By CJ Bomb (and Leslie)
Hey everyone! We are down to the final six and what a crazy ride it has been. Double eliminations, cheating, Dixie cups… Brandon and Kentaro congratulate Michael who feels they all were able to push themselves in a good way with “the drama” gone. Kenya is musing on the fact that no one is safe and anything can happen. Heidi comes on the runway making her way through cones and caution tape and tells the designers they are going on a wild ride. I text Leslie that they better not be doing Six Flags. Nope! It’s the Lexus unconventional challenge. An old dude it a suit comes out to talk about how safe these new cars are and Tim tells them that they will NOT be playing it safe in their designs and not “conform to the rules”. Kenya is not happy and Brandon wonders why they are doing this. There has already been one UC challenge. We don’t understand the need for another. Les wishes they had used Tesla and then Elon’s Musk’s beautiful model mother could have been a guest judge. I tell her to keep dreaming.
We used to like the unconventional challenge until an incredibly annoying contestant named Erin won on the wave of far too many last season. We are now a bit over it. And by a bit we mean completely. The cars are full of rescue materials. Or as Les says, they are full of crap. There are hoses, tape, inflatable boats, kneepads, hardhats…. Leslie predicts bondage wear. They have one day and no trip to Mood. Well that sucks. In five minutes they gather as much crap as they can (Kenya had some boobie splliage in the mad scramble) and head off to the workroom where Tim tells them that because they raised the bar so high last week, the judges expect a lot from them. No pressure.
Kenya is worried she doesn’t have enough material. Margarita, on the other hand, has stockpiled and organized an incredible amount of material. We see a sweet phone call with Michael’s sister. She didn’t realize how much she would miss him. Awwww. Brandon feels stuck and Margarita wonders AGAIN if he’s a “one trick pony.” No. He is not. Which is why he keeps being in the top and winning. Michael is excited to do a “fetish” look. I text Les that she was right about some bondage action going on. She writes: Good Heavens! It’s not a Hugh Hefner memorial challenge! Oh look! A Dixie commercial lets us know that Brandon got the $25K after all. Pretty impressive for a one trick pony. Everyone is eyeing each other’s materials and Kenya goes begging for belts and buckles. She call her mom for some support and learns she is missing a family reunion. Her mom tells her she is doing something more important. Awwwww. Margarita thinks that her main competition is Michael, Brandon the pony and Kentaro. She thinks Kenya and Ayana are not so much designers and more like dressmakers. Les texts: Margarita, please. She’s starting to love herself a bit too much. She says something about taste level as she constructs a superhero bra.
Tim’s Critique
Tim thinks Margarita’s knee pad bra is innovative and tells her to stop thinking so much when she worries her look is too simple. He thinks that Ayana’s look has the potential to be very chic. Kenya is doing a black dress and Tim helps her figure out how to get the most area out of the materials she has. He reminds her to turn up the volume. Michael has designed a skeletal bungee cord dress. He made a bra to go underneath but Tim doesn’t think the two looks go together. Kentaro tells Tim he’s so happy he used a fire hose because it’s just like fabric! Tim is like, Ummmmm…… that’s not necessarily a good thing. Tim is very worried about Our Little Pony. He tells him that he doesn’t see Brandon in his design and the silver rescue blanket he’s using as fabric for a top looks messy. He tells him that he plays so innovatively with silhouette and he just doesn’t see that in this look. Brandon is going to soldier on and promises Tim he will make it work. Les texts that she is worried about Brandon, Kenya and Kentaro. She’s a bit behind so I tell her to wait for the shot of Michael’s model basically naked in his 50 shades of bungee concoction. She catches up and tells me she is now worried the most about Michael. I remind her Tim hasn’t used his save yet.
Kenya is gently teasing Ayana who has been working at a honey badger fever pitch to create this crazy gown. She tells her that when they go up for judging and complain about time Ayana will ruin it for the rest of them when the judges point out that she created this amazing look in one day. Margarita sees Ayana’s look getting more and more elaborate and is now worried she hasn’t done enough. She starts sawing helmets in half. Michael says he’s worried for Ayana. I text Les: Michael, please. Brandon’s shirt is ripping as he does his model fitting and he goes back to the drawing board. The silver is out. Kentaro decides to keep doing what he had planned because he doesn’t know what else to do. Ayana is freaking out that she still has so much to finish. Kenya is worried she hasn’t done enough. Michael is also worried he hasn’t done enough and is trying to figure out a lining for his dress. He thinks it looks cheap and he’s unfortunately right. Everyone is getting slap happy and Kentaro calling Michael a bitch after he bandages his head is hysterical.
The day of the runway everyone is still freaking out. Kenya’s dress has come together nicely but her zipper has broken right before the show. Michael now knows he is in trouble and we have no idea why Kentaro would style or dress his model like Pocahontas. This is so not Kentaro. Brandon has created a flirty look and still managed to make it look cool. He’s a bit worried about the length and a booty sighting on the runway, but seriously, way to pull it together dude. Margarita is very confident she has the winning look. She keeps telling us how innovative she is. uh-huh.
The Runway
Heidi comes out and tells the designers that it’s now getting intense. Really Heidi? Just now? She declares that she LOVES the unconventional challenge because it forces the designers to push their work in different directions and think outside the box. This explains a lot. The Tim Gunn save is mentioned for the first time in a loooong while which makes us think it will be used this week. The guest judge is Fern Mallis! Just kidding. It’s an actress named Carly Chaikin from the show Mr. Robot. I have no idea who she is. But I am old and still trying to come to terms with the fact that we will never get someone like Cathy Horyn on this show.
Les and I agree that Brandon’s look really worked and even was a bit girly for him while still staying true to his aesthetic. Kentaro…..this is just Indian princess gone wrong. It looks like a bad costume. Michael’s isn’t sexy it’s just sad. Ayana has done something very elaborate and very amazing. She painted it as well. It tells a story and it works. Kenya’s dress wound up working. We like the silhouette and the fact that she painted the belts making them look more interesting. Margarita’s is too Helga the Horrible meets Wonder Woman for me. My top are Ayana, Brandon and Kenya with Ayana for the win. Les likes Ayana, Margarita and Brandon with Ayana also for the win. She thinks Kenya, Michael and Kentaro for the bottom with Michael going home. I pick Margarita, Kentaro and Michael with Michael being auf’ed.
Judging
Heidi is impressed and says there is nothing they didn’t like! Zac and Nina side-eye each other and don’t necessarily agree.
Zac adores Brandon’s look and is happy the challenge forced him to play with strong color and textures. He really wants to see what a collection from him would look like. Nina loved seeing him play with movement and thought it looked great coming down the runway. Heidi thought it was flirty yet hard at the same time and Carly loves the placement of the pattern and wants the top.
Nina tells Michael his look has no drama and Carly calls it “hookerish.” Heidi is ok with it (shocker) but Zac is disappointed because he has done a basic bandage dress and not even that well.
Heidi thinks Kenya’s look is very cool and loves it. Zac was very impressed how she handled the material.. Nina says that this is how you do drama and the exaggerated silhouette worked even though it was a just a black dress. Carly thinks it is simple yet classic.
They are all wowed by Ayana’s look and Heidi says it’s so over the top but sleek and modern. Zac thinks it’s both hot and bold. Nina says she literally looks like she’s on fire and Carly especially loved the blue accents.
Nina thinks Margarita’s look has a superhero vibe and she likes it. Huh? Carly wished she had put some blue in the skirt. Heidi thinks it would be at home in a current show in Paris. Huh? What shows does she attend? Zac says it’s a high for him today and then says something about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Margarita beams. He then tells her he still has no idea who she is as a designer. She looks crestfallen and says that’s why he needs to see a collection. He’s not so sure he wants to.
Nina thinks Kentaro had an utter lack of vision. Heidi thinks his model looks like a doll and Carly says that this is too basic to be fashion. Zac not happy with the kitsch and points out the top doesn’t fit. They were very disappointed in this look. Especially coming from Kentaro.
Ayana wins! We are happy for her, she really seems to be on a roll. It comes down to Kentaro and Michael and Michael is sent packing……..or IS he?? Tim enters and sends him to go clean up his stuff. Tim is really holding onto that save this season. We wonder who he’s saving it for???? Hmmmm. Until next week dear readers, when we get to the final five and things get REALLY intense, right Heidi? Apparently there is boxing involved.
We also wanted to say RIP to Atlanta native and season 3 contestant and finalist Mychael Knight. So sad to lose such a young talent and sweet guy. Our prayers go out to his family and friends.
Well this is the week I piss off CJ and Leslie.
I am SOFA KING over Brandon. The random straps handing off weird circle skirts and bizarrely shaped crop tops needs to STOP. I’m just over him and his man bun.
Also HOW THE HELL DID KENTARO NOT GET AUF’D THIS WEEK. If ANYONE else had sent that horrific ensemble down the runway, they would have stopped the show, asked whose it was, sent them home ON THE SPOT after humiliating the fuck out of them.
Michael did not deserve to go home this week. There is no excuse for the judges decision ESPECIALLY because Tim still has his save card and he would have put him right back in.
That was the WORST crap I have ever seen.
I will probably have more after I get some sleep.
Like why do they keep making me worry about Kenya and then she has a fabulous look. Those phone calls home scenes are usually the kiss of death!
Clearly it’s Kentaro and Brandon in the finals and the girls are all fighting over third place. Ayana looked really strong tonight. I loved how she made a hijab out of caution tape. Loved the helmet.
#RandomFuckingStrapsAreThisSeasonsBananaAppliques
The highlight of this show was Kentaro saying to Brandon that his skirt was longer because, Liris has …a junk in her trunk? Completely innocently.
The Phone Home Jinx worked; Michael called his sister and home he went. I wish it had been Kenya. I not only fell out of like with her I’ve hated pretty much everything she’s sent down the runway that I can remember.
Margarita thinks she’s got something special, that she’s a contender for the win.
I got to thinking: we have to have another unconventional challenge (AKA Trash Day) because Lexus supplied all the crap free and paid for the episode as a promotion for their cars; the production didn’t even have to pay for a trip to Mood. Trash is cheap. This is why we can’t have 2 day challenges, trips to Paris, random cocktail parties in random places-none of the luxuries of the past-because whoever owns and/or produces this show has gotten so cheap. So I got to wondering who produces this show, who makes the budget decisions, and I found this very interesting list:
Executive producer(s):
Barbara Schneeweiss
Bob Weinstein
Colleen Sands
David Hillman
Desiree Gruber
Gena McCarthy
Harvey Weinstein (Fired in Season 16)
Heidi Klum
Jane Cha
Jon Murray
Meryl Poster
Sara Rea
Are you implying they are mostly Jewish?
That’s an interesting take on things. Are they Jewish? A couple surely are, don’t know about the rest. Actually I was just surprised to find Harvey Weinstein’s name there-if I ever knew PR was a Weinstein/Miramax property, I forgot. I went looking for the name of the production company responsible for the sorry state of PR, which I have easily found by googling for that one fact, and came across this list.
We could never be mad at you….even when we disagree. I love HIGH by Claire Campbell and Marithe Francois Girbaud. I once spent almost a mortgage payment of a coat from them and it’s in the top ten things I own. It is a very similar aesthetic to Brandon and as far away from Erin as you can get. (as well as Avril)
OH.
MY.
GOD.
TT, we finally agree on something! Wonders never cease.
I am WAY over Brandon too.
I’m soooo tired of hearing about Brandon’s “unique and distinctive” aesthetic. Um, NOE.
There is an avant-garde British designer called Craig Green who actually does have an aesthetic that is unique, distinctive, and fresh too! Google his collections and you’ll see it’s obvious where Brandon
copies fromuh, gets his “inspiration”.You didn’t done drowneded for a reason. Bask in the warmth of accord and enjoy the shade.
TD
“didn’t done drowned for a reason” absolutely wonderful.
TD thank you for that
Love Craig Green…shapes are different. One could argue there are many designers that share a similar aesthetic- Rad Hourani comes to mind.
and Greg Lauren…
I clearly need to rethink my position on Brandon, Perhaps hazardous and pointless straps that make you look like you have just escaped a psychiatric four point tie down ARE aesthetically pleasing.
It’s probably why I like them.
Also over Brandon. His statement is overused, and it wasn’t even that new or pleasing to the eye in the first place. Remember baggy parachute combat trousers with random straps hanging off them from the 200s, a la Avril Lavigne? Why has nobody notice that these are basically what ALL of his designs are based off. Still, 110% would bang though. IJS.
The twins were cunts. But at least they were SO cunty, that they were almost comedy villains and they were laughable. Margarita is a cunt in the sense that there is something very underhand and sly about her. In Scotland there is a perfect word to describe it – “sleekit.” As in “wee sleekit tim’rous beastie.”
Margarita is sleekit.
All The Kids At The Bike Shed in High School 2001: A Collection by Brandon.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ByT1FVACUAEtfnH.jpg
If I want an Avril reference all I have to do is go back and look at Margarita’s look from the “models as clients” challenge. Using sleekit.
The twin drama was way overplayed; it was more or less the focus for 2/3 of the episodes. Like they brought in the twins and Housewives production people to ramp up the conflict and drah-ma.
I agree with Mark about Margarita-there is something sly and “sleekit” about that one.
I think Tim is holding onto the save should Brandon or Kentaro slip up…which is fine by me because I love them both.
Margarita is not consistent and hasn’t really wowed me yet. I think her being mean girl with the twins burned her for me.
Ayana has stayed true to herself in such innovative ways…darkhorse to win it all.
Kenya has been solid middle of pack and has skated along so far…with 5 left it will be harder to hide.
There were actually a lot of skillful sewers and talented designers this season, not craft project, applique crazy annoyances like last year’s winner, Erin. Too bad the twins’ nonsense detracted so much from seeing the skill for far too long. We barely saw Amy’s talent because it was all about the twins running around, falling, and being codependent.
I think Tim is holding on to his save because he has integrity. Tim is to use his save in the instance where he believes “the judges got it wrong” I believe he liked Michael but did not think he did his best job tonight.
I dont like a loit of Brandon’s stuff but I do think he is talented. I wish Michael had stayed over Margarita!!
I was sad to hear about Mychael Knight…..
My top three choices: Brandon, Kentaro and Ayana. Kenya and Margarita can go; I hope Tim doesn’t waste a save on either of them. The only reason they are still on is because the rest of the field were even weaker. Of the two, my guess is that they’ll save Kenya.
I was so focused on the aufing of The Twats last week that I forgot that Tintin got sent home. She had never even been in the bottom except in a team challenge. I really wanted to see her good stuff. I guess during the decoy collections (WHEN is PR going to get in sync with Fashion Week again?). these decoy collections are OBNOXIOUS, but not as obnoxious as The Twats.
I like Brandon, he’s consistent and I see his aesthetic. I also loved, loved his design this week. I think they chose Kentaro over Michael because he’s been a bit more consistent than Michael over the competition. Also, they assumed Michael didn’t put a lot of work into his garment, when he really did. Margarita, meh. She’s irritating and condescending. I was shocked that they loved her design this week. And they are right, she has not shown what her aesthetic is, it’s a mish mosh every week. Ayana is surprising me.
Also I think it’s ridiculous that an UC materials challenge is only one day. Obviously, Lifetime is cutting the budget, but there need to be more 2-day challenges for the show.
I did not like Margaritas dress either. From a distance the coloring and shape was ok but up close the dress was a mess. Only dress worse was Michaels. Using a bungee cord to dissect her breasts in half was horrid. It disfigured her, he cut her in half. Messy looking.
Kentaros reminded me of a costume from a black & white “B” western from the 60’s. Aliens used mind control on him.
Ayana’s creation was wonderful, might be the best of the season so far.
Poor Kentaro he looked totally checked out. Brandon did the same same but a slightly fuller volume.
Ayana. The autumn woods brought to runway as if suspended in time. I wonder if it comes in green it might help an older tree appear more youthful. Love it.
Brandon is going to send a collection of crop tops and strings down the runway and I’m either going to vomit or die laughing.
I hope they have four people make a collection this year. My main reason for this is that these guys need a way to spring forward from this experience and the final 2 ladies could get better opportunities with a collection. But if they are having financial problems that is going to be our loss because there is some talent in these final five.
Margarita should be next to go. That was one ugly outfit.
Kentaro’s outfit was ridiculous. I would give him a pass because of the unconventional challenge but I have high expectations for him to deliver an amazing runway.
Ayana is finding her groove and I couldn’t be happier for her. Kentaro narrowly escaped the ax, but that doesn’t change my desire to see more of what he can do. Again, I wouldn’t now wear anything Brandon puts on the runway, but if I were younger, I’d try it all! He has talent that cannot be denied. He might not be everyone’s taste, but he’s on point with today’s street trends and he has a big future in the apparel market. I’m still questioning Kenya’s taste, but what do I know? I’m not sure she has what it takes to put a high end collection together, but it seems like the judges like her and that’s all that matters.
It’s not that I don’t think Brandon is talented, I think he is gimmicky. He uses the same gimmick every week. Possibly because that won the previous season.
Yes to that. His range seems so limited. The green dress last week represented the single time he’s sent a non-crop top to the runway. Did this week’s look have straps? Maybe he’s showing some small glimmers of growth……
lol- they have only been designing less than two weeks. How much growth does one expect?
Ah…this is like, episode 8 or so of this season. And yes, no straps and a non-crop top does constitute a couple of baby steps forward for this guy.
yup and they don’t get weeks off in-between….or days off for that matter. 10 episodes. Ten days. That’s how it works.
And for 1 day challenges 10 hours. That’s one of the many reasons this show has gone so far downhill. There’s no time to really grow or be creative. It becomes survival of the fittest.
First of all, I thought it was hysterical how they all acted as though they hadn’t wanted their outing of Claire to end up in her getting sent home. Of course they wanted that snooty, cheating bitch sent home! We all did! As to the show, Michael’s outfit was tacky, unattractive and nowhere near worthy of walking down a runway – it showed zero talent. Kentaro’s design was a horrible shock to me – the model stated it well, “a native American getting ready to play football”. She hated it. Then to style her hair like Pocohontas on steroids added insult to injury. Yuck, Kentaro, what were you thinking? I think Michael went home because, overall, Kentaro has had more success. Ayana’s contribution was stunning – it looked like something Angelina Jolie would wear in one of her “enchantment” movies – imaginative, clever, beautiful, and surprising. She deserved the win. I was glad they didn’t hold Kenya’s zipper mishap against her. She isn’t my favorite, but that was a great dress. Margarita’s design was way too costumey for me – it was like Madonna boobs meets as-yet-unnamed super heroine meets wannabe-yet-restrained dominatrix. What was that?
Of course, the fact that I think she’s a spiteful bitch might have colored my impressions. Brandon was imaginative – came through as usual in time for a good runway look.
No your impression was right on about Nargaritas dress, up close it was worse.
Not enough kudos went Ayana for her dress. Imagine the dress constructed in the right materials. I’m seldom so in awe of a dress.
I really hope they move away from these low budget department store sponsors, the shoes this season have been awful.
Mychael Knight is gone? No. This is so sad. RIP
Anaya has really grown during the show. Loved her Dr Suess dress last week and the dress this week was divine. The jaunty hard hat was a great touch.
The endless ads, product placement and useless celebrity judges are going to be the death of the show.
I’m sick of the cheap Avon makeup and hideous shoes. Margarita needs to go. She too copies people. I love Kenya’s clothing because it’s wearable and flattering. Ayana is my favorite, but because the judges already decided brandon will win
I got so upset when I saw the Mykael Knight RIP that I had to go back and watch the whole episode again because I forgot most of it. The second UC makes TWO out of eight opportunities that a designer does not get to show their point of view, then they get ripped for not having one. Give them a break! I am not being snarky when I say that I would love to see Zac P., Michael K., Isaac M. and Georgina Chapman churn out designs in one day. Designs they had to SEW and DRAFT a pattern, and FIT — to a non-sample sized model — and STYLE. IN ONE DAY! As an editor, I can say how easy it is to RIP a writer. It is harder to help a writer DEVELOP and GROW. The only person who does that is Tim. And I do appreciate the way he is an advocate for “his” designers when the judges get close up. Tim KNOWS that even mediocre fashion takes longer than a few hours to create. Just that any of the designers can get the SEWING ALONE done in that short of time amazes me, then they get ripped for not having a perfect hem. I would rather they have more time to SHOP AT MOOD (as TG says, success begins with fabric choice) then they should have the rest of the day to DESIGN and “play around” with the PROTOTYPE or muslin or paper, whatever form the Work In Progress would assume. I wouldn’t mind seeing a WONDERFUL prototype that was not sewn perfectly if they could just work on DESIGNING. Add to that the camera in your face, the ITM interviews, the body cavity searches, etc., which all take time. OK, so I was joking about the body cavity searches, but I do wonder how Twat Claire smuggled her “folding ruler” past the PAs. I keep seeing her smug face “Let them just take it from me,” like she would get to stay if she just surrendered her folding ruler. I do not think it fair that they can measure clothes they are wearing in the sewing room. That means in PR All Stars The Twats would have an advantage over Michael Costello. NOT FAIR. Also, while I applaud PR for acknowledging that fashion SHOULD BE for evryone of EVERY size, it takes MORE TIME AWAY from DESIGNING to try to FIT non-sample sized models. Just switching models, of ANY SIZE takes away from design time. There isn’t time to address every agenda in these one-day challenges. This isn’t Project Tailoring. Let the designers DESIGN, and stop the BS. I have finally gotten to where I don’t mind the celeb judges, their votes don’t count anyway, but the model switching, the cheating, the one-day unrealistic deadlines — those all get in the way of FASHION.