The Project Runway Season 21 Premiere The Project Runway Season 21 Premiere
Written by Emma McCarthy
The Project Runway Season 21 Premiere served more shade than a Ray Bans outlet — and girl, the designers are already finding themselves in drama. From initial impressions of the twelve talented contestants to the winner of the week, The Project Runway Season 21 Premiere did not shy away from keeping it real with the fashionistas.
Heidi Klum and Christian Siriano welcomed the newcomers to the competition with their first group challenge. Split equally into two fashion houses, the designers had to collaborate to create a cohesive clothing line inspired by either Disney Princesses or Disney Villains. With just 24 hours to complete their looks for the runway, some exceeded expectations with their avant-garde ready-to-wear outfits and others disappointed not only in their performance, but bad attitude. Undeniably, this cast is sure to be great TV.
If there is anything to draw you into watching this kind of show, please tune in to witness the hilarious lower-thirds (otherwise known as the captions below the names of the characters). At first, they describe the occupation of the contestants, but from thereon out, the captions match with whatever they are venting about in their confessionals, such as Ethan – Not Having It or Joan – Not Feeling The Fabric.
Let’s get to know the contestants. Everyone is clearly talented and well-aware this is a competition, but not everyone remembers to keep it classy.
I know it’s a long list, so don’t worry about keeping track! There’s enough personality to go around in this group, some more than others…
Joseph McRae — oh, my apologies — it’s “JosephMcRae,” according to the five times we’re reminded to call him exclusively by his full name. Not Joseph, definitely not Joe, but JosephMcRae. I would have loved to have seen the same amount of energy put into conditioning everyone to only call him by his full government name towards crafting a look more inspired and cohesive with Team Princesses. As Christian Siriano put it when trying to lend Joseph McRae some advice: “I know you don’t want to listen.” I will say his loyalty to such a definitive and bold style can carry him far into the competition if he makes sure that his designs relate back to the prompt of the challenge.
PROJECT RUNWAY
Ethan, or Utica Queen, is a fan favorite. The self-proclaimed “mayor of Queerville” shared how growing up on a farm did not necessarily come with access to an LGBTQ+ community. Drag and fashion became a conduit for his creativity and success, especially after Season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Ethan’s reputation as the “Switzerland of Drag” from staying neutral in drama seems to lean the needle a bit in his confessionals, keeping it real about certain contestants who are not “team players” during a team challenge. Ethan’s concern with his out-of-the-box designs is that not everyone wants a ready-to-wear drag outfit, explaining it can become “too costumey if not done right.”
Veejay’s path as a former beauty pageant queen, a second runnerup in Project Runway Philippines’s season 1, and a first runnerup in Dress My Tour showcases her experience with reality TV competitions. The way her confessionals are produced is giving “Villain Edit” so bad, and honestly, she’s going to have to fight Antonio for that crown. In one example, there’s an echo followed by dramatic music when she laughs like a typical “HA HA HA…” The super villain type of laugh displays a performative and scripted impression to the audience.
It’s already tough to handle a sibling rivalry at home, as I’m sure some of you can imagine. Now, to be thrown into a fashion competition with your twin is certainly another twist.
Jesus returns from his boot from Season 7 of Project Runway after the judges told him his “taste level” was not up to par. Being freshly 21 years old in a high stakes competition, Jesus believes that his years in the fashion-world since have refined his “taste level”, fueled by a strong desire to prove the judges wrong this time around. Though there is a sense of disconnect on Team Villain with Veejay’s standoff-ish exterior and independent work-style, it puts an ill taste in the viewer’s mouth to see how quick Jesus is to call Veejay ugly names behind her back. Not defending Veejay, but if you’re so bold and “Team Leader”, say it to her face.
Antonio joins his brother Jesus among the talented contestants on this season, however, both are quick to take the role of group leader in their team challenges. Antonio insisted that his team must incorporate a butterfly-print fabric for their line, and though most of the group were not keen with his taste, they reluctantly agreed anyways. Christian Siriano definitely brought the umbrella to his role as a mentor because he was throwing shade left and right.
It was clear that when the mentor asserted how making a big deal about the choice of butterfly-print only to craft a mini-dress that his “intern can sew that in 30 minutes” seemed to strike a cord with Antonio’s ego. Siriano’s words drove Antonio to change his design three times, but landing in the bottom three brought out a defensive and disrespectful side to him. This “my-way-or-the-highway” vibe Antonio carries when it comes to collaboration is definitely not a valued trait in the networking aspect of the fashion industry nor the panel of judges…
Yuchen’s design for the challenge is the first look executed by inspiration of the villain Taka from Disney’s blockbuster Moana. A lot of other designers missed the mark to draw inspiration from specific princesses or villains, so it was clear that his snatched laced dress won recognition from the judges not only by its intent, but its construction. Jesus and Yuchen sparked a heated debate over the cohesion of their line over whether Yuchen’s decision to use lace fits in or not—that battle was easily decided when the both landed in the Top 3 Looks for Team Villain. Though the issue of ultra-independence among this cast is very… apparent, Yuchen is an example of a situation where defending his design earned him a win.
CHRISTIAN SIRIANO, SARA FOSTER, LAW ROACH, SOFIA VERGARA, HEIDI KLUM
Caycee returns to the competition after being sent home on episode 1 of Season 19. After not listening to mentor Christian Siriano’s advice because she didn’t want to “let go” of the asymmetry of her princess-themed dress, I can see why. Though asymmetry can deliver a modern flair to any garment, it does not guarantee that ready-to-wear element that is alluring to consumers. Like some of the other designers, an artist’s stubbornness may blind them from remembering the three main elements of their challenge’s objective: to ensure their looks are cohesive, precisely constructed, and stay on-theme.
The contestants above received the majority of the screen time from their ability to spike the views either from notoriety, bold style, or tendency to stir drama. I understand why the producers would push to the front contestants and moments with the most emotional appeal, however, I wish we saw more scenes with the other contestants.
Joan is a seasoned designer and bridal shop operator for the last twenty years, and no, she has no time for the drama. When Antonio declares himself team leader and wants everyone to use a butterfly-patterned fabric as the cohesive element in their fashion line, everyone on the team is hesitant to use it, especially Joan when she iconicly asserts, “I’m not here to use basic butterfly fabric.” While speaking the truth in everyone’s minds, she still is a team player.
Madaleine reminds me of the sick Victorian child meme reincarnated and decided to reinvent sickening fashion from her 1600s era. Obsessed with prominent collars and sleeves, her modern take on Amish clothes makes me feel like I need to churn butter at the mill or ride a carriage into town like Anne from Green Gables.
Angelo. Literally, this man got five seconds of screen time. I almost forgot he was there until his thank you to the judges after declaring him safe at the end of the challenge, which is a shame because he seems to carry a positive energy that this already tea-ful environment needs for balance. Angelo, I look forward to seeing more of you.
Belania also received such little screen time, however, her personal style is eye-catching as well as her bubbly personality.
We don’t see much from Alex either in The Project Runway Season 21 Premiere other than when Alex and Belania had a funny moment together: Belania belted out into an off-pitch song for fun in the workshop as everyone is sewing and crafting, to which Alex cleverly roasted, “It’s a good thing that’s not her day job.” I hope to see both of these talented and hilarious women more on screen instead of this apparent “Villain Edit” competition going on right now between Antonio, Jesus, and Veejay.
After the runway reveals, it is clear that despite rising tensions and petty dramas in the intense environment to complete a whole six outfit fashion line in just twenty-four hours, the talent of every individual and their ability to work as a team spoke for themselves.
With Team Princess missing the mark to evoke clear ideas of Disney princess inspiration as well as cohesion as a line, Team Villain knocked the challenge out of the ballpark with their sexy, insidious designs that effectively made chills creep up the audience’s back.
Among the Top 3 Looks, the dark divaliscious designs by Ethan, Yuchen, and Jesus caught the judges eyes the most, with Angelo, Alex, and Veejay safe.
PROJECT RUNWAY
Inspired by the idea that all villains must have a cape, Ethan’s grandiose cape dress is attached to the head of the petite model instead of her shoulders, slithering down the catwalk like a dark sultry shadow. Constructed out of a rich velvet, and all black silhouette, Ethan successfully avoided his fear of making the design too costumey. Judges found the dress modern, and their favorite detail the claw taloned glove. Ethan rightfully won top of the week with this risky, yet riveting evil queen cloak.
Though some contestants did not agree with Yuchen’s lace, it won the approval of the judges. Not only is sheer currently very popular in the fashion scene, the tight silhouette by the precise ruching in the back delivered a boney, skeletal chic that Jenna Ortega could have easily worn at the premiere of the Wednesday Addams red carpet. The boots could have been subbed for a dainty pair of heels, but overall, a scandalously evil design.
Jesus’s look had mixed reviews, as most of the judges loved how powerful the model looked. However, as I agree with Law Roach, the construction of the coat over the dress seemed to look blocky and not tailored to the fit of the plus-sized model. Roach decreed that it is important to consider the placement of the breasts on a curvy girl and to embrace her silhouette, instead of Tetris-izing it. Roach’s many negative critiques were cutthroat:
Roach said he hated it, to which Heidi defended that hate is such a big word. Roach clocked back with, “It’s a short word, it’s only four letters.” Jaw = dropped.
The losing Team Princess declared Caycee, Joseph McRae, and Antonio in the bottom three, with Madeleine, Joan, and Belania safe.
Caycee’s princess dress might have manifested her “first-episode-out” prophecy to reality again. Though the dress had all the right material to deliver a princess gown, the construction looked like a lackluster whirlwind of ribbons, tulle, and pink.
Joseph McRae’s fur coat and silk skirt combination looked like a celebrity outfit, but it did not draw upon the theme at all. The back of the coat was horrendously puffed like the model was carrying a whole couch cushion. I don’t understand how or why he thought it was giving princess, but I think his style outshined the prompt on this challenge.
Now, Antonio’s mini-dress and loofah-looking coat utilized the butterfly pattern he insisted on using as well as Caycee’s tulle intended as that extra cohesive element. Roach’s ruthless criticism is creatively evil, “If you had asked ChatGPT to help you make a John Barista Valley for a $100, then that’s what that look was.” Admittedly, I would have turned into a villain if Roach schooled my princess dress like that. The judgement went downhill from there as Antonio’s defensiveness left a bad reflection of his character in front of the judges and national TV. His digs at Christian for the “intern” comment and poor justification for the vague use of the butterfly print as a representation for “all” Disney princesses not only showed a lack of accountability, but a sense of getting ahead of himself and his design without thoroughly thinking through his intent, root, and theme to circle back to the theme of princesses. Antonio even blamed his inability to take criticism on his star sign and ethnicity in a manner that seemed intended to be joking, but fell flatter than his design.
If you can’t take the critiques, cut the cameras or can it. Don’t blame your bad attitude on the fact that you’re a Gemini or Latina.
Rising designers can be very talented, but it is difficult to get very far with a bad attitude or inability to work with others in the industry.
Overall, Project Runway Season 21 Premiere lived up to the hype. If I would put this The Project Runway Season 21 Premiere in one rhyming sentence, I would say: Heidi’s return, Christian’s intern, and Roach’s fiery burns.
