PR 17 Ep 8: Her Name Was Rio Morena

We open the show with Bishme and Tessa at home, and Bishme questioning Tessa’s safe look from last week and asking her if it fit the ‘eleganza’ of the challenge; he thinks Sonia should not have gone home. Well, Tessa, who has dogged every single designtestants is appalled that anyone would question her, especially to question her trademarked unhemmed pants which are a design choice, and not an error.

Siddown Tessa. You’ve been served.

Anyway, the PR is down to its final nine contestants … the perfect number for a Three team challenge; the prefect number for discord in a three-team challenge. Karlie and stylist Marni Senofonte tell the designers they must create a three-piece mini-collection for a celebrity client’s vacation: the celebrity is former Gotham actress Morena Baccarin who will be going home, to Rio, on vacation, and she wants something chic for the beach, a daytime look, and a “killer evening look.” She’d like bright colors, but nothing too revealing—she’s going to PG-Rio, I’m guessing.

Karlie pulls the Button Bag to choose a name, who will then choose their two partners in fashion crime: Tessa’s name is selected, and she picks Sebastian and Lela. Hester’s name is chosen, and she opts for Garo and Bishme. That leaves Jamall, Venny and Renee as the last team. They have just one day, and $500 to make something nice, so let’s rip …

THE SAFES

TEAM RIO HOLIDAY

SEBASTIAN, LELA, TESSA

Sebastian’s swimsuit and coverup are fun and sexy and Rio and well-made.

Tessa’s daytime look is monotone gathering of fabric.

With the exception of Sebastian, and not just because he’s adorable, it’s all pretty meh.

TOPS AND BOTTOMS

TEAM DISCO QUEEN

HESTER, BISHME, GARO

Naturally, Hester goes crazy in both design and color … and frenzy … leaving Garo to feed her and compliment her and nurture her. She is the problem child, the bossy problem child.  She has color issues and fit issues and how to make the swimsuit reversible even though you’re not going to see that on the runway … unless we’re doing model stripping this season.

Garo will do another corset, while I think he’s kind of relying on his corsetry too much. Bishme is bringing in a classic white cargo pant and flowing top. He’s sticking to his aesthetic this week, which always works in his favor.

Christian talks with Team Disco and doesn’t see the disco; he suggests that since the hairstyling is an important part of the challenge that they try to go for an updated 70s vibe … whatever that means. He also takes issue with the shorts over Hester’s swimsuit because it makes it look like a day look and not a beach look; she ditches the shorts for a more traditional wrap coverup. He urges Garo to push the corset and make it “the moment.” He likes Bishme’s pants but suggests a 70s flared pant.

WHAT THEY SAID

Hester: The drape looks nice.

Bishme: I’m loving the way the shirt flows, and the way the pants fit.

Garo: My dress is flowing, but it’s a lot of fabric.

WHAT I SAID

Hester’s is a lot of color, and when the wrap comes off you see that the model’s ass has swallowed the bathing suit.

Bishme’s look is clean and beautiful, but the white is a standout in all that color.

Garo’s look is caftan and caftans make me think of Liz Taylor in her heftier days.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Hester: Elaine, sitting in for Karlie who’s at a wedding, calls the swimsuit marketable.  Morena Baccarin also loves it, but thinks the color is too much. Marnie—sitting in for an ailing Nina—thinks the color pops!

Bishme: Marnie loves it, but not the shoe; Rio is open toe, darling! Morena loved the classic white cargo pant. Elaine also loves the use of white, and days Bishme—in the bottom last week—is back with a vengeance.

Garo: Brandon says it’s a look many women could wear and was well executed. Elaine got a superhero vibe from the voluminous back of the dress, while Morena loved the way it moved. Marnie said it was a great look for the clubs.

TEAM CARNAVAL

JAMALL, RENEE, VENNY

Jamall has immunity and bemoans the fact that it’s a team challenge so his standout win last week really means nothing this week. Still, he pushed himself in his swimsuit design … and was lucky to have that immunity.

Renee isn’t a bad designer, but she struggles with teams because I think she tries too hard to fit into them, rather than being her own designer. She struggles to make a pant and uses Venny’s “Secret System” to make the measurements, and, of course, it comes out wrong and she realizes she should have done her own pant the way she does them.

Venny likes his look until it hits the model and then the color makes him think Junior and we all know Junior is the new Plus Size; it’s a bad thing.

Christian warns them to not go too party because while Morena is from Brazil, she likes things more sophisticated and classic. He’s also worried that Jamall’s swimsuit looks like a dress, but that advice came too late.

WHAT THEY SAID

Jamall: I think my look is the best.

Renee: The pants aren’t what I wanted.

Venny: I’m 50-50 with my look.

WHAT I SAID

Jamall is lucky to have immunity because that is not a swimsuit. Especially for Rio.

Renee’s pants look like pants you’d wear to smuggle something out of South America.

Venny’s girl will have fun … at prom.

WHAT THE JUDGES SAID

Jamall: Elaine thinks the outfits are too dissimilar for one woman to wear, or want. Brandon hates Jamall’s swimsuit and wants to know what it is! It’s too complicated; you can’t swim in it. He says it’s the worst. Morena says she would never wear it, while Marnie likes it—go figure—but understands that it doesn’t suit the client.

Renee: Brandon remembers that team challenges aren’t her strength, but these pants are unforgivable. He calls them “mall-walking, drop-crotch, cotton-sateen, genie is Rio, pale banana, god take these away” and a “punishable offense. He does, however, love the top. Elaine disagreed, not about the pants, they’re awful, but she hated the blouse as well. Morena thinks no woman looks good in a high-waisted pant, while Marnie says it’s not a ‘Renee’ look.

Venny: Morena thinks it’s too young for her … Junior! Marnie called it less Carnaval! and more carnival. Brandon simply told Venny he was better than this, and noted the lop-sided construction.

Clearly Team Disco is the winning team, but not so clearly, Hester gets the win again. Morena liked it, but not the color, but she really liked Bishme’s classic look, so, for me, his was the winner… but I ain’t no TV judge.

As for the worst? It’s Jamall, obviously, but with immunity he is safe. So, it comes down to Venny or Renee, both of whom I really like, personally, and in their style. I want them both to stay, but Renee gets the boot.

Upside? She’s going home to get married, so maybe that’s the win?

It was odd how all three teams chose a very similar color palette; sad, too, because it made the show kind of one-note.

I don’t like Tessa. She can dish out the critiques of other designers, but don’t you come for her. She and Bishme were very friendly, but after he dissed her last week look, she didn’t choose him for her team. But when Hester gets the win and returns backstage, Tessa says, “I did not love your look.” That’s okay, but Bishme, saying basically the same thing is rude. Someone needs to drop a house on Tessa.

Oh, and during the show Tessa teases Bishme about finishing her hem so she can be on the top while he’s not. Didn’t work out that way, eh, Tessa?

And Lela, too, because she’s drinking the Tessa Kool-Aid and she thinks she’s all that—once again she claims this is her week and once again … it’s not.

I also think Bishme should have won, not just because I liked his look better, but because after getting her third win, Hester’s head instantly ballooned, and she announced that the other designers are “afraid of her.”

Um …. No. Also, her needing “crotch advice” when crafting the swimsuit and her fingers all up in the model’s business? Ick!

Tessa and Lela making Sebastian their bitch, by constantly having him help them? And still Tessa cannot finish a hem? As Garo said, she needs to do her own work.

Jamall? Honey? What were you thinking? A bikini bottom under a sporty dress does not a swimsuit make.

LINE OF THE NIGHT

Bishme, when Karlie shows up in the workroom:

“I’m sweating behind my knees because I don’t know what she’s about to deliver.”

Garo, when Karlie shows up in the workroom and tries to speak as Hester, in her own personal style, keeps working:

“Hester’s busy … and she’s busy.”

At The Tents? Sebastian; his look was clearly the best of that Safe collection. Bishme, if he can get out of his head and stay true to his own style. Hester. I don’t know why; maybe they need a wacky show? Garo needs to edit and streamline his looks, and even though they all love the corset, maybe try one week without it? Venny could be a contender, but he really needs a fine eye when looking at his work, and his color choices. Tessa? I’d like her stay just long enough to think she’s made it, and then, BAM, out! Same for Lela, who’s been a skater all this time. She’s neither here not there, so she shouldn’t be there.

Note to producers: if Nina gets sick again, postpone the runway. I needs me some Garcia!

Next week: designing an Elton John performance piece! And male models! Ooh.La.La.

What did YOU think?