For the first challenge, Rihanna tasks the designers with creating designs inspired by their favorite music artists. While some designers thrive with the creative freedom, others struggle to keep up with their first celebrity design challenge. The mentors are Pharrell Williams, Erin Wasson and Mel Ottenberg.
The designers are challenged to pitch and design a futuristic piece for pop icon Kylie Minogue to wear at the launch party for her new fashion retrospective book. The cast is shaken up when they are forced to rethink their concepts at the 11th hour. Along with the mentors, designer Jeremy Scott helps Kylie choose the winning look.
The designers compete to have Kelly Osbourne wear their look at an upcoming red carpet event. The challenge requires them to give a nod to punk in their designs -- and forego using any black, which proves challenging for most. They meet designer Chris Benz, known as "The Prince of Color," who gives feedback on creating memorable red carpet looks.
The designers meet Miley Cyrus and are challenged to create a sexy club look for her using leather, silk and gold embellishments. Tempers flare when the cast competes to grab hold of the limited materials they are required to use. And later, the designers' creations get scrutinized by Miley's "Momager," Tish Cyrus. Will she be offended by the risqué outfits she sees?
The cast creates "off-duty" rock star looks for singer Carly Rae Jepsen and learns that the winning look will appear in a Glamour.com feature. But before they can begin designing, they must get their ideas approved by Carly Rae's stylist as well as Glamour's fashion news editor. It's a test to see who can handle multiple voices and points of view, and who cannot.
The eight remaining designers must create stage looks for Australian twin sisters Liv and Mim, commonly known as the DJ duo Nervo. The pieces all must incorporate cutting-edge technology like LED lights and fiber optics; however, the real challenge comes when the designers must pair up into teams. Which twosome will learn how to work well together and which will implode? Recording artist Kid Cudi serves as the guest mentor.
The six remaining designers create complementary stage looks for country rock crossover group, The Band Perry, for an upcoming Nashville show. Making menswear for brothers Neil and Reid Perry throws some of the designers into a panic and tests who can adapt to an unfamiliar task.
The designers create looks inspired by old Hollywood glamour for Khloé Kardashian to wear at a Grammy Awards after-party. For the first time throughout the construction process, the designers receive no direction from the mentors. Instead, they must critique each other's work and use the lessons they've learned so far to guide themselves. Recording artist Ne-Yo is guest mentor.
The remaining four designers must create complementary looks for power couple Naya Rivera and Big Sean for his record release party. She wants an exposed midriff and asks that Sean's style move beyond his typical white t-shirt and jeans. But how will the designers create two looks in so little time? Help comes in the form of some very special project assistants.
The designers go head-to-head in an epic fashion show culminating in Rihanna choosing one of the designers to join her design team and ultimately named the winner of Styled to Rock.