The overarching theme of this episode: Shut the hell up, Laura Kathleen.

We’re down to eleven designers from the original thirteen. Aside: Do any of you know why they started with thirteen? Is it a scheduling thing? Did a designer drop out at the last minute? Are they being “edgy”?

The special twist of this week’s adventure in fashion is announced by ANH (Also Not Heidi, for our new friends). The designers will be working with three of the biggest names in legal (ANH was careful to stress the legal part) aerosol art, a.k.a. graffiti, Meres One, Sen2, and Zimad. ANH’s dress is adorable, and looks a bit like fondant. Each designer is given seven yards of white cotton or chiffon and a crate of spray paint. They’ll also be able to spend $50 on sundries at Mood.  Laura Kathleen immediately bitches about not being dressed for spray painting, because “my *BEEP*’s expensive.”  And thus begins a long episode of me rolling my eyes at Laura Kathleen. The aerosol artists take turns showing the contestants interesting ways to use the spray paint, and our team of rag-tag designers is impressed enough to literally ooooh and aaaah through the whole presentation.

The designers create some interesting looking patterns, I included the swatches with the runway photos below so you can take a closer look.

In the workroom, the designers face their usual struggles. There’s tension brewing between Laura Kathleen and nearly everyone else, as she apparently has been talking about how rich she is, and little else, since she arrived. In a super uncomfortable moment, Laura Kathleen walks in on Kayne and Ivy having a laugh at her expense. She complains to the confession cam about how there’s no need to be bitchy, which is funny, because nobody has spent more time bitching about how the other contestants than, wait for it, Laura Kathleen.

Joanna comes in for her critique, telling Kayne to note the fine line between fabulous and hideous, asking Uli about how much art she was able to experience growing up behind the Iron Curtain, and giving the side eye to Laura Kathleen. Suede’s dress, which is actually pretty questionable, earns brownie points because at least his model can wear a bra.

To the runway!

I loved many of the pieces featured in this episode. Color! Lots of color! There’s not a black and white, beige or poopy diaper colored piece in the bunch, and it’s fabulous. Even the awful clothes are elevated by the use of actual colors. Here are the designers in alphabetical order.

Althea

Althea created a really soft print in purples and yellows. I thought her dress was really cute, if not a showstopper. Althea is safe. As always, you can click any image to make it big.

Andrae

Andrae’s dress is so cute! It’s fun and fresh, and I think his moddle looks adorable in it. He’s safe.

Anthony Ryan

Anthony Ryan approached this challenge from a graphic angle, creating a simple but striking print of blue and black hashmarks. On it’s own, it seemed like it might be too plain, but he turned it into this adorable dress:

Anthony Ryan is safe, and in the top three.

Cassanova

Cassanova used stencils in his print, and created a totally hip, funky fabric I would love to make into a handbag, or a throw pillow. (I am not hip or funky enough to wear it as clothing, sadly.) His moddle totally rocks this sweet little halter dress. Cassanova is safe.

Emilio

Emilio went all out, creating this dynamic and powerful suit in his fabric, which is a bold mix of orange, yellow and red. His moddle looks like she might purchase the PR empire from the Weinsteins, eat all the not-Heidis for breakfast, and defeat misogyny once and for all. In short, I freaking love it, and the judges do, too. Emilio is the winner.

Ivy

Ivy was going for girl power, and wanted her woman to be  a superhero in a suit, ready to toss off her corporate oppression to reveal the heroine underneath. I think the idea is aces, I’m just not sure she pulled it off. The cut of the suit is gorgeous, I’m just not wild about the actual execution of her paint job. Ivy was safe, and in the top three.

Joshua

Joshua also incorporated the city and the same red, orange and yellow fire effect as several other designers. I think it’s cute, but it didn’t really stand out for me. Joshua is safe.

Kayne

Kayne described his moddle thusly: “She looks like Kate Middleton.” I didn’t really get that vibe, but feel free to tell me if you feel otherwise, readers. His dress is so far over-the-top, I think it’s worked it’s way all the way through hideous and back to fabulous again. The judges don’t agree, and while Kayne ends up safe, he’s in the bottom three.

Laura Kathleen

I don’t even know what this is readers. It’s really short, and it has fringe hanging off the back. Not even my Barbie would wear this shit. Laura Kathleen is in the bottom three, but ends up safe. She’s getting the chance to come back and terrorize the workroom another day. I don’t know either, readers. I don’t know either.

Suede

Suede was in over his head from the beginning of this episode. I think he had the start of a good idea, but it all got away from him. Even Cassanova was making faces. Sadly, this was Suede’s last night, his polka dot party dress got him sent home.

Uli

In Uli’s interview with Joanna, she mentioned that she left East Germany when she was eighteen, as soon as the wall came down, because she was afraid they were going to put it right back up again. I may be in the middle of a (non-alcoholic) egg nog buzz, but I think Uli’s experiences are clearly reflected in her work. Uli’s dresses are all about freedom, movement and joy. #TeamUli. For this episode, she made a cute, swingy-short dress with a Rorschach pattern and groovy, pointed caps on the sleeves. Uli is safe.

Here’s a set of slideshows with full-sized versions of both the fashions and the swatches, because I love you.

Fashion!

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Fabric!

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