I have a crush! It’s not love quite yet, but the cattiness presented by Cornelius in this week’s episode has left me weak. As you may know, hot gossip fuels me and I can always be found near shade to cool off. I’m so excited to see what else this sass machine has to offer.
Still sputtering from the shock of last week’s challenge, our designers try to digest the experience as best they can. The Episode 1 winner, Erin, has become the good luck charm for the women who share her room, while first runner-up Dexter reacts to the news that there are some “shady haters” talking trash about his work. Specifically, he’s reacting to hearing about Cornelius, who Mah-Jing calls “a mean boy.” Zing!
Sent on a mission by Heidi Klum herself, our designers arrive at a park overlooking the East River and find Tim waiting for them. He is joined by Traci Inglis, Chief Marketing Officer of JustFab and a woman who has no problem rocking a hot pink lip. As they discuss JustFab, a sea of women comes rushing towards the group, confusing and delighting the nervous designers. Tim and Traci explain that these 100 women are the typical JustFab customer, in that they’re not typical at all. “Everyday women” are as diverse as grains of sand, but they are united in their need for versatile clothing that makes them feel good about themselves.
Challenge:
In one day and with $150, design a look for the everyday woman. The winning look will be reproduced and sold on JustFab.com.
After sketching by the water, the group heads to Mood, where they race around the store as if their hair, the fabric and the store are all on fire — except Laurence, who twisted her ankle while twerking. (What I wouldn’t give for a GIF of usually graceful Laurence injuring herself while twerking.)
In the workroom the designers unpack their materials. At this point we get to learn a little more about the history of both Linda and Laurence. Linda was a television journalist until she left her career to be a full-time mom; Laurence was a student and model who also happened to be a teen mom. It’s wild how different their paths have been and yet both have led to “Runway.”
While Linda and Laurence are busy being their own unique versions of the “everyday woman,” Cornelius is in a class of his own. Sass is passively-aggressively being thrown back and forth across the workroom, in the sewing room, in the lunch room. Every last inch of this place is just brimming with overheard sass.
Tim breaks the tension when he comes in for critiques like a gentle wrecking ball. He tries to calm Alex’s perfectionist tendencies (ain’t nobody got time for that in a competition, after all), advises Cornelius to make separates for more versatility, and urges Laurence to consider body types that might be outside her comfort zone.
Brik, who believes last week’s brush with the bottom two has given him better direction in the competition, is worried about his look. He’s chosen a green leather for a shoulder detail on a grey blazer he plans to pair with a patterned pant. Tim explains that less might be more in this case, and Brik simplifies accordingly. In my humble opinion, that green leather material was way more interesting and wearable than the patterned knit Brik chose for the pant, and probably could have (and should have) been repurposed to create a cool skirt of some kind. But hey, I’m a doctor, not a fashion mentor. I’m also not a doctor.
During fittings Kimber has nothing for her model to try on, so instead she stands on her tippy toes taking measurements and stressing out. Linda does have a dress but thinks it’s “not that exciting,” and then realizes it’s far too big for her model anyway. And because she’s chosen a knit fabric, the material stretches like crazy as she attempts to take it in. Your time in Mood matters, people!
While most of the designers make fixes to their garments, Cornelius bounces around the room talking smack about Brik’s pants. He starts every diss with, “No shade, but…” which is deliciously shady. And to be fair, he has a point: Brik got slammed for the pant he created last week, but he’s essentially reusing that very pattern this week. Why take that risk? Then again, Cornelius’ age is showing in the way he gossips without fear of repercussions. Oh, to be young again!
In the minutes before the runway everyone is frantic but also manage to take a few minutes to salivate over Laurence’s jumpsuit.
Runway:
In a slinky, satiny dress, Heidi reintroduces us to our pals Zac and Nina, as well as Nina Dobrev, star of upcoming film “XXX: Return of Xander Cage.” Tim also joins the panel, as usual he is not a judge but a welcome guest.
The Top:
Alex: A black sheer long -sleeved crop top with an oversized floppy satin bow at the neck and pleated black cropped trousers. Alex dressed the model in a pink tank underneath his top to increase the customizable element of the look. He’s also done a terrific job styling this look with a black fringed clutch and black booties. It’s so wearable and chic. Heidi and both Ninas love the look — Nina Garcia even says that she would wear it. Zac says he’s seen the bow before but still appreciates its overall effect.
Laurence, the winner: A loose, Army green, drop-crotch short-sleeve jumpsuit with oversized pockets and a pop of orange along the backbone. It’s impeccably made, styled well with some pumps and a yellow bag, and just generally comes off as super cool without trying too hard. Heidi loves how easy the look is, mentioning that even her mom could wear it. Nina Garcia and Zac both find the proportions “fresh.”
Erin: A baby blue neoprene A-line dress with red elbow-length neoprene sleeves. Around the waist Erin used the red neoprene to add a modified belt, which can be adjusted to change the shape of the dress. It looks clean and it’s very smart, though there is quite a bit of volume. Maybe too much. Zac is impressed, calling it “high fashion.” Nina Garcia appreciates the use of color and says it helped the look to stand out on the runway. Heidi is the only one on the panel to mention that the look might be a little too edgy to be truly wearable, calling it “cartoonish.”
The Bottom:
Kimber: A dark high-waisted wide-leg trouser with an A-line high-low blue and white patterned crop top. She’s added the print from the top as a pocket lining in the pant, which Zac notices and likes immediately. In general the judges notes are the same as mine: The pants are great and good for so many body types, but the top is hard to wear if you have any sort of shape. Nina Garcia docks Kimber points for being a little boring.
Linda, the loser: A knee-length grey sweater dress with a cut-out across the chest. Over the dress Linda has added a sheer off-white gauzy jacket she refers to as an “urban kimono.” In general the choice of fabric (both color and texture) makes the whole outfit super drab. Nina calls it “shabby,” and she and Heidi agree that knit is a really hard fabric to wear. Linda does defend her choices but to no avail. The judges admonish Linda, claiming that this of all challenges should have been the one that she nailed.
Brik: A blue-grey blazer with black and grey patterned knit pants. Brik claims he used a friend of his as inspiration and I kind of feel like he should apologize to his friend. Nina G. says the look has “no personality” and is upset at the choice of a knit pant. Like Zac, I “have so little to say” about this look.
The glorious Laurence wins after retooling her look to work for many body types. Her jumpsuit will be reproduced and sold on JustFab.com. I really feel like Laurence’s past might be why she’s so great at adapting and might have helped to inform her strong point of view.
Sadly, one must win and one must go. I feel like Linda is gone too soon. I don’t deny that her look this week was a hundred kinds of wrong, but I loved her look last week and I think it is admirable that she took a chance. Brik is on my list, though — he better step it up.
