The Morning After: Test Your Medal

Bravo Photo: Barbara Nitke

Spoilers for the Olympix-themed episode of Project Runway coming up after the jump:

Reasons that this installment was a slight improvement over previous episodes of season 5:

* They finally got rid of Jennifer, known in my notes as "bad Leanne," so that I can stop physically confusing her with "good Leanne," who is actually named Leanne.

* The challenge was a new one, and was fairly interesting. Designing an opening-ceremonies outfit may be a bit of a gimmick and a shill (NBC Universal, Bravo's parent, is home of the Olympics). But it does require the designers to meld their sensibility with a field (athletics) outside high fashion, and to execute ideas (competition, team spirit, U! S! A!, etc.) in visual form. Though it's a bit odd to criticize any entry in this competition as "costume-y." After all, opening-ceremonies outfits are costumes. I watch them every four years, and I've seen enough cowboy hats, ponchos and other national-kitsch symbols that would be unsuitable for wearing anywhere but an opening ceremonies or an Epcot Center exhibit.

* While this is still not the most memorable group of designers Runway has ever put together, at least it allowed some of them to start coming into focus, as when winner Korto shared her story of having to go into exile from Liberia.

* That outfit Jerrell put together. I had no idea there was an Olympic event for shepherdesses.