Project Runway -- sweatin' like a whore in church.

Whew! Episode 9 was another entertaining installment of PR, even though its required "uncomfortable moment" was perhaps the most uncomfortable of the season. That moment occurred when Vinsane, whom Laura aptly dubbed "a legend in his own mind" hit on French judge Catherine Maladrino in the most spectacular demonstration of poor judgment in PR history. She not only had the power of PR life or death over him but she also looks like she could knock him into the middle of next week. Unfortunately, while she exercised the former course of action (by writing "no, no, no, no, no" all over his evaluation card) she refrained from the latter, thus depriving reality TV of one spectacular smackdown. The end result was satisfying, though, Vincent, at long last, was auf'd.

Vincent's EW exit interview is a riot. Can you say clueless? I knew you could!

The challenge this week took place in Paris. The designers were instructed to make a garment using couture techniques -- i.e., hand finishing (Vincent used glue, but he DID do it by hand) -- in two days. The Paris runway show took place at a party on a boat traveling the Seine, truly idyllic except for the kid who threw an egg at the designers and beschmirched Michael's dress. We weren't told whether that was a political statement or not.

Po' preggers Laura (sweetie, there's a reason they call it Planned Parenthood) was almost auf'd for producing a dress Nina called "old St. Laurent." Oh, you've got it wrong again, Nina! It wasn't old St. Laurent, it was rather recent Chanel from the 2006 Resort Collection. (The top black dress is Laura's, the bottom, Chanel's). Whatever, it was another breast-bone exposing, pneumonia-inviting v-necked black sheath Laura dress. Bor-ing.

Jeffrey won by making a yellow plaid dress that looked like the bastard couture child of Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. It was a dress that only fashionistas could love, and the judging group of fashionistas did just that.

Kayne made an asymetrical strapless gown that looked like a very good version of Wendy Pepper's Season 1 wedding dress, right down to the corset with curvature of the spinal lacing. (The gold dress is Kayne's, the dress that looks like it's made out of bedsheets is Wendy's.) I'm surprised that I haven't seen any other comments about the similarities, but of course I haven't read every. single. PR. post. yet, and I probably won't. The fact that Kayne's dress was actually fit his model and didn't fall apart when she walked down the runway probably obscured the resemblance, too.

I liked Uli's dress the best. Sure it was another one of her signature flowing empire-waist dresses, but it was pretty, and I'm a slut for pretty.

Poor Michael had his first crisis of confidence during this challenge: it was he who announced to all that he was "sweatin' like a whore in church" during the final runway show. The dress he produced reflected it. The garment was a clunky ruched dress that featured what I can only describe as cinnabon-shaped breast lids. This, after Malan's disaster, should be a lesson to all future PR contestants: NO MORE RUCHING, EVER!

I thought it was too bad that Angela couldn't participate in this challenge, since its focus was hand-crafting and finishing. She could have fleurchoned the ass out of some dress -- and ruffly flower-like ornaments actually seem to be a trend, as the white Armani Privé dress at left shows -- and her excess would have been completely appropriate. But then I would have had to put up with her perkiness for another week or two. Damn the fleurchons! Full speed ahead!