The Fashion Show episode 3 recap

The Fashion Show episode 3 recap
Original Air Date: 05/21/2009

Last week, the judges decided they would send Laura home and after Johnny showed his true colors, he promised the judges that he would change his attitude. Johnny strikes me as a bit of a diva (or divo, if you will), so I don’t see this happening, but only time can tell.

Photo: Barbara Nitke

This week’s episode kicks off with Reco telling us he’s working with three team members that can’t execute well, and he has a point. The designers meet with Isaac and Kelly and are told to get back in their teams (again?!). Laura Brown of Harper’s Bazaar pops up for the mini-challenge.

The Mini Challenge
This week’s mini challenge involves knowing the basics of sewing. The designers will have to repair the shoulders pads, clean up lines, fix a zipper, reattach buttons and hem a skirt. The challenge will take place in relay-form with 35 minutes to complete the challenge. I’m no seamstress, but apparently this is not enough time to fix such things. The team with the best quality work will win the challenge.

Everyone will attack the same task. Lidia has an advantage because she’s so teeny, so she reaches in and fixes the shoulders flawlessly. Markus is moving like a slowpoke when it comes to the buttons and cries, “OMG! I’m bleeding!” ROFL. Why don’t I feel sorry for him? There are less than nine minutes left to fix the zipper and finish the hem.

Isaac takes a look at the pieces. Haven’s “repaired” zipper looks more broken than it did before, and Isaac spots Markus’ horrible buttons in a second. Haven’s team loses and she seems a little pissed over it. James-Paul teams wins the challenge, and Lidia is the winner of the challenge. Isaac decides to shake things up and select new head designers for each team.

Lidia, Daniella, and Reco are selected and here comes the elimination challenge!

Elimination Challenge
Each team will be designing outerwear for all four seasons. The coats should have something that sets it apart. It has to be functional and creative.

The teams break apart to discuss ideas and Kieth is coming up with an idea of travel as the main concept of their collection. Lidia’s team is also thinking jet set traveler, while Reco goes Aeon Flux. The last concept sounds like it might be kind of amazing, but I’m not sure Reco’s team has what it takes to pull it off. James-Paul says his winter coat will convert into a sleeping bag (not sure how this will turn out) and Haven has an idea of having an arsenal of beauty supplies under her coat. She’s also throwing in Tresemme hairspray for good measure (this is the hairspray my mother swears by!).

Lidia’s summer jacket will be a rain coat that turns into an umbrella. Reco makes all of the patterns for his team and he’s still wow-ed that the folks on his team think they are designers when they can’t do simple things like this.

Is anyone sick of Merlin referring to everyone as “bitches?” We get it. You’re a designer, you’re eccentric, we don’t have to be reminded of it every five seconds.

Reco’s coat looks like it’s coming out fab, and Anna’s idea of function seems to be pockets. We’ll see how that goes over with the judges. Markus has to go to Reco for everything and I’m not sure how he got out of design school with so little technical knowledge under his belt. Kelly stops by to check on the designers, and it comes out that Andrew is ripping off of Daniella’s design. She must be the worst person to work with…she’s just so bossy! Reco stumps Isaac and Kelly when he tells them that the idea of his team’s pieces is “a modern day excursion to Mars.” Johnny feels Reco is being a showoff by telling Isaac that he’s consulting construction-wise regularly. Haven is off in her own world and can’t tell Isaac the concept of the coat. Reco is having to rescue his team over and over again, and I know he’s the team leader so he has to do this, but it’s only a matter of time before Haven and Markus are over and out of this competition.

Daniella feels Reco is too cocky, but I have to say when it comes to both construction and creativity, he has it in the bag. Just before the runway, Haven is still sewing up holes on the interior of her coat and Angel’s model has to have her zipper safety pinned, but ends up having to deal with it herself.

On the Runway
Keith – This thing is so stupid, I don’t even know where to begin.
Andrew – Gorgeous! It wasn’t his idea, but he did execute it brilliantly.
Anna – Really cool.
Daniella – Neat, but that fabric looks a little weird/cheap.

Angel – Cool, but ill-fitting.
Lidia – A little too weird for my taste (and that says a lot).
Merlin – Not a fan.
James-Paul – Cool concept, but it’s a little much when worn. I loved when Isaac told Fern, “Oh, but I’m into caskets!” LOLZ!

Johnny – A shoe organizer/jacket…OK, some things should just not be done.
Haven – I think this looks pretty cool, but Haven’s whining is so boring and disgusting that you want to hate the jacket even if it is decent.
Markus – I like this OK.
Reco – I am not loving these colors, but the design is a little fierce.

Judging/Elimination
Guest judge Norma Kamali tells the designers to always take fabric into consideration when designing a piece. Lidia’s team is safe and Daniella’s team is selected as the winning team.

That makes Reco’s team the losing team, and I kind of feel bad for the guy. I’m pretty sure it’s Haven or Markus going home.

The models are brought out for the winning team to select the winner of the challenge. Norma compliment’s Anna’s piece and Fern loves Andrew’s coat. You can see Daniella’s eyes darting from place to place as she wants to open her mouth that Andrew’s coat is her idea. Of course she can’t keep her mouth shut (not that she should) and throws Andrew under the bus. Norma tells Daniella that as a creative director, you often give advice on designs and never get credit for it. That’s just how the cookie crumbles. Andrew wins the challenge much to Daniella’s dismay. I wonder how this will play out for next week’s episode.

Reco’s team is brought up again. Haven can’t defend herself to save her life! Seriously, what is she doing here?! Markus isn’t much better, but where Haven lacks confidence, Markus’ grotesque confidence sends him over the edge.

In deliberation, the judges are pushing Team Haven more than Team Markus. I can’t blame them. This guy is delusional. Norma makes a fantastic point when she says that if a designer doesn’t want their work perfect, it’s time to move out of the way because there are too many aspiring designers that won’t settle for less from themselves. In the end, it’s Markus that’s sent home.

Next week – Daniella is still pissed about the incident this week with Andrew and Isaac says it’s the best fashion show yet.