Austin presents his swing coat. Meanwhile, Michael says that he doesn't get what the judges like about his work. Nanette says that customers respond to brightly colored coats and, provided it turns out beautifully, Austin's coat could be an entrance-making piece. Austin says that he appreciates Nanette's direct approach to critique. Joanna says that she feels like this design falls on the is-it-hideous, or is-it-fabulous? line. Austin giggles good-naturedly and says that it seems they are always dancing on that line. Austin thinks that the luxury that he has achieved in his look gives him an edge.

Mondo's dress isn't on a form yet. It's a sequence of horizontal swaths of mismatched fabrics. He jokingly relays to Nanette that she referred to his poor sketch as a tin can with a string through it. Joanna asks where his customer would wear this dress and he says a cocktail party or a date. Nanette thinks it's "playwear" and she seems to mean that in a positive way. The ladies wish them luck and exit.

Everyone continues to work. Michael feels comfortable with his design. Mondo thinks it's a retread of his earlier work. He likens his own design to a bulldog that's so ugly it's cute. Austin is having some anxiety over the prospect of getting eliminated after making it this far. The next day, Austin notices that his coat looks a little more rumpled than he anticipated. Mondo says that he has never felt so wishy-washy about a design. Michael's dress looks like it is going to fall off of his girl.

Mondo says that Austin's coat is "very Austin Scarlett." Now, he says Austin's name with a bit of a lisp. I don't like this. Austin is certainly a unique guy and someone who doesn't play the gender game like everyone else, but I certainly don't think that he's deserving of slurs against his masculinity, however he conceives of it. He's been, from what I can see, nothing but serious and respectful regarding his relationships with other designers. His own style and demeanor don't seem to me an invitation for ridicule or being demeaned. But, if some dude were the one acting this way, I'd at least have some understanding of the situation (i.e. fear of the feminine that happens from a lot of men). But, Mondo? I'm dumbfounded. Where does this guy get off acting like this? Maybe there's stuff that we didn't see and Austin is so comfortable being himself that he doesn't mind that sort of thing and is OK with laughing at himself, but I wouldn't be taking those liberties in an interview where he wasn't in the room. Seriously, fuck that. Gay dudes acting that way towards other gay dudes is so unacceptable in my book. I'm off the Mondo now. He's incredibly talented, but he's not going to be getting any good vibes from me, not that he needs them. If Austin Freaking Scarlett can't be as gay as he wants to be in a Project Runway workroom without being ridiculed for said gayness, I think it's time for all of us homos to just pack up and move to Toyland. Yes, the North Pole. Where we'll be APPRECIATED.