Nina Garcia, a judge on “Project Runway,” takes her job very seriously as the fashion director of Elle and Marie Claire magazines and she proved last night that she never takes a break. Even during the reality show she makes sure that she is treating all of the contestants fairly.
This week, the designers enter the workroom to see pictures of themselves as children. They love looking at pictures of themselves! It makes them all weepy.
This week’s challenge: the designers must create a design and get it turned into fabric. It has to be related to a moment that was inspiring to them and deeply personal. They have two days for their challenge which means… expect a surprise!
Valerie is creating a blueprint design based on her father’s home building background. Michael C. is doing something with the evil eye. Gretchen is using some sort of sun bonnet in a southwest pattern. April is doing a dark romantic version of her parent’s divorce. Mondo’s mom told him not to come out to his dad and it’s really hard and he’s doing something about that. His design is a plus sign based on his HIV-positive status.
I love Mondo, but if he wanted to keep it a secret, he just announced it to several million people, some of whom probably know his parents. He won’t tell Tim or the other designers yet. But he’ll tell the camera. Sigh. Then Tim sends in the surprise. It’s the moms!!
The crying begins. Everyone is just so cute and excited. Andy is crying. Valerie is super crying. Gretchen starts crying because she doesn’t get to see her mom often, because her mom takes care of her wheelchair-bound stepfather. And then her mom walks in and Gretchen goes into the ugly cry. Michael C. gets to see his son. Chris’s partner visits. OK where are the tissues? Now I’m crying. For real, let’s get back to the clothes. Tim gives them the day off to spend with their loved ones.
Back to work. It’s the next day and Tim joins the designers for chitty chat. He tells April the judges won’t care about the divorce story behind her fabric and to be more analytical. He likes Michael C.’s strapless dress. Chris is doing something with his water fabric (didn’t Valerie make water dress last week?) Andy is just lost. Tim thinks Gretchen has created a flap on the back and that Valerie has made an ice skating outfit. Tim gives a little speech and tells them he’s very proud of them and gets a little choked up.
Ohhh! Hottie muttonchop make-up artist gets lots of face time today and an actual line about eyelashes! We are happy. At judging, Heidi is wearing a weird 80s polka-dot bubble print dress with a wide green metallic - is that a belt? Earlier it was a mod animal print dress with a faux turtleneck top. It’s just getting weirder folks. Today’s judges: Michael, Nina and designer Rachel Roy.
Apparently the moms gave all the love, because the judges are not bringing it this week. Nina is very disappointed in Gretchen’s southwest sunbonnet-inspired shirt and says that she’s not doing anything outstanding. Rachel Roy says it’s an “almost” outfit. As in “almost there.” Michael likes the “disco earthy” black stretchy pants but the print doesn’t work with the blouse. Michael C.’s dress doesn’t go over well with Kors, who says it looks like she’s wearing a tie that got cut off. Heidi likes it but says the shoes are too matchy matchy. Chris’s off-the shoulder shirt and grayish pants outfit also doesn’t get the wow. Nina says it’s fine but not fashion. Heidi says it’s nice, safe and boring. Rachel doesn’t see the water in the print.
Andy’s gray watercolor bubble print makes Roy happy, but the outfit as a whole upsets her. Nina says the outfit and the print makes her sad and she’s disappointed in Andy too. Kors says the outfit has “sleeping eyes” on the chest and that the whole thing is dumbed down. Heidi says it’s unwearable. They also hate Valerie’s black print dress and blue underskirt printed dress which they say is too much like her party dress store. Kors says it’s a smushed napkin apron and took all the life out of the fabric. Nina says it’s heavy.
Thank goodness there are two happy notes. They like April’s one-shoulder dress with the pieced skirt. Nina says the print is charming and she loved the silhouette. Roy also loved the print and way it appears and disappears. And it’s all happy happy for Mondo, who made collages from construction paper on his mother’s wall, and his cowl-necked shirt, black jacket and hot pink and blue cross print high-waisted pant outfit. Mondo says it is symbolism for who he is now and it’s very very personal. He doesn’t say what the story is. Nina says his model looks sharp and this is what she means by fashion. Roy says it’s styled beautifully. Heidi thinks it’s great in a kooky way.
All this praise inspires Mondo to share with everyone that he’s been HIV + for a decade and he doesn’t want to hide anymore. Nina gives a little smile and says thank you for sharing. There is no hugging on the runway.
Mondo wins again! He gave them something happy out of something sad. The two lowest scores go to Andy, for losing his way, and Valerie for giving them two bad dresses sewn together. Valerie is out. She gives a very long backstage goodbye speech. Very. Long.
Next challenge: Heidi is the client. Why do they have to pull that challenge every frigging season?
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