Previously on Project Runway, the three designer finalists brought their 12-piece collections to New York and cast the models who would wear their designs. A last-minute final challenge came from Heidi and Tim who asked each of the designers to create a thirteenth look for Bryant Park.
Aided by recent cast-offs, each designer had extra help and support for their former designer contestants. With stress and fatigue plaguing even the strongest competitors, Carol Hannah suffered through it all with stomach flu.
Final Design Day Before Fashion Show at Bryant Park
With the final work day underway, each designer rushed to complete the new design while tweaking all of the collection. Carol Hannah broke down in Christopher's arms as she cried from the frustration of being sick.
Tim Gunn visits the work room to see each designer's progress. Irina explains her final design and make-up direction. He loves her final look and gives advice on not being too costume-like in her accessorizing.
While talking with Althea, Tim notices she has the same make-up direction as Irina. Althea tears up as Irina makes a smug comment, "That's Althea!"
Carol Hannah tells Tim of her sickness relapse. He gives her support and tells Carol Hannah to maintain her energy and work through the illness to complete her work.
Bryant Park Fashion Show at New York Fashion Week
The designers get up before 4 a.m.to start their final day of competition. They head off to Bryant Park to begin fitting their models. Tim oversees the designers as zippers break, hair and make-up tweaks, and models not dressed. Tim expresses his frustrations as the designers and models are not ready.
Heidi steps onto the Bryant Park runway to introduce the judges and to start the show. Althea was the first to show her collection and explained her sci-fi inspiration.
Favoring blacks, silvers, and baggy knits, Althea's collection offered chic take on science fiction inspired design. With a few captivating looks, she also had a few costume-like misses.
Carol Hannah was the next to show and giggled as she introduced her collection inspired by fairytale gothic looks. She used deep purples and blues mixed with black to create a sophisticated collection.
Irina stepped on the runway and introduced her collection inspired by New York. With avant-garde shapes and military-inspired hats, the collection was nearly all black in color with only a hint of her signature taupe color.
Of all the collections, Irina's offered the most innovation while Carol Hannah's appeared more wearable. Althea's seemed the most plain in comparison to the other two designers.
Judges Review Collections & Announce Project Runway Season 6 Winner
The judges thought all three designers created impressive collections. Heidi congratulated all of them for making it to the end and for putting on a great fashion show.
Heidi brought the designers to the stage with each of their muse models. Irina started by describing her collection. Michael thought her warrior woman designs were not necessarily new and it had been seen before. Heidi thought it looked finished and Nina questioned the use of so much black.
Carol Hannah explained her play of volume and shapes in her fairytale design. Heidi and Nina described specific dresses that they enjoyed. Heidi felt the collection didn't hold together as a cohesive unit.
Althea described her future-inspired science fiction designs. Michael liked the sportswear interpretation and Nina enjoyed the bits of color she used. Nina found several of the pieces not fitting in with the tone of the overall collection.
The designers returned to the stage for the final judgment. Heidi told Irina that she paid close attention to the details but that it lacked color. She told Althea that she has an amazing ability to translate the street look but wasn't sure she reached her futuristic goal. To Carol Hannah, Heidi told her she was impressed with her use of color but that it lacked a connective thread.
Heidi then announced Carol Hannah was eliminated. Heidi then told Irina Shabayeva she was the winner of Project Runway.
Allen Williams - Allen Williams is a freelance writer with varied interests ranging from information architecture to reality TV and cooking. He considers ...
