When Wendy Pepper was growing up, when things were not always going the way she hoped, she dreamed that someday she'd be successful enough to help maintain her family home at Oatlands and help others in need. It did not occur to her that her love of fashion and a civilized life would make both dreams a reality.

Last week, as Wendy continued her winning streak on the Bravo television network's Project Runway, it was more and more clear that her talent as a designer was more than matched by her ability to meet any challenge and shape a strategy for success.

During the last two televised competitions when the designers were judged on their teamwork skills and on their ability to collaborate with a customer without descending into "dressmaker" status rather than that of "designer," Wendy not only made the cut, she began to demonstrate clearly the courage and dedication it takes to succeed in the cut-throat fashion business.

"I have to say Austin was the weakest link on our team," Wendy said frankly. Wendy fairly drew a bead on the overly sensitive leader of her team on the teamwork challenge show on which each team was asked to create a design for a young rock and roll singer in need of a fashion make-over.

By focusing on the lack of leadership exhibited by the young, overly obvious Yves St. Laurent worshiper, Wendy focused the judges precisely on the most critical element of teamwork: leadership. Her intelligent and brave comment shocked not only Austin, who, within minutes was in a state of complete collapse, but many of the other competitors who have trouble getting a fix on the Middleburg designer.

Although Austin's three-person team lost the teamwork competition, Wendy and Austin made it through to the next week's customer collaboration challenge.

The losing designer was Vanessa, a talented Texan who told the judges she was the weakest link on the team because she did not sew well, thereby, assuring her dismissal as an individual who lacked both confidence and strategic brilliance.

When asked to compete in the next show, the challenge was the "Designer Client Relationship." Each designer was asked to choose a model with the understanding that their model would be their client in search of her perfect wedding dress.

No lack of nightmare proportions here. The customized wedding dress may be the most challenging assignment any designer ever faces. Dressmakers simply attempt to create what is requested of them. Theoretically, a fashion designer brings his or her style to the equation and refines the customer's vision without in any way making the customer feel her idea was lost to a dictatorial designer.

Although Austin is still really angry about Wendy's comment about his lack of leadership and "doesn't consider her his friend anymore," Wendy understands that success is not a popularity contest and is totally focused on her model's suggestions about her wedding dress.

Totally professional throughout the entire design and production process, Wendy creates a beautiful, languid design that not only looks lovely but makes her model immensely happy.

"It's critical and difficult to keep your client happy and maintain your own style," says judge Michael Kors, and Wendy agrees absolutely. "You always want to maintain control," she says, "but when your customer has definite ideas, collaboration becomes the goal if you want to be successful."

The wedding dress designs were wonderful, everything from classic, satin columns and beautiful pleated tiers of sheer organza, to leather bustiers and Austin's aqua, spaghetti strapped can-can extravaganza. Not one model complained. Each insisted her dress was "exactly" what she wanted, but few creations were real collaborations.

For anyone in the Middleburg and Northern Virginia area who knows Wendy Pepper's designs, it was gratifying to see how closely her dress reflected her beautiful evening gown style without losing a bit of the brief her model had given her.

Once again, Wendy Pepper makes the cut.