And so begins another season of Project Runway. We’re back in New York this season. (Hooray!!!) But, possibly back in LA next season. (WTF, Lifetime?! W-T-F!) Heidi is pregnant, again. We’ve lost count of how many kids she’s had at this point. Tim is as adorable as ever. Most importantly, Michael and Nina are back! What’s more, Michael and Nina will be weighing in on that snore of a show Models of the Runway. They’ve actually given life to that show… that and this season they casted some real feisty (read: bitchy) models.

In case you need a reminder of why Michael, Nina, and Heidi being together are so essential on this show, take a look at this exchange when referencing the cliche of one contestants horrible creation:

Michael (in lispy uber-queen voice): “Wow, isn’t that glamorous?”
Nina: “To who?”
Heidi: “In what country? In what year?”
Michael: “Well I was just gonna say, in a lounge in Las Vegas in 1972.”

Don’t tell me you didn’t miss the trio.

Ok, enough about Michael, Nina, & Heidi. For the first challenge, the designers were asked to create a look that embodies who they are as a designer. A great way to start, in our opinion. This was also the token mad-grab challenge. Mood threw up bolsters of fabric all over Central Park. A little surprise this time: the designers would have to edit down their mad-grab spoils and select 5 fabrics they could bring back to the workroom. There was relatively little drama in the workroom for the first challenge. The only remarkable moment were Ping’s kookiness, Anthony’s hilarious encounter with Tim, and the suggestion that Emilio might be the first contestant to not finish. Not quite a snore, but not thrilling either.

This season’s contestants have been touted as the most talented group of the bunch. They must be holding out on us, because we didn’t see any indication of that.

RECAP:

Emilio Sosa – This guy is meticulous. He’s also mature and calm; he didn’t go insane or scratch his whole idea when Tim told him he was concerned about him not finishing. He could be our favorite. All that work paid off for him. He won the challenge, and he’s smart enough to know he set the bar pretty high.

We say: To do that much in that short of time? He’s going to be here for awhile.

Ben Chmura – His background is in comic book illustration and we can totally see Rhianna in his pre-PR7 designs. We hope he can add something interesting and that he won’t play it safe.

Note: He has a thing for pointed shoulders. Hopefully, he has more up his sleeve than that.

Christiane King – The first to go and she knew it from the moment she was left up on that runway with the best and worst. She barely got through her description without crying. That dress was a total mess. Definitely the right choice in elimination.

The Losing Design

Anna Marie – A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design in printmaking. Her dress reminded of becarria or j. mendel a bit. It didn’t knock our socks off, but we can see potential if she can just spread her little printmaking wings.

Seth Aaron Henderson- Something about him reminds me of Jeffrey (remember him?) and Chris from PR6 combined. He’s quite enthused about himself. His outfit was well executed and could have easily gone very wrong. Tim was worried, enough to question if this is what he really wanted to represent him. Confident in his design, Seth pulled it off and impressed the judges. Without the proper construction, he would have bombed.

Ping Wu - Physical therapist by day, fashion designer by night. Ping is the quirky wildcard. At least she doesn’t spit on her fabrics to mark them. Instead, she drapes items on herself, telling Tim that she never had a dress form at home. We like her because she’s different. She isn’t trying to be someone else and she understands presentation. Just one question: What’s with the kick she made her model do at the end of the runway?

Amy Sarabi – Amy gave us an adorable little bustier dress with a floaty skirt that has to be seen to be understood. Granted, it probably would go flat if you tried to sit, but we liked how simple and well constructed her outfit was.

Amy Sarbi's little number

Mila Hermanovski – Bang sister number one. Her design had a skirt that was a bit too short and nothing fit together. Print overload.

Janeane – Someone get this girl on the nuvaring or something to balance out her hormones… or as fashionista suggested, a copy of Kelly Cutrone’s book. She cried for EVERYTHING. That being said, we still like her. She’s the designer behind one of our very favorite Etsy shops. After a rocky start, she whips up a last minute chicest of chic outfits. Heidi even smiled as it came down the runway.

Pamela Ptak – Very stiff and it looks like its going to fall off. That being said, it is sewn well and there isn’t anything about it that would get her eliminated this time.

Note: We think she likes obnoxiously bright colors… just a guess.

Jonathan Peters – It fits well, but what is that atrocious belt doing on that dress? Haven’t you ever heard of editing?! Sheesh…

Jay Nicolas - Jay’s dress could have been impressive. However, the placement of the giant rosettes spilling out of the models stomach was probably not the best choice.

Jesse – Ick. Really, what was that? He’s not very memorable yet and thankfully, we almost forgot about his design. It was messy. Better luck next time!

Jesus – When will the contestants learn?! ALWAYS LISTEN TO TIM! Just a note, that Michael Kors quote above? Ya, it was about this dress. First off, faux alligator? Really? That’s the fabric you pick to represent yourself as a designer? Second, couldn’t you pick a more artful way of adding to the bottom of the skirt? Is it just us, or is it obvious that a giant seam across the thigh is an easy way to piss off the judges? Come on!

Anthony – HILARIOUS. God, I hope he stays on for a LONG time. The boy can sew and he takes criticism well. He isn’t afraid of taking risks, which is something you must do to succeed on this show. He chose a crazy playful print and gave us a well sewn, but not well designed dress with a big ol’ bow on the side. It would have been better if the bow were on the back, a little asian infusion. We hope he’ll do better next time.

Kors noted that the bow would serve to steal champagne glasses. And we thought of Sabrina...

Maya Luz – One of the bang sisters; don’t get her confused with Mila. It’s kinda hard not to, though. Nothing out of this world, but it was pretty. We would have loved to see those ruffles continue into a giant skirt. That would have been a “wow” moment.

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Jenn Ortiz is an freelance author and a graduate of the University of Florida with degrees in History and Latin American Studies with hopes to pursue a PhD in Child Development. She believes there is beauty in everything around us; from the inside out, outside in. She currently runs {Bits of Beauty} a place you just feel good about and guest blogs for Design Tavern and Wishpot.