01x08 - Postal Uniform Challenge

[bunniefuu]

[Heidi] Previously on Project Runway...

We're just all kind of amazed at Rob's staying power.

This is p*nis envy.

As one group, you have one day to design a whole collection.

One of you will be the leader and it is, Kevin.

[Kevin] Wendy and I had the worst relationship.

All of a sudden, it just turned around.

There's three people going to the final,

so I gotta get to that third space.

[Tim] Maybe they'll say, "This is fabulous. We love it.

What a great collection." I don't think so.

Oh, thanks.

I personally felt that Kevin was not as active

as a leader as he could have been.

[Heidi] Half of you are out

and six of you remain.

One designer will be cut every week until three remain.

Those three will show their lie at Olympus Fashion Week,

then one winner will be chosen.

The winner will receive a spread in ELLE Magazine,

a mentorship with Banana Republic design team,

and $100,000 to start their own line.

Kevin and Wendy, the two of you remain.

Kevin, you're out.

It doesn't pay to be nice.

[Wendy] I have no regrets.

You just need to get in the position

to be in the final three.

This is a search for the next big fashion designer.

It's a cutthroat business.

The competition was fierce.

[Heidi] 12 contestants, three finalists, and one winner.

Three designers will make their runway debut

at Olympus Fashion Week.

[woman] I plan to make it to Fashion Week.

[man] I think I'll be number one.

And the winner of Project Runway

will receive everything they need

to start their own label.

[woman] I think I deserve to win.

People are gonna start getting pretty bitchy.

-Oh, my. -For these 12 contestants,

Project Runway is a chance of a lifetime.

[Kara] Wendy decided to bash Kevin

and his leadership skills.

She got up on stage and totally bashed him as a leader.

I really felt like Kevin

was the weakest link in our team.

I personally felt that Kevin was not as active

as a leader as he could have been.

[Robert] Now, it's just like five of us left.

And, you know, we realize and it--

there's only two more-- this challenge,

another challenge, and then that's it.

-Hi. -[woman] Hi, Heidi.

- Hi there. - Hi.

Five packages.

Got your names on it.

Come and get it.

-Kara Saun. -Thank you.

Jay, Wendy.

There's only five of you left

and you should be very proud of yourself,

because it was very rough getting to this point.

The key to your next challenge is inside of these packages.

But you cannot open them until tomorrow morning.

I need all of you to be up and ready to go by 6:30

tomorrow morning in order to start this challenge.

Okay. Now, you sort of have your challenge.

Let's bring out the models.

As you all know,

this is a competition for the models too.

There's an exclusive fashion spread in ELLE Magazine

on the line for the final model.

Now, there's five designers left and six models on the runway.

First one is Kara Saun because you won the last challenge.

Who do you choose?

Jenny's been really fitting my clothes well.

Jay.

I'm going to stick with my Julia.

-Robert. -Olga.

Looks like the relationship between designers and models

are getting tighter because you keep on picking the same girls.

-Wendy? -[Wendy] I choose Melissa.

Austin, it's up to you. You choose.

There are two models left on stage,

Erin and Martinique.

One will be in. The other model will be out.

Erin was your last model.

I've had the opportunity to work with both of you once.

But I think that I'm going to

end up choosing Martinique.

That's means you're out Erin.

[speaking foreign language]

-Bye-bye. -Bye.

[Erin] I was sad so, it is a competition.

But I'm--I love all the girls.

They're fun to be with.

You got your models. Good luck with the challenge.

And I'll see you on the runway. Bye.

[all] Bye.

[upbeat music playing]

[man] Couple stop.

[Robert] I don't know what's in those bags.

I mean, we tried to weigh them out.

We tried to pinch them, you know, everything, you know,

when you're like a little kid, you shake it up.

Mine is supposed to be the smallest out of everybody.

No, mine is.

Yours is just a Hooters T-shirt.

I think maybe this brown paper package is tied up with string,

it could your grandmother's fruitcake.

[Jay] You know what I bet they are?

[Austin] What?

There's probably babies in there

and we have to raise them over the next 18 years.

[upbeat music playing]

[alarm beeping]

Austin.

[Austin] Rise and shine.

-It's Christmas morning. -[Kara] Hmm?

[Austin] Aren't you gonna open your stocking?

We were-we were kind of, like, little kids

on a Christmas morning waiting to see what's in there.

[Austin] Thank you.

This is getting tight.

This is really just like some Amazon.

Oh, how cute.

We were revealed that it was post office,

uh, letter carrier uniforms that we had

each our own individual uniform

that we had to put on.

"Project Runway designers

please get dressed

and report for duty in the Lobby."

[Austin] Oh, my God.

Hey, Kara Saun,

seems like someone from the post office

is here to deliver something for you.

-[Kara] Are you serious? -I'm serious.

Where? Oh, my God.

[laughs]

No, I know your mail's here somewhere.

Um, I was just was at the end of the block.

I was talking to my buddy, but...

As I was getting dressed,

I thought I looked like Augustus Gloop

from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Oh, for God's sake.

-[Austin] I look like I'm 12. -Yeah.

[upbeat music playing]

As you may have guessed, your challenge is to redesign

the postal service uniform.

You're either to do a summer uniform,

or a winter uniform for a letter carrier.

And here to tell us more about that is Becky.

Hi, I'm Becky.

I'm a United States Postal Service letter carrier.

We're here at Frank Sinatra's Post Office

in Hoboken, New Jersey.

You guys are here to design us a new uniform.

And what we emphasize and are looking for

is comfort and something easy

-to move around in. -Uh-hmm.

We are representing the postal service,

so we do wanna look nice,

but, and definitely have great comfort.

And what better way to really understand the needs

than to spend the day in a letter carrier's shoes,

-quite literally. -And I hope

you have good shoes on. [laughs]

So, we're going to split you into two groups.

Kara Saun, Robert,

and Jay, you're to go to Case Route 32.

And Wendy and Austin, you're to go to Case Route 6.

I was on a team with Austin, I had to laugh

because, you know, Austin and I haven't had a great deal

to do with each other since I criticized his leadership.

Austin could have done a better job of his leadership.

I don't know exactly how he feels about me.

[Becky] Here's a handful of mail, I'll stand back.

I was friends with Wendy, but looking back,

she was sort of deceiving me from the very beginning.

You know, I kind of wish I was with the other guys.

Robby-O, Jay-Bird, and myself,

we had fun.

They were acting like their usual crazy selves.

Well, there's four of us doing this,

-so we'll have more free time. -Oh, okay.

-He likes to smoke cigarettes. -You think so?

-And can I smoke? -No. No, you won't be smoking.

-[laughs] -[woman] Oh, like, no.

I hate my sleeves being so long.

I think it would be nice if like, for summer--

[Wendy] Yeah, why, just tell me why it is.

Well, you get so hot

and we'd like to roll them up.

-In the winter... -[Robert] Where do we start?

When it's really cold, what do you wear?

I wear this shirt and a sweater. I'd rather layer.

You wanna layer because when you get out there,

if you get hot, you can take it off.

What would you feel about like a warm-up

suit kind of thing?

That kind of fabric, or that kind of look?

I think that would be good,

as long as it is tastefully done.

-Let's hit the street. -Let's go.

-Okay. You guys ready? -[Jay] Yep!

Okay. Well, let's deliver some mail, then.

-Good morning. -Hello.

We decide that we're gonna be extra friendly,

you know, with our neighborhood crowd

and give that extra shout out.

-Good morning, everyone. -Good morning.

-Good morning. -Good morning.

Service with a smile.

[Jay] You guys comfortable right now, like, you're not sweating?

-[Robert] I think it might be-- -It's the fabrication.

I can make it comfortable and a little fashionable.

It is so uncomfortable and those polyester pants,

they don't breathe.

[woman] Watch yourself. Watch where you're going.

Watch out for the sign, Jay.

Oh, there it goes. Be careful, Jay.

Make sure you have it where it's inside.

-Right. -At all times.

No, you really had to make sure that

you are close to the cart,

make sure it doesn't roll away.

Oh, your mail bag-- your-- hey, hey,

your mail's rolling away.

Okay. [laughs]

Stop, stop, stop, wait a minute, oh, my gosh.

[laughs]

[Austin] I think they just gave us the oldest,

most rickety cart on purpose.

It would sort of collapse in on itself

when you try to go up a curb.

No, I don't think I would see myself applying

for a US Postal Service job right away.

Jay would be one of those mail-- those letter carriers

that everybody in the neighborhood knows,

"Where's Jay today? Have you seen Jay yet?"

I'll be right with you, Mr. Richard.

I just gotta stop over here with Barbara first.

[Kara] My experience in the field was so important.

In order to really do this job, we needed to experience that.

[Robert] All right, guys. I think this is our first stop.

We have to go inside?

Is there a dog here?

There's like keys and bags and doors and dogs

and reading is involved, and there's mathematics.

It's more than you think it is.

Good thing there's two of you, we may be here to midnight.

[Heidi] Coming up on Project Runway...

For God's sake, what is this?

I don't think any one of us would do that.

How dare anybody do that.

That's it.

[upbeat music playing]

The postal challenge was, we were to go to the post office

to find out what they do on a regular basis.

And design a uniform,

something that looked good and that was comfortable.

[Jay, singing] Clothes-pushing handler mail letter carriers.

You're not supposed to be reading people's mail, Rob.

I'm not reading. I'm looking at the pictures.

Robert, he's just a dog.

He's a monkey dog. He's a horny monkey dog.

-Go to the car... -I ain't going to the car.

-Get 626-- -[indistinct]

Robert!

-[Jay] Thank you, mother. -You're welcome.

Sorry, mama. [chuckles]

[supervisor] Wow, you're wet, Jay, all on your back.

-[Jay] Back here? -[Robert] Yeah.

-Your butt crack. -[woman] Yup.

-[Jay] Really? -[woman] Yes.

-[Robert] Uh-huh. -[Kara] I'm not gonna--

oh, Jay peed himself.

[Jay] It's embarrassing.

I was drenched in sweat, which is gross.

So, when you start designing this uniform,

I want you to remember all these crack marks.

I know what I'm gonna design.

Robots, you know, for you.

[laughs] That's a good one, Jay.

-Wendy was not-- -[Robert] And she was like--

--broken up about Morgan.

-Yeah. -She really wasn't.

Kara Saun, Jay, and I

came upon a discussion about Wendy.

It's interesting when she's on stage

and when it's any group projec,

she's always bad-mouthing the leader.

I know. Yeah.

People have to understand that

the Wendy Pepper who showed up the first day of

Project Runway is not the Wendy Pepper we know now.

Her involvement here is so much more than just,

you know, making good work.

Well, we're happy

and we're relieved to see you back.

Spending a day in a letter carrier's shoes,

I'm certain that you have a greatly enhanced understanding

of what this design challenge is really about.

So, good luck and get out there

and design the best as you can

and I will see you guys on the runway.

-You know, Becky's a judge. -[Wendy] All right. Thank you.

I'm one of the judges, so...

-Yay! [laughs] -[Robert] All right.

[Tim] We need to go back to the city.

We need to shop for our fabric.

Okay, so back to the city, everybody.

-Good luck. -[Wendy] All right.

[Robert] Let's go.

[upbeat music playing]

You have $100 each and 40 minutes.

You need to stay within the current

postal service color scheme

and you can choose to design

for either spring or winter.

I'm gonna make like a-- an oversized logo

on an angle for the shirt.

I'm doing more fashionable than I think we're supposed to.

But I need to put my stamp on it.

-It's Italian cotton. -Uh-hmm.

That doesn't bode well for my price point.

But how much is it?

-Let's see if we find one. -They're navy.

I'll help. Ready? There you go.

One girl is walking around helping me out

in high heels and miniskirts.

No, I don't think my charm will ever die.

Oh, it's just the nature of who I am.

I can find the right blue but our blues are very similar.

Mine is well like a French.

[cashier] $70.

[Tim] One minute.

Are we set to go?

You guys are ready?

[Robert] Off to delivering mail.

[upbeat music playing]

[Wendy] We came back to Parsons.

We all went and sat to our tables,

which is what we usually do.

And I looked down and I see this line drawn through--

drawn through my daughter's picture.

So, somebody drew on my picture of my daughter.

[all] What?

And I wanna say to you guys, that I apologize

if you all are mad at me.

If I had done something wrong.

If you are mad at me for how I treated Kevin.

If you're mad at me for how I treated you.

I want to say to you that I meant no harm.

But if you wanted to,

you know, do psychological warfare on me.

You did a good job. Thank you.

[Jay] I felt like Wendy was accusing us

of drawing on the picture.

She said, I don't know what I've done

to make you not trust me.

It's the absolute quintessential image of my daughter,

you know, she's dressed up

and she's looking up in the sky

and she's just so happy and so beautiful.

You know, it's the only one I have of her like that.

Okay? I don't have a copy.

I don't have the negatives.

That's it.

How dare anybody do that to my daughter.

She's really good at hiding her emotions, obviously,

because she always just looks cold.

So, when you see her crying in public,

you know that something is kind of up with her.

For God's sake. What is this?

[Robert]

On my table.

Yeah, I don't think any one of us would do that

right here in this room right now.

There's nobody there that's really looking out for me

or wants to take care of me.

I know that.

You know, nobody has been that fond of me.

I assume that they feel that I'm,

you know, a terrible person.

I just wonder how they would feel

if somebody took a picture of their child,

drew a line through it.

You got to understand how hard that was for me

-[Robert] Yeah. -to sit down and see that.

[Jay] Maybe it was one of the models

or maybe it was Kevin.

I would love to know the outcome

because I love that kind of dirt.

Oh, yeah, that's totally intentional.

Uh-hmm.

Whoever drew that little mustache on Wendy's girl

is definitely evil,

not, you know, not playing the game fairly.

Anyway, I don't wanna take any more time.

So, let's just go because it's done.

[dramatic music playing]

[Wendy] Did it rob me of some of my competitive spirit?

I mean, I have to be honest with you.

I mean, I think it did.

I think it made me question, you know,

what am I willing to go through

in order to, um... win

this kind of competition?

[Heidi] Coming up on Project Runway...

Jay, Julia can't be here.

Anybody wanna model today?

Anybody wanna model today?

Where are the models?

[upbeat music playing]

[Wendy] I know the fashion business is tough.

Part of what I've been thinking about today is

how well I would really fit in if I did win?

I mean, I guess that's why I'm here.

I'm here to determine that.

[Robert] I think they probably thought I was an underdog.

They didn't--they didn't beliee I would last this long.

So, I'm gonna give it all I got and make it to that final three.

[Jay] You ready, Austin?

[rock music playing]

[camera clicks]

[Tim] Good morning, everybody.

You have from 9:00 until midnight.

All right, I'll be back.

Right now, there is five of us left.

And this project deals with, you know,

creating a new uniform,

a comfortable uniform for local letter carriers.

Are you making pants too?. Awesome.

I'm making shorts.

Pants become shorts, and then-- and then, you can zip them up

to have like a little mesh that sticks out,

and then, like you unzip at the knee

and they become these fabulous shorts.

[Jay] Good work.

-Voilà. -[Robert] Voilà. Voilà.

I love you, Rob, but you're k*lling me

with the crazy designs that you come up with.

[Jay] I'm fine with my design.

I think it's a perfect blend of being functional

and being fashionable.

It's very winter, and I think it's pretty modern.

And I have my little logo surprise.

Hopefully, the judges oohing and aahing

over the beautiful logo in the back of the sweater.

Kara Saun, me, Robert, and Austin

are kind of on the fashion tip

and Wendy, go figure,

is on the function tip.

[Wendy] I feel like something as ubiquitous

as the US Postal Service

shouldn't embrace too much change too fast.

She's just doing this very blah blouse

which is basically exactly what they had already

except with like a bust seam.

I feel my design, you know, is addressing

all those issues that Wendy is,

plus-making it even more stylish.

And I'm using all stretch fabric.

I'm doing with a top and shorts

and, you know, a slightly more feminine,

elegant appearance overall.

How are you doing?

What are you doing? Can I see?

So, I'm making this cape. I already did the pattern.

I'm sure this will be pretty rainproof.

-[Tim] Yeah. -And but still light

and breathable and just able to work better.

It sounds great.

My question is,

is the wider pant leg, would it be more attractive?

Everybody can wear a drawstring,

you're large or small, you can expand it,

and then, I'm gonna do a vest.

Uh-hmm. Which I love.

Just layer, layer, layer, layer.

It's loose, you can work in it, you can run in it.

I can't wait to see how this develops.

-It sounds wonderful. -Thank you.

Very strong.

[Wendy] One of the comments I heard made

was the bag tends to sometimes fall off

-[Tim] Mmm. -the shoulder,

but what I'm gonna do is put a piece of Velcro.

Okay.

I decided to speak to Wendy

about the judges' perception of her work.

Michael Kors is stuck on the facts

that your looks are dowdy.

-Uh-hmm. -And I want you

to have that in your head as you're looking at

-how this design is developing. -Mm-hmm.

Our judges come from a very high-end place.

They were not about to understand this look

that Wendy was supposedly going to present.

Furthermore, it was being presented

with this inconceivable shoe

that was bringing the look down

to the most dowdy place it could possibly be.

For some reason, he felt it necessary

in front of the whole workroom to say

that the judges think my clothes are dowdy.

From a functional standpoint,

I feel like that was a good shoe.

If I look at this one, I think this is an obstacle.

If you can make this work, by all means, do it.

I'm trying to help you here.

Please don't defend the shoe to me.

Do something that will make this garment work.

This is my look right here.

[Tim] Well, that's the antithesis of this.

-[Wendy] I think-- -[Tim] It's sleak.

-[Wendy] Right. But-- -[Tim] That is style.

It is.

Wendy's design work has an important role.

Wendy has a legitimate market for her design.

It's a broader market.

I have great respect for it.

But this was potentially her downfall.

[Wendy] I look at my outfit down there.

And I'm thinking, well,

"It looks kind of like a postal uniform.

It doesn't look like the cover of Vogue magazine."

That's not what I think the postal uniform

should look like.

Sue me.

[upbeat music playing]

I have to make my little hat.

I guess I'll just cut it out.

I rarely see Austin working,

but he pulls things out of his a*s.

[Austin] You never see me working.

I do everything in order.

Austin, there are spans of time when I don't see you

for like six hours, and then, all of a sudden you're like,

"Dress. Here it's done."

I feel like I'm safe.

Austin, I think there might be an issue with him

because his is so him.

Kara Saun's always safe.

How's anyone ever gonna keep up with that, Kara Saun?

Shut up, Jay.

You do this at every challenge.

You're like, "Oh, and I had extra time.

"I fitted a whole family out of a pair of curtains.

I made a movie about it." And I'd like

"to present that as my seventh challenge, thanks."

Robert can talk his way out of anything.

But I think his thing is too, like, cartoony

for the US Postal Service.

And Wendy's...

[burping]

That's what I think about hers. [laughs]

[Wendy] If tomorrow is my final day,

I will forever be grateful for the time that I had here,

but I am not going to change into a different kind of person.

[upbeat music playing]

It's kind of like Groundhog Day, you know,

you just keep going through it and through it

and through it and through it.

So, I'm not really fazed too much by it.

[Wendy] I am completely terrified

of the runway show today.

But, I don't really have the option to indulge in that.

[Robert screams]

I would say the intensity's like,

you know, how do you say, the Red Zone.

There's only this challenge and another challenge,

and then, that's it. And it's the winners,

then they'll move on to the final three.

-Come snow. -Come rain.

Come sleet.

-Just come. -Come to me. [laughs]

-Go Project Runway! -Runway!

Look at this. Down here.

[Jay] What is she doing?

[Kara] She's talking to herself.

I can't believe she's rehearsing like this.

Saw Wendy today for 25 minutes pacing back and forth

with her grand plan in her hands.

So, God only knows what's gonna happen

at this elimination.

There's a lot going on down there.

She'll be eliminated,

and then, we'll find her, like, tomorrow,

just, like, wandering vacantly through the streets

with, like, crazy makeup on

and a pair of orthopedic shoes.

[laughing]

Good afternoon, everybody.

-Jay? -[Jay] Yeah?

You have the ultimate make-it-work challenge

because Julia can't be here until 5:00.

-You'll have mere nanoseconds -Yeah.

-[Tim] to get her ready. Okay? -Okay, no problem.

[Jay] I got a message from Tim

that Julia won't be here until 5:00,

which is the time of the show.

So, there will be literally a millisecond

for her to get ready. I'm getting a bit concerned.

Julia, it's Jay.

I got the message that you're not coming in until 5:00 today.

That's cutting it close.

-What's going on? -What?

[woman 1] Hi!

[woman 2] How are you?

-[tense music playing] -[phone ringing]

Please answer.

Please answer your phone, Julia.

[Julia's voicemail] Hey, you've reached Julia.

Please give me your number and a message,

and I'm gonna get back to you as soon as I can.

Thanks.

[Austin] We'll put the hair in a bun.

All the other girls are here for hair and makeup.

I'm wondering if I should--

if, like, you have another model friend

that you know at the agency

that could do this.

If, like, be a backup.

Because if Julia doesn't show up, then--

No, I mean, she's gonna be here.

If I get screwed over because of Julia,

there is gonna be hell to pay.

[rock music playing]

Is Rudy around?

Robert made a phone call to a friend of his

for his girlfriend to come

and possibly model for me.

We really need a model right now to come do the show.

The show is gonna be like 4:00.

You know, we're really in a jam. Like, because--

[Rudy] Hold on, let me call her on the other line.

Maybe I should just go on the streets and find someone.

Anybody wanna model for me?

Anybody wanna model today?

All the models have been replaced

by these weird Middle American people.

See, still stylish, but it's comfortable.

[Rudy] Yeah. She says she can't do it.

She cannot?

Rob's friend didn't pull through

because she has PMS.

Hey, Julia, it's Jay.

I'm getting a little concerned here.

It's very important that you get here

because if you don't, then, um, I run a risk

of being eliminated, as well as yourself.

Austin? Can you model for me?

-How's that feel? Okay? -[Jenny] Yeah.

Where's Jay?

-[Jay] Right here. -[Tim] Jay?

-[Jay] Yeah? -No Julia?

No, not yet. She has one minute.

What is your alternative plan?

-Do you have one? -[laughs] Austin.

I guess we just figured,

um, Julia, Austin, same body.

We'll just use Austin.

[upbeat music playing]

I put on Jay's outfit backstage.

This is the butchest I've seen you

from the whole trip.

[Heidi] Coming up on Project Runway...

Let's take something that already you feel dowdy in.

Let's make it feel

even more matronly.

Welcome back to the runway.

-Where's Austin? -Austin will be modeling today.

Austin will be modeling today?

My model didn't show up.

So, Austin took her place.

-[laughing] -Ooh.

So, we're in for a surprise.

-A little one. -[Heidi] All right.

There are now five of you left.

And after tonight, there will be four

vying for a spot for the final three.

This week's challenge

was to redesign

the Postal Service uniform.

You will be judged on the balance

of fashion and function.

The winner of this week's challenge

will not have an automatic in for the next challenge.

Because that would automatically put them

into the final three.

And that would be too easy.

All right. Let's meet the judges.

Michael Kors, fashion designer extraordinaire.

-Hey, guys. -[man] Hello.

Nina Garcia, Fashion Director of Elle Magazine.

And Becky Negich from the US Postal Service.

Okay. Let's start the show.

[upbeat music playing]

[Wendy] I tried to make my outfit functional.

But I tried to insert a little bit of fashion.

All I can hope for

is that she feels a commitment

to making it easier for her to do her job,

and that I want her to feel better.

[Austin] I think I've done a quite a job.

It has a very crisp, polished, professional look,

but still giving it an overall look

of the US Postal uniform.

I just updated it with a touch.

[Kara] It's functional, but sexy, I like that.

Like, the fact that she still looked very sexy.

[Robert] I wasn't thinking of high fashion

for this project.

You are representing the post office.

[Robert] My design is actually very functional,

due to the fact that, you know, you can interchange it.

So, I was kind of thinking along the lines

of, like, an urban trekker.

[Jay] But when Austin was walking down the runway,

I was just so happy

that he did not look like a drag queen.

It was Austin in all of his glory,

he was so excited to have done it.

[Austin] I liked being in the spotlight now and then.

It was quite fun, you know?

It's just the whole glamour

of the experience.

I wanna ask all the designers to please step

into the runway.

[suspenseful music playing]

Okay. Let's bring out your models.

Only five of you remain.

You represent the best

and the worst.

You will be judged on fashion and function.

So, I'm gonna ask Kara Saun to start first.

What I decided to do

is give a really comfortable pant

and do a drawstring.

Now, when we were carrying mail,

we had dog--

uh, pepper spray for dogs.

So, I have a little tool belt for that.

I did a vest, and it's furlined,

um, and this fabric is nylon,

and it's waterproof.

I did the sweater with more pockets.

I just wanted something that I thought everybody could wear

and still look fashionable.

You know, first off, you've definitely thought

about function here,

and I think when you get

into winter heavy gear,

it's hard to still feel a little sexy,

and she looks a little sexy to me still.

-I'm just gonna leave. -[laughing]

No, this is great.

Let me--let us hear about yours, too.

Okay. So, let's start with the pants,

which are, as you see, metallisized.

I have all, you know, these little pockets.

Basically, what we were doing

is we're clipping all that stuff onto our belt.

So, I had the same idea as hers to do this.

And here's your little rubber band spiel,

and then, you can hook your pepper spray and all that.

-Are the pants rainproof? -Oh, they're cotton.

-They're just a twill. -Cotton? Okay.

[Jay] But they have like a sheen,

a metallic sheen on them.

-So, they could be waterproof? -It could be waterproof.

I look at this and I just think,

"A woman's really gonna feel

sort of very butchy in this, you know?"

[Heidi] Austin?

[Jay] There you go.

-Bye. -Oh, that's fine.

[Heidi] Good model, by the way.

-Fabulous. -[Heidi] Good sport.

We were in a bind

and I'm sure he'd do the same for me.

First, just for a little drama, I made a rain cape.

The advantage to this one

was it, the other cape is sort of like a vinyl fabric

that didn't breathe at all,

and it got kind of sweaty.

This is completely waterproof ripstop fabric,

but it's much lighter and more breathable.

I made a little slims top.

The shorts also

are a stretch cotton.

They're not quite as stretchy, but they are stretch.

Austin, I think

that you thought a lot about the fashion,

but you thought very little about the function.

I think your Bermudas are a little tight.

I mean, this is something for a real person.

Like, it's kind of like Doris Day

playing a postal worker.

She looks adorable, it's cute,

but it's very costume-y to me.

Thank you.

And let us hear about yours.

Yeah, it was a wonderful experience,

being, um, you know, out there, you know.

But then, you start feeling the heat.

And so, I, uh, you know, had the pants on,

so I kept on rolling my pants up.

And she says as a post office employee,

you can't roll your pants up, you have to show

that you still have uniform.

So, I was thinking, we make the shorts quickly,

uh, you know, as possible,

and then put it away

in, like, in your--

in your little cart or your, you know, your handbag.

And then, you could have these pants

as, you know, like a guy's athletic gear also,

because thre are, you know, stretch.

and they do have no size, so you can hit the gym.

I'm a little disappointed in your design.

I don't know, I feel you didn't put enough effort into it?

I think it's a little tricky with the shorts turning

into Bermudas.

Your sweater looks a little unfinished.

-Unfinished? -I agree with Nina.

The T-shirt, to me, does look casual.

Much too casual.

And I don't think you've thought about the whole outfit.

I mean, that's just my reaction.

[Heidi] Wendy?

Well, I wanna say I have a newfound respect

-for, uh, for your-- -Oh, thank you.

the job that you do.

Now, I didn't have quite as many problems

with the existing outfit

as I think some other people

thought maybe it just needed a total redesign.

But I added some touches that I wanna tell you about.

My shorts incorporate a vent on the side,

as opposed to the shorts I wore,

which had an inverted pleat in the middle,

which I did not feel comfortable wearing.

So, they have the pleat on the outside

and the shirt has two pockets off to the side,

as opposed to the one here.

And so, I thought her key

could be down on her belt loop, come around here,

and stick right in this pocket.

Wendy, um, I'm surprised

you wanted to put pleats on shorts on the side,

I think it makes even your model look a little wider

and I'm sure this girl is a, you know, perfect figure.

-Can I say something? -[Nina] Sure.

Standing up here and all the lights on me,

I could feel air coming through here

and it's making it a lot more comfortable.

I have to go with Nina

and say a pleat on the side?

[gasps] And, on top of it--

can I see the top of the shorts?

Pockets pulling

over your stomach, you know.

I mean, she is super skinny.

And every woman I know,

when you put pockets in their pants,

they cut them out because they feel fat.

So, you have to find a way to put pockets in that function.

I mean, I think these pants are the most successful

because I could see them on a huge variety of people.

And I think the objective of this today

was something

that is gonna function.

But, let's be honest.

Even if you're a size 16, you wanna feel a little groovy.

All right. I think at this point,

we're gonna deliberate

and, um, we get back to you shortly.

You can leave the runway. Thanks.

Not that many were that wearable, really.

Nor functionable?

I liked a few of them.

Austin's was much too tight.

I don't think that would be good.

I can't imagine a modern woman

wanting to wear this kind of prim, prissy.

-It was very prissy to me. -[Nina] Right.

Actually, the more I think about it,

the more I think it looks like a Little Red Riding Hood outfit.

-[Michael laughs] -[Nina] I really do.

Actually, you're right.

The one that I would wear every day in the wintertime

was Kara Saun's.

I love the drawstring pants.

I'm glad that she had the utility belt

because there is so much that you have to hold and carry,

and I think that it would be approved and okayed

by the post office.

What did you guys think about Jay's?

I liked it, but I thought it was so butch.

[Nina] I liked the sweater, I love--

how he finished the sweater.

-It looked finished, polished. -It looked finished.

Then I got to Wendy.

And I was like, "Oh, my God."

Let's take something that already you feel dowdy in.

Let's make it feel

even more matronly.

A princess-seamed shirt.

Oh, my God.

This is just gonna make every woman look

like she's nursing.

-Sorry. -[laughs]

What did I say here? Oh, I said--

I said it was farty.

I said it looked farty.

I like how she lowered the pockets

versus up here, where on,

you know, for the men, that might be okay,

but, you know, for the female, we don't use them.

So, I did like the idea that,

you know, she did have the pockets lowered.

I say definitely Wendy's was my problem today.

Now, let's talk about Robert.

Here, I wrote boring on Robert.

[laughs]

I had problems with Robert's,

just because it-- the shirt wasn't--

would not be functional, there's no way.

But I would feel comfortable wearing that out

-to deliver the mail. -[Michael] That was ridiculous.

[Becky] Well, and the top of the pants also,

you cannot have that cutesy little waistline with the darts

because there is no place to...

-To hang things, right. -hang up any of--

your arrow keys or your scanner,

or your, um, the Mace.

He's spend all his time on the pants

and then oh, my God, she has to put a top on,

and kind of put them altogether.

And I think he's--all about,

you know, explaining and being charming,

and somehow, he's managed to come this far,

but on very little.

He has no business being here.

No business.

Okay. We made our decision.

Let's call back the designers.

[dramatic music playing]

We've seen the runway show,

we heard what you had to say,

and we made our decision.

We've seen the runway show,

we heard what you had to say,

and we made our decision.

Kara Saun...

you have won again.

[dramatic music playing]

[Heidi] Please leave the runway.

[Kara] To win the Post Office Challenge was great.

My whole thought process

has been get to New York Fashion Week.

I have one more challenge to g.

It's just like, just hang in there, Kara.

[suspenseful music playing]

Jay, you were a very close second.

You're in.

Please leave the runway.

[Kara] Jay. Jay.

Austin.

You're still in.

-Please leave the runway. -Thank you.

Whew.

-I was nervous. -[Kara] Hey.

I was nervous.

The two of you remain.

One of you will be out

and one of you will be closer to the final three.

[Heidi] Wendy.

You were supposed to redesign the uniform

in a stylish way.

You did not do that.

And Robert?

Your uniform looks unfinished

and is too casual

for a Postal Service uniform.

Wendy?

You're in.

You can leave the runway.

[dramatic music playing]

[Jay]

[laughs]

That means, Robert, you're out.

Thank you all for the opportunity

to even get this far.

And are you guys, by any chance, hiring?

-[laughs] -[Robert] In the post office?

-Thank you. -[Robert] Thank you.

[speaking foreign language]

-Very charming, though. -[speaking foreign language]

-Thank you. -[laughs]

-Take care. Bye. -[Michael] Bye-bye.

[Heidi] Bye.

Uh, I made it that far to,

you know, being the fifth one left.

That, in itself, is a great accomplishment.

-Hey. -Robsie!

[laughing]

Oh.

-Do I--do I get a group hug? -[Jay] Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

[Robert] I'm gonna miss them all tremendously.

Now, I did make, you know, good friends.

I definitely, you know, learned

from each and every single one of them.

Experience was positive as can be.

Either way I look at it-- I look at it--

I come out of this thing as a winner.

This is not a goodbye,

this is a more of like a see you later.

[Heidi] Next on Project Runway...

There's only one challenge left.

You will design a dress

fit to walk down the red carpet

of the Grammy Awards.

Wendy literally took the roll of fabric

that I was using.

People who try to sabotage other people

can't rely on their talent.

We always have a bit of a surprise.

We are bringing in some support for you.

Technical support?

[Wendy] The last person in the world

I expected to see.

What happened here?

I'm underwhelmed.

[Wendy] I really enjoy seeing people squirm.

He could stay there forever.

[Heidi] Visit projectrunway.com

to learn about the fashions you've seen on today's show.

[theme music playing]