Heidi is still pregnant as she tells the designers aufwiedersehen! Mila packs up and has already got Jay on the brain. Jay, meanwhile, is just pleased to be in the top 4. Emilio is super pleased with himself. Seth announces that his collection. Will.Not.Be.Boring.
Aaaaand....fast forward three months to beautiful Portland, Oregon, and that bridge that appears in all depictions of Portland! Oops, silly me, he's over the state border in Vancouver, Washington. Seth's welcomes Tim in, and I see a lot of black and leather. Wow, Seth Aaron says his plan is to create 20 outfits and whittle them down when he gets to New York. How can he AFFORD all that? Seth's bringing the ambition, stating that he wants to STOMP the competition (in Doc Martens, surely). And I must say, the first few items he shows Tim are truly impressive. Tim announces, Debbie Downer style, that while people unfamiliar with Seth's style would be impressed by the beauty and craftsmanship of the clothes, he will not win if he doesn't do something that surprises the judges. Let's pretend that Christian Siriano and Meana Irina didn't win for turning out the same kind of clothes at Fashion Week that they did all season long. Hell, let's pretend Christian Siriano didn't mostly win cause Posh Spice was a guest judge on his finale.
Moving on: Tim advises Seth to reconceptualize the whole thing and start over. Seth and his wispy haircut do not look pleased. Tim knows Seth is capable, which is the only reason he is pushing him. He's like the Tina Fey character in Mean Girls: "I'm a pusher, Cady, I'm a pusher".
Holy crap, Seth Aaron was a blonde surfer dude when he married his high school sweetheart? Rewind! Yep, I see hair gel, a deep tan and an earring. And as Seth provides voiceover on how important a win would be to his whole family, I am distracted by Tim playing Pictionary with the whole family, Seth's daughter drawing something resembling balloons, and Tim blurting out, "Fallopian tubes!". Interesting, my Pictionary Rohrshach test showed me marshmallows on a stick. Calling Dr. Freud?
Seth announces that he has something special for Tim, and Tim recoils in fear. Almost as if he had caught a peek at the...backyard trampoline. Queen on a Trampoline (Lifetime, I smell movie of the week...). Poor Tim fell after about 2 seconds, and looked VERY uncomfortable.
I never understand why Tim doesn't do his cross-country jaunt in some sort of order. Instead of heading south to San Francisco (woot woot!) to see Jay after Washington, he then goes back to New York to visit Emilio. We meet Emilio's two brothers, Nicholas and Felipe, and learn of Emilio's father working as a janitor and his mother working 30 years in a factory. Tim and Emilio don't seem all that chummy.
In his workroom, he shows Tim colorful looks, with reds, turquoises and pea greens (not, thankfully, all on the same outfit). He then shows Tim some ESosa prints he made (unoriginal!), and then a truly hideous overly patterned, shiny, floral jacket that offends Tim. Of course Emilio is offended that Tim is offended. He doesn't create looks for the cameras, he creates them for his client, he states (who has hideous taste and loves Emilio's initials). There is some back and forth between the two, and I think I even catch Emilio do a little eye roll. Will defying Tim pay off? I hope not... Tim then says that he sees a lack of sophistication and clothes that look, frankly, old. See that picture of Tim at the top of this blog? He means business! Interestingly, there is no dinner or even drinks with Tim. No meeting the significant other. No love lost between those two.
Time to visit Mila in Los Angeles. Downtown, by the looks of it. She has a dalmatian named Ziggy- my God, everything in her world is black and white! Including, apparently, her collection, which was inspired by shadows. Shadows? Hmm. I love the look of some of her coats, although the overall lack of color is a bit boring. Advantage Emilio. Tim thinks her collection is tending towards the matronly and conservative side. I don't see it, and neither does Mila.
She gets the bug-eyed, gritting her teeth look at the mere mention of Jay, and says she finds him really annoying. I don't get this from the show; were all his annoying moments edited out?We meet Mila's parents and boyfriend, who appears much younger than her. Mila's parents also say she went through an extended goth phase- shocker- and she interviews that after working as a costumer for the past 12 years (so since she was my age?), she has wanted to break out on her own.
Finally, Tim visits Jay in San Francisco. Uh, does he really live in the Haight, or was this stock "kooky San Francisco" footage? Jay was inspired by Japanese samurai, who apparently dressed as foppish British lords with lots of frilly sleeves and poofy shirts (yeah, I didn't know either). Tim asks Jay a pesky question: where is the woman in this outfit going? Ah, so tricky when your conceptual fashion gets brought down to Earth. Jay doesn't know how to answer the question! It looks like Jay is having the same problem Amy was criticized for earlier in the season- too conceptual, too much weird detail. Tim then gives the designs the ultimate insult- they look like student work. Ouch! Jay seems a little overconfident in thinking his over the top pieces will beat Mila. Her looks may be more conservative, but they are clothes women (this one included) would want to wear. Heidi, too.
We then meet Jay's family and partner. His mother looks like she's spent weeks preparing a feast for Tim. Jay's parents are very sweet, and we learn about how his family struggled to raise him in the Philippines. His mother is enormously supportive, and all raise a glass to Jay.
Back in the world of Project Runway...it's New York Fashion Week. Mila is the first to arrive at the Westin New York. Jay, naturally, is the next to arrive. And yeah, they're rooming together! Mixed-gender rooming assignments, interesting.
Time for awkward socializing between Jay and Mila. They eyeball each other and attempt to relate on a human level. Awkward all around. Seth strides in and seems to have changed his collection. Emilio then enters, and he says he has also changed his. Tim then gives a Gunn-like bear hug to all. As much of a bear hug as he can muster. He formally welcomes them to the Westin, and he asks them to enjoy their Heavenly bed...because it may be your only night in it! God, I want that bed. I'll take a weekend in that bed over a weekend in Vegas, thank you very much. The designers pop a little champagne, and toast each other. Fashion kisses.
In a new and improved workroom (yet still with the Bluefly.com wall), there are only three workspaces. Jay and Mila are sharing a table. Ooh, it's the Bluefly.com workroom. Stepping up the sponsorship a notch. Tim reiterates for the zillionth time what the designers are up against...and they're off. The judge's decision will be made that day. They have three hours to ready their models. Mila's model has cut her hair super short, like above the ear short. Ooh, not so sure about that. Jay's loopy pants aren't fitting properly, and it's too bizarre for the girl's legs!
Mila decides to integrate color into the looks with the makeup and hair. I say embrace the black and white. Both designers cry and cry- first time we've seen Mila shed tears. Oh, producers, you kill me. I have to sit through, er, fast forward through Andie MacDowell to get to the good stuff.
It looks like Lou Seal (that's her last name, right?) has been born, finally. Time for a mini-runway show: Mila's looks are mod and stylish, black and white and yet original in their cut, silhouette, and fit. Heidi's eyes seem to light up when she sees them.
Jay's looks are structural, colorful, very modern, although still not flattering to a woman's body. And the collar on his last look covers half of his model's face! I don't think the model in Heidi will appreciate that.
Judging time: Heidi likes Mila's pieces. Kors thinks they're very Mila...but they're not surprising. He also thinks the girls' hair and makeup should look edgier. Seems like a no from him. Nina also thinks the pieces are not very modern, and wonders how Mila would create six collections a year with the same boring palette. They love her gloves and rings.
Jay explains his samurai inspiration. Kors loves all the looks. Nina likes his tailoring and innovation, but thinks, like Tim did, that there's a bit too much going on. He needs to edit. Heidi loves the short dress but doesn't think the clothes are cohesive. Kors, in a dig at Mila, says there is not a hint of retro in the clothes. Cough, hint, cough.
Heidi wants Mila, Kors wants Jay, and so it all seems to hinge on Nina Gahcia. Nina and Kors seem to wonder if Mila is capable of surprising with her designs. They all love the modernity of Jay's designs, but agree that the face-hiding jacket has to go. Kors introduces everyone to the lovely Yiddish word "ungepatchke" (?), which apparently means, too much. The judges have made their decision. Interestingly enough, Kors is the Yiddish word for belly button.
One of you will be out....ayayay get to it, Heidi, get to it! And Mila is...in. Yes! Jay's loopy pant legs are going back to Ess Eff. Poor Jay.
The judges advise Mila to focus on styling. Was that what the decision hinged on? Jay is proud of his accomplishment, and I'm sure he'll do well.
Next week on: Faith Hill is the guest judge (but her husband looks like this, so you have to question her whole taste level).
Aufwiedersehen! Can't wait for the show next week!
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