With all the layers of this week’s challenge on Project Runway, the producers really should have called it Inception. The designers were split into teams to design red-carpet looks. For the Emmys. To be worn by former Project Runway contestants. And it was all sponsored by Lexus?
But props to the showrunners for having the guts to film the challenge before the Emmy nominations were even announced. Perhaps it was a self-fulfilling prophesy. I do, however, call foul on the series’ nomination for editing—this damn thing is still ninety-minutes long!
There were only seven looks this week, as the designers were assigned partners by selecting different Lexus keys (that’s seamless product integration, y’all). Let’s take a look:
Elena & Buffi (designing for Laura)
I’m still waiting for the day that Elena’s head makes a complete 360-degree rotation. Girl terrifies me (in all the right ways). And while this mismatched pairing nearly had a meltdown of “I’m leaving this show!” proportions, they pulled off a safe dress that kept them in the running.
Christopher & Andrea (designing for Anya)
Bottom 2
Andrea and Christopher’s pairing was like watching a doomed marriage: At first, they were happily exchanging pleasantries like, “I have so much to learn from Andrea!” “Christopher is talented!”
Cut to their demise: Christopher is digging through the trash for fabric and cursing Andrea’s slow sewing. Christopher is turning out to be this season’s brat, but we truly felt for him when Andrea, who had dragged them both onto the chopping block, said being sent home would be a “relief.” We’re actually shocked the more mature designer has to be told to take this shit seriously!
As for the design itself, yes, this dress is bad. (The slit alone made me recoil.) But somehow the pair survived—until they didn’t. In a last-minute tease for next week it looks like granny-goodness Andrea left the competition in the middle of the night. Or maybe she was just out clubbing?
Ven & Fabio (designing for Kenley)
Winning Design
Ven wins again. I’m writing about Ven, so I can’t use exclamation points or question marks—they would undermine his lukewarm response to everything. So, only periods. Congrats, Ven on winning another challenge. Hooray. But this means you have to go to the Emmys with Kenley, which is kind of a Pyrrhic victory.
Melissa & Dmitry (designing for April)
Melissa is basically this season’s April, and Dmitry is basically male Melissa with an accent. Clearly, there was a lack of conflict, which is why this dress flows like mercury.
Alicia & Raul (designing for Mila)
Losing Design, Raul Eliminated
Raul and Alicia, the menswear designers, have been watching too much Project Runway. Don’t worry about showing your design range by episode three, because the judges are still weeding out people who can’t sew.
Also, I have no idea how any non-magician is supposed to respond to a critique of “use less of that print” when all you have is that print.
The reason for eliminating Raul over Alicia was shaky at best. I blame his hair.
Gunnar & Kooan (designing for Irina) Top 2
I’m just going to quote Gunnar himself on this look, “It’s actually not awful.” Do I think it deserved to be in the top two? Nope! Am I glad Gunnar mainly fought with Irina this week? Yep!
Sonjia & Nathan (designing for Valerie)
Queerty fave
I love this dress. I love Valerie. And after seeing six solid-colored looks, my eyes were just glad to have something different. Or maybe I’m just drawn to shiny things? Whatever. Love.
Jason Sweeten is a contributing writer for Queerty. No, he would not like to work in groups.
Photos: Barbara Nitke
P-lo
Living for Sonja, becoming a fav of mine. Valerie is certainly feeling herself!!!!!!
Jase
How is Christopher “turning out to be this season’s brat”? I would say he’s been pretty nice so far, except for the spat with Andrea…but that’s not being a brat…anybody would have gotten pissed at her. Gunnar is by FAR the brattiest, cattiest, bitchiest person this season
OrnaMint
To be worn by former Project Runway contestants that appeared on the recent All-Stars show?
Only April and Kenley were in the all-stars. fyi.
And i dont see anything wrong with Ven being calm and lukewarm. The show is about TALENT and not about personality and certainly not about LOUDNESS.
OrnaMint
Oops… Mila was also on all- stars.
Lane
Christopher was an ass this week… Bitchin about his partner when he couldn’t sew either.
Greg
I swear, when Valerie turned the corner to step onto the runway, I thought “What the hell is Fran Drescher doing here?!” The hair, the hips, the sequined dress… It was like I was watching The Nanny. Not that it wasn’t a bad dress, mind you. I think Christopher got the short end of the stick this week and I was sympathetic to his mini-meltdown on the runway. I don’t know how Gunnar and his queenliness of queenliness made it into the top 2 with that dress. I’ll be glad to see his immaturity auf’d, and soon! I like Ven, a lot. Simple, understated, confident outfits. He’s my fave to win this season…
Call
Kenley actually looked great on the runway. Girl, get rid of the Kewpie Doll makeup and you’ll do yourself a big favor. April was super hot – worked that runway like a real model. Still hating Gunnar, but probably not as much as he already hates himself. I agree with you about Ven. It’s about how all that blasé comes across as Ven feeling superior to all the other designers – as if he fully expects nothing less than accolades from everyone. I find his designs stale. Loving Sonjia – hope she goes to the end.
dax
@Call: gee, could you be anymore obvious…throwing shade at all the male designers, and fawning over all the female designers? thank god people like you aren’t on the panel. you know you’re not judging the clothes.
JustMe
I thought April looked stunning. I think Dmitry may turn out to be a bit of a dark horse. He’s not as dramatic as others so he’ll get less airtime, but will probably go pretty far.
Agreed Elena scares me.
While Ven’s personality may be less than stelar, there’s no denying dude’s got talent. And, quite frankly, in the realm of reality TV, where everything is hyper-dramatized, it’s kind of refreshing to see someone who is quiet and confident … though his confidence may be bordering on arrogance. He should be interesting, nonetheless.
My favorite designer so far? Sonjia, all the way. She seems genuinely nice and bubbly. Not to mention, I love saying her name. 🙂
miley
I am so glad Andrea might be gone, but I shouldn’t rejoice until I find out if she really is out. I was just talking about this with a few ladies around my office at Dish, and we think there’s got to be something else going on here. Why else wouldn’t she have just dismissed herself during the challenge in place of poor Raul? I’m dying to find out! Thankfully watching next week’s episode won’t be jeopardized for me by my boyfriend and stupid preseason football, now that we upgrade to the Hopper DVR, which lets us watch or record up to six things at once. I simply hope that if Andrea is gone, it won’t leave room for Lantie to come back!
Call
@dax. Really? I think there are several designers of both genders that I have not yet mentioned. In the future I’ll make sure to throw shade in whatever manner is most acceptable to you.