Shannon's Blog

By Shannon Sturgis

Project Runway, Episode 10

Posted February 7, 2008

Wrestling. WWE Divas. When I first learned that this was the challenge, I was upset. First of all, this is obviously a kitschy costume-y challenge that Chris--dude who doesn't deserve to be on the show for this long--will succeed at because he's a crazy costume designer. Also, it's so late in the competition and this challenge is too quirky and random to be determining who goes on to fashion week. This challenge should have been done much earlier. Granted, I don't know how many WWE Divas there are... I'm sure the number determined when this challenge was planned.

This was my first impression, but after the show I realized that these are bad-ass designers and I shouldn't cry a Ricky-river over what turned out to be a really fun episode.

Fashion schmashion, right?

Tim Gunn even said it on the Daily Show a couple nights ago, "If there's a customer for it... then..." then hot damn, it shall be designed.

If you'd like to look at the designs while reading this, copy and paste this into your browser:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_N2GwfFRCkGA/R6qEOtXypcI/AAAAAAAABRU/Kn0C0Ao4UOQ/s1600-h/PollEpisode10.jpg

The episode:

Tim Gunn takes the designers on a short field trip to the runway auditorium where they hold their runway judgings. The designers are terrified because all they hear are grunts, groans and screams coming through the bright white doors emblazoned with the Project Runway logo. When the doors open, the scantily clad wrestling babes are revealed. As was predicted, each designer is genuinely horrified except for Chris.

After each Diva introduces herself and explains her wrestling persona to the designers, each designer chooses one to work with... the lesser evils are chosen first.

I laughed aloud when Tim Gunn said "Spandex House," which is the store in which they will be buying all of their supplies. "You'll have $200 to spend at Spandex House." ha aha ha ha

Top Designs:

Chris:

(leopard hoodie with tiny black shorts)

Chris. Chris. Chris. I don't like you. I think you're adorable, but everything you do is outdated unless it has a costume effect to it. You were the clear winner this episode. Congratulations. Thanks for being so cool this round, but could you kindly do poorly next challenge so you can be sent home AGAIN and then we can get down to real business here. The glitter fabric inside the hoodie... nice... very nice Chris... and the gloves too--those were great. Now, like I said, please go home.

Christian:

(black, lace and leather, chaps)

Christian, I don't appreciate all your talk about Ricky. You broke the poor guy down. He can feel the insults through his meshed hat. He knows. Now, about your design. Chaps? Awesome. Lace? Sexy. A jacket with puffy sleeves? Honestly, Christian... this is the fourth time I've seen this jacket. Why don't the judges ever say anything about that? Probably because it's beautiful and you're good at making jackets... la la la. You didn't deserve to win this one either so get over it munchkin.

Jillian:

(bright blue sporty number with bra top and boxing shorts)

Jillian, thank you for not scaring the bejesus out of me this week. I appreciate that. I think your design was perfect for your Diva. You did pick one of the most boring of the Divas, so I don't know that you could have won anyway. The color and style of the look was perfect. The straps on the stomach were executed beautifully. You and Chris both did well with that--the straps-- and I think Rami's attempt at it fell quite short.

***NOTE: For some reason I'm writing directly to the designers this blog... I don't know why except maybe I feel especially close to them after this episode***

Bottom Designs:

Ricky:

(tangerine one piece with gold straps and buckle)

Ricky, you have been aufed. I think your color choice was great--more than I can say for Sweet P and Rami. The final outfit did look like a bathing suit--perhaps if the bottom had been boy shorts. And the tunic (not pictured) did seem a bit random, but I thought it was cute. You've always styled your models well. I think your Diva looked adorable, but she was wearing a bathing suit and the whole look was not cohesive. I'm sorry to see you go. I will miss your tears.

Sweet P:

(silver sparkly bra with shorts and robe)

If I didn't love Sweet P so much I'd be more upset that she wasn't the one sent home this week. Her outfit looked like something a porn star would wear to sleep. The top looked amateur--the shorts were boring and the robe didn't do what she was trying to accomplish... it didn't reveal the girl's body when removed because everything was already showing. I thought the whole outfit was awful with nothing redeemable about it. Yeah, I said it.

Rami:

(bright pink ruffled thing)

Good god this thing was hideous. Ruffles? Pink ruffles? Rami, you made her look like a scary tranny Barbie doll. That skirt... yeck. I could see the struggle Rami had with this challenge and aside from the color, it was much better than the other two designers in the bottom three. I don't have anything to say about the design BUT do want to talk about the exchange that has developed between Nina and Rami... Ever since Rami snapped at Nina and said something about how all of his work is sophisticated and he wouldn't undo that for a high school girl's prom dress, all Nina can do is openly compliment him. It's bizarre. Perhaps Nina is infatuated with Rami. He is beautiful.

It's getting down to the end of the season and the episodes are stressing me out more and more. I find myself clutching a pillow to my chest while watching, waiting and holding my breath for each moment. I'm obsessed. I'm addicted. If this were the Pee Wee Herman show and PR was a a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I'd marry it.

Tomorrow, Friday, February 8. The winner is decided. Wow.