Project Runway 5: episode recap 5.12 “Nature Calls”
Episode 5.12 “Nature Calls”
Original Air Date: 10/01/2008
The designers begin their quest for inspiration.
Photo: Barbara Nitke
Last week sent Suede home, so we’re down to only four designers! Korto, Jerell, Kenley and Leanne and it’s really anyone’s game. As long as this week calls for a ’50s dress from Kenley, of course.
The Challenge
Heidi tells the gang that Tim is waiting in the lobby and they’re about to go on a little field trip. Off they go, and Kenley is feeling nervous that the challenge is going to take her out of her comfort zone again. Jerell tells us that they get off the freeway and head to the Botanical Gardens. Collier Strong, head creative designer of L’Oreal Paris tells the designers they have to create an evening look, inspired by the gardens.
They have 30 minutes and are armed with cameras, to capture the inspiration. Leanne is frightened of the bees, but that doesn’t stop her from being inspired by lavender flowers.
The group heads back to Parsons and Tim gives them 30 minutes to choose the image that will inspire the design. After that, it’s off to Mood and two days to work on their pieces. At Mood, everyone is scrambling as usual, and the closing shot is of this black fabric, apparently already cut and ready to be taken. Does this belong to someone? I have a feeling yes…
In the Workroom
Korto explains she’s just designing what comes to her, as she doesn’t have anything specific in mind. It seems to be the same deal with Jerell and Leanne.
And here it comes? Kenley is missing a Mood bag. She’s missing the tulle she needs to make the bottom of the dress poofy. Apparently others have tulle they aren’t using, but no one is giving theirs up. Kenley decides on using drafting paper to fill out the bottom portion of the dress.
The next day Tim tells Kenley that she will be able to go to Mood to pick up the fabric she left, so she feels much better. Meanwhile, we see Korto stuff loads of peach tulle into a bag (that she easily could have handed over to Kenley, but who could blame her), but as she says, when you have an ugly attitude, no one wants to help you out.
Kenley is alone, while the other designers joke around, and Tim lets Kenley know that she can go to Mood. Apparently, being left out is something Kenley has deal with her entire life, so she feels OK with it. I can’t imagine Kenley ever being left out of anything; her big mouth usually ensures she’s the center of attention. She gets her tulle and gives us a bit of a sob story, and just when you sort of want to be on her side, she comes out with, “I have to be at Bryant Park, if I am…I’ll have the best collection there…ha.” Christ.
Tim arrives in the workroom, and likes the direction that Korto is taking. He gets to Kenley’s dress and comments that it appears to have scales, which he doesn’t mean in a good way, and she takes it in a very good way. Again, she could care less about Tim’s comments or opinions, so I’m not sure why he still bothers, poor thing. He’s loving Jerell’s dress, but I have mixed feelings about the bust.
Over at Leanne’s work space, Tim offers some clarification. She needs it too, as her nerves are getting the best of her.
Tim gives the designers a few heartfelt words, and it’s creeping into everyone. Everyone is becoming emotional over the idea of showing at New York fashion week (couldn’t someone have told them EVERYONE would show at fashion week?).
The day of the show, everyone is running around. Kenley makes us hate her more as she goes on and on about how none of the other designers have what it takes. Apparently, Leanne’s look “has been done,” but I guess floral print sheath or full skirted dress has? Whatever, Kenley.
On the Runway
This week’s guest judge? Harvey Weinstein’s (the show’s producer) squeeze and Marchesa designer, Georgina Chapman.
Korto- Good, but hardly great.
Leanne- Complex, and not super pristine, so I’m a little worried.
Jerell- Pretty, but still lacks something.
Kenley- Very nice, but doesn’t really read as evening. The belt throws things off for me, big time.
The Elimination
Leanne explains her inspiration, and says she wanted to recreate the structure of lavender. Georgina loves the dress, and Nina says it looks great, but the back is off. Korto says her flower had a lot of texture, so she used the lace. The silhouette is great, but both Michael Kors and Heidi say it reads as pageant dress. I can see that, but for me it just sort of drapes in an odd manner, and that’s what makes me dislike it. The skirt is full, but not full enough, if that makes sense.
Korto is in tears over these comments. Nina says while she doesn’t like it, she also feels it isn’t Korto, which I agree with.
Jerell talks about the shades of plum that inspired him. Nina says it’s the most youthful, but notices the same execution mistakes that I did. No one is a fan of Kenley’s scaly number, and call it old. Kenley jumps in before anyone can finish a sentence, defending her reject dress to no end.
OK, and until this episode,we really haven’t seen much drama out of the Project Runway 5 bunch. Sure, we all hate Kenley for her smug attitude, but other than that, the show has been pretty tame. All of that changes when Jerell is asked what two designers he would like to see with him at Bryant Park. After choosing Korto and Leanne, he goes into why he WOULDN’T want Kenley there and blames the poor ’50s dresses! BAHAHAHA! She interjects, but he cuts her off, telling her she’ll have her turn. Leanne and Korto both choose the same three for the tents, and Korto says her reason for that isn’t because of the designers that they are, but because of the PEOPLE they are (ouch!), which earns a severe eye roll from Kenley.
BTW, everyone sheds tears as they give their speech about why they should make it, but Kenley rolling her eyes down at the end of the line makes for laughs, despite the sweet words from the other designers.
Kenley would want Leanne and Jerell at Bryant Park because, “classic doesn’t put on a show,” which is what she feels is all Korto is capable of. Ummm…when was the last time Kenley saw a “show” at Bryant Park? New York fashion week is easily the most safe (and arguably, most boring) of all the major fashion weeks in the world. Classic (if Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, and Diane Von Furstenburg are any indication) is the only thing we see from the high fashion bunch at the New York shows.
After Heidi dismisses the designers, the claws come out in the waiting room. Korto tells Kenley that anytime she has to defend herself, she must feel the need to call Korto out.
In deliberation, Leanne’s lavender dress is winning everyone over. Jerell’s dress is liked by Georgina, but Nina is afraid his collection would be too messy to show at the tents. Korto’s dress is lovely, but they feel she got lost somewhere along the way. Kenley’s dress is hated, and Georgina says she doesn’t see any of her taste in this dress. I don’t see what was so difficult about this challenge? It’s a freakin’ evening gown! Couldn’t anyone have gotten it right?
Everyone wants to go to fashion week, and I honestly have no clue who’s about to get the boot.
The designers come back to the runway, and Heidi claims that only three will compete and New York fashion week. Cue the Bravo lies, for the third season in a row. What’s the thrill of showing, if it’s you, and five other designers? Heidi names Jerell the winner of the challenge and then brings the news that all four will be sent home to create collections, but only three (supposedly) will show at the tents.
Next week, Tim visits everyone in their hometown as they create their collections, and SOMEONE IS OUT! I promise!
Tags: Bravo, Heidi Klum, Michael Kors, Nina-Garcia, Project Runway 5, Tim Gunn
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POSTED IN: Episode Resources, Fashion Television, Program Recaps, Project Runway, Project Runway Designers, Tim Gunn
1 opinion for Project Runway 5: episode recap 5.12 “Nature Calls”
Project Runway 5: catch up on your PR5 recaps…now that I have!
Oct 3, 2008 at 10:42 pm
[...] Episode 5.12 “Nature Calls” Episode 5.11 “Rock ‘n Runway” Episode 5.10 “Transformation” Tags: Kenley, Project Runway 5, Project Runway catch up [...]
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