Project Runway All Stars

(My review addresses the different seasons separately.) Let's start with the element that for me is the worst part of the first season: the hostess, Angela Lindvall. How on earth did she get herself cast in this role? She has no flair, no vivacity, no life. She is a big fake-sounding dud. (It is January 2024, and I am just getting round to watching this 1st season. I am very happy to report that she was only the hostess for the first season.) The next element that I found quite cringe-inducing was the mentorship of Joanna Coles, the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire magazine. I had seen her in some guest appearances on the original Project Runway, and I always liked her. She seemed quite savvy, rather no-nonsense, and spoke both candidly and kindly to the contestants. But here on All Stars, she seems to be following some awful directive from the producers to drum up drama and anxiety among the contestants. "So, who are you sizing up among the other designers? Who do you see as your competition?" What the hell kind of question is that?! (She asked that question of Rami in Episode 2 of the 1st season.) And she did essentially the same thing to Austin Scarlett. Tim Gunn is incomparable in this role: he spoke to the designers as intelligent people and he always kept his focus on their designs. Christian Siriano has also made a good mentor, though I think that he tends to hover around the workroom too much and harangues the designers about what they are or are not doing. Anyway - I have found myself fast-forwarding through the workroom scenes in All Stars and just skipping right to the runway show. I love the creativity of the designers and their amazing end products. (Well, many of them.) (Update) I have just finished watching Season 6, and I am happy to see that changes were made to the show. First, I actually thought that Alyssa Milano was a fine choice as the host of the show. As an actress, she has a nice stage presence. Also, she seems genuinely nice. You need that in someone who is going to be axing contestants at the end of each episode. The next GREAT thing about the later seasons is the addition of Anne Fulenwider as the mentor. SHE IS WONDERFUL !!! She is a no-nonsense mentor. She has a singularly keen eye for good fashion, and she is also very kind in her candor. I love her as the mentor. She gives excellent feedback. So, all in all, I am happy with the show.

I have never liked Alyssa Milano as the host of this show. I just don't understand how she is in any way an expert who should be judging such talented contestants. I still watched the show despite this, but when AM started bumping her gums with her bullying of "Trump supporters", I drew the line. I could give a rat's backside who a person supports politically and I'm sick to death of these irrelevant, uneducated Hollywood has-beens displaying the very behavior they claim to abhor. I feel like Lifetime is smart to cancel this show - I can no longer be a viewer of a show that employs a bully like her. I am part of the silent majority who is done with the toxic social and political climate celebrities are fostering and have decided to fight back in the only truly effective way...hit them in the wallet by not watching any movies or TV any of them are on, and refusing to purchase products they plug. And my oh my is the list getting smaller by the day of things to watch and things to buy, but if everyone who's sick of it does the same, maybe they'll start to think twice before spewing hate speech about which topics they know nothing.

Project Runway All Stars may not be as good as the original Project Runway but it definitely is able to hold it's own. I would say that the all stars version is more fashion forward. As the designers have had some time to develop their abilities and styles they are better equipped to handle the challenges. The competition feels more fierce and cutting edge.

I love that you get an update on your favourite and most hated designers. It's also a second chance for the designers who got robbed (by Heidi's obvious bias and lack of taste) to prove what they can do and shine.

I do totally agree though that the show is strongly overused for product placement and endorsements which can be distracting but I guess that's everything in life. Still great reality TV.

I think 3 stars is generous. The mental trip these designers make is, often, not interesting. The complaint I have, is also for the regular Runway.

Yes, I know the time & project is challenging.

They have a dress, outfit, on a 5'11" super thin, flat chested model & think a normal woman with breasts can wear it.

What bothers me most, is often, & these are "all stars", is unfinished, sloppy seam & hems, sorry tailoring comes first. AND the bust lines. I would say at least 75% have bust line issues. Some ill fitting or band of fabric, on tiny breats, &these empty unstructured tops with thin straps. Unattractive, unflattering, often the design is meant to be reproduced for real women. Heidi being a swims suit model has breasts. Also, the designs are often pedestrian & ill fitting.

These are supposed to be professional or at least out of design school.

Blah. And more blah. Get some fun. Heide made it fun. Why not you?