The challenge last night was to design a dress that embodies the Marie Claire woman, and the winner's outfit would be used for a giant billboard campaign in Times Square. I have to tell you, going into this episode I had no idea who the Marie Claire woman was. My guess was that she was slightly older and less hip than the Vogue or Elle reader, but still interested in fashion and success. After watching the episode, I'm still not sure I know who she is. The gross disparity in the looks that were sent down the runway suggests that these designers didn't really know, either.

I'm not going to do a blow-by-blow because honestly, that would take forever. But in general I do like the 90-minute format. I didn't think I would - I worried that it would absorb the deadly dull "Models of the Runway" show into "Project Runway" proper. But it has allowed us to get a much better sense of the huge number of designers early on. I feel like I have a pretty good grasp at least on their personalities (or, at least, their "characters"), and that's almost never been the case in the previous few seasons. And thus far the filler has been pretty minimal.

I'm going to dive right into the results here, so consider yourself spoiled. The Top 3 ended up being Valerie, who created a fitted, detailed bright-red trench dress that looked chic, powerful, and sexy; Gretchen, who sent down a flowy, dark-colored jumpsuit that could go "day to night" by unclasping the front and showing off a little more midriff; and Mondo, who sent out a super-girly, modern, but still sophisticated outfit with lots of texture, pattern, and flair (he was inspired by the opening credits of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," which I thought was brilliant).

All of the other designers assumed that Valerie would take it, but for the second week in a row Gretchen got the win. I just don't get it. I hated her look last week - I thought it looked like a figure skater's funeral outfit, and those sleeves looked like weeping sores - and this week's jumpsuit was so five minutes ago. Listen, Tyra Banks wore jumpsuits on EVERY EPISODE of "Top Model" Cycle 14. That aired in the first half of this year, and was filmed in 2009. We have a little saying in the blogosphere: once a trend appears on "Top Model," it is officially dead. And since this season of "Project Runway" didn't start taping until earlier this summer, the jumpsuit should be considered last season at this point.

I just don't see what the judges are getting from this Gretchen woman. Her clothes are certainly well made - impeccably so - and I bet you they'd sell like crazy at a department store. But where's the innovation? Where's the inspiration? One of her fellow designers said in a confessional last night that Gretchen can make clothes, but she has zero creativity. Thus far I think that's bang-on. I just imagine S5's Gordana, routinely eviscerated by the judges for being a "pattern maker," sitting at home watching this season and spitting sewing needles.

And also, I don't like Gretchen. I mean, as a person - or at least, as a reality-TV character. Gretchen is one of those people who plays at being modest, but you can just tell that she thinks she's the shit. Her whole little post-win speech to the designers, thanking them for "supporting her" - please. PLEASE! Supporting you for winning two weeks in a row, when much more creative garments went down the runway? Way to rub it in. She has stealth bitch written all over her. And the fact that she's all pals-y with Casanova certainly does not speak highly of her.

Getting the boot was Jason, who should have gone home Week 1 for his backwards kimono stapled down the back, but was rightly eliminated Week 2 for his costumey, unflattering "infinity" dress. See, it's an "infinity" dress because he incorporated the infinity symbol, which looks like an 8, which stands for "Project Runway" Season 8? Get it? Has there even been such a doofus on the show? Stupid, gimmicky idea aside, the execution of the dress was a mess. He used an unforgiving shiny silver fabric that showed off every flaw. The proportions made his model look stumpy and thick (she's not). And of course, it was held together by safety pins. Jason actually tried to argue that the judges can't expect perfection out of him (yes they can; they've been getting perfection for eight seasons now), and after he got cut, he tried to blame the look's failure on his model, who was literally the only thing he had going for him.

The other designers called him out on that bullshit, and he responded in an interview that people have always picked on him, but he doesn't care what people think (lies; he ONLY cares what other people think of him). He then said again how hard it is being a straight man in a gay man's world (as if that has any bearing on his shitty, poorly made designs --- and also, don't flatter yourself, sweetie), and actually walked out before Tim could send him on his way. That guy was a nightmare, one of the least likable contestants to ever grace this program, and a total disaster of a human being. I am thrilled that he's gone.

Also surprisingly getting cut was Nicholas, who sent down an overworked three-piece that featured a skirt detailed to within an inch of its life, a really cute blouse with a nearly nonexistent back (that Gretchen claimed in a confessional that he stole from her dress last week - get real, bitch, you did not invent the backless dress), and in what almost certainly ended his run on this show, a cape. There is nothing modern about a cape, friend. Thing is, as tortured as that look was, I honestly don't think it was bad enough to get someone cut from this show. My totally baseless conspiracy theory is that the producers could see Nicholas for the ticking timebomb of neuroses that he is, and sent him packing before he could have a full-on nervous breakdown. That man was imploding on my screen almost every minute he was on the show. He nearly lost it during the first judging, and he totally lost it after this one, reduced to a blubbering mess. My roommate pegged him as a "husk of a human being" within the first 10 minutes of the first episode, and I think that's exactly right. I think this was a mercy boot. He just wasn't ready for the stress of this competition.

Other random thoughts about designers:

-So far I'm really digging Mondo. He reminds me of a punk-ier Christian, and I like his aesthetic and his unusual design process. I was legitimately moved when he had his breakdown moment, talking about how he thinks his genius has somehow made him an outcast. Won't someone love Mondo?

-Valerie is also one to watch. She's a little hyper, but I love her backstory - incredibly poor childhood, the only way to make the cheap clothes interesting was to redesign them herself - and she's got a sophisticated, but fun aesthetic.

-A.J. just LOVES to badmouth people, and that is going to get his ass in trouble. I do respect him for shooting down Casanova when Casanova tried to pick his brain for design advice. Stick to your guns, kid. His garment this week had technical problems, but at least it was interesting to look at.

-I like Peach, and I was glad that she didn't cut, but she's got to quit it with the self-defeating attitude. She's kind of Sweet Pea-ish to me, but less biker and more fun aunt. I hope she sticks around a little while longer.

-I cannot stand to listen to Michael D speak. He reminds me of a gay male Paris Hilton with that insipid, drawling purr, and I just want to static kill his mouth with my fist. That said, I actually liked some of the elements in his look this week.

-Andy intrigues me. I can see where one of his competitors got the criticism that his designs are very "student work" (it was Gretchen, I think - told you she was a stealth bitch), but I like his sense of color and I think he adds some interesting touches. The problem is, he adds TOO much. The silly transforming sleeves have got to go.

-Casanova irritates the shit out of me. He likes to play the language-barrier card with Tim, but I think (and several of the designers seem to agree with me) that that barrier is a lot more porous than he leads Tim and the judges to believe. Last week he sent out hooker ware, this week he sent out something Krystle Carrington would have worn. Huh? Very matronly. And the fact that he can't seem to design anything without getting advice from other designers? This guy doesn't have a clue what he's doing.

-Kristin's dress was actually pretty badass, although a bit muted. I liked the odd angles and the imperfections, and the neck ruffle was beautiful. But she lost any respect I had for her when she said that Jason getting eliminated was "so unfair." Shut up, Kristin.

Next week: A.J. vs. Gretchen (TEAM A.J.), Casanova plays the language-barrier card again with Tim, and someone (from the clips it looks like Ivy) is taken away in an ambulance.