Project Runway, Episode 2: Green With Envy

To recap Episode 1: The designers’ assignment was to create a dress out of supermarket finds. “Innovation” was the word of the day. Austin was the “winner,” getting immunity on the next challenge, Daniel, the loser, and was sent home. Starr and Wendy were also chastised for their lack of substance in their design. Now, we are down to eleven designers and twelve models.

The eleven designers left 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 twelve models are also competing for their own spread in Elle. Supermodel Heidi Klum hosts, with Tim Gunn, from the Parsons School of Design, as her sidekick.

The show opens at the Atlas Apartments, with varying reactions from the group. While not exactly mourning the loss of Daniel, Jay has a “hey buddy, I hardly knew ya” attitude towards the ousted designer as Mario laughs about Daniel's "jazz fingers." Starr continues to mope about her reasons for being, while Austin irons his pants and contemplates his next win.

At the runway, Heidi makes her entrance and asks the designers, “Are you ready for your next challenge?” She tells them that this challenge is all about “VISION.” Everyone will start from the same page; plain white cotton, the official fabric of Project Runway. Each contestant is to start off with a bolt of cotton. Guiding their inspiration will be the word “ENVY” and their creation should reflect this theme. Heidi says it’s time for the designers to pick their models, and reminds them to pick correctly, as they will be showcasing their designs. The model not picked will go home.

As winner of the last competition, Austin will have the first choice of models. He chooses the lovely Martinique, who is thrilled to be picked by last week’s numero uno designer. Mario’s choice is Olga, followed by Robert who chooses Melissa. Wendy grabs up Erin, Nora chooses Joy, Starr wants Audrey, Vanessa picks Morgan, Kevin selects Jenny, then… da… da… daaaaa there are two models standing with only one designer left!

Either Josieane or Mary will get eliminated. (To me this is an easy pick, as I was never much impressed with Mary.) Drum roll please... the model Kara picks is the super gorgeous Josieane!! That said, Mary must leave the runway and go back to wherever she came from. Of course the models all cry and hug her, wishing her well (but deep down we all know that they are all glad she is OUT and they are NOT.)

Back at the Parsons School of Design, Tim welcomes the designers to their second challenge. Bolts of white cotton are strung throughout the workroom. The fabric is their blank canvas. Linda DeFranco, the director of trend forecasting is introduced and gives a pep talk on cotton, the fabric of our lives. (Somewhere Aaron Nevill is lovin' this!) Wendy, in her always-irritating fashion, plays den mother to the designers, doling out the fabric. Tim reminds them that they will have until midnight to work on their creations, along with two hours the following day.

On a field trip to pick up their design accessories they go! Each designer is given fifty dollars to get everything they need to complete their project. Ribbons, buttons, bindings, dyes, they can get whatever type of bauble they need to create a cotton ENVY design. Upon return from their shopping trip, tension picks up between the contestants on this task. Paranoia is creeping in. Kevin is sure someone stole his dye. Jay is defensive, and Wendy annoys ME playing her fake mom role. Mario and Jay have a smoke together; Wendy finds Kevin’s dye (probably right where he left it), and Kevin apologizes to Jay. (Dontcha just love happy endings?)

Vanessa decides her vision of envy will revolve around pregnancy. Austin goes with the Evil Queen from Snow White (we all have a little evil queen in all of us... hahahahaha), wanting his gown to be long, sleek and severe. Nora is choosing body envy, and feels good that she placed so well in the last competition. Model envy is Jay’s choice of design. He will design a jump suit with hand written messages making it a social commentary about how models feel about themselves. Mario is working on a simple, white tube dress, with black sashing and red accents (another model envy theme). He says he won’t dwell on it (the assignment I am guessing), and that people are too serious about fashion. Poor, pathetic Wendy struggles with envy every day. She tells Nora she is envious of her, and that this competition is her last chance. YAWN.

Tim shows up to wander around and check on the designers. Tara explains that she comes from a military family and that she wanted to incorporate this into her design. She equates envy with destruction, which leads to war. Very good, Tara! Tim reminds the designers they only have an hour and a half tonight and two hours tomorrow to complete their creations. Austin is sewing like a mad man and wounds himself in the process. Nora hurts her finger. Starr screams in frustration. Jay lifts his glass looking for a drink and time is now up.

Back at the apartment, Wendy is sitting and reading in the laundry room, as Vanessa enters. Of course the designers are frustrated, and Wendy attempts to pull Vanessa’s woes out of her. Vanessa, seeing through Wendy’s fake mom stuff says, “Don’t interview me in front of the cameras.” To which Wendy does the turn-it-around-on-Vanessa-thing whining, “I am only being nice to you, you are sucha meanie” crapola. Why does Wendy think she should be forming alliances like they do on Survivor? After a moment of petty bickering, Vanessa takes the high road and smartly leaves.

Cut to Austin and Robert! I am a giggling fool as I watch this. The two of them are giving themselves facials! They both have on facemasks drying like day old plaster smeared on ‘em. THEN they go into their mime routine which would make Marcel Marceau roll over in his grave! (I am rolling on the floor now.) Opening their mouths, peeking over their glasses at each other, they are being mirrors to one and other. How funny is that? Robert explains, “opposites attract!” I am wiping the tears from my eyes!.

As for the rest of the designers, Mario is getting nervous, Nora thinks her design is very strong, and Starr is confident, but pressed for time. Tim strolls in and says, “Everyone, grab your garment and meet me outside. Right now.” Surprise! A twist, everyone!

The designers and their creations are loaded into a van and driven down the New York City streets to the VanDam shop, owned by Paul Berman. His shop specializes in featuring new, upcoming designer fashions. The Runway designers will all take place in a silent auction, where they will market and show off their envy creations. NYC’s most fashionable people will be bidding on their designs. The designer whose fashion brings in the highest dollar amount, will be this week’s winner.