Project Runway 12/5/19--"Blast Off!" summary

Previously on “Project Runway”: we had a whole new season without Tim or Heidi, and I did not mind at all. Sebastian won, which was nice. Not as much nonsense judging. (click for more)

Karlie and Christian greet the designers at the airport. Sure. It actually takes a couple of tries for them to notice Karlie up on the balcony. The first challenge starts now. They're at the TWA hotel, which is the old TWA terminal at JFK. Christian starts talking about futurism, and space tourism. Also collaboration! Ha ha! Pair off! Alan is super dramatic about it, because he seems to be the super dramatic person this season. But each team is making two looks, so there really isn't a point to pairing off except for drama. These looks are for a space hotel. One look in the pair must be for daytime lounging, and must be a jumpsuit, and the other look is for happy hour. Two day challenge, with immunity for the winner. Have drinks and pair off. Oo, they get to pick their own partners.

Lots of sound bites. Everyone is trying to find someone whose aesthetic is a good fit with them. Nancy declares herself the oldest contestant in the history of the show, at 64. But of course once people see her designs they'll forget how old she is. Brittany teaches fashion design and also drives an Uber. She also describes her aesthetic as “if Dolly Parton and Betsy Johnson had a baby, and the baby was raised by Anna Wintour.” OK calm down. Sergio claims that he made the outfit Billy Porter wore to the Tonys, and he's at Christian and Brandon's level already. The first part of this is true. Is this look “the Billy Porter red carpet look that broke the internet”? No, that's Christian's Oscar look. Nice try though. He tells some other people he does “politically driven evening wear”. Melanie tells a bunch of people she does a lot of architectural pieces. Geoffrey had a partner in mind (Asma, who he apparently already talked to), but he does architectural too and would rather be Melanie's partner. Alan suggests ditching his previous partner, so he tells Asma who is totally OK with it. Asma (full coverage with head coverings) seems to be getting along with Jenn (ecofriendly and goth).

Christian returns so they can have 20 minutes to sketch and fight over models. Dayoung already does some futuristic clothing. She and Alan seem to be agreeing on things to put in the outfits so they are cohesive. Veronica and Victoria do not go together. Victoria, who is from Moldova, does hard, edgy pieces that seem kind of military. Veronica's pieces are very romantic and soft. Asma has a more edgy style, which is not the norm for a Muslim woman, but it's still full coverage. She wants clear vinyl. Her looks have a ton of colors and I like them. Her partner Jenn's looks that we see seem like they'll work with that. Shopping involves more wandering around because no one knows where anything is. By far, though, my favorite interaction is when Alan tears by shrieking “Christian what do we do!?!” and Christian says “Ugh, honey, throw that poncho away.” Hee! Veronica can't understand Victoria's accent. Jenn left Target to pursue fashion. At some point I feel like she and Asma agree on cotton? Or they at least are told that their fabrics should go together. Christian suggests to Brittany all navy is not exciting. Melanie is worried because Geoffrey is an anxious person, and he is freaking out. So much so that she's worried she picked the wrong partner. To be fair he says he lives in New York and should know Mood. As Alan puts things on the cutting table, he says something isn't his, and the worker says “Your partner left this.” Alan says he doesn't think she got chiffon, “Oh God I hope she didn't grab chiffon” and then he walks away. Remember this for later. Swatch lies on the floor watching.

It's a two day challenge, but Christian says he's feeling generous and will give them an hour tonight. Aww. Delvin irons his lab coat to put it on. Hee. He used to work at an atelier in Paris, so that's where he got it from. He and Tyler have very curvy designs, and it sounds like they're trying to match the curves so one is not more extreme than the other one. There is a minor amount of gossiping. Shavi and Chelsey agree on the story behind their looks. Dayoung and Alan go outside to look at the sunset. They're speaking Spanish, because Dayoung's husband is from Mexico. Aww. Alan says he wants to cry but they don't have time.

Everyone goes to their house? Penthouse? Shavi says this penthouse is where he's always seen himself, just not with fifteen other people. There's a mad dash to claim beds. Chelsey gets stuck in the coed room, but the two boys don't snore so she is more OK with it. Nancy finds the booze. Priorities.

In the morning there is a lot of hanging out. Nancy had a corporate job, but something was missing. So she just graduated from design school three years ago. 11 hours to work today. Geoffrey was a military brat and used fashion as a defense mechanism. Alan can't find his organza. Side note, I love how the background music is peppy and montage, and then winds down to a halt when this happens. He worries he might have left it at Mood. Except that if the procedure is the same as it used to be, production collects everyone's bags when they leave Mood, and then gives them back in the workroom. I guess he could have left a whole bag at Mood, but if it was part of a larger bag, it's unlikely. Brittany reminds Alan that a worker told him about some fabric and he left it on the table. We cut to the scene we saw earlier, where he said he hoped his partner didn't take any chiffon. So it sounds like he left it on the table. Of course the organza was everything he needed and he is sure he bought it. Delvin for some reason feels if he had a bar in a space hotel it would involve a cyborg woman with one leg. Shavi just laughs at him because really. Victoria decides to measure a curve with a wooden ruler and snaps it. Asma shrieks for a really long time? I guess it was her ruler. No, it was Dayoung's? I don't know why there was so much screaming.

Christian time! Sergio and Brittany have some puffy sleeves going on. Christian suggests thinking about proportions, and Sergio interviews that Christian just doesn't understand how advanced he is. I'm already tired of Sergio. But I think overall Christian didn't think it was a disaster. Asma has a clear vinyl skirt over a long sleeved narrow dress, and Jenn is planning some vinyl in her sleeves. But also the rest of the jumpsuit is going to be navy, or maybe navy and brown. Christian hates satin. But Asma has a vinyl skirt, and shiny boots, and goggles, and this is maybe too much. Also when compared to an all navy jumpsuit from Jenn, these two looks do not go together. Geoffrey has made the whole jumpsuit in muslin, which he doesn't have time for. Both fabrics are very heavy, but the concept is solid. Alan is still drama, but Christian just nods. You know he is too used to this kind of dramatic person and he is unmoved. My money is on an ex-boyfriend. Alan wraps a strip of fabric across the boobs, and asks if this is too bland for Christian. Christian says he is not making a silver fit-and-flare dress for a two day challenge. Fair. There are some serious problems happening and Alan needs to take some of Dayoung's elements for his own look. Victoria is kind of bossy, but she also wanders off while Christian is talking to her partner. The two looks don't match, but it's salvageable. Victoria's jumpsuit is half silver and half sheer, but they might change the sheer side to whatever fabric Veronica is using.

Models aren't coming until tomorrow. Melanie has made her look more “airy” but it looks like a draped brown heavy fabric, and then like, bra cups underneath. Jenn and Asma are tentatively suggesting changes, but no one is taking any suggestions. Asma is worried they're just each doing their own thing and nothing will go together. She seems kind of pissed about it, but that's because it looked like Jenn was shooting down all the suggestions.

Day 2. Everyone seems to be in a pretty good mood. Christian arrives with the models. Tyler has a non-binary model, which I am glad to see they're continuing. Also I'm glad they seem to be paired with Tyler, who immediately asks for pronouns. Tyler designs his own drag outfits. Dayoung is being a perfectionist. Jenn has nothing for her model to try on. Like, her model is sitting in the sewing room doing nothing. Asma's look doesn't fit at all. It's gaping the the back where the seam is, and she doesn't have enough in her original fabric to add to it. She's going to have to add side panels or something in a different color.

Time for the final working and freaking out. Dayoung has a ton of work, and she's getting advice from people. She actually ends up in the lounge in tears, because she's freaking out so much. It's too sloppy for what she wants. Alan declares he's not going to let her pull him down, and then asks if she's eaten. When she says she ate a macaron, he gasps “There are macarons!?” and sweeps off to the lounge to eat one. Heh. You know he is talking about her not pulling him down because he needs a non-drama person to balance his own drama. Tyler tries on his own look. Everyone talks about their looks with their partners. Asma and Jenn, though, are not even talking, and it looks like they're each making their own thing. Jenn doesn't know how their looks will be cohesive.

Runway Day. I like that each day they've gotten up earlier, or at least that's implied. 2 hours until runway. Jenn tells Christian she didn't have time for a sleeve, and he thinks she has two hours. It's a problem because the sleeve was supposed to have the vinyl to tie in to Asma's outfit. Delvin is lounging because he doesn't want to stress. Like, literally lying on a sofa. Christian hollers that they should all be checking everything, because it might be your last runway. Dayoung is still not happy but she hopes it's not the worst. Hair and makeup, where I have to state as I always do that I miss hot makeup guy Scott. Backstage Geoffrey takes his shirt off for some reason. Asma isn't done and she won't have time to finish. I have to say, her confessional look is amazing. It's a green camouflage corset/bodice piece, over a brown turtlenecked top with bell sleeves, in that fabric that looks like it's all tiny pleats, and a matching hijab.

Elaine, Nina, and Brandon are all back for judging. Karlie says it's a flash sale challenge, which means America gets to vote. So the winning look, plus whoever America votes for, get produced for sale. Brittany: the jumpsuit has mutton sleeves, and then around her elbows is clear plastic. At the wrists and ankles the hem is split, and there are buttons lining the slit. It fits very well and the back has a deep V. Sergio: strapless black sheath dress, with the same buttons as Brittany at the hem. It's not quite a mullet hem, but the front panel of the skirt is about six inches shorter than the rest of the dress, and that's where there are slits and buttons. Also puffy off the shoulder sleeves that are basically wide skirts for her arms. It's not that flattering.

Chelsey: quilted silver top with cropped pants that are a little loose. There's a gap at her stomach to show skin, and the sleeves are only elbow length. The back has corset lacing, and it all fits really well. Shavi: short pink dress, with draped fabric on the side. It has a high crew neck and no sleeves, and a very short miniskirt, and then the draped fabric is just like, a long foot-wide strip of fabric, folded over a couple of times and sewn to her waist so it's longer than the skirt. Geoffrey: brown satin jumpsuit, with a deep V and long sleeves. There is some detailing at the shoulders, like folded and pleated, and also at the waist. It does look well fitted but in the end it's a brown satin jumpsuit. Melanie: brown dress with no sleeves and a draped neckline. The skirt is two panels, longer in back. Just two rectangles sewn together at the waist. The back is also draped, but with a brown strap that hangs down to her butt and attaches at her shoulders. It fits fine but I hate the skirt and the black booties she's put with it.

Jenn: sleeveless blue jumpsuit. That's basically it. It's kind of shiny and the fit doesn't seem egregious. Asma: long pink dress, with a looser skirt than I remember from the fitting. On each side are panels of a darker pink. There's a clear vinyl capelet, with maybe a dark pink capelet underneath, and then a matching headscarf In the two pinks. It seems kind of shapeless now. Oh and goggles. Victoria: so this dress is half flowy white and half shiny silver. The white is draped over her right side, and the silver has straps and wraps around her waist. A lapel on the silver side, but just a halter strap on the white. The skirt is weird, because it drapes down to cover her left side with the silver, but the white has been cut so it's almost to her hip on the side, but longer in front and back. There are little ruffles on the shortest part. Veronica: white jumpsuit with puffy sleeves. The sleeves are sheer, but have bands to hold the shape. It reminds me of a hoop skirt. There's a big zipper up the front, and a turtleneck. It looks pretty good.

Marquise: black off the shoulder jumpsuit, with some lines of bling or crystals down the legs and arms. Nancy: black short dress with draped sheer pieces around her shoulders, like a shawl. She removes this at the end of the runway, to show the bodice, which is strapless and has a sheer strip at the top. Thankfully Brandon does not say anything about a reveal. I'm not describing them a lot because we haven't seen these looks this whole episode, so you know and I know these two are safe. Dayoung: white jumpsuit with wide legs. The top is a deep V, the kind where it's just two thick strips over her boobs. Over this are two horizontal strips, a thicker silver one over her chest that goes over one arm, and a thinner one closer to her waist. The back drapes over the straps. Alan: short white dress, with the same silver strip over one arm. It's a full skirt over a pencil skirt, but with an open panel in the front. The pencil skirt is in a weird mottled brown, that's almost floral? The hem of the white part of the skirt repeats the silver strip. I think there are pockets.

Delvin: strapless jumpsuit. The bodice has a curvy red panel in the front, with a shiny white and hip cutouts. The red is repeated in thinner vertical stripes down the front of the pant legs. The pants are full, and all in all it looks very futuristic to me. Tyler: knee-length strapless dress, in the white fabric, with visible seaming down the front. Over each hip is a wing? Not a huge like, pannier, but a flap that is holding it's shape and has red inside. The seams are a gold, I think, and down the sides of the tight skirt I think it's horizontal pleats.

Karlie tells everyone they're changing things up. Tim Save! JK, the Siriano Save. Shavi, Chelsey, Delvin, Tyler, Veronica, Victoria, Nancy, and Marquise are in. They go back to the lounge to watch the other judging. Delvin and Tyler are just safe, huh. I see.

Geoffrey, Melanie, Brittany, and Sergio are on the top. They stop freaking out. Brittany and Sergio are both from Texas so they've hit it off. Brandon is too! Sergio starts talking about the political climate and running out of space on earth. OK, I don't like the current political climate either, there are a lot of issues, but running out of space is not one of them? If we aren't talking climate change, which I don't think he is? Sergio's dress is sexy and lovely, but the sleeves are unnecessary. When he removes them Karlie loves it better. He gives that tired excuse of “women like to cover their arms.” Nina stands up for him, and then raves about Brittany's jumpsuit. It's classic but futuristic. Nina says “the future Audrey Hepburn”. The V in the back is perfect, and when she turns around her ass looks great. It's Elaine's favorite look, especially the ankles, where the ankles of the pants actually have a mullet hem.

Geoffrey admits he freaked out too much at Mood. Brandon comes up to the runway to look at the folding and draping on the hip. We can also get a better view of the shoulder, which looks like it's not folded but sheer stripes. They really love it. Geoffrey is standing next to his model in a jumpsuit in that rainbow-y silvery material. You know what I mean. And his model is in brown. It's not as shiny as I thought, but it's still kind of a flight suit. I don't think it should be in the bottom though. Melanie's fabric is more dull, and Nina says flat out she's lucky Geoffrey's her partner. Melanie literally said it was two rectangles sewn together. They don't really go together, but Brandon does say it's finished beautifully. But was Geoffrey's so amazing it outshone other people's stuff to drag Melanie to the top?

Asma, Jenn, Alan, and Dayoung are the bottom. Jenn says she's “modern Goth”. But she didn't make a goth outfit. Well, it's a team challenge, and no one else is a goth? Nina gives the stupid “I don't know who you are as a designer” critique. Asma has more ideas, but it's probably too many ideas. She explains how the dress didn't fit, so this isn't what she had originally wanted. She bought cotton, though, so it's not like she bought some weirdo fabric no one can use. But it doesn't stretch, so the dress was supposed to be much more simple, but it isn't now because she had to let it out. Nina says she should have known better. Asma says she would never have chosen cotton. They claim to have worked well together, but Brandon isn't buying it. And the styling is weird. Asma put on too many things.

Alan didn't want to make a cliché outfit, but his pattern on the pencil skirt doesn't go with the rest of the outfit and looks cheap. Elaine says “bad Destiny's Child costume” and questions his taste level. Ouch. Brandon bitches about the fit on Dayoung's pants, but I really don't see the problem? Dayoung admits the horizontal straps were her idea. It's too weird and confining. Nina didn't mind the design as much, but if you're doing to do something ambitious it has to be executed perfectly. I think also she doesn't mind the horizontal strips because she's seen it before.

Judging time. Melanie's look was underwhelming. Sergio had a better dress, but the sleeves weren't that great. Nina argues that the sleeves keep this from being boring. It might come down to the jumpsuits. Brittany had amazing details, but they love Geoffrey's draping and how flattering it was. It did fit well, that's true. I think Delvin's jumpsuit was better, but the more I look at Geoffrey's the less I hate it.

Nina argues that Alan and Dayoung at least had two cohesive pieces that went together. Fair. So they are choosing between Jenn and Asma for who goes home. They both have a ton of problems. Jenn was super boring, but Asma had too many ideas. Elaine argues that at least Asma has a perspective. There was more of a concept there, but Brandon says you can finish cotton, it's not impossible, and if you remove the accessories it's a sack dress with two godets. It's harder to finish Jenn's jumpsuit, and a jumpsuit is more difficult to make than a sack dress. Jenn did not show her modern goth self though. Brandon points out that they saw some incredible outfits today, and it just highlights how bad the bottom two are.

Brittany and Sergio are the winning team, and Brittany is the winner! She gets immunity. Sergio, Melanie, and Geoffrey are in. Dayoung and Alan are in. Karlie tells Jenn and Asma that this was a team challenge and they failed themselves and each other. So they're both out. Damn. They felt they didn't have any other option. Asma is pissed she at least had an idea and she doesn't know what Jenn has to offer. Asma also claims she didn't get a chance, but I think she did. Christian does not save either one. Neither one made a look that represented them.

This season: drama, of course. Some great looks. Someone has a medical emergency. Nina is mad.

I did watch the aftershow, which is where Christian interviews the eliminated designer(s). Turns out the judges called the two of them onto the runway, but then said they hadn't made a decision and kicked them out again. Why call them out in the first place? Come on. Anyway, it's the usual “I didn't know how the time constraints would affect me” and “I should have stayed on the first floor of Mood to get the fabric I wanted”. Also Asma right now is wearing a pink gingham shirt dress? It's long, with a ruffled tiered skirt that's left open to expose a slimmer, darker pink dress that matches her hijab. This is her usual style, which I love. Asma and Jenn also reveal that they got stuck with each other, because everyone else had paired up, and Geoffrey had already ditched Asma. Asma thinks Sergio will win because he is super calm. Fair. Jenn thinks Geoffrey, but he freaks out all the time, but he pulls it out in the end. Asma's company is called Hijabipop if you are looking for modest clothing that is still somewhat formfitting and in bright colors. Jenn is the owner of Stone Crow Designs, which is all eco-friendly and has a goth feel with some unisex pieces.