Matrimonial Challenge
Meeting the designers one last time on the runway, Heidi once again explained that all four remaining designers would get a chance to create a collection, consisting of 10 outfits. For this endeavor, they would get a budget of $8,000 and two months. But Heidi revealed that they would have an added challenge – to create a wedding dress inspired by their collection. When they return in two months, they will show the wedding dresses to determine which three designers will get to showcase their full collection at Bryant Park.
Don’t Go Away Mad
Tensions were still running high between Kenley and the other designers. Kenley noted that she felt “completely sabotaged by the others.” Korto, meanwhile, declared that Kenley would always “have that stinky attitude” so she didn’t care if Kenley was upset. When it was time to leave, Kenley departed without a word to the others, who didn’t seem particularly bothered by her silent, hasty exit.
A Place in the Woods
With a month left before they had to return to New York City, Tim Gunn began his customary home visits with the designers. First up was Korto, who rented a place literally in the middle of the woods up in Little Rock, Arkansas. Korto explained that the inspiration for her collection was “culture and nature.” Considering where her workspace was, it was hard for her not to be inspired by nature. Tim said her color “palette is stunning.” As for her wedding dress, Tim was concerned about the tan color and design of the dress didn’t exactly look like a wedding dress, or as he put it, she needed to make sure the dress was for a “wedding rather than [the] red carpet.” Korto introduced Tim to her husband and daughter, as well as other family and friends and talked about growing up in Liberia, West Africa and then coming to the US because of the civil strife in Liberia. She also performed a drum duet for Tim, which he thought was “fantastic.”
Inspiring Waves
Tim’s next visit was to Leanne, in Portland, Oregon. After introducing Tim to her boyfriend, Leanne explained that the inspiration for her collection was “wave patterns” which roughly translated into her designs as pleats. Tim’s concern with Leanne’s collection seemed centered around her color choices, particularly certain pieces that were very white, or as Leanne put it, “white, white.” Tim suggested maybe dyeing some a tea color would be better and Leanne took that into consideration. As for her wedding dress, Tim was concerned that it didn’t seem to have “the same ease and flow” as her collection. Leanne took Tim on a tandem bike ride to one of Portland’s public parks, causing Tim to quip that he “need[ed] to check [his] medical insurance first.” Leanne revealed that she’s wanted to be a designer since she was 12 and this was a chance of a lifetime for her.
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Out of the Ghetto to Bryant Park?
Next on Tim’s itinerary was Los Angeles, California where Jerell was hard at work on his collection which he termed as “mostly evening wear.” Tim was concerned about the bodice on Jerell’s wedding gown, which he thought looked “popped out” and was asymmetrical. Jerell took Tim’s words into consideration but he thought that the dress really represented who he was as a designer, so he wasn’t going to change anything. Jerell introduced Tim to his family and friends and then talked about growing up in South Central Los Angeles, which he called “the ghetto” and how rough life was – literally with gang violence and the LA riots. Jerell noted that coming this close to Bryant Park and not making it was “not an option” for him.
