The Paper

Week 5 of the runway and the first creative materials challenge. I have to say, I liked more of these designs than I have any other week.
Heidi gives another obvious hint for the challenge this week: "The answers will all be in black and white."
Logan, being pretty and dumb, thinks it has to do with old Hollywood movies, as opposed to newsprint.
The gang heads down to the flailing Los Angeles Times facility to meet the LA Times Fashion Editor Booth Moore, so that she could watch the designers snatch and bag papers like ladies at a sale table.
Back in the workroom, Tim informs the designers that they were allowed to use muslin as infrastructure as long as it doesn't show. The designers are also provided with dye, markers, and brushes to pretty up their paper.
I have a question, which designer was NOT inspired by origami? What a creative leap! They're taking clothing made of paper and relating it to the Japanese art of paper folding. Brilliant!
Now I know I've said this before, but this season I just haven't found someone to love. Everyone bugs. But this was the episode for Johnny and Nicolas to really shine (as people who I don't want to watch).
The show opened with a real gem:
"Being in the bottom three is probably the most empty feeling I've ever felt"
-Johnny
Really? Aren't you the recovered meth addict?
...and it's more horrible to be criticized on a reality television show than to face d.i.y. rehab for drug addiction?
Then Nicolas starts in with his rant of bitching about newspaper. I tuned out, but I know he mentioned "I've never sewn with newspaper" like all the other designers sew with newspaper every day. Cry me a river.
I felt a tiny bit bad for Johnny, because it seems like everyone there hates him. There's a whole room full of Johnny smack talkers. It's like high school.
Then Epperson says Johnny must be there for a reason and someone - Nicolas? says "Comic relief" and what timing that at that exact moment, Johnny walks in with his ill fitting pink shirt adjusting his pants like a clownish child.
They really played up the rivalries this week.
Johnny v. Nicolas and Irina v. Althea slinging barbs and giving catty looks. To this I reply: "Meh."
I don't care if they all get stuck on an ice floe and floated out to sea.

Althea


I LOVE the print. Way to use the newspaper without just painting it up. The top of the dress is very compelling.

Carol Hannah


It's almost. She and Christopher were both going for the dramatic gown look and he succeeded. Her design is somewhere between oscar dress and paper in a wind storm.

Christopher


I think the skirt looked amazing on the runway. I'm not entirely sold on the bodice. I would've rather seen it more curve skimming and flattering, but it is interesting. It's def more high fashion than wearable.

Epperson


I love kimono tops and asian inspired fashion - but this just doesn't work. It looks like a costume.

Gordana


I felt bad for her being in the bottom three. This is fine. It is bland, but not heinous by any means.

Irina


She bugs me. In my mind, she's the kind of girl who wears a Juicy tracksuit and heels out to a nice dinner. I HATE that.
Anyways, I do like this coat (I LOVE coats) but it gets my back up at the same time. I feel like the tone of the design is bitchy. It reads Cruella Deville to me.

Johnny


Crap. Stop lying for sympathy.

Logan


I loved this. It was in my top 3. The styling is great too.

Louise


This bugs me. It's well executed, but I hate the design and the styling. It's very Wizard of Oz or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or something...
Kind of a cross between a Munchkin and the Cowardly Lion, with a dash of Oompa Loompa. It is cute, but in a sickening way. The longer you look at it, the worse it gets.

Nicolas


Punk my ass. I love how his punk flashback picture looked just like him now but with like three layered necklaces.
I don't know how she got cockroach out of this. I don't see it. I also don't care for the design though.

Ra'mon


Gorgeous. I like the front better than the back though. All the edges make the back look a bit messy.

Shirin


I HATED this. Colorless, ridiculous, I really think this should've been in the bottom three over Gordana. They gave her props for taking a risk - but she failed.


So in the end it was between Johnny and Nicolas. In my eyes, they are the same boring, chubby, self-important/untalented designer in different colors. I was crossing my fingers that they'd make an exception and send them both home this week. Rats. Oh well, one to go.

Interestingly, the episode virtually ended with Tim calling out Johnny's lie. It was an interesting choice. I wonder if it was prompted by the producers or happened naturally. It seemed to me like a bit of a compromise for Tim (who's generally nothing but supportive). But the way everyone was acting towards Johnny, maybe he had been asking for a kick when he went down?
I know that addicts are liars extraordinaire, but it makes me wonder if Johnny's lying about the drug addiction in the first place. It's not like he could drum up sympathy for being a compulsive liar.