Project Runway Recap: S13 E10

In which the designers attempt to give strangers makeovers, but mostly end up making them look way worse.

Previously: We waxed nostalgic over the American Girl dolls, and Sandhya’s toddler terror design got her the auf.

The Challenge: The designers must find a previously-screened and producer-approved thin woman stranger in Washington Square Park and convince her to be their client/muse/model/makeover victim. In two days, the contestants must make these ladies over (though half of them looked better before they ever met these designers), and the winning look and model will be featured in a Mary Kay ad in Marie Claire.

Guest Judges: Model Ashe Leland and actress Michelle Monaghan.

ALEXANDER KNOX
Eliminated

Photos: Lifetime

Farewell, Alexander. This was one in a long line of unfortunate looks from him, and it felt like his time to go. This was awkward, lumpy, and sad, and there wasn’t much in the way of design to begin with. She looks like Taylor Swift with manic depression. The only positive thing I can say about it is that Alexander’s original design – which Tim Gunn was not about to let walk down the runway – was much, much worse.

AMANDA VALENTINE
Bottom 3

Photos: Lifetime

This was a crime against Amanda’s beautiful model. She looked virtually flawless when we met her, but Amanda made her a terribly-fit dress that did not even remotely consider the model’s body. She is NOT a big girl, but Amanda made that hemline hit at the least-flattering point on the model’s thigh. The dress is boring, the print doesn’t line up – even after Tim lectured her about it – and, in the immortal words of Regina George, that vest was disgusting.

CHAR GLOVER
Bottom 3

Photos: Lifetime

Char forgot this wasn’t the American Girl doll challenge, I guess. Or she’s been driven crazy by lack of sleep. Because I cannot understand how she thought she could put a grown-ass woman in this outfit. And she basically got a second Tim Gunn save in this episode when, two minutes before Tim called time, her model was naked from a zipper fiasco. I completely understand not wanting this woman to have to expose herself on the runway – she’s not a model and didn’t sign up for that – but Tim’s solution to the problem was INSANE. Instead of giving everyone ten extra minutes to work on their designs, Tim asked the designers (on camera and in front of the clients) if they minded giving Char – and only Char – an extra ten minutes. They agreed, because they couldn’t very well say no with every eye on them, and then spent the rest of the episode bitching about it. And although it’s not at all Char’s fault – they should have directed their bitchiness towards Tim and the producers, not her – it was total bullshit. Tim used to be the one we could count on to call out these contrived shenanigans, but they’ve pulled him over to the dark side. It makes me so sad.

EMILY PAYNE
Top 3

Photos: Lifetime

This was ChaCha DeGregorio levels of flamenca craziness, but it actually suited the client perfectly. It wouldn’t have worked for almost any other woman, in any other context, but a European ballerina could definitely wear this to a gallery opening and fit right in.

KINI ZAMORA
Top 3

Cheap mall clothes. It’s fine, but it’s not a makeover. She looks like someone who can’t let go of the fact that the 80s are over. It’s exhausting that we still have to pretend that because Kini sews quickly, that means he’s a good designer.

KORINA EMMERICH
Winner

Photos: Lifetime

I barely remember this outfit, but I’d probably award it the win as well, if only because there was really not much happening on this runway. This was the only woman who looked like she actually underwent a makeover, but most of the credit for that goes to the hair stylist. The jacket is cool, and that’s about it.

SEAN KELLY

Photos: Lifetime

I was basically yelling at my screen, “No, Tim! Don’t tell Sean you can’t see his aesthetic in it! He’ll just add fringe!” AND THEN HE DID. He also made his model look twenty years older than she actually is. This poor girl is 24, but you’d never know it from that matronly hair and makeup. Sadly, I’d still have to stick this in my top three just because I can’t accept Kini’s denim-on-denim in that spot.

Judges’ Top 3: Korina, Emily, Kini
Diva’s Top 3: Korina, Emily, Sean
Judges’ Bottom 3: Amanda, Char, Alexander
Diva’s Bottom 3: Amanda, Char, Alexander

Next time: It’s a Korina vs. Char showdown in S13 E11 – The Highest Bidder.

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© Democracy Diva, 2014.
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