Episode 2: "Larger than Life"

This season just gets better and better with each episode! This week's episode had a BIG challenge and lots of twists! Here's the Rundown:

The Challenge:

This week the Guest Judge was Joanna Coles, the Editor in Chief of Marie Claire magazine.

The designers were assigned to create a look that embodied the Marie Claire woman. The winner of the challenge would have their look featured in a giant billboard in the middle of Times Square! Ms. Coles told the designers that the Marie Claire woman was fun, sexy and fashion forward; the design needed to tell the world who was a Marie Claire woman.

The Workroom:

The designers rushed off to the workroom to sketch and brainstorm. Then it was off to Mood with Tim Gunn for fabric. Peach seemed a bit lost at Mood and it escalated in the workroom when Tim started to make his rounds.

Peach ultimately decides to scrap her first dress...and her second dress...

Another designer that Tim was worried about with Jason. I am seriously doubting his aesthetic right now. His fabric is a metallic satin and some sort of skeezy bedspread you would find in a 40 yr old bachelor pad. (But don't worry--his design gets MUCH worse).

Casanova did a complete 180! He even said himself that he went from "prostitute to nun" this week. Tim was worried it was too matronly. Casanova pretended he didn't understand what Tim was saying. Nicholas stated that Casanova is playing the judges and he speaks perfect English in the workroom without Tim there.

Nicholas' top looked suspiciously like the back of Gretchen's dress (which won last week)--Gretchen pointed out. Look:

Interesting, but I don't think Gretchen has anything to be worried about...

Twist #1:

Tim enters the room once more and announces the first twist--their design was going to a photoshoot BEFORE the runway. Many of the designers groaned knowing that their morning before time would be cut. However I really don't think anyone was really behind schedule.

The Photoshoot:

During the photoshoot, it seems that all of the flaws were unravelling. Jason didn't finish his design and decided to hold it together with...safety pins. He used staples last week and now safety pins? I am really starting to think he can't sew at all! Jason also chose the WORST picture for his dress, showcasing the hole in the middle of the garment.

I also think Peach has given up at this point. Her model couldn't exactly model. Even the photographer noted that her model was very flat.

Runway Show:

Again a lot of designers, a lot of garments. My favorites were: AJ, Andy, Michael C, Casanova, Christopher, Gretchen, Sarah (her dress was Clemson colors!) and Valerie. My not so favorites were: April, Michael D (I really can't stand him), Nicholas, Peach, Jason and Kristin.

Judges Weigh In:

This week there was an actual top 3/bottom 3.

Top 3: I really liked all of the top designs this week. I wouldn't have minded any of them winning. I would have been happy with any of the designs on the billboard.

Valerie: The judges raved about her red trench dress. The loved that it was sexy yet not vulgar. Joanna loved the red, commenting that it was powerful and sexy; and said that it would be a perfect color for a billboard.

Gretchen: Heidi really loved the opening on the front of the jumpsuit, how it could open up more for a sexy night time look. Michael Kors stated that she was a "modern woman from head to toe." Nina Garcia loved that it had no season, no age and a modern aesthetic. I wish I was model skinny to pull this look off haha.

Mondo: He went from not having any confidence to being in the top 3! The judges loved that the garment had great spirit. They also loved the photo stating that it was "wimsical." Michael Kors commented on his use of tweed "in a cute way."

Bottom 3

Peach: Oh my goodness. This whole episode has been a train wreck for Peach. Michael Kors told her that it looked like an "amish cocktail dress." The judges called her styling matronly and said it looked too much like ladies out to lunch. (Which is EXACTLY what Peach stated was her aesthetic in the opening of last week's premier)

Jason: Too many excuses. The judges called him out on the safety pins in the picture. Joanna commented that it was "unsexy" and even questioned if he's ever talked to a woman before. After judging, Jason blamed his model and the fact that the judges didn't get his "infinity, 8" idea for getting him into the bottom 3. Man up, your outfit was AWFUL!

Nicholas: He seemed a little lost puppy when he was called for the bottom 3. The judges explained that there were too many things, too many details going on in his outfit. They hated the cape, they hated the back of the blouse and just thought it was just plain unsexy. Later in deliberation, they felt he might have been too ambitious in making so many pieces because each one of them had SOMETHING wrong with it.

Results:

Winner: Gretchen! She got the chance for her design to be out on a huge billboard in Times Square! Check out my page "Winners' Circle" to see her actual billboard!

Who Went Home: Jason...and for Twist #2: the judges also sent Nicholas home as well.

So tune in next week for the "unconventional challenge"! Where it looks like they'll have to make an outfit out of party supplies? I love these ones. Some people can get really creative and some people...will of course be "out."

Project Runway on Lifetime @ 9pm Eastern and if you miss out--you can always get the synopsis here at the Runway Rundown!