A few weeks back, courtesy of Lifetime, I binge-watched six full seasons of Project Runway — or was it seven? Not only was I thoroughly entertained by Heidi Klum’s ever-changing hairstyles and wardrobe, but I enjoyed the repartee among Ms. Klum, Nina Garcia, Zac Posen, and the other judges.
Naturally, there was also the constructively critical, at times nurturing, and ultimately cheerleading (“make it work!”) presence of mentor Tim Gunn.
More importantly, to see sixteen designers of varying skill levels compete to create stunning fashion was — and is — motivational in other contexts. Isn’t witnessing any kind of creativity a nice little nudge to our own desire to “make” things — from a musical measure to a colorful canvas to a pretty paragraph?
Now, whenever my little world offers up an odious onslaught of obstacles or a tiresome bout of tedium extraordinaire (as in my current cloud of calling and waiting and calling and waiting), wordplay has generally saved the day. However, since I haven’t been inspired to write much these days, all those binge-worthy episodes — my very own middle-of-the-night runway redux — provided a deliciously immersive and pleasurable experience. It served not only as relaxation with a capital R, but as a refilling of the creative well by virtue of observation, and a reminder of the blood, sweat, and tears involved in every form of artistic endeavor.
Let’s just say… salve to my current creative block — and more.
Happily, I timed my binge-watching to take place just before the brand new revamped Project Runway began, returning to Bravo. But as much as I was looking forward to the new season — 17 it is, I think — I’m struggling to get used to it.
The old Project Runway?
It had a certain cozy, textural quality in its spaces presented to viewers — the workroom where the designers fretted and fussed and toiled — and even the runway where their models strutted their stuff. These spaces felt fitting, at least to me, and somehow compatible with the tactile nature of choosing among the bolts of wools and knits and cottons and silks to be found at Mood, the fabric mecca where the participants select their material.
Besides, the relatively smallish scale and simplicity of the sets reinforced the time-compressed nature of the challenges themselves and kept us, as the audience, focused on the work.
Now, it isn’t that Project Runway didn’t evolve over the course of sixteen seasons — it did. And one of the ways in which the show evolved was the occasional inclusion of plus-size models, with Season 14 even showcasing a plus-size-model fashion show by designer and eventual winner Ashley Nell Tipton.
To those of us who have never been skinny women and who would like our healthy curves accepted (at the very least), accommodated in more fashion-forward options (reasonable, don’t you think?), and celebrated (in an ideal world), quel relief!
Another element of the show’s success — the cast of judges and their apparent enjoyment of each other felt comfortable and unforced; as with the sets, their personalities (and banter) were plenty entertaining, but they didn’t compete with what the designers were there to do.
The new Project Runway?
I’m trying to withhold judgment. However, the absence of Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn feels palpable. The chemistry among the original cast seemed genuinely warm, and Ms. Klum sparkled through every episode — and I’m not only referring to her dazzling dresses!
Gone too are the familiar, (usefully) unobtrusive sets. In their place, the designers are now operating in larger, more upscale digs in terms of living space (now in Brooklyn?), workroom, and the weekly runway.
Thankfully, Nina Garcia remains one of the judges — a familiar face! — and the talented Christian Siriano as a mentor will be, I think, delightful. However, given the other new players on the judging panel (including new host Karlie Kloss), the uber-glammed sets, and one already out-there (creepy!) challenge, I’m feeling a bit, well… put off.
With all these changes, is the show repositioning for a younger target audience?
No doubt.
Is there likely to be more technology-related innovation involved in future episodes?
Very likely. And in last week’s group challenge, there were a few final designs that I found quite beautiful though the body modifications which they were to offset — rippled, ruffled, and horned fleshy protrusions — were too reptilian for my taste and left me queasy.
Am I telling myself to give it all a minute?
Absolutely. Among other things, I’m curious to hear the counsel provided by Christian Siriano, whose designs I frequently find breathtaking. (Might you remember him as the 21-year-old Season 4 winner of Project Runway? Have you peeked at any of his Fall 2019 collection on Vogue.com? Stunning.)
One new feature that I consider encouraging?
The diversity of models cast for the entire season, which includes a transgender model, more models of color, and more models with real-world curvy bodies that reflect real women. It’s about time!
What I hope will not be lost as I try to accustom myself to so much change in this show — the fascinating array of talented (at times pleasantly peculiar) participants — and as odd as this may sound, a certain “charm” to the old show. Another aspect to be appreciated in all those earlier episodes — the feeling of human connection and caring to be found in a creative community, albeit a competitive and temporary one.
Meanwhile, I have a few more seasons of old Project Runway that I can still binge-watch in the wee hours — my very own relaxing and renewing runway Rx.
Your favorite shows or movies for refilling the creative well? Any remakes that don’t do justice to their originals? Do you watch reality TV creative competitions such as Top Chef or Project Runway? Any favorite episodes?
Images screen-captured from Lifetime and Bravo.
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The male equivalent of fashion creation shows would probably be car rebuilding/makeover shows. I don’t watch them but I see discussions about the merits of various ones, or how the same ones change over time.
You may be surprised to learn that the reactions are much like yours – an appreciation for real team work, team culture, skill and creativity; a dislike of artificial, made for television drama, pretension and glam.
I imagine in each instance the successful shows open up the so-called “fourth wall” and let the viewer feel more closely related to the action. Some may do it deliberately, others may do it accidentally, and then lose the audience when they change elements they didn’t understand were key.
The issue of teamwork that you mentioned, Robert, is always an interesting aspect of these reality TV competitive shows. Generally speaking, the strong personalities and egos make collaboration and compromise an added issue. One of the interesting and “transferable“ elements of the group challenges is the ability to work successfully as a team, which always shows in the results, just as conflict on the team tends to yield a lesser end product.
More in keeping with your male equivalent as you call it, I also recently binge-watched Tiny House Nation, which I love love loved. Not only is it fascinating to see the creative design solutions conceived while constrained by remarkably small square footage — footprints under 500 ft.², sometimes for an entire family — but the process of creative problem-solving is always interesting to watch. And again, the human dynamics involved in both the process and the significantly revised living situation are frequently inspiring.