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.
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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
#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.
#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.
#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.
#8 - 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.
#9 - 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.
#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
#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.
#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.
#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.
#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
#15 - 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
#16 - 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.
#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
#19 - 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
#20 - 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.
#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.
#22 - Toying with Fashion
Season 20 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/22/2023
It’s neither fun nor games as the designers must tackle the most feared challenge in the Project Runway canon: the unconventional materials challenge. The fur begins to fly as the all-stars are tasked with creating whimsical runway looks using toys from New York City’s most iconic toy store, FAO Schwarz. alice + olivia’s Stacey Bendet joins as the judges assess who’s out versus who came to play.
Watch Now:Apple TV#23 - 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.
#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.
#25 - 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.