Project Runway: I’m Going to Go With, What’s the Point?

In a very under-hyped “twist,” we lose two people this week in the last challenge before the finale. I’m more excited by this than any of the designers. They’re looking forward to Fashion Week, and I’m looking forward to cutting the last two hangers-on, because let’s face it – we’re in Top Chef-land now, where we all know who should be at the end but we suffer waiting through the weaker folk to screw up again so we can whittle things down. If it weren’t so obvious who should be in the finals, this could’ve been exciting.

And so! We open with talk of pressure and tension: Christopher’s shocked that he’s the last man standing, clearly not having paid attention to the talent level among the women this whole season. Although I, too, thought some of the men would have made it farther than Logan. Irina and Barbie fake their way through last week’s “It was my idea first” shenanigans, and at some time, Irina and Gordana became friends. Now it’s Irina and Gordana versus CH and Barbie. It’s such a natural girl thing that I’m depressed watching it unfold. We can be so catty.

For the challenge, the designers meet Tim at The Getty Center. They tour the museum to find inspiration, which is a great final challenge that worked well during Season Four at the Met and should become a standard. It also makes the Michael Kors challenge look even more silly. The designers have $300 and two days to complete this challenge.

The inspirations: CH chooses the European decorative arts and an 18^th century French bed. Barbie draws inspiration from the architecture of the Getty Building, while Christopher also remains outside to study a rock fountain. Irina picks the painting “Mischief and Repose” from John William Godward. Gordana finds a painting of Monet that reminds her of her home in Europe.

The interviews: Christopher talks yet again about a person like me from a place that I’m from with the formal education that I lack…needless to say, Bryant Park would be amazing for him. Barbie feels alienated because everyone has a buddy except for her. She deals by taking over several work room tables, prompting more tension and irritation from Irina. How many ways can we say petty? The tension continues to escalate as the women start snapping at each other. Nothing vicious, just enough to let people know where they stand. Thankfully, we don’t see most of it. We also hear some about Irina’s family from the Republic of Georgia. Her father thinks she’s ancient at 26 and can’t understand her independence or her lack of husband. For her, Bryant Park will validate her passion with her family.

Tim Time. Christopher’s dress doesn’t have a “wow” factor, and Tim warns him to use an editing eye. He loves CH’s dress but doesn’t want her to lose the sophistication as she develops other ideas. Irina’s dress worries Tim, and for the first time, she receives a negative critique. Tim is perplexed and troubled over Barbie’s construction methods. He tells her to bring a critical eye, because she’s walking a fine line. Gordana cries during her Tim Time, because the painting and her work mean so much to her. This is her most personal piece, and though Tim loves it, he concedes he has no idea what the judges will say. Gordana stands behind her piece because of how much of herself is represented in it.

CH worries about Barbie’s dress because the material doesn’t lend itself to pleating. Irina incorporates Tim’s advice. Barbie calls Gordana’s dress beautiful but not a “last challenge” dress to wow the judges. She thinks the same of Irina’s dress. Irina calls Christopher’s confidence misplaced and says that his dress will land him in trouble. Again. She points out that Barbie is scrambling, as usual, and that a lot of her work lacks polish and finishing.

Runway. Judges: Heidi, (no Kors – is he even a judge anymore, technically?), Nina Garcia, Cynthia Rowley, Cindy Crawford.

Barbie: Ok. Looks like a quilt. CH: Beautiful, simple. Christopher: Beautiful. Gordana: Nice, but oddly shaped. Irina: Relaxed, in her style, but too oversized.

I think this season’s museum challenge fails miserably against Season Four’s productions. As a final challenge, none of these dresses are “big” enough. Except for Barbie, they’re all beautiful, but none of them have a “wow” factor (maybe CH) and none of them seem to be so iconic of their creators that you want to know what else they can do. They’re all relatively simple and lackluster. I like most of them, but none of them blew me away.

But on to the professionals! This week, to build some suspense, everyone receives positive and negative critiques. Though Barbie’s dress is ambitious, the bottom part is overworked and the top of the dress underworked, and she bit off more than she could chew. Irina’s dress has a beautiful back and a nice color, but the length is too long and the styling weighs the look down. Gordana’s dress clearly shows her inspiration, but Gordana’s not taking chances. Cindy could see herself wearing it – Nina says “not so great from the back, but beautiful from the front.”  CH’s fit and detailing are “fantastic.” The judges don’t see the inspiration, but they love the dress. Nina expresses her concern by describing the dress as “safe perfection.” Rowley loves the top part of Christopher’s dress, but the bottom suffers from a heavy, stiff fabric. Heidi asks if he’s comfortable with this as his final dress. He cries (uh oh) and says that everyone else chose a beautiful piece of art as their inspiration – he chose a rock with algae, because he could see the beauty there. That speaks more about him as a designer than anything else could. It’s probably the smartest thing he’s said all season.

Now we’re at that moment where Heidi asks everyone why they should go to Fashion Week, and which two designers should accompany them. Anyone who does not include Irina is lying. First: Gordana. She could reach her full potential by showing at Fashion Week, and chooses Christopher and Irina because they want it so badly. Barbie says that she has pushed herself the entire competition, never landing in the bottom, and chooses CH and Irina. CH says her background and how much she wants it don’t matter – it comes down to the fact that she makes beautiful garments that women want to wear. Christopher and Barbie should join her because they’re bringing new, exciting ideas to the runway. Irina’s voice grows shaky as she talks about her immigrant parents, and she says she should go because she can show that it’s okay to dream. It’s a terrible speech, but if it’s genuine, I’ll let it go. The correct answer would have been: because I’m the most creative designer here. She chooses Barbie and Gordana to join her. Christopher hasn’t had many opportunities for success, and this would be his biggest opportunity. He chooses CH and Irina.

Over deliberation, we hear a few more comments: Barbie disappointed big time this week, but she pushed herself. Irina has a very clear vision, but the bottom of her dress was dowdy. Christopher makes beautiful tops, but he doesn’t have enough experience to realize that he’s choosing the wrong fabrics. CH had the standout piece, but she plays it safe. Gordana created one of her best pieces, but who she is as a designer doesn’t come out in her work.

Line them back up and Fashion Week belongs to: Irina, CH and Barbie. Hooray! That means Christopher and Gordana are out. I admit I’m surprised that Christopher crashed and burned so badly this season – after the first few episodes I thought this was his competition to lose. Gordana, however, is no surprise. Except for how long she lasted.

And for once, the Irina factor doesn’t kick in! Her comments about Christopher didn’t save him – I thought it might come down to CH and Christopher, but between the two, I’m happier that CH is staying. I’m rooting for her to kill it.

Next week: Finale!

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Season 6, Episode 12: The Art of Fashion (originally aired November 5, 2009)

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