Project Runway recap: 'Find Your Muse'

What’s great about Project Runway—as opposed to other reality shows—is that age is rarely a factor. On America’s Next Top Model, 25-year-old women are often the “old ladies” of the group. Anyone over the age of 35 on Survivor or Big Brother is considered ancient by the other contestants. Youthfulness is obviously very important to the demands of Amazing Race and its challenges. And American Idol has an age limit of 28.

That’s not the case on this show; as long as you have talent and taste, age isn’t an issue. Which is why it’s unfortunate that Alexander constantly makes references to being so far in the show “at only 22.” Lest you forget, Christian Siriano won at 21. Experience can get you far, but when you just got it, you got it. And Alexander just doesn’t got it. But I’m getting ahead of myself…

Tim meets the designers at the runway for tonight’s episode, “Find Your Muse.” The show’s muse for this challenge is Mary Kay. The “global makeup artist” Luis Casco tells the designers all about the brand: “We help women discover both inner and outer beauty, etc., etc.” But then he gets to the good part: It’s a makeover challenge. And not just that—it’s also the everyday woman challenge, and the designers have to find a stranger off the streets to be their everyday woman.

Like Char says, the challenge is exciting—mainly because it draws on strengths we don’t always see each week, because it’s hard to make a 6’2″ model look bad. Designing for a non-model requires expert skill in proportions and fit. For this specific challenge, because the model is also the client, it also takes adapting to another person’s tastes. And when you just pick a muse off the street, it’s not easy to identify their tastes right away—which actually worked out well for most people, except Kini.

Kini selects a woman who loves bohemian and tie-dye, decidedly not what fits his style. Everyone else seems to magically find a muse who fits, though. Emily even finds a woman who shares her own childhood favorite designer (Thierry Mugler). And then there’s Sean, who just struggles to find anyone. As someone who lives in New York, I can say that we don’t give friendly strangers much time to make their case—especially friendly strangers with a camera (see Billy on the Street if you don’t believe me). Eventually, he gets someone to say yes. So after chatting and sitting through sketches (and signing of agreements), the muses stay behind at Washington Square Park while their designers go to Mood.

They begin their pieces in the workroom—but they have two days, so there’s a bit more of a relaxed vibe. I often complain about not enough two-day challenges, so I hate to complain when we finally get one. Still, this didn’t feel like the right challenge to give so much time to. Where was the extra day when they did their red carpet looks? Anyway, the room is surveyed by Korina, who does not approve of Char’s peplum, Kini’s denim, Amanda’s print, or Emily’s fins. When Tim does his own critique, he doesn’t have the same problems that she does. Instead, he zooms in on Alexander, and we get this brutally honest exchange:

Tim [after making Alexander join him on the other side of the table]: What do you see?

Alexander: I don’t know. What do you see?

Tim: You are one of the most talented designers I’ve ever met.

Alexander: Okay… and… ?

Tim: I have never said this in the history of Project Runway. This is one of the most hideous garments I have ever seen in my entire existence. It is hideous. You’ve got to change this. You’ve got to.

Miraculously, Tim can say those words without sounding like a jerk—he just sounds like a concerned mentor. That is a skill that only comes with years and years of being a design teacher. Designers trust him and his judgment… which is why what happens moments before the runway show is even more interesting.

NEXT: Zipping down the runway

As 10 minutes is called, Char’s model rips the zipper out of the dress. It’s not a construction issue; it’s a faulty zipper. (What are you selling Mood!?) And because this is an everyday woman who probably doesn’t want to walk down the runway with her whole hip hanging out, Tim allows the other designers to decide if Char gets time to replace it. None of the designers say anything against it, but all of them are screaming “no” on the inside. It’s a tough call—if it were anyone else, they would want the same courtesy. But because it’s Char, the designers feel like it’s The Tim Gunn Save 2.0. And for once, it seems like the designers don’t trust his judgment. (I can’t decide; I’m being Switzerland here.)

When the runway show finally starts, actress Michelle Monaghan (promoting her Nicholas Sparks movie) and British model Asha Leo join the judges’ panel. Before they start their critiques, Nina congratulates all the women on their struts down the catwalk and tells them not to take what they say about the designs personally. (Let’s hope they also did this off-camera with the little girls last week.)

Sean’s look is just so-so, with his now signature fringe. There is nothing spectacular about it, but it’s not terrible either. It’s an everyday look for an everyday woman. And the judges agreed: He’s safe.

Amanda ping-pongs between bottom and top looks each challenge, but her printed dress and leather vest put her in the bottom this week. The idea is strong, but the way it’s constructed makes it look cheap and unflattering. During the workroom, she said she has to succeed because there’s no way she will get a third chance. But there’s hope for you yet, Amanda.

Korina’s look gets the best judges line of the night: “I want to have babies with this jacket,” Asha says. (Can we get her on every week? She’d definitely liven up the judges’ group.) All the other judges love it—which is why it’s in the top—except for Heidi, who gets an ’80s mall vibe.

Char’s look isn’t bad, but it completely misses the mark for this challenge. She completely misjudged what kind of style this woman belongs in. Like Heidi and Nina said, a look can be provocative and appropriate, but this bottom outfit was neither.

NEXT: More muse-ings

Was it just me, or does Emily’s print look eerily similar to Kini’s winning look print last week? But this dress for adults borders on costume. It’s a top look, but the judges can’t quite seem to agree about the “fins.” The model loves them, and it seems like more than any other designer, Emily has balanced her own style with her muse’s tastes.

And then we have Alexander. After two days, $200, and two tries, this is the look he gives. It’s a fun silhouette (he used a similar one in a challenge before), but the fabric and fit on his muse is all wrong. She may have loved it, but the judges did not, and he lands in the bottom yet again.

And then, of course, there was love for Kini. He may have struggled in the beginning, but his denim idea helped give him the push he needed. The other female judges don’t agree that it was sexy enough for a nighttime date, but Heidi’s in love with this top look—in fact, it was her favorite of the night.

Winner: Korina, who squealed unnecessarily and said “I can see myself separated from the rest of the competition” in her confessional.

Out: Alexander, who—unlike other young Runway designers—might need a few more years under his fashionable belt.

Best line: “It’s almost like Kate Middleton and Kate Moss had a baby.” —Asha (Seriously, how do we get this woman onto the show permanently?)