by Gina Scarpa

On tonight’s episode of Project Runway, the designers take a little field trip to meet up with Tim Gunn at the beach.  Garnier celebrity stylist Philip Carreon is also on hand for tonight’s challenge, which will involve beachwear and surfwear.  The designers will be working teams of two and the groans from the group are quite audible.  Shirin, Logan, Nicolas, Mitchell, Althea, Qristyl, and Johnny are named the team leaders and get to pick their teammates. The pairs end up as follows: Shirin and Carol Hannah, Logan and Christopher, Nicolas and Gordana, Mitchell and Ra’mon, Althea and Louise, Qristyl and Epperson, and Johnny and Irina.  Can I just say that I can’t believe no one picked Irina?  I think she’s fabulous.

From the minute everyone arrives at Mood, it’s obvious which teams are going to work well together and which teams are not.  Shirin and Carol Hannah seem to be on the same page, but Qristyl and Epperson and Mitchell and Ra’mon just do not see eye to eye.  I’m going to put a lot of faith in Irina and Johnny, who agree to go with a laid back, hippie beach look.  Nicolas and Gordana go with a bathing suit paired with a pair of wraparound pants.

The designers that were named the leaders are supposed to be in charge of the design but Mitchell is trying to put all of the responsibility on Ra’mon and have him carry them through this.  That’s kind of annoying.  Step up and take charge if you were given that responsibility.

Tim drops a bomb, when he lets the designers know that they now have to create a second look.  All I have to say about that is that I know the panel will get on some people for poorly crafted pieces but when you’re given no time, how can someone expect perfection?!  The second look has to be an avant garde design that corresponds with the beach look.

Shirin and Carol Hannah run into a problem when their model, Erika, decides to take a commercial and will miss the fitting.  The girls decide to bring back Valerie, a model who was previously eliminated, and replace Erika.  This means Erika is headed home and out of the competition.  I’m gonna go with: that was a dumb move on Erika’s part.

Tonight’s guest judges are fashion designer Max Azria and actress Rachel Bilson (love her).  The designers that stand out to me are: Irina and Johnny, Shirin and Carol Hannah, Althea and Louise, and Logan and Christopher.  I must have good taste because Irina and Johnny are in the top group and the rest are safe this week.  Mitchell and Ra’mon are also in the top group, while Qristyl and Ra’mon and Nicolas and Gordana are in the bottom.

Qristyl tries to throw Epperson under the bus, saying that the concept and designs were his idea and not hers.  Nicolas and Gordana may have had good ideas, but the execution wasn’t great and the avant garde look comes out a bit too trashy sexy instead of high fashion sexy.

After deliberating, the judges hand down their decisions.  Ra'mon is named the winner because, even though Mitchell was the team leader, he did all of the work.  True story.  Irina, Johnny, Epperson, Nicolas, and Gordana are in.  That means Mitchell (who was in the top group) and Qristyl are in the bottom.  Mitchell is eliminated and it's the first time the team leader of a winning design has been sent home.  Wow.

Project Runway airs Thursday nights at 10pm ET on Lifetime.

(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

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