The essential episodes of Project Runway
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Project Runway — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Design a sexy, glamorous outfit for a night on the town, made from materials bought at a store that all the famous designers go to. Sounds simple, but there's a catch: the venue is no fabric store but is actually a popular Manhattan supermarket. Fantasies of silk and cashmere fly out the window, replaced by panicked visions of plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Everything they will use must be purchased here. With a $50 budget and a mere hour in which to spend it, our twelve hopefuls have their work cut out for them. Tim advises them to be as unconventional as you can be and make it work.
- 02
The contestants are asked to design a "Garden Party" dress. The morning of the challenge Tim Gunn takes them on a field trip to Manhattan's Flower District where they discover they must construct their garments using plants and flowers. They are given an hour to shop and then return to the workroom to begin the painstaking work of making their dresses. Racing against the clock, the designers create an array of stunning work, making it a difficult decision for the judges on the runway. Still, one designer comes out on top and one is sent home, but just barely.
- 03
Fifteen new designers arrive to kick off Season 3. After a champagne toast, the challenges begin. In the first challenge, the source for design is the contents of each designers' Atlas apartment. Designers are given 15 minutes to raid their apartments. They may only use the contents of their own apartment--but they may use any of it (and none of things they brought with them). The first designer is eliminated.
- 04
The final designers are on pins and needles as the winning contestant is revealed in the conclusion of the Season 5 finale. Tim Gunn serves as the guest judge.
- 05
Designers look to four New York neighborhoods for their next team challenge. One designers partner choice leads to a contentions team paring.
- 06
Designers get their first taste at a team challenge when they are split into two teams and tasked with creating a cohesive line to match the hair trends for 2010. Georgina Chapman and Heather Kerzner serve as guest judges.
- 07
20 designers must go in front of Heidi, Michael, Nina and Tim to make a case why they deserve one of the 16 coveted spots this season. Once they are chosen, the 16 designers barely have a chance to celebrate before being awoken at the crack of dawn with one of the toughest first challenges in the series' history. Tim arrives at their apartment to wake the designers up and tells them to grab their bedsheets and come as they are. Their PJ's and bedsheets are their fabric for the first challenge! Actress Christina Ricci serves as guest judge.
- 08
To celebrate the 10th Anniversary season, the designers get a chance of a lifetime to have their designs part of the 10 piece Project Runway Capsule Collection at Lord & Taylor that will be sold in stores and online. Bonnie Brooks from Lord & Taylor guest judges.
- 09
The Guggenheim serves as the latest inspiration for the design teams who take in all the art to create their own print textiles for their garments. The challenge leaves one designer in tears and causes some cat-fighting off the runway show. Designer Tracy Reese guest judges alongside designer Rachel Roy.
- 10
Designers will have to integrate the past, present, and future in their creations when they are challenged to get inspiration from Marie Claire magazines from 20 years ago, to create looks they think will be relevant 20 years in the future. Marie Claire's Editor-In-Chief Anne Fulenwider returns to guest judge with idol Amanda de Cadenet.
- 11
The Finale is here! Three designers have fought for the chance to show their collections to the New York fashion elite and to the world. They will grapple with all aspects of putting together an amazing runway, from model casting to hair and make up to deciding what outfits will give them the best chance for the win. Pressure is at an all time high when they find out the guest judge is legendary designer Diane Von Furstenberg.
- 12
In the premiere of Project Runway, the competition begins with some twists right out of the airport gate. With luggage still in tow, the designers are greeted at the iconic TWA Hotel at JFK airport ready to take flight with their first challenge: to create an innovative look inspired by humanity's continued push into space exploration. In a Runway first, these unfamiliar designers have to pair up and collaborate to make cohesive pieces that blow away the judges or they are out. Fans will also get a chance to own a piece of the designer creations when they vote on the outfits they like best.
- 13
This week the designers are challenged to solve one of fashion's eternal struggles; can comfortable really be chic? But, there's nothing comfortable about designing for a one day challenge with a surprise workroom visit from season 19 winner Geoffrey Mac and pop legend Cyndi Lauper.
- 14
For their very first challenge of the competition, the designers have to rewrite history by reinventing the look that either got them eliminated or gave them the lowest score in their past and turn it into a high-fashion moment for the runways of today. In doing so, they must impress actor, author and activist Alicia Silverstone, who serves as the guest judge.
- 15
Heidi Klum returns to host the iconic competition series. Twelve hopeful new designers are divided into two competing fashion houses and must create a look inspired by Disney princesses and villains.
