Project Runway All Stars: The Sky's The Limit

September 4, 2023 12:05 PM - Season 20, Episode 13

It's the avant-garde challenge to choose the Final 3. Avant-garde looks inspired by the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck (which looks like a set from John Wick 3) or the adjacent interactive art installation by Kenzo Digital. Two guest judges, retired stylist Law Roach and Steven Kolb from the CFDA.

The word "referential" is bandied about by the judges. Others think that Bishme's cap should be credited to Chistian's advice. Brittany's streetwear puffer jacket was neither innovative nor elevated. Rami's construction was appalling. Laurence, again with the leather shoulder focus.

Nothing new in the recaps but here are all the winning designs from each episode and all the worst looks.

No word on whether Rami did a decoy collection.

posted by TWinbrook8 (5 comments total)

I felt that Christian threw Rami under the bus in this episode. Rami had lots of ideas to make his outfit much more over-the-top, but Christian didn't like them and told Rami to edit his design ideas. Rami should have trusted his gut and gone with his original design rather than paring it down.
posted by essexjan at 1:42 PM on September 4, 2023

This was a tough one. None of the looks were really avant garde or that original. We've seen Brittany's long-sleeved puffer jacket on PR before (a season or two back, I think). Rami seemed to have had some kind of idea but his fabrics and colours and construction were awful. Bishme's wasn't all that well made (I don't think the Mickey Mouse ears bust fit properly) and not really original--especially in the shape of the main garment. Also the shape of the booties seemed to fight against the shapes of the dress. I feel like he got too much credit for the hat, and that hat wasn't worth all the praise that was heaped upon it. I certainly wouldn't have awarded him with the win. I had him in the bottom with Rami. Laurence was Laurence.

This is one of those times I would have loved to have seem a extra challenge--the ones that are thrown in on occasion when the judges can't make up their minds and all the looks are equally bad. Either that or they should have sent all four through and cut once they saw the collections. That would have been fairer.
posted by sardonyx at 4:06 PM on September 4, 2023

This is such an awful challenge, even when they come with a preconceived idea that they can work into the story. At least a create-your-own-print challenge usually has some interesting prints (Gary from Making the Cut!! omg) even though textile designers and clothes designers are two distinct specialties. Avant-garde is really hard and I can’t think of any PR contestant who’s pulled it off in the generous (/s) two days they’re allotted. I remember one judge once saying that someone’s garment “didn’t flatter the model”. That’s not the point!

Anyway although I liked Bisme’s purple Tootsie Pop vinyl, the club dress didn’t really relate to the big disc on the back. Rami, another poor choice of fabrics, terrible construction highlighted by the poor choice of fabric. Brittany, I personally am bored with elevated streetwear and puffer jackets in any form. Laurence by default.

I too wish they’d had a final four with one boot at the last minute.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 9:48 AM on September 5, 2023

I think having the guest judges forced the producers' hands with regards to having all four make a collection vs. turfing somebody. If it had just been the regular judges, they could have decided to give everybody a shot but when you bring on other people, the assumption is that a decision is going to be made. I hope we don't see a repeat of this judging approach on next season.
posted by sardonyx at 5:21 PM on September 5, 2023

when you bring on other people, the assumption is that a decision is going to be made.

I thought it was interesting that the CDFA guy mentioned choosing "another" set of finalists. I'm not sure whether he just misspoke or he was admitting that the CDFA has gotten a lot more interventionist in the judging since the days when Jay McCarroll told the sponsors to go fuck themselves.
posted by praemunire at 7:48 AM on September 19, 2023