Ranking Project Runway Designers #1 [205-216]

Hey, y'all! So, back in 2013, I ranked all of the Project Runway contestants and began to do blog posts on my rankings, but I wasn't completely up-to-date with designers, and it was just bad timing, so I stopped and deleted the posts in case I wanted to re-start the series. And then I tried again last year... and gave up. So I'm back again, starting fresh.

For this list, I counted only designers who have shown on the runway, excluding anyone who was eliminated as a semi-finalist (like they did in seasons 9 & 13). I also obviously didn't double-count people who appeared in multiple seasons, because they're still only a single person. After adding up everyone, I came up with 216 designers that I will be ranking throughout this series.

This will be a new mini-series on my blog. I've decided to divide the list up into 18 posts, each consisting of 12 designers. I'm not sure how often/regularly these will be posted, but I want to post at least 1/2 per week. I also decided that it would be more fun to work our way to my #1 spot, so I'm going to start at the bottom and make my way to the top of the list.

Also, I feel like I need to add on this disclaimer: 
Any and all comments are my opinions on them based on the way they presented themselves on the show (and of course, the way the show was edited) and in no way are a reflection of how they are in real life. The way a contestant presents themself on a show, combined with the editing of the show, is not necessarily the way they are outside of the show, and because I don't know these people personally, I can only go based off of the way they were portrayed on the show. 

Also, I feel like this is a little obvious, but I'll go ahead and say it anyway. If you don't want to be spoiled for what happens in the show or what order people go home, don't read any further. Because I will mention what place the person got. And I'll be talking about All-Stars placings too, if applicable, so just bear that in mind before continuing to read on. So let's just jump right into the first 12, AKA my 12 least favorite people to ever appear on Project Runway!

216. Jason Troisi

Season 8- 16th Place

I'm not sure words can accurately describe how annoyed I got with this dude. He was only on for two episodes, but he was so obnoxious the entire time. Both of the things that he made were butt-ugly and he just didn't seem to care about anything. He was just so full of himself and caught up in trying to intimidate the competition with his stupid hat. Ugh. He should have been eliminated episode one for taking the kimono he was given, turning it backward, and calling it done.

215. Cecilia Motwani

Season 9- 13th Place (Quit)

Ugh. I'm not sure I've ever wanted to punch someone in the face as much as I wanted to punch Cecilia in the face. First of all, she just gave up. But on top of that, I didn't ever like any of her designs, and she just got on my nerves constantly. She was such a Debbie Downer constantly. I mean, I'm a fairly negative person, but I try to be negative in a sarcastic, funny way. She was basically Kristen Stewart. She made one face, looked like she was high the entire time, and existed only to annoy.

214. Ivy Higa

Season 8- 8th Place
All-Stars Season 2- 5th Place

If Ivy isn't among your least favorite people to be on Project Runway, what are you even doing?!? She was obnoxious, full of herself, and just flat-out mean. She thought that her designs were amazing, when they were probably some of the most boring designs I've ever seen on Project Runway. And on top of not being able to put her money where her mouth was, she felt the need to start rumors about people and bad-mouth them behind their backs. If not for Cecilia giving up and Jason being an even worse designer than Ivy, she would be last on my list. And deservedly so. Ugh.

213. Angela Keslar

Season 3- 7th Place

Every single time she added another rosette to one of her designs, I just wanted to scream. I think the thing that made me most annoyed was how completely oblivious she was when she made something that just wasn't good. I can respect a more artsy/crafty design aesthetic, but she simply didn't understand how her designs were perceived by anyone else. Not a fan.

212. Guadalupe Vidal

Season 2- 11th Place

Speaking of being unaware of others' perceptions, we come to Guadalupe. First of all, I really disliked her designs and aesthetic. No thank you. She didn't make a single thing that I liked. And she tried to go around the workroom telling people what to fix about their designs. What?! And she was just weird. And not the good kind of weird, the back-slowly-away-so-you-don't-get-killed weird.

211. Marla Duran

Season 2- 10th Place 

You're probably surprised that Marla is so far down on the list. You probably don't even remember her. But I do, because I have a good memory (sometimes annoyingly good). And I didn't like her because she was just so... meek. I hate that word, and I hate using that word, but I feel like it describes her really well. She was so soft-spoken and oblivious to how strong and cut-throat the competition was. And her designs weren't very strong. They looked like arts and crafts projects, and they were just so dowdy.

210. Sandhya Garg

 Season 13- 8th Place

I just couldn't stand Sandhya. First off, I really didn't like her designs. I thought they were ridiculous. In my opinion, they were all costumes. On top of that, she constantly played the victim. I'm sorry, have you ever seen this show? You're an adult. Act like one. When her team didn't listen to her, she went crying to Tim. When someone didn't like her, she either got super defensive or she just played the victim. Grow up and learn to take criticism; you're a FASHION DESIGNER. If you can't take the heat, get out of the sewing room.

209. Ven Budhu

Season 10- 7th Place

Ugh. It was just painful to watch him on Project Runway. First of all, he had that rose design that he put on literally every single outfit he made. We get it, it's unique and it's pretty. But it doesn't have to be on everything. And then when he did take away the rose design, we were left with... essentially nothing. Just a pretty boring, old-looking aesthetic. On top of that, he was just a jerk. When they got the challenge where they had to work with real women, he was extremely rude to her by insulting her weight and shape. I just didn't like him.

208. Sandro Masmanidi

Season 12- 13th Place (Quit)

And here's another guy who was just a total jerk. However, he didn't have the design skills to back him up. I thought that all of his designs were really ugly. And then he just blew up and left the set, quitting the show. He had a horrible temper and just wasn't a pleasant person.

207. Stella Zotis

Season 5- 9th Place
All-Stars Season 5- 11th Place

Ugh, Stella just got on my nerves. She complained every single time she couldn't work with leather, and she really didn't know how to work with anything else. She was just annoying.

206. Wendy Pepper

Season 1- 3rd Place

All Stars Season 2- 12th Place

Oh, Wendy. She's basically the epitome of a reality TV villain. She was there to "win, not to make friends," which is literally the most cliche statement in reality tv history. And then I didn't really like her designs, especially now as someone watching more than 10 years later. She was just mean and manipulative and didn't have anything to back it up. 

205. Lantie Foster

Season 10- 15th Place

Lantie's probably another one that most people have completely forgotten about. But I didn't, because I did not like her at all. She was just so oblivious to how everything worked on the show. I found myself just yelling at her the entire time for how many stupid decisions she made. Lantie, it's season 10. Why are you using fabric on an unconventional challenge?! That's basically the biggest no-no on this show. 

Also, a theme that you'll see on this list is that there are several female designers who remind me of someone that I know in my personal life (obvs not going to name names). And that individual has certain personality traits that are also exhibited by these designers. It's really hard to put my finger on the exact traits, but it's kinda an "overly put together but yet somehow naive/oblivious to the 'rules' of Project Runway" vibe. Like, in Lantie's case, she used fabric on an unconventional challenge. Like, learn the rules of the game before you start playing. So you'll be seeing several of these designers pretty soon, near the bottom of my list. Especially since all of the women who fall under this category failed to impress me design-wise.

So, those are my 12 least designers in my Project Runway designer rankings! I'll be back soon with the designers who got places 193-204! Who are your favorite and least favorite people to be on Project Runway? Let me know down in the comments!

Next Post: Ranking Project Runway Designers #2 [193-204]
List of all Ranking Designers Posts

Check out my links below!

YouTube Channel 

Facebook

Goodreads

Thanks for reading! If you like my posts, I'd really appreciate if you'd subscribe/follow so that I know you're enjoying what I'm posting! See y'all soon!

Project Runway Season 12 Episode 4: Tie The Knot

Well, this was an interesting episode! I barely even took notes because I was just sitting there freaking out about what was coming next!

Check out all of my Project Runway Season 12 review posts HERE.

The episode begins with Sandro freaking out. He's cussing, screaming at the other designers, and then he storms out. At this point, I was somewhat confused, because I thought the freakout would be after the challenge, near the end of the episode. I almost thought that we were seeing the designers' lounge right after Timothy was eliminated, but I remembered seeing Sandro in the workroom on the previews. So, when they did the "flashback to 36 hours earlier," I was finally un-confused. Hallelujah. All I'm really concerned about is whether or not they're going to eliminate someone after Sandro leaves. Because clearly, you can't come back after storming off the set like that. Look what happened to Keith in season 3!

While they're in their apartments, Jeremy talks about losing his grandma. After 3 episodes of him being just a supporting character, seeing him focused on makes me a little nervous for him. Usually that either means they're in the top or going home. Hopefully, it's not the latter.

Rather than going to the runway, the designers actually meet Tim in the workroom, where there are tons of bows all over the place. Tim says he's going to introduce a special guest... and in walks Jesse Tyler Ferguson! I don't watch Modern Family, but I do know that he's a big deal. The designers are told that they have to make an outfit inspired by bowties that encorporate at least one bowtie in an unconventional way. The bowties are all from Jesse Tyler Ferguson's line "Tie The Knot," which supports equal marriage rights.

They take the obligatory trip to Mood with a suggested budget of $200. Sue spends $404 and says that’s not so bad. Uhhhh…. right. Because it's totally cool to double your budget. I'm not sure what she plans to do if she makes it very far in the competition!

All throughout the time in the workroom, Sandro is having a bit of a freakout about his stuff being too much.

When Tim comes, they have a chat and Sandro can’t understand that he has to make things he likes, and not for the judges. Also, I really loved how Sandro decided to call Tim "Top Gunn" and that before leaving, Tim said, "Be Sandro, I’ll be Top Gunn." Gotta love Tim Top Gunn! When Jeremy talks to Tim, I’m not sure whether this is going to be good or bad. It sounds like he really knows what he's doing, but at the same time it sounds literally like grandma clothes.

All throughout the first day, as well as runway day, Bradon is running around frantic trying to make a jacket. I actually wasn't sure whether or not he actually whipped one up until I saw his look on the runway! Miranda was having a problem with her shirt, so she just chopped it off a bit. It might have looked ok... if the bottom wasn't so wonky. She might be in trouble

Runway time! This time I just wrote little snippets.

Dom: I think it looks kinda cool but I'm not sure if they will like the way she used the bowties.

Jeremy: I’m worried for him. This just doesn't look good at all.

Bradon: I thought his top looked really cool, and the whole thing looked interesting with his model's skin tone.

Ken: Ken used the ties in the seams. I'm not sure that was a smart move, since his dress looks kinda boring. 

Miranda: That top looks really messed up, but I do like the jacket and skirt

Helen: It didn't end up looking as bad as I thought it would, but still doesn't look great.

Alexander: I liked the rainbow bowtie effect!

Sandro: The colors looked nice together, but I don't think the dress looked that great.

Sue: It's way too simple and the bowties look like a spiderweb.

Justin: I thought it was pretty, but knew it would be way too simple for the judges.

Kate: I like the pants, but I thought the top just looked weird.

Karen: Although the pants fit well, the whole effect of the outfit was kinda just baggy, which is what she's done on any challenge on her own. It's not a cute aesthetic!

Alexandria: I thought the skirt was cool and interesting, but the top didn't seem to go with it and just looked wrong.

After Heidi says who is going to remain on the runway, Sandro asks for feedback about his dress. Zac is especially critical of the dress, and Heidi says she'd never wear it. I do have to really commend Sandro for asking, regardless of what the other designers might say. I personally get annoyed when an outfit I particularly like or dislike is just in the middle, and I really wish I could get the judges' opinions on everything! And when a designer is in the middle, how are they supposed to know what the judges thought of the outfit?? So kudos, Sandro, for actually getting up there and straight-up asking for advice. I'm not sure why this bothered the judges. Even Tyra on ANTM likes when contestants ask for advice to improve, and she's easily upset at someone speaking out of turn. 

After the safe designers go back to the lounge, Helen and Sandro get in an argument and start screaming at each other. Ken starts yelling at him too, and Sandro storms out and just leaves. And then he smashes the camera and appears to be going to get a taxi. Before we get full details, we're back on the runway.

Top 3

Bradon: Heidi loves it and wants to wear it. They also loved the colors.

Dom: they really like all the top and the stripes and think that the striped bowties look great!

Kate: They say it's cute, clever, and modern. They also didn't notice the bowtie on the pants until she pointed it out!

Bottom 3

Jeremy: They said that the jacket was highlighting belly button, which is not a cute look. They thought it was too serious and too old.
Miranda: They said it was a non-cool 80s moment and that the top was the worst part.
Sue: They literally asked "What were you thinking?" They thought it looked messy. Keep it simple, stupid!

When Tim brings in the models for the close-up look, he informs the judges of Sandro storming off and says he will update them on what happens.

The top and bottom are back on the runway. Bradon is declared the winner and actually proposes to his partner right there on the stage! Heidi tells his partner, Josh, that he'd better say yes. Dom and Kate are both in. Heidi tells the bottom 3 that because Sandro stormed off the set, that he has eliminated himself, and all 3 of them are safe!

We then get a flash-forward to a week later when Bradon Skypes with his partner, who tells him that prop 8 has been eliminated, and then proposes. Bradon (of course) says yes, and then tells Josh about proposing on the runway. Well, at least we know Bradon will be around for at least another week (which is 3-4 challenges for us)

Hope you enjoyed this week's Project Runway review. Did the judges make the right decision? Who do you think would have been eliminated had Sandro not eliminated himself? I found it really funny that on the actual poll, Jeremy had only 1% of the vote! I think it would have been Sue, but was sure they wouldn't eliminate someone after Sandro left. Thanks for reading! If you haven't, you should definitely check out my "Ranking Past Project Runway Designers" series HERE! Hope to see you back here for my review next week! See you then, y'all!