'Project Runway' Everybody Cries

Last week, Project Runway brought us down to the final four with some musical numbers that were less than inspired. Somehow, all the designers became positively overwrought in the interim and the waterworks were out tonight.

You can feel the tension at the top of the house, are Korto and Leanne pointedly ignore Kenley, who sits and pouts, pretending not to care. Jerell may be losing his mind, as he has drawn faces on fruit to represent his former roommates. He bids them and his Tim Gunn doll farewell before he leaves for the day. Speaking of leaves, when it comes time for the designers to find out about their next challenge, they are ushered to the New York Botanical Gardens. Jerell surmises that the competition might have something to do with plants. You think so?

The designers are each given a camera and set loose to photograph their inspiration. It's just like the challenge at the met at the end of last season, only outside and with less guards. From there, they each pick one photo as the basis for their design, have half an hour to sketch and then they are off to Mood. As they are all packing up their materials from the store, Korto notices a pile of tulle and trims and looks around, asking if it belongs to someone. I am not sure who she is asking however, because there doesn't really seem to be anyone around her.

Of course, back at Parsons, Kenley realizes she is missing materials. Both Jerell and Korto have tulle that they've decided not to use, but they each also decide not to pass it to Kenley. Which is sort of mean, but then again, Kenley has been outright rude to just about everyone, so I can understand their stance on the matter. Still it makes me feel a general malaise about it all, as Korto and Jerell snicker and Kenley forlornly stuffs her dress with drafting paper. Until Tim comes to save the day, that is, allowing her to return to Mood to retrieve the items she had paid for.

When Tim makes his way around, he warns Korto that her gown look sleek in the front and like Catherine the Great in the back. Which is a polite way of saying 'what in god's name are you doing"? He tells Kenley that her dress reminds him of fish scales, which makes her deliriously happy for some reason. Perhaps because it goes with a tired mermaid silhouette? Either way, he reminds her that the challenge is botanical and oceanic. She could care less. He tells Jerell that his creation has the potential to blow minds, but he needs to clean it up. And lastly, he warns Leanne that her dress is looking a little "Hello Dolly". And not in an endearing Pixar sort of way.

Leanne is the first to cry, about her stress levels. Next comes Jerell, who cries about coming this close to his dream. Korto cries about almost the exact same time. In addition to crying, there's more snarkiness in the confessionals than ever this week, thanks entirely to Jerell and Kenley. Jerell calls her dress "the dragonslayer" and "purplezilla". Meanwhile, Kenley says she's never liked a single thing Korto has created, that Jerell just piles on elements like craft project and not a design and that Leanne only does pleat details in muted colors and that's been done. Um, sweetie, the 1950's were also done. In the 1950's.

Joining the judges on the runway is Georgina Chapman, of Marchesa.

Korto - The color on her inspiration flower was bold and vibrant and powerful. Her gown, on the other hand looks like a matronly peach. The fabric seems stiffer than taffeta, as if it were actually upholstery fabric, and it doesn't move or flow in any sort of natural way. It seems constrained and overworked. Or, as the judges say, it looks like a pageant gown. Which is not a thing a normal human being would be caught dead wearing.

Leanne - The bodice is well fit and structured, but the difference in the fabric choices between the bodice and skirt is jarring to my eye. While I appreciate that she was attempting something softer, there is a strange juxtaposition at play that I find distracting. On the other hand, I am glad that for once her garment doesn't look limp. Which is not to say that it isn't somber, because it is. In fact, Michael Kors stops just short of calling her work joyless.

Jerell - It is interesting, but there is something just...off center about it. And not in a good way. The fit is definitely off, and the way the layers drape in front of the model, it almost looks like maternity wear. To top it off, the finishing is a dismal failure with chopped and uneven hems and wrinkles. At the same time, you can still see that Jerell has a unique POV, an eye for detail elements and a singular perspective on color and texture. Which puts him ahead of everyone else this week.

Kenley - Oh, what happened to Kenley? When did she start designing clothes for Barbie dolls circa 1982? The design is so literal that it is almost as insulting as her demeanor. Seriously? Petal shaped layers along the bottom of a flared, mermaid silhouette? It's more cliched than a cliche and she must be positively delusional to think that it's not. The only thing that works is her color palette, which is just this side of inspired. Of course, she argues with the judges each step of the way about it all.

After the initial critique, the designers are each asked why they should stay and who should go to Bryant Park with them. Jerell goes first and he tearfully says he desperately wants it and then adds that Kenley's 1950's silhouettes have been seen. Kenley immediately pipes up that she does more than 50's looks and not two seconds later an argument erupts. Which Jerell shuts down by saucily telling her that they will get to her in a minute and that is when she can talk, but he wants himself, Leanne and Korto as the final 3.

Leanne meekly promises not to be boring and then says she would like to show with Jerell and Korto. Korto says she's the oldest person left and has a kid, so I guess she is going after the Wendy Pepper vote? She then continues that she wants to show with Jerell and Leanne because of who they are as people. Which is a snide slap to Kenley and also sort of nonsensical, since Project Runway has never been about sparkling personalities.

When it is finally Kenley's turn, she tearfully apologized for coming off as tough as she does, chalking it up to having to fight her way through life. Because everyone else just sails on through, I suppose. She also says that she takes the most risks with the most sophistication and that she would like to show with Jerell and Leanne because classic is not a show worthy of Bryant Park. Which is a direct slap back at Korto. Backstage, Korto immediately jumps on Kenley, who snipes right back and the whole thing is so junior high school that I almost get up to change the rubber bands in my braces before remembering I don't have braces.

Of course, I am pretty sure everyone saw that all 4 designers were going to get to create a final collection. Only 3 will compete, with all of them being considered for elimination in a final competition once their collections are complete. Who is it that you think will be going home?

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