Project Runway 4, Episode 8 – Letting Your Avant-Garde Down

Big thanks to Jenn Brasler for writing last week’s recap for me. She can share a prom limo with me any time. Last week, as you’ll recall, the designers had to design prom dresses for high school girls. The judges were not impressed with too many of the designs, praising only Sweet P and winner Victorya, who will have immunity this week. Christian had a very hard time combining his design sensibilities with his client’s demands and was in the bottom two. But Kevin was sent home, for making a dress with an unfinished hem and a style that the judges thought was too old for the client.

Also, Ricky cried.

It’s morning, and Christian still blames his client for almost getting eliminated. Nevertheless, he doesn’t think he belongs in the bottom two. So, once again, Christian’s near death experience has taught him no humility whatsoever. Ricky says he realizes he has a lot of work to do and misses Kevin, but is glad he wasn’t the one sent home.

At the runway, Heidi brings out the models, who we didn’t see last week. All of them have some crazy hair. The challenge is to create an avant-garde look based on their hairstyles. Chris is thrilled – it’s right up his alley.

Heidi reminds us that two of the models are going to have to go home. Victorya keeps her usual model, who is sporting a modified Sanjaya hair. Sweet P feels bad about ditching her model, but she has to go with the hair that inspires her. Christian goes back to his first model, saying, “God, she is so high fashion.” Ricky has the last pick, and goes for Amanda and her giant hair. Heidi sends the losing models away and dispatches the designers off to Tim.

Tim tells the designers that their look doesn’t need to be practical or wearable, but it should be ambitious. That will thus work in teams of two, which pleases no one. Tim picks teams from the button bag. Kit and Ricky are together. Sweet P gets Rami and realizes what good news that is. Chris and Christian are paired up and seem pleased. Christian thinks Chris’s crazy style will be great for the challenge. Ice queens Victorya and Jillian are together as well. They have $300 and two days. They need to decide quickly which model to use and pick a leader.

Chris convinces Christian to be team leader. Christian is reluctant, but is excited about his design. They decide to make a dress with thousands of circles of organza. Kit and Ricky go with the model Marie because they like her hair better. Her hair looks like a bird’s nest, so that is their inspiration. Kit is the team leader because it’s her concept. Rami will be their team leader and is thinking about “hard and soft.” That’s what she said. The Sanjaya hair makes Jillian think of an apocalyptic trench coat. Jillian says that neither of them will concede leadership, so they decide with a coin toss, which Victorya wins. Jillian admits that she’s not comfortable not being in charge and says they need to solidify their story.

The designers hit Mood, and Ricky and Kit grab a million different colors. Uli, is that you? Sweet P and Rami can’t keep track of each other in the store, which does not bode well. Christian and Chris need a crapload of organza, 50 yards or so.

Crapload of Organza would be a great band name.

Kit and Ricky are trying to create a bird’s nest, inspired by “the girl in me and the bitch in you,” as Ricky puts it. Christian calls their design “feroc’” (short for ferocious) and is totally excited about their look. Chris uses a ton of wire at the mannequin’s shoulder and jokes that he is building a cell phone tower. Sweet P wonders if it’ll reach Elisa’s planet. God, I wish Elisa were here to bring some Crazy to this challenge. Jillian and Victorya are thinking about rebellion. In their design, that is, not personally. Jillian will make the jacket, and Victorya is doing the shirt and pants. Jillian is worried because both she and Victorya both historically have trouble finishing in time.

Rami is making a corset and gown because it’s intricate and detailed. Sweet P assures him she can make the trousers, which sounds like disaster waiting to happen. Ricky agrees to make an apron, saying, “Let me just bone her,” then he and Kit giggle, as anyone would do.

Rami gives Sweet P direction on the pants, then tells us in an interview that her struggle with the pants is slowing him down. Sweet P is frustrated too, and doesn’t think he needs to worry as much as he is. Rami is afraid he’ll be blamed for dysfunction in the team.

The next morning, Sweet P wonders if she has enough cigarettes to last her all day, which is probably not a good sign for her mental state. She says that Rami’s stress worries her. The designers return to Parsons and get right to work. Ricky and Kit feel confident about their plan. Sweet P suggests a bustle for drama, but Rami shoots her down.

Tim comes and has the designers gather for an announcement. There will be another look walking down the runway. Christian wants to throw up. Each must also create a ready to wear garment that is inspired by the high end, conceptual work. Jillian is totally freaked out about time. They have another $50 and until 1:00. Oh, and only one team member gets to go to Mood. Sweet P and Rami plan a simple dress. Ricky says it’ll be easy to make a dress to go with theirs, but Kit wants to be the one to shop. Christian isn’t worried about the new challenge at all. In contrast, Victorya is horrified and sick, because she’s already off schedule. Sweet P and Rami argue about what to do. He wants her to sketch, but she prefers to work off the form. Because he can’t envision her dress, he isn’t feeling confident.

The designers rush through Mood field trip number two. Christian says he knew exactly what he needed. Sweet P grabs some silver shantung. Jillian buys a small amount of fabric and thinks it’ll be enough.

Tim brings in the models for a fitting. Sweet P thinks that their dress is overdone and needs to be edited. Ricky and Kit are much happier and think their dress is looking good. Victorya and Jillian only have a pair of pants to put on the model. Jillian is stressed out about their lack of progress. She is concerned because Victorya can’t be eliminated, so if they’re at the bottom, she’s screwed. Christian and Chris force their model into their dress, which is no easy feat. Chris thinks that their model is going to make people’s jaws drop. Christian shows them how to walk with some sassy moves.