Today's contestant in the Cydney Payton Design Challenge is Gino Velardi, who is best known around town for his stunning gowns. Seriously, he has this feathered babydoll number that Cat might just kill for...but that's another story, as he's got something else in mind for the director and curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Next week, Payton will announce her pick of the eight designers who accepted the challenge of creating a museum-opening outfit for her.

On to Gino Velardi's artist's statement: