'Project Runway': The ambassador of second chances

As they say at the beginning of every single "Project Runway" episode, the contestants discovered Thursday night that the competition is getting more and more intense. Life was sad without Anthony Williams, and the designers were given the additional tough news that they'd be designing for a very discriminating and opinionated celebrity client. Who was it? A tough celebrity client they've already designed for this season -- Heidi Klum. 

The designers got to work, but after repeated shots of Maya Luz's empty mannequin, we finally learned the big news about her: She was leaving the show now before she got any further and couldn't take the pressure. Tim Gunn tried to talk her out of it, but she didn't think she could "perform on command" past this point.

So, what do we make of Maya’s quitting? Is she wise and self-aware not to get in over her head? Yeah right. I take Emilio Sosa's point of view: Quitters never win. Despite Seth Aaron Henderson cursing at me for sitting at home and judging, I still think it would definitely be better for Maya to get to Bryant Park and fail dramatically and then bounce back than to be known from here on out as the girl who quit early. "I'm really shocked," Mila Hermanovski said, her facial expression and vocal inflection not changing in the slightest. It would have been funny if the credits had started rolling right then and the episode ended.

After the contestants went to Mood, Tim announced another development, but this one was much more positive: In order to level the playing field, Anthony was brought back! I never thought my wish that he'd return would come true so quickly. As Anthony said himself (about himself), "I like him, you should like him too!" Then in an additional but much less exciting twist, Seth Aaron found out that his model took a job with Donna Karan, which left him with new model Cerri (which, if you're wondering, is pronounced "Kerry.") All these changes somehow annoyed Mila, even though they didn't really affect her that much and the "announcements" probably took about 15 minutes out of her life tops.

To the designers' surprise, Heidi herself came into the workroom to inspect the work in progress. By and large she seemed satisfied with what she saw, except for Jonathan Peters’ work. I had a feeling, once he started on his cutwork, that Heidi wouldn't go for it. Based on the styles I've seen her wear, detailed, heavy fabric doesn't seem to be her thing, especially in long dresses. As I expected, Heidi thought his fabric looked like curtains (I actually thought she'd say a couch) and he went to work redrafting, and then redrafting the dress again.

Finally, after all the insanity, the designs came down the runway, with Jessica Alba serving as guest judge (with her blond hair I though she was Scarlett Johansson when she first came out).  Jay Nicolas Sario pursued his dress with the full ruffly hem and it was kind of cute and flirty, but I didn't think it looked like a red carpet dress, and I thought the slate color looked blah on my TV. The judges blasted it for making the model (and thus potentially Heidi) look like she had a big butt.

Mila sent a black dress down the runway with gold detail that looked unusually trashy for her and a little sleepy for the red carpet to boot. It resembled something someone would wear in Las Vegas, maybe. The judges also didn't care for that one.

Anthony's back, y'all. The judges and I both loved his half-black, half-white gown as it floated down the runway. It was sexy without trying too hard, classic and looked like it would be flattering on anyone, too. "Oh Jesus!" he said after he heard the judges' praise.

Surprisingly, Seth Aaron played it safe with his dress. The construction, as usual, seemed solid but it was a rather ordinary plain black dress, and Heidi complained that it didn't make the cleavage look "glorious."

Not surprisingly, Jonathan's piece didn't work so well. The draping looked interesting in some places but not very flattering on the hips. The judges hated the "dull pillowcase" look and color of the fabric, and overall it didn't look like a red carpet design.

Finally, the judges loved Emilio's glittery gown. Its coppery color was gorgeous and it fit the model like a dream, except I took issue with the thingie on the bust (if you know a better name for that, please let me know). I wish it had been bigger, or different, or not there at all. As it was, it looked like half of a set of Mickey Mouse ears to me. But what do I know -- the judges didn't seem to have any problem with it.

I figured either Anthony or Emilio would win, and while I was glad for Anthony's sake that he won with Emilio (Jessica Alba wanted to wear his dress. And I also credit Jessica with the wise words that Maya will learn that the real fashion world is harder than "Project Runway"), I sort of wanted the show to be tough and just pick one winner. 

Jay and Jonathan made up the bottom two, and I figured it was only fair Jonathan would be eliminated, since he's been on the edge the last few episodes, and there he went. But next week we get more Anthony!

-- Claire Zulkey (Follow me on Twitter @Zulkey)

Photo: Actress Jessica Alba, left, joins Nina Garcia on the judges' panel. Credit: Lifetime

Comments

[erica stephens]

The creative process is very difficult,so I disagree with you that Mila,s complaints were unwarented,it wasn,t a 15 minute break,it was 3 seperate interruptions.I really didn,t understand 2 winners,Seth finally hit a clinker,and I thought that little girl would have made it to Bryant Park.Anthony finally made a dress someone would wear,however all of his dresses were evening gowns.With Michael Kors still there,the winner at Bryaant Park will be the "seperates designer"

[Katharine Saavedra]

When I first heard that Maya had quit I was baffled. I couldn't see how she had anything to lose by continuing with the competition. If she didn't want to worry about winning than she had total freedom until she was "Auf'd". Then I remembered fashion week, or rather, the collection required for fashion week. She said she was spent creatively and exhausted mentally. I think the thought of coming up with a twelve piece collection and a thirteenth look, which has been sprung upon every finalist in every season, was too much for her. She was actually afraid of getting to fashion week and failing. Consider, would you want to get your dream shot at a moment when you are incapable of delivering your best work? I would have serious reservations. The question is, is it better to try to recover from a fiasco at fashion week or to try to get yourself another shot after letting the first one go? Ultimately, I don't know but I doubt anyone else does either.

[Lori]

What an exciting and frustrating episode!
Anthony is BAAACK... with a beautiful gown and a win. I couldn't be more pleased! As much as I hate to admit it, Emilio's gown was a photo op waiting to happen, except for that TAB TOP at the bust line --- looked like you could hook Heidi's dog collar necklace in that loop! But a deserved win, I guess..
As far as Maya's announcement - I applaud her "maturity and depth of thought" for her decision. She has successfully designed several wonderful pieces while on PR, and I completely understand why she wouldn't want to tank at Fashion Week. She is just starting her design career, and it is better to opt out with the PR ensemble she has designed thus far than to move on and lose herself.
Then there's Mila..... how she hasn't been auf'd yet BLOWS MY MIND... the tee-pee gay flag dress, the elemental waste, and her color-blocking efforts and she is still here...I'd rather see Amy still on than Mila...
Jay.. should have listened to Heidi and didn't...
Poor sweet Jonathan - he was trying so hard and failed.. miserably.. had he considered the dossier and realized his cut-work wasn't Heidi's taste maybe he would still be with us...

[Peter White]

Milla's outfit looked like one of those cheesy dresses in the Victoria Secret's catalogue, where you're looking at it thinking ... hmmm, kinda sexy but were do you wear something like that ... clubbing? there's no movement ... cocktail hour with coworkers? too slutty ... red carpet? no way. It was a decent episode but Maya's actions were foolish - especially since last season's winner / Tim Gunn student was contantly chastised for being 'inspired' by other designers - even at the end with BOTH sets of t-shirts she'd stolen ... oops, "borrowed"

Maya, get a hair makeover and start using your middle name - otherwise, don't ever plan on any investors since this industry requires 110% committment and you've flopped big time on that - for shame ...

[Amanda]

So very happy Anthony is back!!!! Never really expected him to make it to Bryant Park, but he's truly is such a breath of fresh air that it's wonderful to have him around.

Agree totally on the assessment of Maya quitting. Can't believe she'd make that decision.

Mila, like Jonathan, is on borrowed time.

[janet]

i guess i am the only one who thought emilio's dress was just awful. it looked like a prom/homecoming gown with a ?thingy? stuck to it. so annoying!! i thought anthony's dress was GORGEOUS and i was so happy to see him return, although i was sad to see maya go.

mila's boring dress looked like something serena or venus would wear to tennis practice. what is wrong with her?! jay's dress wasn't SO bad.