"Project Runway" 7.11 Recap: Sew Much Pressure

A whole lotta drama on tonight’s Project Runway. The Atlas is quiet this morning. In a heartfelt opening, the designers speak highly of the recently auted Anthony. Even Emilio! Mr. Williams will surely be missed in the workroom …  Or will he?

Mila, as per usual, is “stressed out” as is everyone else. This seems to be a recurring opening theme as of late. Gee, I wonder why?

The designers meet with Heidi on the runway. They are warned that their designs must set them apart from the rest of the competition from here on out. For tonight’s challenge, the designers must create a red carpet look for an “opinionated, headstrong” celebrity. There is much speculation as to who this is going to be. Personally, I think it’s Heidi (didn’t they do this already?) and sure enough, after meeting with Tim Gunn, Ms. Klum walks into the workroom. Whatever. It makes sense. She’s there. Why get someone else?

30 minutes to sketch, then off to Mood, etc. etc. Heidi informs the designers that she wants something “simple” and “elegant.”  Jonathan contemplates making “something ugly” in order to win. In an odd sequence, we see the work room, and Maya’s space is empty. They keep focusing in on her name card affixed to a dress form. Next thing we know, Maya and Tim are having “a talk.”  She really wanted to win last week, and I think she should have. Michael Kors said her print was the best, and wasn’t this the challenge? To design a print. Why did Emilio win?

In a shocking twist, Maya decides she’s “really not ready to go all the way yet.”  And she is dropping out of the competition! (No more confusing her and Mila, I guess.)  The designers are, of course, shocked, and sad, and nobody wants Maya to give up. Especially Emilio who calls this move a “cop out” and says that “quitters never win.”  Seth Aaron comes to Maya’s defense, telling us to “F--- off” if we don’t like it. “Don’t judge.”  This competition is fierce, they are working 18 hour days, etc. etc. Good for him!

After a trip to Mood (where Jonathan has decided to go with bright colors after being compared to a dirty tablecloth last week), we return to the workroom. How will Maya’s leaving play into all of this? Simple. Tim returns with an announcement: they are bringing a designer back!

We learn before the commercial that this could be either a) Ping, b) Jesse, or c) Anthony. Of course it won’t be Crazy, or Hottie…  And voila! Anthony returns with the line, “There she is boys!” He dubs himself the “ambassador of second chances” and vows to impress himself.