Suede’s model comes out in her jumbled print gown, next. It’s sleeveless, with a flowing, flared skirt shape. It has a long sash tied at the waist. The silk lends some elegance to the piece. The model does her best, unbuttoning the tweed sleeveless vest topping the gown, and smiling. The tailoring looks bunchy and uncertain. Stella’s model has been styled to look vampiric, with very pale skin, red lips and slicked-down hair. Her dour facial expression only heightens that ghoulish impression; the black cape does the ‘killer vamp’ look no favors either. The model whips off the cape and an ordinary looking vest and pant are revealed. The fabric is brown, the collar is black. Stella’s voiceover reveals a homespun poet: “I just think it’s sharp, and it’s slick, and it’s bad-ass. That garment has a lot of style, and class.” It’s Dr. Seuss goes to Biker Babe fashion academy.
Kenley’s Shanghai sheath comes out next. It is simple but effective. A bit of black lace serves as an accent sash at the waistline; another strip of fabric comprises a high Mandarin collar. Ms. von Furstenberg definitely smiles and leans foward while watching this garment move down the runway. One can almost see wheels spinning. Is she picturing it on the runway as part of her own collection? “I want everyone to want this dress,” Kenley enthuses in her voiceover.
And that’s it! The scores are tallied. Terri, Jerell, Blayne are called up for being mediocre enough to proceed in the competition. They leave the runway and go backstage. Of the designers remaining, “one of you will be the winner and one of you will be out,” Heidi congratulates or warns as she has every episode of Project Runway. Heidi then asks Korto to describe her design first.
As the camera pans down her model, and Diane von Furstenberg smiles, Korto describes her thoughts upon hearing Dietrich’s film character discussed. Korto has focused upon the words “freedom, carefree, relaxed, travels, Shanghai.” Diane asks to see the garment without the jacket, and then pronounces the yellow “very pretty.” Fern calls the print “captivating” and notes that Korto has brought in the Shanghai influence in the “kimono wrap.” Fern assesses the look as “very international; very New York.” Heidi and Diane praise Korto’s jacket strongly and Kors echoes the praise more quietly.
Joe explains his design next. He says he was inspired by “the Shanghai, the Asian element”, etc. He says he took a bit of a risk. Diane von Furstenberg gets right to the point: “I don’t like the open back,” she says. Fern and Heidi agree the effect is bad, and give various reasons: It’s messy and uneven. They make generally disapproving noises. Kors says it looks odd and could land on a tabloid’s “what was she thinking” page. Kenley explains her design choices next. Her face turns red and she shows a lot of emotion as she finishes talking. The judges’ silence after her speedy monologue ends, seems to throw Kenley. “I think I pretty much nailed it. Do you? Ha-ha? Ha-ha?” she laughs uncertainly.
Article comments