Hopefully those Stylista fans who may have missed an episode caught up with everything on the recap show last week.

Last night’s new episode was a welcome return to the Elle offices where Ashlie, Megan, Dyshaun, Johanna, and Kate prepared for their next challenge.

Assistant’s Challenge:

The remaining five Stylistas were given their assistant’s task: Prepare a room for a supermodel Maggie Rizer and her dogs for her visit to New York for a photo shoot. With $300 dollars in hand the model’s list of items requested the Stylistas set off to prepare the best suite. We honestly thought Kate who seemed to zoom past everyone else and get everything on the list would win. However, it was Dyshaun who chose to focus on quality not quantity when picking which items to get who Maggie Rizer chose as the winner. He was also smart enough to keep the food on the low table wrapped so her dogs wouldn’t eat it.

Editorial Challenge

Dyshaun chose the teams for the editorial challenge where the team would style, create, and direct a shoot for an Elle layout. In the same formula that everyone has used in previous episodes, Dyshaun tries to eliminate a strong competitor (Ashlie) by putting her with the weakest perceived competitor (Kate).

Honestly, based on the shoot and the chemistry within the team we were conviced Team One’s Ashlie and Kate would win with their 80’s inspired colorfest. Team Two, led by Dyshaun, seemed to keep it too basic with their shoot and layout and we assumed they would chastised for this by Anne and Joe.

Eliminations

After a heated argument where Dyshaun and Kate had a war of words over Kate’s refusal to help name a hairstlist for the layout credits(can you blame her?), it was time for eliminations. We must say were all on pins and needles wondering who would rule in the boardroom.

Ultimately, although Anne and Joe wish that Team Two would have taken more chances they felt the layout was very “Elle” and was cohesive. Ashlie’s decision to have multiple pictures on a page, as well as the overworked concept, was criticized and Team Two won the challenge. Ashlie and Kate faced eliminations. Depsite, Kate’s plea that Team Two never checked in with their hair and makeup team during the shoot she was not saved from being eliminated and was told by Anne she was not the “right fit” .

Kate left on a good note, thanking Anne and Joe for all she learned and happily carrying her banker’s box into the office. We’re not certain but we can bet she won’t miss Dyshaun.

We open last night’s episode right where we left off on Episode 3 with Ashlie and others balling their eyes out at Cologne’s elimination. Back at the house the sadness and shock don’t subside and the Stylista’s prepare for the next challenge.

Assistant’s Challenge

The following morning Devin receives a call from Brett asking she and all the Stylista’s to meet her at Department store Henri Bendel where they will be personal shopping for Anne. While most are excited about this challenge there is also a feeling of terror at having to pick out an outfit that Anne will find both suitable and stylish.

The Stylista’s rush around the store on a tight $1,000 budget trying to put together Anne’s look and then meet Brett on the street with their outfit for Anne’s inspection. Just like the breakfast challenge we marvel at the unknowing mistakes some of the Stylista’s make in picking out pieces for Anne. How was Ashlie to know that Anne loves color but not orange which she says is unflattering on her? To make matters worse Brett announces two Stylistas will go home.

Anne picked Devin’s sapphire colored tie-neck blouse and cream pants as the winner of the assistant challenge making her the Stylista responsible for picking the teams for the editorial challenge.

Editorial Challenge

Brett announces that the Stylistas will be split into teams of two where they will style a fashion spread with a look from designer Tory Burch. Devin picks team one as Danielle, Ashlie, Kate, and Megan seriously denying she chose the members based on their friction. Then she chose her own team choosing to work with Dyshaun, William, and Johanna. Immediately there is friction as team one tries to plan their layout. They all four have different ideas and Kate continues to threaten that she will be heard or she will say something at eliminations.Team two seems to agree and it appears as though with their cohesiveness and their and team work that they will take home the win.

In the prop store Ashlie, Danielle, and Kate lean towards a retro feel as Megan seems to feel like they should go in another direction. Kate picks a retro TV she loves and thinks it will be perfect for the shoot. Team two decides on a minimalist aesthetic which seems risky but depending on the team works it could actually be fashion-forward. Team one continues to argue as they build the set and even as the model comes unto their set to pose. Megan retreats and barely participates. Meanwhile, team two seems to be working smoothly with mannequins lined along a back wall with their model as the focal point in the room.

Eliminations

It’s no surprise that Tory Burch herself is the guest judge and the Stylistas seem delighted to have her. Although Tory admits she was not inspired by a retro feeling when she designed the beaded tunic she likes Team One’s layout. Anne and Joe agree but feel similar to Megan as far as taking a theme and being too literal. As Megan proceeds to tell the judges they worked as a team and she went with the concept, Kate intercedes and tells them this is untrue. Additionally Danielle admits that she helped plan but basically abandoned their photo shoot. Tory was confused by Team Twos concept and found the mannequins strange. Anne and Joe did not like it either however Joe did commend them for taking a risk and being fashion forward.

Although Team Two took a risk with their layout it feel flat and they lost to Team One. It was down to Dyshaun, Devin, and William as the bottom three. Ultimately William was eliminated for not showing his point-of-view and Devin for her lack of leadership and point-of-view. We leave the group as Dyshaun is welcomed with open arms and the eliminated two pack their boxes.

Watch the trailer for next week when the Stylistas will have to dress to the nines and network. Can you say drama?

We reluctantly bid adieu to dear Cologne this week on Stylista, shortly after commencing a love affair with her  East-Coast-meets-West-Coast fashion and flavor. No, it was certainly not Cologne’s time to go. But saying goodbye to the show does not mean the end of the road for this Stylista. Since her reality TV debut, Cologne has started her very own clothing line, “Oh de Cologne,” which features vintage-inspired pieces blended with Southern California style. We had a chance to speak with Cologne and get her thoughts about her time on the show, her elimination, and what’s next. We absolutely adore this Styista and know you will too!

SeenON! : We couldn’t help but notice your great fashion sense on the show. What are some of your fashion inspirations?

Cologne : Definitely vintage fashions. I like to pull from the 60s, 70s, and a little bit from the 80s. I fell in love with the vintage stores in San Francisco when I was in college, but I also like styles from H&M and Forever 21.

SO! : Who inspired you on the show…fashion-wise?

C: Ashlie, because she wears whatever she wants and she owns it! Also Dyshaun - he’s such a great stylist.

SO! : You grew up in Newport and studied at Cal. But you now live in New York. Which do you like more - East Coast or West Coast?

C: I love New York City right now! Everyone from New York knows I’m from California because of the way I look and act, and the fashions I like to wear. I love Newport too, though. I want to go back and raise my family there some day.

SO!:There were certainly some intimidating moments on the show. How do you think your experience on Stylista compares to working for a major fashion magazine like Elle?

C: It was definitely a crash course in fashion editing! I learned so much and I will take it with me throughout my career.

SO!:With all the editing that happens behind a reality show, do you feel like the cast members were accurately portrayed?

C: I think they did a good job getting the villain and the crazy girl down. They jumbled a few of my sentences and cut out some major parts of the presentations, so sometimes it looked like I didn’t have much to say. They made it look like I was the leader for the Trends Page challenge, but that wasn’t true - I just did the most work so we could get it done.

SO! : We’re sure you’re tired of hearing it, but, for the record, should Kate have been eliminated?

C: Are you kidding me? It was such a joke. They didn’t put it in the show, but the cast took a poll of who they thought would win the competition and I was the winner. Everyone knew Kate should have gone home.

SO! : Just for kicks, if you had to be stuck on a desert island with one other Stylista, who would it be and why?

C: Either William or Ashlie - they’re both amazing. William is absolutely hilarious and Ashlie is so talented.

SO!: We heard that you started your own line since the show. Care to plug?

C: Yes! It’s called Oh de Cologne, and right now it features five dresses and crystal cologne bottle necklaces. Pieces are only available online right now, but I’m working on getting them into stores.

Last night we were introduced to the eleven stylistas Arnaldo,Ashlie, Cologne, Danielle, Devin, Dyshaun, Jason, Johanna,Kate, Megan, and William who are vying to the the next Junior Editor at Elle.This first episode had everything we dream of: cattiness, anguish, and fashion.

Despite their best effort on each stylistas part to create a healthy and stylish breakfast, it was fashion assistant Ashlie who won the assistant’s challenge by preparing Anne Slowey, clad in sky-high pumps and a YSL necklace, a simple and chic breakfast tray. Later that day Joe Zee, Elle’s Creative Director, was called in to teach the group about style the ” Elle way.”

Due to Ashlie’s win Brett Ramey, Elle’s Photo Director announces that she will get to pick the teams for the editorial challenge where each team will be let loose in H&M to put together cohesive looks, put on a fashion show for Anne and Elle staffers, and then create a contributors page describing those looks. Brett, cleverly puts the bug in her ear to “strategize” about her picks to give her team an advantage. Once we saw that Ashlie placed each of the stylistas with the poorest remarks from Joe Zee together we knew the next segment was going to be fun. We also know judging from the look on Megan’s face that she is NOT thrilled about the team she’s been placed on by Ashlie. Can anyone say tension.

The following day each team picks their looks from H&M. Some groups such as team two had a bit of a power struggle as Megan took the lead totally disregarding most of what Arnaldo and Danielle said. Even group three had the issue of whiny Kate who complained about the looks not being “her.”

Back at Elle (okay the fake Elle), each group got a chance to work it in the fashion show and present Anne with their stellar style. Then it was off to the office where each group worked together to make their contributors page. Again, team two struggled as Megan convinced her team it was to be 30 words per group not per person. Once in the boardroom where the stylistas presented their pages to Anne it was clear not only that Megan got the assignment wrong but others like group three missed the mark with their bright yellow page.

Ultimately, it was group one Ashlie, Cologne, Johanna, and Dyshaun that took home the win with their ‘The Belles of Elle‘ layout. Watch clips and read more about the stylistas here.

Stay tuned next week for more power struggles and …(gasp!) even an ambulance!