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It seems to me that a lot of people are misunderstanding the challenges and why people won and lost. I'll give an explanation:

CHALLENGE 1: Innovation. The challenge was to take unconventional items and turn them into something good-looking. The ten non-losers succeeded in either going with very strange items (Nora, Robert, Starr, Vanessa, Wendy) or making it look good (Alexandra, Jay, Kara, Kevin, Mario). Austin won because his cornhusk dress was both. Daniel lost because he took a garbage bag and butcher paper and made it look like a garbage bag and butcher paper -- not innovative.

CHALLENGE 2: Vision/Sell Your Vision. This challenge meant two things: show you think outside the box, and convince buyers of that. Kara's professionalism and design skills got her the $405 bid and the win. Likewise, Mario's laziness and over-simplicity showed that he didn't care as much for his vision as the others, including the much-hated Wendy (I love you, Wendy). That's why Mario lost.

CHALLENGE 3: Commercial Appeal. The Appeal factor not only meant how a design would appeal to customers, but also to the store carrying the design. This is why Wendy won. Her design fit the aestethic BR was looking for, was easy to construct, and looked good, too. Some, like Jay's, were a little too complex for BR. Others, like Robert's, were not very appealing. Starr failed on all accounts -- her design was ugly, looked hard-to-make, and her whole wardrobe was unappealing. Goodbye.

CHALLENGE 4: Collaboration. This challenge meant working with AND critiquing other people. The ultimate goal in this was to show how well you can work with other to make something. Kevin won because his design worked with Sarah Hudson well and he kept working on the design even when Nora was being uncooperative. Nora's behavior would have been more than enough for elimination if not for Vanessa's fatal mistake. How can you work with other people if you can't work with yourself? She admitted so many times she cannot sew, and this is bad in itself. But to confess your weakness to the judges AND not defend your weakness? Sorry, Vanessa, you're out.

CHALLENGE 5: Working with a Client. Once again, two important goals: make the client happy, and don't sell yourself out. Kara kept true to her own traditions and made a dress that was beatiful, conventional and unique at the same time, and most importantly the model loved it. Nora's problem was that she let Melissa control her and not let any of Nora's creativity show. In Nora's case, Melissa was not a client -- she was an authority figure. Fatal mistake, Nora.

Now, looking ahead, it seems the theme of Challenge 6 may be self-management or something. The 5-hour deadline and the clue on conduct at the party playing a role are signs of this. I'd also like to see a theme where they have to design something other than dresses, like accesories (hats, purses, shoes, etc.) or men's clothing (using the model's boyfriends).

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So on the site, you can see that the designers have made tshirts for their fans that you can buy for $25. Notice on Starr's tshirt, she has drawn a picture of her Banana Republic LOSING dress. This means that her shirt was designed AFTER she was eliminated. Nora's says "WHAT IS THIS MESS?" as if to refer to her losing the pattern piece whihc led to her getting kicked off the next week.

There are three designers who HAVE NOT made tshirts to sell-- Austen, Robert, and Kevin. Can this mean that they were not eliminated??? The show has only been filmed up until the last three contestants, and then they resume filming later between those three. So im asking-- could it be that this means Robert Austen and Kevin are the final three who go to fashion week?

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I'm really impressed with all of these designers, really. They're all really interesting and inspiring and loveable, and they've ignited in me a much more fervent interest in fashion. I think I'm going to hit a newstand and pick up a few hardcore fashion magazines, just to see what's going on in the rest of the fashion world.

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Hi guys!

Can you imagine how beautiful Robert's BR dress would look if it had snow leopard skin fabric instead (white, black and bluish grey)! Even with the sequins on it.

Also, I had a question. Does anyone know if Robio has a website?

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Alexandra's pantyhose dress, that's what!

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Okay, you got me on that point. The show is about designing beautiful clothing and not about seeing sexy, shirtless men. But, forgive me, I want both!!!!!!!!!!! I hope Robert stays on his feet and keeps undressing.

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I'd be surprised if, five years from now, there is a well-know fashion line under the name of any of these people.

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It's interesting, debating what REAL fashion is. My friend Lindsey always used to joke that if she made it big in the fashion world she'd design clothes that actual women could wear.
Walking through any usual public place-a college campus, high schools, the mall, a resturant-how many bodies do you see that are identical to the models'? That could actually WEAR and pull off some of those designs.
I am a 5 foot 110 pound gal with curves in all the right places. It's IMPOSSIBLE for me to wear any of, say, Alexandria's designs, for exmaple.
Fashion needs to look nice not only on the models but on the consumer as a whole. Despite what Hollywood tells us, we are not a country of Alexandrias and Roberts. We're slightly overweight and, as a general public, not that glamorous.
Show me a fashion designer who takes a slightly-drab-and-flab public and makes them look great anyway!
I think Jay has enoromous potential in that. I could wear his designs despite my un-model-like build. Examining the designs, I also see this potential in Austin, who seems to be shying away from 'sleek' styles, like Alexandria's, which always remind me of drapes. I mean, seriously, you'd have to be uber thin to wear her outfits!
Our country may have an overweight problem, but I'm not sure anoxeria is the answer.
I also believed Nora has this possibility (this is just my own little homage) because her age helped her connect with my generation, the 18 to 34-ers. We're the biggest group of consumers, followed closely by teenage girls. Watch the market and think about what we would like; something you can wear to school or wear to a party that will look hot, but not desperate.

My pick for the final three: Austin, Jay and Kara.

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Kara is too strong not to be included in the winners list, so is Jay. Austin is very strong too but he's got to tighten those ropes because he can't afford another "wedding dress" mess.

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I totally agree about Kara-- but if you look at her tshirt online, it is a picture of the project runway logo and says, it ends with a TWIST. maybe kara-- who is so professional, and already established-- is a ringer, a false competitor put in there to raise the stakes. she definitely seems to be sayin she is involved in a big twist at the end. if she were out of the running, i think the tshirt hypothesis could work. otherwise, why are the designs clearly made after elimination and why are three of the designers without one when we know they stopped filming at the three finalists?

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Hi guys!

Can you imagine how beautiful Robert's BR dress would look if it had snow leopard skin fabric instead (white, black and bluish grey)! Even with the sequins on it.

Also, I had a question. Does anyone know if Robio has a website?

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You're right, that would have totally rocked even more! I never thought about that, thanks!

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Alexandra's pantyhose dress, that's what!

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That is, with a cute jacket. I cannot imagine wearing that alone.

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Do you read ELLE at all? I'm fourteen so I read elleGIRL, and I have to say it is the best magazine ever! I'm not exactly the most conservative type, and all the stuff in Seventeen and COSMO I often see as disinteresting and hokey. (although the boho section in seventeen is slammin')

ElleGIRL is cool because it's not "This is in! Buy this!" but really finding your own style and then matching it with what's popular in the season. The slogan is "Dare to be different" and it definitely shows. They have interviews with upcoming indie singers, genuine vintage finds, and TRES COOL spreads.

But it all depends on your age, I guess... =)

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Well, I'm just a little bit older than you ;-), but I might take a look at ElleGirl. It sounds pretty cool. Thanks for the tip. And yeah, I like Elle a lot. I'm thinking I've got to get W or something.