After being herded into the flagship Michael Kors store, they were met by the designer who explained that the next challenge would be based on a few of his favorite destinations.
Contestants could choose from the likes of Greece, New York, Hollywood, Palm Beach, Aspen and others locales and their challenge, to use the location as inspiration for their garments.
Carol Hannah Whitfield, who won last week's challenge, chose Palm Beach: "I'm a little worried because I haven't been that many places."
Double-winnner Irina Shabayeva chose Aspen and Gordana Gehlhausen chose New York, among others. With $150 and 20 minutes to spend at Mood Fabrics, the crew made the usual frantic fabric run.
Back in the workroom, wary of their future, the designers were still intent on having a good time, except the no-nonsense Shabayeva, of course. "They're cracking jokes every five minutes and they wonder why they can't finish," she sneered.
But in Tim Gunn's visit, he had little bad to say, except that Gehlhausen had fashioned a necklace but no dress. However, he needn't have worried about critiquing, Shabayeva had that covered:
"I'm definitely surprised that Christopher is still here. His dress looks like something an Amish woman would wear," she said of the allegedly Santa Fe-inspired top and skirt.
"It was pretty clear from the beginning that she's not here to make friends," Whitfield said of Shabayeva in a candid cattty camera moment.
However, the overall feeling among the designers was that the competition was stiffening, with only the most talented remaining. The judges, including actress and designer, Milla Jovovich felt a little differently.
Althea Harper who has consistently turned out lovely, wearable garments, but has yet to win a challenge, once again took the middle road when Jovovich dismissed her first as "in" for her gorgeous gold Saint Tropez shorts and sheer jacket. The same went for Whitfield's lush leafy print Palm Beach maxi dress with braided straps.
At the bottom was Nicolas Putvinski, who was lambasted for his Greece-inspired outfit which failed to reflect the location. "Nothing says Greece more than grey menswear," Kors said sarcastically.
Logan Nietzel also retained his low rung for a boring white-jeans-with-suspenders Hollywood look. And he was joined by his usual companion Christopher Straub, whose prairie girl mini skirt-and-top combo was characterized by Heidi Klum as "just ugly."
But, unexpectedly, Putvinski got the big boot. "Why would I ever spend my money on this?" judge Nina Garcia wondered about his multiply tucked white shirt and grey pants.
Shabayeva, inexplicably, won her third challenge for a relatively bland tan Aspen creation which included stylish faux-ski pants, a fur vest and cowl-neck sweater.
Neitzel's hotness saved him yet again -- it certainly wasn't his design or his poor construction. And we'll miss the sparkling Putvinski, who was a good designer with a bad outfit.
"It was a matter of taste," Tim Gunn wisely said, as he sent Nicolas to the workroom to gather his tools.
Tune into "Project Runway," Thurdays at 10 pm ET/PT on Lifetime. then catch our post-show recap here.
