“Project Runway,” Week 11

By Amanda Dyslin

Won: Jerell

Out: Nobody

Final four: Jerell, Korto, Leanne, and the horrible Kenley

What a cop out! We go through this whole rigmarole of a challenge to find out which three designers will be headed for Bryant Park, and they let all four go. They’ve done this before, and it’s totally unfair to both the designers and the audience. Why have a challenge at all?

Just as I’m leaning forward in anticipation, waiting anxiously for Kenley to finally get hers — especially after she acted like a snotty little princess once again, rolling her eyes at the judges and saying things like, “I wasn’t going for elegant, Heidi,” in that 16-year-old spoiled girl tone — Heidi says they just couldn’t choose. Well, how convenient for them.

As for the challenge, itself, not that it even matters at this point, it was pretty basic. They had to design evening wear based on inspiration from the Botanical Gardens in New York. Nobody did particularly well.

Jerell won, but Heidi said it best when she mentioned wanting to hike the gown up on the model. Her boobs were about to spill right out of there, which looked sort of odd, considering the rest of the dress was so billowy she didn’t appear to have a shape. Pretty colors, though. Maroons and black.

Korto’s was peach with a “classic” silhouette, which is so outdated. She was in the bottom two, a position she’s clearly not used to, considering all she could do was cry like a baby. She plays herself off as the oldest one there with the most life experience (I guess a husband and a kid are her definitions of that), yet she crumbles when faced with adversity. I, for once, agreed with Kenley on this. “Classic” doesn’t put on much of a show at Bryant Park, and a show is what people want to see.

Leanne did her usual. She had structured, almost geometric detailing that lined the bodice and trailed down to the bustle area. The rest was very 1800s, sort of flowy with a big butt element. It was OK. A little more work, and she was probably on to something.

But once again, Kenley was the worst of the night. She had a high-neck, sleek-bodied purple dress with her signature black belt, and a skirt that flowed out at the ankles with what can only be described as fish scales. The fabric appeared to be scaley as well, which, she said, was exactly what she was going for.

She flat out told the judges that ugly is what she was hoping to achieve, and they say, “It sucks. Give us more.” I don’t get it. This was their chance to get rid of her for all her past mistakes. She gave them plenty of fresh reasons last night. And yet, we shall see her again at the finale.