Project Runway, Episode 5: Wedding Stress

To recap Episode 4: The designers' challenge was to create a new look for an up and coming Rock Star. Kevin was the winner, receiving immunity from elimination in the next challenge. Vanessa was the loser, and was sent home. Eight designers and nine models remain.

The designers are competing for a layout in Elle magazine, a Mentorship with the Design Team of Banana Republic, and $100,000 to create their own fashion line. The final three designers will win a spot in Olympus Fashion Week. The models are also competing to win their own layout in Elle. Supermodel Heidi Klum hosts, with Tim Gunn, Head Designer of the Parsons School of Design, as her sidekick.

At the Atlas Apartments, home of the designers, the show starts with Austin in his flannel jammies, making his bed. He feels stabbed in the back by fellow designer, Wendy, and is still feeling the pain. "What she said was complete BS" Wendy notes that her relationship with Austin appears to have suffered. Nora admits her emotional upset of last week, but feels she deserves to be there as she has worked her butt off. Getting competitive is what Jay is doing! "I want to win this (cough) 'monkey feather!'" (No, he didn't say monkey feather, heh heh.)

The designers meet up with Heidi, sporting a top lacing, brown dress, at the Parson's Runway. Breaking tradition, she decides the models will be picked before she shares this week's challenge. As Kevin was the winner of last week's competition, he gets first choice. Kevin snatches up favorite Olga, Kara wants Jennie, Robert likes Martinique, Julia goes to Austin, Jay chooses "Morganza," Wendy grabs up Joy, Erin goes with Alexandra, which leaves Nora to pick between Audrey and Melissa. The model not picked will go home. Nora selects Melissa. Da… da… daaaaaa… Leaving Audrey to return to high school. Seventeen-year-old Audrey takes it well saying, "Everything happens for a reason."

Back at the runway, Heidi tells the group that designing is all about the designer-client relationship. She hums "Here Comes the Bride," and announces that the models will be the designers' clients. The challenge is for the designers to create the wedding dress of their models' dreams, whether it be a classic white gown or a red mini dress. Kara is very glad she picked model Jennie, as she isn't high strung or into drama. Heidi then says, "I hope you have been good to them (the models). Now, they're in charge." I am thinking Jay is starting to "sweat balls" again for this challenge! Regarding his choice, he shares, "Morganza is difficult, dramatic, moody and crazy, BUT she walks great! If I had known the challenge, I would have picked a different model." The designers are told they have a half-hour to meet with their model, and two days to complete the challenge.

At the workroom, Tim gives the designers a pep talk. "I hope each of you is confident about bringing your design philosophy to the challenge and not completely advocating creative thinking to the models. You want to win this! If you're feeling uneasy about bringing your design to the runway, don't do it. You do not want your design to end up in the fashion cemetery. (Here the camera pans to all the dress wrecks of the departed designers, and I note Austin's billowy dress from last week is keeping them company) I hear the stomping of feet and the humming of the bridal tune, as the models march in to make their wedding gown demands.

Attacking Jay is Morgan, who wants a Versace dress like the one Cameron Diaz wore in the first Charlie's Angels movie that Jay has no memory of. She grabs a pencil to start sketching it out. Morgan shares "this is the best… ummm... whatever… you know… challenge (that's it) ever!" Alexandra tells Erin she is going to draw a bunch of designs, and Erin can pick what she likes best. Erin says she loves everything Alexandra designs, and thinks this is a wonderful idea. Robert wants to make his client feel beautiful on the most important day of her life. "It's my job to do that." Julia shares her favorite colors and ideas with Austin. She loves silver gray and leopard. (I think Robert should be her designer) Austin peeks over his glasses with a nod and an "ohhhhhh kay."

Sixteen-year-old Melissa has dreamed of her wedding dress since she was a little girl. Since Rose is her middle name, she wants Nora to incorporate lots of roses into her design. Nora is calling this "cheesy" and "princess-y", but isn't discouraging Melissa's vision. Olga, our Russian beauty, tells Kevin she wants lots of diamonds on the "car seat" of this dress. After a moment, he realizes she means corset, and let's her know this can be accomplished. She shares with the camera, "I am going to make him work. I am cracking the whip!" According to Jay, Morgan sees herself in a see through tank dress, for the beach, with flip-flops and dirty hair. (Sounds delightful!) Jay has premonitions of his elimination after this challenge, as Morgan delights in calling him her b*tch. "She's sabotaging me," says Jay. "The girls are clueless and just want to look like Disney characters!"

Tim takes the designers to the "Mood" to shop for fabrics and accessories. Each designer is given $300 and 45 minutes to complete this task. Tim, as normal, gives his weekly, "Go for it! Make-it-work" spiel. Austin, knowing his model wants leopard, finds a teal patterned fabric Julia is sure to love. Alexandra needs lots of yardage; Robert dives into the lace, while Jay fondles the sequins. Nora has found a bin of fake roses guaranteed to please Melissa. Tim instructs the designers to wrap it up, and to get in line to pay. Time's up!

Back at the studio, Austin drapes silver chains over a mannequin and wishes they had more time to finish their designs properly. Jay tries to talk to Morgan via cell phone, but the gal can't keep her mouth shut, and he can't get in a word! Poor Jay is hating this project. He says maybe he should sabotage HER, and make a rose design like Nora's! Laughing, Nora reminds him that this is NOT her design, calling it Miss Pageant U.S.A.