Random thoughts:
Santino came off more sympathetic in his intro segment.
Tim gets great cars when he travels.
Poor Daniel – Tim didn’t gush over his collection.
Last surprise: not at all nice, but I love the fact that they got to pick a helper. And they all picked who I thought they’d pick.
I think Santino was so stunned by how unsympathetic he’d come off in the series that he was making an effort to look especially nice in the final episodes (with the exception of that remark about Chloe’s collection looking like a couch).
Daniel is used to a very warm reception for his garments, but I think he whined about Tim’s lack of effusiveness way too much. Honestly, though, I’m still predicting a Daniel win. Maybe they’re setting up Daniel as being disappointing in order to have a greater surprise when he wins.
Kara looked horribly offended when she wasn’t chosen to be an assistant. Since Kara also had to show at fashion week as a decoy, does anyone know whether she got the benifit of hair, makeup, and hand-picked models?
I’m mystified as to why Chloe would choose Diana to be her assistant.
Santino’s designs looked remarkably toned-down. I wonder whether the producers told him to keep up the craziness during the season on purpose. Anyway, his looks to be a solid collection, if out of character. Santino shouldn’t be here (Nick should), so even if his collection is better than Daniel’s, I don’t think he’ll win.
Chloe’s just looks generally underwhelming.
I thought that Daniel’s purses were butt-ugly. They were one step removed from those 70’s macrame bags you see gathering dust at Goodwill. They had better compliment his line really well, or they may just bring it down.
I thought that the surprise was a dirty trick to play on worn-out designers who thought they were in the home stretch. I, too, was surprised that Chloe chose Diana as her assistant. I figured she’d pick Kara, since she’d given her so much help during the flower/plant challenge.
I actually think he is nice-looking now, but Santino was one ugly kid. Maybe that biting sense of humor is a defense mechanism? I think he didn’t realize how he came across with all the shit-talking until he saw himself on television and he certainly has toned it down. I’m really looking forward to seeing his collection; what they’ve shown so far does not look Ren Faire or baboon-ass in the least, actually very nice. I love the way he chose Andrae with a Timpression.
I had heard somewhere that Santino’s collection for fashion week was actually very impressive, but I didn’t believe it until last night. The dress he showed when Tim visited him was stunning. Of course, he could never do something like that in the two days they gave them during the contest. Maybe that’s his weakness.
Chloe’s life story was amazing. Eight daughters! And the refugee camp story, too! I kind of wish she’d taken Tim to see her store in Houston.
When Daniel asked Tim to go shopping with him, I secretly hoped they would end up at Red Lobster.
I didn’t watch last season, but I assume the “13th look” surprise was something new this time, or the designers would have been prepared for it. They all looked really apprehensive and unwelcoming when Tim and Heidi walked into the workroom. They knew something was up, and that it wasn’t good.
I knew Daniel was going to pick Nick to help him. I was pretty sure Santino was going to pick Andrae. I didn’t know who Chloe would pick, but I figure what they needed most was someone who could do a lot of work in a little time, and that’s not Kara.
I missed the first half of the show, but I amnot sure what to think. Of course they are making it look like Daniel is failing and that Santino is really strong, which may be true. But then again rule #1 of reality world TV is never believe the editors foreshadowing.\
I thought Daniel might pick Adnrae, since they worked together on the Banana Republic window episode and won the challenge. But Nick is a great designer. Chloe might have picked Diane for a number of reasons, if she had proven herself to be very technically good then that could be a real help. You don’t necessarily want a great designer as your assistant on that task.
To tell the truth, I think all three of them will do quite well and I suspect it will come down to which aesthetic appeals to the judges most.
What a mean and entertaining twist to throw in two days before the show. I actually felt sorry for them; but knew it was good TV so was thrilled by it too.
I defended Santino last week from all the naysayers. I think I was proved correct this week. He’s basically a nice guy but misunderstood.
I totally agree with you on both counts. Santino really redeemed himself this week. He has won me over. Daniel’s incessant whining helped that along a bit. “Ohhh, Tim didn’t liiiike my desiiiiignnnns. Whine, snivel”
And what I saw of Santino’s line was impressive–I saw stuff that I actually would wear if I were younger and thinner and able to afford it. I’m wondering now if he went into Project Runway thinking he really didn’t have a good chance of winning and decided to just throw out his wildest, most off-the-wall designs just to get himself noticed. After all, what’s more memorable? A bland, boring evening gown or Santino’s bizarre “German” lingere?
But I felt sorry for all three of them when Tim threw that final challenge out. Almost an impossible task. When Santino was standing in the store saying, “Look into my eyes-there’s nothing going on in there!” I could really see what he meant. Those folks are creatively drained. I thought the final challenge was pretty much unneccesary. The stress was already at a high level with the show being 48 hours away. Now it’s just painful to watch them struggle. Not that I won’t be watching, of course.
I don’t think he was misunderstood, in the sense that I think folks were justified in the way the took Santino’s smack talk. I mean I can buy his excuses, but I think he realized it was the wrong way to go about things. So, yes, I think he is a nice guy, but I don’t think he gets a pass for the way he acted.
After the comments kara made about Chloe it ain’t no surprise. Besides, Kara was the contestant who kvetched the most.
After the comments kara made about Chloe it ain’t no surprise. Besides, Kara was the contestant who kvetched the most.
Looking back at Diana’s stuff, she was able to produce some technically very good stuff in a short time. So Chloe may well have picked her for her sewing skills – as well as, of course, her non-ego-driven personality.
I think Santino just didn’t know how to handle the really short time frames during most of the show, so would just go crazy. Given time to think things through, he’s clearly capable of producing some gorgeous stuff. That dress he showed Tim was truly breathtaking. Whereas what we saw of Daniel’s line was truly boring – except for those purses, which are beyond hideous – and Chloe’s seemed strangely bulky.
I accept that Santino’s not 100% a jerk, but he certainly talked enough smack about everyone on the show to deserve whatever criticism is dished out about it. That being said, however, I think he is unquestionably the most talented designer. Right now my money is on him to win based solely on what we’ve seen of the clothes thus far.
Kara was also required to produce a decoy collection for fashion week so I have no idea why they even brought her out there for the other designers to choose.
I thought the Diana choice made sense. Her magnet dress placed second after Santino in the first challenge (I think the article is on the internets but I actually found this out because I was buying something at BR and they had a magazine they had put out about additional commentary/insight into the challenges…Diana was second place for the first challenge), none of her dresses showed overly poor construction (except the skirt on the Paris Hilton dress) and she also had a very decent showing during the Barbie challenge. Beyond that, she’s also easy to get along with and Chloe has stated in post-show interviews that they have a close relationship. Not to mention the fact that the girl is OUT there when it comes to ideas so she also brings a spark of creativity to the table.
The only other person Chloe could have chosen is Emmett and he was widely touted as being weaker at patterns and sewing throughout the season.
I didn’t think Dan V was really snivelling, more like when your advisor tells you your thesis is going swimmingly and then later is all “meh” and you’ve been up for yonks and freak the hell out.
I was underwhelmed by all three (four) collections although I like a few individual pieces from almost all of them. No matter who wins, I see each designer becoming successful in his own right. Chloe got a lot of publicity for her store, Dan V’s destiny towards BR (I swear that collection is so off-the-rack BR it’s not even funny…) and the slightly-hip-but-so-safe lawyer-mba demographic and Santino with his hopes of designing for people on the cover of US Weekly under the age of 34 and Kara with her high-end Urban Outfitters aesthetic.
Oh, just as a note did you guys notice the curtain-like brocade in DV’s collection? BR is a sucker for that freaking brocade. They haul it out every Christmas. And he was showing Tim this one military-inspired button-down dress and I almost bought a shirt at BR two weeks ago that had the EXACT same freaking straps across the lapels and silhouette…down to the freaking length on the sleeves. The only difference was that instead of making it a dress, they made it into a button-down shirt.
Umm, yes, I spend too much time in Blandana Republican but when you’re a young attorney it’s the easiest place to get fuddy-duddy clothes for less than your month’s salary.
Huh? Is that a Britishism? What does it mean?
I still don’t trust Santino. Oh wow, you mean I was cruelly dismissive of almost everyone and somehow I got a bad rap? I’m glad I can finally comment on his line without spoiler tags. Yes it looks great. And yes he was sandbagging. The producers were in on it too. How else to explain advancing week after week by making clothes that looked like they were designed by Ellie May Clampett?
I know I’m being horribly manipulated to think this, but I did grow a tiny bit of sympathy for Santino. Sigh. I’ll try to do better next time. And my heart just broke when Chloe started to cry at the idea of doing another outfit.
That being said, I do know they’re under a lot of stress, but Daniel V. is really getting up on my nerves. Remember last season when Kara Saun was the golden girl all season and then at the finale they painted her as a conniving bitch? Maybe this is the same thing.
Yonks means for ages/a really long time. I don’t know if it’s a Britishism or not, we never lived there for too long, just sometimes if my dad had an extended project. I grew up in Quebec/US and split my education between those two countries including right up to college/grad. I’ve been using said term for yonks.
Liberal, what does it mean to “sandbag?” You always use it when referring to Santino. Sorry, I learned English a bit later and even though it’s transferred into being my “first” language I’m still not strong on aphorisms/regional language.
Sandbagging means to intentionally do bad to start with so that your opponents underestimate your real ability when the competition really counts.
And I cannot see how “sandbagging” makes any sense in this competition.
Yeah, I was going to say…if that’s what it means it’s sort of inaccurate. He won two challenges, placed second in two more and was always trying his damndest to win.
I do think he manipulated the reality show process and went over the top with his aesthetic to ensure enough drama to be kept around by the producers. He seems to be a pro at entertainment. But he wasn’t affirmatively trying to produce crap unless you give the skating dress that reading.
I don’t think he wanted to be underestimated or not win, most of his time seemed to be spent trying to let the other designers know how much better he was than all of them.
I really loved his Blandana Republican kimono jacket (although the skirt was wretched). It just didn’t fit Blandana Republican.
His collection is just okay…kinda boring although not as boring as Daniel’s. I’m not a big fan of empire waists, though.
I continue to believe that Jay, Kara Saun and Austin had more talent than everyone in this season except Diana when she’s not completely out there. I’ve seen her blog and she produces some beautiful knits and I loved her hoodie from the Barbie challenge and was considering bidding on it.