They had to work in pairs to create one innovative look, a reorganization that led to the following conclusions: Kate loves to boss Tu around, Stanley prefers Layana to Richard (much to Richard’s dismay), and no one wants to work with poor Patricia, despite the fact that the judges often love her designs.

I know not everyone is a fan of the unconventional-materials challenges, but I personally really enjoy them – yes, I said it. They lead to some gorgeous creations. And this particular unconventional challenge was fun, although it didn’t quite meet my high hopes for what the designers could do with such a classic DIY project.

On the other hand, there were still a lot of playful, imaginative designs in the workroom. Michelle and Amanda had a great time creating a bold houndstooth-happy outfit, and Stanley and Layana somewhat haltingly worked their way to a fun 50s-inspired zebra print ensemble with pink accents.

The designers first previewed their looks for a group of high school students (a fitting and, according to the designers, absolutely terrifying audience). The students voted for Patricia and Samantha’s leggy space-age number as their favorite creation – despite Tim initially disparaging the look as “bride of the tin woodman” (come again?) in the workroom. The students’ vote supposedly counted toward 20% of the judges’ final decision – and if you have any idea what that actually means, please let me know.

Patricia and Samantha’s dress was also a hit on the runway, with all of the judges loving the unusual look. Unfortunately, Kate and Tu’s uninspired, old-fashioned gown missed the mark completely. Tim called it “boring” in the workroom and the judges unanimously agreed – as did I. Richard and Daniel also had a miss on the runway with their dated gold extravaganza, receiving a stated “zero” from Nina.

The very low lows and the many highlights – with Patricia and Samantha, Stanley and Layana, and Amanda and Michelle all producing strong looks – led to a tough decision, and I must admit that I was a bit surprised by who won, although not so much by who went home. What did you think?

Now on to the After Prom and next week’s challenge! Auf Wiedersehen.

By Shaina Malkin, Staff Writer

Was the winning look Prom Queen–worthy? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or tweet us @ruelala.

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