Project Runway 2, Episode 8: Here Comes Da Ja… Ja… Jay Judge

Back at the Atlas apartment, Zulema tells us of her exhaustion. She hasn’t slept well. It was good to win but she doesn’t want to get sidetracked because it’s down to the wire now. Santino admits that the dress he made for Sasha Cohen was ridiculous and horrible. He’s not going to take any more chances; he’s going to do his best and see where it gets him.

At the runway, Heidi greets the designers and explains that their next challenge will reveal what drives their creativity as a fashion designer. Inspiration. They will meet with Michael Kors who will share what motivates him, and then he will fill them in on the details of the challenge. Heidi brings out the winning and losing designers’ models, and explains their competition. The model paired with the winning designer will get her own fashion spread in Elle magazine. As Zulema was the winner of the last challenge, she can stay with her model, Rachael, or choose Emmett’s model, Shannon. If she doesn’t want either of them, Heidi will gather all the remaining models. Zulema decides to change models, and asks for all the models to be brought out. The designers gasp in unison as Rachael struggles to pull the sewing shears out of her back. Heidi brings out the black slipped gals who take their places on the runway beside her. Zulema decides that Danyelle, Tarah, and Shannon should partake in a walk off, which for some reason I have yet to fathom, Heidi agrees with. Daniel eloquently restates Zulema’s idea and says in disbelief, “It’s a mudderfuggin walk off!” (Well, he didn’t say exactly that but I’m sure you catch my drift.)

Zulema explains that she hasn’t had a chance to study the girls, but no one is buying this load of crap. If the daggers shooting from Rachael’s eyes could kill, I expect there’d be a few, including me, giving her a standing ovation. Anywho, Heidi has the models strut their signature walks and Zulema makes her decision. She chooses Nick’s model and muse, Tarah. (Way to make friends Zulema. Sheeze.) Hearing this news, Tarah pouts and Nick just wants to throw up. Nick thinks the walk off was just an opportunity for Zulema to be dramatic. Heidi then explains that Rachael will now be Nick’s model. Hence Shannon is out. (Wow, he doesn’t even get to choose between Rachael and Shannon.) Nick smiles to Rachael in an “it’s ok” kinda way, but she does look hurt. Zulema justifies her decision to us by saying that Rachael can’t walk, and if Nick wins the challenge, he can just take her back! Being that the show must go on, Heidi sends the designers off to visit Michael Kors. She’ll see them back at the runway. “Bye.”

The designers find their way to Michael Kors’ studio where he explains that every designer finds their inspirations in different ways. Some are more abstract while others are more specific. He shows them his color board while sharing his Doris Duke, the 1940s tobacco heiress, inspiration. He explains how he took his Doris Duke idea and turned it into a collection. Michael hands out Olympus digital cameras to each of the designers. For this challenge the designers will be given one hour to walk the streets of New York City taking photographs of what ever might inspire them. From all the pictures, they are to select the one shot that motivated them and use it to create a fabulous garment. At the runway, the judges will not only see their finished work, they will be privy to what drove their train of thought.

The designers hit the streets. Santino take a picture of one lady giving him the finger. Thanks, lady! Chloe takes pictures of a building that inspire her while Kara is awed by the signs that warn of the restrictions in the city. Zulema takes a shot of an African woman’s beautiful red dress. Nick is sad because his model inspires him. He’s not taking pictures of anything.

Back at the workroom the designers print off their photographs. Santino thinks his picture of overlapping graffiti will allow him to design a high art, couture garment. Daniel ends up choosing the first frame that he took of orchids in Michael Kors studio. Andrae chooses a photograph of dirty water in a gutter. He says the way the sun was shining made the water glisten, and the rocks sparkled like jewels. Andrae shares that he likes to take something humble and apply the “big charm gun” to it to make it pretty. Meanwhile, Nick just continues to pout.

Tim enters the workroom, and asks the designers to gather around him for a “tough love” talk. He wants the designers to wake up. He shares that Daniel always excites him in the early stages of his designing, but then he loses momentum and falls short of the potential he could achieve. As for Chloe, Tim’s afraid that if she doesn’t push the envelope and step out of her comfort zone, she may be called a “one note.” He advises Zulema to take risks and points out that Kara has never won a challenge. She needs to step away from designing things they can already buy. Santino is in serious jeopardy and Tim is reserving that comment only for him. Andrae and Nick receive the same advice. They are to be more ambitious. Tim tells them that they have until midnight to complete their design, and then ask the designers to gather their photographs so they can go shopping.

At Mood, the designers have $100 to spend. Daniel is looking at brown tweed and champagne silk materials. He is hoping to create a design with oriental sleekness. Santino wants to create something tasteful and beautiful, and he finds an identical fabric that matches his picture. He calls this a stroke of good luck. (Unfortunately, this material is the fabric that earned Austin his walking papers last year. Could this be an omen perhaps?) Zulema shares her time management problem and explains to Tim that she will make a red dress because a dress can be finished quickly.

Meanwhile Nick needs Tim’s advice. He doesn’t know what colors will work on a blonde model. Tim seems surprised and asks, “What happened?” Nick explains how Zulema took his model, and now Tim is frowning with him. He finds model Rachael to be “such a problem” and says, “Oh geeez. She’s like an elongated marshmallow. She has these Gumby legs and is such a stiff walker. Oh GOD, that’s a whole new thing! You have more than a challenge.” Nick sadly agrees.

Back at the Parsons workroom, the designers lay out their fabrics and get to work. Daniel takes it upon himself to give Nick a pep talk because Nick is still down in the dumps and wanting to leave. Daniel tells him that he should go home because he deserves to go home not because of some technical detail. He advises Nick to look at the bigger picture. Daniel leaves Nick to think and sends an air kiss “love you” to him as he walks away. Nick shares that Daniel’s lecture snapped him back because he was right. With newly found vigor, Nick pulls himself up by his bootstraps and tells us that he came to New York to be in the top three, if not to win. He’s going to go for it. “Let’s see what Nick can do.”