[Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen Thursday's episode.]
In the last challenge before the season finale, the final four all-stars get whisked away to Paris to learn the art of couture. But the journey ends for one designer in possibly the most dramatic elimination on the runway ever.
Grab your passports, because Project Runway: All Stars is going to Paris!
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In the Workroom
For the couture challenge, not only do the all-stars get to travel to Paris to purchase their luxurious materials, but Valentino's head designers also give them exclusive access to their workrooms. And as an extra-special bonus, they get tickets to Valentino's couture show! Inspired and overwhelmed, Joshua says he's like a straight guy at a baseball game.
From the Valentino runway to the airport runway, the designers jet-set back to the NYC workroom to create their couture looks.
Emilio hopes to create drama and elegance with a rich red fabric. He plays with the idea of adding a black applique, but Joanna Coles cautions him not to let it overwhelm the gown.
Uli sticks to what she does best and designs a flowy, feminine gown with special trim details. But the front of her dress has Joanna seeing gladiator-alligator-meets-Sicilian-widow. She will need to refine her vision.
On the other side of the workroom, Joshua's mix of black lace floral and a technicolor floral print is a big risk. Joanna says the print isn't one that screams couture, and Emilio agrees, saying it isn't doing him any favors.
Anthony Ryan scraps his dress and starts over. There isn't much time left, but his gut tells him to go in a different direction. Anthony Ryan needs a miracle to finish the challenge. The pressure is on.
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On the Runway
Designer Cynthia Rowley joins the judges this week. Then it's show time!
Here's what I thought about the runway:
Joshua: I'm a big fan of mixing textiles, colors and prints, but this gown confused me. Georgina Chapman suggested that the scale of the floral print needed to be bigger, and I agree. The proportion of these two ideas was off, and it threw the design out of balance. Also, the styling felt heavy-handed.
Anthony Ryan: For such a conservative silhouette, this dress was very alluring. The glimpses of skin and the way that the different textures combined was really special. It was also smart to keep his girl's styling modern and dramatic. For a last-minute dress, this one was a stunner.
Uli: Uli has her signature down. This gown has all of her elements -- the flowing drape as well as the special details on the neckline and bodice. For me, it just didn't feel as luxurious. Isaac Mizrahi put it best when he said it looked more like really good ready-to-wear, not couture.
Emilio: As soon as it hit the runway, Emilio's red gown demanded attention. His execution was impeccable, and the result was very regal and refined. (On a side note, I liked when the judges took turns feeling his fabric. The judges are getting bold, aren't they?)
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The Judges’ Decisions
Anthony Ryan wins again! The guy can do no wrong. Emilio is also safe, meaning they will both be showing at the finale.
The biggest twist came when the judges surprised bottom-scoring Joshua and Uli with yet another challenge. They must deconstruct their gowns and recreate something entirely different on the runway in only one hour. Wow! That's almost evil.
After a whirlwind redesign, Uli emerged the winner, and Joshua was out. It was truly a fashion face-off on the runway -- like Mortal Kombat or something.
What did you think about the dramatic last-minute elimination challenge? Did the right three move on in the competition? Tell me what you really think in the comments below.
Denver fashion designer Mondo Guerra earned a runner-up finish on Project Runway season eight, then went on to claim victory on the debut season of Project Runway All Stars. In addition to an upcoming guest editor position at Marie Claire, Mondo has launched I Design, a new HIV/AIDS education campaign with Merck. To learn more about Mondo, visit mondoguerra.com.
