Project Runway season 16 episode 11 recap: Woman warriors save a fallen designer

As New York Fashion Week looms, the five remaining designers dream of the ultimate prize. This week’s Project Runway recap has only a few designers sending warriors into to the fashion battle.

Being a leading fashion designer takes vision, creativity and determination. While the Project Runway designers might be strong in their point of view, design inspiration may falter. On this week’s Project Runway, a high fashion editorial look inspired by women who survived breast cancer took an emotional toll.

This week’s challenge was about who wants it more. Inspiration may be waning, and the designers may not be creating the editorial pieces that the judges want. While the designers need to stay true to their visions, they also need to captivate the judges. Boring, uninspired and even repetitive looks aren’t going to propel them to fashion week.

Brandon, the judges’ darling, seems to churn out similar looks week after week. While the judges love these “innovative” looks, I don’t know how regular woman would be able to wear them. Sure, these designs might look amazing in a photo spread or walking down the runway. Would you want to wear a huge pair of pants with string of fabrics hanging down? Personally, I wouldn’t want that look, but maybe my fashion sense is just boring.

Looking at all the designs this week, two designs were tops in my opinion, but I don’t always agree with the judges. Kenya’s look was incredibly flattering to a woman’s body. The skirt hugged each and every curve. Her curves weren’t hidden behind layers of fabric. You could tell that she felt good in the outfit.

Overall, Kenya’s look fit the challenge quite well. While not always considered a power color, the vibrant blue was striking. The model strutted in the outfit. Also, the shoulder detail was reminiscent of a power suit, but in a feminine way. The petal detail was beautiful, yet sophisticated. I would happily put this design in my closet.

Kenya Freeman’s design from Project Runway season 16 episode 11. Image via Lifetime

The judges liked Kenya’s look. They appreciated all the details, especially in the petal design. Kenya’s look was a top design, although she didn’t win. Again, Kenya was near the top but didn’t win. It’s disappointing to see her come so close, yet not win. What does she have to do to win a challenge?

My other personal favorite look was Margarita’s dress. Her story, containing the chaos, was lovely. While I didn’t love the gold bustier, the overall look was powerful yet pretty. The gold detail made it look a little too costume like. If she had picked a different color, or maybe a less shiny gold, the outfit would look more sophisticated.

Margarita Alvarez’s design from Project Runway season 16 episode 11. Image via Lifetime.

As the dress walked down the runway, it moved beautifully. The bottom of the dress looked like it was floating. The judges weren’t impressed with the dress. While they appreciated the draping, they thought Margarita took the challenge too literally. She was in the bottom.

Based on the judges’ comments, it seems that the judges wanted something that was unusual or out of the box. The dress, while pretty, wasn’t “weird” enough for them. I don’t understand why the designs have to be weird or extremely fashion forward. Whatever happened to pretty?

Brandon Kee’s design from Project Runway season 16 episode 11. Image via Lifetime.

Brandon’s look, the judges’ favorite, looked like Bo Peep. Sure, millennial pink is a popular color, but who wants to look like a character? The bonnet on the model’s head was just so confusing. Plus, I don’t get the big baggy pants with strings hanging down.

Maybe if you are a 20-something woman who is a size 0, this outfit works for you. I don’t want big baggy pants. I spend too much time at the gym to hide in all that fabric. Again, I guess that I’m the wrong demographic for this look. Brandon won again. I disagree.

Ayana was also a judges’ top look. This design had parts that I liked and other parts that I would never wear. I think that the pants/skirt was really interesting. The tailoring in the pants was amazing. The model looked like she was super tall, and what woman doesn’t want to look tall?

Ayana Ife’s design from Project Runway season 16 episode 11. Image via Lifetime.

The blouse was a little confusing. It looked like a puffy shirt exploded on one sleeve, and only one sleeve. I don’t know how wearable this look is. True, the challenge was editorial, but the look was a little confusing.

Still, the design was impeccably made. The attention to detail was amazing. Ayana is evolving as a designer. While she was a top look, she didn’t win. Truthfully, she should probably show at New York Fashion Week. Her unique perspective would be a breath of fresh air.

Kentaro’s look was very confusing. This week, Kentaro struggled. He lacked inspiration. While his look was supposed to have a Japanese warrior feel, it just looked a muddled. The black didn’t have mixed textures or layers. It just looked big and boxy. Overall, the look was a real miss. Kentaro was in the bottom two.

Project Runway season 16 episode 11 photo. Image courtesy of Lifetime.

The judges’ commented that next to Brandon’s look, the two looks are very similar. It is true that the two designers have a similar atheistic. If the two designers can’t separate themselves, should both of them show in New York Fashion Week?

The judges had to decide to send home either Kentaro or Margarita. The judges chose to send home Margarita. During the deliberations, it was clear that the judges wanted a more unusual look. But Tim kept commenting in the background about Margarita’s dress.

If you haven’t guessed, Tim used his Tim Gunn save and Margarita didn’t go home. Tim liked Magarita’s look. He didn’t think that her dress was the worst of the bunch. Tears of sorrow transformed to tears of happiness.

I love that Tim saved Margarita. Her designs are flirty and fun. More women would enjoy those designs that the other boxy designs. The Tim Gunn save was well used this year.

Next: Project Runway: Unconventional materials drive fashion forward

Next week is the second to last episode before the finale. It makes sense that two designers will go home after the Tim Gunn save. But, who will make it to Fashion Week is still unknown. My guess is that Brandon and Ayana have a place, but the last spot is still up for grabs.

Who do you want to show at New York Fashion Week? The end is near and only one designer will win the Project Runway crown.