Spoilers for “Passion for Fashion” below:

Things that happened

This week, the designers get to design clothing for Bratz dolls! That’s right — the dolls that are so slutty they make Barbie look like a goody-two-shoes. The daughter of their creator comes along to tell us that the dolls are not about Botox and sexual promiscuity, but diversity, creativity, individuality and empowerment. They are good role models! Really, they are!

Uh…okay. But the USB that comes with the dolls when you buy one looks pretty cool.

The designers get to hang out with members of the Bratz fan club and learn things like punk rock dolls are cool and colored high heels are cool. The girls are pretty cute and are really excited to help out. After this, we finally get to see the designers shop. They get 45 minutes for this challenge, which is luxurious compared to what the American designers get on their show. Even with this huge cushion, Lucian still pushes it and makes Brian’s mustache twitch. In anger.

The designers get two days for this challenge and also have to make a mini-outfit for the actual doll as well as a giant one for their model. This time, they switched up models. Most designers stick with their current model, but Stephen takes it personally when Bidell takes his model. I never understand this, yet it always happens. It’s a contest! If your model sucks, get rid of her! You’d do the same Stephan! There is no such thing as integrity on reality tv! Remember Darrin? Of course you don’t — his integrity got him eliminated in the first episode.

The design process goes well, except Megan keeps breaking down. She reminds me so much of Wendy Pepper. In twenty years, she will be Wendy Pepper.

At the runway show, Shernett wins the challenge, thanks to her new Bratz doll — Victorian Brat! Her dress is fabulous and the win is well-deserved. Michael is surprisingly disappointing and Megan is surprisingly strong. Everyone else finishes according to their current track record.

In the end, it comes down to Sophia and Stephan. Sophia goes home because her doll looks like a mom who tried to go rock star (this is where Iman makes a David Bowie joke) whereas Stephan’s doll just has no fashion sense. Fantastic pieces, just no fashion sense.

Next week: teamwork!

Things that were good

• As much as Megan irks me, it was great to see her pull it together for this challenge. Shernett’s dress was far more inventive, but Megan, I think, had the more marketable dress.
• Real fabric! Real designs! Few people realize how many designers end up working for doll companies.
• The editors are doing an amazing job at getting hilarious sound bites and facial expressions and using them effectively.
• Iman and Brian — fabulous, as always. I know I need to stop commenting on how great they are, but they continue to impress.

Things that were not so good

• I know Bratz are out-selling Barbie now, and Bratz are in need of designers, but I still want this show to take a turn away from its American predecessor and do something unique. There hasn’t been a challenge yet that was not a direct derivative from the original Project Runway.
• As SOON as Sophia said “I have three children. I’m not going home” you knew she was going home. It was lesser played out, but she got the exact same edit Lincoln got last week.
• Biddell is a jerk — he’s going to develop into Canada’s Santino and I honestly don’t think he has the goods to back it up.
• The weak and the strong are starting to separate. While Megan’s strong design was a bit of a shock, it’ll be less and less of asking who is going home and more of when.

Worth Watching if…

This episode was as formulaic as it gets. It was still a well-executed show with an interesting challenge, but there was nothing in it that made this episode special. I’d still watch it — it’s a great show — but I need more design drama or runway confrontation before I declare it a “must see episode.”

In Five Words

Camping in Lamé Hot Pants

Be Sociable, Share!

•