Every season on Project Runway there are decoy collections that show at Bryant Park so that results of the remaining shows will not be spoiled by revealing the final three. In the past there have been one, last year there were two, and this year there were three.

Jerell, Suede, and Joe all showed at fashion week to a packed house and gave it their all. Watch the videos, which will NOT be aired on television here on the site.

Stay tuned as the talented trio Leanne, Korto, and Kenley duke it out next week in the second part of the finale for the title of America’s Next Top Designer.

WATCH THEM NOW!

Every week on Project Runway there is a twist and turn and last night’s episode was no exception! Similar to Episode 509:What’s Your Sign? The designer’s had to depend on each other to get through the challenge. This time by designing for each other and not together in a group challenge.

Can we just say were relieved when Tim picked the names and genres out of the hat as we didn’t want to see what would have happened had they been left to their own devices. As the names were called we had no doubt that Suede would be successful since he seems to have great rock sensibility just in his personal style. We were also pretty confident in Jerell’s ability to create a pop look. We were concerned however about Korto, Leanne, and Kenley all of whom seemed to be asked to step way outside of their box.

Once the sketching process began and ideas were being bounced around, our skepticism started to ease as far as Korto and Leanne were concerned ….as for Kenley that was another story.

While the other designers embraced the idea of their genre Kenley was stuck on her point of view as a designer. Any attribute of hip-hop that she didn’t like she didn’t incorporate in her design. This was not the point of the challenge. The challenge was for the designer to make an outfit that represented a particular genre and not necessarily create an outfit they would wear or a culture they are a part of. This is precisely what Tim was trying to tell Kenley when he came to give her a critique on her piece. Unlike the other designers Kenley vehemently disagreed with Tim to the point where he gave her swift tongue lashing ( well, ….a tongue lashing for Tim).

The judges including guest Judge Hip-Hop artist LL Cool J thought felt that Kenley’s look was not Hip-Hop and also commented that the pants to the outfit were badly made. Additionally, they liked the vest to Suede’s Rock look for Jerell but like Tim thought he could have taken it farther and really pushed the envelope. Leanne ’s look was not the worst but they did feel like she could have done something more polished for Korto’s  Country look she created.

Ultimately the judges loved both Jerell’s Pop look for Kenley and Korto’s Punk look for Suede and decided Korto was the winner. Suede, who had been playing it safe for weeks, was finally voted off.

Although, we know some fans disagreed we think this challenge was fun, fun, fun and we can’t wait to see what all the tears on next week’s episode are all about!!!

We admitted last week that we sometimes relished in the designers’ anguish, but this week we must admit we also relish in the “real” challenges where they work with people like you and me.

After the designers discovered they would not be working with the first women Heidi brought out on the stage but rather their younger daughters all recent college grads, we knew it was about to get interesting. Would the young women take to a more professional look? Would they like what the designers sketched for them?

Turns out due to the grad’s mothers being around on the first day in the workroom, none of our questions above applied. Some like Jerell, Korto, and Kenley had a great working relationship with the mother daughter duo, while people like Suede and Leanne struggled with their duos. We’ll be the first to admit we were not sure if Leanne or Suede would be able to withstand the pressure, however all our worries melted when the young women returned the next day sans their mothers.

Knowing that the designers knew Cynthia Rowley would be the guest judge we figured they would take more risks and have more fun. After all, Cynthia is known for her funky style as well as her irreverent design aesthetic. It is for this reason that both Leanne and Joe’s designs were criticized.

The judges, especially Cynthia, found Leanne’s design for Holly too buttoned up. Michael and Nina felt like it should have showcased  her youthful figure while Cynthia argued that the design should reflect the fact that Holly will more than likely be working hands-on with the children. They all found Joe’s design for Laura too cliched and felt like he should have done a younger look that was more modern. We can’t say we were surprised. Laura expressed that she was apprehensive about the pinstripes while Joe insisted that they would be good. Just another example of what happens when you don’t listen to your client.

Given Suede’s point of view as a designer coupled with Avital and her mother’s design requests we knew Suede’s design might be a bit of a disaster. While we like the dress, we aren’t sure if it was appropriate for the office and we don’t even know where to begin with the jacket.

We agree with the Judges top picks this week. We found Kenley, Jerell, and Korto’s designs both professional and modern. Kenley’s design was young and flattering and perfect for Anna who is a buyer. We do however agree with Heidi that she looked a bit like a “mini-me” of Kenley. Jerell’s look impressed the fab four on the judging panel and achieved the chic and put together look Caitlin and her mother wanted . We love that she said that Jerell made her feel beautiful. Lastly there was Korto’s design, a modern dress and jacket look, which would be perfect for any young grad entering the workplace and equally as appropriate for Medical school interviews. If she had any doubt about whether her look would be cohesive the expression on the judges faces should have put her at ease.

Ultimately, Joe was elminated and Jerell won both the challenge and a  TRESemmé  ad in Elle Magazine. Come back next week as we get closer and closer to the final three- and bid now to take home a piece of runway inspiration with a sketch from your favorite designer!

We shouldn’t relish in the designers’ anguish but we we can’t help ourselves! As soon as Heidi told them there were special guests, we saw each and every one of their hearts drop down in their stomach. Lucky, or unlucky for some, the guests for the challenge were the eliminated designers from the season. Naturally the first question we had, and are sure you the fans did as well was: ‘How are they are going to pair them up?’. Would they let the designers pick? Of course not! That would be too easy.

It was interesting to see designers confess who they wanted and who they didn’t want. We found it a sorted twist of faith that Blayne would get Stella after he teased and teased her about her “leatha”. Terri hoped one minute she did not get Keith only to have Tim announce a mere second later that they would be paired together. Korto was pleased with Kelli and was confident with her design capabilities, as was Leanne with Emily whom she hoped she would get.

If having to choose whose astrological sign would serve as muse for their designs wasn’t quirky enough the designers were thrown a curveball when they received a note inviting them and their models to the Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space . Naturally stress ensued and the designers arrived at the Planetarium both anxious and fearful at what would happen next. Surprise! The Planetarium was filled with old designers from various seasons of Project Runway including season 1 winner Jay McCaroll, and Season 4’s winner Christian Siriano and designer Carmen Webber,  as well as Daniel Vosovic and Kara Janx of Season 2. At the end of the night the PR alumni voted on their favorite piece and gave the designers some input on their pieces that could help them on the runway.

We were not surprised that Kenley, Terri, Blayne or Suede ended up in the bottom. Kenley and Wesley’s piece was not avant-garde but rather over-the-top and just as “costumey” as Tim warned. Which is precisely why Leanne and Emily were skeptical about her confidence. Of course, Kenley got defensive again on the runway and swore her design was inspired by Aquarius regardless of the judges comments. Terri disregarded all input by Keith and ended up making a piece that was totally “her” but looked cheap to both her partner and Nina. Blayne and Stella’s piece was whimsical as expected but failed to wow the judges; especially Micheal who delivered one of our favorite lines of the show when he said: “She’s pooping fabric!” Finally, rounding out the bottom four was Suede and Jerry who delivered a bland ensemble which left the judges wanting more.

The top four designs were simply brilliant. Leanne and Emily’s Scorpio design was strong and innovative and perfectly embodied the sign. Korto and Kelli made a beautiful flowing chiffon gown  for Aquarius that actually looked like water floating down the runway.  Joe and Daniel made a ruched gown that represented  fiery Aries, and Jerell and Jennifer made a long gown of mixed sequin and plaid  fabric with a jacket to match to represent Sagittarius.

Alas, Blayne and Terri were eliminated and Jerell snagged his first win by impressing both the PR alum and the judges with his design.

This week, the designers worked in teams to create a look for the ladies on Lipstick Jungle. I have to say, some could have been done by Victory herself and others seemed never have to encountered the New York Fashion scene. So, I won’t make you wait a moment longer for the inside scoop.

This week, Kenley and Keith were the queen and king of the jungle with their winning design.

My favorite design this week was from Korto and Joe; I just adored their sexy backless dress and voluminous coat. The dress had a very low back with a single strap across the back. The leather trim along the neckline was a nice tie into the jacket embroidery and clutch. My only gripe was the polyester fabric - too retro ’70s for a cocktail dress! The jacket was a fabulous orange taffeta with golden embroidery trim along the edges. I especially liked the enormous sleeves on this jacket. Korto and Joe also created a beaded choker and leather clutch with a bow to accessorize their look (because no Lipstick Jungle girl is ever without her fabulous accessories!). If this look is chic enough for the Lipstick Jungle crew, then you better make sure you bid on it!

Terri and Suede were partnered up and they created a fiesta-inspired blouse and tailored black trousers. The black trousers were well made, but they were made out of a stiff linen-like fabric. So not Lipstick Jungle chic! The blouse, however, I did like. It was bold and flirty with a ruffly collar. The black belt with the teal stripe added shape to the breezy blouse. I thought this outfit is perfect for a flirty night out when paired with a fabulous bag and stilettos. Make sure you place your bid in the auction as this top would be adorable with skinny jeans and black heels when wore for a night out with the girls.

Stella and Jerell teamed up to make a very jungle-y skirt and simple scoop neck tank. I did like the minimal approach to thier design. (And after last week, Jerell needed to take it down a notch). Their a-line, leopard pattern skirt was simple, clean, and universally flattering. I also like the use of the fabric in the trim of the scoop neck tank. As always, Stella found a way to incorporate leather with a wide, bright green leather belt. However, I thought that it was fitting for this design. This outfit would be perfect for inside the (Lipstick) Jungle or outside, so make sure you place your bid in the auction!

Kelli and Daniel did not have the skills to dominate in the jungle and we said auf wierdersehen to Kelli. The two create a black pencil skirt, jacket, and bustier from a black fabric. While I liked the concept, the suit seemed a little to throw back to the 80s for me. The skirt was well done, but the fabric was a matte black with a crinkle texture wasn’t chic enough for the sophisticated ladies of Lipstick Jungle. The blazer had a good concept–I loved the ruffle waist and bold teal belt. But overall, the design, just wasn’t fierce enough for the jungle, but paired with a different blouse and killer heels, the suit could be great. Make sure you bid on it in the auction!

Lastly, Blayne and Leanne just missed the entire challenge concept, unless their idea of the jungle is Crocodile Dundee! I was just shocked by how un-chic and unsophisticated their design was. It would’ve been a good concept for the desert, but not the city. The created blue-grey denim Bermuda shorts with a purple belt. I did like the sun-dial like belt buckle. The purple halter top was poorly made out of a jersey fabric. The blue button-down shirt was mostly well done; I liked the cuff detail. And the leather vest (oh!). It was poorly made and glued together. Overall, the design did not fit into the Lipstick Jungle ideology. On the other hand, if you live in the desert or want to look like you do, then bid on this outfit in our auction.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to look Lipstick Jungle chic! Make sure you place your bid in this week’s auction!

So here’s the deal. We know you like having the dirty details on the designs from Project Runway and we like bringing them to you. However, we’re pretty much over episode 501, so here is a quick overview of the designs from Emily, Joe, Kenley, Korto, Stella, and Suede. Starting Monday, we are going to bring you the scoop on the 503 garments: hello Bright Lights/Big City!

Emily used a lace tablecloth (boring!) as the basis for her dress, however, she also used tissue paper, balloons, and a cut up children’s outdoor play ball to create a fabulous high collar. The collar was very intricate with tissue paper roses, brightly colored balloons, and the green ball. After traveling it did look a little tired. The construction of the dress was mediocre–it was finished, but wasn’t outstanding.

Next, I took a look at Joe’s design–a gourmet inspired halter and skirt. This skirt was incredibly heavy–I might even venture to say it weighed more than the model! The pasta design was unique and well executed as was the halter. Joe kept everything simple and clean, opting for lace-up closures. From something that could’ve been juvenille (remember pasta art circa kindergarten?), Joe managed to create something that wall well constructed, playful, and not another tablecloth dress.

Next, I took a look at Kenley’s garment–which I absolutely adored. Kenley created her corset-style bodice out of a kickball and a plastic tablecloth. It was lined in muslin and even boned, with the skirt fabric. Her skirt was made from lawn chair mesh fabric (same as Jerell) and had a creative, voluminous shape; it was also lined with the muslin and tablecloth. Overall, Kenley’s outfit had impeccable construction. Her dress did second best in the auction–meaning you like her too.

While I thought Korto’s garment was very grecian and flowing on the runway, it seemed rather frumpy in person. Although it was made out of a paper tablecloth, the dress was mostly well executed–it was lined and Korto had good detailing on the sleeves and belt. However, the bottom hem and back were unfinished and pinned together. Sadly, we didn’t get the vegetable scarf, but it was probably a good thing, as it would’ve been moldly by now! However, the veggies did leave their mark on the dress (see above).

I’m not going to sugarcoat this–I didn’t like Stella’s urban-inspired trashbag dress at all. It was long, unappealing and didn’t have a shape. She did take the time to double everything up and sew a good whip stitch along the panels. This design was also more than risque–it had to be taped to the model to prevent overexposure! This design was last in our auction, so Stella might want to rethink her rock’n'roll urban aesthetic.

Lastly, I looked a Suede’s dress–yet another tablecloth dress (augh). His strapless dress was well made and he did add detailing with the metallic tissue paper squares and ruffles. I also like the back of the dress–with the small oval openings along the back. The execution was good on this dress and it did well in the auction. Fashionista just wishes Suede would stop annoyingly referring to hisself in third person!

Now you have all the dirty details on the garments from the first challenge. Make sure you bid on your favorite design in the auction this week and I’ll be bringing you those details on Monday!

Last season some fans were upset that there weren’t more feuds and that many of the the contestants seemed to be conservative and calculating of how their behavior would look on screen. Even Christian with his “Fierce” cries was accused of not ‘letting it all hang out.’ Although there weren’t huge blowouts such as Jay and Wendy’s feud from Season 1, or Jeffrey and Angela’s feud from Season 3, I think Ricky’s consistent crying and spat with Carmen in the workroom (remember “Don’t go home too soon”?) deserves some recognition.

This season, If people are looking for some drama and feuding, I think they must have been pretty pleased with the last episode. It appears the claws are already coming out.

Let’s see. First, Jennifer steals Jerell’s model and Jerell admits he is “salty”; Blayne makes fun of Stella’s love of leather only to have Stella brush it off in an interview calling him “12″; and let’s not forget Suede talking about himself in the third person. You’ll remember in Leanne’s interview she says “Leanne likes Suede. But Leanne wishes Suede would stop talking about himself in the third person.” Yikes! I think this is an indication that Leanne smiles silently and sweetly in the workroom but probably has a lot to say about what goes on in there. We can’t wait!

And although we love when people get along and make merry, we must admit we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a good feud. These competitions are all about being hungry, and you’re not going to get what you want by not saying what you feel and/or sticking up for yourself.

So here’s hoping they continue to spice it up-both in the workroom and on the runway!

We’ll be the first to admit that after seeing  Suede in the first challenge we were a little skeptical about how long he was going to stay on the show. However,  as soon as we heard that they would be designing a cocktail dress we knew Suede and the rest of the designers would be okay. After all, they almost all made dresses for the first challenge. But of course there was a twist! Not only would the model’s be picking the fabric, they would be using “green” or eco-friendly material. I can only describe the look on the designers faces as pure horror.

I was actually pretty surprised at what the models picked out. I mean that in both a good and a bad way. Some models really picked out some great stuff, while others where completely lost ( Shannon with her Jersey - interesting). As the designers struggled in the workroom to make lemonade out of lemons, I was sure many might not even finish. Luckily, I was wrong.

My pick as the best ( I agree with the judges) is obviously Suede. His dress was beautiful and would make any woman feel like the belle of the ball. I also loved Blayne’s ( who knew after last weeks diaper design) and Kelli’s designs. Although, I don’t think Wesley’s dress was the worst, it did look the most un-organized and haphazard. I was completely shocked given how great I thought his first design was.

I am definitely more excited about the season and can see the potential for some really great designs that will blow past seasons out of the water. I am also looking forward to all the great guest judges that will be appearing. I loved seeing Natalie Portman tonight, she is a great role model on and off the screen and one of my favorite actresses.

Remember, you can own a piece of the runway by bidding in our auction on these fabulous eco-friendly frocks! Bid now!