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“Project Runway” recap 10.7: A whole lotta black dresses, with a side of sexism

Last week on Project Runway, Ven pissed off the entire world, while Gunnar emerged as the surprising sweetest gay of Season 10. This week, I’m hoping to not have my emotions whipped into a fury, and just be able to enjoy some really great designs again. Will it happen? Who the hell knows, but I’m trying to be optimistic!

What I do know is that this week’s challenge is a big one. The designers are brought to meet Tim at the flagship Lord & Taylor store in Manhattan, where they’re greeted by Lord & Taylor’s president, Bonnie Brooks, along with nine other dresses on display made by contestants from the previous nine Project Runway seasons. The idea is this: to celebrate 10 seasons of Project Runway, Lord & Taylor is going to put these nine dresses – plus the dress by the winner of this challenge – into production, to be sold at the flagship store and online. In addition, the winning look will be displayed in the window of the Lord & Taylor store on 5th Avenue.

In my view, this is one of the biggest challenges they’ve ever had. The winning look won’t just be worn on a runway or by a celebrity, but will be in production – anybody will be able to buy it. OK, “anybody” meaning any woman who’s able to afford a sophisticated Lord & Taylor dress, which they inform the contestants has to be able to run between $200 and $300. So, not me. But, you know, other people!

I’m also curious about how the dresses from the previous designers arrived at the store, since they weren’t designs I remembered from previous seasons – but I do have a horrible memory – and they also aren’t necessarily made by the winners of each season. For instance, I saw designs by Mondo and Chris March up there. Were there competitions between old designers to get their dresses chosen as well? Or are they in fact just old dresses from the show? Basically, I just want a way to see Mondo and Chris March again.

Regardless, they also don’t go to Mood – gasp! – as they’re using the fabric Lord & Taylor manufacturers use. They sketch their dresses and head back to Parsons. The difficulty with this challenge is they have to design an upscale feminine look that’s still mass production ready, something that’s fashionable but not too avant garde. And, for one reason or another, all the girls seem to be having more difficulty than the guys. Perhaps it’s because while most of the male designers this season have the girly dress conquered, a lot of the ladies actually like doing structured, badass, funky outside-the-box designs more. As Sonjia says, “It’s like the guys are more feminine than the girls are.” This is actually a really interest thought to explore on gender and design.

Ven, however, has another take on it. He says, “I think men are usually stronger designers, while women are a little more practical.” Oh, right! Stronger! More practical! That’s what the issue is! This sounds like such a weirdly out-of-tune patriarchal judgment that I wonder if Ven is living inside an episode of Mad Men. Dudes have the strength to make all the decisions and the big bucks in society while the ladies just stick to cleaning the house and being secretaries — you know, practical things. Yes, our pretty little minds could never reach the creative level of men. Huh? The fact that the president of Lord & Taylor is in fact a woman, and that every single guest judge on this season so far has been a woman, must just be anomalies, right? What the hell are you even talking about?

But anyway, back to a constructive discussion of gender and design. Even though Alicia is being forced to make another dress, she’s still making it her, even though she frequently says that the judges might not like it. When Tim comes in, he remarks that the more structured top of her dress appears a little Joan of Arc. He means it as a criticism, but she tells the camera: “Joan of Arc, that’s not a bad comment to me. It’s better than making a princess dress.” Ha! You stuck with your guns, Alicia!

As the hours drag on, Elena freaks out. Then Melissa freaks out. Sonjia freaks out. Up until the runway show, there is a lot of freaking out.

In happier news, Fabio has decided to put a garland of flowers on his head today. Fabio is sort of wonderful.

When it’s time for the dresses to all walk out, I have to say that it’s a whole lot of black dresses, which to my untrained fashion eye can all blend together. The one that really stands out to me is Melissa’s, which is a fantastic bronze color with an incredibly interesting and dramatic neckline going on. But for the rest, who knows. It’s up to the judges.

And what the judges have to say seems to surprise a lot of people.

Sonjia, Ven, and Dmitry are in the middle. Sonjia’s amazed she’s safe; Dmitry’s shocked he’s not in the top. I do agree that his looked pretty darn cool walking down the runway.

Then, instead of there being an even three on top and three on bottom, there are four on top, and two on bottom. The top four are Fabio, Melissa, Christopher, and Elena. Elena is so relieved that she’s in the top that she starts bawling on stage. It turns out she CAN combine her hard edge with femininity. Nina comments on the fabulousness of the back, which I agree with, perhaps because it allows us a peek of the model’s tattoo. More tattoos on models, please!

Alicia and Gunnar are in the bottom. Gunnar was so positive throughout the whole challenge that he had this one in his pocket, that while he is perfectly polite to the judges, inside he is incensed. They like his dress, but think it’s too typical. They also don’t hate Alicia’s, either. The harshest criticism is, not shockingly, from Michael Kors, who describes it as seeming almost like a field hockey uniform. Michael Kors, are you insinuating that field hockey uniforms aren’t sexy? Because, uh, I could argue with you on that one.

Eek. Awkward emotions all over the place. Also, I don’t want Alicia OR Gunnar to leave. Ahhhhh!

In the end, Christopher is the winner. While I do really like Christopher, this does disappoint me a little. His dress just didn’t do much for me. And I do agree with everyone else’s criticism, that he’s already done the shredding technique that he did at the top several times. Just as Ven has incorporated an intricate layered rose into his dresses almost every time. We get it! You can do this one really cool thing! But versatility is the name of the game, people.

When it comes down to Alicia and Gunnar, we learn that Alicia is safe, which I thought she would be from the judge’s relatively positive comments for her. And as Gunnar is left standing on stage, I think, “They can’t kick off Gunnar.” And the wheels of my brain start turning, and thinking about how they do have a little leeway still in the elimination process, from that episode where both Andrea and Kooan peaced out at once and they only brought back one designer to fill their space.

Alas, the wheels of my brain are correct. Gunnar is safe, too. The judges thought everyone’s work was on par this week, and no one deserves to leave.

From a competition standpoint, this is a little disappointing. The show can only truly move forward through eliminations. But from the wimpy, “Oh, I hate watching people being sad!” part of myself – and this takes up a large part of myself – I am happy! Tim Gunn is too! He doesn’t have to send anyone to clean up their workspace! Hurrah!

But what did you think? Did you think it was a boring move? If so, you can rest assured that from the looks of the preview for next week’s episode, there is plenty of drama on the runway again. Who would you have sent home?

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