This week, the designers partake in what may just be the most creative overall challenge in the series" history. Nina Garcia visits them in the workroom (who knew she could stand?) and presents them with 12 different fashion trends that are no longer in vogue. Names are drawn, and each designer picks one of the dead trends. Then they are told that they will be working in groups of three, and will be required to incorporate each of their dead trends, while also creating a cohesive collection. Expansive, yes?
Jillian, Rami, and Kevin work with overalls (which Jillian was wearing when Nina visited the workroom?awkward!), poodle skirts, and "70s flares. Chris, Steven, and Sweet P have shoulder pads, dancewear (that"s a dead trend? Tell that to my closet), and baggy sweaters. Christian, Kit, and Jack worked with zoot suits, pleather, and fringe. Ricky, Victorya, and Elisa use cut-outs, underwear as outerwear, and neon. Jillian was the leader of her team and was freaking the entire time that Kevin was not going to have enough time to finish his design, but he did, and it was great. Victorya and Ricky, meanwhile, did not enjoy each other"s company. Victorya passive-aggressively blamed Ricky for not stopping her from making mistakes, and Ricky just barely controlled his rage (which I"m sure would have been followed very closely by tears).
On the runway, Jillian"s and Christian"s teams were the clear winners. Their stuff was modern, cohesive, and really incorporated the elements required of the challenge. In the end, Jillian was named the winner for being the leader of her team. She declared that she would always be in the top from now on, and would continue winning. Ricky and Chris were the bottom two: Ricky had the worst design of the three looks in his group and was an ineffective team leader (and it"s probably a little because he"s such a basket case); and Chris made some old-fashioned shoulder pads that everybody (including guest judge and cougar Donna Karan!) hated. Ultimately, Ricky was given yet another reprieve and sweet Chris was sent home. I have a feeling this isn"t going to sit well with everyone.