RUNWAY SUNDAY | Project Runway Recap | Season 15, Episode 4

THE CHALLENGE:
Create a textile design to feature on a swimsuit and a cover-up for Heidi Klum’s swimwear line.

I was shocked at how many of the designers totally fell apart in this challenge. There were a lot of poorly made, ill-fitting looks walking down the runway; if you've never made a swimsuit before I can understand a bit of a struggle since swimwear fabric is difficult to work with and proportions can be confusing, but it's not like these people have never seen a swimsuit before. Then there's the matter of the prints - there were a lot of crappy, crappy prints. Taste level was definitely called into question, and a lot of the designers will have to redeem themselves next week.

My Top 3:

1. Roberi Parra
I was SO hoping Roberi would win this challenge! I don’t think his print really fit with Heidi’s line, so in that way I understand why he couldn’t win, but it was definitely the most flattering suit on the runway and his styling was flawless. I want Anthropologie to pick him up for next summer’s swim line because I WANT THIS.

2. Rik Villa
I was thrilled that Rik was able to redeem himself after last week’s horror show. I’m not 100% into the neckline (I mean, can you picture those tan lines?) but his print is graphic and unique, and I loved the ease and transformative power of his cover-up.

3. Nathalia JMag
Nathalia’s print was really lovely, and her bikini proportions were the best in the bunch. The cut of the top was proportional to the waistline of the bottoms, and her cover-up was beachy and beautiful. The smaller scale of her print made it workable for the suit and the cover-up, since it wasn’t so overwhelming, and overall it was a really successful look.

My Bottom 3:

1. Sarah Donofrino
You all know how I’ve felt about Sarah’s looks this season. She’s created nothing but basic and boring looks, and while a novelty print swimsuit can be cute in the right context, the cut of her suit didn’t work with the print and her cover-up was childish and poorly made. I’m glad she’s out of the way so the real designers can compete.

2. Jenni Riccetti
The fact that Jenni ever thought her print would work as a swimsuit simply baffles me; the scale of the design is WAY too large and the color (even if it had been what she saw on the computer screen) read WAY too junior. Her cover-up was like a weird skirt-cape, and the fact that she liked it and defended it makes me worry about her taste level.

3. Cornelius Ortiz
I was pissed at Cornelius' pompous vanity last week, but this week he pulled a 360 and adopted a completely defeatist attitude. I can't count the number of times he said "I just can't do this," after last week when he basically claimed to be the be-all and end-all of fashion design humanity. Gotta love when someone's ego can be brought down to earth. But really, his print was hideous, the proportions of his suit were weird, and his cover-up was basically a black bed sheet wrapped around his model's waist. Not good.

Overall, it was kind of a disappointing episode - nothing makes you lose confidence in your favorite designers like a swimwear or a lingerie challenge! I'm hoping for better things next Thursday.

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All photos from www.mylifetime.com

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