February 9, 2005
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This week, the stakes were at their highest: with four designers remaining, three would move forward to Olympus Fashion Week. Yes, technically there would be one winner of the challenge, but really there would be three winners.
A very interesting atmosphere began to brew in the workroom; rather than harnessing a spirit of "I want to be IN," each designer struck the pose of "I don't want to be OUT." How was that manifested? With few, if any, risks being taken and a rather listless spirit of safety. Yawn. Each of our designers embraced his/her aesthetic and comfort zone (good), but each toned everything down (bad).
When I left our the workroom on the evening before judgment day, I was almost woeful; Wendy was struggling (surprise), Austin was doing Austin (surprise, again), Jay was overworking a mere bodice (come on, Jay), and Kara would not let go of that pant. The next morning, I gingerly entered the workroom and -- surprise of surprises -- Wendy's design looked great! At least she learned one thing from my critique of her dowdy mail carrier uniform: when someone is trying to help — listen!
For our designers, few muses could be as stunning, elegant, and sexy as Nancy O'Dell. The design brief she presented to them and was clear and concise: a dress for red carpet interviews at the 2005 Grammy Awards (February 13) that, while being sexy, flattering, and stylish, won't upstage her interviewees; concealment for the microphone and power-pack; and a preference for bright colors (other than hot pink). Our designers engaged her in questions to which she responded succinctly. As a result, three of four designers seemed to be on target…while one, somehow, wandered out in left field.
