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This week the designers worked in two teams of six to create a six-piece collection that followed the trends of fall 2010. Since Michael C. won the challenge last week, he picked his first teammate: Gretchen (a bit precarious given most of the designers can’t stand her!). Heidi drew April’s name out of a bag, and then she chose her teammate. They went back and forth choosing new teammates until only Peach was left, automatically placing her on April’s teams. Team Luxe, which included Michael C. Gretchen, A.J., Christopher, Andy and Ivy, seemed like the team to beat (and they had no reservations thinking or saying it), while team Military & Lace, which included April, Peach, Casanova, Valerie, Mondo and Michael D., was the clear underdog.

Coming as no surprise, Gretchen took the role as leader of Team Luxe and decided on a tailored menswear theme, while Team Military and Lace obviously went with a military theme embellished with lace. Tim made his usual workroom rounds, and warned team Military & Lace that lace can look old easily. Tim then zones in on Casanova’s garment, saying ” I’m going to be blunt. Casanova, your look is looking like the mother of these women. It needs to be youthened up.” This drives Casanova to have a breakdown and leave the workroom. Tim then visits Team Luxe and Gretchen explains their concept with her I’m-better-than-everyone-else attitude. Tim tells the team that by comparison to the other team, their designs looked “ho-hum.” Take that Team Luxe!

The models arrive for the fitting and Casanova is still missing from the workroom. Casanova’s model finds him and after a little pep talk, he comes back to the workroom ready and determined to make an amazing design. The teams finished their designs, and then the models were off to the runway! The judges loved team Military & Lace and deemed them the winners. Casanova’s sassy and well-tailored outfit won best of the week!

The judges despised the other team’s designs, saying that they’re boring, ill-fitted, had no design, the colors were ghastly and more. Team Luxe decided to ban together and not throw anyone under the bus (gag!). Gretchen starts off by saying that she was really proud of the designs and that there are no weak links–cue Gretchen’s tears. After what seemed only a few seconds of critique, Gretchen starts backpedaling her previous statements, saying that “we very late in the game realized that Grandma had arrived…I also feel like I had to style maybe a crappy collection–I was trying to save it.” Heidi immediately questions Gretchen, stating “What do you mean you’re trying to save it? Before you loved it!” Gretchen freaks out, and then throws Michael C. under the bus, whining that she spent to much time helping him because his skills are under par to where they should be. Since Michael C. won last week, he had immunity and the judges asked the other team memebers who they think deserves to go home except for Michael C. Foolishly no one names anyone except for Michael C., and then the judges deliberate. The judges tell the designers one by one that they’re safe until only A.J. and Gretchen are left. After a few moments of built-up tension, the Heidi announced that Gretchen she was safe and they said goodbye to A.J. Tim, who usually pleasantly says goodbye to the fallen contestant, comes in the back room outraged and said to Team Luxe, “I fundamentally do not understand your behavior and demeanor and affect on the runway…I don’t know why you allow Gretchen to manipulate, control, and bully you.” Tim also said that A.J. took the bullet for Gretchen’s mistake. Cut to Gretchen shocked and dismayed by Tim calling her out! A.J. tearfully packs up and leaves, saying “It’s really hard to know that you’re going home for something that doesn’t have a trace of you in it.” Poor A.J.

Team Military & Lace’s designs

(Mondo)                                                        (Peach)

(Valerie)                                                      (April)

(Casanova)                                                (Michael D.)

Team Luxe’s designs

(A.J.)                                                         (Andy)

(Christopher)                                                    (Ivy)

(Michael C.)                                              (Gretchen)

*Photos courtesy of Brother International Corporation

Tune in this Thursday for more fashion fun!

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Episode 3 ended with Ivy fainting, but don’t fret! We find out in the beginning of episode 4 that she just plain forgot to eat. Ivy was nourished back to health and ready to sew in no time.

In this episode, the contestants made designs that coordinated with a Philip Treacy hat. As a twist, the designers picked the model who sported their favorite hat, allowing the opportunity to work with another designer’s model. Low and behold everyone picked the model they have worked with since the beginning, making it a pretty humdrum twist this episode.

This week the judges and designers disagreed on who they thought had the best and worst designs. The judges and designers did mostly agree that April’s diaper mess and Kristin’s satin dress were the worst designs. However, the designers thought that Michael C. also had one of the worst designs, but the judges picked him as the winner. The designers also thought that Christopher had the best design this week, but the judges put him in the bottom three. My question is, how did Casanova’s black ensemble that Tim deemed “Donna Karan 1988″ slide through unscathed? But for the first time Gretchen wasn’t in the top three–I couldn’t believe it! Ultimately, Kristin went home for her ill fitting satin dress. I definitely thought April was going home for her diaper monstrosity, but I guess you never know what the judges are going to do.

(Left to right: Michael C.’s design, Michael D.’s design)

(Left to right: Valerie’s design, Kristin’s design)

(Left to right: April’s design, Christopher’s design)

(Casanova’s design)

Did you agree with the judges this week? Who had your favorite and least favorite designs? Tune in this Thursday for more fashion drama!

Designers at work:

*Photos courtesy of Brother International Corporation

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The designer’s creativity was put to the test in episode three, as they each made garments using materials purchased from a party store. Tim explicitly stated not to purchase tablecloths or other items that resembled fabric yardage. What did Casanova do? He purchased tablecloths, saying that he can’t “make a dress with bull****.” My favorite line from this episode has to go to Michael Kors in response to Casanova’s dress on the model: “She looks like a transvestite flamenco dancer at a funeral.” Valerie’s “however comma” remark comes in close second!

(Casanova’s design)

Gretchen is fast becoming the most hated with her overall “I’m better than everyone else” attitude. She did of course land at the top again this week along with Andy and Valerie. But this time Andy won with his twisted ribbon dress, with Gretchen coming in second for her three-piece ensemble and Valerie in third for her elegant dress made from napkins. I have to say that I preferred Valerie’s garment over Gretchen’s, but to each is own.

(Andy’s design)                                        (Valerie’s design)

(Gretchen’s design)

Casanova, Sarah and AJ landed at the bottom. Sarah ultimately went home for her humdrum palm tree dress. My guess is that Casanova’s just too entertaining to let go of yet! After judging, Ivy fainted and was rolled out on a stretcher by the paramedics. We’ll have to wait until next week to find out if she makes it to sew another day.

(Sarah’s design)                                          (AJ’s design)

Who had your favorite design? Who do you think will be out next? Stay tuned this Thursday to find out!

Some of the designers hard at work:

(Left to right: Michael C., Kristin, Ivy)

(Left to right: Valerie, Mondo, AJ)

*Photos courtesy of Brother International Corporation

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Episode two of Project Runway aired last Thursday, and this time the designers faced the challenge of making fashions that represented the Marie Claire woman–a sexy, confident, practical and fashion-forward woman.

Some designers nailed the challenge, while others struggled, with the most strange award going to Jason’s “infinity” dress! Poor Peach struggled as well, constructing three different garments with her not-so-modern polka-dotted fabric before deciding on a, as the judges said,”ladies who lunch” dress.

Gretchen won again with her jumpsuit, barely beating Valerie’s bold red dress. For being the winner, Gretchen’s garment appeared on a NYC billboard–talk about exposure!

We said goodbye to two this week: Jason with his infinity dress and Nicholas with his open-backed top, cape and skirt ensemble. Tune in this Thursday for more fashion, fun and drama!

Images of some of the designers hard at work:

(Left to right: Sarah, Mondo, Kristin)

(Left to right: Andy, A.J, Casanova)

Favorite judge fashions:

(Left to right: Gretchen’s design, Valerie’s design)

Least favorite judge fashions:

(Left to right: Jason’s design, Nicholas’ design)

(Peach’s design)

*Photos courtesy of Brother International Corporation

Season 8 of Project Runway kicked off Thursday, July 29th with the first episode titled “And Sew It Begins.” The 17 designers met Tim and Heidi at the Lincoln Center where the contestants were given their first challenge. Each designer had to pull something out of their suitcase to use as the base of their design, and then as a twist, they had to turn the item over to another contestant. The contestants only had five hours to complete their fashions, and this is what they made:

(From left to right: AJ’s design, Andy’s design, Christopher’s design)

(From left to right: Ivy’s design, Kristin’s design, McKell’s design)

(From left to right: Michael C.’s design, Mondo’s design, Nicholas’ design)

(From left to right: Casanova’s design, Peach’s design, Sarah’s design)

(From left to right: Valerie’s design, April’s design, Gretchen’s design)

(From left to right: Jason’s design, Michael D.’s design)

*Photos courtesy of Brother International Corporation.

Ivy, Casanova, Jason, Nicholas, April and McKell had the worst designs according to the judges, with McKell ultimately going home. Gretchen’s dress was deemed the best by the judges.

What do you think? Which designs did you like best? Which ones were less than impressive?

Project Runway airs Thursdays on Lifetime. Check your local listings for showtimes, and visit the CME blog for weekly updates!