This week the designers of Project Runway are getting “O” inspired – no, not Oprah – Jackie Kennedy Onassis (“Jackie O”) takes over the runway in picture form to serve as inspiration to the designers. And if you think it’s tough to dress a style icon, you’re completely right as the modern takes on a classic beauty goes terribly wrong and leaves a top tier designer clinging at the bottom heap.
Using Jackie O as inspiration, the designers are tasked with creating a sportswear look. As a second spin, the designers must create a piece of outerwear to go with their designs.
Christopher is perhaps the most excited by this challenge. Being a sportswear designer, he’s in his element and he knows exactly what he’s going to do: a fantastical Evening Dress that highlights the glamor of their muse. He manages it with this one-shouldered semi-Grecian gown and metallic silver belt. It is beautifully made and completely ruined under the outerwear challenge. For outerwear, Christopher ties this rawhide animal pelt on his model’s shoulders. There is no hint of design to this and it takes away from the beauty of his dress.
You would expect that Gretchen would be right on top when it comes to looking forward to this challenge because as it was revealed in episode 5, Sportswear is her thing. Whether it is or isn’t, Gretchen is pretty much out of the picture for this challenge. I am entirely grateful for this because it seems that every time Gretchen comes on screen this high-pitched noise sounds in my ear. I need to get that checked out.
Andy wasn’t feeling the idea of working with Jackie O because the classic American look doesn’t go with his Asian influenced design. But then he remembers that she was a fashion risk taker…it looks like there is going to be some risky moves today. He settles on a pair of heavily draped cargo pants that really wouldn’t be flattering on anyone as they look like a pair of saddlebags are stitched to her sides. Combine that with an UGLY black/white jacket and a top straight from the trash and it’s a horror.
Ivy confesses herself lost, she doesn’t know what she’s going to make but she knows it’s going to be the same black and white and lack of color that seems to penetrate all of her designs. Yawn. Ivy struggles with this challenge and spends all her time until the runway in catch-up mode. But her final design is okay; high-waisted black pants and a white asymmetrical top. It’s in the top three but that’s probably because the judges felt they needed a top three.
April spends most of her time criticizing the other designers of her own design – there is not much of interest.
Mondo lets the fabric speak to him and what calls out is this purple plaid tweed-like fabric. He later regrets this choice saying it’s what Jackie Kennedy would wear if she came back as a tranny. But it’s too late now to change, so it’s “make it work” time. Mondo makes a purple plaid skirt with a black and white striped top. It’s very Mondo. The vibrant colors scream his design and his smart tailoring make for a great design.
Michael D. hates everything about this challenge. He doesn’t like his fabric choice but he’s stuck with it. He doesn’t like sportswear so he doesn’t refuses to make sportswear. But he’s using sportswear fabric, does that count? No. Michael makes this heavily pleated skirt that is old-school Annie Oakley. Even hearing this from Tim, Michael decides to stick with his design.
Valerie might be the most confused designer of the bunch. Perhaps frustrated with being so often in the top and never snagging a win, she polls the designers on how she should proceed with her look. When Tim comes in, Valerie’s hopes are completely dashed. He finds her super skinny pants “vulgar.” This sends Ivy in a tailspin of design, the addition of the outerwear task further causes upset as Valerie’s top is already a jacket. So she will have two pieces of outwear, but instead of changing the jacket into a top, Valerie makes a vest to go over the jacket. The whole look appears heavy.
Michael C. can’t seem to settle on one design. He makes one dress and then switches it out in favor of another. A couple of the other designers trash on Michael C. because of this, but really they’re just upset that he can make two decent dresses before they can spit out one. His final dress is blue and leaves Michael to worry if it is too cocktail for sportswear.
The guest judge this week is January Jones (Mad Men). The judges love Mondo, Ivy, and Christopher’s designs. Michael called the dress subtle and sexy although all the judges agree that the jacket sucked. Heidi called it a “dirty old rug.” Heidi loves Mondo’s design saying even though it was loud, she could see their muse wearing it. Heidi thinks there is too much design in Ivy’s garment, it was overcomplicated but they did like her choice of color.
Nina confronted Valerie on using pleating and zippers in substitute for design. Michael D. had the judges stumped by his design which Michael Kors called “schizophrenic.” All of the judges agree that they did not see Jackie Kennedy in the design. Heidi tells Andy that she wanted to laugh at his design (oh, harsh) because the baggy pants are so far away from what Jackie Kennedy would wear. Andy takes a pretty hard beating on the runway as the judges don’t seem to like anything about it.
Staying true to self pays off big for Mondo this week, as Heidi calls him the “clear winner” of this challenge. And even though the judges hated everything about Andy’s design, Michael D schizophrenia was too much to tame and got him eliminated this week. Just when I finally learned his name!
