The WORST episodes of Project Runway

Every episode of Project Runway ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Project Runway!

Sixteen fashion designer hopefuls are ready to take the runway by storm and make fashion history as they prove to a panel of judges who has what it takes to make it in the industry and take home the final prize: a chance to present a final collection at New York Fashion Week.

Last Updated: 3/21/2024Network: BravoStatus: Continuing
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We Expect Fashion
star
6.43
167 votes

#1 - We Expect Fashion

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/27/2009

The remaining designers have to create a look for an actual celebrity, but there is a twist involved, which will be a big surprise for the designers.

What a Woman Wants
star
6.49
187 votes

#2 - What a Woman Wants

Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/10/2009

The thirteen remaining designers have new clients for this week's challenge- their models! They must create an eye-catching look to be worn at a fashion industry event, and have only one day and with a budget of just one hundred dollars to make it work.

Welcome to Los Angeles
star
6.59
178 votes

#3 - Welcome to Los Angeles

Season 6 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/20/2009

Designers must create a red carpet look showing innovation and point of view. Lindsay Lohan as guest judge.

The Future is Here
star
6.84
102 votes

#4 - The Future is Here

Season 17 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/21/2019

The future of fashion is upon us. The button bag is back, with a stylish new makeover, as the designers are divided into teams for the first time. This week’s challenge tasks the designers to create a mini-collection that shows a sneak peek into the future of fashion. The designers are shocked to find out their models will be completely transformed with special effects body modifications, inspired by Simon Huck’s ‘A. Human’ exhibit. The designers must highlight their modification with their collections, as they fight to impress the judges with their innovative take on what’s next in fashion.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Clothes Off Your Back
star
6.89
18 votes

#5 - Clothes Off Your Back

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 12/7/2005

Heidi throws a roof-top party for the designers. At the party, she announces their next challenge: each must create an outfit using nothing besides the clothes he or she has worn to the party.

It's Fashion Baby
star
6.92
275 votes

#6 - It's Fashion Baby

Season 10 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/27/2012

The designers create fashions for babies. Hilary Duff is the guest judge.

Design for the Red Carpet
star
6.94
80 votes

#7 - Design for the Red Carpet

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 2/9/2005

This week's challenge is to design a dress for the host of Access Hollywood, Nancy O’Dell. Nancy will help judge the runway and wear the winning design on the red carpet at the 2005 Grammy Awards.

Rumble on the Runway
star
7.03
166 votes

#8 - Rumble on the Runway

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/3/2009

The designers are taken to the beach and have to create a fun and fashionable surfwear look inspired by Californian surfwear. They have to work in teams of two. Later on Tim Gunn declares that the designers have to create an avant-garde companion piece.

Take It All Off!
star
7.04
92 votes

#9 - Take It All Off!

Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 3/14/2013

The contestants design outfits for the male revue Australia's Thunder from Down Under.

Survive in Style
star
7.08
93 votes

#10 - Survive in Style

Season 17 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/4/2019

The designers are whisked away from their urban creature comforts for a camping trip and challenged to create survival chic looks while embracing the wilderness. Their workroom, the accessories wall and the runway itself have all been moved to the woods for this unconventional materials challenge like never before. Mother nature does not cooperate as the designers battle the elements in order to stay in the competition.

Watch Now:Apple TV
And Sew It Begins
star
7.08
265 votes

#11 - And Sew It Begins

Season 8 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/29/2010

17 designers start a new season to reach New York Fashion Week and become the winner. The designers were asked to incorporate an article of clothing taken from another designer's suitcase into a new design of their own in just five hours.

Sequins, Feathers and Fur, Oh My!
star
7.09
165 votes

#12 - Sequins, Feathers and Fur, Oh My!

Season 6 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/15/2009

Christina Aguilera is a guest judge in this episode and the designers have to create an extravagant stage look for her, which should catch the attention of the audience from far away and should also look chic on video from very close.

The Sky is the Limit
star
7.10
134 votes

#13 - The Sky is the Limit

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/1/2009

The designers, working in pairs, have to create two looks for Macy's INC brand using blue fabrics. The winning designer will actually create a summer dress to be sold in Macy's stores.

#STREETWEAR
star
7.10
60 votes

#14 - #STREETWEAR

Season 19 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/21/2021

In their first individual challenge, the designers take on streetwear – the most relevant and individualized style in fashion. Working with male, female, and nonbinary models, the competitors dig into their unique personal experiences and cultures to create breakout looks to catch the eye of their cool guest judge: social media fashion icon, Wisdom Kaye.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Image is Everything
star
7.10
196 votes

#15 - Image is Everything

Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/22/2011

The designers are treated to a special performance from their new client, an up-and-coming band. Broken into two teams of four, the designers are charged with creating a look that will establish them as image-makers.

First Impressions
star
7.12
120 votes

#16 - First Impressions

Season 17 - Episode 1 - Aired 3/14/2019

Sixteen talented designers from all walks of life arrive in New York City for the ultimate fashion competition. Nerves are high as the designers start-off by showcasing their best looks for industry influencers and the Project Runway host and judges. Afterwards, the contestants meet this season’s mentor, CFDA and celebrity fashion designer, Christian Siriano. The designers receive their first challenge, to create a look inspired by some of the biggest names in fashion but with a shocking and unexpected twist!

Watch Now:Apple TV
High Fashion to High Street
star
7.12
89 votes

#17 - High Fashion to High Street

Season 17 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/11/2019

This week the designers get a once in a lifetime experience when they visit the atelier of the legendary Dapper Dan. Dap is the trailblazer who introduced high fashion to the hip-hop world by creating luxury streetwear. The designers are asked to create their own take on the future of streetwear, and are given just one day to complete the challenge and impress a fashion legend.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Women on the Go
star
7.14
309 votes

#18 - Women on the Go

Season 10 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/9/2012

In another team challenge the designers have to create cohesive looks for women at work. Marie Claire magazine's Editor in Chief Joanna Coles is the guest judge.

Innovation
star
7.14
114 votes

#19 - Innovation

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 12/1/2004

The 14 hopefuls all meet up in New York and are given their first assignment: Innovation. Taken to a place where they are said to get their materials, the designers are shocked to see it is a grocery store.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Double 0 Fashion
star
7.14
106 votes

#20 - Double 0 Fashion

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/3/2008

The designers were taken to the Meatpacking District and brought to the offices and design showroom of living fashion legend and current CFDA president, designer Diane von Furstenberg. Their challenge was to create a look for her Fall 2008 collection inspired by the movie, A Foreign Affair, starring screen legend, Marlene Dietrich. They were given free rein and 15 minutes inside Diane von Furstenburg's fabric sample room to select fabrics for their designs. The winning garment will be produced in limited quantities and exclusively sold to American Express cardholders, with proceeds going to the CFDA Foundation. The winner did not receive immunity for the next challenge. * Judges: Heidi Klum, Michael Kors * Guest judge: Fern Mallis (sitting in for Nina Garcia), Diane von Furstenberg

Welcome to the Jungle
star
7.15
133 votes

#21 - Welcome to the Jungle

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 8/13/2008

Inspired by her role on Lipstick Jungle, Brooke Shields guest judges as the designers must create outfits for the working woman.

Make It Sell
star
7.16
136 votes

#22 - Make It Sell

Season 14 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/1/2015

The designers must create ready-to-wear looks to be reproduced and sold online; a disagreement between the judges leads to the most contentious runway yet.

Having a Field Day
star
7.16
73 votes

#23 - Having a Field Day

Season 12 - Episode 8 - Aired 9/5/2013

The designers compete in field day events for extra work time; the designers must create high-end performance wear for Heidi Klum's New Balance line.

Everyday Woman
star
7.17
71 votes

#24 - Everyday Woman

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/23/2006

With only eight designers remaining, Heidi challenges the crew to make a look for an "everyday woman" with some surprising new models helping them.

Spin Out
star
7.18
85 votes

#25 - Spin Out

Season 11 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/31/2013

The designers serve up ball-boy outfits and new server uniforms for a Ping-Pong social club.