Project Runway: A predictable final three - with lots of crying

The second-to-last episode of a boring season has come and gone, and well, there were a lot of tears.

It'll be good to go back to New York City for the next season. L.A. never seemed like the right fit and most of the season's challenges were uninspired.  This episode, however, did bring back some of our favorite things: an inspiration-in-a-museum challenge, sharp critiques from Nina and Tim, petty backbiting and, best of all, really awful clothes!

But first, the "drama: There's still some bad blood between Althea and Irina following last week's runway tattling. But these women prefer to keep the tension in the room thick without actually addressing it, so we don't see much. Everyone's just in agreement that Irina is mean.

In last night's final challenge, the gang of five were supposed to take inspiration in something at the Getty Center. Here's what they came up with:

Althea

She was inspired by the architecture of the building btu she wound up with what Heidi called, "a bit of a mess fest."

Judge Cynthia Rowley said the attempt was "a little ambitious." Heidi, agreed, adding, "You bit off so much more than you could chew.

Tim warned her before that her fabric choice was iffy. The whole skirt puckered, and you could see it down the runway. Althea's stiff gold number was genuinely awful and a real disappointment from what is usually a strong contender.

Carol Hannah

Carol Hannah's beautiful gown was inspired by an 18th century French bed. Can't you see the resemblance?

"You are playing it very safe," warns Nina. "It is a perfect dress but it is almost a safe perfection."

The dress fit perfectly on her model, but I don't see the Getty Center in there. Cindy Crawford, guest judge, didn't either. 

Christopher

Christoper's algae-covered rock fountain dress did not go over well with the judges. The skirt was stiff, the top was nice and the random splashes of green (algae, get it?) were hideous.

Does Christopher understand what went wrong? "This piece speaks more about me than anything else I've done here," he cries. And cries. And cries. Oh, stop it. Even Heidi looks irritated at this point.

"Everyone else's inspiration was art. Mine was a rock with algae
on it. And not everyone would see the beauty in that. [sob sob sob]"

Christopher has been in the bottom for several weeks, and he should've been gone long ago (before Shirin, at least!)

Gordana

Taken from a Monet, Gordana made a beautiful dress that all the judges "got." 

But did anyone else look at the front of this dress and see, erm, female genitalia? No? Okay, I'll stop.

Gordana was in love with this dress, and it made her think about her homeland, her family, her hard work. And so she also cried. 

Cindy Crawford loved the dress, Nina loved the front, and Heidi said that Gordana hasn't taken any real risks.

Irina

"I love the color," Cindy Crawford says of Irina's dress. It was inspired by a painting but I saw Egyptian influence all over this outfit.

But it's too long and dowdy, Nina says. And they all agree the styling is awful. Heidi orders the model to take of her shoes, the bizarre cap.

"The length is very old lady," Nina agrees.  This dress is so blah but at this stage, Irina is too good of a designer that it doesn't matter what she puts out.

In the end, Christopher and Gordana must leave and Althea, Carol Hannah and Irina are going to Fashion Week. (My predictions were right, but it was pretty easy to guess.)

And here's a bone I have to pick.

"I don't know who Gordana is as a designer. To not know at this point is a problem," Nina says. You haven't been around the whole season, Nina! Also, I thought it was unexcusable for Michael Kors not to be there at the final judging competition before Fashion Week. They made a mundane season worse by not being around.

A lackluster season is coming to a close, at least. Next week, we're finally at Fashion Week.