LEXUS (sponsored) Challenge: create a street chic look that is inspired by NYC

Five designers left—Amanda, Charketa, Emily, Sean and Kini. three or more will be going to New York Fashion Week. It’s a two-day challenge with a $200 budget.

designer Kini

“With Korina being gone, everybody’s having fun and just relaxing,” Kini notes. “There’s not that tense feeling anymore.”

designer Sean

Amanda, inspired by graffiti and color, is designing a maxi dress.
Charketa, inspired by a window display, plans to make a skirt with petals.
Emily wants to design a big hoodie.
Sean saw a guy in a caftan and all-white on the street and wanted to use the clean look of white. He’s doing a high-waisted pant and a “play on” a baseball shirt.
Kini is designing a pencil skirt and trench coat.

Of course being Project Runway, on the second day the designers arrive to see five losing looks. Tim arrives with the button bag.

Second challenge: losing look redux challenge. Take a losing look and re-design it into a winning look. No need to connect it to the other design.

Amanda chooses Fade’s design. Charketa takes Korina’s design because it has a lot of fabric. Emily takes Stephanie’s dress. Kini chooses Mitchell’s red dress. Sean ends up with Sandhya’s pink kid’s outfit.

“I think of doing a structural gown but it’s definitely not a color I would choose,” Sean says.

“We’re SO close to fashion week,” Amanda notes.

The designers of the losing looks are brought back to be assistants. Korina is pissed and rolling her eyes as soon as she walks in. When she realizes she’s with Charketa she is super annoyed.

“As soon as Korina walks in it’s like a black cloud,” Charketa notes.

designer Charketa

“Korina has the body language that tells the rest of the world to F- off. She is arms crossed, sour-faced. Korina looks pissed,” Sean says.

Korina tells Tim she can’t be there. That she doesn’t want to be there. “It’s very fresh and I’m really upset still,” Korina says. “I wouldn’t be of any help. It’s clear I shouldn’t be here.” Alexander is brought back to help Charketa.

designer Amanda

Amanda notes: “Getting eliminated sucks for everyone. It’s not any more painful for her.”
Potential foreshadowing or obvious foreshadowing. Emily: “I’m so into my street look I’m not thinking about the redesign.”

Sandhya is so sweet that she thanks Sean for choosing her design. He tells her it was the only one left.

Tim Gunn provides critiques

Tim doesn’t like what Sean’s doing at all. He doesn’t like the “hospital” blue or the pants or the cheap look of the white fabric.
He tells Char that she’s got a lot going on with her skirt and maybe doesn’t need the pocket. “I’d rather you be in a position where you have to pull back then ramp up,” he says.
He’s unimpressed with Kini’s look. He thinks there’s not enough there. “Can’t we go to Michael Kors and buy this? Where is your signature?

guest judge Shay from Pretty Little LIars

Runway Judging

KINI

street chic design by Kini

redux design by Kini

“I have mixed feelings. I do like the trench coat but I don’t like what’s underneath.” –Heidi Klum “The gown is so beautiful.”
“Less is more but it’s too much together.” –Nina Garcia
On the gown, Nina says: “It’s the right color. It accents all the right body parts.”

EMILY

street chic design design by Emily

redux design by Emily

“I don’t mind your street style look but I don’t know if it was the best thing to do on an important day like today.” –Heidi Klum
“To me this oversize hoodie felt homeless and it really freaked me out.” –Zac Posen
On her second look, Zac noted: “There’s not much to talk about.”
“Emily you seem to have a very definite point of view and I am disappointed I didn’t see it with the do-over.” –Nina Garcia

AMANDA

street chic design design by Amanda

redux design by Amanda

“Your street chic looks amazing. I loved it. It’s you.” –Nina Garcia
“I love your street style. It’s Bohemian-chic. I love the colors you’ve chosen.” –Heidi Klum

CHARKETA

street chic design design by Charketa

redux design by Charketa

“You have a nice eye for color. However it needs to look effortless. You have a lot on that skirt.” –Nina Garcia
“You have great ideas they just don’t execute out well.” –Zac Posen

SEAN

street chic design design by Sean

redux design by Sean

“What is going on here. It’s fantastic! This is spectacular. The cut of the skirt is very unusual.” –Heidi Klum
“It’s probably one of the best pieces I’ve seen on Project Runway.” –Nina Garcia
“It looks original and I was blown away.” –Zac Posen

Amanda, Charketa, Kini and Sean are going to New York Fashion Week.

Emily is out. I liked Emily. I really liked what she herself is wearing at the Runway show.