by Lindsay Strouse

 

After saying a sad goodbye to mama Peach last week, Project Runway returns tonight with even more drama and challenges to overcome.

 

After losing her roommate, April must move in with Ivy, Valerie and Gretchen despite her trepidation about the tension between them. However, despite her doubt, the four girls seem to get along just fine. Michael C. also is having issues with the designers because they don't seem to respect his designing ability.

 

Time for the next challenge. This week, the designers are told to kick back, relax and have fun on a beautiful yacht with Michael Kors where they can sketch and have brunch. The designers are told to create resort wear looks that really express their style-they can create anything from swimsuits to evening wear. As an added plus, each designer is given a pair of Michael Kors sunglasses. After a few hours on the open sea, the designers head over to Mood to pick out fabrics.

 

Once the designers are back at the workroom, they are given a little twist from Tim Gunn. The designers are being put in teams of two so that they can execute each other's designs. The teams are Valerie and Andy, Michael C. and Mondo, April and Christopher, Casanova and Gretchen and Ivy and Michael D.

 

The teams get right to work and some are a little more confident than others. April and Christopher hit it off right away while Mondo and Michael C. butt heads. It was really cute seeing Gretchen and Casanova work with each other to get over his language barrier.

 

Tim enters the workroom with Michael Kors to help the designers out. He reminds Casanova to stay youthful in his designs and encourages Gretchen to switch up her color palate. He really likes April's idea for her look and likes the draping in Christopher's design.

 

Michael doesn't see "resort" in Ivy's design, is a bit worried about the amount of time needed for Andy's look and isn't a fan of Valerie's color choice. With 30 minutes left in the day, Valerie breaks down during a conversation with her mom.

 

The day of the runway show, several of the designers are biting their nails in anticipation to see how things will turn out. Surprisingly, Michael C. and Mondo are calm and enjoying each other's company heading into the show. Michael D. is extremely happy with how Ivy turned out his look although I can't say the same for her feelings about his work.

 

I can feel the tension through the television set as the designers scramble to finish their designs and head to the runway. I think some claws are about to come out. Kristin Bell joins Nina Garcia, Heidi Klum and Michael Kors as the guest judge of tonight's challenge.

Each designer will be judged on their actual design-not the piece they constructed. This will definitely help some and hurt others. Ivy is clearly despondent after seeing her look come down the runway. The judges are clearly impressed with Andy's bathing suit and cover-up as it comes down the runway.

 

Andy, Casanova, Mondo, April, Ivy, Michael D. are called forward with the highest and the lowest scores-the rest of sent back to safety. Andy, April and Michael D. are given the highest scores and Mondo, Ivy and Casanova are given the lowest scores.

 

The models and the top three designer's teammates come to the runway to explain their design. They are impressed with how much April's personal style comes through in her design and the punk, sexy feel to it. Heidi notes the commercial look to Andy's design and the sophistication that comes with it. While the judges were praising Michael's design, Ivy throws Michael's abilities under the bus. Ouch.

 

Next, the bottom three designers and their teammates and models enter onto the runway. Nina thinks Mondo's design looks very inexpensive and "junior." However, Michael C. and Mondo support each other and explain how much they helped each other through the process. When Ivy explains her design, she once again throws Michael D. under the bus and says she had to dumb down her design for him. Double ouch. The judges didn't see resort-wear for a young, hip person in Casanova's design.

 

After deliberating, the judges choose April as the winner of the challenge (I am so happy for her!) and vote Casanova out of the challenge. I know I'm not the only one who is so upset to see our charming Casanova go home.

 

Project Runway airs every Thursday at 9/8c on Lifetime.

 

(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

 

Follow Lindsay at twitter.com/LindsayStrouse

 

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