by Todd Betzold

It is the "biggest challenge" of the season tonight on Project Runway and by the looks of it, we may have some major breakdowns as the designers work on creations for Lord & Taylor. This one is going to be huge and could launch one of the designers' careers to outstanding proportions!

 

The girls talk about being sick of the guys (The Silk Chiffonies) and they are ready to take them out! They head to the runway and Heidi Klum tells them they will be heading to Fifth Avenue and meet Tim Gunn to find out the next challenge. They get to Fifth Avenue and Lord & Taylor store, where they see nine mannequins all representing a season on Project Runway. One designer from that season has designed a look for the mannequin and for this challenge, the designers are creating a cocktail or evening dress that will join the 10-look Project Runway collection at Lord & Taylor. The collection will be sold at the Lord & Taylor flagship store and online. The winning dress will be shown in the window at Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue, so this is some huge stuff for the designers! The dresses must retail between $200-300. There is no budget and they have one day to complete the look.

 

The designers get 30 minutes to sketch and get a look at the current collection. Christopher said they have seven cocktail dresses and two gowns, so he is going for a gown to stand out! Sonjia is drawing a blank, as she was in the bottom last week and is feeling the pressure! They finish up the sketching and head back to the workroom. All the fabrics have been provided by J S Collections, so they have access to everything they need.

 

Christopher is going to do the same shredding look on his gown, which I am sick of seeing and he even admits it is a risk to do it. We are just getting started and Elena is already stressing because she is not feeling this challenge. Gunnar is so in love with his fabric that it hurts. He thinks he is tying in his look to the collection, so he is happy. Sonjia is frustrated and annoyed with everything right now. Alicia is excited about her look, even though the judges might not like it.

 

Ven wants to work with the customers on this one and he has experience working with warehouses one-on-one...I don't like him! Elena feels the past few challenges have been designed for Gunnar in mind, but he said they have been looks for the everyday woman. As the women notice the men are enjoying this challenge a lot more and are more feminine then the women Ven ruins my mood. He said that men are usually stronger designers and women are a little more practical. Ugh! Christopher gets started on his shredding again, which everyone is sick of seeing.

 

Tim Gunn comes in and meets with the designers. He tells Gunnar to cover the entire dress with the sheer lace. For Alicia, he said that it is looking a little Joan of Arc, which she doesn't mind. He tells Sonjia if she is trying to channel the judges, she is going to work herself into a psychotic breakdown. For Fabio, Tim said it looks beautiful, but questions if it could be delivered to the customer for $200-300. He told Elena it is too one-of-a-kind and they couldn't put it into production. Now Elena has a breakdown because she doesn't produce garments that are mass-marketed. She does upscale garments. Gunnar takes her to the side and calms her down.

 

For Ven, Tim said he didn't want him to throw the rest of it away for his selling point, which Christopher said looks like a holiday dress. Tim liked Dmitry's dress. He told Christopher that he thinks a woman would look fabulous in it. Tim doesn't like the fabric Melissa chose and she needs to look into another fabric choice. She is now contemplating what fabric to use!

 

The models come in for their fitting. Melissa's model comes in and she loves the fabric, which makes Melissa feel so much better. Christopher said to tell Sonjia that the 80s called and want their dress back. Melissa is upset about the fit and it doesn't lay nicely, so she is going to have to scratch everything and start over with a new fabric but will she be able to finish in time? The night ends and the women are all stressed while the men are feeling more confident. Melissa is still cutting fabric while the others have dresses on their mannequins.

 

It's the day of the runway show and the designers head back into the workroom. Melissa is trying to get everything in order for her dress. Tim comes in and says the models are coming in and will have two hours to get them ready for the runway. The guys are getting their models in their dresses, but the girls are all trying to finish up their dresses. Ten minutes to go and Sonjia is having a breakdown, She asks for Elena's help and she starts crying...get it together girl! Melissa is freaking out also, as she struggles to get her dress together. Tim pulls Sonjia aside and said to remember to fake it on the runway and to channel her inner winner.

 

It is time for the runway show, so out comes Heidi Klum. The judges tonight are Heidi, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia and guest judge this week is Bonnie Brooks, President of Lord & Taylor. The looks I like: Melissa (despite her struggles, she made a very nice dress), Gunnar (seems to fit into the collection well), Alicia (I like the look, but not fitting the collection), Ven (plain, but done well) and Dmitry (love the look and he can make a great dress) The looks I don't enjoy: Fabio (nice, but too boring), Elena (looks like poofy leather) and Christopher (lots of black and his shredding at top).

 

Heidi asks Ven, Sonjia and Dmitry to step forward. Their scores are good enough to qualify to move onto next week. Dmitry is not happy to be safe, but Sonjia is ecstatic to be there! Heidi said they have four high scores and two low scores, with Alicia, Elena, Melissa, Gunnar, Christopher and Fabio left on the runway.

 

For Fabio, he had one of the higher scores. Heidi said he did a very good job and it is a versatile dress. Michael said the zipper is not great. Bonnie said she thinks she would wear the dress and a dress for customer with good taste. For Christopher, he had one of the higher scores. Heidi said it is beautiful and quite elegant. Michael said he likes the idea it is a gown that looks like separate looks, but he gives him a subtle hint on the shredding to watch it. Nina said it looks elegant and sophisticated, but it wouldn't work on many people, but it would make a nice addition to the collection. For Melissa, she had one of the higher scores. Michael said the bronze is a smart way to have dark glamour and he likes the neckline. Heidi said it is a stunning dress and a showstopper. Bonnie said it is ingenious how she made the strapless and is a winning dress.

 

For Gunnar, he had one of the lower scores. Nina said it is expected and she has seen this dress and doesn't need to see it again. Michael said he thinks it is a dress they carry at Lord & Taylor already and he can push himself much further than this. Heidi said it fits her very well. Bonnie said that lace is unforgiving as a fabric and is a little bit stiff. For Elena, she had one of the higher scores (and breaks down in tears when she finds out). Heidi said this is a very sellable dress and women are attracted to this silhouette. Nina said the back is extraordinarily beautiful, but in front it is hard to see what is going on. Bonnie said it does have an edge, but may be for a specific customer. Michael said this is her shining moment. For Alicia, she had one of the lower scores. Heidi said she thinks the dress is quite pretty and a simple dress and drop it a little lower so she is sexier. Bonnie said it is lost between an office dress and a cocktail dress. Nina said it is too mature. Michael said she is about structure and he gets the challenge, but it looks like a field hockey uniform.

 

The judges discuss the six looks and pick a winner and a designer that will be going home. The winner of this challenge and who will have their look added to the Project Runway Collection for Lord & Taylor is Christopher! I guess making a gown was a good choice for him! That means Fabio, Elena and Melissa are safe. We are down to Gunnar and Alicia and one of them will be going home. Alicia is safe. Gunnar is...safe as well! They said they loved all the looks and didn't want to send anyone home this week. I did not like Gunnar at first, but he has been growing on me the past couple weeks. Let's see how he does next week!

Project Runway airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Lifetime.

 

(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

 

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