by Gina Scarpa

 

Tonight is the long awaited, much anticipated season finale of Project Runway.  It all comes down to the final three designers at Bryant Park: Althea Harper, Carol Hannah Whitfield, and Irina Shabayeva.  Last week, Tim Gunn traveled around to cook with Carol Hannah, play with Irina’s dog, and brainstorms with Althea… but really, he was there to check out their collections.  Carol Hannah arrives late in New York after a battle with a nasty stomach virus and the final three find out they have to make an extra piece for the runway.  Of course they do.  After taking in Tim’s feedback, casting their models, and putting the blood, sweat, and tears into their collections, it’s finally time for Bryant Park… which brings us to tonight.

 

With two days to go before the runway show, Carol Hannah’s stomach virus has returned for an encore presentation and she’s hurtin’.  Althea seems to be on the same page as Irina when it comes to hair and makeup, which sends her into a mini meltdown.  In fact, Irina seems to be the only one totally in control of her emotions.  Christopher, Logan, and Gordana return to help put the final touches on the collections, which must have given them some comfort.

 

Tim is freaking out the day of the show.  He doesn’t feel that anyone is remotely ready to line up and get started.  He insists that everyone has to go so, after a few final touches, it’s time to hit the runway.

 

Althea is up first.  Her clothes may not be the most exciting but, to her credit, her clothes are marketable, sellable, and wearable.  Anybody else spot former America’s Next Top Model winner Jaslene Gonzalez on the runway?

 

Carol Hannah has been one of my favorites all season long.  Her style is the closest to my taste and so, it could be a matter of personal preference here, but I really love what she did.  Her bits of her color (a deep, jewel-tone blue) were used sparingly but smartly.  If I wasn’t such a curvy little Italian, I’d want to wear all of those dresses.

 

Irina presents last and says that she’s been inspired by New York, for all it has given to her.  Now, you can say what you want about Irina this season, about how she behaved or what she said about her fellow designers, but the woman can design an outfit.  She’s fierce and chic and her clothes definitely stand out in a room.

 

In panel, Michael informs Irina that her concept (a warrior woman) is not a new concept but admires the work she put into the collection.  Her t-shirts go over well and Heidi felt that she would want to own a lot of the pieces.  Carol Hannah’s pop of color is a hit with the judges.  Her upturned pyramid piece is a hit but Heidi felt that the overall look wasn’t cohesive.   Michael agrees with my take on Althea, that you can take apart her outfits and sell the pieces individually but that they all make a complete look as well but Nina thought that, her final three looks really didn’t match up with everything else.

 

After deliberating, it’s time for Heidi to say, for the final time this season, who’s in and who’s out.  The first to be cut is Carol Hannah… and the winner is.. IRINA! 

 

(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

 

Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

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