The Fashion Show Ultimate Collection: Man Up

Tonight's episode begins with Golnessa talking about stepping up her game. In fact, many of the remaining designers are concerned about showing the judges what they've got.



1. The Challenge. Soon thereafter,  Iman sends word to the remaining contestants to meet her at the Museum of Natural History. Once the designers arrive, they see nine metal boxes surrounding a fortune cookie shaped fountain. Iman informs them that in the middle of the fountain is a time capsule, which will be opened in 1000 years. Similarly, in each of the nine metal boxes surrounding the fortune cookie is a time capsule for a different year. Each designer will choose a different box and his or her look must then be inspired by the year of the time capsule he or she chooses. However, all looks must still fit together as a collection.


For Team Emerald, Golnessa must design for 1951, Jeffrey for 1989, Cesar for 2001, and Cindy for 1965. For Team Nami, Eduardo must design for 1976, Calvin for 1957, Dominique for 1994, Rolando for 1969, and David for 1982. Once everyone has their design year, Iman informs the designers that they must also use plaid in their designs. Moaning and groaning ensues as most designers can't imagine having to work with plaid.

2. The Workroom. The designers then head back to the workroom to begin sketching and designing their mood boards.

Plaid in 1971.

Nami decides they will each incorporate metallic elements to create cohesiveness. Isaac likes what he sees from Team Nami and encourages them to use gray, as gray has always been used throughout the ages. He also warns Rolando that his 1969 design is looking too 80s and he should be careful. Rolando, however, soon runs into problems with his dress, which are not related to the decade which has inspired him, and Ro ends up scrapping his dress and starting over from scratch. Never a good sign. Meanwhile, David and Dominique are giggling like junior high kids in the throes of their first crush.

On the other side of the workroom, Team Emerald decides to use volume in order to make their collection cohesive. Isaac seems ok with Emerald's mood board, but encourages them to cut the pink from their color board. In fact,  Isaac  basically tells them they need  to simplify their designs in order to find cohesiveness. The team goes ahead and gets to work and they finish their four looks. Cesar, however, decides that, in order to get an edge over Nami, they should create a fifth look. And so the Emerald leader begins to make plaid material from paint in order to try and beat the Nami designers.

Anja Rubik.

3. The Runway. Along with the regular judges, tonight's guest judge is supermodel Anja Rubik, who actually ends up being a pretty fab judge.



Team Emerald's collection is primarily made up of baby blue and black plaid. As lovers of plaid and the rich colors that are often present in plaid, we actually hate the fabric, but we seem to be alone in that sentiment.

Cesar's 2001 capri pants and hooded sleeveless top does not really say 2001 to us, but it's fine. We aren't fans of the plaid capri pants, although the top is cute.Cesar's fifth look consists of a trapeze shaped piece of hand-painted plaid. It's kind of crazy. We don't love it, but it's heaps more interesting than the 2001 look.

Golnessa's1951 dress is made entirely of the blue plaid, and to us it appears to be a pretty literal interpretation of a Mad Men dress. It's fine, but not exciting.

Jeffrey's 1989 dress is a simple shift dress in blue plaid with a piece of solid blue fabric draped over one half of it. It's somewhat interesting, although it reminds us of all of those crazy dresses Julianne Moore has been wearing lately. And it doesn't really remind us of 1989 either. But we like it the best of the Team Emerald entries.

Cindy's 1965 dress is an exact replica of a Jackie O dress and, as such, it's cute, but absolutely boring.

Despite our opinion that Emerald's collection is a bit boring, the judges decide to award the House of Emerald with their first win. Isaac likes Golnessa's and Jeffrey's designs the best and is also impressed that Cesar has managed to create two looks, but he finally announces that Jeffrey is the winner. We agree that Jeffrey was the best of the Emeralds, but do not agree that Emerald was better than Nami, but there is no arguing with Iman!


The House of Nami's collection is made up of gray, neutral plaids. We much prefer their plaid to Team Emerald and we think overall, that their collection is much more fashion forward.


Dominique's oversized pants and flannel oversized shirt screams 1994, but looks uber modern. Her look is perfect, and, in our opinion, is the best look of the night. She disliked the available plaid (which was a gray and white gingham), so she overlaid the plaid with broader strips of metallic gray chiffon to create bigger plaid panels. Gorge effect, unique, and it makes her outfit look expensive. In our opinion, this week's ensemble cements her place as a front runner in the competition.

David's  jumpsuit with plaid collar, inspired by 1982, in fact, looks very 1982 to us. He says he's inspired by his grandma, and we can tell. There is nothing particularly fashion forward about the look, except maybe in an ironic hipster way. And we appreciate it from that angle. That, however, is lost on the judges who hate it and David is in the bottom two.

Eduardo's cocktail dress with cut outs is inspired by 1976. We're not really getting 1976 out of it, but it's definitely cute and well made.

Rolando's architectural top and a-line skirt are supposedly inspired by 1969. We're not sure how that is, as we're assuming the judges were hoping for something a little more flower power. Plus, his outfit is boring and looks rushed. He's in the bottom two.

Calvin's look from 1957, is a deconstructed Audrey Hepburn costume from Roman Holiday. We actually think it's pretty fab. The judges mostly like it, too, but think it is a bit overdesigned. We would agree his top could have been simplified. Still, we are impressed.

As Rolando and David are in the bottom two, they are required to defend themselves. Rolando says he knows he is capable of being in the competition and has been since day one, whereas David basically has nothing to say when asked why he should stay. His new girlfriend, Dominique, is appalled and basically tells him to man up, at which point Dave, says he loves his design, because he sees his grandma when he looks at it. Fortunately for Dave, his explanation allows him to squeak by and Iman lets Rolando know that he is out of fashion.  Considering the incredible difficulty Rolando has had in completing many of the challenges thus far, we believe the right decision was made this week. 



Stay tuned for next week's episode, which looks pretty great as Real Housewives will be involved...