This week on Project Runway, the remaining five contestants (Chris, Christian, Sweet P, Rami, and Jillian) were challenged to create an art-inspired piece. This item would be the designers’ last chance to wow the judges before the decision would be made as to who would be participating in the New York Fashion Week finale.

Meeting Tim Gunn at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the designers were told to take photos of three subjects: Greek and Roman sculptures, European paintings, and the Temple of Dendur. From all that they observed, they then selected one photo that would be their “muse.”

Of course it was no surprise that Rami choose a sculpture of Aphrodite. Creating draped Grecian dresses is just what he does…repeatedly. The other designers discovered the paintings to be their sources of fashion bliss.

Chris designed a high-couture take on a French noblewoman (which he had also already done earlier in the season, episode eight to be exact). Christian made a woman’s collection, yes several pieces, that was inspired by a Spanish Don. Sweet P translated a painting of a peacock into wearable art. And Jillian made a sassy gold dress, loosely based on a photo of the Argonauts, with a black jacket with gold details.

They all were going into the runway show hoping that their pieces would be enough to secure them spots in the final episode, which would be a designer’s dream – NY Fashion Week at Bryant Park.

To the designers’, and my, amusement, the guest judge was a man of history himself, Mr. Roberto Cavalli. For these emerging talents, receiving advice from this fashion mogul is the highest of honors. Despite his elevated status in the industry, he was very supportive of the designs he was judging — even telling Jillian that she is talented enough to be on his staff.

When the time came to let two designers go, the air thickened. Although we all love her, it was pretty obvious that it was Sweet P’s time to go. Her design could have been taken so far, but unfortunately fell a bit flat and she was eliminated.

Now it was down to Rami and Chris. Both contestants produced dresses that they had already done earlier in the season, but both were fabulous pieces. It was a hard decision for the judges to make, so their solution: keep them both! Rami and Chris will get to show their top three pieces from the collection that they make for Bryant Park. The designer that is favored by the judges will get to show at Fashion Week.

…and now the contestants have been picked for NY fashion Week at Bryant Park (kind of) and are ready to go. I can’t wait to see the end result of this season’s hard work and dedication!

~ Leeann

Photo Credits: http://bravotv.com