For this week’s challenge, Tim took everyone to meet “one of America’s favorite designers.” And of kors it was their very own Man in Black, Michael Kors!

Although everyone met up at Kors’ SoHo store, he pulled a bait and switch on the gang. The contestants learned that they wouldn’t be working with Kors or trying to create the blackest ensemble ever designed – no, instead they had to create looks from items bought at a hardware store, complete with one accessory. Everyone got $150 and one day to tape, hammer and/or weld something stunning together.

Some of the designers were excited about using unconventional materials, including Maya, who had some experience in that area. Jay wanted to use the challenge to really push himself, so he opted to make pants instead of a typical dress. On the flip side, Emilio was not happy about the challenge, stating that he only made “sophisticated designs” and didn’t know how to even begin working with things like sheet metal and sandpaper.

During Tim’s visit, he was excited by Mila’s mod dress (made from paint tray liners), Maya’s giant necklace (made from mesh and keys) and Jay’s faux leather pants (made from garbage bags). He worried that Jesse’s design was too “school project” and that Emilio wouldn’t have enough hardware to finish his mini-dress. After Tim left, Emilio realized that he, in fact, didn’t have enough material and so the mini-dress became a teeny-weeny bikini.

Fashion designer Isabel Toledo and jewelry designer Stephen Webster joined Heidi, Nina and Kors to rate the runway.

At the show, most of the designs were pretty impressive, considering the materials that the designers had to work with. One I was particularly impressed with that didn’t make the Top 3 was Amy’s adorable black and tan sandpaper cocktail dress. I knew Amy would bounce back from that one misstep (the horrible clown pants) last week! She’s still one of my favorites.

Amy’s dress was great, but the Top 3 – Jay, Maya and Mila – and they all deserved to be there. Heidi was amazed by what Jay was able to do with trash bags and tape, and Stephen thought the ensemble “reeked of luxury.” Nina thought Maya’s look was very wearable and everyone was wowed by her key necklace. Isabel and Stephen loved how Mila “transformed” hard materials into such a soft, almost flowing look. It was a close call, but Jay emerged the winner. A good choice, since his design looked the most wearable. 

The lowest-scored designs belonged to Anthony, Emilio and Jesse. Of these, I take issue with Anthony’s placement in the Bottom 3. The judges’ complaint was that his dress was “boring” because it was “too pretty.” While I understand their point that this challenge was meant to make the designers really push the envelope, isn’t it also worth applauding someone who can make household materials look like fabric? I don’t understand how the judges could award Jay for making an outfit that looked like something anyone could buy at a store and punish Anthony for the same thing. Sure, Jay’s design was a bit edgier than Anthony’s, but they were two totally different styles. Kors is always harping on how “real women” should want to wear these designs, and I would absolutely wear Anthony’s dress. I think a lot of other women would too – and not just boring girls going to their “boring prom.”

Luckily, Anthony was sent off to safety first, leaving Emilio and Jesse on the chopping block. Even though Emilio’s tacky Barbarella-meets-Baywatch bikini was easily one of the worst garments shown this season, the judges really hated Jesse’s metal and mesh dress, comparing it to “the Tin Man,” “a Hershey’s kiss,” and a “dirty vacuum cleaner bag.” In the end, Jesse was sent home. And it was probably the right decision, considering that Emilio’s designs have been consistently good. Everyone’s allowed one screw-up. (Right, Amy?)

Auf wiedersehen - see you next week!

"The Pop Eye @ Starpulse" is a column written by native Pittsburgher and current New Yorker, Becky Broderick. You may contact Becky directly at beckeyeam@gmail.com, or check out her other ramblings on The Pop Eye.