The Fashion … Shoe?

Finally, an episode of Bravo's The Fashion Show that does not involve teams! Reco isn't the only one getting sick of this team business week after week.

With the designers unencumbered by each other, and left to their own devices, we got the best runway show yet this season. They really shone through as individuals, and even poopy-pants Isaac had kudos for them.

-by Eric Walter

Episode 4: The Shoe Must Go On

The challenge this week was all about working from the ground up: Design a dress inspired by a pair of shoes.

Maybe the best part (for the designers) was the field trip to Fifth Ave landmark Bergdorf-Goodman so everyone could pick their own favorite among the impressive inventory of Jimmy Choos, Manolo Blahniks and Alexander McQueens.

Even without teams, the judges narrowed down the field down to the worst two designs. By creating their little drama about whose look they’re “not buying” and who is left “hanging by a thread,” the judges force themselves to make a 50/50 decision. Let's call it their “which is worse” moment.

Last night's “which is worse” moment was a decision between the designer who made a bold but disastrous choice and the designer who made a safe but boring choice. The judges made a bold choice themselves.

Lidia bit off more than she could chew. Her poor model looked like she spilled ink down the front of her dress. And the bulge in the middle makes her look strangely pregnant.

The judges called it “Nightmare Before Christmas,” which I think is actually a disservice to Tim Burton.

Meanwhile Andrew created something that was perfectly functional and sellable but kind of a yawn.

“If you're going to fail, fail magnificently,” said Isaac, who clearly appreciated Lidia as a risk-taker.

So, Andrew was sent packing.

OK, so let me get this right. Markus was cut last week for being a dreamer with poor skills, but this time the judges cut the guy with the higher-quality dress and kept the designer with the big, but poorly executed, idea.

Uh-oh … I'm sensing some inconsistency here. Reality TV show host, judge thyself!

Clearly it's a conspiracy to eliminate the homos! Personally, I'd rather see them cook up a plot to get Johnny to just cut. His. Hair.

Poor Andrew got it from all sides. He was riding high after his win last week, but Daniella still writes him off as a copycat.

In the mini-challenge that introduced the shoe theme, the designers had to take a basic high-heel shoe and make it over. Andrew used a fringe — and so did Reco. Daniella was there to catch every sordid detail.

Then Andrew had the audacity to use pleats in his dress. Obviously, Daniella theorized, Andrew was copying Anna's pleated skirt from Episode 2. Even though his dress looked nothing like Anna's skirt.

Nevermind that Reco used pleats. Nevermind that pleating is a common technique. I mean, is Anna the only one allowed to pleat? (She can't seem to get enough of it.) Is Reco the only one allowed to use fringes? (He's a bit on the fringe, himself, isn't he?)

What worked?

Whatever interpersonal issues Daniella may have, she is gorgeously talented. Her Alexander McQueen-inspired dress (left, above) was my favorite this week.

Reco's dress (center, above), with that clever hat, and those YSL gridded boots, elevated the little black dress from dull to delicious. He deserved to win.

I much preferred James-Paul's understated neutral look (right, above) with those divine Jimmy Choos over Angel's white-shirt weekend-in-the-Hamptons (right, below).

What didn't?
Methinks Giuseppe Zanotti inspired Merlin a bit too far in the wrong direction. His design was a mere enlargement of the shoes, which is to say, his model looked kind of like a big shoe. And I just didn't care for Keith's rosy-cheeked ba dunk-a-dunk, either, even though I do dig his Valentino sandals.

Best Gay of the Week
Merlin, and not a moment too soon. He finally hung up those red riding pants and dressed down in a simple v-neck sweater and a ball cap. Bravo!

Best Line
There were a couple, both from guest judge and president of Manolo Blahnik USA, George Malkemus, and both at the expense of Lidia.

After Lidia confessed that she had quit her job to pursue her fashion design dreams, Malkemus pointed at her dress and said, “Today is not an example of why I would quit my job.”

Later on, he referred to it as an “atrocity of a coffin cover.” Yikes!

Worst Line
“Confidence is the new black,” said Reco. If I hear one more thing is “the new black,” I’m going to take that black dress of his and stick it where the sun doesn't shine, and whatever other cliché I can think of!

Best WTF Moment
I had to rewind a few times during the judges' review, because I nearly spewed caffeine-free Coke out my nose when Isaac brushed off guest judge George Malkemus for disagreeing with him about Andrew's dress. Isaac rolled his eyes so grandly, I thought they'd pop out of his skull.