Week 11: New York City of Dreams

This week's episode starts with a visit to the atelier of mentor Christian Siriano! Christian claims that all women want fashion, and high fashion needs to be more inclusive. The challenge is to create dream dresses for the hardworking, real, and underserved women of New York City. The designers are to make these amazing women something special because they run New York City. This week's episode is working with Maybelline makeup to give them the royal treatment.

I love that the designers get to spend the day with their client seeing what they do for work on a day-to-day basis. I don't think they've done this since the post office challenge from Season 1! This gives the designers such insight into their client's life and personality.

As the designers are working on their pieces and doing fittings with their clients, it is clear that these women are so grateful for the opportunity to get a high fashion custom design just for them.

This week has guest a judge, Danielle Brooks, actress from Orange Is The New Black. After the runway show, the judges do something interesting and new where they talk to the bottom 3 designers a little bit more than everyone else to ask them a few extra questions.

THE RUNWAY

Hits

Bishme Cromartie

Bishme’s client, Jaclyn, is a school teacher who wanted a sky blue dress that would stand out since she always finds herself wearing the same dresses. The judges liked how the dress flattered her silhouette and thought it was a very well-done piece that was both modern and sexy. Nina said, “I really liked how you gathered that peplum it makes it very elegant and it really accentuates her figure.”

Garo Sparo

Garo’s client, Debra, is a postal worker that wanted to float like an angel. Garo wanted to give her angel wings without looking like a costume. The judges liked that it was flattering and that it was transformable with the flowy wing element. They also could tell that he listened to his client and took her in as his muse to make her a custom fantasy look. Elaine said, “You look like a million bucks walking down this runway.”

Winner: Sebastian Grey!

Can I just say how happy I am that Sebastian has finally been recognized for his incredible design work? Sebastian’s client, Nicole, is sanitation worker or street sweeper who wanted a fancy dress to potentially wear for an engagement party that was pink, poofy, sparkly, Disney, and retro glam. She thought that Sebastian’s design completely exceed all of her expectations, especially since she is a former Staten Island pageant queen. Karlie said, “It, to me, does have all the pizazz you asked for in your dress.”

Misses

Hester Sunshine

Hester’s client, Dina, works is a police officer for the NYPD. She wanted something out of her comfort zone: bright, colorful, and showing some skin. Hester delivered these elements; however, it’s not as hip as Hester is as a designer. She admits that she didn’t take a step back to think about what she should have done for Dina versus what Dina asked for. The judges thought that what Hester makes is so specific that she couldn’t find a middle balance for her client. Brandon said, “What happened here was an identity crisis.”

Tessa Clark

Tessa’s client, Maria, is an EMT fire fighter. Tessa struggled with this challenge because she never works with private clients and has no desire to do custom. Maria wanted an elegant and classy short dress to wear to a party and look taller, but Tessa originally decides to make her pants…for a dream dress challenge to try to be more complex and impress the judges. One of the first things that we hear about Maria is that her favorite color is pink; however, Tessa decides to make her a black dress and insists that Maria wanted something black or dark gray. Seconds before the runway show, Tessa decides to cut the tassels off of her dress backstage! The judges really struggle with the fact that Tessa is so defensive on the runway making excuses and not listening. They seemed fed up with her playing it safe and overall lack of passion. Karlie said the look was, “poorly finished and not a dream. It was lacking fantasy.”

Out: Jamall Osterholm

Jamall’s client, Angela, is a nineteen-year-old waterway ferry deckhand. Because she is so young, it is understandable why Angela wanted a prom-style gown. However, Jamall does not give Angela everything she wants, as he doesn’t have time to give her sleeves when she is self-conscious about her arms and looks uncomfortable on the runway. Jamall tried to elevate the prom-type dress, but struggled to with execution and taste. The judges didn’t like that he did not do this full-figured woman justice, since it is so important for these ladies to be included in high fashion. While the client liked the dress overlay and said she felt gorgeous, she and the judges did not like the inner-workings of the design. Brandon said, “If you make a red body-con dress, it better be near perfect.”

So, was Season 17 Episode 11 in or out? This week, I have to say out. The judges 100% sent home the wrong designer. While Jamall was willing to learn and adapt, Tessa has no interest in improving herself as a designer or listening to constructive criticism. Both of these bottom looks were pretty terrible, but I hate when a contestant stays in a competition show that doesn't want to hear critique about their work.