PR 17 Ep 9: The Bitch is Back ... and I mean Cavanagh ...and Nadine!

I love the hitch in the PR when they have a menswear challenge because so many designtestants don’t “do” menswear and the drama is oh-so-real. On a more personal note, I like the idea of male models in various stages of undress, but that’s just me.

And yet this season it’s no ordinary menswear challenge, as evidenced by the Yellow Brick Road and flashy costumes the designtestants discover on their way into the workroom. Inside, Christian is waiting amongst several more over-the-top sequined and rhinestoned and feathered pieces and to anyone with half a brain it’s clearly … cue Oprah voice …. Elton JOHNNNNNNNN Weeeeeeek!

Christian introduces a video of Rocketman star Taron Egerton and after seeing him in that tight t-shirt talking about the film, I’m hoping he’s either a judge, or, please goddess, one of the models? Sadly, Taron is just there to introduce us to the film’s costume designer Julian Day, whose designs fill the workroom. Julian explains that the challenge this week is to create a performance piece for the 70s and 80s version of Elton. The designtestants are thrilled by that idea, and positively verklempt, well, at least the male designtestants, of using real live  men as models. They’re even happier to learn they have 2 days, $400 in Mood money, and another $300 at the sequins and feathers store.

And for some unexplained reason, Christian says the designtestants will need help this week so in come the eight booted designtestants to act as assistants. The Button Bag comes out and the designers are paired with their helpers: Garo picks Sonia; Jamall takes Rakan; Bishme goes for Afa, while Venny chooses the Less-Than-Thrilled-To-Be-Back Nadine; Lela picks Renee; Hester goes for Kovid; Tessa picks Frankie; Sebastian is left with First Booted, and snobbish tool, Cavanagh.

The stage is set, so let’s rip …

THE SAFES

HESTER, who has Immunity, and really needed it, created a rock-n-roll rooster that was as dead as a Thanksgiving Day turkey.

SEBASTIAN is once again questioning himself and listening to Cavanagh brag on herself; but Christian sets him straight—so to speak—and he created a winged angel man that was hot

TOPS AND BOTTOMS

VENNY

Venny, once again, is worried about going too far, or too safe. But then he goes neon blue and silver and red sparklies; and feathers; and a belted oversized jacket and a Captain’s hat. I think ‘too safe’ is way back in the rearview mirror at this point.

Especially when Christian sees the pants … with the train. Seriously? It looks like too long pants and a trip hazard for the model as well.

WHAT HE SAID

The train is definitely not doing what I wanted.

WHAT I SAID

Oh Venny, ‘Don’t Go Breakin’ My Heart’ with this colossal mess.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Brandon is pissed that the feathers are back; he just thinks Venny is bad with feathers where others are good; he also thinks there are good ideas, but not that train that looks like toilet paper stuck to the back of his pants. Nina thinks the red, white and blue make it look cheap, while Karlie noted that sometimes “extra” can look right, but this time “extra” is all wrong.

JAMAL

Jamall loves this challenge because his work challenges ideas of masculinity, but then Jamall gets lost in his head sometimes and I’m afraid …especially when he chooses to make an oversized—as in car cover oversized—bomber jacket … in zebra … with orange feathers. But Christian seems to like it, though he cautions Jamall to really tailor the look.

Jamal explains that he has a mesh top for the model, but the mesh is lost, which leads to a sequined zebra print shirt and headpiece that he actually cuts on the model’s head!

WHAT HE SAID

I love my look! It’s so different!

WHAT I SAID

I’m thinking he stole Hester’s idea of Roosterwear.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Brandon looks at the design, looks at Jamall, and Jamall starts to sink, until Brandon assures him that he’s in the top three. Guest judge Julian Days says it has the essence of Elton and loves the animal print, while Elaine says she’d love to see Elton in it today and says Jamall is finding his voice; Nina loved the concept and the volume.

TESSA

And the complaints begin; she doesn’t do menswear; she doesn’t do glitz; she doesn’t do performance pieces; and we know she doesn’t do hems. So, she goes for beige and gold because nothing says Elton John like beige and gold.

Christian thinks her looks needs to be more tailored and glitzed.

And hemmed! Don’t forget hemmed!

WHAT SHE SAID

I’m proud of myself for pushing myself.

WHAT I SAID

I’m going with what Carlos said, ‘It looks more John Lennon than Elton John.’ When Carlos gets it, he gets it!

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Julian Day says it might have a bit of Elton, but it’s Elton daywear.  Nina is harsher, saying if Tessa had been the costume designer on this film, this wouldn’t have made the cut. Brandon thinks the fit is bad and is annoyed by Tessa’s litany of excuses; he says she has no fight and he points out that she never finishes a hem! Elaine rips the fit problems and calls it too safe. In that sea of flamboyance this was a dishrag.

GARO

He’s “got this,” though we seem to hear this every week from Garo. But he’s doing his own version of Rocketman with a corset because, of course, and a codpiece, because, why not … you can’t put a codpiece on a female model so now’s the time!

Christian likes what he sees—though he seems annoyed that Sonia keeps saying I did this, I did that—and says Garo should channel his experience working for Beyoncé and Madonna into this look.

In the end, this is total Elton, total performance, and I cannot take my eyes off the codpiece.

WHAT HE SAID

I’m truly Channeling Rocketman.

WHAT I SAID

Bow down to that hot glimmering hunk of man. The shoes. The codpieces. The glasses. All fabulous.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Julian Day says it’s “magnificent” and really “captured exactly” what he tried to do with his Rocketman costumes. Elaine says he took them to another galaxy, and she loved the bedazzled jockstrap … who doesn’t. Karlie thinks the execution is impeccable and Nina calls it inspired. Backstage Sonia is fuming because she wanted credit for much of the look.

LELA

Lela wants to make a Glam Rock Cowboy because her father was a singer. Okay? She also wants chaps, but not assless. Okay. And she wants fringe to the ground. Um, yeah? But then she a hideous blue fabric and white feathers. I know!

Christian sees no shape at all in the coat and worries about the model’s bits and pieces being exposed, even though Renee says there will be a man thong.

Then, while pressing the lapels, Lela melts some glue or something on the cloth and since it won’t come out, she covers it with a boa. Note to reader: that’s one of my mantras …when all else fails, slap a feathered boa on it. 

Sadly, it doesn’t always work; Lela.

WHAT SHE SAID

It’s not that bad.

WHAT I SAID

Lela? Are we seeing the same look?

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Julian Day thinks the silhouette disappears, while Nina calls it a “bad costume” or like Elton “lost a bet.” Elaine could tell the boa was used to mask a mistake, while Karlie called it rough, unforgivable, and unfinished. Brandon added unflattering and that he hated the cheap chaps.

BISHME

Bishme is going denim, and I’m thinking Elton doesn’t wear denim; then, at Mood, he picks a printed t-shirt fabric with a woman in a swimsuit on it, and I’m sure he’ll get dinged for using an already printed fabric. Then he says he’s making overalls and  … Elton in overalls? Is this Elton John, the Farmer in the Dell?

I’m worried.

WHAT HE SAID

It fits well. He’s working it/ Shout out to my mom; his ass did look great.

WHAT I SAID

And not just the ass. The hat. The straps. The overall. The jacket. That ass. Nailed it.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Nina loves that there’s “reveal after reveal,” which is perfect for a performance look. She also thinks it could be sold to the public. Julian Day loves the glitz and wishes it were in the film . Karlie loves it and Brandon thinks it’s the best fitting look on the runway …and would even squeeze his 205 pounds into it …his words, not mine.

While Jamall is Top Three, he clearly isn’t Top Two, so it comes down to Bishme and Garo. And while I have a tingle for Bishme, it’s clear that Garo got this one; and he does get the win.

As for the Bottoms, Tessa is safe because, while her look missed the mark it wasn’t awful. It boils down to Lela and her assless chaps and shapeless mess, and Venny and his feathered mess and shapeless look.

Lela gets the boot, and I’m fine with that.

Hot models. I need more menswear challenges, not just because it separates the real designers from the Tessa’s but because … hot men.

Tessa annoys me with her excuses; plus, she said her parents were hippies and that’s where she got the look, but this wasn’t design a look for your hippie parents. It’s time to say Goodbye to Tessa.

And while Sebastian is still so delicioso, I am finding Bishme absolutely cute and delightful. I love his story of where he came from and how he made it out. But he’s looking for redemption since he was rejected by both Parsons and FIT and he may just get it. I loved that when he told his mom they were using male models, the first thing she wants to know is how nice his butt is … “He’s got a nice butt, mom” … and  I loved him saying … “FedEx is missing some packages” … when the male models were in the workroom. Totes adorbs.

I died when Jamall pus on a pair of platform shoes and revealed that he has an inner 16-year-old white-girl alter ego named Candy. Where has she been all season?

And then Sonia; her prissiness at Garo for not crediting her with the codpiece was annoying, especially given that Garo was the only designer who credited his assistant at all. Note to Sonia: if you suggest to Michael Kors or Zac Posen or any definer, to put a codpiece on a look, it’s their codpiece, not yours. And Sonia? You’re out. So be quiet.

LINES OF THE NIGHT:

Kovid, on Hester’s ideas:

“Nobody actually wants to look like a rooster, right?”

Right.

Christian, after his critiques:

“Tomorrow, only seven of you can say, I’m Still Standing! Get it?”

Jamall and Rakan reply:

“What?”

Sebastian, flustered at the sight of the models:

“The male models are all, gorgeous for me.”

And I imagine some are hot for you, too.

The Tents? Bishme, please. Sebastian, too, though he needs to get out of safe and get another win.  Garo would put on a show, and Venny might be could if he learns to restrain himself and stay away from feathers. Jamall is growing, but this week his look was a fail for me. Hester is proving that her crazy isn’t as good as she thinks, and Tessa just needs to go.

Next week: design for a “cause.” Oh, and make a look for the model and one for yourself, as well!

What did YOU  think?