“When you’re in the bottom three, I’d be questioning why you’re even here.” Oof Erin, girl, you are not in a soundproof bubble. Kimber is two feet away! #dontbethatgirl
Okay, on with the episode. Tim and Heidi meet backstage and shut all the lights off to a blacklight setting then come out glowing, dancing and laughing on the runway. It actually reminds me of when Heidi would model in the Victoria’ Secret runway shows.
(Side bar: I know I’m not the only one to say I love when Heidi has fun with the designers. It makes her more relatable and human. Love her.)
They announce to the contestants that they have one day to create a look that must transition from daylight to blacklight on the runway. I LOVE THIS IDEA. I instantly thought of Season 13’s Rainway challenge when Sean Kelly had the amazing transformative dress when the water hit the dyes on the white fabric. I can’t wait to see what they come up with! Tim joins the designers in the workroom and introduces Sherianne James, VP of marketing for Transitions Optical. She announces the winner will appear in an exclusive add in Marie Claire magazine. What a fun challenge and great prize! They are totally set up for success with provided ultraviolet materials, a blacklight room in the back of the workroom so you can test out the colors and fabrics and also blacklight flashlights to take to Mood.
At Mood, Kimber is going for a printed lace, Erin picks this really beautiful liquid organza which is non reactive to the UV light, Dexter is going for a Stevie Nicks/White Witch from Narnia vibe and Jenni buys all different types of fabric and then a bit more for a backup plan (which is smart).
Back in the workroom we learn that it is actually Father’s Day and MJ, being a dad, gets to talk to his daughter and fiancée over FaceTime! After hearing his baby girl say, “Hi, Daddy,” he has a full breakdown. Speaking from experience, I know It’s hard to be in this situation because all you can do is think about your loved ones who you’ve left for a couple of weeks to be in this competition, but in all actuality, the competition will be over before you know it. You need to make the best of your time spent while here and know that everyone who loves you back home is supporting you 100 percent. I really hope he doesn’t let this get to him in the competition.
Critique Time with Tim is here! My highlights are:
Erin – I like the personality reveal. I love the nude with the baby blue.
Cornelius – I really like where this is going. I wish he focused a little less on everyone else and a bit more on himself because I know he can push the envelope a bit more.
Laurence – This has a great strong sophisticated shape. Not sure where it glows but I hope this works in her favor.
Roberi – LOVE this in the blacklight.
Okay, now for my “Uh-Oh SpaghettiOs”:
Kimber – She has to start again. The balance between the print and the solid is totally off. Tim calls it ugly.
Rik – I can already see the “Battle-slut Galactic Hoe” coming out.
MJ – I really like the idea of all the textures and the shape of the dress. Yes it doesn’t fit well, but that’s totally fixable. I am shocked when Tim tells him to, “Get rid of it. Scrap it.”
Jenni – She also scraps her idea and has to start over.Sheesh. There is so much “starting over” I feel like I’m in the self-help section of a bookstore after a divorce.
After her critique, Jenni dives in and starts taking apart her garment. She comes up with the idea to make a skirt, to then learn in the blacklight it has a ton of tears forcing her to scrap that garment too! AHHHHHHH MJ is having a total Jackson Pollock moment throwing paint all over his model in the back room. Queue the “Psycho” theme song.
Kimber is going in and painting her lace with puff paint which is sinking into the fabric, so I have no idea why she is still wasting her time doing this. I think she is going to be in trouble.
Runway Day
In one breath, Jenni says, “I’m in a really happy place right now… Oh no the paint is peeling.” I just can’t anymore. So many designers are having so many difficulties and roadblocks I’m going to have an anxiety attack just watching this. Models are dressed and off to the runway we go!
Cornelius – I like this Japanese Harajuku kangaroo doctor. I think the colors give it a great transition. Love!
Jenni – Amazing and impressive handwork. Loved the floating henna! This was what? The fourteenth look you did? Thank GOD it all came together!
Alex – He said it perfectly himself: “underwhelming.”
MJ – Welp this completely backfired. She looks like a mattress in a cheap motel.
Natalia – Love the shape, style lines and placement of the mesh inserts. However, I don’t like the colors chosen. I think this would have been more effective in all different tonal pinks or perhaps a fuscia purple instead of blue or something. I think the blue isn’t elevated enough.
Roberi – In daylight it’s okay, but in blacklight it completely comes to life and is a BEAUTIFUL jellyfish. I wish there was more of a balance between the two looks.
Kimber – She literally disappeared when the lights turned off but it was a cute dress.
Sarah – Wednesday Addams.
Rik– Hooker Betty Spaghetti.
Laurence – Good thing she has immunity. I expected it to pop and it totally didn’t.
Tasha – I liked the idea of combining the materials and textures, but it was just okay. I wish she pushed it more!
Erin – SO FUN. Great handmade motif on the skirt and it all came to life in the blacklight. Super sophisticated silhouette.
Brik – I have no clue who he is as a designer. This is a sack dress that can be made in 20 minutes. I think he’s in trouble.
Dexter – I like the two different shades of white and the drama from the fringe. It has great movement and I love the idea of the fringe earrings. He is always thinking about the full look which is great!
The top three are Jenni, Cornelius and Erin. The bottom three are Kimber, Rik and MJ. Erin takes the Gold! WOW! Two out of three challenges already! I’m impressed with how she beaded that whole skirt and made undergarments in such little time. It was overall very sophisticated and the transition between daylight to blacklight was great! Congratulations!
After the top three designers are dismissed to the backstage lounge. Cornelius thinks he is in a soundproof bubble when he starts to talk about Erin, who is RIGHT THERE. I just can’t. I just think Cornelius is jealous of Erin getting so much praise so early on and this is how he is reacting. I hope he turns this negative jealousy around and into something positive that lights a fire under him to wow the judges more!
Between the bottom three, I thought Kimber’s dress was way more wearable than Rik and MJ’s situations. But, unfortunately the judges sent her packing. Lets chop down the tree and yell, “Kimberrrrr.”
All in all, it was a fun episode. Let me know what you thought! You can follow me on Twitter @paluchristopher and Instagram @christopherpalu.
