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For a show that’s been on the air since seemingly the dawn of reality TV’s golden age, there was a lot of pressure on Project Runway this season. That’s because Season 17 felt way more like a Season 1, the kind of fresh start that grabs, nay, demands attention. After 11 seasons on another network, Project Runway’s 2019 return brought the genre-defining competition show to its original network. Fans old and new, lapsed and obsessed, all flocked to Bravo to see how the powerhouse network would makeover the very show that arguably put it on the map in 2004. After last night’s season finale, a new season has been added to the Project Runway pantheon–and it was a solid one.
Even with shakeups in front of the camera and behind, Project Runway didn’t miss a beat in its transition back to its original network. The show’s look was elevated by a crisper and cooler color palette, and all the new faces–especially the new judges, host, and mentor–became welcome ones every week. And, as mentor Christian Siriano teased in a post-credits scene, there are many more weeks of Project Runway ahead.
Now that we know Season 18 is coming, presumably sooner rather than later, it’s time to think about tweaks. Project Runway still works but, like with even the best designs, there are maybe still some hems to finish and wrinkles to iron out and pasties to perfect (oh, I love you, Hester!). Now that I know that Bravo is more than capable of delivering a killer season, here are the 5 things I really want to see in Project Runway Season 18.
Male models of all shapes and sizes!
Project Runway’s move to include a diverse lineup of female models was a fantastic decision back at the end of the show’s Lifetime run, and it’s one tweak to the formula that Bravo wisely kept when it got the show back. It was a major step towards inclusivity–and I would love to see Season 18 keep it up by including male models of all sizes too. Seriously–now that women of various sizes are featured on the runway every single episode, it is a little odd to see nothing but tall, chiseled hunks when the lone menswear challenge comes along. Like, why not task the designers with coming up with a red carpet look for the male judge, for a change? I don’t have the data in front of me, but I bet a lot more men look like Brandon Maxwell than the usual male models.
I get that this is potentially a design double whammy, as it combines the two things most designers freak out about: dressing plus-size figures and designing menswear. But come on, doesn’t that sound like great television that will also make for great representation?
More flash sale challenges!
Heading into the Bravo 2.0 era, there was a lot of hype around how the new Project Runway would reflect what’s going on in fashion right now. In interviews leading-up to the premiere and in the Season 17 premiere itself, a lot was made of the “Flash Sale Challenge” (wherein looks from an episode would be made available to purchase via Nineteenth Amendment) and photoshoots designed to be shared on Instagram. But in the end, only 4 of the 13 challenges had the Flash Sale/Instagram component–and I want more of it!
Okay, I get why it might not be logistically feasible for a look or two from every episode to be recreated and sold online. Can you imagine them trying to sell a dress made out of an unconventional material, like all the leaves and netting and sleeping bags they used this year? But I do think it’s possible for the Instagram component to be worked into more episodes, if not every episode! As it was mentioned in the finale judging, social media has made designers the face of their brands, more so than any model. It would reflect what’s going on in fashion right now if there were more challenges that factored in social media moments… and also yeah, I’m serving myself because I know I’d probably want to buy whatever menswear look they cook up for Brandon in that amazing challenge I concocted in my previous point.
Get Christian Siriano on the runway!
I don’t mean that I want Christian literally on the runway, although I know he could stomp the house down. I’m talking specifically about the moment after each episode’s runway show when the top and bottom looks are brought back out on stage for a closer inspection by the judges. This was another Lifetime-era tweak, and it involved previous mentor Tim Gunn. Gunn acted as sort of a de facto guide for the judges in this segment, offering insight into what he saw going on in the work room that led to either the masterpiece or disaster the judges are currently looking at. So while the Season 17 judges did get a closer look at the looks, they didn’t get that specific insight. It would be a bravo moment to have Siriano out there for this section to offer up even more of his fantastic wit. Plus, I’m always going to want more Christian Siriano in every episode.
Celebrate the show's fabulous alumni!
I was truly gagged to see Project Runway royalty like Nick Verreos, Jay McCarroll, Kelly Dempsey, Mondo Guerra, and Casanova during the season finale runway show! Bringing back a who’s who of designers is a hallmark of every season finale, making it feel like the glitziest homecoming game ever. As someone that absolutely adores the Lifetime seasons, I was thrilled to see that the new Bravo era wasn’t going to act like the show had been off the air since 2008. That’s why I was truly gagged–in a disappointing way–that of all the designers, only Verreos got to say something!
Next season, I want to see the show do more than just save these fashion superstars a seat at the finale. I want to see them come back as guest judges, muses, mentors, even clients! At the very least, I want to hear from more of them after Season 18’s grand finale runway show.
In the grand scheme of things, I get that this doesn’t really matter. Bringing back Kelly from the Deli for a fanny pack challenge is the kind of fan service that only I, the truly obsessed, demand. But also, it doesn’t hurt the show to acknowledge the past! Drag Race gets a lot of mileage with longtime viewers by just, like, inexplicably slipping in a reaction shot of Season 2 runner-up Raven out of nowhere. Project Runway doesn’t need to be that random, but I wouldn’t mind Season 18 celebrating the dynasty it’s built.
More Swatch!
Seriously, Project Runway, you have access to maybe the most adorable dog in reality show history and you’re just gonna shoot around him? I honestly flipped out when I saw Swatch make his lone appearance in Season 17, and I need that feeling every single week! The dog’s a goldmine of reaction shots; just the image of Hester’s day-glo combat boots gingerly stepping over the DGAF pooch brings me so much joy. I know that a lot of the points on this list are more serious, but know that they all take a backseat to the most important point: more Swatch.
In the meantime, there’s always Swatch content on Instagram.
Okay okay okay–here’s a BONUS tweak for those of you that don’t think a weekly Swatch Watch is a must (you are wrong, BTW).
Take the finale back to Fashion Week
Having the season finale be part of a massive industry event like New York Fashion Week is essential, as it ups the stakes and it strikes awe and wonder in every designer. It’s always a moment every season, and that was missed this time around–through no fault of Bravo’s own! If you look at scheduling, there was no way for Season 17–which was snatched up by Bravo in the fallout of the Harvey Weinstein scandal–to happen in time to sync up with February 2019’s Fashion Week. But considering that a new season is apparently coming up soon, I have a hunch that means Season 18 will get the show back on a Fashion Week-inclusive schedule in time for the one in September.
