Project Runway 4/5/19--"Survive in Style" summary

Previously on “Project Runway”: everyone had to make a head-to-toe look with a print. Of course some people don't use prints and kind of freaked out, but that's to be expected. Hester won, I guess because she doubted herself so she needed encouragement? I didn't mind her look, anyway. Nadine was upset she got one of the plus-sized models, then complained about her walk, then told the judges she couldn't make what she wanted because of her model. She was sent home, although she did say in her exit interview that she's not cut out for the show. And not everyone is cut out for reality television, so it's not like that's a huge failing on her part or anything. I just wish she could have made that decision and left without complaining a bunch so it seems like she hates fat people. You know? (click for more)

Karlie comes into the Scrap Bin to say hi to everyone and tell them tomorrow's challenge involves a field trip. She says something cryptic about “where fashion had its beginnings”. 6am! Bring a raincoat! Pack warmly! Heh. For some reason they decide they're going to Paris or possibly London and they discuss who has brought their passport. They won't pay for all of you to go. There's too many of you still. Someone wisely points out that fashion did not begin in Europe.

It's still dark out. Oh, Hester was glad she won and Rakan is going to stay out of the bottom. But you could have guessed that. The vans take them to Staten Island to a campsite. None of this “glamping” shit, this is real tents and no water or electricity. It's gorgeous. Christian manages to look more at home outdoors than Tim ever did, even knowing that he would never naturally go camping. You know? He starts talking about survival wear, and outdoor wear. It's the unconventional materials challenge! “Survival chic”. They're going to be camping here and working here also. Someone asks if Christian will be camping with them, and he says he will not, with a look that says “Girl, no”. He describes himself as an “indoor cat” which is perfect. So there is electricity up the hill at the “workroom”. They can use whatever camping supplies and like, I guess leaves and shit. It's not clear if the camping supplies are supposed to be for both sewing and sleeping, like if they use the sleeping bag to make a garment then they have to sleep on the ground with nothing. The runway is outside too. The rest of the day today, and tomorrow to work. Hester will keep her model. Marni will be here for styling later.

20 minutes to forage. Sonia says she used to use unconventional materials all the time. Afa's used leaves, but not rope and sleeping bags. But I see him gathering branches. Renee is worried about this challenge, as she's never been camping. She just has second degree experience from her Scout kids. I think Kovid takes Garo's mat? It's pretty chaotic. Kovid talks about having to act straight when he was younger. That's why he's got a crazy style now. Lela takes something from Hester's pile, because Hester has left her pile unattended and no one knew what was going on. She kind of announced that it was her pile, but it wasn't clear that anyone heard her, and then later no one claimed it so people took stuff. On the one hand, it clearly isn't the piles they started with, you know? I mean I'm not even there and it's clear to me someone made this pile, and it wasn't the producers. On the other hand, there are a bunch of people carrying their stuff around so why wasn't Hester carrying her stuff? After a commercial it doesn't matter because once Hester says her pile is too small, Lela and everyone apologize and put all her stuff back. Hester doesn't seem to understand why people stole her stuff, as if she didn't know other people had their stuff taken, and also somehow trusting no one would take unattended stuff.

Now there is a mad sprint for models. Lela doesn't realize why people are running at first. Tessa (I think) just kind of shrugs and says “I get who I get.” Garo is using fishing lures on his gown, which actually sounds cool. He interviews about how he used to go fishing with his dad. My sister and I used to go fishing with our grandfather. It was boring as fuck because he didn't do fly fishing, he did the kind of fishing where you cast your bait into the lake and then let it sit there for an hour until it dissolves and then you reel it in and put more bait on. When you're 13 and the batteries in your GameBoy have died you don't appreciate being outside. He used to go by himself a lot too, and then when he caught a bunch of trout, he let himself into our house and cleaned them and put them in the freezer. He lived with his son, and his daughter-in-law hated trout because there were too many bones, so he gave them to us. That's why I love trout. It's one of my great memories, even though I didn't appreciate it at the time. Sorry, tangent.

Renee is disassembling a backpack. She's thinking of pockets and a garment that will be a utility jacket. Lela says “Mother Nature goes to an outdoor mall”. Sebastian says something about a cave, and then says he's going leaf shopping. He takes a plastic bin and hollers to everyone that he's going to Mood, so he can go out and pick up leaves off the ground. Hee. When he gets back he's sticking leaves to duct tape so he doesn't have to sew. Jamall is using a sleeping bag. He's been drawn to puffy parka looks so he's continuing with that, although he wants to keep it looking like a sleeping bag. He interviews that when his father passed, his mom couldn't take care of him so he lived with his grandmother, who was white. So he struggled with not feeling Black enough, and his puffer jacket makes him feel protected. Tessa has built herself a loom out of sticks and tape. Afa says something about “neon party” and tape flowers. Tessa says it doesn't feel like him, and he's made things out of natural materials so go that way.

Marni and Christian arrive. I am telling you, Christian looks like he could camp, or at least go for a hike outside. Unlike Tim, who wore a camo suit and looked ridiculously out of place. Hester has a mod look, and maybe some bracelets out of cord. No one is excited. Her backup plan is totally different, so they ask to see sketches. It's a corset and gown? Drapey? Not mod at all. Marni and Christian tell her if she can pull off a corset and gown, do that. Sonia gets the advice to use more nature. She has some...sticks, I think. They tell her lots of people are working with fabric, so highlight the nature. Kovid has lots of different materials. Maybe he doesn't need everything. Bishme has a sleeping bag, and I think a lot of people do, so he gets advice to find something that's really unconventional. Rocks, or something. Rakan has a sleeping bag coat, like everyone else. He says he maybe took the challenge too literally. But underneath the coat is nothing, just muslin. I think they also tell him not to use the heavy boots he had planned to use.

Christian leaves and says he hopes they all survive. There are s'mores because you can't have camping without s'mores. You can't. Also IMO you must burn your marshmallows. They have to be on fire before you blow them out and make s'mores. Don't @ me. Sebastian has never made s'mores before. Rakan has a lot of work to do, but he's lived in Syria and bombing, so this is really nothing.

In the morning Kovid meditates while most of the other designers complain. Bishme (I'm pretty sure) makes up a song. I'd like to know what they're eating. Because it's not really camping unless you're eating food in foil packets you put in the fire, or possibly meat grilled on sticks. Everyone is cold. Afa has tape flowers, and they're doing confessionals outside which is a nice touch. Christian arrives, and brags about his hotel room, and then brings the models. Hester is endearing, honestly, because she knows her model gets cold easily so she feels bad her garment isn't very warm. I know Hester is weird, but knowing that one particular model is always cold, and caring about it, is so sweet. Renee has most of her look done, and Christian says she needs to push it. Her look is mostly a tarp. Bishme's skirt splits down the back. Oops. Sonia has several layers to her look, and Christian tells her she needs to try them all on. Christian is worried her model won't be able to walk in it. Afa's model is freezing, and his look isn't exactly warm. The flowers look great, though. Rakan has some bandages or maybe toilet paper? Wrapped as a top and then a sleeping bag skirt and cropped jacket. Christian wants more, but Rakan doesn't want it to look like toilet paper. Christian suggests he wrap it around her legs or something, then reassures Rakan that he has all day to figure something out. Sebastian's dress is basically cardboard covered in leaves, and it's very stiff. Sonia is now trimming the skirt the day of the show, because it's too fragile to try on.

Let's hope no rain tomorrow! They have until sundown to work, and Marni will be back tomorrow. Sebastian is holding up plastic plates and stuff, and everyone tells him to walk away. He's still worried about how stiff the dress is. Rakan suggests to him that when she gets shoes on, it'll be fine. Plus he should make some trains or maybe dragging pieces, so when she walks it will look like she's dragging the forest floor with her. Hmm. That was a sweet thing to do, to be helpful. I like how everyone pretty much supports each other this season. So far. Then Rakan shakes Sebastian's hand and says “Don't talk to me again.” Hee. Kovid is looking for fabric. He got told to tone things down, but he's still looking for shiny space blanket looks. Renee trades him a tarp for a cowhide. She's thrilled because she needed more than her tarp jacket. Afa and Renee talk about how Afa has to lace his model into the net skirt. Renee very accurately describes a net without saying the word “net” (“like an animal catching thing? Where you scoop the fish up?”). Afa looks real confused, and then they both crack themselves up about it. Tessa's weaving is going well, except for the fact that she only has time to finish the panel she's working on. So she gets some bark for a bra, just in case it falls down. There is so much laughter, and no one bitching that people are annoying, and people talking about how cool Tessa's weaving is instead of bitchy bon mots. The biggest drama so far has been Nadine and Hester and that was directly challenge related.

Runway Day. At 5:30am, it's time to wake up. It's pitch black, and everyone is hoping for no rain. So obviously it'll start raining pretty soon. Christian and the models show up when it's still dark. Tessa's bra breaks so she just sticks the bark over her boobs like pasties. Oh look, it's raining. Marni and Christian show up and tell the designers to bring everything they need, because they'll dress over at the tent by the runway. I think Marni tells Afa to take flowers off his look. Sonia maybe doesn't get her mylar trimmed in time?

There is an actual thunderstorm, and some poor PA using a broom to lift the roof of the tent so water doesn't collect on it, and the judges getting dripped on. And some of the models being freezing. There is so much water coming down on the tent where the models are it looks fake. No guest judges today. Karlie reminds them they've been challenged to “survive in style”. Hester: strapless cocktail dress with a bubble hem. The whole skirt is a wavy camo material, with a bunch of volume. Where it's a solid piece of camo that's been sliced with wavy slices so it's kind of in pieces? There are some carabiners at the hips, although I can't tell if the skirt is actually being held up by them. The bodice is mostly rope, yellow over her stomach and red over her chest. The red is somehow wrapped in such a way as to make a spiral design. There's an off-the-shoulder strip of more camo with net over it. She's also put yellow and orange rope wound around her whole neck like a collar, a bracelet, tying up her ponytail, and wrapped around the shoes. This would really be up there on any other unconventional challenge. We'll see how much "survival" matters. Venny: big green coat, with bell sleeves and open to the waist. I think it's a tarp. There's rope making a wavy line down the front and around the ends of each sleeve, and a narrow gray strip with rings running along all the hems. The bottom of the coat is the same camo that Hester used. There's a matching skirt with the same camo treatment, but I can't see if there is a top or if it's just the coat. Garo: lots of rope, made into a strapless bodice with a V pattern. Then instead of a skirt, there's just ropes hanging down like fringe. His model I think has tights on, and then boots. Everyone seems to have high heeled "work" boots. The main part of the bodice is blue, and then green at the hips, with a yellow highlight, and there is some beading. It's kind of superhero-y. She looks thick through the torso but in a good way, if that makes sense? I mean she looks athletic rather than fat?

Jamall: silver pants, which I think are one of those mylar space blankets, which are loose and wrinkly. I think there is also some kind of orange shirt with one short sleeve, but this is mostly covered by a sleeping bag. I don't know that he's really done anything to the sleeping bag except cut a hole for her head, because the shape isn't any different. Maybe it's a little more fitted, and he did turn back part of it in the front for a color contrast. Then there are a bunch of leaves down the side, as if the sleeping bag is full of leaves. Also a orange hood, which has a bunch of buckles so I think it's the bag that you store the sleeping bag in. Tessa: basically this girl is wearing a gray net. A pretty open weave net, like a fishing net, as a dress that hits just below the knee, and no pants. On top there's a sort of short jacket, like a short kimono robe, that's a much thicker knit. But the robe is off one shoulder, and it's open enough that you can see the pasties, and they look like it was designed this way on purpose. She must be freezing, although I guess if you were lost in the woods maybe this is all you could find to wear? She made this herself though, on that stick loom, and that is impressive. There's absolutely no back, though, because the woven piece just goes across her shoulders, so this poor girl's ass is hanging out. Sebastian: long strapless gown made of orange and yellow leaves. He found some darker leaves to make two stripes down the front and along the top of the bodice. It also looks like she has panniers at her hips, and a rope belt. It looks really well done, but it has nothing to do with surviving. Also it looks way better when she stands still because it's very stiff.

Bishme: short tulip skirt in blue (neoprene maybe?) with a tree design made of sticks and rocks. The top is a strapless sweetheart bodice with a blue and green design in rope. She also has a puffy parka on, but at the end of the runway she takes it off so you can see the bodice. Maybe it's a sleeping bag? Also what looks like a turban. Not sure how "survival" this is but I guess it's a perfectly fine outfit. Kovid: OK. The pants are a yellow tarp and something gray, cut up and sewn into slightly baggy pants. Then another sleeping bag, but just wrapped around her torso with no shape or definition. This is bound to her body with bungie cords and carabiners. Her sleeves are rolled up mats, like he just rolled them up and put her arm through. At the wrists is a bunch of rope fringe, hanging down over her hands, which for some reason have silver half gloves. I think there's a shirt under there, because you can see some sleeves under the mats, but it's not clear. I guess this is "avant garde" maybe but not survival. Well, I guess you might wear a sleeping bag for survival. Renee: dark green coat made out of a tarp, with a hood and a bunch of pockets. She's also hung a fanny pack and some bags, and there's a headlamp and so forth. I'm at a loss for what to say about it because it just looks like a regular raincoat I could go buy right now. Which is why I'm more impressed, because it's very hard to tell this isn't just regular fabric. However, if we're talking "survival" this is exactly that. The animal skin she got from Kovid is just draped over her chest like a sash.

Lela: diagonal asymmetric skirt that looks like a layer of clear plastic poncho, and then orange sleeping bag. The clear plastic is actually hemmed with rope. Then a rope bodice in yellow with some blue. The bodice is one-shouldered, on the opposite side of the longer side of the skirt. The bottom of the bodice has some of the loose rope hanging down as fringe, but not so long it interferes with the skirt. I like how this looks mostly like real clothes, so it's "fashion" but maybe not "survivalist". Rakan: V-neck white tank top made of gauze, and a sleeping bag skirt. It kind of looks like she just wrapped the bag around herself. There are bandages on her legs. There's also a sleeping bag jacket, which isn't a jacket so much as it's a piece of sleeping bag draped across her shoulders and tied at the front, that she can unhook and let sit around her elbows. As his model walks back to the tent, he sees the judges are writing notes and he says “wait look at the back look at the back!” which is somehow really funny.

Afa: net skirt, but a thicker net than other designers have. No other pants. A plain green bodice (I think it's maps) that is just a sleeveless V-neck. Over this is a rope design attached at her chest, and draped to accentuate her chest. A thick rope belt (basically just a brown rope wrapped around her waist a bunch of times), and then the tape flowers, which do look cool. Actually I think the chest rope is held up by a ring and a halter around her neck. The skirt has a short train with a couple more flowers. Sonia: long gown made of a mylar space blanket. There's some net over the skirt as an accent, and some straps making a sort of cage design around her torso. You know, accenting her waist and the bodice. Over this is some...reeds maybe? Some green plants that wrap around her shoulder. I think the question is, is a space blanket too much like fabric and therefore lazy? Unfortunately as the girl comes out, she very obviously trips over the skirt. So she has to hold the skirt up, which reveals the camo fabric stuff under the mylar. Backstage, Christian is like I TOLD HER, which is hilarious to me for some reason.

Afa, Renee, Hester, Sonia, Kovid, and Rakan are the top and bottom. There's also a montage of the safe looks which I kind of appreciate. Hester wanted to make an “alternative fairy”. She was really smart about how she used materials, and Elaine loved that it read “Afro-centric”. There is a fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation, which is very true. If she had put this look on a blonde white model it would have been very different. The execution is great. Sonia says “post-apocalyptic Amazonian princess”. The straps are duct tape. The back of the dress is wonderful, but it looks like duct tape over foil which is not wonderful. Sonia admits she was planning to trim the bottom, but she didn't get the chance. Karlie goes against everyone else and says she loves it. Renee made a fanny pack out of a backpack, and she explains how she was thinking about the survival part of the challenge. Elaine is living for all the gadgets and whatever, and Nina says it's true glamping. For sure Renee is the person who hit the “survival” part of the challenge the best. Then they all reference “Troop Beverly Hills” which is hysterical. The accessories are really selling it too.

Afa says something about a captain of a ship. It's too “souvenir shop” and Nina thinks it's skimpy. Karlie goes so far as to give her a blanket, which seem overly dramatic. He sewed the bodice, so now they're mad he didn't sew. I don't think it's that bad, but I'm not going to argue him being in the bottom. Rakan explains his model is healing herself, that's why there's bandages. Karlie asks him if he liked camping, and I think he says he needs a bed. Especially because he's too big for a sleeping bag. Hee. Brandon thinks this is the funniest thing he's heard all week. It's a sleeping bag, but reworked and wonderfully styled. Kovid says he got really cold, because he was freezing while he was out there. It's not functional, and he's got silver gloves which aren't functional. Nina likes the pants and that there's color, but she doesn't get the top. It's a sleeping bag, but it looks too much like a sleeping bag.

So as they're looking more closely at the garments, the other models go back to the tent. They're making a huge deal about being cold, but I wonder how much of it is because they're mad at Afa for whatever reason. Hester had immunity, so she could have half-assed this. It looks great and playful, and is styled wonderfully. Renee went for the “survival” part of the challenge, and on top of that it's tailored and warm. The bottom of the coat is a transparent poncho. Elaine says Renee can go matronly so this is great. Rakan took his discomfort with camping and made it fashion. His execution can be hit or miss, and this is a hit. The judges realize the gauze top has a zipper, meaning he did not wrap his model in it. He planned it this way.

Brandon decides Sonia's look is a baked potato. It's the wrong fabric, but at least she knows how to make a garment. Nina says there's not enough construction for her, and the wind kicks up so everyone decides its disintegrating as they look at it. Afa didn't use enough material to make clothes. Plus they make a big deal about getting his model a blanket. Elaine says the train doesn't bother her, she actually likes it. I mean, did Tessa get a pass because she wove the vest herself? Because her model wasn't wearing more clothing than Afa's. Kovid did wonderful makeup, and Nina likes the pants. Karlie liked the idea, but it's not functional. Brandon feels he doesn't know who he is as a designer, which I hate as an excuse. Nina is afraid Kovid doesn't understand the difference between “conceptual” and “real clothes”.

Renee is the winner! She also gets immunity. She admits she dreaded this challenge. Hester and Rakan are both in. If Renee could win a challenge she dreaded, she can do anything. Sonia is in. Kovid needed more tailoring and craftsmanship. Afa didn't address “survival” and the materials fell flat. Afa is out. Aww. I liked them both, but if we're going on “survival” then Kovid did a better job with that. It just seems out of nowhere, you know? Kovid has been in the bottom before. Kovid is in. Afa didn't use the materials in the best way and it wasn't enough. He's so upset. Aww. He thanks the judges for the opportunity and says he's disappointed in himself. Brandon is moved to tears and says he's such a class act. He'll go really far. He's proud of what he sent down the runway. It wasn't his best, but he's proud. Sometimes growth comes with heartaches.

Next week: luxury streetwear, one day, someone gets “suburban” as an insult.