"Project Runway" September 27th Episode Update - Four for the Road

As most PR fans are aware, last season, four instead of three designers showed at the Olympus Tent during New York's Fashion Week.  One, the mousy woman originally from South Africa, whose name now escapes me, was a decoy so various internet sites wouldn't leak who the final three were (as they had done during the first season).  If you look in Kitty G's archives, you will see that all four of the designers showed (a la season two) but the catch is…all four are in the game.

The producers made a smart choice in doing this.  They knew the final candidates would be leaked, but instead of using a decoy designer they 'punked' the audience whom many have already seen pictures from the Olympus Fashion Show.  Further, they have offered up a competition that includes four designers with vastly four different fashion styles, thus building anticipation for the finale.

The final challenge was for the designers to take two days on one outfit that would reflect the collection they plan to show.  For $250.00, they could do anything, but in the end, they would have to sum up their fashion philosophy into three words. 

Michael's game was shaken up when Uli took his model and his muse.  He usually is a fast designer, but was still puttering with various design ideas after he had purchased his material from Mood.  He went for a formal gown that was interlaced with cloth strips in both the front and back.  On paper, the design looked good.  I think because of time, Michael's execution was lacking.  Overall, the dress looked fine, but wasn't stunning.

Laura played it safe, although Tim Gunn had told the designers to take it outside their comfort zone and show the judges something different.  Laura believed that it was good strategy to do what she did best, a cocktail dress, but do it better than she had done before.  Her dress was stunning and her execution flawless (as is the expectation from her) but even as a member of the audience I felt…yawn, I've seen this before from her.  Even after the judges said they were afraid she was a one-note designer, she was the second contestant to get a pass.

This left Uli to win the challenge.  Many friends, both here on the internet, and in my daily life, have commented, "Uli always does halter dresses!"  At first, I was a Uli defender, saying such things as, "But they're cute."  No more.  The judges were all over her with praises on how she had stretched herself, but remained true to her esthetic.  I was confused.  SHE MADE ANOTHER HALTER DRESS PEOPLE!  Okay, she shortened it.  Wow, how innovative.  True, she had the best model, and part of the challenge included taking a photo of their outfits as they might appear in a fashion spread, but in the end, it was a short halter dress. 

This leaves my least favorite, but slowly growing on me, designer, Jeffery.  I actually liked his dress.  I confess, I find dresses with a red, white and blue color schemes tend to be patriotically corny - it is one step beyond flag waving, it is flag wearing.  Yet, his dress would have been one I would have proudly worn on any occasion and especially for a Fourth of July picnic.  It was just that damn cute.  So, the only conclusion the judges could come to was tell him that they didn't like it, although they appreciated that he had stepped out of he had shown them something different. 

In the end, it made little difference since both Michael and Jeffery, the two on the cutting block, were told both of them would be going to Fashion Week. 

Next week is the reunion show, which promises to be interesting.  Angela and Jeffery hash out his treatment of her mother, which most likely will put him back in my bad graces again.  Dude, you don't treat people's mamas like that.  If he dared say that to my Mama, he wouldn't be showing his collection in the Olympus tent because he would still be in intensive care. 

It will be fun to see the guy who was kicked off defend himself, remember he's a slick one.  Laura will be more pregnant, which leaves me to ponder just how she manages to be a mother of five, pregnant with the sixth (hopefully, a girl or a future drag queen, because of the overexposure to fashion while in Utero), and design her first fashion collection for runway presentation.  Love her or hate her, you have to give it up to her for demonstrating an iron will. 

Last, but not least, sigh, even if Michael doesn't win the competition, it will be nice to see him win the cash for being the audience favorite.

See you next week.