Project Runway 2 Finale, Part 1: Unlucky 13

Heidi Klum greets the final three designers, Santino, Chloe, and Daniel at the Parsons School of Design runway. She explains that the three are about to face their biggest challenge yet. They will each be designing a 12-piece collection to show at Olympus Fashion Week. Heidi says they will be given $8,000 and a few months to create their collections at home. She reminds them that the winner of Project Runway 2 will receive a fashion spread in Elle, a mentorship with the Banana Republic design team, a one-year representation from Designer’s Management Agency, a 2007 Saturn Sky Roadster, and $100,000 (courtesy of Saturn) to start a fashion line. The designers “ohhh” and “ahhh” over this.

Because there are four models and only three designers, Heidi brings out the models. As Daniel was winner of the last challenge, he once again opts to keep him muse, Rebecca, which deems Eden out. Of course, Heather and Grace are still in the models’ competition for an Elle spread and will continue to work alongside designers Santino and Chloe. Heidi shares a cheek kiss along with “good job” praise before sending Eden off with an “auf wiedersehen.” Heidi instructs the designers to head back to their Atlas apartments. She and Tim will meet up with them there for a bit of farewell fun.

The designers, Heidi, and Tim gather on the Atlas roof for champagne (in Heidi’s case, apple cider). She hugs Tim and gaily exclaims that they had a great bunch of designers this season. Tim agrees, “They were excellent,” which earns him a Heidi kiss. Tim holds up a glass and toasts the designers, “Here’s to you at Fashion Week!” Heidi includes a toast to Project Runway. The group raises their glasses. “Cheers!”

After the party, the designers pack up to go home. Santino tells us that he feels so good he could blow out eardrums with a happy scream. Holding his middle three fingers for us to see, which represent the final three, he presses his Daniel finger down. (Insert squeaky hinge sound.) Next he presses his Chloe finger down (squeak), leaving his middle, Santino, finger erect. He plans to be the last designer standing. (Yeah, I laughed.)

Meanwhile, Daniel is at the apartment getting dressed for his departure. He tells us that no matter how much Santino pisses him off, the “arrogant prick” is extremely talented and he can’t wait to see what he will show at Fashion Week.

As Chloe packs her belongings, she says goodbye to her Atlas apartment. It’s been good to her. That she is in the final three has finally hit her. “Wow.” She finds her way to the street, where Daniel is also waiting. The two hug fond goodbyes before she climbs into her taxi.

Seven weeks before Olympus Fashion Week, Tim decides to check out the progress of the designers. First stop is Los Angeles, to visit the home and studio of Santino Rice. At the front door, Santino greets Tim with a warm hug. He tells us that seeing Tim again felt surreal and after the show he could barely believe he had done it. Right off the bat, Tim asks to see Santino’s collection, which Santino describes as “‘40s Hollywood glamour, boudoir, and publicity still.” He shows Tim one design that has a sunburst pleat detail, which gives it a rock and roll feel. (This gown is stunning.) Tim likes that he’s taking a risk, as this gown isn’t safe.

Santino pulls out a vintage camisole and explains how he wants to combine that look with a contemporary element. Tim remarks, “That’s the challenge!” Tim is totally disarmed with what he’s seen. It’s still Santino, but the design has a refinement that he never saw during the show. It took him to another dimension. Santino confesses that he wishes he were further along with his collection, but Tim quickly squelches his fears. He is pleased with Santino’s progress. He has work to do, but he knows what he’s doing. Santino tells us that he recently quit his job working for a friend’s label. As far as finances go, he’s broke and it’s scary.

Santino takes Tim to visit Venice Beach, where he spends a lot of time. The two men walk and talk as Santino explains the hardships of his life. His mother was a schoolteacher and his dad a disabled war veteran. It was difficult for Santino to leave Missouri all alone. He grew up with a lot of adversary and people didn’t understand him. Santino shares that he has always wanted to be a fashion designer. A few years ago, he did come out with his own line. Unfortunately, it crashed and burned, leaving him embarrassed and pretty much homeless.

Santino tells us that he knows that he comes across as arrogant, but he has major insecurities. “If you think you have something to say about the way I look, what I do, what I say, or what my voice sounds like, realize I have thought the same ten times over and more in depth than you.” As the sun begins to set, Tim and Santino take a seat on some steps. Santino shares that when he was down and out, his good friend Tony and his wife took him into their home. Tim tells him that this is a tribute to his character, as well as his friends. After Tim acknowledges the beauty of the sunset, the men leave the beach to meet up with Santino’s friends.