Project Runway: Finale, part 1

Last week, Jerell wins the botanical garden challenge, and all the designers are sent home to create collections for Fashion Week.

This week is Part 1 of the finale. Whoever has the losing collection this week will “not” show in Bryant Park, though Bravo usually lets the last 6 contestants create collections and show them in order to keep the suspense of the “final 3,” so it’s not that dire.

Before sending them home, Heidi gives the designers $8,000 and one final challenge: their collections must feature a wedding dress that “represents them as a designer.” I’m betting a million bucks Kenley goes with something A-line and a petticoat. I’m praying for the petticoat.

Tim Gunn stops by Little Rock, AK to visit our dear sweet Korto, who opens the door looking like a Black Panther circa 1972. I’m not hating though—I dig her style, and her workspace is very French colonial. Korto uses her own beading to adorn the collection, and has several dresses with beautiful folds and pleating. Though Tim had to bring the sophistication down a notch by referring to one brown skirt panel as resembling a “snatch shot.” Korto’s wedding dress is an absolutely stunning champagne color with some of the best detailing I’ve ever seen.

Korto’s daughter is absolutely precious, as her family—she introduces Tim to her drumming partner, and they jam together. I’m not usually into African drumming, but this was really fresh and yet dark at the same time.

Tim then goes to Portland to visit Leanne. Her inspiration was the sea and water, specifically waves. Her collection seems very stripped down, and she’s only using two colors at the moment, which seems risky. Tim hates her meringue wedding dress, but unnecessarily so—the construction is monumental. There was also a brief bike trip to the park, where Tim deemed to sit down on the wet Portland ground.

From Portland, Tim flies down to Los Angeles to see Jerell’s collection. It is by far the most couture of the stuff we’ve seen so far—lots of jeweled gowns and netting and trim. The wedding dress had an odd “my top’s come off” feel, but the skirt is sensational, with tulle floating up like clouds. There’s a great picture of Jerell on his father’s shoulder, his father with a gigantic afro. Jerell cried as he mentioned his father, which really touched me. Not enough people thank their dads, and I think dads need some loving too.

The last stop is Kenely, who of course lives in Brooklyn, the heart of retro-hipsterdom. Kenley’s inspiration is “painting the roses red.” I don’t see anything that I couldn’t find in any New York thrift store, but unfortunately, her dress is probably one of the best I’ve seen. It is, of course, A-line with a petticoat.

The designers fly to New York. Kenley apologizes. Gratuitous product placement for the Westin Hotel with unnecessarily long episodes in the hotel. Blah Blah Blah.

So you think it’s time for the runway, but oooooooooooh no, you’re wrong. One more curveball! Oh those crazy producers! They’re mixin’ things up.

But yes, the sadists-that-be at Bravo give the designers $150, and they must design a bridesmaid dress. Then the bridesmaid dress and the wedding dress will march down the runway, and then the final cut will be made.

There’s a lot of ugly going on, except from the one girl who’s actually been married: Korto. Her problem, however, is that the color she chose in Mood was almost the same color as her wedding dress. Jerell’s dress looks lazy, and Kenley’s looks like everything she’s ever done. Poor Leanne’s hair is a wreck, her voice is dead—when she says “I’m utterly exhausted,” I not only see it, I totally feel it.

Now the runway!

1. Jerell

Wedding Dress: strapless champagne satin with tulle petticoat and beaded neckline

Bridesmaid Dress: Strapless blue-slate satin sheen dress with champagne sash and flower detail.

2. Kenley

Wedding Dress: Cream-feathered bodice and overskirt with below-the-knee tulle petticoat

Bridesmaid Dress: Sleeveless blue bubble dress with netted neck

3. Korto

Wedding Dress: Stiff khaki satin with ruffled, drop-waist bodice and pleated skirt

Bridesmaid Dress: deep-V halter dove-colored dress with short A-line skirt

4. Leanne

Wedding Dress: White strapless multi-tiered dress with two-level wave pleating

Bridesmaid Dress: Short, strapless sea-foam green organza dress with wave-patterned bodice detail

I was a bit disappointed in the changes Korto and Leanne made to their wedding dresses, so I was interested in what the judges had to say. I hate Leanne’s new dress, and the judges love it. Jerell’s “jeweled boobs” and the weird drooping bodice Tim warned him about were slain. Kenley’s “Alexander Mcqueen” dress was criticized, which was so annoying, because unlike bland Michael Kors’ upscale-Banana-Republic collections, Alexander Mcqueen is modern, cutting edge, and fabulous. Step off Kors, step off. But he loved the make of the dress and they all loved Kenley’s hideous wedding dress. And they hated everything about Korto’s dress. Man, I wish wish wish she’d stuck with her first design.

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Korto is in, and poor Jerell gets sent home. But you know, they gave him a bedazzler as a parting gift, so he’ll be happy

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