Not a lot to say about this one you guys haven't already said. We were impressed by Nancy's; not only because of the actual look but that she had made it so accessible to her client.

We always have a lot of sympathy for the designers in client challenges. The mentors (Tim or Christian) are always saying the designers should be sure to express themselves as well as the client's wishes; and often imply that if their is a conflict, the client's wishes should take second place.

While we agree that a designer should help guide the client in the real world; these challenges are not the real world. Normally a designer would have a lot more time to confer with the client and help shape their desires. They would have time to whip up a couple of mockups of different looks to help a client choose a look that will incorporate what the client wants with what will help them look amazing. That just doesn't happen in the challenges. Which means the designers are often forced into creating a look that the client wants, but which may not actually flatter them.

@Costumers said:

Not a lot to say about this one you guys haven't already said. We were impressed by Nancy's; not only because of the actual look but that she had made it so accessible to her client.

If I were the designer, I would be pressed. I wouldn't know how to incorporate a train for the client, but Nancy made it happen. Actually, she did a lot of work with not only the train but the other pieces to the design, and she deserved her win.

It's going to be a double elimination. Who's getting cut? or Who's going to Fashion Week?

@Poetist said:

It's going to be a double elimination. Who's getting cut? or Who's going to Fashion Week?

My prediction is that Nancy and Victoria are cut. Brittany, Geoffrey, Marquise and Sergio for final.

I think Brittany, Sergio, Nancy for sure, but the others I don't know. I do believe the producers want to drag Victoria to Finals, but she is her worst enemy. If they take Vic, that leaves either Geoffrey and Marquise on the chopping block.

However, that leaves mostly female designers, which they aren't going to do.

So, my final guess is:

Brittany, Sergio, Geoffrey, and Victoria.

But. . .

I hope I'm wrong.

@Poetist said:

I think Brittany, Sergio, Nancy for sure, but the others I don't know. I do believe the producers want to drag Victoria to Finals, but she is her worst enemy. If they take Vic, that leaves either Geoffrey and Marquise on the chopping block.

However, that leaves mostly female designers, which they aren't going to do.

So, my final guess is:

Brittany, Sergio, Geoffrey, and Victoria.

But. . .

I hope I'm wrong.

Vic is the wild card. They definitely seem to want to keep her around. Or maybe she does yet another version of the same dress and they finally are fed up with her. We can only hope.

I love an avant garde challenge. The setting really put this one over the top.

I think the right decisions were made. When Brittany expressed nerves about it I knew she was gone. She tried to do volume which isn't her and didn't execute it well. Why do so many people equate avant garde with volume?

Marquise had the cool chain pants but as soon as someone said Tin Man I couldn't unsee it.

I hated Vic's dress but her coat was sublime. That is how you do volume.

I can't say I loved Geoffrey's but it was a statement and so well executed. That's what you want with avant garde.

I don't think Nancy is going to win but I'm really happy she was selected. I have been a fan all along. She isn't the best technician but she is very creative. I am excited to see her collection.

Was Sergio even more insufferable than usual? It's just so hard to judge his work when you hate his attitude that much. Victoria and Nina both called out how derivative his look was. It was stunning though and I think he deserves to advance.

Lastly, I just have to call out how much I love Nina. You cannot get bs past her. She cuts right through and tears you a new one.

@jonnieblack said:

I love an avant garde challenge. The setting really put this one over the top.

Yes, however, I still would want to see it in the studio.

I think the right decisions were made. When Brittany expressed nerves about it I knew she was gone.

Yep. I already counted her out after that.

She tried to do volume which isn't her and didn't execute it well. Why do so many people equate avant garde with volume?

It was the tucking and the tacky plastic butterflies that got her.

Marquise had the cool chain pants but as soon as someone said Tin Man I couldn't unsee it.

I like his outfit better than Nancy's monstrosity.

I hated Vic's dress but her coat was sublime. That is how you do volume.

I liked Vic's dress. The earring to the boob???

I can't say I loved Geoffrey's but it was a statement and so well executed. That's what you want with avant garde.

I loved the top half. The bottom half was a no for me, but he deserved to move on w/that.

I don't think Nancy is going to win but I'm really happy she was selected. I have been a fan all along. She isn't the best technician but she is very creative. I am excited to see her collection.

She needs to lighten up her colors and not go so drab for me to be a fan. I'm glad Nina pointed out that her dress looked like a black cloud.

Was Sergio even more insufferable than usual? It's just so hard to judge his work when you hate his attitude that much. Victoria and Nina both called out how derivative his look was. It was stunning though and I think he deserves to advance.

I agree.

Lastly, I just have to call out how much I love Nina. You cannot get bs past her. She cuts right through and tears you a new one.

LOL.

We also like avant garde challenges. It is surprising that it came so late in the season.

Nancy: We really liked this outfit, though we do wish Nancy would use more color. This resistance to color seems to be endemic to a lot of the designers we have seen over the entire 18 season run. We don't dislike black; we use it ourselves. But some of these designers seem to be viscerally afraid of color.

Brittany: The pink was a bold choice but we thought the look failed overall. Brittany seems to be anchored to ready-to-wear. She even said during the judging that she wanted something ready-to-wear in her avant garde look. She really needs to expand her repertoire. Its fine to base her business on that type of garment but in a challenge situation she should be able to work outside her comfort zone.

Marquise: We liked the chain pants a lot. We also liked the jacket, though we disagreed with Christian about folding the points down. The judges seemed to think the look was improved when the jacket was removed, but honestly, that was just a horizontally pleated cocktail dress.

Geoffrey: We liked Geoffrey's a lot and applaud his use of latex. We do think it would have been better not to use those short shorts. Something more interesting would have improved it.

Sergio: His was stunning, which was irritating since the man is insufferably conceited. We did think Nina overdid the criticism. Yes, the Japanese inspiration has been used by others; but does that mean once someone uses a point of inspiration that no one else can? Its a difficult question and there is no easy answer.

Victoria: We hated her look. My wife said it looked like Gustav Klimt had vomited all over it.

Using the vessel as the runway was interesting, but honestly we don't think it gives the judge's a good view of the looks. They are so far away they can only get impressions. I'm sure that a lot of their decisions came from what they saw on the runway during the critiques.

The final collections should be interesting.

@Costumers said:

We also like avant garde challenges. It is surprising that it came so late in the season.

I think since the show has new producers they are doing things differently than the previous ones.

Brittany: The pink was a bold choice but we thought the look failed overall. Brittany seems to be anchored to ready-to-wear. She even said during the judging that she wanted something ready-to-wear in her avant-garde look.

That's what I don't understand. Everyone knows that PR has an avant-garde challenge. She should have been prepared for it long before she entered the competition.

Sergio: His was stunning, which was irritating since the man is insufferably conceited. We did think Nina overdid the criticism. Yes, the Japanese inspiration has been used by others; but does that mean once someone uses a point of inspiration that no one else can? Its a difficult question and there is no easy answer.

I agree. I believe what gets Sergio into trouble is his constant reference to other designers.

Victoria: We hated her look. My wife said it looked like Gustav Klimt had vomited all over it.

What?

Using the vessel as the runway was interesting, but honestly we don't think it gives the judge's a good view of the looks. They are so far away they can only get impressions. I'm sure that a lot of their decisions came from what they saw on the runway during the critiques.

I so agree.

The final collections should be interesting.

It should be but. . .

Gustav Klimt was an Austrian artist of the late 19th and early 20th Century. He did a lot of things, but he produced a number of pieces that are very reflective of his style. Here are a couple of links.

[https://ae01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1yYZjNpXXXXXdapXXq6xXFXXXi/Gold-paintings-of-Gustav-Klimt-Portrait-of-Adele-Bloch-Bauer-Hand-painted-canvas-art-High-quality.jpg_640x640.jpg]

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The gold robe that Dracula wore in Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" film from 1992, though the robe was actually designed by Eiko.

Lots of hit or miss in the final collections (draft versions). I think they all have potential, but need a lot of work. Comments on the pieces shown in the mini collections:

I liked Nancy's pieces the best. Unlike the judges, I think the dramatic neckpiece added to the dress. I just loved her pantsuit, and I not even much of a print person. She did choose her best pieces to show though and some of her others need work. She is right on point with the sustainable, inclusive theme. Oh, and I need me that box wine bag. Like yesterday.

Geoffrey, that sweet messy guy, I think was second. His needs a lot of work, but I love the drama in the volume of his top pieces. That coat (?) that Christian tried on could be a show stopper. But he has a LOT of work to do.

I didn't like the other two as much. Victoria gave us two versions of exactly the same dress she has done a million times. I did like her third piece, the one that the judges weren't so keen on. On a side note, her hair and make-up were to die for this episode.

Sergio, in what universe is Victorian saloon girl a positive thing to say about a collection? His cloths were well made as always, but I am not feeling them at all. I did like the darker of the three looks, but the sheer one and the fringed saloon girl dress a big no. And he gives another backstory that is not translated to the cloths. On the positive side, his ego was in check and he was taking advice from Christian and the judges. Nancy seems to have a positive influence on him.

Speaking of Christian, he had a great episode. His scenes with Nancy and Sergio at their homes were so funny and endearing. He was having a lot of fun in the studio also. I wish we had seen more of that side of him throughout the season.

Well, none of the 4 mini-collections wowed me. All screamed old to me.

I thought Sergio’s negligee was appropriate. I loved that Elaine said that she didn't appreciate seeing the model's drawers through it. The rest of his collection was old and western looking.

Victoria’s collection was boring, a suburban housewife who is trying too hard to be chic. Those caps and logos were beyond ridiculous. I’m glad the judges told her to not waste time doing a “label”. She is getting ahead of the cart.

Nancy’s collection had the best looks. The print was a bit too blah. That halter dress was slinky and beautiful.

Jeffrey’s looks were bizarre. Those puffy jackets were ridiculous and done better by the designer a season ago.

It’s still a toss-up as to who will win. Call me unimpressed.

Interesting Part 1 of the finale.

We liked what we saw of Nancy's overall. We agree with Jonnieblack that the halter/sheath dress looked more interesting with the neck shawl. It added some nice movement. Without it the dress, while lovely and made of great looking fabric, was just a standard sheath dress. We really liked the print pant suit; so different from Nancy has shown us before. The differently-abled look was nice, but did seem to be only a small departure from the one in the challenge. Still, nice that she is still thinking of it.

Sergio just can't help himself. He always has to have some story for his looks. I can see his progression from what we saw, but it was weak.

We have never been fans of the puffy jacket look so we weren't overly pleased with his looks. Why didn't he do some more latex work after that fantastic piece from the semifinals?

Victoria was, we agree, rather pedestrian. Why she thinks brand names will help we cannot imagine. We did like that she was trying to incorporate some of her Moldavian heritage in the looks, though.

We'll be late commenting on the finale. We are leaving for Costume-Con 38 tomorrow in Montreal and won't be back in town where we can easily watch until the 20th. We'll have to pick it up on-demand.

@Costumers said:

We have never been fans of the puffy jacket look so we weren't overly pleased with his looks. Why didn't he do some more latex work after that fantastic piece from the semifinals?

Yes, I was expecting him to come with the latex but he didn't. What a let down.

We'll be late commenting on the finale. We are leaving for Costume-Con 38 tomorrow in Montreal and won't be back in town where we can easily watch until the 20th. We'll have to pick it up on-demand.

Safe travels.