Diane announces that the group will have free access to her fabric “sample room.” They can take what they wish. Jerell’s smile just got even wider. Leanne has a serious look. Suede looks stunned. Everyone else is smiling in some form or fashion. Tim adds that “Diane has a very special announcement to make.” Princess Di then tells the group, “Thanks to my long relationship with American Express, the winning look will be produced and sold exclusively to American Express card members.” Joe looks nervous hearing this. Terri smiles evenly. Ms. von F enunciated the whole speech as if it were ad copy. Gee, imagine that.
There’s something in the sales for charity, as well. Er, sort of. Part of the “proceeds” will go to the CFDA Foundation, which Diane von Furstenberg has been president of since 2006. CFDA stands for Council of Fashion Designers of America. Ms. von Furstenberg received a Lifetime Achievement award from the CFDA in 2005. The show might have explained who or what the CFDA is, to the home viewers. But there ya have it. Speeches over, Diane stands regal in her black and white angular-print dress. Joe vlogs that “this is what Project Runway is all about.” Back pats and product placement?
Since the group has free access to fabric there is no shopping budget. Other than that, the room and the scene look exactly like shopping at Mood. Well, there are no salespeople, of course. The group grabs bolts of fabric frantically. Kenley cries in her vlog again. Tiny Stella can’t lower a bolt from a high shelf. “Get someone to help you,” Tim says, without mussing a crease. Tall Kenley yanks it down for her. Suede vlogs that he doesn’t think Diane would be happy to see her fabrics, “her babies,” strewn around like they are now. Well, the designers did only have fifteen minutes to find, grab, and cut the fabrics. That seems barely physically possible.
As the designers spread out their fabric choices back at the Parsons, Tim enters the workroom and reminds them they each have a “look book” (design inspirations from Ms. von F’s past collections) and until midnight that night to work. Joe flips through the “look book” and notices that “a lot of her looks have layers.” Joe says this challenge will be tight on time. Jerell is making three pieces for his look. Kenley “just wants to get a really good dress together.” Suede is making a vest. He describes his ‘look’ in the third person. (Bottoms up!) Blayne seems to be using all black but is flirting with ‘neon’ on the dress dummy. Blayne’s sketch looks a little like a newsboy outfit.
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