Cynthia Rowley (who is 53, btw!) was the guest judge for this challenge. She and Joanna Coles had an eating contest backstage. Which is to say, they compared notes on when they last ate ("I ate in my 20's!" "I haven't eaten since I was breastfed!")
This week brought an interesting challenge for the remaining eight designers. Each had to design a look for a specific season (Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, for those of you not raised in a temperate zone and wondering why no one was designing for the Monsoon Season or something) and face off directly against the other designer showcasing that season.
So after a variation of the velvet bag process in which the designers had to pick from a series of giant chunky purses that would then have absolutely nothing to do with the challenge itself, it came down to the following pairings:
Fall: Mila and Rami
Winter: Jerell and Michael
Spring: Kara and Austin
Summer: Kenley and Mondo
The real drama of the workroom, perhaps the entire episode, was the Great Coat Caper. Namely, did Michael Costello steal Jerell's idea for the winter coat? Well, according to editing (and by "editing" I mean all of the words that came out of Michael's mouth) he did. He totally did. Which is weird, because Jerell usually makes shitty clothes. But I guess the one time that Jerell made something good, someone had to done go an' steal it.
Michael finding his inspiration. "Oh look! It's over there, at Jerell's table!"
Joanna looking particularly
Joanna hearing about CoatGate for the first time. Michael, acting like he is shocked that anyone is bringing this up.
Joanna, deciding to continue bringing it up, this time in front of all of the designers. They have a panel discussion about whether or not Michael is a design stealer and a poopie head. No one seems to complain that this is taking up half of their own work time. Who doesn't love being in on the gossip?
Will Jerell be vindicated? Will his coat be better than the knock off? Let's find out!
First, a look at Spring:
You'll see that Austin's design, here on the left, was inspired by ugliness. Ugliness and old ladies. A lot of people have been throwing around the name "Golden Girls" but let me tell you, none of those fine ladies would have been caught dead (or even on life support) wearing this pile of ill fitting beige ugliness. Was he trying to be ironic? Why did he think any woman wanted to see the return of the blousy front pleated pants?
Meanwhile, Kara's design, on the right, is something I would probably wear. Granted, I'd wear it after buying it at the mall (and by "mall" I mean "Wal-Mart") so I'm not sure why we needed a Project Runway All Star to design it.
Next: It's the Polka Dot Wars of Summer!
I've heard a lot of people say (like a LOT, a lot) that Kenley's jumpsuit thing on the left is something that almost every girl would want to wear. I'm not going to beat around the bush. I am far too old and far too fat to even understand that comment.
Meanwhile, Mondo's look on the right is okay, but it is a bit of a watered-down version of a Mondo look.
But together they remind me of a glamourous 1960's mom (on the right) going out shopping with her oddly-sexy toddler (on the left).
Next up: Fall
On the left we have Mila's cape, which looks exactly like the model was trying to fight her way out of a paper bag and somehow cut her arms up so now she's bleeding everywhere. Creepy.
And on the right we have Rami's...uh...look. Is it a coat? Is it a blouse? Is it an excuse to make the model look 30 lbs heavier? Cynthia Rowley is NOT having that! How DARE you suggest a woman should look like she has flesh?! Off with his head! (Which weighs 8 lbs, according to Jerry Maguire.)
And finally, WINTER. Which awkward grey coat do you like better?
Jerell's is on the left, Michael's on the right.
How you're supposed to react: OMG! They're exactly alike! OMFG! Jerell's is SOOO much better! ZOMFG! Michael Costello is SUCH a thief! WTF?!
How I actually reacted: Uh, they're not that similar. The main similarity is the fabric choice, which was done long before anyone entered the workroom or started looking over their shoulders for inspiration. And Jerell's (on the left) isn't really better. It's messier and more bohemian and it's interesting that he did something a little different by making it sort of an oversized cape/coat combo, but in the end, would it sell? Like, for real, would it sell? I'm not so sure. There's so much fabric you'd only want to wear it in seriously cold winter weather, yet the sleeves don't come down to the wrists and the slit on the side never seems to stop. It's a LOT of houndstooth, which reminds me of Sears catalogues from the mid-1980's, but not in a good way ("a good way" would be if I saw Exercise Barbie and She-Ra dolls from the 1985 Sears Wishbook). Plus that side pocket seems more like an awkward front pouch.
Michael's coat (on the right), on the other hand, is tailored, put together and has "a point of view" as fashionistas are so fond of saying. But that wouldn't make good television, would it?
The best part of the runway was when the designers stood next to their models and we discovered that it was Dress Like Your Model Day on PRAS! It's like somebody was playing a game of "Can You Match the Designer With Their Model" and they got them all right!
In the end...
Jerell won. Was it because of the Coat Gate scandal? Well, I don't want to speculate but...YES. OF COURSE IT WAS.
But sadly, Rami was sent home. How many of you gasped when you heard that news? I know, Rami went home before Kara?! No one was more surprised than Kara herself. She talked about it for most of the rest of the episode and well into the next.
I guess that means Rami does not win PRAS. Ladies, adjust your bets (MONDO FTW!)
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