Project Runway, Season Twelve, Episode Ten: Super Friends!

This week, at Parsons...

So this is the real world super hero challenge that we dread every season, in which a bunch of average, ordinary super heroes get makeovers from the designers. The designers always bitch and moan about how they don’t like to design for super heroes because they have giant muscles and the garments need to be able to withstand temperatures of up to 57,000 degrees Celsius and they might need to add a strap for a lasso. We always end up feeling bad because these people spend all day fighting diabolical villains and trying to keep the earth from being invaded by space aliens and all they want in return is a nice outfit so they can take a break and go out to dinner at the Red Lobster and instead the designers end up humiliating them by telling them things like, “I’m not used to making garments with wing holes in the back,” or “I’m putting you in black because it will de-emphasize your gills and the fact that you don’t have a belly button.”

Tim: “This time it will be different! These are not just any super heroes; these are the members of the Justice League of America! These are the Super Friends!”

Swatch the Wonder Dog and his companions

The clients show up in a bus:

For most of them, this is the first time visiting New York City!

They are super excited to be in New York and have the opportunity to visit Parsons and Mood and see the runway in person. They nearly wet their tights when they first see Tim. I enjoyed this episode. Most of the garments weren’t great, but the Super Friends were fun. The only tears were tears of joy and I think it helped that they all seemed to completely understand ahead of time what they were getting into.

So, this happened.

Unfortunately, there is a second, completely different story going on back at the designers' hotel, where Ken is quietly going about his nightly facial treatments:

Hellooooooooo!

He’s trying to do his housework:

I couldn't find a picture of Ken ironing.

And then, all of a sudden, with no warning at all, Alexander starts dating Sally Field and is trying to become a better father figure for Justin and then he throws a lime on the floor and makes a hilarious comment about a “run by fruiting” and Ken completely loses it:

Ken: “How dare you! This hotel room is my temporary home and Justin is my temporary family and I am not going to just stand by and let you invade my temporary home and try to prevent me from having full visitation rights with my children!”

Tim: “I think there is only one way to solve this issue.”

The designers take their clients to the hair and makeup studio and meet with the consulting stylist for L'Oreal, Johnny Lavoy, who will be doing the makeovers:

Ombre hair is totally on trend for the next five minutes

The makeovers are mostly really good:

Yes!

Oh, Yes!

OK, not so much.

Like I said, the clothes were just OK. Definitely better than most of the horrifying looks we usually get in these challenges, but nothing to write home about. 

Helen won with a very nice navy gown that was much more realistic than I expected. When we first saw her design, I though, “Is this Super Friend planning to attend the Oscars?” and then it turned out that is exactly what she was planning to do. But the actual gown was a little toned down from the drawing and it could probably be worn to real life formal super hero events.

The bottom two were Ken and Alexander. Alexander’s suit was really a mess. He didn’t finish it. But at least it looks like he put some effort into the design. Ken, on the other hand, made a decent dress that didn’t look too bad and made his Super Friend really happy. But it was such a simple, boring design and it had execution problems, which are inexcusable in a simple dress. Also, the producers needed to get rid of him without actually kicking him off the show. So Ken is out.

Next week, this happens: