FOUR designers remain this week: Helen Castillo; Michelle Lesniak; Dmitry Sholokhov; Sonjia Williams

This week’s challenge: create dazzling red carpet gowns to be remembered forever

Of course this is tied-in to an upcoming Marilyn Monroe biopic and the actress playing Marilyn introduces the challenge via video.

“It’s red carpet. It’s what I do,” says Helen.She’s designing something with a cap sleeve again. Helen purchases a beaded fabric in a mint julep color. Sonjia wants to design a dress with “bow that’s in your face.” She chooses several gold fabrics. “I want a moody romance,” Michelle explains. She spends her entire budget on one fabric, a silk burnout velvet. Dmitry buys off-white lace and white fringe which he plans to tea dye to match the fabric.

Helen in the workroom

In the workroom, Michelle and Dmitry tell Helen that her fabric doesn’t have enough sparkle. She flips out a bit. She says: “I bought Chantilly beaded lace. You’re going to tell me, the girl that has made a Grammy performance gown [for a performer I’ve never heard of] that my fabric is not sparkly.”

Isaac Mizrahi arrives to interrupt the designers with a mini-challenge. He says he wants to introduce a legend. “She’s been saving the day in Hollywood for 75 years.” In trots Lassie. [Lifetime is paying the bills yet again.] The winner will be designing for Lassie. Well-trained Lassie delivers the gift bags to each designer which include fabric and their themes and rescue dog assignments. Helen gets sci-fi; Michelle has Western; Dmitry gets gangster and Sonjia receives musical comedy.

Lassie!

Mini-challenge: design a piece of movie-themed canine couture

Michelle who has yet to win a challenge wins.

Michelle with the rescue dog

Back to work on the main challenge, Zanna arrives for critiques in a fabulous outfit but with terrible hair. Why doesn’t she do something about her hair? Her clothes always look spectacular. Her hair looks overworked and dry. Dmitry’s never been in the bottom but Helen thinks his fringe dress looks like a “dirty mop.” Although Zanna thinks Helen’s dress is Victorian looking and too old-fashioned, Helen comments: “I’m feeling confident because I see black, I see dirty mop and I see cheap gold.”

eye candy: Dmitry in the workroom

Runway critiques

Sonjia

design by Sonjia

“It feels dramatic and memorable.” –Isaac Mizrahi
“It’s impactful.” –Georgina Chapman

Michelle

design by Michelle

“I think the textile is the star of this dress. I didn’t love the chain.” –Alyssa Milano
“This is the best you’ve done. It’s mysterious, where it’s lined. I can’t tell where you’ve lined and where you’ve left sheer. The back is enchanting.” –Isaac Mizrahi
“It’s very pretty. It’s a simple shape. The patterning doesn’f feel expensive.” –Georgina Chapman

Helen

design by Helen

“It’s a classic silhouette.” –Alyssa Milano
“Very safe but perhaps too safe.” –Georgina Chapman
“I love this dress. It didn’t move beautifully.” –Isaac Mizrahi

Dmitry

design by Dmitry

“This dress blew me away. Might be my favorite thing ever.” –Alyssa Milano
“It really looks like this is thousands of dollars. Your length is great.” –Georgina Chapman
“Beautiful dress but fringe is maybe not Oscar.” –Isaac Mizrahi

Dmitry is the WINNER

Sonjia is IN

Michelle and Helen must compete in a last minute challenge. They have to reinvent a look using at least three losing designs in an hour. Helen freaks out as she doesn’t like destroying other people’s designs.
Helen: “I can’t cut up somebody else’s work.” [but she can critique them.]
Michelle: “Well just cut up the really ugly stuff.”

Sadly Michelle is OUT. Helen is IN.