Project Runway 6, Episode 12: WTF?

Previously on Project Runway, the designers used past winning designs as inspiration for accompanying looks. Well, everybody but Logan did, in that Logan has never won a challenge. Shoot, Logan has never even been in the top three… which means it really came as no surprise when he was eliminated. Really, the only surprise was that he lasted as long as he did. Irina opened up a can of bitchiness on Althea on the runway, apparently under the impression that she holds a patent on big cardigans. Althea won the challenge, which no doubt further infuriated Irina. And that catches us up.

As usual, the designers do their morning primping and talk about how close they are to the end. Christopher feels awfully lonely being the last guy standing, but I’d rather be alone in that apartment than in the women’s place, where Althea and Irina silently hate each other. It is tense, people.

Heidi greets the designers on the runway and reminds them that Bryant Park is right at their fingertips, wiggling her own in a slightly menacing way. Then she ships them off to a mystery landmark to meet Tim.

That landmark is the Getty Center, where Tim is waiting with Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Tim says that Project Runway has fully embraced L.A., and that they mayor’s presence shows that this embrace is mutual. Well, I hope that this embrace is the hug equivalent of a one night stand, because L.A. has been lousy for the show. Give me New York, where there’s a bigger Mood store, nobody makes Tim go to the beach, and Nina and Michael show up on a regular basis.

For the challenge, the designers will tour the Getty Center trolling for inspiration, whether it’s from the art, the architecture, the grounds, or the view. In other words, it’s a very broad challenge. The models join the designers “to act as muses,” but really just to give slightly more purpose to Models of the Runway, since none of them really contribute anything.

Althea loves the architecture of the building. As she sits down with her model to sketch, she notes that the design should be very tailored.

Carol Hannah is inspired by a spectacular French bed. It’s full of shiny gold, elaborate canopies, and even feathers. It will be a challenge to translate the style of that bed into something that isn’t tacky and over the top, so this should be interesting.

Irina is totally in love with a painting called “Mischief and Repose” that features women in sheer dresses draped over marble with furs strewn about.

Christopher sits with Katie staring at the fountain outside the museum. He is entranced by the texture of the rock and the hints of green algae on it. He is inordinately proud of his ability to find the beauty in something that is not classically beautiful. It’s not like that kind of inspiration has never been seen on Project Runway – Terri’s graffiti outfit and Andrae’s dirty water dress come to mind.

Gordana’s inspiration comes from a painting of a cathedral by Monet. The color and the architecture remind her of Europe. She says that she is a very spiritual person and that this dress will be meaningful to her. I sense that this will be an emotional week for Gordana.

The designers hit Mood, and Tim is worried about the green fabric he sees in Christopher’s pile. Christopher assures him that it’s an accent.

In the workroom, the mood continues to be tense. Althea says that Irina and Gordana are friends all of a sudden (sounds like Irina is giving her the Mean Girls treatment), and Carol Hannah and Christopher are buddy-buddy, which leaves her all alone. Irina is irritated that Althea is spreading out over too many tables. Basically, everybody needs to get away from each other before somebody gets stabbed.

Tim arrives, and he is feeling critical. Christopher shows him a bunch of little triangular pieces of material that are going to represent the rock. Tim thinks they look like stalactites. He tells Christopher that the judges’ reaction should be a wow, “not a head-scratcher.” Christopher sighs that he gets that a lot. The poor little lamb is severely outclassed.

Carol Hannah and Tim Gunn share a moment in which they both enthuse about the awesomeness of that French bed, a moment that makes you wonder. Tim likes where Carol Hannah is going so far, but balks when she says she plans to have something sweep across the bodice. He tells her to use an editing eye, which is Tim Speak for, “Get rid of that thing you were going to do.”

Tim and Irina talk about the diaphanous quality of her inspiration piece. He doesn’t have much to say about the dress, but utterly cannot stand the fur shrug. “It looks like road kill,” Tim says with disgust.

As for Althea, Tim is worried that her dress is going to be pucker. He tells her to look at it critically. “This needs work.”

Gordana’s inspiration is immediately apparent to Tim. She tears up when she talks about the painting and her spiritual side. Tim says that he is really impressed with her painting.

As he departs, Tim tells the designers that they could all succeed, but at the same time, they are at risk. The models arrive for their fitting. Carol Hannah thinks Althea’s fabric choice is going to cause problems. “I like where she’s going; I just hope she gets there,” she says. Irina decides to ditch the shrug. Althea likes the simplicity of Gordana’s dress, but doesn’t think it’s strong enough for a last challenge. Althea is stressed out and thinks everyone else is just as worried.

The next morning, after a bit of discussion of the stakes of the challenge, everyone hurries off to Parsons. Althea is overwhelmed by the amount of work she has to do. Carol Hannah literally runs all around the workroom. She and Christopher joke about how this is a “totally normal” day for him.

Christopher says that his dress shows who he is as a designer. Gordana asks for “dreamy” makeup for Matar. Katie is really skinny in her bra and underwear. Irina says that, “Christopher is very confident, but it’s a false confidence.” She thinks he’s in big trouble. Meanwhile, Althea says that Irina’s dress is not ugly, but it’s also not a wow. Irina says that Althea is always struggles to finish.

Heidi tells the designers that two will be eliminated, and the remaining three designers will go to Fashion Week. The judges are Cynthia Rowley, Nina Garcia, and Cindy Crawford. No Michael Kors? WTF? It’s the last challenge, the one that determines who will make it to Fashion Week. Michael didn’t want to show up for this one?