Plaid, military, trend chasing, Oh My! In just a few short weeks, fall will officially arrive heralding a packed agenda for the fashion industry. With the cooling temperatures fashionistas can look forward to the Mercedes-Benz Fall Fashion Week in New York, the September issue of Vogue, and, of course, more episodes of “Project Runway,” America’s most watched reality competition among adults.
While “Project Runway” is as fresh and engaging as ever, change is in the air. Two seasons ago, Eli Holzman’s brainchild, turned heads by switching host networks from Bravo to Lifetime. This season producers of “Project Runway” cause another stir by lengthening each episode from one hour to ninety minutes. The adaptation has dramatically altered the flavor of the show. With ninety minutes, “Project Runway” now has time to develop sub-plots that sensationalize the interpersonal relationships among the designers.
Producers have expertly used the extra thirty minutes to develop one storyline casting Gretchen Jones, one of the most talented designers, as an intimidating dictator. After designing a modern black dress with delicately embellished sleeves to win the first challenge, Gretchen’s desire to make her mom proud endeared viewers. After her second challenge-win, Dr. Jekyll emerged. Gretchen began to talk about “setting the bar” for other designers. Quickly contestants on the show divided into pro and anti-Gretchen camps. While Casanova learned to rely on Gretchen’s opinion like a crutch, Peach Carr and April Johnston identified and repelled Gretchen and her superiority complex.
Careful viewers must commend the show’s videographers on their ability to capture popular sentiments with their shot sequences. In one instance the camera caught tension between Gretchen and the other designers and then flashed to a lone tiara sitting on a worktable with the word “Bitch” spelled across the front in red glitter letters.
Viewers watching Project Runway for the first time this season can also expect to see more video diary clips and late night chat sessions over a glass of wine. Camera confessions serve as catharsis for some designers and allow the audience to further understand the quirks that shape each designer’s personality.
Mondo Guerra describes the feelings of alienation his talent and soft demeanor often create. Such video admissions define that emotional whirlwind that viewers have come to expect from “Project Runway.” The increased time frame also gives designers an opportunity to analyze and weigh in on the judges’ decisions, and as faithful viewers of this season know, no designer is close-lipped.
Despite the changes, the latest “Project Runway” episodes share a number of similarities with seasons past. “Project Runway” has continued to play host to a variety of famous faces featuring Selma Blair and Betsey Johnson thus far. In season two, producers similarly winnowed the number of designers in a preliminary episode before the official season start. Ivy’s medical drama will also remind fans of Jack Mackenroth’s health complications in season four. Lucky for Ivy, a quick trip to the hospital mended her as easily as a ripped seam.
Additionally questionable judging choices, scathing critiques, and challenging twists continue. When the judges opted to keep the spicy Casanova over the safe McKell Maddox in the first episode, it became clear that they sought to incorporate Casanova’s exotic flair into the shows’ predictable format. Even though Michael Kors envisioned a “pole dancer in Dubai” wearing Casanova’s first design, Casanova has since proven that his impeccable sewing skills place him at the front of the pack in terms of workmanship.
Much like Michael Kors’ opinion of Casanova’s first dress, many critiques on “Project Runway” season eight seem outlandishly harsh. Negative reviews have ranged from classifying one dress the costume of a “transvestite flamenco dancer at a funeral” to mistaking a pair of quilted hot shorts as a diaper.
The judges become especially disappointed when high-level design concepts don’t translate. In the second episode, the infinity symbol inspired Jason Troisi’s design, but when safety pins flashed on the runway, it became clear his eloquent idea didn’t deliver. Jason instead left the judges wondering if he had designed a “walk-of-shame dress.” Ouch.
Both the critiques and unexpected twists have imparted to designers that fashion is indeed a cutthroat industry. From the first challenge when the designers had just five hours to create a garment from another contestant’s clothing to the second challenge when two designers were eliminated, the designers have scrambled to keep pace with the season’s breakneck speed.
Just five episodes into the eighth season, the competition has featured outrageous criticisms, runway wars, and diva meltdowns. Despite the drama, the show’s structure harnesses as much creative potential as it did in its premier season. “Project Runway” proves that as a veteran of the airwaves, Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, and the show’s concept still make it work.
