‘Project Runway’ episode 11: Mean girls

Meow.   The vibe is getting ugly as the field narrows with the girls consistently walloping the boys – six designers left and only two fellas.  The challenge is to create a companion piece to the designers’ already-made best looks, but it almost seems secondary to the downright nastiness that permeates the air.

At one point in the show, Logan says, “Irina has the nickname ‘Mean-a Irina’ for a reason.”  True, she’s getting a little witchy – the whole “I’m not here to make friends,” biz and all that accusatory stuff, but man, can that woman sew. 

As for Logan,  well,  he hurled a few horrid little insults of his own.  And alas his space age, Judy Jetson zipper dress was horrid too – finally, handsome guy is aufed.  Nina Garcia called it “an indulgent fashion student project,” though we’re not sure his look was worse than Gordana’s drab, sad jacket and skirt ensemble described as an outfit for “an office worker in Warsaw, Poland.”

Althea wins with a sparkly, slouchy sweater over a camisole paired with cool harem drawstring pants.  She has spent much of the show grousing that loser Logan copied one of her past collars.  Heidi (who wants to own this outfit) is innocently surprised by the presence of two oversized sweaters on the runway– Irina’s has faux fur cuffs and tops a swank brocade strapless cocktail dress.  Irina, somewhat inappropriately, and with steam coming out of her ears, suggests that Althea knocked her off, but no one but Althea seems to hear it.  For the record, the sweaters were both gorgeous, but if we’re talking knock-offs, well Althea’s smacks of Donna Karan.

If the kids are spiteful, the grownups – as in the judges, who included actress Kerry Washington tonight -- are somewhat cruel, each trying to out zing each other while the designers are lined up on the runway – enough! And then, during their deliberations, cackling like hens about the designer missteps, kind of shameful.  This needs a tighter edit – have fun, but don’t rip these people to shreds.  It seemed undignified.

Rising above the fashion fury:  Tim Gunn, always a gent and a true mentor in this episode, Carol Hannah, whose sweet party dress matches her personality, and Christopher who never seems to get nasty despite his overwrought gown described as “one dress throwing up another,” by Irina.  He is the last guy standing and oddly, the only designer without any professional training.

And now for a jab of our own:  if any of the designers had created what Heidi was wearing tonight – silver Bermuda shorts, a pink shirt and short blazer with rhinestone encrusted sleeves – um – buh-bye. 

Photo: At top, Althea's creation, Logan's design at bottom. Courtesy of Lifetime.com
 

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