After watching Sarah "anti-gay, pro-life, anti-evolution, doesn’t believe man is responsible for global warming vomit bag" Palin (no judgment) rev up the evangelical base last night at the Republican National Convention, me and the gays were hurtin’ for some good Runway. Fortunately, we got some. Spoiler alert: I woke up yesterday with a funny feeling that my favorite PR designer (hint: she has a boyfriend named Ratbones) was going to bite the dust.

The episode began with the nine remaining designers lined up near the runway awaiting their surprise guest (Blayne was praying it would be Mary-Kate Olsen) who turned out to be…Tim Gunn. Gunn then took the designers down to the meat-packing district where they were introduced to legendary designer (and sexy sexagenarian!) Diane Von Furstenberg. She looks classy and smoking hot and the designers are foaming at the mouth over meeting her, especially Kenley, who bawls relentlessly. Their task is to create a look for her fall collection inspired by the film Foreign Affair starring the sexy and androgynous Marlene Dietrich. The winner will have his or her outfit available to purchase by American Express card holders and proceeds will benefit  the CFDA Foundation.

Back at Parsons, the designers get to work. Joe is going for a layered look with a backless oriental-inspired top, Jerell is busting out a jacket, top and skirt, Suede wants to do something inspired by Berlin with a camouflage twist, Kenley is sticking to a simple one-piece evening dress and Stella goes for a look with a cape (d’oh!). Now that we’ve whittled down the group to a handful of recognizable designers, PR is cranking up the catty factor. Joe disses Terri as a one-trick pony while Leanne admits that at this point, it’s every designer for himself. In an odd sequence, they have her popping in and out of the design room like a spy. I think PR staged this.

Tim Gunn enters with his comments:

Suede: "Visually I’m not getting it. Think about the shape."
Leanne: "The dress has such a sublime shape. The jacket is too long. You have thinking to do."
Joe: "You’re being ambitious."
Kenley: "I see Shanghai." (She’s still crying by the way)
Korto: "Yellow looks like a bra strap. Work, work, work."

The next morning opens with Jerell in his boxer briefs. After losing Wesley and Keith we’re settling for Jerell as our resident hottie. At Parsons, Tim Gunn enters and announces, "I think you have the ability to blow Diane Von Furstenberg’s stilettos right off those fabulous legs of hers." As the designers put on the final touches we learn that Kenley is worried for Stella, and Joe is super-confident about his dress (while Leanne thinks it looks like a cheap costume).

On the runway, Diane Von Furstenberg appears again as guest judge and looks outstanding. Meanwhile, Fern Mallis, Senior vice-president at IMG Fashion, limply filled in for PR regular Nina Garcia. As the models walked the runway, here were our crew’s at-home comments:

Joe: Colors are not good together. Cheap, cheap, cheap.
Leanne: She pulled it! Oh yeah!
Jerell: What the hell?
Korto: A little too Ooly.
Blayne: She looks like a clown.
Suede: It’s boring enough to stay in.
Kenley: What’s with the Shanghai thing?
Stella: Wait a second, Mary, might be top three.

And the judges’ comments:

Korto: "I do like the bright yellow. It’s very pretty." - Diane Von Furstenberg
Joe: "The hole in the back looks messy." - Heidi Klum and "It’s just odd." - Michael Kors
Kenley: "It’s not that difficult in my eyes." - Heidi Klum
Stella: "It’s like Dracula’s cape." - Diane Von Furstenberg and "The crotch is a nightmare." - Michael Kors
Leanne: "Both of these pieces are beautiful." - Heidi Klum
Suede: Did you get dressed in the dark?" - Michael Kors

The judges picked Kenley, Leanne and Korto as their faves and Stella, Joe and Suede and their least faves.

Our picks:
Winner: Leanne
Loser: Joe

The judges picks:
Winner: Leanne
Loser: Stella

So after eight weeks of street smart sass, Stella got sent home with one of her own best lines: "It was Stella who brought a cool look and a classy edge." I’ll miss you Stella! Meanwhile, congrats to Leanne. She has gone from being one of the most nondescript designers on the show to twice in a row winning the competition with stylish and edgy looks. Does the double win give her tentative frontrunner status? We’ll see.

And then there were 8…