"Project Runway": It's in the Jeans

I LOVED last night's episode! The show has hit it's stride and lost the dead weight, actual storylines and character studies emerge. I've been waiting for them to really put a spotlight on the designers, and the montage of Christian dry-heaving and rolling his eyes every second that he had to work with the denim was cah-lassic, as was the shot of Rami flashing TV's hottest smile (you can find it here at the 1:00 mark - heaven!)

Oh, and the other great thing about last night's show? Victorya got auf'd. I was never a big fan of her designs; I think maybe I liked the dress that she won with early on, but let's be honest, she was a condescending bitch, couldn't remember Sweet P's name after all this time (how do you NOT remember Sweet P?!) and the nerve of her to do a coat when she knew Jillian was doing one - quel horreur! She got what she deserved, and even her pouty little sad face didn't save her from the judges' dismissal.

The challenge, to rework Levi 501 products into a design of their choice that is wearable and "iconic". If you didn't see a win coming for Ricky, you are blind. Frankly, Christian should've won; he produced two pieces (vs. everyone else did one), and used a jacket to make a sick-fitting pair of pants, and pants to make a jacket, and his was truly the only one to successfully capture the "iconic" look of Levi's. He also knew he should've won (but then, he thinks that every time, no?) but as the reward of immunity will no longer be granted from here on out, it was an easier pill to swallow.

Throughout the episode, we kept hearing Ricky say how he's designing for himself, how he knows he is a good designer (then goes on to list his pedigree, just so we know...) It sets the stage for his forver-in-coming and questionable win. The judges probably made too big of a deal out of Ricky's dress, but it's all for the storyline...and the tears. Michael Kors announces that they have been waiting to see Ricky's lingerie expertise show up on the runway, and that in his strapless, corseted cocktail dress, they finally did. Cue the waterworks; even when he's being complimented, Ricky can't contain himself. He needs to realize that THAT is why the other designers are over him...well, that and his cheesy designs.

Ironically, following their mismatched pairing last week, the only two other solid contenders for the win were Sweet P and Rami (who notably were seen walking arm-in-arm...tear drop!) Rami's cocktail dress was way more innovative than Ricky's, and the only garment to give Christian's a run in the "iconic" department (both had a tough-chick/biker-girl edge to them). Furthermore, Rami finally stepped outside his comfort-zone (can't drape denim!) and ended up showing a whole new point-of-view. Bravo Rami; now come over here and let me give you a kiss.

Sweet P, bless her heart, started out making a WEDDING DRESS. This cringe-worthy inspiration, however, was worth it because we got to see a picture from her OWN wedding just two years ago. I would love a little more background on that courtship. Anyways, as has become her signature process, Sweet P ends up ditching her initial design after Tim can hardly contain his distaste for her "hippy-dippy" floor-length patchwork monstrosity, and she pulls off an adorable,very modern and chic tube dress, that really stood out from the other three, much darker and stiffer dresses. I'm beginning to think she's got a real chance at the final three. It'll come down to who cracks first, Jillian or Sweet P.

Again, Jillian's speech. What cartoon character is she reminding me of? Is it Elmer Fudd, just without the speech impediment? She's sooo slow, and so is her work process. Her decision to remake her almost-winning coat from last week was too ambitious and just plain flawed. But that footage of her wailing, "I'm bleeding everywhere!" is pure gold. Let's hope for more of that!

Chris was almost as uninspired as Victorya, and his decision to rework the little black dress in denim was too tame. Is he trying to curtail his costumey inclinations? Oh, and can I just point out that once again, the designers had to RUN in this episode (to fill their bags with denim at the beginning of the episode). That's twice so far this year...and who of course is bringing up the rear? Are they doing this just to be cruel?

And finally, our loser Victorya. The official line is how she just "wasn't inspired" by the denim challenge. Clearly. In what was one of the worst garments of the year, she literally attached a skirt to an already existing jacket. So lame, so lazy (as Christian astutely points out, it's something the rest of them could've done in two hours). She calls herself competitive all the time, but I think she's just immature. She saw the reception that Jillian's coat won them last week (and they possibly could've pulled out a win had the rest of the outfit - Victorya's responsibility - been stronger) and decided to make a coat herself. Well, turns out she can't, and even Jillian's overly-ambitious double-take of her previous coat beat out Victorya's would-be copycoat. Meow.

As important as the designs are, the satisfaction I felt upon viewing last night's episode had everything to do with expanded insights into the designers themselves, and even more footage of Tim Gunn critiquing their designs (two things on this note: 1) they didn't show Tim evaluating Christian's outfit in the workroom...strange...and 2) according to Tim's blog on Bravotv.com, the editors chose to show Tim saying, "It's stunning" to Ricky, when in fact, he was really saying, "fix this and this and this, and make sure it's stunning"...turns out Tim is somewhat baffled by Ricky's win, and just goes to show how manipulative the show can be...but whatever! Still love it).  After feeling kind of blah about the show this year, my excitment is revived and renewed, and I can't wait to see more of the designers true colors emerge and the personal drama unfold.  They are, in fact, making it work, and not a moment to soon.

New Top Three prediction: Christiam, Rami, Sweet P

Next week prediction: the challenge, apparently, is going to be designing for pro-wrestlers. A perfect forum for Chris to indulge his costume-making skills...I say it will be his undoing!

Image courtesy NBC