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At last, an opportunity to design REAL CLOTHES! Our former challenges were great tests of the designers' creativity, innovation, vision, and wherewithal, but this one required that they design fashions for the real world. In addition, "the client" — Banana Republic's head of design, Deborah Lloyd — would be our guest judge.

Complicating the task was the fabric; a large amount of it was charmeuse, a seductive satin-finished silk, which is exceedingly difficult to work with, even for the most experienced designer. It slips, it slides, it bunches in all the wrong places, and it fights with the sewing machine.

In this challenge, we also saw more of a traditional fashion design process; that is, croquis (quick fashion sketches exploring variations on a design idea), patternmaking, and escalated concerns about proportion and fit on the models. These clothes had to work!

Did you notice: Every dress in this challenge is sleeveless. Mere Coincidence? No, time constraints. Our designers had to make it work within the prescribed timeframe. The runway won't wait!

WENDY
Wendy stated, "If I can't design the winning dress for this challenge, then I shouldn't be here. I am Banana Republic!" Wendy's excitement over this challenge excited even me! She bombed in the first challenge and just barely made it through the second. This time, she carried on with an unbridled determination to succeed. I watched as she analyzed her design options, objectively evaluated the three-dimensional silhouette and proportions, and continually refined the design. Her midnight dress with its camisole top and cape-let was classic, sophisticated, and undeniably "Banana Republic!"

Lesson 8: Listen and Learn
Wendy announced that she is a quick study who will use to her advantage the critiques from every challenge. This was a smart and mature approach, as opposed to simply crashing and burning under the pressure. The critique of her first challenge was, "Where are the clothes? What's this design?" Her response in Challenge Two was to carefully consider the content of her design and to use ample fabric. Then the critique was, "I see clothes, yes, but the construction is so poor. And are you considering the relationship of your design to your fabric?" By synthesizing all of this sage advice, Wendy came out a winner with her third endeavor.

STARR
Starr echoed Wendy's words: "If I can't design the winning dress for this challenge, then I shouldn't be here. Banana Republic is where I buy my professional wardrobe." In past weeks, Starr had seriously struggled through the challenges. The judges' critiques and the stress of presenting on the runway had taken a toll on her emotions. In three efforts, she appeared to think too much, protracting the design process with indicision; the wise adage of "less is more" is anathema to her — she overworks. This dress was the last straw.

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