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Get ready to be dazzled by some of the most unforgettable fashion moments in reality TV! Dive into a world of radical creativity and awe-inspiring craftsmanship, from illuminated gowns and avant-garde designs to ingenious use of unconventional materials. This countdown spotlights the most iconic, bold, and jaw-dropping creations that have graced the “Project Runway” runway, showcasing the designers’ genius and flair for turning challenges into pure magic.
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00:00I thought that I could really create this whole heavenly galaxy around my model.
00:05Welcome to Miss Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most unforgettable fashion moments to come out
00:11of Project Runway.
00:13I can do this, you can do that.
00:15And this is 45 yards of fabric, just to let you know.
00:1720. Ethan Munt's Disney Villain Look
00:20Crown me, baby, because the queen is on top this week!
00:25The season 21 premiere came out swinging with a challenge that split the workroom into princesses and baddies,
00:32and the darker side absolutely devoured.
00:35Better known to RuPaul's Drag Race fans as Utica Queen,
00:39Ethan Munt brought theatrical instincts to the challenge without letting camp swallow the couture.
00:44We know that a villain loves a cape.
00:47I'm doing my version of a cape, where the cape is going to connect to the top of the head,
00:53love it,
00:53and then clean, simple, classic underneath.
00:57His House of Villains ensemble balanced drama with polish,
01:01giving the runway a sleek, shadowy presence rather than a costume party wink.
01:06Nina Garcia praised how the petite model still felt grandiose,
01:10while Heidi Klum said she could imagine wearing the jumpsuit herself.
01:14It wasn't just the clothes, it was a feeling.
01:18The construction was really, really good.
01:20The velvet was a great idea.
01:2219. Austin Scarlett's Cornhusk Dress
01:26Everything that you will use to design and fabricate this challenge must be purchased here.
01:32We're not making any other stops.
01:34This is why we're calling this challenge Innovation.
01:37From the very first challenge, the series taught viewers that a supermarket aisle could become a fashion supply closet.
01:43In Season 1's Innovation, the designers had to make a night-out look using items purchased at a Manhattan supermarket.
01:50And Austin Scarlett chose one of the riskiest materials available.
01:55Cornhusks.
01:56My main ingredient are the corn husks, which if you think about it, is really like nature's fabric,
02:03because it's like a fiber, it even has like a weft and a warp to it.
02:07The pale husks formed a fitted bodice and a feathery skirt, reading less farm stand and more botanical fantasy.
02:14The look won the challenge, but more importantly, it defined the show's DNA.
02:20The winner is Austin.
02:22To choose corn husks showed true innovation.
02:29Thank you all.
02:30Thank you very, very much.
02:31It was fragile, absurdly ambitious, and proof that unconventional materials could still produce real runway magic on television.
02:45Season 9 ended with a breezy escape rooted in a Caribbean point of view.
02:49I'm presenting a collection called Tobago Love, inspired by the Caribbean where I'm from.
02:55I'd like to thank my parents so much for being here all the way from Trinidad.
02:58And I want to dedicate this to my brother Pilar, whose life has inspired me to follow my dream.
03:04Please enjoy the show.
03:05Anya Aeyongchi's finale presentation, titled Tobago Love, leaned into flowing silhouettes, bold prints, warm colors, and resort-ready ease.
03:14Rather than over-complicating the runway, she built a world that felt relaxed, confident, sensual, and instantly recognizable.
03:22I can't believe this was me.
03:24Like, I can't believe I made these things and they look beautiful.
03:28The girls look beautiful.
03:30The whole vibe, I feel so great.
03:32Everything feels very easy.
03:34Exactly.
03:35Among her designs, the teal, green, and gold plunging gown was the clearest knockout.
03:41With its airy skirt and watercolor-like sweep, it looked less like a finale garment and more like a vacation
03:47daydream floating down the runway.
03:49I have to tell you, you had my favorite opener.
03:52It was cut fabulously.
03:54To cut clothes that are plunged, it really takes the right skill.
04:00No wonder Anya took the crown for the season.
04:06Every great collection needs the kind of closer that makes the room sit up straighter.
04:11My collection is intended to send a message to American women, to remind them to be fabulous, to take a
04:23few minutes to take care of yourself.
04:25During season three's final runway, this evening look showed Laura Bennett's eye for controlled elegance with a polished confidence that
04:33felt unmistakably modern.
04:34It's a combination of three colors of rhinestones, gray pearls, and sequins.
04:40They're sewn on.
04:41And you sat there sewing them.
04:42Yeah, but not like for a week straight.
04:45I mean, I worked on it over the entire two months.
04:48The shimmering silver bodice framed an open back, while the chartreuse panel cut across the waist with just enough shock
04:54to keep the look from becoming too polite.
04:57Laura finished behind Jeffrey Sibelia in Uli Herzner, but this dress has aged beautifully.
05:03With evening wear, you do all these colors, but ultimately people want the black dress because you think you'll get
05:08the most mileage out of it.
05:09Right. I think given the restraints, I think the focus was extraordinary.
05:15Chic and sophisticated, it remains one of the show's sharpest arguments for restraint.
05:20Number 16. Irina Shabayeva's Newsprint Trench
05:24Some unconventional materials challenges produce cute gimmicks.
05:29This one produced outerwear envy.
05:31This challenge will definitely be tough, but the answers will all be in black and white.
05:42In season 6's fashion headliners, the designers were sent to the Los Angeles Times and challenged to create garments from
05:49newspaper.
05:50The winning trench made the material look sculptural, sharp, and weirdly luxurious, with structured pockets, a cinched belt, bracelet-length
05:59sleeves, and a textured collar and cuffs that read almost like faux fur.
06:03I am amazed and happy. It's exactly what I wanted to be. It's different than anything else.
06:12I was breathless.
06:13It was clever without being jokey, and wearable without losing the challenge's audacity.
06:19This look denounced Irina's signature strength loud and clear.
06:23Refined, expensive-looking armor for a woman in charge.
06:26I think it looks Coco Chanel meets Saint Laurent meets Givenchy in the 60s and 70s.
06:34Number 15. Irina Shabayeva's Cream Red Carpet Gown
06:38I really wanted the whole dress to look like an orchid plant and really Venus-esque.
06:44And I wanted the red carpet drama glamour. I want it to go all out.
06:48Sometimes judges send home a dress that refuses to leave the fandom.
06:52For All-Stars Season 3s as sewn on TV, the final six were flown to QVC headquarters and asked to
06:59create a red carpet dress.
07:01It is very important that it looks good during a live broadcast, that it looks good in photography, and that
07:06it looks good on a red carpet, and that I can sit in it, stand in it, and move in
07:12it.
07:12Irina Shabayeva's Cream Strapless Mermaid Gown may have come across as too bridal to the panel, but its drama was
07:20undeniable.
07:21Sculpted bodice, sweeping train, and floral applique cascading down the skirt.
07:26The dress is very, very tight. I would have some concerns on walking, but I would honestly consider putting on
07:33roller skates and having someone pull me down the red carpet in that because it's absolutely stunning.
07:38Koto Momolu won the challenge, while this dress got its designer eliminated.
07:42Still, as a runway image, it had a timeless elegance.
07:4714. Seth Aaron Henderson's Punk Pairing
07:51Kids wear challenges can turn twee fast, but this winning duo had a bite.
07:56In Season 7's A Little Bit of Fashion, designers began with children's outfits before creating companion looks for adult models.
08:04I took all my likes and put it into child's. It's everything that I love to do, so to translate
08:11that from child to adult, I think it's going to be pretty simple.
08:14Henderson's kids wear design mixed a houndstooth hoodie with pink accents and a black skirt trimmed with grommet details.
08:21I'm ecstatic. It's exactly what I was going for. Now whether they're going to see my interpretation as I see
08:28it, that's yet to be decided.
08:29The grown-up version sharpened the rebellious aesthetic with skinny pants and a crisp black and white jacket.
08:36The judges responded to the hard edge, whimsy, and exceptional tailoring, while Seth Aaron's mini model gushed over her pink
08:43and black purse.
08:53The looks were playful, confident, and coordinated in a way that felt stylish rather than matchy-matchy.
09:0013. Sanja Williams' Under the Sea Candy Creation
09:05The unconventional materials challenge went full sugar rush in Season 10, and this look refused to melt under pressure.
09:13For Candy Couture, the designers raided Dylan's Candy Bar and transformed sweets into runway garments.
09:20Everything inside Dylan's Candy Bar is available for you to work with, and you can make anything.
09:27Sanja's short blue and white dress turned gummy sharks, jelly beans, Jordan almonds, and gumballs into an undersea fantasy,
09:35with a sculpted bodice and a flirty skirt that kept the concept from feeling like a craft project.
09:40I like that you definitely created a lot of texture, and I do like the shape, especially the back of
09:46the dress.
09:47You created a really pretty dress made out of candy.
09:50Van Boodoo ultimately won the challenge, but Sanja's look was a standout.
09:54It balanced imagination and execution in a way that made it hard to forget.
09:59And then the sharks and the bibs, I was like, oh, I loved it.
10:03Number 12. Chastity Serial and Projet Oscar Jean Baptiste's Pink Faux Fur Look
10:08Season 19's Avant-Garde Challenge pushed the contestants into bold theatrical territory.
10:15Top designers like Stella McCartney, Gucci, Versace are using faux fur right now in so many ways.
10:21This versatile textile is the basis for your Avant-Garde Challenge.
10:28For Are You Fur Real, designers worked in pairs to create dramatic looks using faux fur,
10:34with Billy Porter joining as a guest judge.
10:37Chastity Serial's collaboration with Projet Oscar's Jean Baptiste
10:41transformed a sea of bright pink material into a runway spectacle.
10:45They sculpted a dramatic bodice with striking pillar-like shapes at the hips
10:50and paired it with a graffiti-inspired skirt that looked equal parts fashion and modern art.
10:55I'm not worried about this dress.
10:58The beauty of partnerships are hearing both backgrounds come together
11:03and I feel like Projet and I definitely executed on that.
11:07The concept was undeniably bold and the proportions made it feel regal and intriguing in the best way.
11:14Chastity earned the win and the look became one of the challenge's most memorable creations.
11:19With Chastity and Projet, it's really art in motion, like they said.
11:25And for me, it's the closest to an Avant-Garde design.
11:30Number 11. Ethan Munt's Wickedly Avant-Garde Gown
11:34Story-driven prompts can turn into cosplay fast,
11:38but this gown treated the source material as inspiration, not instruction.
11:43For Season 21's Something Wicked, the designers created Avant-Garde looks based on the themes of Wicked for Good.
11:50Growing up, I was a little queer kid and I didn't know really how to express myself.
11:55And so when I saw Wicked, it did help me like feel comfortable on my own skin.
12:00And yeah, it really means a lot to me.
12:01Ugh, I'm obsessed.
12:04Munt's Elphaba-inspired emerald green gown married glittering crystal work with smooth satin.
12:09It then pushed the drama with wispy-feathered accents, matching gloves,
12:13a sweeping train, and a veil that gave the whole look a sense of wicked enchantment.
12:18This is all so magical, to be able to see my look just fly down the runway.
12:24It's sparkling under the light, the lines are gorgeous, it looks expensive, it looks unique, it looks so Avant-Garde.
12:32The result felt unmistakably Oz-adjacent, without turning into a literal interpretation of a familiar figure.
12:39It was the kind of look that proved fantasy fashion can be elevated, editorial, and completely runway ready.
12:46I was just blown away.
12:47I think it's very stunning.
12:48This is unique.
12:50This is special.
12:51Number 10.
12:52Samantha Black's Ultimate Hard and Soft Design
12:55Two unconventional material challenges were merged into one for this exciting Season 11 assignment.
13:02This will be a two-in-one challenge.
13:04You're going to be using flowers and hardware to make a cohesive line of six looks.
13:10The two teams of designers were tasked with creating a stunning collection with materials from both the flower shop and
13:16the hardware store.
13:18Samantha struggled at first with how to fit in the soft floral contrasts with her sharp industrial look.
13:24In a stroke of design genius, she trapped green leaves inside metal mesh to give the illusion of a real
13:30fabric.
13:31She used this to create a stunning peplum skirt that balanced beautifully with the bold cage-like top,
13:38creating a look that nailed the brief and was as elegant as it was edgy.
13:42Number 9.
13:44Koto Mamalu's Seat Belt Coat
13:46Season 5 contestants got all revved up for this unconventional materials challenge,
13:51where they were asked to create a stunning outfit made entirely out of the parts and materials from a Saturn
13:57hybrid car.
13:58What is this challenge? Because I don't have a blowtorch. I don't know.
14:03Although she didn't secure the challenge win,
14:06Koto impressed the judges and viewers with her gorgeous mod-style coat,
14:10made using woven golden seatbelts and featuring flared sleeves, a unique high neck, and wrap belt.
14:16I am loving Koto's Scarecrow.
14:19Man, she has to do a whole lot of pressing to get those arms to come down,
14:23because right now it's looking like Jeepers Creepers,
14:26and everybody better run for cover when this thing comes attacking you.
14:29The look was elegant and funky at the same time,
14:32and ended up not looking like the product of an unconventional materials challenge,
14:36but a gorgeous design in its own right.
14:39Number 8.
14:41Aaron's Yellow Chicken Wire Dress
14:43In this exciting Season 15 challenge,
14:46competitors were tasked with creating an avant-garde runway look
14:49using metal and machinery from an industrial warehouse.
14:52They're pushing me out of my comfort zone, dude.
14:55You definitely don't walk into a warehouse to make something normal.
14:58Aaron wanted to create a hard-meat-soft design,
15:01and used metal grating to create a structured paper doll-style dress,
15:06adorned with yellow flower appliques made out of leather and chains.
15:09I'm really happy with how my look came out.
15:14I think that it is really different,
15:16and I think it is unique,
15:16and I think it does stand out on the runway,
15:18which could work for me or work really against me,
15:21but I'm feeling really positive about it.
15:23She paired this with flowing yellow pants
15:25to give a stunning contrast to the rigid wire dress
15:28for a contemporary and innovative design
15:31that dazzled on the runway.
15:33The judges said the look would be perfect for an editorial spread,
15:36and were really impressed with Aaron's creativity,
15:39landing her the win that week.
15:41I really, really love it.
15:42It is super sexy and sheer,
15:45and then she has these cool pants.
15:47That is bold.
15:48Yeah.
15:49Number 7.
15:50Rami Cashew's Final Collection Gown
15:52If you can't bring the glamour for the finale runway,
15:55when can you?
15:56He may have missed out on the top prize,
15:58but Rami blew us away with this intricate Final Collection gown.
16:02Known throughout Season 4 for his draping work,
16:05Rami showed just how much he'd learned about avant-garde garment construction
16:09with this golden lace fishtail gown.
16:12Every inch was exquisitely crafted,
16:15with chevron-style layers of lace repeated all the way down the dress,
16:19all topped off with dramatic full lace epaulettes
16:22for a royal look that left viewers with their jaws on the floor.
16:26Number 6.
16:27Emilio Sosa's Green and Gold Gown
16:30Emilio was known for his bright colors and bold fabrics during Season 7,
16:34but he really honed his craft and used color like an expert for this finale dress.
16:40Viewers fell in love with the gorgeous sparkling green and gold fabric he used
16:44to make this asymmetrical Grecian-style gown,
16:47with a stunning flowy skirt that breathed life into the look as it came down the runway.
16:53The flowing fabric, together with the strong and solid gold belt,
16:57created an interesting contrast as well as a beautiful hourglass shape on the model,
17:02for a look that served drama while still being elegant enough for any red carpet.
17:08Number 5.
17:09Edmund Newton's Greening Card Wedding Dress
17:11Talk about creating a Hallmark moment!
17:14Season 14's Unconventional Materials Challenge
17:17saw the designers attempt to make gorgeous garments using Hallmark greeting cards.
17:22These cards are not only your inspiration,
17:25they are the materials for your challenge.
17:29Never afraid of an ambitious concept,
17:31Edmund wanted to create a fashion-forward wedding dress to blow away the judges.
17:36It turned out that what he created was even better than what we could have imagined,
17:40with a well-constructed corset and a dramatic open back on top of a full skirt made up of dreamy
17:46paper petals that curved and swerved beautifully down the runway.
17:49He even made a red rose bouquet out of cards to finish off the look,
17:54leaving judges and viewers seriously impressed.
17:57I love that you have volume, that you made her flower.
18:02That's what I love to see.
18:03A smart designer that thinks about the challenge.
18:06Number 4.
18:07Sean Kelly's Rain Dress
18:09Sean Kelly really made a splash in this unique Season 13 challenge,
18:13where designers were asked to create looks for a rainy runway.
18:16Instead, they're going to be walking a brand new
18:21RAINWAY!
18:23What?
18:24Sean's inspired plan was to actually use the rain as part of his design,
18:28by sewing powdered dye into the seams of his garment to make the dress bleed with color once wet.
18:34This was a huge risk.
18:36If the plan failed, judges would only see a plain white sundress,
18:40and not the vision that Sean had hoped for.
18:42Because she's got a one-time shot at doing this.
18:45Yeah, only one time.
18:47Luckily, everything went to plan,
18:49and we all breathed a sigh of relief as the garment began transforming
18:53into the most beautiful shades of yellow and pink on the runway,
18:56taking this dress from simple to spectacular in front of our eyes.
19:01Number 3.
19:02Kini Zamora's Umbrella Dress
19:04It may be another entry from Season 13's Rainway,
19:07but just like the judges in this episode,
19:10we couldn't make up our minds on which of these two gorgeous looks were more deserving.
19:14I feel like my design really stepped out of the box.
19:18I feel like I took it to the next level.
19:21It brings the drama.
19:22Kini Zamora created a smart and stylish gown inspired by an inverted umbrella,
19:27with a full skirt folded in unique umbrella-like pleats,
19:31contrasting with a simple dominatrix-style skin-tight top,
19:35complete with matching gloves and hat.
19:37I thought this was sublime.
19:39It was very dramatic.
19:40With the rain coming down,
19:43I think you used all of those elements really well.
19:47I loved it.
19:48The dress created a stunning spectacle as it came down the runway,
19:52and judges were just as blown away as viewers were at home by the concept and the execution,
19:57securing both Kini and Sean a joint win for their Rainway looks.
20:02Congratulations, you're also the winner of this challenge.
20:05We just could not make up our mind, because you both deserve it.
20:13For this Season 4 challenge, designers were put into pairs and asked to use their model's hairstyle as inspiration for
20:21a fashion-forward design.
20:22For your next challenge, you will be creating an avant-garde look inspired by a model's hairstyle.
20:29With their model's romantic braided bun in mind,
20:32Chris and Christian used 45 yards of ivory organza to create their breathtaking avant-garde look,
20:38featuring layer upon layer of exquisite tiered ruffles.
20:46To top it off, an extravagant neckpiece made with even more organza ruffles towered above the model,
20:54turning the look from a gown into art.
20:56The gown exuded Elizabethan opulence as it floated down the runway
21:01and was gorgeous enough to make the cover of any fashion magazine,
21:05winning the challenge and inspiring Project Runway contestants to this day.
21:10It's amazing because it's a very complicated dress, it's a couture dress, but the job is amazing.
21:16Congratulations.
21:17Number 1. Austin Scarlett's Light Up Dress
21:20Austin created this stunning illuminated gown during the first All-Stars season,
21:25where the designers were challenged to create a dress incorporating lights.
21:29I'm very much in love with this challenge.
21:32The avant-garde always inspires me because you can really take it to a whole other level
21:38and I really love that type of design.
21:40Staying true to his brand, Austin wanted to create an ethereal look that still had edge
21:45and so created this explosion of tulle, fiber optics, and fairy lights that exuded pure fairytale fantasy.
21:53The look was topped off with a swirl of tulle around the head,
21:56creating a stunning portrait of a galaxy swirling around the model.
22:00Judges and viewers were impressed that he didn't go for the obvious futuristic garnishes
22:05that had thwarted the other designers.
22:08And Austin proved that sticking to your instincts and believing in your style can really pay off.
22:21Which Project Runway look would you love to wear?
22:24Strut into the comments and let us know!
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