Project Runway recap: Of caterpillars and decapitation

The unconventional challenge has arrived!

Tim Gunn issues a warning: judges do not like materials that correspond to fabrics.

Hypothesis: some designer will choose a material that corresponds to fabric. I’m going to guess Casanova. Anybody that would volunteer a $1000 pair of pants for a Project Runway challenge would be opaque enough to choose “fabric”. Casanova indeed chooses the most conventional materials he can find, saying, “I don’t want to experiment… we’re not making a piñata, we’re making a dress.”

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AJ gets really annoying this episode, talking about how unconventional materials are his speciality, about how well he’s going to be expected to do, and dealing with all the pressure. It’s official: I don’t like A.J. Gretchen also gets annoying, doling out unsolicited advice to anyone and everyone. At one point she shouts over the room to remind everyone to  save time to clean up their workstation. If I were in that room I’d probably want to throw an accessory (from the Piperlime Accessories Wall) at her.

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Favorite line: “It’s like you have a piece of coal up your rear end. Make it a diamond and pull it out!” – Tim Gunn

Hey Tim – we’re humans, not oysters. Although that would be a neat trick. On to the outfits!

Michael C; he described this outfit as “flamenco, Carolina Herrera, Beyoncé…” No, it’s just flamenco.

April; the model is tilting her head so she doesn’t get decapitated.

Valerie; Michael Kors said she did a “360” in styling. I think he meant 180.

Ivy; this dress looks about 5 sizes to big for the model, but other than that it’s great.

Andy; this dress is super badass. Plus the judges love things that look expensive and have personality. Andy wins!

Michael D; a monstrosity, this reminds me of the foil shields people in the 70s used to use to get more tan. Or the foil shields people put in car windows, or the cone you might put around an injured dog’s neck. That skirt could also decapitate you, or at least cut off a toe if it fell down.

Casanova; is it just me, or does this dress remind you of a caterpillar? Smooth underside, fuzzy back, weird colors? Casanova lands in the bottom two, but at least the dress is interesting, and that saves him.

The episode closes with Ivy having fainted and the paramedics giving her oxygen and wheeling her out on a stretcher. My prediction is that she has to bow out and Sarah comes back in. We’ll find out Thursday!