Episode 5 – Living Department Store Window

This week, the designer’s must work together to execute a “living window display” on the runway.

Nikki Poulos and Barbara Bates are the first up tonight, and it was clear from the get that it would be an up hill battle. They pulled through, presenting a fairly cohesive look for the mentors and buyers.

Barbara presented an elegant, high-waisted dress — while Nikki opted for a full-length maxi-dress with a plunging V-neckline.

No offers for Barbara, with Saks’ Terron E. Schaeffer noting, “I did find the fabric choices a little odd for spring.”

Saks Fifth Avenue and H&M battle it out for Nikki’s dress, with H&M winning the bid at $80,000.

Nikki Poulos’ long printed dress is already sold out online.

Ronnie Escalante and Lucianna Scarabello are up next, but not before we get to see how great friends they’ve become throughout the competition.

Lucianna nabs a $100,000 bid from Saks for her elegant sheath dress, which is probably amongst my favorite designs so far this season. So chic.

Ronnie gets his first sale of the season (and a bidding war, no less) for his backless design. Macy’s and H&M were both crazy for it — with Macy’s winning out with a $100,000 bid.

Lucianna Scarabello’s elegant sheath dress, now available from Macy’s

Ronnie Escalante’s beautiful and versitile low-v sheath dress, now available from Macy’s

Ross Bennett, Sarah Parrott and Orly Shani are next up, who opt for a Gossip Girl theme. Sarah creates three different versions of a reversable blazer, while Ross sticks to his southern-guns and designs a vest, with the enthusiasm of mentor Jessica Simpson to cheer him on. “I’m thinking paisley,” she exclaims. The mentors seem to love it, with John Varvatos exclaiming to Nicole, “Ross, sexing it up!”

I thought the vests were seriously heinous on the runway, but the mentors buyers seemed to disagree — with Macy’s offering a $50,000 bid. They clearly did something to alter the design, ’cause it looks way better now that it’s in production.

Ross Bennett’s double-breasted vest, now available from Macy’s

Orly is having a creative meltdown — and decides last-minute to scrap her original design, and instead go with a pair of shorts. It turns out to not be such a hot choice, and the mentors have no problem letting her know.

“If I was on Gossip Girl, I would say WTF… The fit was just terrible. Your model had a wedgeina,” Nicole snipped. “I’m so confused.”

Nicole Richie really isn’t down for wedgeinas. Like, seriously.

No offers, and Orly finds herself in the bottom tonight.

Sarah Parrott lands yet another bid from H&M this week with a $60,000 order. H&M’s Nicole Christie warned her she’ll need to start appealing to the other buyers if she wants to win the big grand prize. “To be the winner you have to design and sell to all three of the retailers up here,” Christie said. “I have a huge belief in you. I want to see you going far in this competition, and you need to take heed to what the mentors are saying to you.” “I’m just trying to figure out, I guess, like… how to have something all three of you want, and still be me,” Parrott replied. “It’s been a big challenge. A very big one.”

Sarah Parrott sees another week with H&M, this time for her reversable fitted blazer

Kara Laricks, Edmond Newton and Nzimiro Oputa are the last showcase of the evening.

For some reason, Edmond decides to switch from a women’s design to men’s button-up shirt. Umm… Okay. “I can honestly say I’m affraid for Edmond this week,” Nzimiro says. “He decided to just bluntly go over to menswear, which is what I’ve been doing.”

Nzimiro designed a great casual jacket in three colours, while Kara designed a loose-fitting shirt-dress.

“You didn’t throw the blow me away piece of of men’s,” John comments about Edmonds shirt. I didn’t really get what Edmond was thinking either, especially at this stage of the game. No bids for him, and he finds himself in the bottom.

“I’m honestly just feeling a little confused at this stage of the competition,” said a dismayed Caprice Willard of Macy’s.

Edmond Newton tries his hand at menswear, and fails.

Nzimiro also finds himself without a buy tonight, with Caprice noting she’d like to see more range from his designs. “I have to tell you that I get you do phenomenal outerwear. I’m interested in seeing what’s next. The long-term goal is the capsule collection… That’s why there’s really not an offer for you tonight.”

Kara also finds herself without a buy. “This is not my favorite thing you’ve done,” Nicole Christie commented.

Five designers were left without buys tonight, and the buyers place Orly, Barbara and Edmond in the bottom three.

The mentors decide to use their “save” on the lovable Barbara. “The world needs a little bit more crazy,” exclaimed John Varvatos. “Was that a compliment?!” Barbara asked. “A big compliment,” replied Varvatos.

In the end, it was Ohio native Edmond Newton who was eliminated.

Join us each week for another recap of NBC’s new hit, Fashion Star!