris while part of their challenge (is it another shocker?) involves attending a party, only to find themselves pelted with eggs by unhappy locals. Everyone's a critic...
What's On Tonight
8 pm: Big Brother 7: All-Stars (CBS); My Name is Earl/The Office (NBC); Smallville (WB); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Celebrity Duets (FOX; 8-10 pm); Everybody Hates Chris/Love, Inc. (UPN)
9 pm: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (CBS); The Office/The Office (NBC); Supernatural (WB); Grey's Anatomy (ABC); Eve/Cuts (UPN)
10 pm: Without a Trace (CBS); Windfall (NBC); Primetime (ABC)
What I'll Be Watching
8 pm: My Name is Earl.
On tonight's repeat episode ("The Bounty Hunter"), Earl's ex-girlfriend (guest star Juliette Lewis) returns to town to exact some revenge against Joy for making Earl leave her. Can anyone say, Catfight?
8:30 pm: The Office.
On a repeat episode ("The Dundies"), it's that time of year again as Michael forces the Dunder-Mifflin employees to suffer through the annual office awards ceremony at a local Chili's restaurant.
9 pm: The Office/The Office.
Wow, NBC, two more episodes of The Office tonight! I might just have to add you back on my Christmas card list. On the first episode ("Take Your Daughter to Work Day"), Michael becomes friends with Toby's five-year-old daughter and the gang learns about Michael's past as a "child TV star." Afterwards, it's the "Conflict Resolution" episode where Michael takes on responsibility of conflict resolution from Toby and causes all sorts of chaos in the office.
10 pm: Murder City on BBC America.
Continuing tonight on BBC America: a 2004 Brit mystery series starring Amanda Donahoe (L.A. Law) and Kris Marshall (My Family) as pair of terribly mismatched police partners. In tonight's episode, a corpse found at the city dump is identified by some rather unusual undergarments. Seriously.
Comments
Michael's was great, but Jeffrey's was the best.
LOVED Laura's dress. It was not only chic and beautiful, but it looked like the kind of dress that would be flattering to different body types.
I am SO with you on the Uli thing. I didn't get their criticisms at all. I thought she nailed the challenge.
Oh Kayne. Though I have to say I thought the outfit ended up being better than what I thought. I really thought he was gone while he was designing it.
Vincent - you nailed it w/the Gap comment. I don't think he should go home for this outfit, but he should have been bottom 3. Not Uli.
Angela, poor Angela. I wasn't a fan of her designs, but she seemed like a nice enough gal.
Can someone confirm or deny that they aren't going to fashion week this year? The timing doesn't seem to work properly and they aren't mentioning it in the intro anymore.
Michael has to make it to the F3. He has to. His stuff has been consistant throughout, and the judges really seem to drool over him. (Me too!) And, I think if he does get to F3, he'll win. I love the ease and thought behind all of his designs. And, although I think Jeffery's outfit suited *him*, I thought that Michael was robbed. MK was completely comfortable during the flight, and didn't have to remove any article of clothing - like Jeff did. Plus - the crotch?! WTF?!
I also adored Laura's dress. I want one in red for a work party!
After last week's "It's never OK to be boring over ugly" result, I thought for sure that Vincent would be sent home. I ask again...why is he still there? Do they feel badly about his 401(k)?