This week’s Project Runway straddled fashion’s “highs” and “lows” as designers paired up to create one avant-garde and one ready-to-wear look. But what exactly did judges mean by “avant-garde?” The challenge tripped up the edgy Kit Pistol, who was auf’ed after she failed to deliver something truly over-the-top. Paired up with Ricky, but eliminated for taking the lead on the losing team, the designer opened up about her failings in the challenge, how she kept her partner in line and what she said to the judges that never aired. –Brian Orloff
Where did you watch the episode last night?
I was at my house and made sure I had a huge party of my friends here since I knew what happened. I was relieved that my garment didn’t look completely terrible, but I wasn’t 100% confident in it, so that was a little nerve-wracking. I’ve had friends come over since the beginning of the show. So every night it’s [been like], “Oh, cool!” But when Ricky was chosen as my partner, my friends were like, “What?” When he was safe before me, they were like, “That means you’re going! Why didn’t you tell us?” But it was fun to have them there and see their surprise — and have their support.
Speaking of Ricky, how did you two work together as a team?
I was definitely calling the shots and directing our management of time. And I’m good at that. It’s noticeable that this is the one episode where Ricky doesn’t cry. So I think I did a good job as a team leader in that respect.
Let’s talk about the term “avant-garde.” A lot of people may not understand exactly what it means. Did you?
The challenges are always made to be a little vague in description — but especially with this challenge. The term avant-garde is such a broad term in fashion or art or music or anything. They used the words “artistic” and “conceptual” when Heidi gave us the challenge, so to me that doesn’t necessarily parallel the definition of haute couture. And that’s essentially what they were looking for [whereas] I made more of an art piece that had an idea behind it.
This was so different from what you’ve done in the past. Were you trying to go out of your way to do something totally new?
I just got completely enthralled by the idea that I had — and I was so exhausted that I wasn’t paying attention. Like, when we went to Mood [to get fabric], I didn’t event think, “Oh, I should buy expensive fabric.” I forgot I was making a dress because I was like, “Oh, I love this idea. It’s awesome.”
Why didn’t you defend your dress to the judges on the runway?
I definitely did. I was actually confused why they didn’t show that. I said, “I understand completely where you’re coming from. I didn’t make a haute couture garment. I was thinking of a conceptual garment that I expressed here.” . . . [But] it was too cerebral and too literal a translation of my idea.
Mitch Haaseth/NBC; Barbara Nitke/NBC
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