FIVE designers left this week: Helen Castillo; Fabio Costa; Michelle Lesniak; Dmitry Sholokhov; Sonjia Williams

Designers head out over to the Marchesa showroom and Georgina Chapman and co-founder of Marchesa Keren Craig greet them to introduce the challenge. They meet a bride-to-be and will be assigned a bridesmaid for whom to design a dress. Alyssa Milano will officiate the wedding on the runway. Why? Because she can. And so the bride gets a free Marchesa wedding gown.

This week’s challenge: design bridesmaid dresses suitable for multiple events

The winner will be a VIP at Marchesa during New York Fashion Week, receives beautiful china set as well as a Marchesa diamond ring.

The bride said her color choices are navy, plums, taupe and gray.

“I love love. I’m so excited for you,” Michelle gushes.

Helen says: “I love bridal so I’m so excited.”

They sketch at Marchesa until heading to Mood with a $150 budget. “I never know what my things will look like until I start working,” Sonjia admits.

During dinner Sonjia starts crying. “It’s hard to challenge yourself every single week to come up with a great design,” she explains. “I’m exhausted. It seems whatever I’m doing isn’t working.”

“Why did I pick this bitch organza?” Fabio laments

“Looking around the room, I think mine is the most romantic here,” Michelle opines.

“Everybody is more developed and everybody is more experienced. It’s the best of the best. So it’s harder to compete,” says Dmitry in maybe his most humble comment yet.

Michelle: “Helen’s three words are wool crepe, cap sleeve and lace. Every design that’s what she does.”

the judges with guest judge Cat Deeley

The critiques

HIGH SCORES

Helen
—says she designed a fit and flare

“It’s really flattering.” –guest judge Cat Deeley
“It is a very nice dress. I just wanted a bit more.” –Georgina Chapman
“It’s really flattering but it a little heavy. It skews a bit older.” –Alyssa Milano
“Tasteful is good but I’m looking for a bit more here.” –Isaac Mizrahi

Sonjia
—wanted the bridesmaid to be comfortable and have fun in it

“I’m conflicted. You got me thinking. It’s one of the more exciting dresses on the runway.” –Georgina
“I’m baffled. Too much drapery.” –Isaac
“I love that Studio 54 feel.” –Cat
“This was my favorite dress. I love this dress. I gave it the highest score of the day.” –Alyssa

LOW SCORES

Fabio
—said he wanted to design classic and modern simultaneously

“It’s a little bit of a departure for you. Hemline kinda a mess.” –Alyssa
“I love the shoulders but would like the sleeve to come down more.” –Cat

Michelle

“I’m getting a little phallic from this center applique piece and the bottom to me looks a little circus.” –Alyssa
There’s something unresolved about the sleeve and it’s a pretty ide what you’ve done. I appreciate that you pushed it a little bit. –Georgina
Later Georgina adds: “Michelle is onto something more interesting than Fabio.”

Dmitry
—aimed for elegant but modern

“It’s so unattractive. I don’t know where to start. The Cleopatra neckline, the draping at the bottom.” –Isaac
“Not your best week All-Stars!” –Isaac
“There’s nothing new about this dress. –Georgina
Later Georgina calls it “offensively dull.”
“I kinda like this dress. But it’s safe.” –Cat

HELEN WINS

FABIO is ELIMINATED (after weeks in the bottom)