Season 9

Top Designer Season 9 is the eight season of the television show Top Designer. The first episode aired on August 2, 2012.

Returning as judges are supermodel Karolina Kurkova, fashion designer Marc Jacobs, and Elle editor-in-chief Anne Slowey. Tim Gunn returned as a mentor to the aspiring designers.

The winner of this season of Top Designer will receive an editorial feature in an issue of Elle magazine, a cash prize of $100,000 to start his or her own line, an opportunity to sell the line on Bluefly.com, and a $50,000 technology suite from Hewlett-Packard to create, design, and run his or her business. The winning model of this season will receive a $25,000 cash prize and take part in the winning designer's fashion spread in Elle.

Designers
The 16 contestants in Season 9 were:

(ages listed are the designers' ages at the time the show was taped in the spring of 2011.)

Episode 1: Come As You Are
Original Airdate: August 2, 2012

As the season begins, the designers arrive in New York, and awoken by Tim in the early morning hours and they are given their first challenge: transform the pajamas they are wearing and one bed sheet into an outfit of their choice. Dyes, trim, and closures are provided.


 * Guest Judge: Christina Ricci


 * WINNER: Carson
 * ELIMINATED: Sonya

Episode 2: My Pet Project
Original Airdate: August 9, 2012

The designers must create an outfit using only materials found in a pet supply store.


 * Guest Judge: Stacey Bendet


 * WINNER: Christian V
 * ELIMINATED: Mamie

Episode 3: Go Big or Go Home
Original Airdate: August 16, 2012

The designers work on a challenge revolving around a theme called "Larger than Life". In teams of two with a budget of $500 and one day to work, they create outfits for professional stilt walkers. The runway show is at Battery Park, making it the first runway show to be held outside.

Pairs: Alec & Terri, Dominique & Sammie, Blake & Ezekiel, Carson & Dixie, Kary & Kimberly, Christian V & Nicholas, Christina S & Rebecca


 * Guest Judge: Kim Kardashian


 * WINNER: Kimberly
 * ELIMINATED: Terri

Episode 4: All About Anne
Original Airdate: August 23, 2012

The designers create a look for judge Anne Slowey that should be wearable by Slowey during work and for an industry event at night. The winning design will be featured in a Elle editorial and on a billboard atop a New York City taxicab.


 * Guest Judge: Kerry Washington, Joanna Coles


 * WINNER: Blake
 * ELIMINATED: Alec

Episode 5: Off the Track
Original Airdate: August 30, 2012

The designers meet at the New Balance Track and Field Center in New York City and are challenged to create apparel to wear with a new Heidi Klum for New Balance lifestyle sneaker from Klum's collection. The designers work in teams of three, with team leaders chosen by holding a foot race at the Track and Field Center. The winning looks will be sold as part of Klum's collection exclusively on Amazon.com.


 * Guest Judge: Erin Wasson


 * WINNER: Christian V
 * ELIMINATED: Sammie

Episode 6: The Art of the Matter
Original Airdate: September 6, 2012

The designers each work together with an art student to create a painting, and then must design an avant-garde look that reflects their art work. They have a budget of $300 and two days to complete their look.


 * Guest Judge: Kenneth Cole


 * WINNER: Christian V
 * ELIMINATED: Ezekiel

Episode 7: Fashion Technology
Original Airdate: September 13, 2012

The designers plug into computer technology to help create signature fabric designs in a challenge that forces them into working in two teams of five. Wielding video cameras, they also venture out into the city to capture the stories behind their inspirations.


 * Guest Judge: Rachel Roy, Rose Byrne


 * WINNER: Dixie
 * ELIMINATED: Christian S.

Episode 8: What Women Want
Original Airdate: September 20, 2012

The contestants are introduced to nine men on the runway and, in a seamless twist, discover they must design for the men's significant others. Actress Malin Akerman is the guest judge.


 * Guest Judge: Malin Akerman


 * WINNER: Kimberly
 * ELIMINATED: Dominique

Episode 9: Image Is Everything
Original Airdate: September 27, 2012

The outfitters are treated to a special performance from their new client, the up-and-coming band The Sheepdogs.


 * Guest Judge: Adam Lambert


 * WINNER: Kimberly
 * ELIMINATED: Rebecca

Episode 10: Sew 70s
Original Airdate: October 4, 2012

The remaining designers do the time warp when fashions from the 1970s inspire their creations.


 * Guest Judge: Olivia Palermo


 * WINNER: Kary
 * ELIMINATED: Dixie

Episode 11: This is for the Birds
Original Airdate: October 11, 2012

Birds serve as the inspiration for the looks in this challenge. Designers are paired up, with each pair assigned a bird. They then learn that they are not competing together, but rather head-to-head.


 * Guest Judge: Francisco Costa


 * WINNER: Kary & Kimberly
 * ELIMINATED: Carson

Episode 12: The Finale Challenge
Original Airdate: October 18, 2012

The remaining designers had to create 3 looks from inspirations on Governor's Island. They were assisted by the five most recently eliminated contestants.


 * Guest Judge: Zoe Saldana


 * WINNER: Christian V.
 * ELIMINATED: Nicholas