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Project Runway Season 9: Episode 7 Recap

Posted on 09/08/2011 by Lindsay in Project Runway

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Project Runway Season 9

 

By Lindsay Strouse

 

After only a few weeks, Tim, Heidi, Nina and Michael have wittled down our original Project Runway designer divas to the Top 10. Who will Heidi be saying Auf Wiedersehen to next, and who will have the opportunity to send their collections down the runway at this year's New York Fashion Week? Hold on to your hats ladies and gents, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

 

For the next challenge, the designers will be working in two teams of five. Because Anthony Ryan was the winner last week, he gets to choose his first teammate-Anya. Joining their team are Victor, Bryce and Olivier (aka Team Chaos). The other team consists of Josh M., Laura, Becky, Bert and Kim (aka Team Nuts & Bolts).

 

The teams are given two days to create a full-fledged fashion show-that's right, music, lights, a five-look collection and an original video. They are told to utilize Parson's HP tablet software to create their own textiles, three of which must be apparent in the final looks.

 

To help lighten the stress of this enormous challenge, one of my favorite designers, the kooky Betsy Johnson, comes in to help the teams out. She shows an example from one of her shows and gives the contestants some advice before they get to work.

 

Perhaps the most important piece of advice Betsy gives them is to have a cohesive collection. With so many strong personalities in this group of designers, I see that being a potential problem.

 

Before all the textiles are even printed, Bert and Josh M. almost come to blows. All because Josh didn't like Bert using the f-bomb. However, it becomes clear Josh is also dealing with the stress of losing his mother two years ago and is taking his frustration out on the people around him. Hopefully he'll be able to work things out on his end.

 

Team Nuts & Bolts has a little trouble thinking of a cohesive concept to pull their collection together. While they're stressing on one end of the workroom, Team Chaos works through their problems with laughter and good team work ethic. Looks like some people should be taking notes.

 

Half of each team heads over to Mood to pick up supplementary fabric (in addition to the textile they're creating), while the other half of the teams work on creating a video for the final fashion show.

 

Once the teams get back to the workroom, Josh M. makes a public apology to his team, and Bert especially, for his erratic behavior earlier. As hugs are passed around, the teams' unique textiles arrive. I personally prefer Team Chaos at this point in the game, but it's hard to say before seeing the final looks as a collection.

 

When Tim enters the workroom, he is blown away by the cohesiveness of Team Chaos's collection. He just tells them to make sure the fits are perfect. Unfortunately for Team Nuts & Bolts, their review doesn't go nearly as well. Tim is confused and doesn't understand the concept whatsoever.

 

By the end of the day, both of the collections certainly came a long way, but I stand by my decision of Team Chaos winning the challenge. Josh M. decides to put all the drama behind him for the interest of his team, but did it come too late?

 

On the day of the runway show, the models head down to the Garnier and L'Oreal studio to make the finishing touches to their designers' looks. And before you know it, it's time for the show to begin.

 

Joining tonight's judging panel are fashion designer Rachel Roy and actress Rose Byrne.

 

Team Nuts & Bolts is up first. I really like the original video playing in the background, but I'm not a fan of the overall collection. Most of the pieces are well-constructed, but I just really don't like the textiles they created. But I must say, there is a cohesion of color and print which is more than I could say before.

 

Next up is Team Chaos. I love the symmetry and shapes of the collection and found all the pieces to be extremely well made. The team chose a primarily black and white palate with just a splash of color accented throughout. I know the judges have made some pretty surprising decisions in the past, but I can't imagine them losing this challenge.

And without much hesitation, Heidi announces it to be so: Team Chaos is the winning team. They explain their concept of a city girl on the run-she's always busy and full of chaos, but she's always looking fabulous while doing it. The winning look belongs to Anya, giving her immunity for next week.

 

Time for Team Nuts & Bolts. The judges' biggest critiques were that it was too literal (fabric with clocks on it to represent running out of time) and it was too busy. Bert and Becky both throw Josh M. under the boss and blame his outbursts on their failed collection. However, the judges remind the designers that there was no team leader.

 

After 10 or 15 minutes of finger-pointing, the judges decide to send Beck packing.

 

Project Runway airs every Thursday at 9/8c on Lifetime. Also, check RealityWanted tomorrow to read about my experience at the Project Runway New York Fashion Week finale!

 

(Image courtesy of Lifetime)

 

Follow Lindsay on Twitter @LindsayStrouse

 


  


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