It's been a week since the Season 14 Finale of Project Runway, and I haven't thought about much else.  The designers all had such different aesthetics and were so talented, but in the end the winner was clear for me.

For one last time, let's recap!

Edmond had one of the bigger "make it work" moments of the designers.  The judges told him to make his girl cooler and sexier, and given where he started before his preview for the judges, that meant he had a lot of work to do in two days.

Edmond added some simple, sexy dresses per the judges request.  They reminded me of what we were used to seeing him make throughout the whole season, and they were very chic and successful.

Some of my favorite looks of Edmond's were his silky, draped dresses.  They were different than what we've seen from him before (somewhat reminiscent of Sean Kelly's dresses from last season's finale) and it was nice to see a softer side of him.

Unfortunately, Edmond kept some of his black and white curly-cue ruffle pieces, and while they aren't bad looks in and of themselves, they felt really out of place among the sleek, sexy dresses.

...and then there was that random blue piece he threw in for no reason whatsoever.

I agreed with the judges: Edmond is talented and has grown a lot as a designer, but his collection wasn't cohesive at all and he needed to narrow his focus on who he is as a designer and what kind of girl he's designing for.

Candice's collection was costume, costume, costume, and the judges wanted her to tone down her collection in a major way.  While it was a shame for her to lose some of her hats, her wood sculptural pieces, and her magnificent cage hoop, it was probably for the best in the end.

One of my favorite looks was the cherry blossom dress, which Candice created at the last minute because she loved the fabric and wanted to include a piece featuring it.  The judges told her to eliminate the Asian influence, but I wish she had included more of this print.  It was a huge strong point.

Candice did have quite a few successful looks.  She went back to her roots with her leather corset styles, and because she left out all the bells and whistles, they ended up looking modern and chic.

Some of the pieces I didn't enjoy as much were her separates, and they could have been better with different styling.  The red pants or the sheer skirt could have been paired with the red corset top from her preview and would have had more impact.  The navy pants could have (and should have) been swapped out for her cherry blossom pants.

And then there was this unfortunate situation.  Candice took the stunning 24-hr challenge dress from her collection preview, got rid of everything that made it unique and pretty, and turned it into a deconstructed sack.  So disappointing.

I think Candice just didn't have enough time to make her collection what it should have been.  She went overboard with the costume pieces and didn't recover well from the judge's critique.

Kelly's collection ended up turning out a lot better than I expected.  I still have mixed feelings on her textiles and her 70s inspiration, but under the lights of the runway, her collection had a lot of impact.

Some of my favorite pieces included this geometric sequined fabric.  In the workroom it just looked white, but the runway lighting gave it a gunmetal grey pop, and paired with the burgundy leather it really stood out in a way I never expected.

Kelly's dresses were another strong point for me.  Her fabric choices were unexpected and a little weird, but they managed to look cool and sporty.

All that said, I reaaaaallllyyy disliked Kelly's more overtly 70s looks.  The fabrics that were successful in small doses looked cheap when we were given more of them, and none of the pant/jumpsuit looks flattered her models.  I can't see anyone wearing them in real life, and I think she took the Studio 54 inspiration a little too far.

Overall I think Kelly worked better under a guiding hand.  When she was given direction for a challenge, she was able to take it and run with it to create some brilliant pieces, but left to her own devices I think she lost her way a bit.  However, I could see a lot of street-wear labels wanting her on their team, and I think she'll be successful in the industry.  She deserves a lot of credit for how far she's come!

 I said I wanted Ashley to take the whole competition after WEEK ONE, and I couldn't be prouder of her collection.  I'm not plus sized, but I would definitely wear nearly all of her looks.  Her collection was the most cohesive and had the most definitive vision.  She also played with separates more than any of the other designers, and I'm whole-heartedly obsessed.

It was smart of Ashley to put the blue bandeau underneath the top in this piece.  In comparison to her preview with the judges, it looks like a whole different look!  It's now fresh and youthful.

This was one of my favorite dresses in the whole collection.  Any woman of any size would and could wear this.  The color is stunning and the fringe-y lace is so feminine and beautiful.

Ashley fixed the construction issues in the bustier of this look, and the skirt, while simple, had a lot of movement and great runway impact.

A babydoll dress can be hit or miss, but in this fabric I thought it was really successful.  It's a great length to wear as a dress, with leggings and boots, or as a tunic top with jeans.  It was one of her most marketable looks.

The judges weren't too thrilled with this romper (particularly with the high waist proportion) but I really liked it.  It might work a little better on a slimmer body type, but I think it's a cute concept that could be sold on ModCloth tomorrow.  Popping it with the blue shoe was a perfect styling choice.

This look was definitely a risky one and went a little "1950s swimwear meets bridesmaid," but I thought it was kind of genius.  If you took of the skirt, you'd have a great plus size swimwear look.  If you lined the skirt, you could wear it to any formal event.  Having pieces that you can mix and match is brilliant.

This was one of the more wearable looks in Ashley's collection, and while the shorts seem to have a bit of a fit problem, I love the look overall.  I would wear every piece in a second.

This was another risky look, and it was most reminiscent of Ashley's pre-Runway work.  It's definitely a unique twist on a classic button down, and I liked that she used the fringe lace to tie it in to previous looks in the collection.

I still am in awe that this was Ashley's 24hr challenge piece.  It is a fantastic formal look, and I want to see it on Christina Hendricks asap.

While the finale look was not the most wearable, it tied in her gorgeous floral headpieces and was a lovely bookend to the collection.

From winning the first challenge to winning it all, Ashley has a lot to be proud of.

Get it, girl!!!

My prediction was correct!  Tim used his Tim Gunn Save to keep Edmond in the competition, so all four of the top designers had the opportunity to show at New York Fashion Week.

The challenge:  7 weeks to create a 10 piece collection with $9,000.  Not too hard, right?

Apparently, wrong.  Most of the designers had some major struggles pulling their pieces together, which seems a little inexcusable by season 14 of the show.  Have they never seen Project Runway before, and do they not understand what the judges might expect of them?!?  Silly.

When the designers got back to New York, Tim threw an extra 24-hr challenge at them to create a new, additional piece for their collection.  This new look and 2 of their other looks were to be shown as a mini-collection to the judges for their feedback.

Ashley Nell Tipton

It was a given that Ashley was going to create a plus-size collection, and I was thrilled that the show provided Ashley with plus-sized models to use (I thought they might have expected her to find her own, so it was a nice gesture.)  Ashley's collection went back to her Mexican roots and was inspired by Mexico City in the 1950s.  I was a little surprised that her pieces were pastel and floral given that this showed at fall fashion week, but it was still really beautiful.  Her floral headpieces are some of the most gorgeous things I've seen in the show's history, and while the judges weren't as excited about them, I hope she uses them on all her models.

I definitely understood the judges' criticism on her first look.  The top needs a more purposeful bra underlay or it needs to be fully lined; showing a basic nude bra is a no-go.  The skirt (in which she hand-stitched the pattern...holy cow) had some puckering issues, but the design is cute.  With a little refinement, it will be fine.

The second look was her 24-hr challenge look, and I'm LOVING IT.  I would wear this in a second.  She was smart to take Tim's advice and incorporate more jewel tones, and leaving it sheer makes it fashion-show ready.  The fit was incredible, and I think it proves that Ashley's best work comes in a time crunch.

The third look had some major fit problems, but I see where she was going with it.  If the top was more refined (and perhaps if the skirt was shortened?) it would be in good shape.

Candice Cuoco

Candice's collection was inspired by the Met's "China: Through the Looking Glass" exhibit, which may have been her biggest problem.  I have been creatively inspired by art exhibits before, too, but Asian-inspired collections are extremely common in the fashion world and the judges were not having it.  She was compared to Alexander McQueen and Juo Pei and it was declared her collection was completely unoriginal.  Ouch.

Candice's first look was there to show the judges that she incorporated color into her collection (THANK THE LORD, all-black collections are a snore,) but I'd agree with the judges that it wasn't the most successful.  The jacket is beautiful and the corset has potential, but to match the lining of the jacket to the pants is a bit tacky and the styling was too literal.

The second look was Candice's 24-hr challenge look, and like Ashley, I think it was her best.  The hat was made beforehand and the judges hated it (they said it was too costume and too McQueen,) but I thought the dress was great.  The lines were beautiful, the applique detail on the side was perfect, and it was a good mix of tough and feminine.  If she leaves the gloves and the hat at home she'd be fine.

The last look was probably Candice's best separates look.  The pants were impeccably made and the kimono jacket in the lace was gorgeous.  The judges took issue with the literal headpiece and I thought the corset top was a little redundant after showing the first look, but overall with a little editing it's salvageable.

Edmond Newton

Edmond was on the struggle bus the entire episode, which really surprised me.  My theory is that he does his best work under the guidance of someone giving him direction, and when he was on his own he lost his way.  He said his collection was supposed to be sexy and glamourous in a light, airy way, but that wasn't the product he cranked out.  A lot of it was extremely stuffy, and the only thing tying his looks together was the color scheme and WAY too many ruffles.  It's the Kini syndrome: he made beautiful, classic, sexy looks through the whole competition and went home and became fussy and frilly.

If that weren't unfortunate enough, he didn't even have all of his pieces made before getting back to New York.  He has a lot of work to do and I don't know if he can pull it off.

The first look Edmond showed the judges was his 24-hr challenge look, and it was his best.  He could have shortened the skirt a bit and (for my personal preference ) lost some of the sleeve ruffle, but it was still successful and keeping with Edmond's personal style.

The second look was decent in theory and had good movement, but it felt a little tacked together for my taste.  The bottom looks like it wasn't thought through and he just had to put ruffles on it, so he tacked some organza ribbon on the bottom for no reason.  It definitely didn't look like Edmond made it.

Edmond's last look was a total disaster.  I mean, it's 2015, not 1915.  It's STUFFY and looks uncomfortable and no one in their right mind would ever wear it.  So disappointing.

Kelly Dempsey

Kelly was very confident in her collection, but I think she's in trouble.  She was inspired by 1970s Studio 54, and chose to merge that style with modern street wear.  That idea wasn't bad in and of itself, but 70s inspiration can go tacky-disco super fast, and when Kelly was left to her own devices without the guidance of Tim, Tacky Town is where she went.

Her first look was her 24-hr challenge look.  She ended up using the same fabrics that she used throughout her collection, which I think defeated the purpose of the challenge.  Her chance to add something new and push the envelope was missed, and I hate the results.  This looks like a cheap tank dress you could pick up at Forever 21.  No good.

Kelly's second look was probably the most successful of the three, but that's not saying very much.  I enjoy the top, but she had some bottoms in the same wood-grain pattern and I think she would have been better served matching them together.  The shiny, ill-fitting shorts with the brown fanny pack just didn't work together.  I'm glad she incorporated the fanny packs in her collection, but this particular one was a poor styling choice.

Kelly's last look was my least favorite.  It's fine to work in sequins, but this COLOR of sequins was so tasteless, and to put teal sequins with brown pleather and safety pin printed pants is a little ridiculous.

Overall, all the designers have a lot of work to do in a few days before fashion week.  Ashley needs to fix her construction and refine all her pieces.  Candice needs to completely re-style her collection and probably needs to add some pieces.  Edmond needs to make an entire collection and sexify his aesthetic.  Kelly needs help mixing and matching her pieces and could benefit with a more luxe fabric addition.

I have a feeling the season finale is going to be a train wreck.  CANNOT WAIT!

This challenge marked the LAST WEEK before the final three designers created their collections for New York Fashion Week.  They were to design red carpet looks inspired by Los Angeles, which was more of a struggle than I anticipated.  It was honestly a really stressful episode.  I did some therapy eating to compensate.

I'll once again rank this week's looks from my most favorite to least favorite!

1. Kelly Dempsey

I still am in disbelief that craft-store Kelly has come so far!  The fact that she created her own textile in two days is unbelievable in and of itself, and it was definitely the most creative look of the bunch.  Her red carpet inspiration was "Katy Perry at the Grammy's," and while this look absolutely suits that vision, it's still versatile enough that it could be worn in many other scenarios (can we say Emma Stone at Cannes??)  This was flawless in every way, and I'm so proud of little Kelly from the Deli!!

2. Candice Cuoco

When the designers were shopping at Mood and Candice chose black fabric, I was not remotely surprised but a little bit disappointed, because OF COURSE Candice would make a black red carpet dress.  After last week's red dress, I had hoped for something a bit outside her box.  That said, in the end she made a very refined, classically beautiful gown.  Photographs really don't do it justice.  Classic and refined.  Love.

3. Ashley Nell Tipton

This wasn't my favorite look by any means, but as Ashley's first attempt at formal wear, I thought it was really solid.  I adored her fabric (which unfortunately doesn't show well in photography - the gold sequins had a silver underside that was revealed when touched) and the design definitely had potential.  If she had refined her construction, it would have been a stand-out piece.

4. Edmond Newton

What.  The heck.  Happened.  I seriously can't believe that Edmond created this 80s showgirl nightmare.  I get that he committed to the fabric, but he started off with a long column gown made of this fabric and it wasn't half bad.  Then he cut it short.  Then he opened the back.  Then he added WINGS.  I don't know what he was thinking.  Of all the remaining designers, he probably has the best body of work throughout the competition, and this was not the final impression he should have left on the judges before fashion week.


So Edmond was sent home by the judges.  Or was he?!?  Tim did not make an appearance at the end of the episode to say goodbye or to tell Edmond to clean up his workroom space.  My prediction is that Tim will use his "Tim Gunn Save" on Edmond, which would be fine by me.  Just because he massively failed this week doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a spot at Fashion Week!

They've had four designers at Fashion Week before, so we'll see how it goes!

This week's challenge had several dimensions to it (no pun intended.  Just kidding, totally intended.)  The designers were to draw inspiration from iconic New York City bridges to create an Avant-Garde look.  In addition, they got the opportunity to incorporate 3D printed pieces into their design, and the winner of the challenge would win a Cube 3D printer! 

The only designer who has used 3D printing in the past on Project Runway is Justin LeBlanc, who has created multiple collections of 3D printed pieces over the years.  It was really exciting to see other designers expand their horizons to this new medium, and I'm glad PR jumped on the 3D bandwagon.

This phase of Project Runway is always SO HARD to judge because literally everyone is good.  Even the designs on the bottom are pretty great, and since there are only five designers left I'm just going to comment on all of them, rating them from my most favorite to least favorite.

1. Edmond Newton

Edmond's look fit all the criteria of the challenge.  Avant-Garde is all about creating something new that we haven't seen before, and this look accomplished that.  He played upon the "x" shapes in the bridge in the bodice and in his 3D printed pieces, he incorporated a sculptural shape into the skirt while maintaining clean lines, and he even created a printed textile within the mesh he used.  It's nothing like anything he's made before, but it still has Edmond written all over it.  Literally written all over it, because he put his name into his 3D printed pieces!  Just genius.

2. Candice Cuoco

I won't lie, I was a little worried about this in the work room; after Candice's street walker moment from last week, a red satin gown could have gone really cheap, really fast.  But it didn't!!  It was BEAUTIFUL!!  I don't know if I've ever seen a more well-made gown on this show.  The only real inspiration from the bridges was the repeated triangle shape, and it was a pretty wearable gown which didn't exactly fit the Avant-Garde challenge, so I get why she didn't win.  That said, her use of the 3D printing was probably the best of the bunch, and guest judge Mel B chose her gown to wear to an event, so at the end of the day, she really was a winner!

3. Kelly Dempsey

While I was disappointed with Kelly's use of the 3D printing and I was concerned with her fabric choice, she really did pull out a great look here.  She went very literal in representing the sturdy shape of the bridge and the cable ties that hold it all together, and it turned out way better than I expected.  Her styling was impeccable, and while it wouldn't have been my top choice for the win, I can see what the judges saw in it.  Definitely one of the best looks she's made all season.

4. Ashley Nell Tipton

I understand where the judges were coming from when they said this was two looks that didn't go together, and I think Ashley's original design before Tim's critique was a little better.  She struggled with the 3D printing aspect of it and in the end it wasn't the most successful.  For Ashley, though, this was a very dramatic and "out-there" look.  She is a ready-to-wear designer by nature and I liked her interpretation of what Avant-Garde means to her.

5.  Merline Labissiere

This is not a bad dress by any means, and it was nice to see a more refined version of Merline.  Unfortunately, it wasn't Avant-Garde, it wasn't identifiably inspired by the bridges, and her use of the 3D printing use wasn't that great.  For a designer that has a background in architecture, this could have been a great challenge for her, and she just didn't work to her best potential.  I understand why she went home.


So congratulations, Kelly!

I thought it was pretty hilarious that she pointed out that she doesn't even have a 2D printer, so the 3D printer was a major win for her.  If she makes it to fashion week, I'll be interested in seeing if she incorporates more 3D work into her designs!

This week was the Sally Beauty challenge, also known as the "real women makeover" challenge.  Any time the designers have to create looks for women who don't have model bodies, you know something is about to go down.  This season, to add an extra special wrinkle, the designers were creating looks for Project Runway crew members.  Which meant the judges were extra invested in the results.  Oof.

There are only 6 designers left, which means EVERYONE IS JUDGED THIS WEEK! 

My Top Three

1. Merline Labissiere

This dress wasn't all that great, and because Ashley is a plus-size designer I expected better from her.  That said, I understand her not wanting to create the same shape she usually does and to get in trouble for that, and I think she got all designed out.  I really didn't mind the print like the judges did, and I think if she had moved the waist up three inches and kept the peplum solid, it would have been an okay piece.  Not the best, but definitely not the worst!

My Bottom Three

1. Candice Cuoco

Good.  Lord.  I don't know how Candice went from "the client's favorite color is blue, so I'll create my signature style with pops of blue" to "I'll make an 80s street walker dress and throw everything but the kitchen sink on top of it."  Seriously.  No woman in her right mind would ever leave the house in this unless it was Halloween.  Candice should know better, and she's done better.  I'm over it.

2.  Swapnil Shinde

I understand to a degree why they sent Swapnil home for this.  He had been on the judge's cut list for weeks, and in the end his model wasn't happy with the finished look.  THAT SAID.  His model was incredibly difficult.  She never fully expressed to Swapnil what she wanted (other than long sleeves and covered legs) and when she didn't like something she couldn't tell him why.  He had no direction at all, and with no direction and a few hours to whip something together that she might not totally hate, this was a fair attempt.

3.  Kelly Dempsey

I seriously can't believe this look won.  IT WON.  A pair of purple pleather overalls won the design challenge.  Seriously.  What.  Even.  I get that the client is really into overalls and tank tops.  But pleather??  It's not practical, it's not comfortable, it's not cute.  No.  No.


So.  After Tim's explosive blowup and one of the better designers getting sent home, I don't know where things will go with the top five.  We're in the home stretch!!

 (For those unfamiliar, every year Project Runway has a sponsor that provides accessories (shoes, bags, jewelry) for the designer's looks.  This year's sponsor is JustFab, and for this challenge the designers had to create a ready-to-wear look to be reproduced and sold at justfab.com.

The designs had to fit in with JustFab's "style profiles," and Candice, being the winner from last week's challenge, got to choose the profile for each designer.

The judges were in SO much disagreement over which looks they liked and disliked that there were no top and bottom scores until the very end, when a winner and loser had to be determined.  Fortunately, I'm more decisive than Heidi, Nina, and Zac.

WOOO!  This.  Look.  Was.  Perfect.  Edmond hit this challenge out of the park.  He totally mastered his "bombshell" profile, his styling was flawless, and he absolutely deserved the win.  He created a dress that every woman would want to wear and that JustFab would have no problem selling.  Well, well done.

2. Kelly Dempsey (Trendsetter)

The judges were in major disagreement over this look, and I can understand why.  It's not something everyone is going to like, but for the "trendsetter" design profile, I totally think it works.  Her combination of prints was really well accomplished, her vest (while, granted, a little Muppet-y) added a healthy dose of chic-ness to an otherwise very sporty look, and her styling was impeccable.  The judges are always looking for designers who aren't cramped inside a box, and Kelly is anything but within a box.  I think it was a win.

3. Ashley Nell Tipton (Girl Next Door)

Ashley's look definitely fit the "girl-next-door profile", but she struggled with defending herself and really showing her work to its potential.  The top was fitted beautifully and had cute detailing in the back, but her model never took the jacket off so the judges didn't know about it.  HAVE CONFIDENCE, ASH!!!  The fabric choice was love it or hate it, but the overall look could have been really sellable to the JustFab customer...if only she had SOLD IT.

Honorable Mention: Merline Labissiere (Femme Nouveau)

I got where the judges were coming from with Merline's look.  "Femme Nouveau" is supposed to be modern, but flirty and feminine.  Merline went modern and sporty.  Even though she had some construction problems, I did really enjoy the dress, and it's something I'd probably wear.  It simply didn't suit the challenge.

My Bottom Three

1. Candice Cuoco (Trendsetter)

I really couldn't hate this look any more.  Candace has been all over the road for me all season, but particularly after last week's high point, this was particularly disappointing.  Her profile was "trendsetter."  What trend is this setting?!  The trend of grandma-esque built-in scarf lapels?  The trend of pleather dust ruffles around one's butt?  Sorry, but I don't see any of those trends taking off.  In addition, the challenge was to create a look that could be reproduced and sold to a mass market.  This can accomplish neither.  If she hadn't had immunity, I don't know where she would have ended up.

2. Laurie Underwood (Modern Classic)

Laurie's concept fit within the "modern classic" realm.  That said, her top was poorly made and not remotely able to be reproduced, and after her boob issues from last week's challenge, she shouldn't have gone with a braless look again.  It really wasn't up to par with the other designs in the group, and I understand why she was sent home.

3. Swapnil Shinde (Bombshell)

This really wasn't a bad dress overall.  If Swapnil hadn't been determined to made a sculptural cover-up and if he hadn't included the metallic butt-flap, he might have fared better.  I don't really know why he struggled with making a bombshell dress, since that's what he makes on the regular, but the judges are picking up that he isn't working to his full potential, which is bad news for him.  Better luck next week, Swapnil!


The disappointing aspect of this challenge is that the reproduced version of Edmond's dress that's available online is...awful.

The neckline is wonkey, the ruching is concentrated on the hips and the butt instead of allover, the hemline is too long.  It's now a cheap, tacky dress instead of the beautiful bombshell Edmond created, and if I were him I wouldn't want my name on it.

This has happened before to Mondo and Anthony Ryan when their looks got reproduced, and I'd really like Project Runway to do better on that front.

---
All photos from www.mylifetime.com and www.justfab.com
---

This week the designers got to see the Broadway production of Finding Neverland, which became their inspiration for the challenge. They were able to create absolutely anything based on this inspiration, which is the most freedom the designers have had all season!

My Top Three:

1. Candice Cuoco

This look had so many good things going for it, and after last week's tech-y disaster, I was really impressed with her effort.  The coat had great movement with so many ethereal layers, and to contrast the softness of the coat with her signature leather pieces underneath.  Well deserving of the win!

2. Edmond Newton

The judges were divided on whether they liked the vest (I, personally, am a fan,) but there was no question that his pants and top were flawless.  His styling was brilliant, and he pulled off a fantastical, futuristic Tinkerbell.

3. Merline Labissiere

I was pretty sad that this look was only safe.  As Tim Gunn always says, the success of the look is determined at Mood, and Merline probably had the best fabric choice of the bunch.  I want to see this on the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Magic Flute.  So gorgeous.

My Bottom Three:

1. Laurie Underwood

I saw the photos of this look before watching the episode, and it definitely photographs better than it was in person. Good grief.  Her top was COMPLETELY sheer, the only reason her butt wasn't out on the runway was because she added a panel at the last minute, and there were just too many ideas going on at once.  I guess, in the judges eyes, too many ideas was better than not enough, but this look was just a rough time.

2. Lindsey Creel

I didn't think this was all that terrible, and I would probably wear it if I needed a pretty gown.  But I'm a normal person who doesn't need superbly fancy clothing, and I can understand that in a fashion design competition, it's a little boring in comparison to the other designers.  The judges have disliked her style for some time and it's not surprising that she went home.

3. Ashley Nell Tipton

This look wasn't all that bad, and the idea was definitely good in concept.  The top had some fit and proportion issues, and her draping wasn't very successful.  All in all, she struggled with the fabric and it showed.

Special shout out to the EVER GORGEOUS guest judge, Coco Rocha.  I've been in love with her forever and I always love when she's on.  Even here, in a totally candid shot, she's flawless.  UMPH.

---
All photos from www.mylifetime.com
---

An unexpected turn of events occurred early in the episode; Jake Wall found out that his beloved dog needed to be put to sleep, so he chose to leave the competition.  I'm sure that was one of the most difficult decisions he's ever had to make.  Project Runway is a huge opportunity, but when you love an animal it would be horrible to not be able to say goodbye to them.  Sending lots of love Jake's way. <3

I'm sure the designers are pretty tired of unconventional challenges by now, but this week brought on another.  This challenge had the designers dumpster diving to find old technology (keyboards, floppy discs, mouse pads, metal tubes, wires, etc.) which they used to make modern designs.

My Top Three:

1. Kelly Dempsey

This was a clear standout.  It's still insane to me that she was able to take metal tubing and make it into a gorgeous dress worthy of a modern Daisy Gatsby.  If I had the body for it I'd wear it in a second!  She had a great look last week, but this is definitely the best piece Kelly has made all season.  I hope she keeps it up!

2. Ashley Nell Tipton

We all know I'm a fan of Ashley's work, and this look was no exception to her greatness.  I mean, it's a dress out of Polaroids.  She used the dye inside the Polaroids  to make a PATTERN.  Even if this was a dress out normal fabric, the design itself is super cute and flirty.

3. Swapnil Shinde

Swapnil procrastinated a fair bit on this project, and I do think it could be better and he shouldn't have used muslin for the bottom, but the WAY he used muslin for the bottom was beautiful, and the end result of the whole look was really ethereal and creative.

My Bottom Three:

1. Candice Cuoco

Remember Andy South's unconventional ribbon look from several seasons back?  This looked like Candice was trying to do that, but didn't do it as well. Her execution is poor, and I've seen it before. And that, kids, is how you rhyme.

2. Lindsey Creel

I loved the top of this look, and the effect with the keyboard pieces was really great.  But the waistband, the little "bow" on the neckline and the skirt looked  a little too crafty.

3. Merline Labissiere

Now, Merline had immunity, and she said from the beginning that she was going to use her immunity to create something unique that she would never normally make.  That she did, but it wasn't good.  The design and the shape was creative, but it was just sloppy and slapped together.  When muslin shows through the covering and when you don't have enough dress to cover a model's backside, it's a problem.


I understand why Joseph Charles Poli was eliminated because design wise, there really wasn't much to his look.  I know I haven't been a fan of his in the past, but I feel a little bad that he was sent home for this design.  He really did try to push his aesthetic into something sexier, and if this look had been made out of conventional fabric it would have been pretty solid.

So we say so long to both Joseph and Jake.  Sometimes a contestant leaving means everyone remains safe, but not this time.  WHO KNOWS what next week will bring.

That sounded ominous.  It's Project Runway.  It's not that ominous.

---
All photos from www.mylifetime.com
---

This episode was all about Heidi.  She has her own line of lingerie, Heidi Klum Intimates, and the designers were to create a bra and panty set that fit into her line.  Halfway through the challenge, Heidi sprung a third piece on the designers: a coordinating cover-up.

So as not to make things too difficult in a one day challenge, the designers were given sample bras to use as forms.

My Top Three:

1. Kelly Dempsey

I thought it was a shame that this was just considered safe!  The mix of lavender and lime green was really creative and sporty, and her cover-up was a cool take on a wrestler rove that coordinated beautifully with the rest of her design.

2. Merline Labissiere

I understand why this look was declared a winner for Heidi's line.  It was definitely a risk for Merline to create her own bra shape, but it paid off.  I appreciated Nina's comments that it would look good under a white shirt for an editorial shoot, and that makes it a piece that's more versatile and can be used beyond the bedroom.

3. Ashley Nell Tipton

This look was super cute.  I have always loved the mix of lavender and dove grey, and Ashley made an intricately designed bra and a soft, beautiful robe.

My Bottom Three:

1. Blake Patterson

I can't believe Blake went from such a high point the past two weeks to this.  I'm sorry, I don't care if you're gay and you "don't know what's going on under there."  There's no excuse for this.  The strap design had some promise, but to create an underwire and then not use any padding in the bra, and then to take a scrap of fabric and call it a cover-up was a mistake that would never get past the judges.

2. Jake Wall

The judges were right on about this one.  The polka dot fabric and the front t-shirt bra shape was cute, but the sexy straps didn't go with the cute factor, and the fit o the straps were poor and gave the model some unfortunate lumps and bumps.

3. Candice Cuoco

This was a little all over the place.  I understood the vibe Candace was going for, but the lime green on top of the bra looked sloppy and like an afterthought, and the ties that represented "garters" looked like they were cutting off the model's leg circulation.  The garter belt was great, the rest not so much.


So.  I don't know what we're going to do without Princess Blakey, but I'm sure we'll all manage together.

This episode was a train wreck.  You may have seen me rant about it on twitter, but it was essentially an episode dedicated to proving the notion that women become catty and horrible when put in groups together.

In this challenge, the designers chose their teammates and formed two groups.  The groups had to compete against each other in a paintball war to "capture the fabric," but the fabric they were fighting for ended up being their supplemental fabric, and it was revealed that their main fabric needed to be their paintball-stained jumpsuits.

Once they got to the workroom, the teams were given extra white sheets and more paint to work with.


TEAM BOYS + MERLINE

Blake's Look
I, once again, have to eat my words with Blake.  He didn't really participate in the paintball activity, which left him with clean white fabric to work with.  The textile on the bottom half is gorgeous, and I would wear this dress in a second.

Joseph's Look
Joseph used the jumpsuit in it's entirety, which was really smart and successful.  He shrunk the top into a jacket, cut the bottom into panels and made a skirt, and turned the sleeves into the tie around the waist.  Still a little bit on the matronly side, but significantly better than his other looks.

Swapnil's Look
This was such a beautiful 50s style dress.  While it was mostly supplemental fabric, he used the jumpsuit top as the tie around the waist and took the ties from a shoe for the corset back.

Jake's Look
This look was probably the most modern and fashion forward.  It took inspiration from the 50s but brought it into this year, and the styling kept the model fresh and cool.

Merline's Look
This is very classic Merline (architectural, coat shape) but much more refined than some of the other work she's done this season.  The dip-dyed fabric made this shine.

Edmond's Look
The judges declared this the winner, and I can understand why.  To take the jumpsuit and turn it into a sexy open-backed top was completely genius.  The design had an urban quality to it but the textile and styling kept it soft and feminine.  It was the perfect finale to a beautiful collection!


TEAM GIRLS

Annnnnd here's where the train wreck happened.  The girls were catty when it came to picking their team members (Ashley was picked LAST, which was a very bad move) and they had no cohesion from the start.  They each came to the team with an idea of what they wanted to make and didn't care if it didn't go with what another team member wanted to make.  They ruined their white sheets with Easter Egg inspired painting skills, so they were left with supplemental purple fabric to work with.  The results were horrendous, as you'll see.

During judging, Candace tried to save them and say they worked well together and their girl was "going to San Fransisco," which was never discussed or agreed upon.  She and half the team decided to throw Ashley under the bus to save themselves, and luckily the judges were having none of it.  Guest judge Kelly Osbourne called it a "Bitch Fest," and I've personally decided that should be the name of this collection.

Ashley's Look
Not the worst, for sure.  She had originally made pants, but they ended up being too tight on the model so she had to scrap them and go with a boring purple circle skirt.  The top was made from the jumpsuit material, which at least had detail and promise.

Laurie's Look
This look was cute enough, but it wasn't really runway worthy.  The top was originally the Easter Egg fabric and had to be painted over, and the bottom was supplemental fabric, so she didn't really work with the goal of the challenge.

Lindsey's Look
This was probably one of the better designs of the bunch, which isn't really saying a lot.  The coat (seen on in the previous picture) was made of the jumpsuit material and had a good look to it.  The top and pants underneath were not awful in terms of design, but had poor fit.

Candace's Look
Candace talked a big talk on the runway, but this look was completely hideous.  Talk about OVER WORKED.  Ugh.

Kelly's Look
This was definitely the worst of the bunch to me.  She came into the design group saying "I want to make a five panel mermaid skirt and a harness top," which had nothing to do with what anyone else wanted to make, and never would have even if the fabric was better.  The skirt was made poorly and the top had to be sewn onto the model.  Complete.  Disaster.

Amanda's Look
I predicted the previous week that Amanda would not last long in the competition, and I was right.  That said, I don't really think she deserved to be sent home for this look.  Yeah, it's kind of boring, and the judges felt like she was "dead weight" in the competition, but she used the textile color the best out of all the designers on her team, and the movement in the skirt had decent runway impact.  I didn't hate it, and I felt she should have been allowed one more chance.


It would seem the judges can't decide whether their policy is "one week you're in, the next week you're out" or whether previous low points count to being eliminated.  The latter sent home Amanda, and that was understandable, but still a bit of a shame.

Hopefully next week we can MOVE ON from team pettiness and get back on track.

---
All photos from mylifetime.com
---