Project Runway 2008 Recap: Celebrity Couture

The season 5 contestants of Project Runway are finally issued a real challenge! Brooke Shields, the star of NBC's Lipstick Jungle, served as a guest judge and this week's design client. This week's challenge? Create a garment fit for Shields' Jungle character, NYC film exec Wendy Healy, that will take her from day to night. And while the winner didn't receive immunity, their design would be worn by Shields in an upcoming episode during the show's second season.

The starstruck designers took to Mood for a 30-minute shopping spree after pitching their ideas to their celebrity client. After reviewing each concept, Shields chose her favorite six designers to serve as team captains in this partner challenge. Earning top honors? Keith, Korto, Jerell, Blayne, Terri and Kelli.

Watching the team leaders pick their partners was a little like watching a middle-schoolers pick teams for dodge ball: You didn't have to watch much of the draft to determine who was going to be picked last. Leatha' lovin' Stella! However, Jerell, whose initial concept was a flirty dress with wait for it! - a leather belt, lucked out by having the person best suited for hammering the leather into place as his teammate.

As expected, having two strong-minded designers forced to work together provided several snags in the normally seamless design process. When Joe failed to express his ideas to team leader Korto about the design of her disproportionate "sweet potato" jacket until Tim Gunn was present, things didn't go over so well. Korto began badmouthing Joe in front of Tim saying, "That's not what you said earlier. Why didn't you say that before?"

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the show was that Keith (who designed a flowy blouse and skirt) was able to work well with headstrong Kenley, known for her far more structured designs. They actually offered each other constructive criticism! When Keith's original draping for a blouse didn't meet Kenley's standards, she wasn't afraid to tell him. "It looks a little South Beach-y. She doesn't look like she's going to the office."

This week's losing team, Kelli and Daniel, was doomed from the start, as team leader Kelli presented Shields with a cartoonish sketch not suited at all for her TV persona. Shields was right to worry about the inclusion of Kelli's trademark leopard print. Leopard print for Lipstick Jungle? How clich! The execution of the dress was nothing like what Shields had signed off on. Judge Michael Kors described the garment best during the runway show: "slutty, slutty, slutty." And while some would think Kelli would bring out her claws as this week's Runway reject, she handled her exit with grace and no tears!

More surprising than Kelli's exit, however, was Keith being told his design was the tops. Although he and Kenley worked extremely well together, Shields' overenthusiastic smile and wink when Jerell's flirty dress hit the catwalk made it seem as if he was a shoo-in. Bravo to Bravo for giving Us a twist! It really is true what they say: In fashion, one day you're in, and the next, you're out!

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