With only six designers left and an extra half hour to fill, Project Runway asked each of them to make three complete looks this week. The looks needed to fit in with Heidi's line of active wear clothes from Amazon.com and to make it harder, they were each saddled with a bitter, former contestant as an assistant. What a week!
It is just me, or have the Project Runway challenges been especially confusing this season? Normally, the emphasis is on high fashion looks but this is twice this season that they've been asked to make something ready-to-wear. Back at the beginning, they had to make a sportswear outfit and now active wear, next it will be pajamas for toddlers.

The designers were asked to make three looks to suit Heidi's existing line which was obviously inspired by old potato sacks. Black, gray, light gray, darker gray - nice pallet. So cheery. The designers assumed they were supposed to add something new and fresh, but many were knocked down for using different fabrics, colors and shapes. Where's the point in asking competing designers to create mirror images of clothes that already exist?

Andy and Mondo came out on top mostly because they added a touch of style to the drab line. Andy used swirls and stripes to give the colorless line a little pizazz. Instead of going boxy, he made slim, cropped pants with a loose top and a cute hoodie. His best look was an off the shoulder dress that I wouldn't call active wear but certainly clinched the win.

Mondo was lost at first without his usual outlet of crazy color and pattern. He turned to basic shapes instead and made outfits as an homage to the square, circle and triangle. He even made adorable headbands which he said was purely for the runway but the model said she would wear for real.



April also came out on top though one of her looks was totally unwearable. It was a short-short set with a flowy jacket that made the whole think look like baby doll pajamas. Michael Kors thought her two dresses were more party than runway and I have to agree. I don't see how, by any stretch of the imagination, anyone would wear her outfits while running errands around town and still she came out on top.

Gretchen was considered the best of the worst and she's lucky she didn't go home after giving Heidi attitude in the workroom. She tried to infuse some new fabrics and color into the line but Heidi shot her down. The worst of her looks had these strange, angled bike shorts under a ruched skirt and shapeless jacket. Nothing at all to see here . . . move along.



Christopher and Michael were at the bottom this week with outfits that were really no worse than anyone else's. Michael's primary problem was attempting to inject some color into the line, unfortunate his pumpkin pants didn't show so well. He also took a hit for not styling the looks properly and over-acessorizing them.  I thought the big belt on the slim, knit dress was very cute but what do I know?

Christopher gave up this week and it showed. He's not this kind of designer and instead of going out on top, he turned out three weak outfits that didn't suit him or the line. The biggest problem was that his pieces didn't go together. He had a white and pink zip-up jacket with a bright pink ruffle that looked like something a teen would wear. A razor back tank with a slouchy overshirt and harem pants which was more adult. The biggest offender was his shapely, sack of a dress with the black panel down the middle. It's like a short version of an old woman's caftan from the 70's. Oh Christopher, you're so much better than this.



Next week, it's the final challenge before the rush to Fashion Week. Mondo is still looking good for the top, April too. Michael is probably going home leaving Gretchen and Andy to fight it out for the final spot. What do you think about this week's designs and who is going to make it into the finale?


Photo Credit: Barbara Nitke/ Lifetime Television.