Ashley crying again? Check. Swapnil taking smoke breaks? Check. Puckering pleather from Candice?Check. Tim cursing several expletives? Oh dear! This episode had it all, and then some. Lots to discuss…
The designers meet up on the runway stage where Heidi saunters in, asking them if they have enjoyed “getting to know all of us…and I mean ALL OF US” (as the camera pans to the crew). Cut to Tim in the workroom, along with Sally Beauty Consultant Liddy Bisanz and Gregory Patterson, chief hair stylist for Sally Beauty. They are all there to announce the Sally Beauty Challenge: Makeover a “Project Runway” crew member and take them from “workday ordinary to runway extraordinary.”
The remaining six designers are coupled with their makeover victims, I mean, subjects. The pairings are as follows: Katie (camera assistant) and Merline, Desiree (sound mixer) and Edmond, Jennifer (production coordinator) and Swapnil, Nicole (challenge assistant) and Ashley, Monique (model wrangler) and Candice, and Ashleigh (talent manager) and Kelly. I was especially excited to see Ashleigh as one of the makeover clients. She was our talent manager on “Under The Gunn” and working with her was truly one of the highlights of filming UTG.
After a brief consultation with their crew member clients, we get tidbits of what they like: Katie (Merline’s client) describes her personal style as “fun and flirty,” but is a bit worried that Merline will give her big shoulders. Nicole (Ashley) wants a form fitting dress with sleeves that she can wear to a wedding as well as a casual event. Desiree (Edmond) describes her style as “practical” and would love a raincoat. Monique (Candice) is going to get something in leather or pleather—it’s Candice after all. Ashleigh (Kelly) loves overalls and tanks and Jennifer (Swapnil) wants her arms covered, while Swapnil declares he is going to give her a “bombshell” makeover.
Post Mood trip and back in their workroom, the designers have barely turned on the sewing machines and Ashley is already crying. She tells one of her fellow designers that she feels as if “everything has been sucked out of her.” Seriously, why is she ALWAYS crying in almost every challenge and repeating the “I can’t take it anymore” narrative. Stop the crying and get to creating. Besides Ashley crying, Swapnil is taking his smoke breaks. And once again, the camera crew (those not getting makeovers) are following his every move, making me wonder if his lollygagging will be a subject of discussion during runway, if not before.
Day two and it’s time for Tim’s check-in and client fittings. Tim is “profoundly underwhelmed” by what Candice is doing. The H&M comment/diss was on-point (and hilarious). Katie, who has already stated her distaste of Merline’s penchant for big shoulders, is in shock (as I am) seeing Merline’s puffy-sleeved jacket. Ashley is not faring any better with her client, Nicole, creating a dowdy off-the-shoulder printed dress better suited for June Cleaver’s medicated stepsister.
Several things: Ashley has been handed HER IDEAL CLIENT—someone who is plus-size (barely)—and she can’t even design for her. Why is this so difficult? You’d think she could do this with her eyes closed and yet…not so much. It may sound harsh but I think this may say volumes on Ashley’s design ability and limitations of her talent.
And then there is Swapnil. He’s creating a rather bland wrap top and skirt. Jen, his client, is not loving it. Besides that, Tim deems it too basic and wonders what the heck he’s been doing for the last day and a half since it’s not in any shape for Jen to try on. The usually even-keeled Tim finally snaps, calling out Swapnil’s lack of productivity as a “bunch of bulls*it” adding that he was “really fed up” and, “What is the f-ing point?” I can only imagine Tim’s frustrations. But this is what really got to me. When Tim asks him, “Why are you here?” Swapnil answers, “To understand who I am as a designer.” PS: Wrong answer. He should have said, “Because I’m here to WIN!” Honestly, I’m so tired of the “I’m here to LEARN!” stuff coming out of the contestants season after season. You should go on a competitive reality show to win or at the very least TRY to win. Everybody learns something about themselves and their abilities along the way, but that is just an obvious by-product of the show and NOT the sole purpose.
Day of runway and Swapnil and his client Jen are still at odds. After having yet another unfortunate second fitting the night before, he’s made a third outfit and it’s still not what Jen would ever wear or like. She’s crying and this cannot end well. On the runway, guest judges include actresses Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer of Lifetime’s “UnReal.” (PS: I LOVE that show!)
And now for the runway makeovers. My favorites were Kelly and Merline’s designs. I thought’s Merline’s vest, skirt and top ensemble for Katie was high fashion Punk and well-executed. Nina was correct in also adding that the makeover as a whole was one of the most impacting. Kelly’s eggplant-colored overalls and knit jersey tank were on-point with Ashleigh’s style but elevated. I concur with Nina (once again) that it was nice to see Kelly be able to refine her design aesthetic and make it more Alexander Wang and less Jeremy Scott. Kelly deservedly wins her second challenge this season.
Edmond’s look of raincoat, top and skirt involved a lot of work and kudos to him for doing it. I liked the weaving of his top but the overall look was a bit disjointed and forced. However, the truly unsuccessful designs were Ashley, Candice and Swapnil. All three failed at creating a design that was fashionable while at the same time meeting their client’s demands. Ashley’s look did not flatter her client. The silhouette was wrong, cutting her client’s figure in all the wrong places. But the biggest problem was the fabrication. The print looked like something from the discount bin at JoAnn’s. Meanwhile, Candice’s look for Monique was lacking any taste level. The judges thought it made her look like a “lady of the evening,” but I argue she looked more like a rap star’s groupie at the BET Awards…in 1987. It also had a lot of puckering, something that seems to be a consistent issue in Candice’s pleather creations. And what was with the chiffon shawl?
But it was Swapnil’s boring, un-creative “Caped Crusader” outfit for Jen, that made the judges reach their boiling point. His client was not happy, the design was uneventful and the unfinished knotted-and-pinned construction put the nail in his “Project Runway” coffin. Tim continued to make his feelings about Swapnil quite apparent when he did not even bother with his “come and hug me goodbye” outstretched arms as Swapnil was bidding his adieus. In “Tim Speak,” that was goodbye and GOOD RIDDANCE! Obviously Tim’s frustration was coming from the fact he knew Swapnil had the talent to win the show, but it was his lack of focus and drive that did him in. Let’s hope he at least achieved his goal of “understanding himself as a designer,” because I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him resurrected on Season 6 “Project Runway All Stars.”
