Project Runway 2, Episode 2: You Are What You Wear

Heidi Klum returns to the runway and congratulates the remaining designers for making it to Season 2. She tells them that the winner will receive a fashion spread in Elle Magazine, a mentorship with the Banana Republic Design Team, a 2007 Saturn Sky Roadster, and $100,000, courtesy of Saturn, to start their own line. Later, Heidi is going to host a party for them where Tim Gunn will explain their next challenge. Now, the designers will pick their models. After the black slipped, barefoot models file down the runway, Heidi reminds the models that this is also a competition for them, as whomever is paired with the winner of Project Runway, will win a fashion spread in Elle Magazine.

There are sixteen models and only fourteen designers, so two models will be out. . As Santino won the challenge, Heidi gives him first pick. Santino chooses his previous model, Heather. Heidi then randomly draws the designer’s names out of a bag. Chloe is next, and also selects her previous model, Grace. Emmett wants Shannon, Andrae likes Danyelle, Guadalupe takes Eliza again, Kara goes with Eden, Zulema grabs Rachael, Marla’s choice is Kara, Nick’s choice is Tarah, Daniel Franco want to try Claudia, Diana picks Lesley Anne, Kirsten takes Melissa, Daniel V. chooses Rebecca, Raymundo goes for the great walk of Maria.

Heidi hopes they are happy with their model picks, as they will be their models for the rest of the show. Yikes, a little change to the Project Runway format! I love a twist though I am not so sure the designers look very thrilled with this announcement.

Heidi tells the designers it’s time for them to move into their Atlas apartment, located in the heart of the fashion district. They have to get dressed for the party! With a wave and goodbye, Heidi leaves the runway.

The designers arrive at the Atlas apartments and Nick is thrilled with his roommates Santino, Danny V, and Andrae. Santino says it will be really sad when his roommates leave and he’s still there.

Marla finds the Atlas apartment to be a huge change from her home in Allentown, PA. She thinks Guadalupe and Kara are pretty easy going, but Zulema has a different style; she lets you know what she’s thinking. Zulema doesn’t think she’ll have any trouble living with others as she’s the oldest of seven.

Emmett shares that he was the first one in their apartment, sized up the situation quickly, and grabbed the bedroom with one bed. Happily, roommates Daniel Franco and Raymundo are cool with it.

Chloe, Kirsten, and Diana rush to pick out their party outfits. Chloe chooses a blue jersey dress that she had recently whipped up, Diana puts on an old prom dress that she thinks is stylish, and Kirsten grabs some jeans, a gold jacket, and a scarf. They only have 30 minutes to get ready.

At the party, Tim Gunn asks the designers to gather around. He tells them in this challenge is a serious test on how far they will go for fashion. The designers are going to use the clothes they are wearing to fabricate their next design. Tim instructs that when they return to the Atlas, they will put their garments in a bag, which will be brought to Parsons, and be their primary resource for this challenge. The designers are to get some rest, as they will have a lot of work to do in the morning! Nick can’t believe he will have to use his vintage leather jacket. Kirsten is upset that she wore her family heirloom scarf! She doesn’t know if she would be willing to give up the scarf to win this challenge.

The next morning, the designers head to Parsons School of Design where Tim welcomes them to their second challenge, aptly named, “Clothes Off Your Back.” He explains that the challenge is about innovation, how they can take their clothes apart, and make them work for a different purpose. The designers will have until midnight, only nine hours, to complete this challenge.

Santino shares that he holds nothing sacred, and knows he has enough materials to work with. He had corduroy pants and his leather jacket. There’s no material possession that he has that he wouldn’t let go of to gain more.

Emmett spends about two hours just working on his concept, meanwhile, Zulema is hacking away at the gold material she has draped on her mannequin. She would never cut the material if she weren’t certain. She’s going with her instincts!

Kirsten is combining her vintage tee shirt, jeans, and gold jacket, but isn’t using her sentimental scarf. Andrae and Raymundo thinks Kirsten’s top looks like a bra with a napkin over it. Kara Janx is very anxious, and doesn’t know how to thread her sewing machine. Santino isn’t even going to help her!

There’s five hours until deadline and Tim arrives to check on the designers. Chloe, who didn’t have much fabric to work with, shows Tim how she combined her jersey dress with her jacket to make a geometric mini dress. Tim is perplexed by Kirsten’s “bra and napkin” shirt. He believes that the judges will address it. Andrae is warned about time management. He is creating an original Chinese dress. Meanwhile Guadalupe is running from person to person critiquing their designs, and Nick just wants her to shut up. Kirsten can feel Daniel Franco’s stress, as he tries to tailor his garment. Santino gives Daniel credit, and thinks maybe he’ll be back for Season 3!