Malvin Vien got eggs-cused for his maternity design. Photo: Lifetime
Designers were charged with making a chic maternity look for actress/supermodel/guest judge Rebecca Romijn, who at the time of filming was very pregnant with twin girls. It was a challenge that baffled many of the remaining 15 designers -- and yielded widely varying results.
On the heels of out-there Ari Fisher's elimination last week, New Yorker Malvin Vien was briskly booted from the show for his mother-hen-and-egg outfit: a black silk organza tunic topped by a second yolk-colored one.
While the judges, including special guests Romijn and designer Monique Lhuillier, did admit he had a concept, Nina Garcia dubbed it, "bizarre" -- definitely the kiss of death. Viewers were clued into Vien's fate when the designer said that he was making "jodhpur-like chicken thighs."
More surprising was that Mitchell Hall squeaked through yet again, landing in the bottom two for the second episode in a row. Heidi Klum warned him to step up his game. His design, a too-tight T-shirt topping badly constructed shapelessly short-shorts was "not acceptable." "We were not impressed by you," Klum declared.
Winner Shirin Askari turned out an elegant wine-colored jersey dress with sweet tucks around the waistline paired with a lovely Fifties-style charcoal coat. It was a look that judges deemed extremely wearable, pregnant or not.
Louise Black's deep burgundy-red satin frock was stunning in its details -- hand-dyed lace insert and lingerie-style couture touches -- and was pronounced "very well executed." Althea Harper's evening-length, midnight blue jersey gown, with a flattering criss-crossed racing-stripe bodice was considered "perfect." Both Romijn and guest judge/ designer Lhuillier heartily approved.
Back in the workroom, memorable moments included designers awkwardly grappling with massive belly-pillows; trying to attach them to the dress forms and models. And catty remarks were on the upswing, including when Qristyl Frazier quipped about Johnny Sakalis print bolero jacket: "Rebecca's not going to wear that; she's not even going to dust in that jacket."
The competition gets stiffer and, amazingly, Mitchell mysteriously remains. See who goes next week!
Tune in Thursdays at 10pm ET/PT on Lifetime, then visit us for the recap.