"Project Runway" season 14 is drawing to a close as it aired part one of its two-part finale last Thursday, Oct. 29. At the beginning of the episode, host/mentor Tim Gunn revealed the show's explosive twist when he announced that Edmond Newton, who was eliminated last week, was still in the running.
Edmond will get to showcase his collection in the upcoming New York Fashion Week, along with Ashley Nell Tipton, Kelly Dempsey, and Candice Cuoco. Edmond, dubbed as the most determined contestant in the history of "Project Runway," has auditioned since the show's first season.
Part one of "Project Runway's" finale specials always followed Gunn visiting the finalists' homes and digging deeper into their backgrounds. For this season, all four finalists were given $9,000 each and seven weeks to create a 10-piece collection.
Gunn first flew to San Diego to visit plus-size designer Ashley. Ashley showed her on-going work, which is inspired by 1950s Mexico with a modern twist. Her hand-dyed fabrics and handmade floral pieces amazed Gunn, who was very excited to see Ashley pushing her boundaries.
Next stop, San Francisco. Gunn met Candice and her family on a beach before going to Candice's studio. Candice showed him an extremely avant-garde collection featuring laser-cut leather, lace, and wood. Gunn warned Candice to edit her work to avoid becoming too "costumey."
In Massachussets, Kelly showed Gunn her Katy Perry-inspired collection, which was already finished ahead of the deadline. "I didn't come this far to be sitting with my ass in the wind," she told the mentor.
Gunn then jetted to Atlanta to visit Edmond, whose collection featured elegant dresses. Edmond, who is known for his sexy designs, said he wanted to shift to glamorous instead.
Finally, the finalists head back to New York to present three pieces to Heidi Klum and the judges. In true "Project Runway" fashion, there was a catch. The third piece should be made from scratch, and the finalists only had a day to finish.
When the judging day came, Edmond's collection was first to walk down the ramp. He showed three ruffled dresses in black, white, and deep blue. The judges were not impressed. Judge Zac Posen thought it was "costumey," while Nina Garcia told Edmond to "bring the sexy back."
Kelly's collection was more casual and laid-back, featuring tight shorts, and pants with sequined details. Posen thought it was bold and daring, but Klum and Garcia called it "cheap" and "poorly made."
Next, Ashley revealed her plus-size designs in dainty pastels and florals. The judges seemed to be impressed. Posen reminded her to work on the fit and execution of her finishes.
Finally, Candice debuted her avant-garde leather-and-lace collection. Though Candice's attention to detail was impressive, Nina Garcia was not amused, telling her that she's "not Alexander McQueen."
It's back to the drawing board for all four finalists, with the New York Fashion Week only days away. Next week's episode will show the finalists' NYFW journey and the announcement of the winner.
Of course, audiences know that the show was pre-shot, as the public has already seen the finalists' work at the 2015 NYFW last September. To avoid pre-empting the show, the contestants' names were not revealed at the time.
Realty Today has previously reported of a plus-size collection making history at the NYFW. It can now be concluded that the collection was indeed Ashley's.
Based on the photos from NYFW 2015, it seems that all four stuck to their guns while taking in the judges' comments. See more spoiler photos below:
This high-low ruffled gown is most probably Edmond's work, who definitely brought sexiness back to his work while maintaining his glamorous vision.
This sequined and see-through streetwear definitely belongs to Kelly's laidback style.
This black and red edgy number is most likely part of Candice's avant-garde collection.
Carrie Underwood will join as a guest celebrity judge for the part two of "Project Runway's" finale, airing on Thursday, Nov. 5, 9 p.m. on Lifetime.
