After recovering from their stalkers superfans and losing Krazy Ken, the seven remaining contestants are faced with the best challenge yet—it’s the textile challenge! The designers will get inspired by “next generation innovators” who serve as the muses for the challenge. There are artist and nerdlings and Miss Universe, and somehow this is supposed to translate into a textile pattern.
When the designers arrive at the workroom the next morning, they find their textile designs printed and ready to go. Justin does a happy dance and Bradon is thrilled with the scale of his plaidish pattern. Helen made star that don’t seem to relate to her artist’s work at all, but I’m sure she’ll blah blah blah her way through it.
Tim arrives for his check-in and loves loves loves Dom’s totally boring black and hot pink striped print. Bradon’s cross-hatched pattern is called “beautiful,” but Tim is perplexed by the garment’s design. Kate’s print is very subtle, as is Justin’s. When Tim asks Helen how she is, she replies, “awful.” She’s freaking out and doesn’t know what to do, and she is afraid to even cut into the fabric. Alexandria is making an a-line miniskirt that is confusing, and Alexander is inspired by delicate chocolate lattice work for a futuristic silhouette. Tim tells the group that they are over thinking everything and that he will be “like a worried dad all night.”
Bradon had the best quote of the episode: “Just because Alexander’s last name is Pope doesn’t mean he has to make priest costumes. My last name is McDonald and I don’t make dresses out of French fries….”
It’s time to send the models to hair and makeup, which means it’s also time for last minute frantic fittings. Kate’s dress is so ill-fitting and fugly that Alexander’s eyebrows raise up and over the top of his head, and Alexandria calls it, “a giant tampon.” Alexandria is also concerned about the giant white cross on Alexander’s dress, and Dom can’t stand Alexandria’s look. So…meow?
Runway time! The judges are Zac Posen, Nina Garcia, Heidi Klum, and fashion designer Peter Som. And, of course, Tim Gunn.
Bradon’s little bomber jacket and skirt are a tad 1980s, but the print is wearable and fresh.
Justin’s gown is flowing and the bodice is pretty, but it’s also a bit dated and slapped together.
Kate’s dress is just awful. Like, so awful.
Alexander’s dress is really quite nice, but it’s maybe a bit too much contrast with the white lines.
Dom’s dress is slick and cool and flattering.
Alexandria’s look is not flattering and sloppy.
Helen’s outfit is really gorgeous, but I’m not getting the connection to her muse at all.
The only safe designer is Alexandria, and the rest are the highest and lowest scores. Dom is up first, and Zac Posen calls it “runway ready.” Justin’s gown makes Heidi frown. She thinks the bottom part of the dress is slapped together and “old farty.” Bradon’s print, which was inspired by a BMX biker, pleases the judges. The little black dress underneath is called “sick” and “sexy,” and Zac calls it his best work this season. Alexander’s cake-inspired dress underwhelms the judges because the print isn’t yummy and fun and sexy. Zac thinks the dress makes the model look like the cult leader of chocolate. Helen tries to bullshit her way through the connection between her print and her muse. The judges like it, but they don’t love it, and Peter Som calls it a dress for the “star spangled hipster.” Finally, Kate’s Disastrous Disaster. It elicits an “Oh God….” from Nina, and Peter says “she looks like she fell into a Kleenex box,” and “her bust looks like it needs to be set free, girl.”
The win goes to Dom and her killer bold and sexy dress. Bradon and Helen are also in and exit the runway. Then, with three people left on the runway, Alexander is eliminated. Which is weird, because his dress was not really all that bad. Justin is in and looks like he’s going to vomit. Finally, what to do with Kate? “Kate, I’m sorry you’re out.” Wow. She made one bad dress and like a half dozen really wonderful and innovative looks, but that one bad dress was irredeemable. And any sympathy I had for her evaporated when she said, “I knew that they would take this opportunity to eliminate me again.” No, Kate. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that your dress was really, really, unbelievably hideous.
Next week will determine how many half dozen or so people will move forward to Fashion Week.