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Project Runway: Destination Fail

Project Runway: Destination Fail

Overall the level of skill on this season of Project Runway has seemed notably higher than in many previous seasons. Until last night, that is. Almost every single designer this week elicited a negative comment from the judges for their design and some outfits were just spectacularly gruesome.

Overall the level of skill on this season of Project Runway has seemed notably higher than in many previous seasons. Until last night, that is. Almost every single designer this week elicited a negative comment from the judges for their design and some outfits were just spectacularly gruesome.

The Challenge: For their challenge this week, the designers were carted off by Tim Gunn to Rodeo Drive and the boutique of Project Runway judge Michael Kors. Kors waxes poetic on how his designs have been inspired by all the exotic locations he's visited over the years. It's delightful to have Kors back on the show again after being MIA most of the season, but the boy has got to lay off the tanning spray!

Kors tells the designers they will be choosing one of his favorite destinations as the inspiration for their design in the challenge: St. Tropez, Palm Beach, Sante Fe, New York, Aspen, Hollywood and Greece. We're not quite sure why the producers threw Greece in there weirdly as the only country. They couldn't remember any cities in Greece? The contestants are tasked with creating a look that reflects both their design aesthetic and the place in question. Not one of this season's hardest challenges, to be sure.

The Sticky Part: As the winner of last week's challenge, Carol Hannah gets first choice of destination - Palm Beach. The rest have to choose based on random draw. Nicolas behaves like a total snot while picking out his choice. "Okay, New York is definitely out because that's too easy for me," he mugs for the cameras. "I want something challenging." That's one of those statements you just KNOW he is going to regret saying later.

Althea chooses St. Tropez, Gordana takes "easy" New York, Irina sneeringly chooses Aspen and Christopher takes Sante Fe. Logan ends up last and gets stuck with Hollywood, which he looks pained about. Frankly, I'd think that was one of the easiest choices to work with, but he seems quite displeased. Unsurprisingly, Tim Gunn tells the designers they'll only have one day to get their look together.

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The Drama Quotient: Naturally, Irina is full of herself as usual, bashing the other designers because they are always making jokes "and every stitch will take them five minutes, and they wonder why they can't finish in time." The girl is, as Nicholas said last week, "a bitch," but she does keep ending up on top. So maybe she has a good point there.

Poor Christopher, who should have been cut ages ago, gets another verbal beating from Tim Gunn over his design. Irina chimes in helpfully by saying it "looks like something an Amish woman would wear." Again, bitchy, but true. Even Althea, who usually keeps her snarky comments to herself, calls out Christopher by saying: "If Christopher can put that garment down the runway and not get eliminated then I don't know what is going on." Thankfully, Christopher gets a clue halfway through - "Oh no. This is Little House on the Prairie!" and alters his design. The result, amusingly, is more like Little Renaissance Harlot on the Prairie. Not good.

Judging Panel: Thankfully both Michael Kors and Nina Garcia were in their proper judging seats again his week. Their boring stand-ins were getting really tired - nobody snarks like Kors and Garcia. Sitting in as guest judge was one of my favorite fantasy girls, Resident Evil star Milla Jovovich. I'd go on Project Runway just for the sole purpose of having her gorgeous lips tell me I sucked! Regardless of her hotness, she actually proves to be an entertaining judge with insightful commentary on the designs. Although you do kind of get the impression that she rambled on quite a lot and had to be edited severely.

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The Middle of the Pack: Althea's shorts, tank and blouse are gorgeous and very "St. Tropez" indeed. If I had the body for it, I'd book a ticket a ticket to the French Riviera just to wear it. I was a bit surprised when Althea didn't land in the top three. She deserved it for that outfit.

The Winners: Carol Hannah pleases the judges with her green print "Palm Beach" dress. I thought it was a bit of a safe choice for the destination, but lovely. Milla Jovovich actually said she "would live in that dress." Now that's a compliment!

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Gordana goes grey again with her dressy "New York" look. The crystal necklace is cool, but the dress is - once again - wearable but boring. Although the judges give Gordana some props for the dress, they also bash her for her lack of self-confidence in her own design.

Irina pulls it all out for her "Aspen" outfit, with coat, sweater and tailored pants. Honestly, although Irina annoys me, the outfit did appear expensive and luxurious and looked like it was designed on commission for her model. I could easily imagine a snotty little society girl wearing this in Aspen. It had that "I'm a hot bitch" look every rich trust fund girl loves. Even so, the judges weren't totally pleased. As Milla Jovovich noted, the outfit really was "almost too much."

Even if it was a bit over the top, Irina manages to pull out yet another win for her very well-made design. For once, I think I actually - shockingly - agreed with the judges on this one.

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The Losers: Logan's "Hollywood" outfit is certainly well made, the pants fit his model like a delicious glove. Sadly, however, the outfit is boring as dry toast and looks more Wal-Mart than Hollywood. And honestly, suspenders

Christopher's "Sante Fe" dress once again shows why all the other designers can't understand why the hell he is on the show. Yes, he's pulled out a couple of good designs here and there, but overall his taste level is seriously lacking. This week was no exception. As Heidi noted in judging panel, the whole outfit was "unwearable... it was just ugly." Though it was cute how much Milla just adored Christopher's belt, she just couldn't get over it. Maybe Christopher should just ditch the clothes and become a belt designer.

 

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Displaying his apparent obsession with the color white again, Nicholas pulls out a while wrap-around top and brown pants so boring, I actually yawned. The outfit is so not "Greece" - actually, it's so not anywhere except "Fail". Kors amusingly noted Christopher's outfit was more Grease than Greece. Needed something more challenging Nicholas? Well, apparently this was a bit too challenging yes?

Logan manages to squeeze through, since the judges found his outfit passable, if bland. Then it gets weird. In what can only be called a moment of insanity, the judges decide NOT to send Christopher home - again. This is like the third time he's been in the bottom two, what are they thinking? Is there some kind of back-door deal going on to keep Christopher on the show? Even Christopher himself seemed shocked to slide by another week. Poor Nicholas, to get booted out is bad enough, but to lose out against Christopher had to have been a kick in the balls.

Final Weigh-In: The judges need to get their heads out of their collective asses and send Christopher packing. I don't care if he is 'family'. The stereotype isn't true that all gay men have style, this one is the definitive proof!

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