Hats! This week's Project Runway challenge was to design around the avant garde headgear of milliner to the stars Philip Treacy (who, one of my co-viewers noted, looks quite a bit like David Lynch. Also: Wouldn't Will Ferrell be the perfect person to impersonate Michael Kors? Just think about it.) As for our hometown heroine Gretchen Jones, with whom I watched last night's episode, she is busy fielding emails from scandalized fans after last week's episode did its damnedest to make her out like a bossy-booted bitch. Relievingly, the producers mainly left her alone this week, despite her efforts via attention-grabbing eye makeup and a bitchin' outfit for the runway. Here's her own recap and critique of this week's winner (don't watch if you're not ready for spoilers):

Two notes on the permanent cast of the show before we hit the jump. 1) I miss pregnant Heidi. This season she seems especially unlikeable, and has probably never contributed less to the judging conversations than the wide-eyed parroting of what-they-saids she's been offering up. I've said it before and I'll say it again: She's a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. She's a Victoria's Secret model. She is not a fashion model. And really, must the show be constantly soundtracked by Seal? "Kiss From A Rose"? Really? 2) What happened to Tim?! He looks like someone beat him up or he had a really bad chemical peel or something. What's with the facial lesions? Distressing.

Here's another look at Gretchen's runway look, because if you blinked you probably missed it:

And I don't think they even showed any of Tim's workroom critique:

The leggings are reminiscent of those she made for her spring collection, which is to say totally true to her style, though I'd venture to say I actually prefer the Project version:

Anyhow, the fact that she didn't even rate mention by the judges and Michael C's unremarkable dress won the challenge seems troublesomely transparent as a function of the need to keep a TV show varied than an accurately awarded accolade. Obviously this was echoed by the grumbly WTF-ing of the other designers. During the airing he seemed kind of obliviously thrilled, but he got the memo:

Ugh, what a doof. Another pressing matter this season: Peach! She has got to be the most polarizing personality competing. Love her, hate her? Also, Ivy: What a dumbass! She got an ambulance ride after attempting to survive on Diet Coke and cigarettes. Duh. Gross. As for the chopping block, say goodbye to Kristin:

I hate that dress, but I don't think it was as bad as April's three-layered panties, nor do I think Michael C's looks was anywhere as cool as Michael D's. Another unsung hero this week was Casanova. He's aware that he's on shaky ground with the judges, and while he seemed to be getting some flack for being too conservative, I loved the final result. Also he had the best quote of the episode talking about his fellow designer "having a lot of ideas about making a mess with the fabric around a woman's body." That was awesome.

I'd wear that in a heartbeat. As for next week, I have reason to believe there will be some mega-drama, so don't forget to tune in, and I'll be here to wrap it all up on Friday.