Oh, team challenges! Not any designer’s favorite, and there’s a good reason why -- they are hard, they lead to drama and they almost always have a twist! Every time Tim pulled out that damn velvet bag with our names in it, everyone always moaned in dread. Booooo! Hisssss!
If you are the leader, one of the weirdest parts of team challenges is having someone constantly watching the way you work. I’m not talking about just watching, like the cameramen. I mean analyzing, judging and probably questioning how you approach your task. Everyone has a different process and they don’t always click with your partner’s. For example, it takes me a while to process and play with my materials before I settle on and commit to an idea. Sketching is part of that, but more of my ideas come out in the draping process. It’s really hard to delegate work when you don’t know what you’re making yet!
Anywho, the challenge this week was to make a signature look that attempted the level of the designs seen at the Met, plus make a "look for less" based on another team's signature look. In the workroom, Jesse and Ping were having major issues. The cameras always swarm when they see controversy or struggles, which makes you sweat even more (which the producers and -- let’s be honest -- the audience loves!).
I can definitely empathize with Maya on feeling like she needed to take the lead because Jay had immunity. I was the first one chosen by Shirin in the beachwear challenge, and I was super nervous the whole time. You don’t know anybody well that early on, and she could have deliberately thrown me under the bus if she wanted to play the strategy game. That is NOT a good feeling!
On to the runway!
We have Team Mila/Jonathan and Team Maya/Jay in the top, and Team Anthony/Seth Aaron and Ping/Jesse in the bottom. I refuse to call Ping and Jesse a team. They surely did not work as one!
I LOVED Mila’s signature look. It was beautifully made, well thought out, well styled and overall a fresh take on the assignment. The contrast of the materials used plus the spark of color in the lining really took it to another level.
Maya’s signature look was nice as well, but didn’t stand out to me as much as Mila’s. Anthony’s gown was a great big mess (emphasis on the big), and Ping’s dress was in some ways a reiteration of her look from the first episode. She insisted on throwing fabric all over the model.
Find out the PEOPLE StyleWatch pick from last night's episode!
I’m not going to bother discussing the looks for less because, quite frankly, they were boring. I never enjoy the challenges that are super commercial as much as the impractical ones. I’d much rather see garments that are innovative, dreamy or crazy -- even if I’d never have an occasion exciting enough to wear them to! --Carol Hannah Whitfield
Tell us: Which designs were your favorite? Did the right person go home? Who are you rooting for?
Here are the answers to your questions from last week's comments:
From Katie:Hey Carol Hannah … loved your designs last year! I was wondering if you could tell us how much time the designers have between challenges? Is it one right after the other or do they have some down time? Thanks!
Down time? HA! No ma’am. Runway days take up a whole day of filming and are emotionally draining, but the next morning you jump right back into the next challenge. You start and end each day with cameras in your room, and there are no days off. The good news is that you get used to it fairly quickly, and it becomes a routine. And you learn to nap on the way to Mood!
From Zach:
Hey Carol Hannah, loved you on PR, was rooting for you all the way, and your blog is cool too Totally agree about Ping LOL
But being fellow Ander… sonians? Andersonites? Whatever you call it… . Clemson or USC? If you give the wrong answer, I might have to take back my CH heartdom haha
I don’t really feel strongly either way, but probably Clemson since I grew up right there. :)
Mike Yarish/Lifetime
Your Reaction
