As always, refer to the Project Runway website on Lifetime to see what I'm talking about. This week's challenge was something like "make a pretty dress based on what your model wants, and have her stand out at a party" or something really basic like that.
Althea: She was the winner this week. Bad life decision, weird alternative judges to Nina and Michael Kors. It's really trendy, yeah, and I do like the muted colors, but that's about all I can say about it. The proportions are really off and the overall look is sloppy. And, I'm really sorry, but when the model was coming down the runway, all I could think was OH JESUS THAT MODEL NEEDS A BRA BIG TIME. It just wasn't flattering to her chest, the way it was sewn and styled and all that. And then they attacked Epperson's design for how it fit his model, while praising Althea for how well it fit hers (and showing the model's walk about 800 times). This shouldn't have been in the high group, nevertheless won.
Carol Hannah: IIRC, she was also in the high group with absolutely no reason to be there. I love purple and black together, but this dress is a mess. The proportions on this one are incredibly unflattering, the black fabric looks very cheap and wrinkly, and she made her model look like she has a gut. I really bet she doesn't. The pleating is nice, though. It's the nicest thing Carol Hannah has made on her own because it's not like, full of crazy and frippery. Though it still has some frippery (the tail?).
Christopher: I think Christopher is one of the most talented designers there, but this dress is probably the weakest thing he's made so far. It's not so bad, though. It's well-made and I love the color, which would definitely stand out at a party or whatever (I think that was one of the requirements of the challenge). But the proportions of the parts are just so... weird, and there's something kind of unflattering from it. And I don't like the different sizes of the black sash in the back view. It's pretty fierce from the side, though, actually, and it's not terrible. Certainly better than Althea's.
Epperson: This is definitely the best thing Epperson has done so far, even if it reminds me a bit of Nicholas' Week 1 dress (I think), with how tight and short it is and all the criss-crossing things in another shade or whatever. I don't love how he gave his model a gut, but the dress is really nicely made other than that and sort of darkly romantic. Additionally, it's sexy without being vulgar. The back is a little bit weird, though.
Gordana: It's a little basic and the dress doesn't stand out on that model. I mean, it's like, the same color that she is. I really don't like the ruching around the bustline, either. That always reminds me of cheap catalogue clothes, to be honest. Looking at the hem, it looks kind of wonky, too. Wow, I'm giving off the impression that I hated this. I actually liked it. I thought it was nice. I'm kind of a sucker for the longish-sleeves-short-skirt look, I own like 34 dresses like that. And I love the detailing.
Irina: I really like this dress. I think it was my favorite this week. At once, I wish I could see it without the jacket and kind of think the jacket makes the look. She used the pattern on the dress really nicely, when it could have possibly been an eyesore. And I love how the black in the hem of the dress ties back to the black jacket, which is why I think the jacket makes the look. I like the sash thing because I like that look, and I think it helps to create a really great silhouette on this outfit, but it does seem just a little... random. And I don't like the sloppy way it's tied. I would like to see the dress by its own, but I think the jacket really helps punch this outfit up to an impact look.
Johnny: Last night watching the episode, I was kind of fuming to a friend on IM who was also watching, because I didn't think this deserved to be on the bottom at all. That said, looking at it now, yeah, the judges were not wrong on this one. That bag is cute and I love purple (looking at it more closely, though, this is a dingy purple), but this dress is pretty bad. It looks sloppy, wrinkly, and overworked, and the fit in the bust is horrendous. The ribbon/sash thing just makes the dress look worse with how droopy it is. It's so unflattering on the model, too; she looks wide and like she has a huge ass. And maroon shoes with that dress and these accessories? Really, Johnny, what were you thinking.
Logan: Yeah, Johnny's might have deserved to be on the bottom, but Logan's ass, no matter how cute (and it is cute), should have gone home for this. The look is just so cheap. The top looks like bad lingerie a little bit. The lace effect is just not good at all. The bottom is lumpy, misshapen, and unflattering. And I hate the flower/feather... thing on the side. The model's styling is awful to boot.
Louise: This is my favorite thing Louise has made so far. It's very chic, and though there's a lot going on, I don't feel the need to yell at her to edit herself because the dress isn't crazy in any way. The detailing is gorgeous, but it doesn't add bulk to her model. There's been a lot of complaining about the neck and we've probably seen a thousand looks like this in Project Runway history, but I think it's really nicely done here. It's got a sort of girly romance compared to the rest of the dress, which is kind of structural and chic. The color is kind of dingy and looking at the photo, which only seems available from the front view, I don't know what that bulge on the side is (maybe a pocket?), but it's a lovely dress overall.
Nicolas: I thought this dress was really bad and he should have been in the bottom group. The overall look wasn't very good (seriously, what's up with the pattern of the gray? She looks like she's in a space suit) at all, but a good execution could have saved the dress. This... did not have good execution. The dress looked incredibly cheap, and it was a HORRIBLE fit on that model. And are the shoes cute, or do they look like orthopedic shoes? I can't decide. But this dress is bad; that, I can definitely decide.
Qristyl: Is this any great shakes? No. Did she deserve to go home for this? Hell no. It's simple to a fault, but I like it. The crinkled fabric adds interest without being unflattering to the model (on any actual woman, I wouldn't be sure, but they are designing for the models, so). The back is really hot. Something about the length of this dress makes it look a little bit cheap, but not hideously so like some of the other dresses. It's obvious the judges decided Qristyl had "taste issues" early on, and had it out for her since then. I'm not surprised she was an early out. True story: I actually like this better than Althea's. Yup.
Ra'mon: The flower is almost hilariously big, but I do like this dress. Between the fabric and the length, this dress really should look cheap, but it's a testament to Ra'mon's skill that it doesn't. It's beautifully made and the flower would definitely help the girl stand out, which was the point of the challenge. I love the trim in the flower petals/on the dress, too.
Shirin: Ehhh... I love Shirin, and I think she's been really strong so far, but this dress is not great. First off, it's really simple. This girl would never stand out. The color just seems a little... blah. It's like a dingy/cheap blue. Also, the fit seems kinda weird in places, and the hemline is just too short. As for the details used to add interest, the thing on the bustline just looks like an afterthought... but the detailing in the back is GORGEOUS. I love it, and it kind of saves the dress. But it's still no great shakes. And is it partially sheer in the back?!?!?!
Ranked, best to worst:
Irina
Louise
Epperson
Ra'mon
Gordana
Christopher
Qristyl
Shirin
Althea
Carol Hannah
Nicolas
Johnny
Logan
