Things got a little cuckoo on last night’s Project Runway. The designers had to take their inspiration from live birds brought to their work room at Parsons—a cockatoo, an Amazon parrot, a raven, and an owl. The winning designer would snag $ 20,000 and their look would be featured in a L’Oreal Paris advertisement in Marie Claire.

It was only fitting that Joshua McKinley, whose designs are beyond over the top, would draw the yellow, green, and red Amazon parrot. Joshua showed a lot of restraint with this bright orange one-shoulder dress with a beautiful draped back, though Michael Kors did knock him for the "prom corsage."

"Make it Work" for You

"Brights draw attention to you in a good way," says WH Fashion Market Editor Liza Collis. "They’re very ‘in’ right now and will continue to be huge through next summer. They were all over the Spring/Summer runways, so you might as well start practicing the trend now."

"I think the chicest way to wear brights is to mix them with neutrals other than black," Collis says. "A bold tomato red looks great paired with camel and highlighter orange or fluorescent pink is cool with army or olive green. For work, you can even though in a touch of leopard print in a scarf, shoe, or belt."

If you’re hesitant to take the bold plunge, think accessories: "I love a white shirt, jeans, and a really bright bag or shoe." The same holds true for hard-to-wear shades like yellow and neon green. "If you’re unsure of how they look with your hair color or complexion, opt for an accessory instead of a top or dress," Collis says.

Bright makeup is another option: "A bold lip is huge right now," Collis says. "Don’t be afraid to get your shock of color in that way. To find your perfect bold hue, head to the makeup counter and ask for help. Lipstick is an easy way to stay on trend—just keep the rest of your makeup minimal."

Tell us: Do you embrace bright clothing? Or do you prefer to stay out of the (neon) limelight?

Next week is the last group challenge before the remaining designers will create collections to be shown at fashion week. Each designer will be tasked with creating three looks and they’ll get assistance from a former contestant. Watch Project Runway on Thursdays at 9 pm/8 central on Lifetime or watch full episodes on MyLifetime.com.

SPOILER ALERT! Don’t scroll down if you haven’t watched last night’s episode. Here’s who won, and who went home.

Out: Bert Keeter, who shared the winner’s laurels with Anya last week. As Heidi says, "One day you’re in, and the next day you’re out."

Winner: Anya Ayoung Chee, who created a scuptural black dress inspired by a raven. Joshua McKinley was quick to point out that Anya had to cut her dress off the model after the runway, but so far the judges have made very few gripes about her construction.
Designers remaining: 5

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