Project Runway 4, Episode 13: The Prodigy vs. The Robot vs. The Mad Draper

Previously on Project Runway…

You know what? Let’s skip it and get right to it. I’m excited, aren’t you?

Three days remain before the show. Christian is nervous and just wants the big day to come. In an interview, he says he can’t even say how much he wants to win. Rami says he’s happy to be in the finals and all, but he really wants to win. We don’t see Jillian say so, but I think it’s safe to assume that she’d also like to win. The three of them walk to Parsons.

Rami unpacks his collection and can’t help but notice that Christian is making all kinds of reaction faces at his collection. Christian admits that he wants the other two to be impressed by his work. It’s important to him that they know they are competing against someone strong. I don’t think we’ve ever seen Christian so nervous.

Tim arrives and rushes to Jilian’s collection. She shows him a striped sweater with crazy loops of fabric on the shoulders and a simple skirt that she hadn’t completed when she saw him last. Tim loves the skirt, but doesn’t think the sweater belongs to the same customer. He tells her to experiment and have fun. Silly Tim, Jillian doesn’t have fun. She’s not sure what to do with his advice, but she intends to follow her instincts.

Rami tells Tim that he took his advice and toned down some of the heavier pieces. Rami shows him a gorgeous gold dress that is made of 1930’s antique lace. Tim says “it’s a knockout.” It is intricately put together, and I can’t wait to see it on the runway. Rami says that Tim’s praise made him feel confident.

Now for Christian. He says his pieces are not all wearable, but that he did take some of Tim’s advice. For example, that giant ruffled neck piece he designed is no longer going with a black jacket. Instead, he’s paired the jacket with a skinny pant. Tim wonders if it’s overdesigned. Christian says he didn’t change a lot since Tim’s visit, then kind of trails off. He admits that he’s nervous. “What happened to the cocky, confident Christian?” Tim asks. Christian laughs that he took a break.

Christian says that he really needs to win to have the money to start his career, but he is clearly less confident than he was before. He says that Jillian’s collection is innovative and cool. And Rami is an amazing and successful designer. “It messes with my head,” he says. Can you remember any time Christian ever said something so positive about someone else’s work? The kid is freaking out!

With model casting next on the agenda, Jillian wonders if they’re going to fight over the models. Christian says he wants a supermodel walk, and naturally demonstrates what that would look like, while wearing one of the hats from Jillian’s collection. The hat, by the way, is pretty much Sanjaya’s ponyhawk in hat form. Christian says that he needs strong, confident models. Jillian has never done a casting before – everything is now a first for her.

We watch models walk. Jillian wants some petite models and is having trouble making a decision. Rami says that some of them were great, others were okay, and some were tragic. Christian wants edgy models and dark skinned models, along with “fierce tallness and walks for days.” Rami and Jillian both love the same model, and Christian immediately says he wants her, too. Sadly, they do not come to blows.

The next morning, the designers meet with Collier Strong to do makeup tests for all of the models. Christian says he’s less nervous now, more excited. Collier and Rami decide to chisel the faces and create shadows. Christian wants no eye makeup and strong eyebrows. Jillian’s model has light metallic eyes and a natural look.

The models arrive for fitting. Christian is worried about finishing everything on time. Jillian says they were bombarded by models. Rami finds Christian’s designs are all over the top. He thinks Christian needs to learn more about designing for women, not just for models. However, the models might not be so sure it’s for them, either. One complains about Christian’s painful shoes. She’s afraid she’ll fall over. Christian says that the shoes were flawless, so he doesn’t care what they have to say. “I worked it around my apartment in those shoes for a week,” Christians says, “And if I can do it, these ladies can do it.” Hey, let’s not forget that Christian’s apartment is the size of a portapotty. There’s not much room for strutting.

Jillian realizes that she was inconsistent with her model choices. She calls the casting director to see if she can switch models. Christian says that she’s incredibly indecisive. He notes that her models all look different and are different heights. “Whatever, it’s all her own fault,” he says. I guess Christian’s moment of humility with Tim was rather short-lived.

There’s one day left before the show. Jillian is unhappy about her model selection and realizes it was her own fault. Rami suggests that she call the casting director and ask for some more options. The casting director tells her it’ll be hard to switch with just a day’s notice. It is, after all, Fashion Week. Rami tells her to focus on the positive, but she just can’t. Rami thinks she worries too much.

Nathaniel meets with the designers to talk hair. Christian’s models will have clean, shiny hair, pulled back. Jillian wants “floaty, bouncy, perfect.” Rami’s model gets a complicated ponytail.

Six hours remain, and the three designers do last minute fittings. Rami says that this is their last chance to finish. Jillian puts the crazy looped sweater on a model and likes it. She decides to embrace the diversity of her models.

Christian says that he’s sick of worrying over the details. He wants to be done and is ready to go.

Tim calls for a final “gather round, which makes everyone sentimental. Tim tells them that the order of the show will be Jillian, Rami, then Christian. He says that he is very proud of them. “I have never been presented with a season of Project Runway where the work has been at this high a level.” The four of them hug.