"Project Runway" 7.07 Recap: "Hard Wear"

Designer Jay Nicolas

First off, how about that Project Runway rerun last week? Sorry to leave everyone hanging…

By now, we all know the formula. We begin with the designers waking up in their apartments on the morning of the challenge.  Jay is super excited to have made it to the Top Ten. He’s going to get a lot of coverage in tonight’s episode, which we all know can either be a good thing…or a bad thing.  Over at the ladies’, Mila expresses her disappointment. She’s sad to see only three female designers are left: herself, Amy, and Maya.

At the meeting on the runway with a very pregnant Heidi Klum, the designers learn they are going to see Tim Gunn and “a famous American designer” (or is it “one of America’s favorite designers”? Regardless, we all know the formula, and who it’s going to be: Michael Kors.) They meet with Tim and Michael down at Michael’s store in Soho where they receive today’s challenge: “Create an innovative look using unconventional materials.”  Translated: “Create a look and an accessory from materials found in a hardware store.” The budget is $150.00 and they have thirty-five minutes to shop. “On your mark…”

At first we’re thinking: “Not another ridiculous challenge!” Remember the one where they used food?  (I recall lettuce and licorice.)  But as the designers run up and down the aisles, amongst the nuts and bolts and bulbs and sockets, some interesting ideas are being formulated: Amy has plans to use sandpaper.  Jay says he will go with garbage bags. Emilio is employing washers and cord only.

Back to the workroom where the sketching begins. This I found interesting. Don’t the designers usually design their look before purchasing the materials?  But all seem to know what direction they will go in…Or not. Emilio realizes he went over budget at the hardware store. Now he doesn’t have enough washers and cord to cover his six-foot model. Ever the pro, Maya shows us her accessory: a chunky necklace made entirely of keys.