3The His and Lows of Fashion
4Design Your Heart Out
The designers prepare for another long day. Anna and Janeane try to bond while Jesus thanks the good Lord that he has stuck around for so long. "I feel like I really need to get everything about the last challenge out of my mind," says Jesse, who is still reeling from working with dearly departed Ping. Tim then explains the next challenge: the designers will create a look for a "fashion gala" put on by Campbell's. Red must be a prominent color, which shouldn't be hard since the contestants will be working with Campbell's branded fabric. Finally, the looks will be created for a "very inspiring group of women" -- all of whom have somehow been affected by heart disease. "I'm actually excited to be able to work with a real woman," Mila says. In other words, they're not the usual models.So the designers discuss options with their randomly assigned women -- one of whom died for two minutes. The story makes Jay cry. Jesus is excited because his real woman is "really, really tiny." Amy, meanwhile, is planning a silky, flowing dress. Mila plans to use the star icon prominent on the Campbell's soup can. "I know I have immunity, but that doesn't make me want to win any less," she tells the camera. Anthony's model reminds him of his mother. His own story makes him cry. One trip to Mood later, the designers get cracking. "This is a one-day challenge," Tim warns. "Make it work." Anna, a print maker by trade, is tracing the Campbell's logo onto her dress. Maya is attempting an "abstract" heart look for her model. Anthony notes that many of the designers aren't used to fitting women who aren't working models, which makes the process difficult.Seth, meanwhile, is having problems with his model, who appears to fancy herself something of a designer, too. She wants to go Grecian; he doesn't. Emilio is busy having an epiphany. "You realize there is more in this world than just winning a challenge," he tells the camera. Later, Tim enters to do some mentoring. First up is Jesse's sweetheart-neckline dress with a jacket. Tim likes the jacket, but nothing else. Anna's flowing dress with tracing impresses. "Nice, actually," he gushes. Jesus's cleavage-heavy dress also gets high marks. Amy is lagging behind -- and very concerned with fit. He then notices Seth's reconfigured look. "When did you go Grecian on us?" Tim asks. It's a good question -- and results in Seth deciding to completely start over. Suddenly, it's midnight.The next morning, the contestants are laser focused on the task at hand. Jonathan worries that his creation is more "cougar" than "couture." The models reenter for a final fitting. "What is that?" Emilio asks of Mila's star-spangled creation. "Looks like a cheap flag at the Thanksgiving Day parade." Ouch. One montage of hair and makeup work later, the designers are literally running through the workroom in an attempt to finish on time. But before you can say "make it work," Tim enters to tell them that time has expired. Time to hit the runway! Heidi recounts all the rules that Tim more than adequately explained earlier, then introduces the judges: Michael, Nina and Georgina Chapman. "One of you will be named the winner and one of you will be out," Heidi finishes.The show begins! It's a LOT of red. Nevertheless, the contestants appear more than pleased with themselves. Maya believes her dress has a "feminine quality" as well as an "edgy quality." Anthony, meanwhile, is so excited by his look that he begins to speak in the third person. "Anthony found a way to make this full figured woman look just as classy, confident and polished as the women who are size fours and sixes," he says. Good for Anthony. Jesus feels his fit and construction are "beautiful." Jesse's dress and jacket is a big hit -- if you ask Jesse. Mila thinks her dress went "pow!" Only Anna is openly disappointed by how her flowing garment turned out. Heidi calls the following names: Mila, Maya, Anna, Amy, Jesse and Jesus. "If I have NOT called your name, congratulations," she says. "Your scores have qualified you to move onto the next round." The remainder of the contestants represent the highest and lowest scores.First up is Mila, who receives very high marks for the same dress that Emilio earlier compared to something you might see at a parade. "You just look like, 'Hey, I own this dress,'" Michael tells Mila's model. Jesse's look is "sweet," but doesn't stand out enough, according to Heidi. Jesus's slinky number gets eviscerated. "You basically took a checklist of everything that could turn tacky and combined it into one garment," Michael notes. Says Nina: "Less is more." Amy's dress is deemed "beautiful" by Nina. "It feels very modern, very feminine," the judge comments. Michael calls it "elegant and modern." Janeane's dress gets dinged for being "off." Maya's draping receives positive feedback. Michael, running out of adjectives, calls is "elegant."One judges' confab later, Heidi explains the rules one more time: "One of you will be named the winner and one of you will be out." Maya is ... in. Amy is ... the winner! "It feels really great to finally win a challenge," Amy tells the camera. "It's an adrenaline rush!" Mila is ... in. Jesse is ... in. That leaves Jesus and Anna. After insulting both designers, Heidi tells Anna that she is ... in.So it's goodbye, Jesus. "I'm shocked," he tells the camera. "I'm really, really shocked." We're not, however. See you next week, planet Earth.
5Run for Cover
It's a new day and the contestants struggle to wake up. Anthony is overjoyed not to have finished the bottom three. Mila, meanwhile, notes that no one was particularly happy that she finished in the top two (duh). "Maybe it's about jealousy," she theorizes. "It was kind of big bummer." Time to get over it, though, as Heidi warns that their next challenge will have to be "picture perfect." What can she possibly mean?! Our man Tim is happy to provide more hype: "This challenge is one of the biggest in the history of 'Project Runway." In short, the challenge is to design an outfit to be worn by a celebrity to be on the cover of "Marie Claire." GASPS! OMGs! "It's once in a lifetime," Emilio says.The celebrity, meanwhile, is ... Heidi! More GASPS! More OMGs! Back at Parsons, the designers get to designing. Anthony looks to create a dress that is form-fitting, but not "slutty." Anna sketches a look featuring an "icy" color palette (is that comment on Heidi?). Mila wants her creation to say -- wait for it -- "Mila." One shopping trip to Mood later, Anthony notes that the work room is very quiet -- except for Seth, who makes strange singing noises. Everyone is annoyed. "He needs to bring it down a notch," Emilio tells the camera. Ben, meanwhile, worries that his magenta is looking fuchsia (if we only had a dime ...). Mila notes that Anna and Anthony are using very similar fabrics.Cut to much cutting, sewing, cutting and sewing. Janeane worries that she is going to "screw myself." Anna, who acknowledges "craftsmanship problems," stitches like there's no tomorrow (and there might not be). And what does suddenly cocky Mila have to say? "I really haven't seen great competition in this challenge so far," she tells the camera. Tim enters to do a little mentoring. He worries that Anthony's tight and short turquoise dress might "gimmick it up." Janeane's layered light-blue dress is a risk. "You don't want it to look like clown clothes," Tim notes. Ben's one-piece dress made of metallic leather could go either way, according to the Timster. "Make it work everybody!" he demands.Enter the models for a quick fitting. It reveals that Anna is once again having craftsmanship issues. Mila, in the meantime, is testing the patience of certain designers. "There's something about her that's kind of fake," Jay says. And he's not just talking about her hair color. Sniffs Emilio: "She's a one-note wonder." The next morning, Janeane wonders if she or Anna is worse off. The pair is definitely far behind. Anna rushes to complete her shorts, while Mila thinks Heidi is "going to look amazing in my dress." Ben wonders if "this could be my moment." We'll soon find out as Tim enters and declares work time OVER. Time to hit the runway!Heidi enters. "As you know in fashion, one day you're in and the next day you're out," she says. Perhaps someone could design a new catchphrase Heidi? But we digress. Heidi introduces the judges: Michael, Nina and Joanna Coles, editor of "Marie Claire." The show begins and most of the designers are very, very happy. How happy? "I'm 300-percent happy," Seth estimates. Less confident is Janeane, who notes "issues with bulk." Considering the race for the finish line, however, she is pleased. Jay's "flowy, romantic and sexy" dress makes the designer "proud of myself."Heidi calls the following names: Seth, Jay, Maya, Jesse, Jonathan and Amy. "If I called your name, congratulations," Heidi says. "Your scores have qualified you to move onto the next challenge." The remaining contestants then line up to be judged. Michael and Nina love Ben's approach. "It's a real contender," Joanna says. And she would know. Anna's icy shorts-and-top combo fares, well, horribly. "It's like three ingredients in a dish that leave you feeling slightly nauseous," Joanna says. MEOW! Michael thinks the outfit belongs in a teen magazine. Bigger MEOW! Anthony, on the other hand, gets high marks for his turquoise concoction. "If that's where next spring is going to be, then just beam me there," Joanna gushes.Janeane explains that her outfit was inspired by the sea, which is perfectly reasonable to Joanna if that sea is "polluted with plastic bottles on it." OUCH! And can someone please sign Joanna up for the remainder of the season? Proud Mila is next -- and gets knocked down a peg or two. "That peach comes off like Ace bandage," Michael sniffs. Nina notes that the arrows sewn into the dress appear to be pointing at the model's crotch. Interesting. Emilio's highly detailed red dress is good -- but even better once Michael urges the designer to snip off the shoulder straps.One judges' confab later, the designers are called back onto the runway carpet. Anthony is ... the WINNER! The designer FREAKS OUT! "Thank you soooooooo much!" he exclaims. Ben is ... in. Emilio is ... in. Mila is ... in. That leaves Anna and Janeane, just as the latter predicted. Heidi insults both and then announces the biggest loser. Anna is ... out. She is sanguine. "I know that really amazing things are going to come," she says.
6A Little Bit of Fashion
Anthony, who has finished in the bottom three a few times, rejoices at having won the last challenge. Janeane, meanwhile, laments her poor performance. Emilio decides he is going to "play is safe" this week if at all possible. Heidi then welcomes the contestants to the runway and warns that the week's challenge will include new models who "don't have that much experience." Out come a bunch of little girls! "Oh, crap," Jesse tells the camera. "This is going to be a nightmare." Jonathan, meanwhile, is "scared of children."Cut to Parsons, where the designers begin to sketch out their ideas -- only smaller. Anthony wonders how this is all going to work considering the models don't have any "booties" or "breasts." Yikes. Emilio cautions that the designers shouldn't get too complicated. One shopping trip to Mood later, the cutting and sewing begins. "Children these days are very fashion forward, especially when you're eight," Jay explains. Mila does an A-line dress reminiscent of the 1960s. Seth's checkered black-and-white number is "fun" -- not a boring old "Easter dress."The next morning, Janeane chats with her husband on the phone. She would "die for a hug and a kiss right now." But she isn't going to get it -- not right away, anyway. Not surprisingly, Tim enters with a surprise: "These looks will not be walking the runway today. They'll be walking the runway tomorrow with a corresponding look for your models" (meaning: the ones with booties and breasts). Emilio, who has created a small pink dress, worries that he is "screwed." With 13 hours to go, the contestants wager on how long Anthony can go without yapping. Our favorite flamboyant designers make it all the way to 15 minutes. It's a new record!Tim enters to do some mentoring. He loves Jonathan's yellow dress with white frills. "It's going to be an attention grabber," Tim comments. On to Janeane. "You are really rocking Halloween here," Tim comments on the black-and-orange creation. Seth's complimentary outfits, on the other hands, receive high marks. Overall, Tim is "profoundly wowed." Enter the (tiny) models, who try on their outfits and generally act like little girls with a day off from school. With two hours to go, some designers -- i.e. Emilio -- worry about running out of fabric. "I don't show it, though," he tells the camera. "I never let them see me sweat." One hair and makeup session for the (regular-sized) models later, the contestants continue to bad mouth each other in private. Jonathan, meanwhile, reveals his master plan to "stay safe" until the midway point in the show. Now, he claims, he is going to really start bringing the crazy talent.Later, Heidi welcomes the designers to the runway and introduces the judges: Michael, Nina and American designer Tory Burch. "Let's start the show," she chirps. The little and comparatively big models come out to strut the contestants' stuff. "It was so graphic and fun," Amy says of her VERY designed dress and shorts combo. "It's creative. It's different. And it's inspiring." Seth loves his two dresses. Jonathan describes his models' outfits as a "wow moment." Maya realizes she has taken a risk with her bright yellow palette, but she is also quite proud of it. Janeane knows her look is "simple," but feels her two looks "belong together." Heidi calls the following names: Jay, Amy, Jonathan, Seth, Jesse and Janeane. "If I have not called your name, congratulations," the host says. "Your scores have qualified you to move onto the next round."Jonathan, Amy and Janeane have the lowest scores. They leave the runway for a moment so that the judges can talk to the successful contestants. Jesse explains his impressive dress-and-coat combo. "I think it's adorable," Nina says of the little lady's look. Seth's outfits, which are "all about comfort," receive incredibly high marks. "This jacket is the best-tailored outfit I've seen this season," Michael raves. The responses to Jay's two designs include "chic," "striking" and "cool." The contestants with the lowest scores now re-enter. Janeane's outfit is "too simple," according to Nina. Snips Michael: "The jacket looks like a Home Ec project." Jonathan's frilly look for his adult model looks like "toilet paper in a tornado," according to Michael. Amy's pants are a "train wreck." Heidi calls the explosion of colors "hideous." Ouch.One judges' confab later, Heidi explains that "One of you will be named the winner and one of you will be out." Jesse is ... in. Seth is ... the winner! "My daughter is doing to be so happy," the designer says. Huh? Jay is ... in. Jonathan is ... in. After insulting Amy and Janeane one last time, Heidi tells Amy that she is ... in. That means Janeane is OUT. Looks like she'll be getting that hug and kiss sooner than she thought.
7Hard Wear
With 10 contestants remaining, Emilio declares that "Now is when all the stops have to be pulled out." Mila, in the meantime, finds it "empowering" that she is one of only three women still sewing. Later, Heidi welcomes the designers to the runway with a "Hallo!" She then sends them off to meet Tim and "one of America's favorite designers." Who could it possibly be? It's Michael, who introduces the next challenge: "You are going to be shopping at a hardware store." An accessory is also required. So let's get started!The gang heads to a nearby hardware joint for 35 minutes of searching and buying. Maya is quite excited by the challenge while non-crafty Emilio is not. The first thing pops into Amy's head, in the meantime, is sandpaper. Back at the workroom, Tim instructs them to "make it work." Jay decides to avoid making a dress -- the "easy way out," he says. Maya is making a necklace out of keys. Anthony plans to take something industrial and give it a "soft and airy feel," but worries that the material is starting to control him (rather than the other way around). Tim then enters to do some mentoring. He starts with Mila's "mod-inspired" piece, declaring it "very exciting." Jesse's copper vest, on the other hand, looks "school project." Ouch. Emilio's "intergalactic, macramé, flapper, something" is a big mess (especially because he is running out of material). Anthony's dress is "tortured."Tim is quite impressed with Jay's pants, which are made out of garbage bags. Maya's key necklace is "stunning," but can she make the rest of the outfit work? "If you can pull this off, this would be phenomenal," Tim says. The models enter for fitting -- and Jay's pants don't fit AT ALL. Back to the sewing needle. Emilio is nearly out of washers, so he decides instead to make a bathing suit. An awfully skimpy one, too. The next morning, the contestants immediately begin to sweat. With the clock ticking, Jesse turns to tape instead of needle and thread. Jay's reworked pants are tight, but at least his model can get into them. Then it's time for Emilio's washer bikini. "Not only is it naked, I don't think it's done in a best of taste," Anthony opines to the camera. Too late now, though.Later, Heidi welcomes the contestants to the runway and introduces the judges: Michael, Nina, Isabel Toledo and Stephen Webster. "One of you will be named the winner and one of you will be out," Heidi explains. Let the show begin! Not surprisingly, there is less enthusiasm from the designers than a normal night. Still, Anthony considers his dress "feminine and sexy." Ben likes his own "sense of futurism." Emilio acknowledges that his bikini is an outfit the judges will either love or really, really hate. Show over, Heidi calls out Ben, Jonathan, Amy and Seth. "If I called your name, congratulations, you're scores have qualified you for the next round," she says.Mila is first on the chopping block. Her outfit made out of paint-tray liners is well received. "Bravo indeed," Isabel says. Next up is Emilio. His bikini is deemed "cheesy" by Michael. The other judges more or less agree. Anthony's glowing dress is "boring," according to Nina. Maya's outfit with key necklace is called a complete look by Michael. "You would not think this look came out of a hardware store," Heidi says. And she means it as a compliment. Nina says Jesse's copper-flashing bodice resembles the Tin Man. Stephen likens it to a vacuum bag. Jay's trash-bag pants are called "amazing" and "fantastic." The judges appear truly flabbergasted by its craft and innovation.One judges' confab later, Heidi tells Maya she is ... in. Jay, meanwhile, is the winner! "What you did was truly amazing," Heidi says. "You also have immunity for the next challenge." Mila is ... in. Anthony is ... in. That leaves Jesse and Emilio. "Jesse, your outfit was disappointing and uninspired," Heidi says. "Emilio, your look was pure Vegas showgirl ... it's obvious you struggled with unconventional materials."Jesse is ... out. "I don't think I should be the one who should be going," he tells the camera. "I just didn't see my mine coming this soon." Few do, Jesse. Few do.
8The Elements of Fashion
As the boys struggle to wake up, Emilio describes the last runway show as a "massacre." Mila and Maya, meanwhile, bond. "I don't think there's a hyper competition between us," Mila says. "That may change." Later, the designers meet Tim on a rooftop overlooking Central Park. For this challenge, we're stepping away from man made," Tim says. "We're going back to nature." How so? The contestants will work with one of four themes: earth, air, fire or water. They draw cards and then head back to the workshop.Sketch time! Ben, who pulled "water," immediately thinks of sharks. Emilio, who chose "earth," is drawing an earth-tone strapless dress. Maya, who also chose "water," is musing about Sirens. Jonathan, an "air" man, wants his dress to make it appear as if it is caught in a "swirl of uncontrollable laughter." One shopping trip later, the contestants get to work -- and tensions are high. "Even Anthony has been surprisingly quiet for a change," Maya tells the camera. Later, Tim arrives to do some mentoring.Jonathan's laughter dress is deemed "creative" and "really stunning." Seth's black dress -- New York at night (air) -- "really pushes the envelope, but is believable." Ben's suit, inspired by Great White sharks, more than meets the demands of the theme. Mila (earth) is making a sleeveless top with "fuller pant" look. Tim is confident it will work. Maya's classy design also impresses. "I have every confidence you can pulls this off," Tim says. Not one hot mess in the bunch! Of course, the designers feel differently. Mila thinks that Ben's pants are a disaster. She also misidentifies Anthony's element, which makes him feel like (bleep). Jonathan believes everyone has taken "liberties" with the challenge.The next morning, the designers get back to work. Seth worries that he is pushing things "to the last second." Ben, who misses his boyfriend, considers the challenge "daunting." "I haven't even gotten to the pants yet," he says. Jay, feeling generous, offers to help Ben. Later, the models enter for fittings and stylings -- and the designers reach panic mode. Amy, in particular, has decided to fill a giant neck swirl with hair extensions. Anthony, joking to the camera, suggests Nair. Tim enters and is rather shocked to discover that not a single designer appears to be finished. "Is everyone else as worried as I am?" Tim asks. But it's too late now. Time to head to the runway.Heidi squeaks "Hallo!" before introducing the judges: Nina, Michael and Roland Mouret. The show begins and the designers, previously nervous, are ecstatic! Maya thinks her model looks like water. Emilio thinks his model looks like a hurricane. Emilio LOVES his look (but it's black-and-gray shades don't exactly scream "fire"). Jonathan is perhaps the most impressed with himself. "If you look under 'romance' in the dictionary, you would see this look," he says. Amy's hairy bust look is ... interesting. Afterward, Heidi calls the following names: Jay, Anthony and Emilio. "Congratulations, your scores have qualified you to move onto the next round," she explains. Time to judge the rest!Mila's look is deemed surprisingly ordinary. "It's like another designer suddenly turned up and took over your body," Nina says. Seth's air dress -- in black leather no less! -- gets high marks from all the judges. "You're very true to yourself," Nina says. Maya's water design is called a "perfectly beautiful" dress by Nina, though the judge worries that the designer is too often referential in her work (naturally, Maya disagrees).Now it's Amy's turn. She explains that she wanted to incorporate hair into her design -- a decision that meets with incredulous stares. "It looks like a cat in a baby sling," Heidi says. Quips Michael: "She looks like a barmaid serving her hair." This is TOO easy. Ben's shark-week design is called an "ill-fitting suit" by Michael. Nina calls it "a real mess." Michael comments on the "jock-strap" bottom. Again, too easy. Jonathan's colorful dress impresses, ending the judging process on a high note.One judges' confab later, the contestants reenter. "One of you will be named the winner and one of you will be out," Heidi explains. Seth is ... in. Jonathan is ... the winner! Maya is ... in. Mila is ... in. So it all comes down, not surprisingly, to Amy and Ben. After insulting both designers a few more times, Heidi announces that Amy is ... in. Ben says goodbye to his fellow contestants. "Even though my time is up, I wouldn't have traded it for anything in the world," he says. Adieu, Ben.
9Takin' It to the Streets
The sun rises and Amy worries about having finished in the bottom three last week. "I feel like I've kind of lost myself a little bit," she tells the camera. Maya, meanwhile, notes that everyone has won a challenge except for her. Perhaps this week? The designers then head out to meet Tim, who explains that the contestants will be "using New York City as the point of departure for your design." The four neighborhoods to be explored are: Chinatown, the East Village, the Upper East Side and Harlem. The designers will create a day and night looks -- and be paired up, which thrills exactly no one.Anthony chooses Maya. Amy opts for Jonathan. Emilio picks Seth. Jay, the last team leader, is stuck with Mila -- an arrangement neither is particularly happy about. Jay and Mila choose the East Village. Emilio and Seth pick Harlem. "It's a no brainer, Emilio explains. Amy and Jonathan take the Upper East Side. Anthony and Maya have Chinatown. Time to do some research in the field! Seth and Emilio immediately notice an abundance of denim in Harlem. Anthony and Maya find inspiration in window displays and fire escapes. Amy and Jonathan discover wrought iron and textured brick. Mila and Jay like the graffiti and industrial textures of the East Village. "I just have to get over the fact that I don't like her," Jay tells the camera. Ditto for Mila.One trip to Mood later, the designers returns to the workspace and begin sketching. Emilio is going for a Cotton Club vibe, while Maya demonstrates "control issues." Jonathan and Amy plan to make "about a million pleats." Emilio and Seth try hard to find a "happy medium" between the former's critical eye and the latter's frantic work style. Tim enters to do some mentoring. He is "crazy" about the day-look jacket designed by Emilio and Seth, but less-than-thrilled by the "weak" approach of Anthony and Maya. Jay and Mila are still trying to figure out the details of their two outfits. Tim warns that "someone is going home" -- so make it work! Tim then worries that Amy and Jonathan are running the risk of "over designing."Later, the models enter for fittings. Jay and Mila, meanwhile, continue to bicker -- which doesn't escape the notice of the other designers. "I don't mean to laugh," says a giggling Emilio. "It's not professional." Naturally, the contestants start to panic as midnight approaches. "It's spiraling out of control at this point," Jonathan tells the camera. "We're ******." The next morning, Jonathan wonders if it's even possible to sew as fast as he will need to in order to get everything finished. Mila, meanwhile, believes her outfit looks terrific, but worries that partner Jay's look is "ill fitting." In the meantime, Emilio has taken notice of a nearby oddball outfit. He asks: "What the hell is Jonathan and Amy building in that corner?" We'll soon find out as Tim enters and announces time is up.Cut to the runway, where Heidi introduces the judges: Nina Garcia, Francisco Costa and Molly Sims. "One of you will be named the winner and one of you will be out," she squeaks. The show begins and, not surprisingly, the designers are suddenly VERY pleased with their creations. "I'm so proud of myself," Jay tells the camera. "I think we'll be OK." Mila is also very happy with the "boldness" of her creation. Maya's pleat-heavy outfit receives high marks from Maya. Even doom-and-gloom Jonathan is encouraged. Emilio is confident his team "hit it out of the park on this one."Heidi then calls the following teams: Jay/Mila and Amy/ Jonathan. Those pairings have the lowest scores. But first, the safe designers will be mercilessly judged. Heidi admits to being "in love" with the both the day and night looks from Emilio and Seth. Nina also likes the designs, but advises Seth to cut back on the incessant detailing. Anthony and Maya receive extremely high marks from Nina, who points out the "subtle Pagoda shape" of the night look. Molly prefers the day look. Each pair claims a harmonious partnership.Now the bad news. Amy and Jonathan get dinged by Nina for a lack of polish. Molly agrees. Heidi calls the day look an "eyesore" and the night creation "busy." Jay and Mila fare better -- at least on the Mila's night-time look. The day-time look, on the other hand, is ridiculed for the ill-fitting tank top. Turns out that Mila called it. When asked, Jay says working with Mila was ... "professional." One judges' confab later, the designers are brought back out. "One of you will be named the winner and one of you will be out," Heidi explains. She then quickly declares Emilio and Seth the winners! "We appreciate the maturity of design," Heidi tells the boys. Anthony and Maya are, of course, in.Heidi then declares Anthony and May safe. Mila and Jonathan are also in. That leaves Jay and Amy. Heidi insults each one more time and then announces that Amy is ... out. "Thank you for the opportunity," she tells the judges before beginning to cry. Jonathan also gets weepy. Before leaving, Amy promises to "stay true to myself." Good to hear.
10Hey, That's My Fabric
Only seven remain when dawn breaks. "Losing Amy was really tough," says Jonathan through tears. Anthony, meanwhile, keeps his "eye and my focus on the prize." The contestants then meet Tim and a "special guest" in the workroom. That guest: designer Vivienne Tam, who apparently understands the marriage of fashion and technology. As for the challenge: "You're going to be designing and creating your own textiles," Tim explains. Vivienne gives a quick demo and the contestants begin crafting their own fabric design on fancy, "Star Trek" console-like computer screens. "Amazing!" Seth exclaims.A few minutes of not-too-exciting (at least on TV) computer work later, the group heads to Mood to buy "supplemental fabric." They return to the workroom and get started. Seth is going for "a British take on pop punk." Emilio is doing a jacket, skirt and top. Mila is trying a strapless dress with a v-neck. Her colorful striped look gets low marks from the other designers. Anthony compares the design to Legos. Emilio, meanwhile, is on the verge of panicking. His blue "isn't talking to me." Maya is also concerned about working with patterns -- something fairly alien to her. The mood is lightened by Anthony, though, who talks about Oprah, porn addiction and other scintillating topics.The next morning, the finished fabrics arrive -- much to the delight of the designers. "Oh my God!" says everyone. Of course, some of the contestants don't like the designs of their competitors. "I think Emilio's print is probably one of the worst in the room," Mila says. "Emilio is good at fitting things, but I feel like his taste is questionable." Tim then enters to do some mentoring. He finds Mila's "spring event" dress perplexing. Jonathan's wrap jacket and fitted dress has proportion problems. Emilio's graphic textile -- which spells out his last name -- is all sorts of confusing to Tim. "Tim Gunn comes in and he mocks it," Emilio tells the camera. "But, you know what? I will not listen to Tim whether he likes it or not." Seth's sleek, streamlined look is "fantastic" -- at least in its half-finished shape. Maya worries that she's not a "print type person." Tim advises her to "un-block." Anthony's evening dress, finally, might not be "ambitious enough."The models enter for their initial fitting. Mila's mostly white dress with straps of color doesn't impress Emilio. "I'm baffled by it," he tells the camera. "How can someone call themselves a designer and not be able to work in color?" Mila, meanwhile, calls Anthony's taste into question. Can't we all just get along? The next morning, Maya confesses that she didn't sleep much the night before. Jonathan warns that, "In 'Project Runway' land, anything can happen." So true, Jonathan -- so true. Back in the workroom, the designers struggle to finish and refer to themselves in the third person. "Anthony has a lot to get done today," Anthony says. He then declares that Jonathan's light purple coloring is far too subtle. "Everything is pale as hell," he concludes.Finally, Tim enters to sound the final buzzer. It's runway time. "As you know in fashion, one day you're in -- and the next day, you're out," Heidi squeaks. She then introduces the judges: Michael, Nina and Vivienne Tam. The show begins and -- surprise! -- the contestants LOVE their outfits. "I think my garment has definitely achieved everything I set out for it to achieve," Jonathan opines. Maya finds her "electric" dress "bold and powerful ... I love it." Emilio thinks, "We got this ... my print is spot on." Mila's dress is stiff that her model can barely walk. Still, Mila is, as always, a big fan of Mila.Afterward, Heidi deems Jay safe before telling the remaining six that they represent the highest and lowest scores. Emilio is first on the chopping block. "I have to say, I'm in love with the whole outfit," Heidi gushes. Michael states: "You nailed it." Take THAT, Tim Gunn! Mila's idea was to create something "painterly" -- and Michael promptly dismisses the print as a "Mexican serape gay flag." Heidi calls it "stuck in time." Anthony's dress is confusing to Nina. Vivienne admonishes the designer for not going far enough. Seth's multi-piece look is called "impeccable" by Michael. Nina finds the print jacket "adorable." Maya's print is "brilliant," according to Nina. Still, there is a LOT going on. Michael is "intrigued." Finally, Jonathan's print is referred to as a "dirty table cloth" by Michael. Nina calls the entire outfit a "full on catastrophe." Double ouch.One judges' confab later, the designers are brought back to face the music. Emilio is ... the winner! "This one just showed everyone that I'm a force to be reckoned with," he tells the camera. Seth is ... in. Maya is ... in. Mila is ... in. So it's down to Anthony and Jonathan. After insulting both one more time, Heidi sends Anthony home. "We will miss you," she says. And so will we. "I think that life has taught us that you don't have to have the crown to be the queen," Anthony tells the camera.
11Sew Much Pressure
Only six contestants remain as alarm clocks sound. Emilio and Seth lament the absence of Anthony. Sure, it's quieter, but it's also a lot less fun. Mila, meanwhile, notes that the judges were particularly harsh during the last runway show. "And so I'm stressed out," she says. "But I think my age and experience have taught me to brush myself off and move on." The contestants then head down to the runway, where Heidi explains that they'll design a red-carpet look for a "difficult" celebrity.And that "picky, opinionated" celeb? None other than ... Heidi. So the sketching begins -- and the music tells us something is wrong. Maya has gone missing! Where is she?A short time later, Maya and Tim enter the workroom. "I've decided to leave the competition," Maya tells the room. "I just feel like I'm really not ready to go all the way yet." Huh? "I'm feeling that I'm not fully developed as a designer yet," she tells the camera. "I don't want to put myself out there when I'm not completely ready to." Works like "perplexed" and "baffled" are bandied about. Emilio calls it a "cop out." "Quitters never win," he tells the camera. Seth, on the other hand, tells us "not to judge" because we have no idea how hard it is to compete on a reality show for18 hours each day.Tim then drops ANOTHER bomb: to make the field an even six again, a previously ousted designer will return. So welcome back Anthony. "Who wouldn't want Anthony back?" Anthony asks. No one in the workroom as there are hugs all around. But wait! The drama isn't over as Tim asks Seth to talk to him outside the workroom. Turns out Seth's model has been offered a job on runway day, so he'll have to work with someone new. That someone has a different shape, though, so adjustments to his tight-fitting, black number will have to be made. Montage time! The contestants cut, sew, etc.Later, Heidi and Tim enter to take a look at the outfits. She first stops by Seth's workplace. "I feel that something has to be a little bit more somewhere," Heidi advises. "You have to have some sort of showstopper." Wha? Next up is Anthony, whose black-and-white dress gets decent marks. Emilio's floor-length look shows promise, but will be "difficult" to pull off. Jay's ruffled dress makes Heidi worry that it might make her look bigger than she actually is. Mila's multi-fabric might be on the simple side. Jonathan's fabric, according to Heidi, resembles "curtains." The designer then does a dead-on Heidi impersonation and complains that following her suggestions would take a full week.The models enter and Seth tries to figure out how to make his dress work for an unfamiliar body. With the clock ticking, the designers throw it into overdrive. "It's insanity in here," Jonathan says. He then decides that his dress is horrifying -- and begins the draping process all over again. The next morning, an exhausted Anthony also decides to redesign the front of his dress. Jay worries that his "intricate and tricky" bodice might be a too intricate and tricky. In the end, though, they all opt to "make it work."Runway time! "As you know in fashion, one day you're in and the next day you're out ... and then maybe the next day you're in again," Heidi squeaks. Anthony giggles. The host then introduces the judges: Michael, Nina and "surprise guest" Jessica Alba. The show begins and -- shocker! -- the designers approve of their own looks. Jay notes that he has a thing about "exaggerating" certain areas of the female anatomy. "I guess I like big butts," he tells the camera. But will Heidi? Anthony finds his gown "absolutely beautiful." Emilio unleashes a string of superlatives to describe his sparkly creation.Judgment time. Michael sniffs at Seth's dress, saying: "This would be the girl who actually came out and carried the statue when you won, but this isn't the winner." Jessica doesn't think the look is for Heidi. Heidi herself finds it lacking in sex appeal. Anthony's dress gets high marks from Heidi. Jessica calls it "eloquent." "I think you're finally in your zone," Michael says. Mila's bust-revealing dress with "modern lines" is a bit too revealing for Jessica. Heidi doesn't feel it is a "showstopper." Emilio's evening gown is deemed "impeccable" by Michael. Says Jessica: "It fits like a glove." Jay's strapless dress with rear-end ruffles gets slammed by Michael and Nina. "She looks wide," Nina says. Jonathan's thrice-revamped dress looks "rushed," according to Michael.One judges' confab later, Heidi declares Emilio and Anthony the winners! Seth is ... in. Mila is ... in. So it's down to Jay and Jonathan. After insulting both contestants one more time, Heidi declares Jay safe. So it's goodbye, Johnny-boy. "I wish I could lie and say that I'm more surprised," he tells the camera. He also notes that he "kicked a little ass" in previous challenges.
12The Big, Top Designers
Morning comes to New York and our five remaining designers greet the day. "Pinch me," Anthony asks Seth. So he does. Mila, meanwhile, notes that the "stakes are higher than ever right now." You think? Cut to Parsons, where Heidi welcomes the designers with a "hallo!" "This challenge will decide who goes to fashion week," she says. The contestants then meet Tim at the Coney Island circus. He explains that the challenge will be to create "a high-end runway look inspired by the circus." The five then sit down to watch the circus performers. Jay enjoys the topless guys. "They had such amazing bodies," he tells the camera. Seth, in the meantime, likes those "funny-ass clowns."When the show ends, the designers begin to sketch. Mila plans to model her outfit -- a coat, blouse and pants -- on the ringmaster. Anthony prefers the blue, sparking look of the trapeze artist. Jay likes the idea of "how exaggerated" the clowns look. The trick, of course, is not to create an actual circus outfit. One trip to Mood later, Anthony notices that everyone else has black and white, stripes and polka dots. He hopes his different color scheme and look will stand out in a good way. Mila, meanwhile, comments that Emilio's ego has become to bloated. "Enough is enough," she tells the camera.Tim enters to do some mentoring. He finds Seth's "extravagant" long coat with top hat to be a borderline costume. In short, Seth can be extravagant, but he also better be careful. Emilio's complex look lacks color, according to Tim. Emilio insists that he has used color all through the contest (he has) and that Tim is wrong in describing his last challenge-winning dress as "somber" (it wasn't). "I'm confident that this is going to be a showstopper," Emilio tells Tim. Naturally, the statement makes Mila's blood boil. Next, Anthony expresses concern that his dress might be too different from the others. "Let your viscera rule," Tim advises. Good advice. He then advises Mila to ditch the ivory in her look, but keep everything else. Jay's clown-inspired look with oversized pants gets a passing grade -- especially after the designer says he wants his look to be "badass."The next morning, the designers continue to sew, cut, etc. Anthony appears to be falling behind while the others buckle down. One model fitting later, Anthony feels better, telling the camera that he feels as if there are "a lot of costumes in the room." Mila thinks Jay's coat looks "a little Michael Jackson." Seth, meanwhile, is feeling the pressure of a bad review from Tim -- his first since the season started. But what can Seth can do other than "make it work?" After a final model fitting, Anthony has some major revisions to do. Mila tells the camera that she thinks Jay or Anthony should go home (or both). Jay returns the favor by admitting that he dislikes Mila "as a person" -- and doesn't particularly care for her creations either. We'll see who the judges side with.Heidi greets the contestants on the runway. "There are five of you here, but only three of you will go to Fashion Week," she explains. Heidi then introduces the judges: Nina, Michael and Cynthia Rowley. The show begins. Naturally, the designers gush over their outfits. "It's totally Mila," Mila says of Mila's look. Anthony loves his blue dress -- but does it say "circus?" Afterward, Heidi and the gang start with Seth, whose sense of "drama and fantasy" get high marks. The pants and giant jacket is also called "interesting" by Cynthia. Nina thinks Anthony's dress is "poorly made." Michael is so horrified by the choice of fabric that the gets up out of his chair to feel it. "Polyester!" Heidi screams. Anthony's model looks FURIOUS. Jay's military style outfit is "beautifully made," according to Nina. Mila's pants-jacket combo is deemed "dramatic and impactful" by Michael. Nina and Cynthia don't like it nearly as much. Emilio's dress is called "genius" by Cynthia. Michael calls it his "favorite of the season."When asked which two designers should go with him to fashion week, Seth names Emilio and Jay. Jay, in tears, chooses Seth and Anthony. Mila picks Emilio and Seth. Emilio prefers Seth and Mila. Anthony goes for Emilio and Jay.One judges' confab later, Heidi declares Emilio the winner. Seth will also be heading to Bryant Park. Anthony is ... out (again). So it comes down to Mila and Jay. And the third designer will be ... Mila and Jay. Come again? Heidi explains that the pair will compete for the third spot after their collections are completed. So it's a real Final Four.
13Finale: Part One
We open the penultimate episode of the season with the contestants packing up to leave New York -- for now. "I have to make sure that I beat Jay," Mila observes. Meanwhile, Jay finds the idea of being in the final four "mindboggling." Big group hug.THREE MONTHS LATER.Tim arrives in Vancouver, Washington to visit Seth. The designer has already done 15 outfits -- and plans to bring 20 to Fashion Week. It's a first for the series as far as Tim is concerned. Unfortunately, lmost all of Seth's outfits are black and leather looking -- and quite familiar. "If you want to win this, you have to stretch," Tim says. "There's not surprise here." He then suggests that Seth "re-conceptualize" the entire collection! Seth is listening, but not entirely pleased. We then meet Seth's wife, kids and step parents. They play a game of Pictionary and then get Tim to jump (more like fall over) on the trampoline out back. "To see him interact with my kids? Man, that was awesome," Seth tells the camera. Now it's back to work.Next visit: Emilio in New York. Tim meets Emilio's two brothers and learns that the trio grew up in the Bronx in the 1970s. He was inspired by the vibrant colors, which extends to his collection. Emilio predicts many grays and blacks at Fashion Week and has decided to stand out from the crowd. Tim is hesitant. He thinks some of the finer, time-consuming details will be lost on the runway. He also calls the clothes "old." Of course, Emilio immediately begins to argue. "I don't know if this is worth your time, but you do what you want to do," an exasperated Tim says. Emilio tells the camera: "I'm creating a collection from women and, as far as I know, Tim doesn't wear women's clothing."Tim then heads to Los Angeles, where Mila lives with her dog. Her collection is largely black and white, but Tim appears to like what he sees -- for the most part. Some of the clothes look "conservative" and "matronly." "I don't want to lose to that little BLEEP," Mila tells the camera in reference to Jay. Tim then meets mom, dad and boyfriend before heading back out into the rain. Cut to San Francisco, where Jay's apartment is filled with clothing inspired by the Japanese samurai. Tim absolutely loves many aspects of the pieces, but some of the gimmicky parts strike him as "student work." Nevertheless, Jay is confident. "I don't have to worry about Mila," he tells the camera. "I know I'm going to beat her." Tim then meets the parents, who are preparing a huge Filipino feast.With one week to go before Fashion Week, Mila and Jay return to New York to compete for the final spot. It's awkward between the two, who have no one else to talk to. "I'm really not such a bad guy," Mila tells her competitor. Later, Emilio and Seth show up. Emilio tells the camera that he did indeed change his collection after Tim's visit, as did Seth. Tim soon enters with stakes. "Only three of you will be in the suite all week," he says. The next morning, the designers head to their new work room. Jay and Mila have three hours to get ready for the deciding show. It's chaos! "I see Jay's looks out of the corner of my eye and he's got color -- not good for me," Mila worries. Jay just cries.Runway time! Heidi announces the judges: Michael and Nina. The show begins with Mila, whose collection has "a few surprises thrown in there ... there's the Mila we know and love and there's something that we didn't expect from here." Jay, on the other hand, adores his own innovations. "They're just so fresh, so new," he gushes. Time for judging. Heidi likes Mila's three pieces. "I would want to wear all of these pieces," she says. Michael notices the "60s vibe," but wonders if they're too retro. Nina also wants to see Mila push more toward the modern side. Moving on to Jay, Michael loves all the "pleating and seaming." Nina is also impressed by the tailoring, but thinks some of those innovations are "a lot." "You have to edit down," Nina says.During the judges' confab, Michael sides with Jay. Heidi sides with Mila. Nina is "on the fence." Says Michael: "It's a tough one, guys." The designers come back out to hear the final judgment. "One of you will be showing at Fashion Week and one of you will be out," Heidi explains. Mila is ... IN. "Thank you so, so much," she says. "This means the world to me!" Jay also thanks the judges, but fights back tears.
14Finale: Part Two
Emilio, Seth and Mila enter the work room to organize their final collections. "I'm so close, I can taste it," Emilio tells the Camera. Mila, meanwhile, sees Seth's collection as a "glamorous Hot Topic." She then takes a peak at Emilio's outfits and decides that she is "in a boutique in Harlem in 1994." Ouch.Tim enters to do some last-minute mentoring. He is shocked to learn that Seth has created 24 different looks -- even tough only 10 are required. Seth explains that he wants to judges to know he has taken it to the proverbial "next level." Next up is Emilio, who admits that the last time Tim critiqued him, the conversation didn't go well. "Sometimes what Tim thinks and what the judges think are two different things," the designer explains. Finally, Tim looks at Mila's predominantly black outfits. He encourages Mila to "rough" it up. "Designers, I am so thrilled for you," Tim tells the group.Next up is "model casting," during which the contestants pick the ladies who will strut down the runway in the specially designed duds. Mila wants hard-edged models. Emilio looks for a multicultural mix that represents the "world." A few hair-and-makeup sessions later, the chosen models arrive for fittings. "When you actually put a girl in a garment and she walks, everything changes, he says. "There are some pieces I designed that aren't working." With 30 minutes to go before the end of the day, the designers scramble to get as much done as possible before closing up shop for the night.And it's a short night. The designers wake up before 3 a.m. to prepare for the final day. They enter the tent at Bryant Park. "Now it's sinking in," Seth tells the camera. The three designers walk the long, white runway before heading backstage to work. A few hours later, three of Mila's models have yet to arrive. Emilio, in the meantime, is missing one. Tim advises the pair to pick out alternates, which means more last-minute nipping and tucking. The fully dressed models eventually lineup. "I am amped!" Seth exclaims.Heidi then takes the runway and introduces the judges to the crowd: Michael, Nina and Faith Hill. "OK, let's start the show!" Heidi squeaks. The first to enter is a very nervous Seth, who thanks his family. "My collection was inspired by 1940s German and Russian military," he explains. The models emerge wearing occasionally colorful looks set off by shiny black materials and leather boots. When it's all over, Seth takes a bow. Mila, meanwhile, is busy getting emotional backstage. She has just come so far!Well, Mila manages to pull herself together long enough to explain to the audience that her collection was inspired by "shadows." She then gives a "shout out" to her parents. The show begins and a parade of predominantly black-and-white clad women emerge. "I've tried to represent who I am as a designer, but also surprise the judges," Mila tells the camera. "I've put my soul into this and I hope it shows." Afterward, Mila bows -- and gives way to Emilio, who explains his collection is entitled "Color Me Bad." The outfits are indeed very colorful. "I thought my collection was an amazing mix of wearable clothing that's also exciting to look at," Emilio tells the camera. Will the judges agree?Back at Parsons, the judges convene. "They all have a distinctive point of view and I was really kind of blown away by it," Michael says. The contestants then emerge along with their models. Seth goes first, explaining his inspiration once again. Michael is very impressed as is Nina. "I love that silk, black and white, sort of parachute dress," she says. "And I love the combination of the polka dot, tweed and stripe." None of the judges like Seth's outlandish purple dress, on the other hand, isn't a judges' favorite.Emilio is next. Faith Hill was "blown away" by the collection. Michael observes that Emilio's outfits were the "most commercial" of the bunch -- not necessarily a bad thing. He gushes over Emilio's flowing gown, but thinks it lacked consistency with the other "day-time sports wear" looks. Nina felt the collection was "quiet, but sophisticated." She would've liked to have seen more "feminine" items like the gown. Mila goes last. Heidi appreciates the changes Mila made to hair and makeup. "You took it out of the 60s and made it look totally contemporary," Michael says. "I love the shiny, sequined skirt ... whenever you played with shine, it turned me on." Nina loves the leggings.One judges' confab later, the designers are called back onto the runway for the last time. Heidi tells Seth that he "maintained his signature style," but warns against knowing the line between chic and "costumey." She tells Emilio that his "point of view has a real place in fashion" -- even if the judges wanted a bit more glamour. Heidi then tells Mila that she proved she could put a unique spin on the "60s aesthetic," though it would have been nice if the designer stepped further out of her comfort zone. And so ...Mila is ... out.Emilio is ... out.Congrats, Seth! "You are the winner of 'Project Runway!'" Heidi exclaims. Emilio quotes dearly departed Anthony is saying, "You don't have to wear the crown to be the king." Seth, meanwhile, is overwhelmed. His family emerges and many hugs are shared. "I'm ready to start a large clothing line," Seth tells the camera. "I'm ready to conquer the fashion industry, if you will." Until next season, world.
