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Project Runway: Facing the Judges

The contestants face their toughest panel yet.

By Kory Kennedy

Mar 10, 2010

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

During the 5th episode of Season 7, the contestants faced one of the most prestigious challenges in Project Runway history: their design modeled by Heidi Klum on the cover of Marie Claire, but first they had to face their toughest judging panel yet. Here are some of the highlights.

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Anthony Williams

Winning Design
VIDEO: Watch the extended judging of this design

"The costume drama is over! [Anthony's] entered modern times! This dress is modern-looking, that length is great, and you did one-shoulder in a new way." –Michael Kors

"I do like this dress very much for Heidi. You are one of the few designers that embraces color." –Nina Garcia

"It's actually very slimming so her body looks beautiful." -Heidi Klum

"The color is fantastic! If that's where next spring is going to be, then just beam me there." -Joanna Coles

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Ben Chmura

Top 3 Design
"A newsstand is a very noisy place, and I think this cuts through the noise — it's a good choice." –Michael Kors

"This [dress] will be worn by someone who's confident. It's a real contender." -Joanna Coles

"Ben did a very modern, very chic dress." -Heidi Klum

VIDEO: Watch the judges critique Ben's design

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Emilio Sosa

Top 3 Design
"I like the fact that he had his scissors in his pocket and was quite willing to chop [the dress straps] off. Honestly, when you're doing a cover, you need a designer who'll do that." -Joanna Coles, referring to Sosa's tailoring of the dress during judging.

"Once you got rid of those silly ties on the shoulder, I think cleavage, color, a nice line — all of those things were great." –Michael Kors

VIDEO: Watch the judges critique Emilio's design

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Mila Hermanovski

Bottom 3 Design
"The color of this dress is the color of hospital food." –Joanna Coles

"Let's be honest — that peach comes off like ace bandage. She's literally in some kind of weird jog bra with a V-neck." -Michael Kors

"These arrows look like they're pointing at her crotch. This would not work at all." –Nina Garcia

VIDEO: Watch the judges critique Mila's design

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Anna Lynett

Eliminated Design
"This is not a teen magazine. I think you totally missed what this magazine is about, who the reader is, and who am I putting this on." –Michael Kors

"It's like three ingredients in a dish that leave you feeling slightly nauseous." -Joanna Coles

"It's going to be on Heidi, who has an incredible figure and this gives her no shape or silhouette whatsoever." -Nina Garcia

VIDEO: Watch the judges critique Anna's design

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Janeane Ceccanti

Bottom 3 Design
"I'm not getting the sea reference...unless it's a polluted sea with plastic bottles in it." -Joanna Coles

"She's got the seaweed organza, she's got nine thousand seams, all of that going on...I'm going to pass it by." -Michael Kors

"It's not fashion-forward, it's not what [will make] women in America think, 'Wow, she looks hot, I want to be that woman.' It's just too sweet all around." –Heidi Klum

VIDEO: Watch the judges critique Janeane's design

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Jonathan Peters

Safe

Jonathan took a risk with this '70s-inspired romper, and while it certainly wasn't a great look, it was enough to qualify him for the next challenge.

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Amy Sarabi

Safe

Amy's dress was flirty, flowy, and creatively constructed, but not enough to lift her out the middle.

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Jesse LeNoir

Safe

Short and sleek, this minidress didn't wow the judges, but it did guarantee Jesse anther shot at the runway.

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Maya Luz

Safe

Maya's design was a bit bland, color-wise, and had mismatched elements — yet the judges still deemed it passable.

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Jay Sario

Safe

Whimsical and elegant, Jay's stunning dress wafted down the runway but didn't make the cut for the top three.

Courtesy of Lifetime Television

Episode 5, Designer Seth Aaron Henderson

Safe

Seth Aaron has a knack for creating separates; this tailored pantsuit didn't make the cover of Marie Claire, but it did qualify him for the next round.

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