The DRAMAH Continues - Project Runway, No Spoilers

I don't consider the resolution of last week's cliff hanger end to be a spoiler because it's really the fashion that we're all there for - the winners and the losers. Since last week was left unresolved because of Michael walking off the Runway when Claire won the "Woman on the Go" challenge, this week started with the continuation of that dramatic moment and the final decision of the judges. 

Don't want to know? Don't read any farther until tomorrow when I'll wrap up this episode with the winner, loser and top/bottom six designs. Now ... continuing ... 



Last week I speculated about the winner becoming the loser. It wasn't the fact that Claire copied a design, made an initial design that mimicked Margarita's winning dress from the previous week, or anything that any designer put onto the runway. It was a rule that had been broken. So, despite the fact that Claire had designed the winning print and a great outfit, her win was stripped from her and she was sent home because she broke two rules.  (1) She had a tape measure outside of the workroom, and (2) she drew and measured something she already owned and wrote down the measurements outside of the workroom. Claire admitted that she had measured and drawn a tank top and the crotch of a pair of pants in the apartment with a tape measure that she had there. That was explicitly against the rules that each contestant agrees to when accepted as a participant in the contest. So stupid! Project Runway has one of the more amazing payouts and prizes of any reality show and she blew her chances because of a tape measure and (my opinion only ...) some basic insecurities in her own skill levels. 

Breaking the rules has consequences. Claire Buitendorp became the second
contestant in the show's history to be sent home, the first being Keith
Michael in season 3. 

Claire was the equivalent of Britain's "Nine Day Queen". She won, and then lost, within the same challenge, probably within the same two hour period. No one was declared a winner, but Batani, who had been "sent home" was kept on instead. Who won the Dixie cup print challenge? Dixie was allowed to choose their own winner, and they chose Brandon's linear pink and black on white design. 

Then, after the remaining contestants expressed their remorse about Claire's situation and how it had been disclosed to the judges and staff, the next challenge began by linking the designers with a group of kids and lots of toys. Shopkins, the sponsor for the episode, brought in some superfans to give input to each designer, and describe their favorite character and what they would want in a design for a new character to add to the product line. Fortunately it was an avant-garde challenge, so some "way out there" stuff was mandated. 

The superfans averaged six to eight years old and their designs ideas ranged from "glitter, glitter, and more glitter," to "chocolate, more chocolate, and put on even more chocolate," to "disco". This challenge will live up to its name - the designs will run the gamut of structure, embellishments, shine and ruffles. But would the off-kilter designs work on the models and walk well down the Runway? The designs would be worn by the usual Project Runway models, but the design inspirations were by a six-year-old girls and were based on dolls. Anything goes! 

The workroom attitude was totally different - it was relaxed now, a give and take between the designers. There was banter. There was laughter. All of the interactions that usually are in the workroom but had been missing over the past few weeks now had arrived; and even though people were having a hard time with the challenge, the friendship was back. IMO, getting rid of the Terrible Twins in a one-two punch was the BEST thing to happen to the Project Runway workshop this season. 

Brandon, Amy and Batani weren't happy with their designs, Kenya, Kentaro, Margarita, Michael and Ayana were delighted with the boundaries they pushed to make something over the top that was influenced by their young clients and their favorite dolls. Everybody struggled somewhat to make something just that little bit over the edge. There were some really fun designs walking the Runway this week! 

Tomorrow I'll review the winners, losers and discuss who went home. Today I'll be hitting the pool and then running to the shop - lots of stuff to try and get done before I have to open the doors. I'm starting to really get somewhere with this year's holiday cards. Watch out - I'll be calling for addresses when we're a little closer to Halloween.