‘Runway’ recap: Have a heart and be gone

By Mike Fleming | Feb 5, 2010 | 1:12 PM

For a challenge that required designers to fit regular-sized women, use cherry red fabric and incorporate the Campbell’s Soup logo, disaster was (mostly) avoided in Thursday’s episode of “Project Runway.”

The models for the challenge were all women affected by heart disease, and their inspirational stories served as muses for the designers and a few “awwww” moments for us.

Campell’s, obviously, is a sponsor for the cause, and this week’s winning look will be worn to their Fashion Week gala that benefits the American Heart Association. The winning look will also be sold in limited edition, and all of the looks are being auctioned off on ProjectRunway.com.

Rather than start with the winning and the auf’d designs, lets give a shout out to Team Gay and our favorite dress of the night. Ben’s beautiful backless gown (top photo) moved like a dream and understood that subtle use of the Campbell’s branding was all that was required.

Don’t just take our word for it. Tim Gunn agrees on his blog:

Ben created a beautiful gown with a sexy side vent and an innovative shoulder treatment. From the front, one would expect the gown to be a halter, but instead, the fabric rises over the shoulder and comes down under the arm to meet the front of the bodice. I found this unusual treatment to be quite arresting. His model, Kaitlin, looked so elegant and at ease in the dress. When are the judges going to acknowledge Ben’s excellent work?

Restraint on the Campbell’s logo fabric was a concept completely lost on Jesus, who finally went home this week after plummeting to the bottom in three of the four challenges that have aired so far. His ill-fitting, overworked satin/rhinestone/side-panel hooker getup (second photo) was just plain embarrassing—and should forever dispel the stereotype that all gay men have taste.

Again, you don’t have to listen to us, but all must heed the Tim Gunn:

“His model, Tricia, is gorgeous and has a great figure, yet she looked cheap and tawdry. Unless you really are a hooker, would you want to look like one?”

And Tim’s a nice guy! Maybe pretty little Jesus refused to blow him. And take note: The available online photos don’t do the travesty justice. Maybe Jesus did blow the web guy.

We have already said that we want Team Gay’s Jesus and Anthony, who we like as people, to go back under rocks as designers. One down, one to go.

Anthony, who hails from our home haunt Atlanta, was safe this week, but by our estimation, only by a hair (third photo). He has been at the bottom of the pack twice in four weeks, and never at the top. Be gone, queen, and let’s get down to business!

Of the five gay contestants—four came out early, one waited—this season, Ben, Jonathan and Jay, deserve to be there. Jay has already won a challenge and was at the top again on Thursday.

Ben and Jonathan haven’t had their moments in the spotlight yet, judged “safe”—read: middle of the pack—despite work that deserves more attention from the judges. So far, we’ve had to rewind the Runway to further appreciate their work.

The night’s winner was Amy (fourth photo), and as one of our Ones To Watch each week, she deserved it. The flowing chiffon made it less shiny than many of the satin numbers that cheapened the looks on Thursday, and her model rocked it, including a request that Amy reveal her heart surgery scar as a badge of courage.

The others on our faves list—Mila, Maya and Emilio—did well, too, with one glaring exception.

Poor, sweet little Anna screwed the pooch with a large-panel babydoll number (bottom photo) that made her square-built model look bigger than she actually was. We’ll let Anna slide since she has wowed us a few times already, and this is her first misstep.

The self-professed gay allies of the bunch, straight guys Seth Aaron and Jesse, didn’t do so hot this week. But click on Jesse’s name to watch his video blog and just to ogle the sexy he’s serving. We almost fell off the couch Thursday when he strutted down the runway to take his place and let his package do all the talking.

Click any of the photos here for larger versions, and see all of Thursday’s looks in the Rate the Runway section on the official “Project Runway” page at MyLifetime.com.