Project Runway – ‘Best Looks’: Althea Garners Another Win; Logan’s Out of Luck (Plus Drama Over Zippers & Sweaters!)

Last night’s episode of Project Runway began with the designers facing away from the runway. Why? So that each of their best designs could be dragged onstage for the big ‘reveal’: Their challenge would be to create a complementary companion look for their best work to date. Much better than what Carol Hannah and I both imagined–that they would be required to cut up their old garments to make new ones. (Hey, Lifetime–if you’re ever strapped for a concept for a challenge…)

Honestly, this was one of those challenges that reminds me of Project Runway seasons past–clever, inspiring & innovative. Thankfully, because sometimes I worry that the producers are running out of ideas. (Again, Lifetime–if you’re ever in a bind…see above.)

The good thing about having so few designers left is that we get to see more of the creative/construction process. The bad thing is they all start wanting to kill each other. Logan allegedly copied Althea’s zipper collar (but since she’s a class act, Althea didn’t call him out on it), and Althea allegedly stole Irena’s ‘big sweater’ idea (since she’s not so much of a class act, Irena threw Althea under the bus in front of the judges).

[Sidebar: How did we miss Irena’s comment last week about Christopher’s ensemble looking like ‘an Amish woman would wear it’? So much for diplomacy…]

But apparently the judges–including guest panelists Nick Verreos (Project Runway Season 2) and Kerry Washington–forgave Althea any transgression she may or may not have made, because they awarded her the prize for a pair of black paper-bag-waist trousers and an oversized comfy gray sweater.

Unfortunately for our resident hunk, despite the fact that Logan wore the same outfit that saved him from elimination after his first misstep, the judges were not blinded by the glare off his pants this time and sent him packing for creating a futuristic costume of a dress that Heidi Klum said looked like it came from ‘a bad music video from the 80’s’.

Good night, sweet prince. And may the fashion angels sing you to sleep…

Project Runway – All the World’s a Stage! Carol Hannah Steals the Spotlight as Christina Aguilera’s Top Pick; Shirin Askari Exits Stage Left

The designers (especially Nicolas) were practically giddy this week when they found out from none other than costume designer to the stars Bob Mackie himself that their next challenge would be to design an over-the-top stage look for–wait for it–Christina Aguilera.

Now, whenever there’s a celebrity on Project Runway, someone inevitably exclaims something along the lines of, “This is, like, the biggest star project runway has ever seen!” But this time, such a statement might actually be accurate.

With such an enormous task at hand, the designers were given two days to complete the challenge, which of course means another full day of work as well as another full day of  D-R-A-M-A.

Even though she had immunity from her win on the previous challenge, Gordana broke down almost as badly as her garment did when it started raining strings of beads all over the workroom floor. Christopher was once again adorably overconfident in his design which the judges would ultimately chew up & spit out like a slimy wad of gum. Irena reached new heights of cattiness and the other designers are starting to take notice. Oh yeah, and they also tried to reintroduce the Logan/Carol Hannah subplot–using the same cut of Carol Hannah saying ‘He’s really hot’.

…Stop trying to make it happen, Lifetime. It’s not going to happen.

But I digress!

In the end Carol Hannah received the prize (And no, Lifetime…the prize isn’t Logan) for a theatrical, texturized black gown that impressed the panel and guest judge Christina Aguilera, who alluded to the fact that, at some point, in the near or distant future, she may or may not actually wear the costume that Carol Hannah designed for her. Wow! So keep a look-out, Carol Hannah! Or, ya know…don’t.

In a heartbreaking turn of events, the little girl with big dreams (and arguably, an even bigger mouth) Shirin Askari was asked to take her final bow after presenting a similar black gown which the judges dubbed ‘an upscale Halloween witch costume’…at least they called it ‘upscale’?

You will be missed, Shirin. The workroom will be significantly less zany without you.

Project Runway ‘Divorcee Challenge’: Everything Old is New Again! Gordana Gelhausen Gets the Gold; Epperson Misunderstands the Assignment

Last night presented us with potentially the most innovative challenge of the season, when the designers were asked to create a new look for nine real women, all recently divorced.

Sounds easy enough, right?

Wrong!

Aside from up to 2 yards of additional fabric & trim purchased from Mood, the new outfit had to be fashioned from the divorcees’ old wedding gowns.

…Yeah. That sounds more like Project Runway.

Of course, drama ensued. Shirin got stuck with a dress with no fabric & a client who wanted to look like a “Cher half-breed” (complete with headdress), Irena said nasty things about Logan’s pants (surprise, surprise) and Gordana called home in tears (don’t worry Gordana! Things will be looking up soon!)

In an unfortunate turn of events, Epperson “misunderstood the assignment” and tried to create a garment with as little fabric from the wedding gown as possible (still not sure how such a misunderstanding is possible, but…all right), forcing him to reformulate his plan in the middle of the challenge.

In the end, Epperson was sent home for a thrown-together look that reminded the judges of an Oktoberfest waitress (ouch.)

Gordana Gelhausen was awarded the win (see Gordana? We told you!) for a chic & edgy gray strapless cocktail dress that was decidedly un-Oktoberfest.

Along with the win, Gelhausen received immunity from elimination for the next challenge, making her the last designer to receive immunity for the remainder of the competition.

Project Runway ‘Movie Genre Challenge’: Science Fiction Double Feature – Last Week’s Almost-Loser Nicolas Putvinski is This Week’s Victor; Solid Competitor Ra’mon Coleman Goes Home in Shocker Ending

If you just started watching this season, you may not know that this is the New York-based series’ first season filming on the west coast–specifically in Los Angeles. So in a geographically appropriate turn, the challenge this week was to create a look and a story for a character in a given movie genre, ranging from ‘Film Noir’ to ‘Western’.

After almost going home last week, Nicolas Putvinksi (who designed for the genre ‘Science Fiction’) redeemed himself with a stunning, glistening ‘Ice Queen’–one of the three sister queens who reside on Orion’s Belt, trapped forever in a frozen crypt when her sisters discover her plans to take over the universe.

Former contender Ra’mon Coleman (who also designed for the ‘Science Fiction’ genre) created a look for a reptilian alien princess, coming to Earth to indulge her insatiable hunger for men. Coleman created an avante garde, deconstructed,  high-necked dress after scrapping a green body suit two hours before the designers’ time was up. Although the judges found merit in Coleman’s back story and creativity in his design–and had admitedly been impressed by his work in previous challenges–they sent him home in favor of Louise Black, whose black 1920’s/1940’s fusion flapper dress they had called a “snoozefest”. Black’s work had never before been singled out on the show, neither in a positive light nor a negative one.

Subplots included a labored ‘romance’ between Logan Neitzel and Carol Hannah Whitfield (she called him ‘hot’, he called her ‘fun to have around’). Also, Louise pricked her finger.

Project Runway – ‘Industry Party Challenge’: Althea Harper Thrills a Panel of Tough Critics; Qristyl Frazier Gets Flak for her ‘Little Black Dress’

In a familiar challenge, the models played the role of the designer’s clients on last night’s episode of Project Runway.

Their assignment was to create an eye-catching look to get their models noticed at an important industry party. But just like in the real fashion world, the designers were required to cater to their model/client’s desires and keep their best interest in mind, while maintaining their own unique style.

Season six’s resident Barbie doll, Althea Harper, created a three-piece mini-suit for her model that delighted Jennifer Rade, guest judge and stylist to Angelina Jolie.

But when elimination came down to Qristyl Frazier’s ‘little black dress’ (which the judge’s dubbed ‘cheap’) and heartthrob Logan Neitzel’s quirky 1950’s style prom dress, it became painfully–one could say ‘Qristyl’–clear that Frazier had sewn her last stitch.

Frazier left in good spirits, thanking the judges earnestly and proclaiming “I know I’m a talented designer.”