06x01 - Welcome to Los Angeles!

[bunniefuu]

This is Project Runway.

I'm Ra'mon Lawrence.
Thirty years old. From Chicago, Illinois.

I have to say I've always been
a really ambitious person.

I went to med school,
specializing neurosurgery,

and towards the end, decided

that it was one thing
to have a career

that I could be really great at,

or there was another thing
to have a career

that I could be passionate about.

Oh, my God.

I wanna be that person that somebody

can look at and say,
"Here's somebody

that really did something
against the grain."

And I can do that, too.

- Ra'mon?
- Yes.

- Logan.
- Logan.

- Yeah.
- Johnny.

- Where you guys from?
- L.A.

Seattle.

I'm definitely different
than a normal fashion designer.

I don't know. I'm more
of a guys' guy, I guess.

If my limo breaks down on the way
to New York Fashion Week,

I'd probably pop the hood
and figure out what was wrong with it.

I am a strong sewer.
I am a strong pattern maker.

Anything that I'm working on
with my hands, I'll figure out.

So it's gonna be fun.

- You tried out three times?
- Yep. Three times before.

I know why I didn't make
the third and the fourth season.

- Why?
- Because I had an addiction problem.

I used to have
a crystal meth addiction.

And it was probably
the darkest time of my life.

If I wouldn't have
overcame the addiction,

I think I would probably be dead.

I battled back from that,
and I was ready to go.

The only way you can really
go from here is up,

and this right here is a big step.

So whatever happens is gonna happen.
I'm just gonna do my best.

If you give me a sheep,
I can make you a sweater.

I was born in former Yugoslavia
in a place where

people are raising potatoes and corn,
you know, for living.

And then being crazy
about fashion on top of it...

I'm in this competition
for all the girls out there

who have big dreams,
but they are starting with small steps.

[Sighs]

Hey.

- My name's Malvin.
- Logan.

- Ra'mon Lawrence.
- Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.
- Great.

- Hi. I'm Gordana.
- Carol Hannah.

- Nice to meet you.
- I'm Qristyl.

- Nice to meet you.
- Hi, Qristyl. It's nice to meet you.

I have been designing clothes
for all shapes, all sizes, all shades.

I don't call it "plus size."
I call it "plus sexy."

[Sighs]
Oh, yeah. This is nice.

My name is Shirin Askari.

It means "sweet" in Farsi.

- Hi.
- [Women] Hi.

I've been working a lot
with things that function

as more than one thing.

The cool thing about this coat
is that it has

a hidden waist zipper.

Two outfits in one.

I'm ready to be thrown
into a bigger pond,

and I think that Project Runway is it.

So bring it on.

Basically, I'm known in New York City
as "the feather prince."

My friends joke around about me.

They say, "Nic, all you use is chiffon,
lace, feathers, and champagne."

A little sparkle is fabulous.

I've worked with Victoria's Secret,
Keith Lissner.

I did a custom gown for Marchesa

which was on the cover
of Vogue magazine.

I've worked very hard
to be here, and hopefully,

I will make it
to the final three and then win.

Hello.

- Hey, I'm Nicolas.
- Nicolas. Mitchell.

I graduated from school
in fashion design,

but right now, I'm working
more in the business side of fashion.

I do know what a woman likes,
I do know what fits a woman,

and I definitely know what sells.

- Hi.
- Hey.

- I'm Epperson.
- Epperson.

- Mitchell.
- Where are you guys from?

- I'm from New York.
- Georgia.

- [Epperson] New York.
- And Minnesota.

- Minnesota?
- Yeah. Minnesota boy.

I try to channel
any kind of creative option.

Hello, fabric. What would you
like me to make you into today?

Hello?

I'm really into the idea
of transformative clothing

that would go into a tent

that would also have
water purification systems,

and you'd be comfortable in it.

- [Ari] Hey.
- Hi.

- I'm Ari.
- Hi. Nice to meet you. I'm Althea.

I'm Irina. I'm 26,
and I'm from New York City.

This is hand-tooled leather.

And Princess really is the inspiration

of every tote
I make and every handbag,

because she's a lazy little girl,
and she loves to be carried.

[Growling]

I'm Irina.

- Irina?
- Yeah.

- Louise. Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

Welcome to our humble abode.

Let's go check out the closets.

I'm actually kind of surprised
that we're not in New York.

L.A.'s garment district is, like,
seven times bigger than New York's.

- Really?
- Just huge.

I don't know if you
remember me or not,

but, like, four years ago,
when I first moved to Charleston,

you let me sell dresses in GOGA.

Oh, my God, I remember it!

- It's a small world, huh?
- Surprise.

If you were a woodland fairy,

and you had to go to a gala,
you would wear one of my dresses.

Pixie meets c*ck party.

- South Carolina is going to be proud of us.
- Yes.

I surprise people a lot.
I'm blonde. I'm from the South.

People don't usually
attach those things

to, like, intelligence...

or... just...

I don't know... things in...

Sorry. I lost my train of thought.

- How old are you guys?
- I'm 26.

- 29.
- 25.

- My oldest son just turned 26.
- What?

- What?
- [Laughter]

For years,
I've been dressing windows.

Now I really need to, like,
jump back into my fashion.

That's Leechi and Elah,
and that's my wife Lisha.

[Epperson] Family's very important
to me. I want the best for them.

I'm here today because of them.

- Ooh, we got mail!
- Oh, look! There's mail!

"Dear designers,
welcome to the Title Guarantee

"Building Lofts in Los Angeles.

- The home of this season's Project Runway."
- Whoo!

"Please unpack and join
Tim and me on the roof."

"For a celebratory toast.

- Love, Heidi"!
- Heidi!

Sweet.

- Toast time!
- [Laughter]

- To the roof, to the roof.
- Here we go, kids.

[Heidi]
Hi, everybody.

- [Designers] Hi.
- Hi.

Designers, I want to welcome you
to Los Angeles.

We have beautiful weather.

Unfortunately,
you won't be seeing any of that

because you will be
working all the time.

Now, you may recognize
this distinguished

and very handsome man
right next to me.

- This is Tim Gunn.
- [Cheering]

- He's the chief creative officer...
- [Tim] Thank you.

...for Liz Claiborne.

He will be your mentor
for this season

of Project Runway.

Thank you, Heidi.
Welcome, designers.

Out of the thousands
of designers that we considered,

the 16 of you have proven
that you have the talent

and the passion to be standing here.

- Whoo!
- [Laughter]

- Yay!
- Yeah.

While you're in Los Angeles,

you'll be working out of the prestigious

Fashion Institute
of Design and Merchandising

in Los Angeles... or FIDM...

the leading fashion institution
of this city.

- So shall we celebrate?
- Yeah!

- [Cork pops]
- [Cheering]

So I want to know
where everyone is from.

- I'm from Texas.
- Texas.

And your hair is not really big at all.

My name is Louise Black,
and I like vintage.

I'm very inspired by, like,


I'm ready for Project Runway.

I'm ready for my close-up.

[Malvin]
I think I come off as very androgynous.

A lot of my designs speak towards
masculine and feminine elements.

I don't want to deprive
or exclude anybody from my art.

I like your hairstyle, too.
I always find that very interesting

to see how everyone dresses.

- Personal style.
- Yeah.

Oh, so you know New York.

I just graduated.
I'm gonna move there.

I'm Althea Harper.

I'm from Dayton, Ohio,
and I am 23 years old.

I know that I can be
the best designer in the whole world.

I have no doubt in my mind.

In interned at Alexander McQueen
and Vivienne Westwood.

The best thing ever was when
my boss came up to me,

and he's like,
"Althea, you're the best."

And I was like, "Okay."
[Laughs]

- I think we'll get along just fine.
- Oh, definitely.

My name is Christopher Straub.

I'm 29 years old,
from Shakopee, Minnesota.

Due to a death in the family,
I was never really able

to go to college
and go to design school.

But I've worked on it by myself,

and I think I've done
pretty good without it.

I'm pretty good at using
the resources I have available to me.

Like this dress right here.

This was probably
about three yards, so it cost $3.00.

I think that's pretty hot.

I've always had this saying,

and it says,
"Someday you'll be amazing."

And so, this is my someday.

Well, I hope that you
enjoyed this little celebration.

But unfortunately, now it's time

for the little party to end
and for the work to begin.

Get some sleep tonight,

because early tomorrow morning,
you're going to join me

at a not-yet-revealed location,

and that's where you'll learn
about your first challenge.

I wish you all good luck.
Project Runway!

[Cheering]

Don't jump! Don't jump!

She's anticipating the first challenge.
It's not gonna be that bad.

I hope it's a one-day challenge,
so I can get the first round away,

'cause my stomach is,
like, really tied up.

- I want to meet Michael Kors.
- All right. So let's go.

- Good morning, designers.
- [All] Good morning.

Welcome to the red carpet
of the 60th annual Primetime Emmy Awards

- at the Nokia Theater L.A. Live.
- [Cheering]

Seeing the red carpet shook me up,

and, like, kind of made
this whole experience real.

In a matter of hours,
this carpet will be covered

with the work of designers
like Giorgio Armani,

Dolce & Gabbana, Michael Kors,
Donna Karan.

This is where the best
of the best showcase their work

because here it's as much
about who you're wearing as who you are.

So for your first challenge,
you will create a red carpet look

that demonstrates
true innovation and represents

your point of view as a designer.

- [Cheering]
- Yes!

The red carpet comes in many flavors,

from the Oscars and the Emmys

to the Grammys
and the Video Music Awards.

Each different event
opens a door for a different style.

So don't limit yourself.

- All right? Let's go.
- All right.

[Johnny] Our first challenge
is the red carpet challenge,

which is a challenge that I'm really,
really excited about.

- [Tim] Do you believe this?
- I'm working really hard for this one.

I'm gonna really try
to push myself to the limit.

- [Tim] Exciting, huh?
- Ooh, yeah!

Cool!

This is fancy.

Designers, welcome
to the workroom of FIDM.

And next door you'll find
the sewing room

which is fully equipped
with Brother sewing machines.

For this first challenge,
we pre-assigned a model for each of you,

and that card contains
her measurements.

So that information's very important to you
as you execute this challenge.

Oh, she's got big feet like me.

Yeah. You have


Then we're going shopping at Mood,
where you'll have a budget of $200

and 30 minutes to shop.

You have until midnight tonight

and all day tomorrow
to complete your look.

And the winner of this challenge
will have immunity

- for the next challenge.
- Yeah.

So I will be back in 30 minutes,
and then we'll shop, shop, shop.

Okay? Work hard.

When Tim said, "red carpet,"
it popped into my head.

It's got a lot of texture.

It's got a belt on it
to bring the volume in.

And I love it.

I don't watch the red carpet.

I don't differentiate between
different colored carpets.

All I know is that
I will design something

that will make
whoever's gonna wear it

feel completely treasured.

[Ari]
What if we don't sketch?

I don't sketch.

I just kind of try to meditate

on the mood of
where the garment will be

and who will be wearing it,
and then I decide.

All right, designers. Time is up.

Grab everything that you need
and follow me to Mood. Let's go, go, go.

All right, designers.
You have 30 minutes to shop. You're off.

I think the style I'm going for

is this weird, bulbous, like, hexagonal

tessellation forms
that catch the light.

[Exhales forcefully]
This is, like, impossible.

Just give me 2 yards of that.

I love pressure.
Give me as much pressure

as you can give me,
and I will make something beautiful.

Designers, five minutes remain.

Tim, he's the only person cutting.
Can I cut it myself?

- You're gonna pay for the scissors?
- I'll pay for my scissors.

- Cut it yourself. You go, Qristyl.
- I'll cut it myself.

sh**t. I do whatever I gotta do.

Oh, my God.

I love to watch old movies.

My garment is gonna be
very much more

old Hollywood glamour.

No. No. No. No. No.

Whatever.

Designers, time is up.

- Oh, my God. That was intense.
- [Tim] Thank you, Mood.

[All]
Thank you!

- Look at this.
- We're here!

All right, designers.
I just want to remind you

innovation is key to this challenge.

So be thinking about that.

- Okay. I'll see you later.
- Thanks.

[Ra'mon] To have someone
wearing one of my creations

while walking down the red carpet

is a lifelong dream.

It's something that...

Sorry. I'm trying not to actually cry.
[Laughing]

I think I'm gonna
change my whole design.

- You have to change it?
- I think I'm going to.

What are you questioning?
I don't get what you're questioning.

I know, but sometimes I just
need a little bit of help.

No, you're good.

[Mitchell] I watch all the television
shows that cover the red carpet,

and it's really where I found
my love for fashion.

[Mitchell]
Crap! I need to go get a seam ripper.

- What do you got going on there?
- What am I doing? I'm smocking.

- I don't even know what smocking means.
- Like, tons and tons of lines.

Then you gather
every single one of them.

I should just go back
to my original thing.

Don't second-guess yourself.
Always go with your first instinct.

Coming from
an addiction standpoint,

when you get into, like,
a really stressful situation,

you need someone there with you,
someone like your support structure.

[Sighs]
What the hell is wrong with me?

I can't go home to the person
that I draw my most support from.

I feel lost and overwhelmed
right now.

I feel like I'm completely lost,
and this has never happened before.

[Sighs]

I can tell Johnny's really stressed

and been struggling all day,
and I really hope he can pull through.

I just... I'm feeling horrible,
so I just want to go to sleep for a while.

[Ra'mon]
Okay.

Johnny really doesn't have anything
to prove to anyone else.

It seems like he has something
to prove to himself maybe.

I don't know where I am right now.
I really don't.

I'm feeling really,
really emotional at this point.

I'm almost to a point to where
I kind of want to throw in the towel.

I just know my limits,

and I feel like
I've reached one right now.

Coming up on Project Runway...

- This is gonna look like a halter diaper.
- Mmm.

[Tim]
Johnny, what's going on?

I just don't want to fail again.

It's been a difficult road for me.

You know, coming out of
an addiction and...

It's hard.

I feel like there's too much pressure
on my shoulders,

and I do feel like I want to leave.

Johnny, what's going on?

I've sketched four different things,

and I hate them...
completely hate them.

But are you being too hard on you?
That's my question.

[Crying]

Just let it go. Let it go.

I just don't wanna fail again.

Nor do I want you to.

Just part of me feels like
I'm really not ready.

And I feel emotionally obliterated.

But, you know, this is very emotional.

It's emotional for me.

- I mean, it's emotional for you.
- It really is. It's so hard.

You've overcome so much.

And I know how talented you are.

And you know something, Johnny?
You can do it!

- I appreciate your words.
- Anyway.

[Johnny]
You can't really explain how it feels

to have Tim Gunn sit there
and talk you through something.

He made me feel like he really wants you
to succeed, no matter what.

- Make it work.
- [Laughing]

- And you will.
- I hope so.

Okay.

- You're gonna be fine.
- Thanks, Tim.

- I really do appreciate it.
- Go.

Tim's a god, everyone,
just so you know.

- [Laughs]
- Okay, I'm done.

Really. I'm done acting a fool.

[Fabric ripping]

I'm doing a corded bodice

so the detail
kind of shapes the body.

- Oh, my God. That's gorgeous.
- Thanks, buddy.

My dress is ineffable.
You can't really describe what it is.

No one can really ever describe
the type of garments I do.

There's not a vocab for them yet.

I like the idea of creating my own textures...
my fabric... rather than buying it.

I also spend a lot of time doing that,

and that might get me in the end,
but it won't get me now.

All right. Time to go.

Come on, guys. We gotta go.

Okay. Off.

[Johnny]
I woke up this morning happier.

You don't throw in the towel
when you have these opportunities.

You don't give up. I need to swallow it down.
I need to be strong.

And whatever happens on the runway
happens on the runway.

Here we go!

[Gordana]
This is how they teach you to do at school?

- Yeah.
- That's one thing I wish I was able to do...

go to designing school.

Just to really learn all that stuff.

Like, people are talking about smocking,
and I've never heard that before.

- And what' she's doing on the side...
- Godet?

- Godet?
- Yeah.

I've never heard of that.

It doesn't matter that I didn't have
the education to teach me how to...

to pleat and to make a bustle.

I really had to jump in there and really
learn how to get things done.

Actually, this dress isn't gonna be
very much sewn of anything.

- I'm gonna spit on it and use gum.
- [Laughter]

- Christopher.
- Tim.

- Talk to me.
- I like to play with volume.

- Okay.
- I like to be young, funky, punk.

You're bringing a polish

- and a sophistication to this.
- Okay.

But I'll be blunt with you.
Not styled correctly,

this could go cruise line c*ck waitress.

- It could look awful.
- Yeah. Okay.

So how's your desic dome, Ari?

Uh, it's almost done.

- Give me five more minutes.
- Where's it going?

I don't know what you mean.

- Well, what's it going to look like...
- From yesterday?

...on the runway?
- It's basically a halter dress

with a large hood.

- Something like this.
- Forgive me, but I'm worried

that this is going to look
like a halter diaper.

Mmm. I'm not too worried.

Okay. I believe.

- All right. Thank you.
- Thank you.

The whole idea is to do things
that are like architectural elements.

Tell me what you're doing
in the back.

I don't want to give her
a big butt.

So it might be
sculptural around it. I don't know.

- Yeah, the big butt factor is a big "but".
- Yeah.

Hi, Mr. Gunn.

- "Tim," please.
- Tim.

Talk to me about what it is.

This is going to be all smocked
all the way down to there.

This was the hard part
because it was contouring to her body.

I think this is gonna be
a little bit easier to do.

- There's a heavy Victorian feeling to it.
- Right. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

It's interesting to think about
making it 2009.

Right. Mm-hmm.

- Thank you, Mitchell.
- Thank you, Tim...

I was still going for the Oscars,

but now I'm gonna have to
change to the Emmys.

- Why?
- Because I really wanted a really dramatic...

- You don't think this is dramatic?
...bottom.

But is it dramatic
in a good way to you?

Okay, you're pausing too long.

- No, no, no, no, no, no.
- You're never at a loss for words.

I don't want you to ask me that.

- I want you to ask yourself that.
- All right. Thank you.

Thank you.

Designers,

I am sending in your models
for a fitting.

You will have one hour with them,
so figure it all out.

Hi.

- Yeah!
- Oh, my gosh!

You're so cute!

This right here is what I want
for everything that you do for me.

Okay. Sorry I'm strangling you.

My model sizes are horribly wrong.

They did not match up
with the model card.

I am going to have to
rework everything

and try and figure out
what I'm gonna do.

Nicolas, I'm taping it on her.

Designers, your fitting time is up.

Oh, my God.

- Thanks again.
- Nice meeting you.

All right, designers.
You have until midnight tonight

to finish your look.

And I say that because you will have
mere nanoseconds tomorrow.

It's gonna be a very busy day.
Good night. Make it work.

- We got this.
- Right.

I'm so psyched.

Dang, you did a lot of work, girl.

[Qristyl]
You know what? Ari's outfit is interesting,

but I don't know
what red carpet she was doing.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to
make those right now.

[Laughter]

Right now, all I have is a collar.

If I'm the first one to go home,

I'm gonna feel really,
really, really stupid.

- It's midnight. Get your stuff.
- Let's go, guys.

Coming up on Project Runway...

- Oh, [bleep].
- This isn't normal!

Change of plans.
I'm stitching you into this dress.

He's basically sending down
a nude model.

Mitchell?

This is a first for Project Runway.

I'm in big trouble.

So how do you guys
think you're gonna do?

I don't know. We'll see.

I felt like my creativity
was gonna have to...

Like, I was gonna have to fight

for people to understand
where I was coming from, in a way.

[Irina]
I personally appreciate

the more conceptual fashion,

and I think Ari has
a point of view that's valid.

Let's do it, girls.

Let's go be seen on the runway.

[Chattering]

It's the morning of the runway show,

- and people are stressing out.
- Oh, [bleep].

Your heart's beating so fast.
You're like, "This isn't normal!"

All right. This should be good.

I am very nervous.

There's all these talented
and skillful designers,

but, you know, I did
something very different,

and I feel very confident
that it will do well.

My dress... I had got it prepared
to put on the model,

and when she came in,
she was 5 inches bigger,

so I am going to rework everything.

The actual fabric that I have left over...

it's very, very similar to pantyhose.

I'm in big, big trouble.

- [Tim] Good morning, designers.
- [All] Good morning.

You will have two hours

to send your models
to the Garnier hair studio

and L'Oréal Paris makeup room.

Please use the Macy's
accessory wall generously.

All right? I will see you later.

Yay! There's my model!

Girl, you're looking good!

Okay, so, change of plans.

- I'm stitching you into this dress.
- Okay. No problem.

- Can you handle that?
- I can handle anything.

Okay.

Mitchell really has to come up
with something last minute.

And when I say "last minute,"

I mean, like, backstage last minute.

[Nicolas] He's basically sending
a nude model down the runway.

I think this is a first
for Project Runway.

This [bleep] is getting
stitched all over her,

- and this is getting cut short.
- Yeah.

- Is that a good plan?
- I think...

It's a plan.

A little bit of a cat eye.
Not too severe.

As long as it's got a glow to it.

I'm trying not to damage your hair.

Designers, you have ten more minutes
with your models.

And if there's any degree
of ambivalence about this,

your models must be
in their runway look when we leave.

Ten minutes, and it's a hard out.

- Thank you.
- You got it.

You got it!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!

I have a gown
to send down the runway.

Somehow it happened.

But I'm really worried
about what Heidi,

Nina Garcia,
and especially Michael Kors

is going to say
about my naked model.

Designers and models, this is it.

Everyone follow me, please.

I do not care what state
of repair or disrepair people are in.

- Mitchell?
- [Mitchell] Coming.

I need you. Logan?

We're going to the runway.

We did it. Thank you.

Coming up on Project Runway...

We have a guest judge for you today

who has spent a lot of time
on the red carpet.

[Cheering]

I don't know
if she's serious or not.

- Yeah. The front is a mess.
- She's gonna get k*lled by the tabloids.

Hello, designers.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Welcome to the runway.

As you know, in fashion,
one day you're in,

and the next day you're out.

There are 16 of you here,

and after tonight, there will be 15.

For this challenge,
you were asked to design a red carpet look

showing innovation
and your true point of view.

You had two days
and $200 to put it together.

All right. Let's meet the judges.

First, we have top
American designer Michael Kors.

- Hey, guys. Welcome.
- Hi.

Fashion director
for marie claire magazine, Nina Garcia.

Hi, everyone.
Nice meeting you.

And we have a guest judge
for you today

who has spent a lot of time
on the red carpet.

Let's bring her out.

[Designers exclaiming]

- It's Lindsay Lohan!
- Oh, my God.

- How are you? Welcome.
- Good. It's good to see you.

Actress, singer, and designer
of her own line, 6126.

- Lindsay Lohan, welcome.
- Thank you.

We will score your designs
as they come down the runway.

Let's start the show.

I really wanted to come out strong

with a really old Hollywood
glamorous look.

That was my goal, and I feel
so confident that I accomplished that.

The only thought that I have
watching my dress

is that I do belong here.

I am as good as anybody else,

and I can pull it off if I need to.

I'm pretty excited to see
my dress down the runway.

Any creator feels a little love

when they see their product
walk in the spotlight.

It's not like stars
haven't walked the red carpet

half naked before
or in sheer garments before.

But the minute she turns around
is when things get a little bit iffy.

The dress looks fabulous.

The only thing
that's bugging me about it

is I've done this
two-tone color scheme,

and the colors have just
washed out completely,

which isn't at all what I was going for.

When I see my dress
coming down the runway,

it's the most amazing feeling,
and I'm really overwhelmed

by all the emotion put into it.

So, as Vanessa comes out,

my first reaction is

either they're gonna love it,
or they're gonna hate it.

Do I think they'll love it?
Yes, I do. 'Cause I love it.

I think the dress completely expresses
my voice as a designer.

I wanted something elegant
and chic

because, you know,
it is for a red carpet,

and I love things that are dramatic
and make people look twice.

I feel very positive about my dress.

But I've never had
professional judges in front of me.

Either you're in, or you're out.

That's pressure.

Mad pressure.

Seeing my dress walk down the runway...
it looks fantastic.

And the one thing that keeps
going through my mind,

because it is a long dress...
just please don't trip,

don't trip, don't trip, focus.

My garment, I feel like,
does not fulfill the stereotype

of the typical red carpet gown.

I definitely do feel like
I stayed true to myself.

And I feel good about it.

Seeing my design come down the runway
is completely exhilarating.

It just goes to show you
that sometimes you're down,

and all you gotta do is just
wait for the right time

and pick yourself back up
and not give up.

I feel like my dress
is definitely innovative,

and it's definitely appropriate
for the red carpet.

If I had to do it again,
I really wouldn't change anything.

I think it's great for the red carpet,

but it makes me a little concerned,

because as she turns around,

which is actually
the most beautiful part of the dress,

they didn't really look at it,

and that makes me a little nervous.

I feel like the judges
will understand my look

and where I'm coming from on it.

My dress and my entire look

really suits me as a designer.

My garment looks amazing.
My model is working it.

And I keep looking over
at the judges,

and they seem to be liking it, too.

So I'm pretty confident
that I will be okay today.

If I call your name,
please step forward.

Shirin.

Epperson.

Gordana.

Carol Hannah.

Logan.

Althea.

Nicolas.

Irina.

Malvin.

Louise.

If I have called your name,
congratulations.

Your scores have qualified you
to move on to the next challenge.

You can leave the runway.

The remaining designers
have the highest and the lowest scores.

One of you
will be named the winner,

and one of you will be out.

Let's bring out your models.

Qristyl, what awards show
is she going to?

- We are going to the Emmys.
- Going to the Emmys.

I also was thinking
who would wear it.

Someone like Miley Cyrus,
Lindsay Lohan.

I just really wanted to have
a sexy silhouette,

something youthful and powerful.

The way that you designed the back
and how it falls... it is really beautiful.

So I think that that
is going on the right path.

But the focus is gonna get taken off
of the beauty of the back of the dress,

and everything's gonna get hammered
just because of the front.

- The front is a mess.
- Okay. Okay.

Even the seam
looks like it's crooked, like it's pulling.

It ultimately looks
a little schizophrenic,

like you glued
two dresses together.

She's gonna get k*lled
by the tabloids.

Thank you.

Christopher,
where's your model going?

My model is going

- to the Video Music Awards.
- Uh-huh.

I wanted to play with
the juxtaposition of hard and soft.

I have to say, I like this dress.

I just don't love that color
of the soft material,

because it kind of looks
dirty white to me.

- But I think it looks hip and young.
- Thank you.

[Kors]
I wrote two words that don't go together...

"cute" and "edgy."

The overall look is appropriate
for what you were going for.

- Good idea.
- Thank you.

I like the fact that it has
a dark, romantic attitude to it.

- I think it looks good.
- Thank you.

[Lindsay]
I also like this dress.

I would like less of the ruffles
at the bottom, I think.

- But I like it.
- Thank you very much.

- [Sigh]
- Ra'mon.

I designed an evening gown
for the pinnacle

of the red carpet...
the Academy Awards.

- Ra'mon, I like your dress very much.
- Thank you.

It's chic, and I think it's well made,

but it's respectable.

- Pump it up, and don't be afraid.
- Will do. I can do that.

- Lindsay, what do you think?
- I really like this dress.

I like how it falls in the back

because I think that's
always pretty on the red carpet.

It is safe,
with the color and everything,

but I like this dress.

It definitely looks
much more expensive than $200.

Thank you.

Okay, I would like
to continue with Ari.

Well, I want to ask Ari,
what red carpet is she walking?

The VMAs, like, 2080.

I want her to also go and receive

her Nobel Peace Prize
on the same night.

I mean, it sounds really wild,

but that's the kind of aesthetic
that I was going for.

She looks like a disco soccer ball.

- Mm-hmm.
- You know? So, somehow,

I think if you want
to be that avant-garde,

you still have to find some kind
of beauty in the oddity.

Yeah.

It's a little out there.

It is out there. I know.

- It is a little out there.
- I love it, though.

But the person that's wearing it
has to love it more.

- They definitely would have to love this.
- You can make all you want,

but you gotta make sure
someone's gonna buy it.

I respect the fact
that you have your own ideas,

and you want to experiment,

but there's gotta be
an awareness to what's acceptable

and what's appropriate
and what's too out there.

[Nina]
At the end of the day,

you have to have the public
want to wear your designs

- and not end up on the worst-dress list.
- Yeah.

But I appreciate the fact
that you have

a very conceptual process of design.

Yeah.

All right. Johnny?

The idea was early '20s starlet
who's obsessed with the '20s

and she's going to
a "premier of her new movie" type of thing.

I wanted to keep the languid feel
and very liquidy, so...

I'm actually very happy
with the way it turned out.

I think it's very seductive.

It's not overly sexy.

I think there's something really wonderful
and easy about this dress.

I appreciate that. Thank you.

There's something that's very sexy

about the low back
and then the V in the front

and just how it kind of falls.

The color of the red
was a little off for me.

The dress itself is so interesting

that ultimately you didn't need
an interesting color at all.

Right.

I mean, that dress
in navy blue or black,

- with no trim, would've been so chic.
- Black. Great.

- I'll keep that in mind.
- You handled the fabric very well.

- Thank you very much, Michael.
- It's beautiful.

- Thank you. I appreciate that.
- Mitchell?

Two days ago, I embarked
upon designing a dress for the Grammys,

so I spent a day and a half
smocking an entire gown,

and when my model got there,

the measurements were off
by about 6 inches.

You always know a model
is never the age that she says she is.

Or, if they're too tall,
they make themselves shorter.

If they're short,
they make themselves taller.

But I think, even though
it is completely sheer

and completely unwearable,

there is an attitude about this that I liked

that makes me wonder
what else you can do.

Obviously, you worked furiously
trying to whip together something.

I was.

It looks whipped together.

- She can't leave the house.
- Right.

It's a kind of cool nightgown.
You know?

I could see it in the house.

You know, with a glass of brandy
and the fireplace going.

But I certainly cannot see it
on the red carpet.

[Heidi]
Okay, we've heard what you had to say.

We're gonna have a little chat,
and then we'll call you back.

You can leave the runway.

Okay, let's talk about
the ones that we liked.

Ra'mon's dress was safe,
but it was beautifully made.

In the right color
and tweaked here and there,

I can definitely see it on the red carpet
being a success.

He needs a little more
confidence in himself

to really push the envelope.

- Mm-hmm.
- [Lindsay] I think that his was the closest

to making sense
to the red carpet look that he imagined.

What did we think of Johnny?

I think Johnny's dress,

if you really pictured it
in black, with just a bun

and, like, a really sexy sandal,
without the sequins...

I think the shape
was really kind of cool.

Yeah.

I could see a beautiful picture
with that dress, absolutely.

I have to say, out of all the ones,
I would probably wear Christopher's.

I liked Christopher's.

[Heidi]
At least there was a bit of youth to it.

I thought Christopher's dress
was elegant and sharp

- but still had some bite to it.
- Yeah.

Let's talk about
the ones that we didn't like.

What did we think of Qristyl?

Let's be honest.
The front of the dress was a nightmare.

And I was really nervous,
looking at hers,

about the taste level, you know?

Because we want creativity,
but we also really want to see

someone who's got an eye.

How about Ari?

- I don't know if she's serious or not.
- Yeah, that's the problem.

- [Michael] Was it a joke to her?
- [Nina] I don't know.

It was just like speaking
to somebody in another world.

In a weird way, though,
her intense spaciness...

Like, you have to say to yourself...

I don't know. Like, maybe she's
one of those designers

that you think to yourself,
"Do I not get it?

Maybe I'm not smart enough
to get this."

What did we think of Mitchell?

Well, Mitchell, of course, gave us

the fully transparent
nightgown caftan.

- [Heidi] Yeah.
- He screwed up with the model,

and what he ended up with,

you know... let's be honest...
no one could wear.

Okay, so we've made our decision?

I think so.

Let's bring them back out.

One of you
will be named the winner,

and one of you will be out.

One of you
will be named the winner,

and one of you will be out.

Johnny,

good job.

You're in.
You can leave the runway.

Christopher,

you are the winner
of this challenge.

- Thank you.
- Congratulations.

We thought that your dress
had a very nice balance

of edgy and pretty, and it would be
perfect for the red carpet.

- So good job.
- Thank you.

And you also have immunity
for the next challenge.

- You can leave the runway.
- Thank you.

Even though I don't have

the education the other people do,

I've earned my right to be here,
winning challenge number 1.

So I'm hoping that I can keep it up

and knock them down,
one by one.

Ra'mon, you're in.

- You can leave the runway.
- Thank you.

[Whispers]
I love you, Lindsay.

Qristyl,

you're in.

You can leave the runway.

Thank you. Thank you.

- Good job.
- Good luck.

Ari,

Mitchell,

one of you will be out.

Ari, we did not know what
was going on with your look,

and we don't think that you did, either.

It's one thing to aim outside of the box,

and another to miss it completely.

Mitchell, we thought that your look
was unwearable for the red carpet.

It was a sheer nightgown.

And in Project Runway,
there are no excuses.

Mitchell,

you're in.

You can leave the runway.

That means, Ari, you're out.

- Auf Wiedersehen.
- Thank you.

- Thank you, Heidi.
- Bye.

Thanks, guys.

Ohhhh!

Where's my white sister going?

Someone's gotta be the first
to leave Project Runway,

and it might as well be me.

So, Ari, I have to send you to the workroom
to clean up your space. All right?

Not a problem.

Best wishes, Ari.

Taking risks can be a good thing,

but you have to
take risks responsibly,

and I feel like I've learned that
from this experience.

Next week on Project Runway...

You'll create a look
for an actual celebrity.

And she has a big
surprise for you.

Oh, [bleep]. Oh, [bleep].

I'm gonna do a pair of jodhpurs.
Like, chicken thighs.

Oh, Malvin.

Johnny's jacket is outdated.
She won't even dust with that jacket.

Crap!

I'm a little worried about finishing.

I am going as fast as I can.

No, it looks good.
It looks a lot better from here.

Oh, hot messes!

The shorts are too short.
The T-shirt's too tight.

They look like I actually sewed them myself,
and I can't sew.

She is a mess.

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