'Project Runway' Season 8, Episode 9 Recap

Although it was sad Michael Drummond was voted off last episode, I am quite happy there is one less Michael to write about. In the living quarters, Mondo and Christopher have to move in with Michael C. and Andy.

The challenge this week is to create a high fashion look that will appear in a L’Oreal Paris advert. The winner will also receive $20,000. The inspiration for this look is from one of the eye shadow palettes by L’Oreal, bright, matte, crystal, metallic, and velvet. The designers have $300 and two days. Two days seems like a long time, so I am calling a second challenge coming up. The designers don’t seem to see this and are ecstatic on the extra time.

Tim warns against using velvet so Gretchen picks velvet. Michael C. finds velvet boring and is not shocked Gretchen picked velvet since she is boring. Mondo picks bright, Christopher chooses crystal, Ivy bright, Michael metallic, Valerie crystal, and Andy metallic.

Valerie bought silk and is having trouble working with it. A kaleidoscope inspired Mondo and Hawaii and waves is Ivy’s goal. April notices how everyone is slack with the two-day time and just wants to knock out her outfit because “you never know.” Gretchen and Michael C. have the same color pallid. Gretchen thinks boundaries were crossed. Get over it.

Tim checks in. Tim wants Mondo to go big and “be you.” He believes in April’s look. He thinks Gretchen's kimono looks like a robe. Ivy’s water gown is to literal and Tim says it could go “pageant very easily.”

Model fittings don’t go well for Mondo. His size six dress model is much bigger than his actual model and he has to start his corset all over.

The next day, Tim’s back and there is a surprise. The designers have to create a second look, a ready to wear companion to the high fashion look. There is freaking out and shock.

On Tim’s second visit, he tells Valerie he is not crazy about her look but she needs to make it work. She goes to the bathroom to cry over all the wasted time.

Runway day is here. Judging is Heidi, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and American designer Naeem Khan. As the looks walk the runway, the side panel of designers are very talky.

I can’t believe Gretchen made it to the top three. Her design looks like a pink hippy child from Woodstock. Kors finds it high fashion and wearable but doesn’t love the hair. Heidi wishes the back of the dress were in the front, which Naeem agrees with. Andy’s warrior woman has made it to the top. Naeem loves that he stuck to his vision on both looks. Kors loves that the metallic on the second look is not so obvious. Heidi is not crazy about the high fashion warrior woman.

Mondo’s striped bright outfit looks different from all angles. The second look is clean, easy, and slimming. Heidi loves the loop hat. Naeem loves the make-up, hair, and hat. Kors finds the high fashion look “Kentucky Derby horse ribbon explosion” but dreamy.

The bottom three are Ivy, Valerie, and Michael C. The themes are The Little Mermaid, My Fair Lady, and Gone with the Wind. Ivy’s bright blue ruffle of ocean waves high fashion and ocean splash companion don’t go over well. Kors says it’s bridesmaid under the sea and the top looks “nurse-y.” Nina finds the models looks old in the dresses. Heidi was okay with the back.

Valerie’s crystal dress came out very plain. Naeem doesn’t think she was imagined enough. Kors thinks the model is missing the magic wand and the second look was to office. Nina questions Valerie’s taste. Michael C.’s metallic, huge ruffle evening gown with long, heavy train, and mini-me dress are not loved. Naeem finds Michael C. worked well with fabric but Kors finds it to Scarlett O’Hara with “all the curtains from Tara are put into one dress.”

Mondo wins. He had $14 in his bank account when he came to New York; now he has $20,014. Ivy is out due to poor color choice and unflattering silhouettes. Valerie thinks it should have been her.

Next Week: They bring back the HG logo/brand making challenge from last season.