Project Runway Season 4, Episode 5: What's the Skinny?

Sad news first: the contestant who left this week (in a non-elimination departure) was Jack. He had an infection on his face and was too worried about his health (he's HIV-positive and had had facial staph infections in the past) to stick around for more fashion fights, so he chose to go home. We hate to see him leave, but we wish him well, and feel glad he didn't have to suffer further on camera.

To rejuvenate the field after Jack's departure and "keep the level of competition high" (in Heidi's words), the Project Runway masterminds brought Chris back to compete again. Coming in at the midpoint of a competition had to be weird for Chris, but he gave it a valiant effort, avoiding brocade and being generally affable. "Chris' energy was joyous and delightful," said Sweet P at the beginning of the show, and having his energy back definitely buoyed the episode.

After meeting with their clients for 30 minutes, the Project Runway contestants were allowed to spend $10 (love the low-budget fashion productions of late!) on additional fabric to complement the pieces the weight-loss wonders had brought with them. Some contestants went all-out and created their pieces almost entirely of new fabric; others stuck more closely to their clients' original looks. Tim Gunn advised the designers to couple the client's point of view with their own personal style, and provided one specific tip: make decisions sooner rather than later to avoid the sort of last-minute desperation that usually sends designers to the chopping block, or the cutting table, or whatever you call it in fashion these days. Keep that tip in mind: it will be the downfall of one contestant.

Infighting and drama were at all-time lows in this PR episode, probably because it was an individual rather than group challenge, and perhaps also because Jack's departure reminded designers that there are, in fact, more important things in life than fashion (really!).

Because he came back in mid-challenge, Chris was allowed to work late into the night to catch up with the other designers. He stumbled about like a designer zombie after getting only a few hours' sleep on the couch (we all know that couch sleep is nowhere near as restful as bed sleep), and managed to finish his design but didn't seem to have much confidence in it. After wasting way too many hours of our lives watching PR, we know at least one thing: you'll never win if you don't love your look. "Believe in yourself, the rest is up to me and you," in TLC's words, which never really made a whole lot of sense to us anyway. Oh well.

The fittings went relatively well for most Project Runway designers. "This is something that I would totally buy and wear," Kat's subject said, bringing a smile to the designer's face. Everyone thought Lisa looked amazing in Kevin's design. Though Jillian hadn't used much of the material from her client's previous clothes, she felt confident in having made a good dress. Christian worried about his client not having an ass, but decided he couldn't create one for her. "As long as she's happy, the ultimate judge has been taken care of," Eliza said of her client. But your client can't keep you on the show when it counts, Eliza!

Steve made almost a complete 180 at the last minute--exactly what Tim warned the designers not to do. He was so stuck that he ended up gluing fabric together instead of sewing, and he had to get help finishing from several contestants, including Kevin and Victorya. "Panic is fun," says Steve. Fun, perhaps, but not necessarily conducive to great fashion. To Steve's credit, though, he did have a polyester/acetate wedding dress to work with--what? We're not even sure Oscar de la Renta could do anything with that.

The judging was relatively benign this episode; most of the looks were actually rather attractive, and the losers stuck out like... well, like normal people in a group of models. Or like models in a group of normal people? We don't know.

Everyone loved Jillian's dress; Nina called it "sexy and tasteful." There wasn't much commentary on Ricky's outfit for Penny. We liked the sparkly, well-fitted top, but thought the jeans were a leeeettle too tight. We're supposed to be showing off weight-loss accomplishments here, not implying that Penny needs to lose 5 more pounds.

We actually kind of liked Chris' outfit--the fit was decent, though the red sash and kick pleat were admittedly distracting. His client felt "very very good about it," but Michael Kors said "all she's missing to me is a cigarette and a beret" and she's a Parisian hooker from the 1930s. Well, maybe, but we don't think there's is anything wrong with Parisian hookers--except perhaps that whole syphilis thing. And we like cigarettes and berets... just maybe not on the runway?

Even though Christian had been freaked about using only black and denim, the judges called his outfit "super commercial" and totally fell in love. Since guest judge Patrick Robinson works for the Gap, it's not surprising that everyone fell for a "commercial" look this week. "Christian really used her garments," noted Michael Kors, and indeed he did make more complete use of the clothes than many other contestants. Tim Gunn's adorable description of this "fierce" outfit says it all (check it out up at the top of the page).

Eliza created a strange multi-layered skirt and top that hid her client's newfound slimness rather than showing it off. Michael Kors said, "I don't know about chopping someone up in to many different steps," noting that so much sectioning doesn't really work unless someone's 5'11". We agree that the dress was just kind of off.

Kit, Rami, and Sweet P all created cute looks that extensively used their clients' former outfits. Kevin created a yellow bustier (see above) out of a blazer, and felt he made his client "look like one of Charlie's angels." Nina thought it was a "great makeover" and Michael Kors agreed, though he questioned the usage of leggings, as do we. Though they worked for this outfit, we beg the ladies of Boston to buck the trend: nobody needs to see that much of your ass. Plus, it's cold! Put a little something on top of that spandex. Please. For our sanity.

Aside from Eliza's weird layer cake look, most of the outfits this week were fun and wearable. But we've left out the kicker: Steve. Oh, Steve. Thanksgiving was totally three weeks ago, but this black dress with white collar is so pilgrim we can practically taste the turkey. Though the judges thought it was more French maid, all agreed: auf'd. "You turned a joyful wedding dress into something that we feel a French maid would wear. It was boring and cliche," said Heidi before giving her cheek-kisses of death.

We liked Steve, but his dress was pretty awful. It was the result of poor planning, last-minute changes (like the kind Tim warned against!), and difficult fabrics. "We'll just have to see where this crazy ride of life takes me," Steve concluded after being voted off, and we like his positive attitude.

Very little drama and lots of great design this week--you'd almost think this was a fashion show, not reality TV. But next week on Project Runway: FIELD TRIP! Nothing brings out the bananas in people like a new environment. See who's at whose throat with the pinking shears next Wednesday!