A dreaded team challenge. Each duo had to create two looks, for day and night, based on an iconic New York neighborhood. Not surprisingly, the tension mounted like the national deficit.

Maybe it’s my own control issues at play, but every time there’s a group challenge I end up annoyed to no end. I just can not fathom why a “team leader” would allow the non-leader take over.

In this case, it was team- leader Anthony who let Maya practically run the show – or at least her mouth. On the flip side, in the end, all the teams left the workroom with little drama at all – which deflated some of the episode’s potential.

Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa, who sat in for Michael Kors, joined Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia and actress/model Molly Sims to judge the designs.

(*Denotes team leader)

BEST

*Emilio and Seth Aaron – Harlem

Emilio and Seth both won the challenge − a first for P.R. Emilio injected Seth’s goth tendencies with color, and Seth gave Emilio some much-needed edge. Their day look featured funky denim and gold hardware (top left), while the night look was a floor-length dress with frontal zipper and bright color lining. I think their looks were clearly the best overall, but I agree with Nina that the dress was a bit plain (right).

*Anthony and Maya – China Town

The judges went ga-ga over this collabo. Subtle details like cutouts, origami shapes and structured sleeves, punctuated by color, gave their looks three-dimensional sophistication. Frankly, I thought the origami dragon tail on the evening dress looked like a Pre-K craft project.

WORST

*Amy and Jonathan – Upper East Side

The  orange pleats of the day look sent Amy packing. The judges felt it was “quite ugly.” I didn’t think it was that bad, but it definitely did not reflect their neighborhood. They thought the night look was a slight improvement. I thought that dress was colorless and bland.

*Jay and Mila – East Village

This time Jay’s pants fell flat and his tank top was poorly made. That landed him in the bottom two. On the other hand, Mila’s night look was a bold black-and-white structured jacket with red tights.

ANTHONY SAID…

• “Are those pigs in that window?” … “We don’t do that in Georgia.”

Eyeing ducks on display in China Town restaurant

• “Don’t let that pretty face fool you.”

Referring to Maya and her quiet, yet dominant, nature

• “This is one of your control issues coming back to bite.”

Warning Maya in the work room

• “Everybody on this show is an artist.”

Responding to Maya’s personal assessment

• “We shall leave as three and return as three.”

Channeling success before the runway show