RECAP: Project Runway Season 22, Episode 6
Hello, designers! We’re back in the mix of the judging of last episode, with a recap of Law being awful.
The Rest of Episode 5
It is a bit wild that we had all of this drama regarding Bi and Bryan when neither of them was going to win this challenge. Producer shenanigans. I think they want us to hate-watch this show. Bryan and Joseph McRae have a chitchat about “Project Runway” vs. “The Joseph McRae Show” and why everyone voted for him last episode, and Joseph brings receipts and Bryan is just sad that it’s not “The Bryan [Insert Last Name Here] Show.” He’s jealous.
Our top two from the paper towel episode are Naheim and his faux denim and Jeffrey and his lightweight ombre. Naheim is the winner of the challenge, and this is correct. His look was the best of the bunch and fooled the panel into thinking it was denim. Good call.
Meanwhile: Elizabeth is hiding in the hallways and talking to producers about how she doesn’t even want to go out there. And why? She’s scared of Law. She doesn’t say it in so many words, but she has seen Law tear down looks that he hates. She contemplates quitting the show entirely, and while some may think this is a weakness, I think this is truth. Law has made this such a toxic workplace, and he must be stopped.
But she musters the courage to get out there. Anna’s looks like a French maid, and it’s so great that she’s accentuating the curves of her models. Elizabeth’s print is wonderful, but the construction is a hot mess with pins and needles and an uneven hemline, and no one is wrong.
It’s a weird-looking dress except for the print. Bobby’s dress is next, and Law’s biggest complaint is the styling with the boots…moving on. The chunky neck strap is distracting and looks uncomfortable. But Tyra loves it, and we all know that Tyra has questionable taste.
For me, Bobby should go home for this one; I really hate this dress, and that neckstrap is disqualifying. However, Elizabeth is cut on this one, and maybe that’s for the best since she was having a hard time. But Bobby has got to go. She’s constantly in the bottom and her taste level isn’t up to snuff.
Read on for my take on Episode 6. SPOILERS AHEAD!
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The Challenge
I haven’t generally spoken about Heidi’s clothes on the runway, but this sharp gold look is not it, for me. She looks like she’s constantly in danger of stabbing herself in the throat. And it does nothing for her body. Why are you wearing this, Ms. Klum?!
Challenge: Red Carpet Look for Heidi for The Devil Wears Prada 2
Budget: $700
Time: 1 Day (which no one wants, even Heidi, and she’s a damn producer and this look is for her)
In his best attempt at making it “The Bryan [Insert Last Name Here] Show,” he is given another talking head listing his red carpet accomplishments. The problem with Bryan is that he’s not interesting enough to have his own show.
The Work Room
Naheim wants his look to be this red dress with a faux fur spiral around the body. Immunity City, Population: 1.
Immediately, Jude discovers that he’s missing his fabric for the bodice of his gown. He tucks his tail between his legs and asks Bryan if he has any extra fabric, and they both, in talking heads, talk about Jude ranking Bryan as the weakest on the last challenge. But whatever. Sometimes you need to ask your enemy for help, and at his core, I do think Bryan is a good guy, but (putting on my armchair psychologist glasses for a moment) he only gives us the presentation of confidence and lacks any real confidence in his work. The man is egotistical and hates himself. It’s a combination that will crush himself and countries if we’re not careful.
Christian arrives and brings in costume designer Molly Rogers (Sex and the City, both of The Devil Wears Prada movies) to walk through the workroom and this is infinitely more helpful than the podcast girlies. Imagine that: an actual designer walking through the workroom to give thoughts and advice.
First stop is Jeffrey, who is using his very sparkly, very pink fabric from home. Molly immediately loves the fabric and the choice to make a corset for Heidi.
Joseph McRae gives us cerulean (and Molly admits no one knew what cerulean was on TDWP) sleeves and buttons. Christian cautions Joseph that Heidi doesn’t want to look over-the-top and cartoonish; she wants to look hot. But we all know that Joseph doesn’t listen to anybody. And there’s a part of that I respect: the man has a vision and a style and wants everyone to know a look his his. But at some point it starts to feel less visionary and more visionless if you refuse to stray from the giant sleeves.
Naheim’s next and the first thing out of Christian’s mouth is that he’s lucky he has immunity because what the hell is he making? I’m no fashion critic (just a commentator on looks and drama), but what the hell is Naheim making? Christian keeps reminding everyone that this is for Heidi and to keep her in mind. Naheim says he’s gonna prove her wrong.
Anna is going to make a sheer lace dress and is concerned about underwear showing (which is generally a concern on this show), but both Christian and Molly remind Anna (and us) that Heidi LOVES to show off her body and her underwear. So make that sheer dress, Anna!
Bi is cautioned about looking like things are just pieced on.
Jude doesn’t make gowns. But would for his girlfriend…or Heidi.
Bobby is making a dress with a scarf. Okay. Knowing what I know about the end, Christian cautions her against a floral print for the bust, but she should have kept it. More on that later.
Bryan shows us another lettuce dress. It’s a black tube that he wants to throw lettuce, I mean petals, on. It’s boring. Christian and Molly suggest maybe making that lettuce fabric the main fabric and having it flow off her body. But can he sew a dress together? Let’s watch.
Christian then lets the designers know that the winner of this challenge will dress Heidi on the red carpet, have immunity, AND gets to name the bottom three looks of the week, because that’s just like the cut-throat nature of The Devil Wears Prada. But did the producers not watch the movie? Yes, it’s cut-throat, but the real power is friendship and fashion and finding yourself.
But choosing the bottom three? What shenanigans will happen here?
Both Bryan and Naheim pivoted according to Christian’s suggestions, and good, because their original ideas were trash. I really don’t think Naheim’s look was ever going to work, but I hope he proves us all wrong one day.
Several of the talking heads this episode have been about Bryan’s problems with construction. Apparently the diva can’t sew, so everyone is trepidaciously looking at this flowing gown he’s pivoted to.
Naheim is struggling. He’s literally just thinking about gold buttons to make it look “luxury.” Bruh.
Jude and Christian chat about how quickly to make a gown. What a stunning line response to Jude’s “But did you make any gowns in 14 hours?” “I made one in 4 hours, and she won in it.” Christian will always win, Jude. The House always wins.
We head over to Bobby, and ma’am. What are you doing? She just lists off everything wrong with her look: miscutting fabric, not draping, uneven hem, silhouette is covered, she lacks construction skills. Does she have an eye for design? I honestly don’t know. Everything looks like a low-budget Pirates of the Caribbean live-action show in Fort Dodge.
The Runway
NINA IS HERE! Well. A Nina. Nina Dobrev is here, and so is Winnie Harlow (who I just adore). Do we need to call the gumshoes from Where In the World Is Carmen San Diego? to be on the case of finding Nina Garcia? Is she in witness protection? How I have yearned for her taste, and I’m sure she’d read Law down in her classy way.
Tyra is also missing this episode. Where’s Tyra? Probably cooling off from Law’s mouth. Anyway. The looks. I think. This runway is so fast, and we spend so much time on the drama, that we don’t really get to really look at the fashion. Alas! Alack! That’s what’s happening with this show now, I guess.
Bi (and model Briana): he has made a walking disco ball goddess. The sheer glittery fabric with a chevron pattern is absolutely gorgeous. The dress looks fabulous. There’s a structured shoulder on the cape. The pattern and the cape are doing all of the work on this look, but I’m not mad at it. I really love this. The more I look at it (when I pause just right and can see the garment), the more it does start to look like a dress for an older woman, but Heidi would look absolutely stunning in this. Heidi would look stunning in almost anything.
Jude (and model Christina): sometimes I wish they would ban flat black fabric for television competition shows. It’s kinda hard to see the look on a screen. But we all know this is going to be well tailored. The pop of sparkle thigh is great, and the corseting in the back is really sexy. I think this is a good look. Safe, but good.
Joseph McRae (and model Rebecca): as discussed, everyone can clock a Joseph McRae design immediately. Everything on this dress is exaggerated and I think tasteful. We’re off the shoulders in this cerulean gown, but we still have the signature puffy sleeves. It gives us a different silhouette from his regular looks. I’m not mad at this. The enormous buttons, though, should have been something different. I’m not convinced these were the correct choice. I’d absolutely see Heidi in this.
Naheim (and model Lexii): Naheim knows this is bad. He also knows that because he has immunity, there could be a good look in the bottom. I’m almost wishing he had stuck with his original georgette and faux fur gown because he had a vision with that. This is bad. The military-inspired, ill-fitting mess is just not good. There’s no vision. He did say in the workroom that his goal at the end of the day was to send a garment down the runway, and boy did he. He’s very lucky he has immunity.
Anna (and model Rain): the lace is gorgeous, and I’m glad we’re not getting another corset. Does it push any boundaries? I don’t think so. She could have gone sheerer. It’s very pretty, but I’m not sure it’s 2026, ya know? Anna does point out that right now there are only two women left in the competition, which is a tragedy, and I blame the culling of the first few episodes…and the producers needing to keep Bryan for some reason.
Jeffrey (and model Anna): the dress is gorgeous, but there’s something that just feels so early Millennium to me about that? I don’t know if it’s the color or the cut or the amount of peekaboos in the dress. I feel like I’ve seen it before. But the sparkles are great. Winnie wants Heidi to not choose this one so she can. Go off, queen. Wear this dress.
Bobby (and model Amanda): this is bad. I’ll repeat what I said earlier: Fort Dodge, Iowa, presents Pirates of the Caribbean LIVE at the Oleson Park Music Pavilion. Woof.
Bryan (and model Yu): this look of Christian’s is really good. The flowing fabric, the open sides, the collar: it all feels very Heidi Klum. It’s like an underwater fantasy. Bi points out that the bust of the dress has no support for Heidi’s buxom self. More on that later.
The Judging
Bryan, Bi, and Jeffrey are all named in the top for this week, and I think that’s correct.
Bi’s look has Heidi singing with a choir of angels: the shimmers, the sparkles, the sheerness. It’s all a win for her. Law thinks this looks a bit old but has a presence. This is the winner for me. I want to see Heidi in this. She’s an ethereal goddess, yes, and I think this look fits that bill.
Bryan’s has a great color and looks expensive. Law points out that Yu (the model) doesn’t have the same bust as Heidi; in fact, they’re almost opposites. And it can be argued that Bryan didn’t have the client in mind; he just wanted to make a good-looking garment, and that would be correct. But can you also argue that pressing Bryan the way Law is doing is a bit odd and over-the-top? Of course. What am I saying? This is a drama show.
Jeffrey’s color and sparkle are great. He’s studied what she’s worn this season for him, with the very structured bodice. But they panel is basically saying “right dress, wrong event.” After all, she’s going to a movie premiere. Does she really want to sit in a movie theatre with that pointed structured top?
Apparently not, because Bryan is named the winner. I think it should have been Bi, but then again, I don’t have to wear this look. After all the grilling he got from Law about the bust, he still wins. But I gotta say…she doesn’t look good in this dress on the red carpet. It looks like a maternity gown.
Bryan chooses the bottom three from the remaining designers: Bobby, Jude…and Naheim! Essentially making the choice between Bobby and Jude since Naheim has immunity. If he was actually playing the game, he would have put Joseph in the bottom instead of Bobby, thereby knocking out a strong competitor.
Naheim admits he made this…garment…in three hours. There’s really nothing redeemable about his look. And he knows it, and is charming about it.
Jude’s piece doesn’t really flow together according to Winnie. And Law has seen it before. Heidi and Law think that Jude was basically placed in the bottom because Jude called him out last week and it’s not a bad look. Law is planting seeds. I’m gonna ignore him this episode.
Bobby’s look is messy. Winnie points out that the cups are going in different directions, none of the women actually like the dress, but Law thinks the dress is risky but it’s actually just a mistake. It’s clear that Law is just here for mess.
Naheim should have been in the bottom two this episode, but he’s saved by immunity.
AND NOW WE GET A FULL EPISODE!
We find out that the eliminated designer is Bobby. Finally.
I was really nervous that Law swayed the jury with his “mistakes are chic” argument and we were going to lose Jude this episode. And if she was saved, this series would officially be over. Thankfully though, we keep Jude and his tailoring and tell Bobby and her look to walk the plank. See you next week, designers!
What do YOU think of “Project Runway” Season 22? Who are you rooting for? Drop your comments below!
