Last episode’s previews hinted some “special ladies” would take part in this episode’s special challenge. Who are they? What is so special about them? The designers are about to find out. A large silhouette appears behind the scrim at the Parsons runway. Suede gasps. Suddenly, a line of middle-aged women in knee-length print skirts walks single file onto the runway. “What?” Suede says. Korto wonders in her vlog if the women are the designers’ mothers. She is worried she might snap if someone ‘talks badly to her mama.’ Jerell is confused in his vlog because he thinks these women are someone’s mothers, but “I don’t see Korto’s or mine” he says.
Heidi tells the group these women will be an important part of the challenge but they are not the clients. “Awesome, because none of us want to design an old lady outfit, to be honest,” Leanne vlogs chirpily. How startlingly tactful of you, Leanne. I’m sure these women are thrilled to hear they are officially ‘old ladies’ at 50. At any rate, Heidi shows who they will be designing for. A line of younger women appears and stands beside the older women. Jerell worries in voiceover that the younger women are high school age and they will have to design prom dresses. That challenge was done last season though. The show doesn’t actually repeat challenges that often; the Gristedes grocery challenge and the digital photo inspiration challenge are the only two I can think of. And those were not in consecutive seasons. So two prom dress challenges two seasons running would be unusual.
Heidi gives more details. The younger women are recent college graduates. Their mothers, standing beside them, would like them to have a makeover to ready them for the job market. The women now introduce themselves. The daughters give their ages; the mothers pointedly do not, but it shouldn’t matter. The daughters are the actual clients. The mothers are only there to ‘help’ and to oversee the work a bit. Button Bag gets put to work for once; he must be happy. Heidi chooses designers’ names and pairs them with the mother/daughter teams beginning from Heidi’s right. Kenley’s name is drawn first and she likes her client Anna’s style. Anna wears a large plaid shirt, glasses, and a large bleached streak in her dark hair. Korto’s name is pulled next, and gets Megan. Megan has shoulder length curly hair and a chartreuse tank top. Korto gives a resigned wave Megan’s way.
Joe is paired with Laura, a slightly larger young lady. Laura wears a purple sleeveless tank, a yellow and black checked ‘outdoor’ scarf, and a black skirt. Her hair is burgundy. If her taste is as muddled as her outfit seems, I predict trouble and confusion as she tries to communicate her wishes to Joe. Leanne is matched with Holly. Holly seems fresh scrubbed, basic and ‘all American’ - a good style match for Leanne, I think. Also, something about the Holly Hobbie lookalike Leanne drawing a client named Holly appeals. Suede is matched with Avital. The two have matching peroxide hair, although Suede has a blue streak and Avital has four inches of dark roots. The last team by default is Jerell and Caitlin. Caitlin is tall, thin, and lanky, with close-cropped hair, bleached bangs, large sunglasses atop her head and a green, V-neck T-shirt. She smiles shyly as her mother beams a large smile her way.
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