Project Runway: “There’s No ‘I’ in Team”

You know it’s got to be good when you hear Metropolitan Museum of Art! Museum-inspired challenges are always my favorite.

So this week’s challenge was to create a high end signature look based on the designers’ own style that would fit into the master collection of couture in the American Wing Charles Engelhard Court section of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Whew! What a mouthful. They have two days and a budget of $500 – a Project Runway first! So, sounds easy enough, right? Except they must work in teams of two. And, a totally not shocking twist, they have to create a second look which must be a “look for less” using only $50 to make it. Okay go! Oh, wait. And it also has to be derived from another team’s look. Okay, now go!

After a long boring game of Choose Your Partner, we’re left with the pairings of Jay and Maya, Jesus and Amy, Anthony and Seth Aaron (Yay! My favorites!), Janeane and Ben, Mila and Jonathan, Ping and Jesse (my condolences, sir) and Emilio and Anna. Designers were given a short time to be inspired by the looks of the“most iconic fashion designers of all time” – i.e. Dior, Madame Gres, Balenciaga. After a quick trip to Mood, we’re back in the work room ready for drama. And, oh, is there drama…

Over in Mila and Jonathan’s side of the room, Mila’s a natural born leader. Jonathan, however, is a natural born liar. A bit of false reassurance when she comes to him a little worried that she only made the jacket and he made the rest. Not to mention he also did the fittings, the makeup consultation… Oh, no, Mila. A lot of the leaders made their partners their work horse. No worries. I sort of wished he had outed her at judging though. Would’ve been entertaining.

My favorite team, Seth Aaron and Anthony, are busy clashing. Seth Aaron isn’t used to having to work together. Control freak? Maybe a little. Anthony always makes light of the situations though – “So far this gown is for the V.P. at McDonald’s.” Love it! Ping and Jesse, on the other hand, can’t seem to agree. (A good thing about Jesse/Ping drama? More screen time for Jesse = more eye candy.) Jesse just wants a solid idea to work from but his suggestions are throwing Ping. She keeps changing her mind and “doubting” her ideas. Insecure much? As if that weren’t enough, all of Jesse’s beautifully crafted details on their dress aren’t seen because Ping demands the extra slabs of fabric she slapped on there just for fun need to be draped over it. If only she’d listened, they might not have been in the bottom three.

Speaking of which, let’s move onto judging. Guest judge this week is the acclaimed British designer, Matthew Williamson. Pip, pip, cheerio! (Sorry, I just really wanted to say that.) None of the looks really caught my eye or wowed me this week. But of them all, I favored Emilio and Anna’s. Their gown was beautiful and very elegant, whereas their “look for less” was just adorable. They were safe from elimination this week, as well as Jesus/Amy and Janeane/Ben. Jay/Maya and Mila/Jonathan were the highest scoring looks, while Anthony/Seth and Ping/Jesse were the lowest.

The McDonald’s dress was a bit too prom dressy and “costumey” – very Gone With the Wind the judges claimed. Their look for less was a bit of a tacky cocktail dress. But the designers stood by their garments. Even when put on the spot about Anthony’s leadership and their clashing, Seth Aaron stayed respectful and said it was a collaboration, a 50/50 deal. Knew I liked him!

Ping and Jesse’s look, I thought, was pretty until Heidi pointed out the excess fabric on the back. Their “look for less” was boring and not even all that nicely executed. The model even mentioned that she was not fitted for it. That, Ping, is a burn. Remind me to send that model a thank you note!

On the upside of things, Jay and Maya’s look was a bit out there. First thought – made me think of a lizard. Don’t ask why. Just did. But it was interesting, to say the least. Their “look for less”, I thought, could have been better. But the judges thought their looks were unique and dramatic. Mila and Jonathan scored big points with Mila’s “vision” of an upscale tracksuit. Model looked like a skinny skunk, but that’s just me. Heidi wanted one of her own, and the rest of the judges were in love. The winner of the challenge, no doubt, was Mila. See? They don’t all have to be dresses. Thankfully, Ping was eliminated. Though I must agree with Tim – “I just can’t imagine the workroom without you!” Maybe it’ll be quieter now? We’ll have to see next week.

For another take on this episode, check out Feats of Design by Keshaunta Moton.

Season 7, Episode 3: The Highs and Lows of Fashion (originally aired January 28, 2010)

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