‘Project Runway’ 20 premiere recap: Who made a strong 1st impression for the 2nd time in ‘Project Redemption’? [UPDATING LIVE BLOG]

Daniel Montgomery
·15 min read

After a year-and-a-half hiatus, “Project Runway” returned on June 15 for its landmark 20th season. And how better to celebrate that milestone than to reunite 14 standout cast members from the show’s past? That’s right, this is “Project Runway’s” first “All-Stars” season on Bravo (“All-Stars” previously aired as its own separate series when the franchise was at Lifetime). So who stood out in the season premiere episode, “Project Redemption!,” and who was the first eliminated? Follow our live blog below (times listed are Eastern).

SEE‘Project Runway’ season 20 cast: Meet the 14 All-Stars competing on Bravo

The 14 fashion mavens who have returned for another chance at the title are Brittany Allen (Season 18), Prajje Oscar Jean Baptiste (Season 19), Laurence Basse (Season 15), Fabio Costa (Season 10), Bishme Cromartie (Season 17), Johnathan Kayne Gillaspie (Season Three), Mila Hermanovski (Season Seven), Rami Kashou (Season Four), Viktor Luna (Season Nine), Korto Momolu (Season Five), Nora Pagel (Season One), Kara Saun (Season One), Hester Sunshine (Season 17), and Anna Yinan Zhou (Season 19).

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Returning as mentor this year is Christian Siriano, who himself won season four of the design competition — beating Rami, one of this year’s returning contestants, which should make things interesting. And back as regular judges are Nina Garcia, Brandon Maxwell, and Elaine Welteroth. The winner of the competition will get $250,000, a mentorship with the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), and a feature in Elle magazine.

Of course, the series is also known for its fashionable celebrity guest judges. This season those will include actor Alicia Silverstone; actor Billy Porter; fashion designer Zac Posen; CEO and founder of “Alice + Olivia” Stacey Bendet; creative director of Carolina Herrera Wes Gordon; actor and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe; celebrity stylist Law Roach; actress Jennie Garth; model Paulina Porizkova; designer Sergio Hudson; actress Julia Fox; designer Willy Chavarria; “Below Deck” co-star Kate Chastain; “The Real Housewives of New York City” star Luann de Lesseps; designer Batsheva Hay; Emmy-winning actor Colman Domingo; and Steven Kolb, CEO of Council of Fashion Designers of America.

SEE‘Top Chef’ 20 finale recap: ‘World All-Stars’ crowned its champion in ‘Fin’

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9:02pm — “Next to you are looks I’m sure you never wanted to see again,” says Christian Siriano, who introduces the 14 returning designers to their first challenge: they have to reinvent the look that originally got them eliminated or got them their worst score of the competition. But there’s a twist … pause for dramatic effect … nope, he’s not gonna tell them yet.

9:04pm — Hester is happy to have an androgynous model with a buzzcut for her look. Prajje is ditching the lace from his eliminated look, or “Oh God no, f*ck that,” as he delicately puts it. He wants to do color blocking in the spirit of that original design, and luckily he won’t have to use doilies from a bar this time. Viktor is going to “focus on the stilts” from his previous look. Bishme is “uneasy,” though. His look reminds him of his sister, who was ill when he made that design and passed away a month before Bishme came on “All-Stars”; he’s trying not to get in his head about how triggered he is by the look. And stuck in your head is not where you want to be when trying to create.

9:08pm — The designers have $600 and 45 minutes to shop at Mood. Brittany is going to make a tea-length dress with side cut-outs to show the judges how she’s evolved. Prajje is moving like lightning, picking out zippers and already getting his fabric cut after just five minutes, worrying Christian, who also warns Nora to stay away from the silk unless she’s the best seamstress in the world, but she wants to challenge herself — fateful last words? Poor Anna was eliminated last season for a look that didn’t really reflect her. She’s gonna make up for that now. Kayne’s planning a little black dress with “a little Kayne pizzazz.”

9:10pm — A few minutes back in the work room and Nora’s mannequin is already falling on the damn floor. Kara Saun doesn’t think Nora has changed in 18 years. She’s still a goofball. They OG season-one alums, so they’re sticking together at their own table in the back. Meanwhile, Kayne is missing an important fabric from his design, the whole structure of his design. (Cut to a shot from Mood showing him leaving that fabric on the counter. Oops.)

9:17pm — Fabio regrets his structureless coat from his original season, so this look will be more tailored. Laurence “wanted to hide” when she saw her eliminated look come out; she’s gonna do it up right with a leather jacket. Mila thinks there’s blood on her mannequin. “It’s a dangerous game we’re playing,” says Laurence. Mila’s old circus look brings back memories she’d rather forget, so she’s gonna make this one edgy and less costumey. Kara Saun is disappointed that she didn’t get an African-American model to reflect her mom, who she’s inspired by. Sweetheart Nora agrees to swap models with her.

9:18pm — Oh boy, Hester is redoing her green pasties dress, but pasties are in style now, so maybe she doesn’t think she should have gotten a low score. Anyway, she says she’s doing something “weird” this time, and I’d expect nothing less from Hester. Also, is it me, or does Hester look a LOT like Christian Siriano right now. I’m 100% going to get them confused with their similar black hairstyles and glasses.

9:19pm — The designers retire to their hotel, celebrate with wine, Kayne is still smarting over the horsehair fabric he lost. Nora tries to relate by mentioning that she lost her calculator. Not exactly the same thing in a design competition, but honestly, there’s nothing anyone can do about it now, Kayne.

9:24pm — Day two of the challenge, and Kayne thinks the loss of horsehair might be a blessing in disguise because the fabric he does have is flowing beautifully on its own. Kara Saun is having fabric euphoria of her own. She didn’t get to bring fabric from home in season one, so she was ecstatic to be able to do it this season.

9:30pm — Christian begins his walk-through. Brittany has beautiful fabric on the dress she’s making, but Christian wonders why she’s doing a dress if her style now is more activewear? “Don’t be making me use my save on you again!” Kara Saun needs to think about keeping pants in her design. Nora needs to worry about sewing her flowers as that’s an integral part of her look. Rami and Christian bonded in their original season together; Christian seems to like his draped dress ideas. He also gives Bishme his seal of approval, though Bishme seems REALLY down emotionally.

9:31pm — “I can’t wait for my twist,” says Christian, still giving nothing away. “So much fun!” What a frock tease.

9:34pm — Okay, NOW he spills the beans, and it’s a pretty rough twist: there’s no immunity this season. Anyone can go home at any time. But the good news is that there will be prizes and advantages for each winner along the way. The winner of this challenge gets $10,000.

9:35pm — “The last time I sewed a gown was for my 30th birthday,” says Nora, who’s 39. Yikes!

9:36pm — Viktor takes inspiration from something tragic. In Los Angeles, he was attacked by a man with a machete. His leg was injured and he couldn’t walk for six months, but he was able to sew. So he’s working leg harnesses into his look.

9:39pm — Model fittings: Bishme is still off his game, still triggered by the challenge reminding him of his sister. He’s not inspired by the dress he’s designing, though Siriano loves the pants he’s fitting his model with. He seems less enthused about Nora’s big flower petals. Kayne throws some shade at Viktor’s strappy look, which Christian thinks has a pink fabric that just looks stuck on there, and I agree. What does that have to do with the bondage-y design? Prajje has a slight problem of his model’s butt cheeks totally hanging out of his skirt. Christian gives Fabio anxiety and then Fabio flips his top around 180 degrees so the front is the back and the back is the front, and he loves the change.

9:41pm — “Scents, colors, anything — when you’re grieving, it triggers you,” says Bishme. It’s so bad that a producer comes to see if he’s okay. Bishme thinks it was too soon to do “Project Runway” again. He doesn’t want to quit, but he’s definitely considering it. I’d hate for this to be the way he goes out, especially on week one, but whatever is best for his mental health and his healing process is what he’s got to do.

9:46pm — Runway day is here! And a few of the contestants have an edge because they’ve designed for Brandon Maxwell and Elaine Welteroth before. Designers from earlier seasons are only familiar with Nina Garcia.

9:48pm — Viktor’s model Ren is AWOL (they can’t get in touch with her, which is certainly ominous), so they have an alternate who has similar measurements, but Viktor is still freaking out. He designed his harnesses specifically for her body, so “I’m panicking.” Indeed, his new model is taller, so he needs to alter a lot of the design, and she ends up showing “so much booty,” as Christian says. Bishme is having a good day today: “I’m in better spirits,” though he still may not be fond of his look.

9:54pm — Time’s up and time to head to the runway, where guest judge Alicia Silverstone waits. Fabio is star-struck. “Clueless” was the first movie he ever saw in theaters.

ANNA: Dayum! I’m not sure I like it, but there’s a whole lot going on with the lace and the squared shoulders and that floral print. It’s bold, I’ll give her that.

PRAJJE: Nice dress, not a lot of ease of movement, but it’s a nice dress. Not blown away by it. He wants to sign a petition to burn the old dress and replace it with this one. On that we agree at least.

LAURENCE: Badass leather jacket, cool pants. I dig it.

RAMI: I love the drape of the dress and it’s complemented nicely by that purple coat. An early fave of mine from this runway.

KAYNE: As with Anna, this one has a LOT going on at first sight. It looks odd when she’s holding up the skirt and wearing it as a sort-of-coat. When she drops it I like the look a lot better. Not sure how much of a reveal that really is. But the ultimate look is pretty hot. Dynamite skirt.

NORA: This one’s not doing it for me. The beige color is kinda bland, and the flower petal just looks like it’s strapped to an average dress. She might be going home. If it were an interesting trainwreck than maybe she’d survive, but it’s just kind of mid.

FABIO: I really like his look. Beautifully constructed top with that cape, not too fussy. It has an easy flow to it. One of the better looks so far.

KORTO: Not sure what I think of this one. The little garment underneath is simple and chic, but the coat looks a little like a fancy blanket.

VIKTOR: He went for it. Love all the straps. Still not sure I like the pink fabric wrapped around it.

BISHME: The pants look great, and the jacket is a vast imporvement from the look he was eliminated for. Not sure it’s a top look, but may keep him out of the bottom?

MILA: Best pants of the day. Overall a clean and simple look that I actually kind of love.

KARA SAUN: I’m not sure about this one. It’s giving mermaid with that fabric. And I’m not sure I would’ve styled it with those thigh-high boots.

HESTER: You know what, it’s not overly weird, but definitely not boring. She kept the pasties, but they’re better incorporated into the whole design. Edgy and cool, I’m into it.

BRITTANY: It doesn’t wow me at first, but I like it more the closer the camera gets to it. Lots of detail, love the sheer fabric.

10:01pm — Okay, let’s see if the judges agree with me.

10:02pm — Viktor, Nora, Bishme, Kayne, Fabio, and Kara are called before the tribunal. Everyone else is safe.

10:07pm — Bishme has one of the judges’ favorite looks. I’m a little surprised he rated so high, but I’m happy for him. Nina thinks he never disappoints as a designer, and he delivered a “fashion-forward” look. Elaine thinks this is what the challenge is all about. It’s “a true elevation” of the initial vision. Alicia thinks it’s modern and joyful, and the color is fantastic.

10:08pm — Kayne has another top look. I agree with this assessment, even though I thought the “reveal” was less than he made it out to be. Alicia wants to wear the dress. Nina appreciates how he improved on his use of white. Elaine loved the drama and the “feminine softness” of the bottom half. Brandon thinks the styling is “fresh and easy … It’s very successful.”

10:10pm — Nora has one of the bottom looks. Totally agree. My least favorite look of the challenge. Brandon thinks she made mistakes by choosing a fabric that puckers easily, and the color highlighted the imperfections. Nina thinks the model kind of disappears because she’s close to the color of the fabric. She wanted more bold. Alicia likes it better now than she did initially.

10:11pm — Viktor has another bottom look. Elaine wasn’t clear how the new look connected to the old look, and it just didn’t translate. Nina likes the lattice work on the shoulders, but it’s costumey. It is creative, though, the way he interpreted the stilts. Brandon liked the legs, but he should have pared back his ideas.

10:16pm — Kara Saun has the last bottom look. Nina thought it needed to be more subdued. “It feels too in-your-face.” The fabric is good, but it goes off the rails with the beading. It needed editing. Elaine thinks it’s formal, stiff, and dated.

10:17pm — Fabio is the last high score. I’m rooting for this one to win. Alicia thinks it’s “chic, modern, creative.” Nina loves the combination of textures. “Very confident outfit.” Elaine says it’s an improvement “off the charts” and her favorite look of the day. “I would buy it right off your body.”

10:25pm — The winner of the challenge is … Kayne! Okay, he annoyed he with the whole horsehair thing and the runway reveal, but this is a deserved win. It really was a great look.

10:27pm — Viktor is announced as safe. That leaves the two season one designers as the bottom two. That makes me sad even though I think it’s the right result based on the challenge. They seemed to have such a good friendship, but it seems like all that time away from the show really was a hindrance.

10:28pm — The eliminated designer is … Nora. “Thank you so much for this opportunity to come back,” she tells them.

10:30pm — “In the short time that I’ve been here I’ve reconnected with an old friend, I’ve made new friends. I’ve been inspired by other people. It was bittersweet, and I just really wish the best for everybody. I would’ve loved to have spent a little more time with the designers, but if you have a question in your mind whether to do something, I took the risks to do it, and I think my legacy is, just go and try it. You’ll never know if you didn’t try.”

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