Project Runway 4, Episode 3 – It’s Raining Men

Last week on Project Runway, the designers put together a two-piece outfit for Sarah Jessica Parker’s Bitten line and just about died of excitement at the prospect of working with her. Elisa showed that although she tends toward the wacky, she can actually be a good designer. Still, Sarah Jessica ultimately chose Victorya’s simple, but fun design as the winner. The bottom two were Christian and Marion. Christian, from the look of things, has apparently never been criticized ever before in his life, because he completely freaked out. But Marion’s design was a great big furry mess, so he was sent home. Let’s see what happens next.

The guys are getting dressed, and this is a fine time for us to see Jack shirtless. He tells us that Project Runway is the opportunity of a lifetime for him. Jack goes on to say that he’s been HIV positive for 17 years now, and that hasn’t been easy to get where he is. He really wants to make it to Bryant Park for Fashion Week.

Rami and Chris are sad that Marion is gone. Chris then says that if they’d gotten rid of Christian, “nobody would have cried.” Christian is in the next room, but everyone laughs so good naturedly that even Christian can barely work up the energy to be offended. Christian tells them they’d be bored if he left. He confesses that being so close to elimination shook him, but he’s still confident that he’s got what it takes.

The designers gather at the runway, and Heidi tells them they won’t need their models for the next challenge. She sends them to meet Tim at 10 Rockefeller Plaza for their next challenge. Everyone wonders what the challenge could be. They meet Tiki Barber, and Kevin, as the token straight guy, reminds us that he was an outstanding football player. Ricky says he doesn’t know anything about Tiki, but that he’s gorgeous. Heh. Steven admits that he knows “nothing about football, except that it’s the one time on television when spandex is acceptable.” The challenge is to design an outfit for Tiki to wear. Remember last week how excited the designers all were to meet Sarah Jessica Parker? Well, meeting Tiki Barber creates almost the exact opposite reaction.

Most of the designers are worried. Jack explains that menswear, due to the tailoring and detail work, is really hard to do. Tiki says he has a big neck, skinny waist, and big butt, so he’s hard to dress. He says he likes dark colors, patterns, texture, and depth. He doesn’t need a suit and wants to be comfortable. Kevin learns that Tiki loves details. Chris asks about his favorite colors, and Tiki says he’s not afraid of color – pink and pastels are fine.

Jack carries Christian into the workroom like a handbag, but soon it’s time for business. The designers will have 30 minutes to sketch and a budget of $150. Jack asks Tim if it’s okay for the men to use the clothes they’re wearing as a reference. Tim says sure, but then tells them, of course, to “make it work.”

Sweet P realizes she has no idea how to even sketch men’s clothing. Jillian is struggling, too. Victorya and Ricky look puzzled, but Kevin is hurriedly sketching a suit. He says not many people have menswear experience. Several of them measure each other for reference.

Raimi looks for a khaki fabric to make a tailored blazer, dress shirt, and slacks. He says he was nervous. Chris threatens to make hotpants, to Tim’s amusement. Jack says he’s freaking out, but he’s okay. Kit says that as a stylist, she knows what works on TV.

With six hours until the end of the day, Ricky decides to make a suit. He plans to start with a pattern, then sew from there. Sweet P regrets her plan to make a suit because “it’s probably the hardest thing I could choose to do.” Christian is going to do a blazer and lighter pant, but he is a fast sewer, so he’s not worried. He thinks a lot of people might not finish. Considering the jackets he’s done for the past two challenges, I’d think he can swing it.

Carmen admits that she doesn’t know much about designing for men and asks Jack how wide the waistband should be. She is planning a three-piece look with a jacket, polo, and pants. She says she really appreciated Jack’s help. Jack tells us he has designed menswear, but hasn’t made much of it.

Jack drapes a big piece of muslin across his lower half, which Elisa decorates by drawing cherries on the butt. You’ll all be happy to know she used a marker, not spit marks. Jack says he was wearing flat front shorts that were the same as the silhouette he was planning for the pants. So, he took them off and used them to make a pattern. Smart thinking, and a big advantage for him. Victorya asks Jack for help, too, tracing the pattern. Rami says everyone was worried about time, but he doesn’t think that was fair. Sweet P doesn’t seem to think it’s fair either. Hey, Jack asked, and Tim said it was okay, so that’s the end of the discussion, I’d think. Kit says that things are especially competitive and “the menswear has brought out the claws.”

Jillian stresses over time. Everyone works frantically, including Sweet P, who accidentally knocks down her mannequin, saying, “Man down, man down!” Tim tells them time is up. Chris says that everyone is really worried about getting things done.

The next day, the designers are all still worried about time. Jillian says they were all on fire, trying to get things done. Kit says that they’re all so stressed out that it’s hard to remember what a “fantasy experience” it is to be on the show. Ricky rips a seam and frustratedly gives it the finger. Christian feels really good about how fast he’s working. Of course, Christian always thinks that whatever he’s doing is awesome, so that’s no surprise.

Chris says that he’s a lot older than everyone else and has no formal fashion training. He recalls being a fourth grader who pushed his mom out of the way of the sewing machine so he could have at it. He says pants are “just two big sleeves sewn together” and not that hard to do. Rami draped a pair of pants with muslin, then points out loudly that they were not traced off a pattern, unlike some people’s. Dude, you’ve got to let it go.