Project Runway review: Forget Rio, blame it on lack of cohesiveness

In this week’s Project Runway review, the designers might need a vacation from all the workroom cattiness. Who packed their bags from the competition?

Project Runway tackled its second team challenge of season 17. While the three-look capsule collection was supposed to channel a vibrant vacation to Rio, the runway was washed in a similar color scheme. Did this week’s team challenge lose sight of the cohesive story?

As this week’s episode opens, the cattiness between the designers seems to be more apparent. In previous episodes, everyone seemed to be one big, happy family. With sly comments about safe designers, could the competition’s pressure be a little more than what people can handle?

For this week’s challenge, the nine remaining designers were split into teams of three. They were tasked with creating a three piece, curated collection for actress Morena Baccarin, who is going on vacation to Rio de Janiero.

Each team had to create beachwear, a chic daytime ensemble, and an evening look. Additionally, each look had to have a unique hairstyle to complement the design.

While the designs really do decide the best and worst looks, the key to this challenge was creating the story. It was more than a properly tailored pant that wowed the judges. The styling of the looks and collection propelled one team into the top position.

PROJECT RUNWAY — “Blame It On Rio” Episode 1708 — Pictured: (l-r) Tessa Clark, Marni Senofonte, Lela Orr, Sebastian Grey — (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)

As seen in this challenge, like previous challenges, winning this season of Project Runway is more than being a great designer or an expert tailor. This competition is about creating an aesthetic for a particular “woman.” From head to toe, the judges want to see that “it” girl from both a fashion and a selling point.

Looking at the three collections, only one team really had a clear story. The team of Hester, Garo, and Bishme was clearly on top. Their story of the ’70s Disco Queen returning to Rio for a party tied all three looks together.

The key to their win was that the looks could be worn by the same “woman.” Both together and separate, each look made sense. They built on each other and completed the story.

Out of all three looks, the most visually impactful look was Bishme’s crop top and white pant. Maybe it was because the white pant was the break from all the bright colors. While the pant’s flare was a little off, the look was chic. More importantly, many women could see themselves in this look.

PROJECT RUNWAY — “BLame It On Rio” Episode 1708 — Pictured: Designed by Bishme Cromartie — (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)

Garo’s dress was nice. While the cinched waist showcased his signature, the volume in the back was a little overwhelming. There was a little too much superhero and not enough chic.

PROJECT RUNWAY — “BLame It On Rio” Episode 1708 — Pictured: Designed by Garo Sparo — (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)

Lastly, Hester’s bathing suit had impact on the runway. It was the right use of color for her model, and the design set herself apart from the other looks.

PROJECT RUNWAY — “BLame It On Rio” Episode 1708 — Pictured: Designed by Hester Sunshine — (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)

Still, Hester had fit issues with the suit. Although covered by the wrap, the bathing suit wasn’t necessarily flattering. It was curious that the judges didn’t comment harshly on that fact.

With Hester and Bishme as the top two, the judges chose Hester as the winner. She has immunity for next week’s challenge. Hopefully, she will try to rein in the outrageousness of her designs. (Sorry, no one needs another pasties dress.)

Immunity has been a tricky item this Project Runway season. In several cases, the designer with immunity has had one of the worst looks of the week. From Hester’s gown last week to Bishme’s disaster, should immunity continue to give these designers a free pass?

While the designers feel empowered to really push the design choices forward, it seems a little unfair that talented designers are sent home when they don’t have the worst look on the runway. Maybe there should be a caveat with immunity. If the immune designer is the absolute worst look, immunity is revoked.

This week’s bottom Project Runway team was Jamall, Venny, and Renee. It was quite clear that this team was going to be up for elimination. Those three looks were disasters on their own and a nightmare as a collection. These three looks should be filed under what were they thinking.

Besides the poor design choices, this team created a collection around a print, not a story. That premise set the team on the wrong path. From the first couple of hours in the workroom, it was clear that this team would be on the bottom.

Since Jamall had immunity, it was unclear if he really didn’t try or if he really just didn’t grasp the challenge. His bathing suit dress looked like a bad ice skater uniform. A woman could only hope that a rip current would shred it to pieces even more.

PROJECT RUNWAY — “BLame It On Rio” Episode 1708 — Pictured: Designed by Jamall Osterholm — (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)

Given that it was a team challenge, it was confusing that the other team members, Renee and Venny, didn’t tell Jamall that his look needed to be re-designed. They knew Jamal was safe. Why would they allow the team aesthetic to be negatively impacted in such a way? That scenario is the problem with the bottom team. No one was a leader. No one had a strong voice driving the collection forward.

Renee’s high-waisted pants and blouse received the brunt of all this week’s jokes. From mall walker to banana pants comments, those pants were a disaster. No fashionable “mom” would want to wear those pants.

PROJECT RUNWAY — “BLame It On Rio” Episode 1708 — Pictured: Designed by Renee Hill — (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)

Like the first team challenge, Renee struggled greatly. She seemed to second-guess herself. The construction of the pants was a clear representation of that mindset. This look needed to be erased from the vacation photos.

Venny’s look wasn’t much better. The bottom ruffle made the dress look more appropriate for a 7 year old girl than a fashionable actress. Maybe it would look more like a costume if there was a Carmen Miranda reference, as that idea fits with carnival versus Carnivale.

PROJECT RUNWAY — “BLame It On Rio” Episode 1708 — Pictured: Designed by Venny Etienne — (Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Bravo)

With a few different choices, this dress could have been salvaged. The dress had construction issues. Also, it missed the mark with styling choices.

The judges decided to send home Renee. Her look was just too far gone to be saved, and she seemed resigned to leave the competition.

Did the judges make the right decision on this week’s Project Runway episode? More importantly, should immunity be part of the competition?