Project Runway Season 11 Episode 2: "Spin Out"

Guest judge Susan Sarandon, left to right, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen and Heidi Klum judge the Project Runway season 11 second challenge.

Team Keeping it Real Layana Aguilar and Daniel Esquivels design.

Team Keeping it Real Stanley Hudsons final design.

Guest judge Susan Sarandon, left to right, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen and Heidi Klum judge the Project Runway season 11 second challenge.

Photo: MyLifetime.com

Dinner and drinks in a ping-pong parlor? The appeal escapes me, but Susan Sarandon's had enormous success with her SPiN Ping Pong Social Clubs across the country. In this episode of Project Runway Season 11, the design teams had to come up with new server and ball-boy uniform for the chain.

The designers were kept in the same teams as Episode 1: Team Keeping It Real and the Dream Team. The excitement visibly drained from their faces when Heidi gave them that news.

Each team had to come up with two ball-boy outfits. The ball-boys walk around SPiN and pick up all of the lost ping-pong balls. The outfits had to include the logo: "Balls are my business." Classy. Each team also had to come up with three server outfits for women.

Susan Sarandon served as the guest judge. The rest of the judging panel included Zac Posen, Heidi, and Nina Garcia.

On to the designs!

Winning Team: Keeping It Real

The winning designer was Layana Aguilar, with help from Daniel Esquivel:

Layana Aguilar's look.

Stanley Hudson's design:

Stanley Hudson's design.

Joseph Aaron Segal and Richard Hallmarq's design:

Amanda Valentine's design:

Amanda Valentine's design.

Katelyn Pankoke and Patricia Michaels' design:

Losing Team: Dream Team

The losing designer was James Martinez:

James Martinez's design.

Benjamin Mach and Mat Arthur's design:

Michelle Franklin's design:

Samantha Black and Tu Nakchat's design:

Benjamin Mach and Cindy Marlatt's design:

What did you think?

Did you like the challenge? Personally, I was underwhelmed at the prospect of seeing black and white restaurant uniforms. However, the team dynamic did keep me interested.

Were you sorry to see James go? Do you think Cindy deserved to go instead? I'll miss the comic relief from James. He was particularly clueless.

What about Benjamin's hubris?! I think he's due for a big comedown, if the producers' past record for editing for arrogance holds true.

Tune in next week for more team drama!

Sarah McFarland, contributor
Posted on Feb 4th, 2013 in sewing, design, garment construction, fabric, Project Runway, designers, getting the look, Project Runway 11, teams edition

Comments (3)

Soli writes: From what I remember of the ep, the winning team took the time to talk to staff and see what they actually needed. Having worked for Disney for 14 years, and having had management/Imagineering come in and make changes without having significant discussions with the people who deal with the stuff 8 hours a day, it makes a difference knowing what the front line people NEED. I didn't think Ben's kilt was that bad, but most guys working a service job are not exactly fashion forward types. Didn't like the graphics on Joseph and Richard's design (too reminiscent of the Emilio Sosa textile), and Cindy's jacket was too mom for a hip NYC club. I think the appropriate designs won. I know a lot of people are not digging the team dynamics, but I think it's a more honest way of whittling down the competitors, because unless you are working alone for yourself, in the business everyone needs to get along with everyone else. It's not Survivor, therefore no one needs to be scheming how to get rid of other people.
Posted: 11:24 pm on February 22nd

sews4fun writes: Seriously, ping pong ball uniforms? Are you kidding me? Can you say boring challenge without yawning twice? Not a fan of the team challenge, I think the designers are "muffled" even though they supposedly still get to show who they are. I don't see that happening when they have to stand around and listen to everyone's opinion.
Glad to see a person of Cindy's age on the show but again, she wont be there much longer, maybe next week will be it for her, she's just way too pedestrian for this show.
This season is starting out slow and losing my attention already.
Posted: 3:16 am on February 5th

Cherlyn writes: I thought that Aguitar was the clear winner after getting a closer look at the design. I liked Hudson's look for the ball guys the best, but thought the ball retriever part of Joseph and Richard's design could be easily added. I did not like their ball guy outfit at all!

I wasn't sorry t see James go nor will I be sorry to see Ciondy go. Neither have much creativity. I didn't care fo Ben's kelt either. Maybe in a different place, this would be more appropriate. But for this, no.
Posted: 6:37 pm on February 4th

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