It takes a lot to win “Project Runway.” It’s hard enough just not to lose every week since the designers only get one or two days to create an entire look from scratch. So there’s no shame in having an off day. Nevertheless, these are the worst looks of season 19 according to the judges. Did they get it right by picking these as the poorest designs? Or did you think any of them were criminally underrated? Scroll down to see the losing looks, updating each week as the season progresses.
The season started with 16 designers: Octavio Aguilar, Darren Apolonio, Kenneth Barlis, Caycee Black, Bones Jones, Coral Castillo, Meg Ferguson, Prajje Oscar Jean-Baptiste, Kristina Kharlashkina, Katie Kortman, Shantall Lacayo, Chasity Sereal, Sabrina Spanta, Aaron Michael Steach, Zayden Skipper, and Anna Zhou.
Ultimately, only one of them can win the grand prize: $250,000, a feature in Elle Magazine, and a mentorship with the Council of Fashion Designers of America. So eventually almost all of them will have a bad day that takes them out of contention. Making those decisions each week are Elle editor-in-chief and “Project Runway” mainstay Nina Garcia, journalist Elaine Welteroth, fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, and a rotating roster of guest judges including designer Jason Wu, social media influencer Wisdom Kaye, actress Taraji P. Henson, and many more.
In the fickle world of fashion, one day you’re in and the next you’re out. But fashion is in the eye of the beholder. So what did you think of these designs that gave the judges nightmares?
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Episode 1: ‘A Colorful Return’
Image Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Caycee Black
Challenge: For two teams of eight designers each to create cohesive collections of monochromic looks inspired by the cool and warm ends of the color spectrum.
What the Judges Thought: They thought this mauve coat dress looked unfinished and was unflattering on the model. Black was in the bottom two with Chasity Sereal, but judges decided to send Black home from the competition first.
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Episode 2: ‘#Streetwear’
Image Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo Bottom Designer: Darren Apolonio
Challenge: The designers had to create personal, fashionable streetwear looks to impress guest judges and social media fashion icon Wisdom Kaye.
What the Judges Thought: The judges thought there were too many ideas going on in this dated costume of a look. But because designer Meg Ferguson had withdrawn from the competition earlier during the challenge, the judges decided not to send anyone home.
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Episode 2: ‘#Streetwear’
Image Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo Bottom Designer: Kenneth Barlis
Challenge: The designers had to create personal, fashionable streetwear looks to impress guest judges and social media fashion icon Wisdom Kaye.
What the Judges Thought: The patchwork vest reminded judges of a soccer uniform or crossing guard. But because designer Meg Ferguson had withdrawn from the competition earlier during the challenge, the judges decided not to send anyone home.
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Episode 3: ‘If You Got It, Haunt It’
Image Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Kenneth Barlis
Challenge: To create spooky gowns for a masquerade ball inspired by their stay at a haunted mansion.
What the Judges Thought: They thought this snake-like look looked confusing and unfinished, and the mask looked like a Batman costume underneath a veil. Barlis was at the bottom with Bones Jones, but after Barlis spent two weeks in a row in the bottom two, the judges decided to send him home and acknowledged that he might just need more time to put together a complete look.
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Episode 4: ‘Flower Power’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Darren Apolonio
Challenge: To design high-fashion looks using newly created floral prints that the designers worked with graphic artists to create.
What the Judges Thought: Nina Garcia thought the floral print was something she’s seen before and thus not original or exciting. Elaine Welteroth asked Darren who his design influences were because she couldn’t get a sense of his artistic identity from the looks he created. Brandon Maxwell agreed that Darren knew how to design but wasn’t yet a designer with his own point of view.
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Episode 5: ‘Go for the Gold … Sequin’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Sabrina Spanta (her design pictured right)
Challenge: Teams of two designed looks for Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir to wear during their 2022 Winter Olympics coverage.
What the Judges Thought: She and Prajje Oscar Jean-Baptiste were the losing team. Spanta was eliminated for the look she designed for Weir because the judges thought it looked like a costume. Weir himself commented that it was like a “cartoon version” of what a figure skater would wear. It didn’t help that this was Spanta’s third time getting a low score from the judges, while Jean-Baptiste had won a previous challenge.
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Episode 6: ‘Fashion is Back, Baby’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Katie Kortman
Challenge: To collaborate with a local accessories designer to create looks to showcase and complement the accessories.
What the Judges Thought: The judges criticized the length of her hem and her fabric choice, and in general her inability to translate her unique and whimsical point of view into runway-ready looks.
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Episode 7: ‘Are You Fur Real?’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Shantall Lacayo (elimination was overturned with Siriano Save)
Challenge: Teams of two collaborated on avant-garde looks using faux fur.
What the Judges Thought: The judges were confused by the design, and especially disliked the pink quilting underneath the fur exterior. They though a lighter material or a catsuit underneath instead would have been much more flattering. Kristina Kharlashkina was responsible for the interior, but she had immunity from winning the previous challenge, so the judges had to eliminate Lacayo instead even though they preferred her fur exterior. Christian Siriano didn’t let that stand, though, using his Siriano Save to veto the judges’ decision.
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Episode 8: ‘Couch Couture’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Octavio Aguilar
Challenge: To create elevated, “comfy chic” looks inspired by the loungewear we all wore during pandemic lockdowns.
What the Judges Thought: The judges didn’t think the oversize hoodie was original,and the oversize sleeves were a disappointing gimmick. They also questioned Aguilar’s taste level and styling with the pink pumps he chose to accessorize with.
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Episode 8: ‘Couch Couture’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Zayden Skipper
Challenge: To create elevated, “comfy chic” looks inspired by the loungewear we all wore during pandemic lockdowns.
What the Judges Thought: The judges agreed that the blue jacket was a success, but the jumpsuit underneath was unflattering and with too much going on, like an “ill fitting cheap snow bunny” about the hit the slopes.
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Episode 9: ‘The Last Straw’
Image Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Prajje Oscar Jean-Baptiste
Challenge: The unconventional materials challenge tasked the designers with creating a cocktail dress using items gathered from a cocktail bar.
What the Judges Thought: The judges disliked his use of pleather for the base of his dress, which had serious fit problems and wasn’t flattering on his model. Nina Garcia liked the color effect, but thought the model was “”drowning in so much doilies.”
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Episode 10: ‘The Housewives’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Anna Zhou
Challenge: A real-client challenge where the designers created looks for “Real Housewives” cast members to wear during their reunion shows.
What the Judges Thought: The judges thought it was poorly constructed and worst of all inappropriate for a “Housewives” reunion show, skewing too gothic.
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Episode 11: ‘Haute Hair’
Image Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Aaron Michael Steach
Challenge: The designers were tasked with creating looks in collaboration with up-and-coming hairstylists.
What the Judges Thought: They were impressed by Aaron’s transparent trench raincoat, but they simply couldn’t forgive the poorly constructed neoprene jumpsuit underneath.
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Episode 12: ‘The Model as Muse’
Image Credit: Barbara Nitke/Bravo Eliminated Designer: Bones Jones
Challenge: Instead of being judged on the runway, the designers were tasked with creating editorial looks to be work by model Coco Rocha during a photo shoot.
What the Judges Thought: The judges didn’t dislike his elegant garment, per se, but the decision to so greatly restrict Rocha’s movement was a fatal error that limited his options during the photo shoot, leading to an underwhelming image. Rocha also thought he was overly aggressive while directing the photo shoot.
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project-runway-kenneth-barlis
Image Credit: Greg Endries/Bravo ‘Project Runway’ season 19 spoilers: Who was eliminated, when, and why?
‘Project Runway’ Winners List (Seasons 1 – 18)
Season 18 winner Geoffrey Mac’s looks, ranked from worst to best
‘Project Runway’ Saves: Who did Tim Gunn and Christian Siriano save from elimination?
Designers who quit ‘Project Runway’: Who left the show and why?
