‘Project Runway’ Season 21’s Best Looks so Far (PHOTOS)
[Warning: The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Project Runway Season 21 Episodes 1-4.]
Project Runway is back, and Heidi Klum isn’t the only returning star. While Tim Gunn is inexplicably not involved (he reportedly wasn’t asked to participate), the show’s biggest success story, Christian Siriano, has stepped into his role as mentor and Nina Garcia is back as judge. Joining them is the stylist of the moment: Law Roach, known for making Zendaya his fashion muse.
There are a select few contestants who previously competed on the show and are being given a second chance in Season 21, and the Project Runway cast’s first challenges were revealed in the two-episode premiere on Thursday, July 31, on Freeform (the series previously aired on Bravo).
Project Runway Season 21 Episode 1 embraced the show’s new home on Freeform, which is owned by Disney, giving the designers a debut challenge where they were split into two teams: House of Princess and House of Villain. In Episode 2, the challenge was a complete 180 from the first. The teams (which got a new setup after Episode 1’s winning designer had the power to switch out a team member) were tasked with designing a collection of athletic wear that was functional and fashion-forward, good enough to go from workout to weekend. The challenge was set in partnership with athleisure brand Calia, and the company will produce and sell the winning collection as the grand prize. The teams got new names: House of Burn and House of Lotus.
While House of Princess lost the first challenge, it still had a standout look in the debut episode. The eliminated player from Episode 2’s losing team, House of Burn, was revealed to be Alex in Episode 3 on August 7, and Angelo was eliminated in Episode 4 on August 14. But Ethan was a stone’s throw away from going home, according to Heidi.
Episode 4 marked the first solo challenge of the season, and one that’s been a highlight of every Project Runway season before it: the unconventional materials challenge. The episode featured Abbott Elementary stars Chris Perfetti and Lisa Ann Walter, who instructed the designers to select their materials from a middle school gym. The episode came with a huge twist: the contestants will choose who goes home. Find out who got cut in Episode 5 on Thursday, August 21.
Here, we break down the best looks from Project Runway Season 21 so far, with updates to come each week as the series continues. Scroll through the gallery below to see our top picks.
Project Runway, Thursdays, 9/8c, Freeform
Episode 1: Ethan (House of Villain, Winner)
Ethan Mundt may be a familiar face for Ru Paul’s Drag Race fans. The designer is also known as Utica Queen in the drag world and competed on Drag Race Season 13. Ethan’s drag experience contributed to the drama and camp of their high-fashion look for the House of Villain, and it paid off in the form of the first win of the season.
Episode 1: Yuchen (House of Villain)
Yuchen was a top contender for the first win and received the most praise for making the look wearable and desirable outside of the context of the Disney theme.
Episode 1: Madeline (House of Princess)
This was the best look from the losing team. Madeline hated being on the princess side, as her style doesn’t align with skirts and dresses that you associate with a princess. But she achieved a well constructed fairytale look with edge that made the judges compliment her sewing prowess.
Episode 1: Jesus (House of Villain)
This look was divisive among the judges. While Heidi and Nina loved it, Law hated it and said that it aged up the youthful model. Law felt Jesus wasn’t considerate enough to the model’s curves, while Heidi felt it allowed the curves to stand out in ways that designers typically don’t.
Episode 2: Jesus (House of Lotus, Winner)
Law went from making Jesus cry with his critiques of his first look to being “shut up” by his second. This athletic design was the winner of Episode 2 and will be produced and distributed by Calia. Guest judge Sara Foster, along with Heidi and Nina, all said they were going to buy the look and wear it.
Episode 2: Joseph McRae (House of Lotus)
Joseph McRae (you have to say both parts) stunned the runway with his athleisure look that was immediately recognizable as his personal style. The structured, futuristic, angular coat was peeled away to reveal a bralette top that, when combined with the matching shorts underneath the skirt, made for a fabulous workout look. The coat and hat and sunglasses made for a perfect transition into the weekend.
Episode 2: Belania (House of Lotus)
Belania impressed the judges with the options and detail this look provides. You could wear the top with or without the sheer turtleneck underneath, which Nina praised, and Sara complimented the flattering wide waistband that would work for any body type.
Episode 2: Ethan (House of Burn)
Ethan was the leader of the losing team, but had the best look from it, the judges agreed. The collection lacked cohesion, but Ethan’s sleek jumpsuit with a fin down the entire side was a fierce standout. It also evoked the feel of Violet Chachki’s transforming tartan garment from Drag Race Season 7.
Episode 2: Yuchen (House of Burn)
While his team lost, Yuchen’s look made him safe from elimination. We didn’t see judge commentary on this ensemble, but its edgy biker feel was a unique take on the challenge’s prompt (even if the skirt may need a little lengthening for practical reasons).
Episode 3: Belania (House of Jesus, Winner)
This episode’s challenge was to take drab fabric and make it fab. House of Jesus got a grey wool, and House of Ethan got denim. House of Jesus was the winner, and it wasn’t even close.
Law gave Belania’s look high praise, saying that he would dress Zendaya in it without question. As the winner of the challenge, guest judge Sofía Vergara will be wearing the look herself.
Episode 3: Joseph McRae (House of Ethan)
This was really the only outfit of note from House of Ethan, sadly. Ethan’s “showstopper” theme didn’t produce a cohesive collection, but Joseph McRae made a standout ensemble here.
Episode 3: Jesus (House of Jesus)
Jesus impressed Law by making him “shut up” again with this elegant design. It got high praise from the rest of the judges as well and was a contender for the grand prize.
Episode 4: Yuchen (Winner)
Yuchen won the unconventional materials challenge (the first solo challenge of the season) with this look made only of soccer balls. There was also a solo judge for this runway set in the work room, Law. The stylist said that Yuchen’s look reminded him of early Lady Gaga, which was a big compliment for Yuchen, who was inspired by the singer for this design.
Episode 4: Veejay
Law praised Veejay’s dress made of shuttlecocks (the birdie in badminton). Veejay succeeded in making this plastic material look like elegant lace.
Episode 4: Ethan
After nearly going home earlier in the episode (Heidi said that if it was in her control only, she would’ve sent Ethan home for their failed leadership and design in the previous challenge), Ethan proved they deserved to stay with this fabulous dress made of countless plastic butterflies.
Episode 4: Antonio
This look was controversial. Law placed Antonio in the bottom three because he hated its styling with the denim boots, but admitted that the dress was great and could be worn at the Grammys. Antonio fulfilled the challenge’s prompt with an impressive look, so to land in the bottom three just for the shoes was a shock. But not as shocking as the fact that the contestants themselves had to pick who’s going home, causing tears during the tense deliberations.
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