Project Runway: Therapy Through Textile Design

1. The Challenge.
 Tonight's episode, aka  "Therapy Through Textile Design", starts with Val being shocked that she's still in the competition. We're not arguing with her on this point, particularly after her creation last week. After a few more thoughts on the competition thus far, our remaining seven designers head to the runway where Heidi announces that their challenge this week will require them to start from scratch. After Heidi's cryptic challenge description, the designers head to the workroom and are greeted by pictures of themselves as children. And for the first time (but certainly not the last time) this episode, the designers all start weeping about missing their families.



After our contestants settle down a bit, Tim enters the workroom with a very special guest from HP to announce--you guessed it--the HP challenge. As you may recall, last season the designers were required to create a textile design on their HP computers, which would then be transferred onto fabric to be used in their designs. In addition, Tim informs them that this season they will also be required to use their family photos and memories as inspiration for the design. As Tim talks, we find ourselves totally distracted by  the odd shade of neon orange lipstick Gretchen is wearing. Once we are able to focus on what Tim is saying again, we hear him say that the designers will have two days for this challenge.


2. Therapy Through Textile Design.

After getting the challenge details, the designers get to work on their textile designs and most of them decide to take this as an opportunity to work out their inner demons. Mike C decides to put evil eyes all over his fabric. We missed the reason why he decided to do this exactly, but we think it's somehow connected to the photo they keep showing of him as a child in tighty whities? Christopher's fabric, which is blue with vaguely flowy lines, is inspired by growing up by the water. OK. Kinda weak.

Next, Andy explains that his textile, which is black and gray, is somehow connected to the fact that he's a momma's boy. OK? Gretchen is also inspired by mommy and designs a white fabric with half sunbursts all over it, mimicking the southwestern jewelry her mother loved to wear when Gretchen was a child.Val, on the other hand, has decided that she will create a fabric inspired by her father, who is a homebuilder. Therefore, her design features black fabric with blue lines to mimic a blueprint. April decides to represent both her mother and father and designs a white fabric with black half hearts to represent her parents' painful divorce. Her fabric looks like a charcoal drawing and we can tell it's going to be great.


Finally, there's Mondo. After showing Mondo in an adorable little matador outfit with a painted-on moustache (which reminds us of his model which sported the same 'stache a few weeks ago), we see Mondo designing a fabric with giant plusses on it. At first, we think it's connected to pregnancy because we all know what a big pink plus means. All joking aside, though, we soon find out that Mondo has had to hide much of his life from his family. Raised Catholic, he reluctantly came out to his mom when he was 17; she quickly told Mondo that he should never tell his dad. And, now, Mondo has decided to use his fabric design to reveal an even bigger secret, one that even his mother does not know: Mondo then tells the cameras that he has been HIV positive for the past ten years. Hence, the positive signs all over his fabric. We love Mondo and are sad for him.


3. Crying for Mommy.
After the designers head off to Mood to buy other fabrics to complete their looks, the designers return to the workroom. Tim tells the designers they have some special guests coming. Some of the contestants guess that the old designers may be coming in to visit them. Instead, in come assorted family members of the remaining designers. Val, Mondo, and Andy's mothers enter the room. Val, Mondo and Andy immediately start blubbering.

Gretchen immediately comments that everybody is bawling like little babies and that it's personally very hard for her to see such a display of emotion because her mom has a hard life and has to take care of her dad who is in a wheelchair. She admits to having a bit of a panic attack because she doesn't think her mom will be able to come and then...in comes Gretchen's mom. And Gretchen, the stoic hippie, begins crying her eyes out. We hate to say it, but even when Gretchen's sharing intimate and poignant details of her life, she still seems...cold. Still though, we're glad her mom could make it.

April's mommy comes in, too, and April, Ms. Monotone herself, is quickly tearing up.At this point, we're convinced that the producers of the show beat the contestants because they are grabbing onto their mothers for dear life.

Next, Mike C's son and mom enter. Christopher's boyfriend is also able to make it. More crying.

"Is this a nice surprise?",  Tim says. Tim raises his hand as if to strike the contestants and they all stifle their tears and answer "yes"  in unison.

Each designer then gets to spend a little quality time with the fam. Mondo has an especially touching and potentially tense moment with mother as he debates whether or not he should tell her about his HIV status. He decides, however, that he doesn't want to ruin the moment for her as it is the first time she's ever visited New York. That's ok Mondo. Totally understandable.

Tim's Take.
After the family members leave, we find out that Andy's mind really isn't in the game because of his Mom's visit and he is not happy with his print. Tim then drops by to give his critiques of the designs.

Tim tells April she needs to take a step back from the emotion and edit her design. Did we mention we love her print? Next, Christopher explains to Tim that his inspiration was where he grew up: the ocean. Gretchen gives Christopher a C+ (we notice that Gretchen is often the one giving her "take", rather than Tim).Andy explains to Tim that he's doing a "memory bubble" theme. We don't know what that means. We don't think Tim knows either. And for that matter, neither does Andy.

When Tim sees Gretchen's design, he warns her that he doesn't like the yoke in the back of the skirt. Gretchen decides to ignore him. Tim tells Val her outfit looks like an iceskating outfit. Uh oh. Gretchen adds her two cents, and says there is nothing about Val's outfit that says "fashion." Mondo refuses to tell Tim what his print is about. That's ok though. Tim likes his print anyway.

After his critiques, Tim is all verklempt, gets teary-eyed, and says it gets harder for him as there are fewer and fewer designers. We wonder what Tim's HP challenge fabric would have looked like.

The Runway.

Rachel Roy.

Heidi announces that the guest judge is fashion designer Rachel Roy, who ends up being a pretty great judge. Tonight, as there are so few designers left and because the judges can't agree, the judges will be talking to all of the designers after the runway.



April: April's look is a short cocktail dress. The bottom of the dress includes a flouncy black skirt. The top has one long sleeve and the other side is strapless. The sleeve features her black and white heart design. Down the sleeve is a tree trunk. We like the look very much. Again, we ask, though, where is the color, April? Apparently, the judges are ok with her monochromatic scheme. After April explains that her inspiration was her feeling of being torn between two parents during their divorce, Michael Kors tells April he can feel the friction in the design and that that "pulling" is consistent throughout her work. Rachel tells April she likes her print the most. Heidi also likes April's print the most. Everyone agrees that the poofiness at the bottom of the dress was not a good idea. April is safe.

Andy: Andy's look includes a pair of black short shorts, with a horrid and ill-fitting shirt in his grey and black memory bubble print, with black vest. Andy admits he regrets the whole thing. So do we and so do the judges. Rachel likes the print itself, but does not like Andy's outfit at all. She tells him short shorts should be sexy, but that his outfit is not sexy at all. Nina tells Andy both his print and design are sad and that she is very disappointed in him because usually his stuff is interesting. Kors says he likes Andy's print, but he thinks the shirt makes his model look like she's got boobs for eyes. Heidi hates Andy's design and thinks it's unwearable. Rachel thinks Andy has the worst look (and we actually agree). Andy is in the bottom 2, but he ends up safe.


Gretchen: Gretchen's look is pretty forgettable, truth be told. She has used her southwestern fabric, which we actually like, as a halter top, with a pair of pants. We think it's fine, but are slightly disappointed. The judges have varied opinions. Heidi likes the print and silhouette of both pieces. Mr. Kors loves the pants, but thinks her print placement makes it look like her model has a big fried egg on her boob. Mr. Kors seems to be obsessed with boobs this episode. Nina, like us, expected more from Gretchen and thinks it's fine, but not wow. Rachel thinks it's all almost there, but not quite.Gretchen is safe.

Mike C: Mike C's look is a black strapless cocktail dress with paneling in the bodice using his evil eye fabric. The panels are outlined in yellow.We think it's cute enough, but not fantastic. Michael Kors thinks the panels in Mike C's dress make it look like his model is wearing a tie and he doesn't like it. Heidi, on the other hand, does like the "tie" effect, but she hates the matchy-matchy yellow shoes. Nina says his look could have been helped with proper styling. Mike C's safe.

Christopher: Christopher has used his blue "ocean" fabric as an off the shoulder blouse, with a pair of pants. Snoozefest. After Christopher explains that he wanted his outfit to look like the ocean, Rachel tells him she doesn't see water and, although she thinks the off the shoulder top is flattering, it also looks like an afterthought. Nina says Chris' look is not necessarily fashion, but it's ok, she guesses. Heidi informs Christopher that she wrote "nice, safe, boring" in her notes. Christopher is safe. Christopher, however, should be very, very worried as none of the judges were able to recall a single look of his from this season.

Mondo: Mondo's look is fab. He has used his pink and black "plus" fabric on a pair of high waisted pants, and paired them with a black and white patterned halter and black jacket lined with the same black and white pattern used for the halter. We love it. And so do the judges. Mondo begins explaining his design by telling the judges his fabric design is very personal. Nina wishes Mondo would tell her what the story behind it is. Mondo says nothing and Nina continues by telling Mondo that she thinks his design is terrific and tells him "it's fashion."' Nina is very glad he's not afraid of mixing prints and colors. Kors agrees and says that mixing prints and colors is something Mondo really excels at. Rachel likes the look and would totally wear it.  Heidi thinks it's great. Nina keeps on gushing praise and tells Mondo it's editorial and that if she had to shoot something for Marie Claire, Mondo's look would be it.

Mondo is visibly affected by all of this praise and then...he reveals his secret to the room, telling Nina that he has been HIV positive for 10 years and that his fabric reflects that and that he doesn't want to hide it anymore. Nina thanks him for sharing. Heidi says he's very brave. The rest of the designers cry and Mondo says he feels free now. If another designer had revealed such a secret at such a moment, we might think this was a ploy to win sympathy and votes, but Mondo seems to be totally sincere here and, what's more, his design doesn't need any help. We think he clearly had the best design this week. The judges agree and Mondo is declared the winner once again. The judges are seriously impressed that he could create such joyous clothing out of something so painful.



Val: Val's model struts down the runway in a short dress, with a black bodice top with sheer overlay. The bottom of the dress uses her black and blue print in a tiered skirt.  As she has feared, her look is totally 80s. Heidi says Val's dress looks like her party napkin dress from the party store challenge. Kors jumps on board and says he wrote "napkin-apron" on his comment card. Nina says the overall effect of the design is heavy. Rachel hasn't seen Val's other design, so she has no issue with Val repeating herself, but does not like blue underlay underneath the dress. Michael Kors thinks Val has the worst look. Val is out.

After Val leaves the runway, she returns to the kiss and cry room and (tearfully) tells each and every designer why they are special to her. Val is kind of great in our book as her comments are heartfelt and totally unselfish. We hope for the best for her (and hope she will start using something other than zippers and napkins in her designs).

To see tonight's designs: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway

Stay tuned for next week's episode.