Week 2: The Future Is Here

This week's show begins quite interestingly, as the contestants enter the workroom to find a museum-like set-up featuring real, live people displaying their body modifications. The idea behind this popup installation is that if you could change your body in the same way that you change your outfits, would you?

The challenge this week is the season's first team challenge where the designers are divided into 5 teams of 3 to create a mini collection that highlights a specific body modification and show what you think fashion will look like 5 minutes into the future. Karlie pulls out a glass box that will serve as this season's button bag, which is so different that it prompts her to say, "this is an all new Project Runway people, get excited."

When the designers arrive at Mood to shop for their fabrics, Christian gives the designers a little pep talk to remind everyone what is important for this challenge, which Tim Gunn never used to do. Throughout the shopping time, Christian gives input and feedback to the designers on their fabric choices, which was never done before, and I think this could be very beneficial. When Tim was a mentor, he would be at Mood while the designers shopped, but he never really gave his opinion on the designer's selected fabrics until they started working with the design, at which point he might reveal that he disliked a particular fabric even though it would be impossible to change fabrics.

Can I just say how weird it is to hear Karlie say, "team back scaffolding you are safe"?

Overall, the looks this week were quite unimpressive in my opinion. The winning team did great, but all the other teams presented some uninspired designs that did not address the challenge that was all about the future and highlighting these crazy body modifications.

THE RUNWAY

Winning Team: Team Neck Ruffles

Afa Ah Loo

Afa created a very elegant, sleek, and sophisticated look according to the judges. Nina said, "the pant is unbelievable," which is quite the compliment coming from Nina Garcia, the queen of pants. Overall, the judges loved this look because it was very elevated.

Tessa Clark

Tessa identified herself as the leader of this team. Elaine commended her leadership, saying, "you did a great job clearly leading this group to success." Overall, the skirt is well done, but the look as a whole falls a short a bit, especially in comparison to the rest of her team. Fortunately, Tessa gives credit to Sebastian who helped her a lot with this look even though she had immunity and he did not. While it was her design and idea, Sebastian helped her design come to life, and it is great to see a contestant give credit to their competitor who helped them.

Winner: Sebastian Grey!

Sebastian's look this week was a showstopper. After starting over halfway through the challenge and devoting part of his time to help his teammate Tessa, Sebastian really turned it out in the end. Elaine said it was one of her favorite pieces from the entire show so far. Nina claimed it was. "such a phenomenal take on the challenge." Because of this, Sebastian won the challenge.

Losing Team: Team Chest Feathers

"If the story was about getting a stylist, fire the stylist" - Brandon on the team's overall look

Renee Hill

Renee's look this week, like the rest of her team's, does not at all highlight the body modification that she was given. Nina is shocked to see how different this design is from the design that landed her in the top last week. Karlie claims the top looks like a "straight jacket" which is such a mistake considering that the body modification, chest feathers, actually alludes to flight and freedom.

Kovid Kapoor

Kovid had some problems with execution this week. Although the judges critiqued this look for not being some of his best work, it was clear to them that Kovid really cares about his work as he is sobbing on the runway. Here we see the body modification literally covered up by an unflattering and random piece of fabric. Elaine calls this look, "a really bad bridesmaid dress."

Out: Frankie Lewis

Frankie wanted to play it safe this week after almost being sent home last week. However, playing it safe is a classically fatal mistake on Project Runway. Elaine says, "on the last challenge, we sent home someone who did a head-to-toe black look that was very basic and we saved you, and you gave us something so similar to that."

So, was Season 17 Episode 2 of Project Runway in or out? This week, I have to say out, but only because the designers did not rise to the challenge.