Project Runway 6, Episode 13: Mean Girls

Previously on Project Runway, the judges apparently decided who was going to Bryant Park, so the challenge was just a formality. Christopher conveniently sucked again, so it was easy to get rid of him. Despite the fact that she created a great dress, Gordana was aufed, leaving Irina, Carol Hannah, and Althea to go to Fashion Week.

Heidi congratulates the designers, all of whom are giggly with excitement. They will each create a 12 piece collection with a $9,000 budget, which makes them giggle all the more. Tim joins them on the runway, tells them how proud they are, and makes the women giggle again. Tim and Heidi do an adorable shadow dance as they leave.

As the ladies pack, Althea reminds us in an interview of Irina claiming that she stole her sweater idea. Althea says she’s not going to forget about that, but she’s not going to be a jerk about it either. Irina thinks that the other two are intimidated by her.

10 weeks later, Tim drives to Huntington, New York to visit Carol Hannah. She says that she moved from Charleston, where she is living in a friend’s house. She thinks it’s a better place for her to work than Charleston. Carol Hannah says that she toured Duke University on the way to New York and was inspired by the campus. She shows Tim a lavender “fairy tale-inspired” dress. It looks very Viktor & Rolf. Tim advises against adding embellishment to it. Tim hates the cape that Carol Hannah has over an evening dress and says that it looks matronly. Tim studies a simple tank with pants. Carol Hannah points out that she can, indeed make things other than dresses and evening wear. She says she has a lot of work to do and it’s overwhelming.

Carol Hannah then gives Tim some hometown flavor even though they’re not in her hometown – her family has flown in, and they’re going to make a Southern dinner. Tim is thrilled. Tim puts an apron over his suit and helps roll out biscuit dough. Carol Hannah recalls working with her grandmother to learn how to make doll clothes. She shows off some dorky pictures of herself as a kid. She thinks fashion changes the way you see yourself. Carol Hannah’s dad says that she is a determined person. In an interview, Carol Hannah says that she’s self-taught, which is intimidating, but she thinks she’s learned a lot. Tim gives her a snowy hug goodbye.

Next, Tim visits Irina in Manhattan. In an interview, Irina says that his opinion means a lot to her. Irina’s yappy poodle, Princess, skitters about wildly. Irina is confident in her collection and wants t o make something personal. She was inspired by Coney Island and wants to thank New York for being so good to her and her immigrant family.

Irina explains that she wants to put Coney Island t-shirts under her clothes. Tim thinks it’s risky, which he likes. He is amazed by her hand-knit pieces. “To me, elegance is always in,” she explains. Tim doesn’t like the fur she shows him, but she explains that it will be cleaned first. Tim tells her to make sure her clothes look easy and natural. Irina is a little disappointed that his reaction wasn’t quite as positive as it could have been.

Irina has Tim meet her family and friends at her favorite restaurant for lunch. Irina says that her parents sacrificed a lot for her and her sister and are very important to her. Irina says that her mother is very supportive of her and her dreams. Tim says that Irina is a winner, regardless of the outcome. Irina explains that her dad was not so sure she had a future as a fashion designer. She wants to win so that she can prove that she can be successful in this career.

Finally, Tim heads to Dayton, Ohio to visit Althea. Tim takes a scary elevator up to her work space. Althea says that Dayton is a good place for her to work because she has a support system already in place. Althea is glad Tim is there so she could get an outside opinion. She is inspired by women in science fiction movies. She says that she’s experimenting with different shapes. Tim loves a sweater she shows him, but finds her coat too costume-y. He tells her to be sure to edit herself. Althea takes his advice as an opportunity.

The two of them drive to her parents’ house. Althea’s boyfriend Stewart seems intimidated by Tim. Althea says that she wanted to be an artist when she was a kid, and that idea evolved into fashion design. Her mom recalls getting her a sewing machine for Christmas one year. In an interview, Althea says that it has always been a goal of hers to go from Dayton to Bryant Park.

With 10 days until Fashion Week, Tim calls Irina with “an issue.” He tells her that the Coney Island designs are trademarked by someone else and therefore cannot be used by her. Tim tells her to use her own images. Irina says she has the fabric she needs, but it’s just a matter of time to complete the designs. “This is seriously the worst thing that could happen right now,” she sighs.

Five days from the show, Althea arrives in New York. She feels like this is her introduction as a designer to the world. Irina says that this is the Olympics of fashion. She’s confident and nervous at the same time. She’s happy to be there, but she also wants to win. Irina and Althea hug hello. In an interview, Althea says that things were tense when they left. They still are – once they realize Carol Hannah’s not there as a buffer, they don’t have much to say to each other. Althea doesn’t trust Irina and is not letting her guard down. Irina says that she distanced herself from Althea in L.A. She says it’s hard to spend that much time with a group of people.

The two of them wonder where Carol Hannah is – it’s been hours and she hasn’t arrived yet. Tim arrives and tells them that Carol Hannah is sick with a contagious stomach virus and can’t be there that day. Althea figures she must be in terrible shape if she can’t be there. The three of them drink the champagne that Heidi sent over.

Tim leaves, and Althea and Irina talk about how unfortunate it is for Carol Hannah. Irina figures they’ll be best friends or worst enemies when it’s all over.