RECAP: Project Runway Season 22 FINALE
Folks, I don’t know about you, but I’m still out of breath after that sprint of a finale episode. PHEW! It’s like the producers just want to get this over with so they can cancel it because “the fanbase just isn’t there.”
Let’s wrap this up, shall we?
So we know that the finale designers are Anna, Bi, and Jude. We’re getting a fourth designer, but who will it be? Turns out, our worst fears didn’t come true: Bryan wasn’t chosen as the fourth designer, but we’re getting a continuation of The Joseph McRae Show. Honestly, a little disappointed, if unsurprised. I was really hoping to see a collection that Naheim would make.
Naheim really wanted this; he’s crying in his talking head and trying not to show it. Bryan really expected to have this finale to compete in, and he’s, say it with me folks, “confused.” And that’s the difference between these two: a humble and charming Naheim and a braggadocious and Trumpian Bryan.
Read on for my take on the final episode of “Project Runway” Season 22. SPOILERS AHEAD!
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The Challenge
Challenge: Five-Look Finale Collection
Budget: $7,500
Time: 5 Days
Elimination: Finale!
I could spend the time here writing another essay about how this isn’t a real finale. Sure, they’re making a collection, but it’s essentially just five one-day challenges all at once. Gone are the days of 6 weeks of work and home visits with Tim Gunn halfway through. It’s basically a “get yer shit and get out moment,” and these four designers deserve better.
They have a moment in the Siriano Showroom, and the main theme is “Y’all are poor.” We get nothing from this moment. It’s a blink of an eye.
The Work Room
And now to rocket through the workroom experience.
Four eliminated designers (Naheim, Jeffrey, Aaron, and Bao) return to the workroom to help designers make their looks.
And none for Bryan Barrientos.
Jude (with Naheim) is making a collection that is all about structure and protective armour.
Anna (with Jeffrey) wants to show us her journey with anxiety through this production.
Bi (with Bao) has a collection based on the Vietnamese card game Tien Len.
Joseph (with Aaron) is giving us red white and blue Americana … k …
Christian has a walkthrough moment, and the first stop is with Jude, where he jokingly (maybe not actually) offers him a job after seeing his gorgeous top-stitching he’s doing…and this is the first time I’m really peeved during this episode. Jude is a fantastic tailor. I’ve said as much as has the rest of the internet, but a lot of stuff just hasn’t excited me, and so to see this top-stitching moment, I’m just so irritated by the production company for shrinking everything into a one-day challenge. Give them more time to show the judges and us what exactly they can do with two actual days of work. Christian really pushes Jude to make a wow moment, and yet again, this is where more time could have really had an impact.
Bi starts showing Christian a molded leather bodice. He’s never done it before and is super nervous about it.
“Welcome to The Joseph McRae Show” are the first words out of JMcRae’s lips when talking to Christian. Maybe Law is right about the arrogance being over-the-top. Can it still be cute if you’re not learning anything from it? Christian’s not thrilled by the Americana Collegiateness collection entitled “The Fighter” because what is Joseph fighting for, exactly? His voice in the competition apparently, except all we’ve had is his voice the entire time. After 10 episodes (of just this season), all I can think of is the lyrics from “Stars and the Moon” by Jason Robert Brown: And it never changed/And it never grew. Joseph’s never gonna have the moon if he doesn’t try something that scares him.
Anna is going fully into her unconventional and sustainable aesthetics. She’s got trash bags (unused this time) and tabs from soda pop cans. Anna is still super overwhelmed, so can she pull out a collection based on her anxiety?
We’re gonna find out because suddenly were on DAY FOUR?! Christian comes in with Marc Karimzadeh, the senior director of content and communications with the CFDA, to give a little taste of the mentorship the winner will get (along with $200,000).
Anna talks about thrifting with her mom and how to be sustainable in her designs. Marc says, “Good for you” and gives her nothing else.
Joseph talks about needing to find joy in fashion, and Marc says, “Good for you” and gives him nothing else.
Jude talks about how much he wants to give women beautiful tailoring. Marc basically says, “Good for you” and is excited about a feminine tuxedo.
Bi wants to show the details of his work and wants to do this for his parents. Marc says he loves the buttons.
Good for us.
Christian is back and gives Bi agita about the fit of his structural white coat. He wants Anna to put a belt on one of her models and is very excited about her collections. Jude’s safety makes Christian nervous, and again, GIVE THEM MORE TIME! You’re a producer, Christian! Christian talks at the brick wall that is Joseph. JMcRae does pivot away from the trashbag blue metallic dress he’s made at least.
The Runway
And now we’re at the runway. It’s a circle.
Jude’s still sewing. Anna is hand-punching grommets. Bi’s looks are falling apart. JMcRae has a new look.
And now we’re walking.
And Heidi comes out in a hideous dress. Wide-ribboned lace-up dress up the front? Honestly, dreadful. Law’s there with his hair. Nina is there looking chic. Fausto Puglisi, the creative director of Roberto Cavalli, is the guest judge.
And none for Tyra Banks.
Bi - Tien Len
The first look is on a male model with a molded red leather chest plate and black shorts. The chest plate is nice, but I’m not sure about the horizontal straps on the back.
Second is a beaded and velvet gown. This look in black is nice, but looking at it again, it feels a little disjointed. The beads are nice, but I’m not wowed.
Third up is another red leather dress. It’s sexy. It’s sleek. The laces up the sides are a super nice touch.
Fourth is the white leather jacket dress with huge buttons. Bi even says it’s not a perfect execution, but it’s there. Just gonna beat my “give them more time” drum over here.
The fifth and final look is a really lovely gown with a tulle skirt and a strappy bodice. The back of the bodice gives me pause, but it’s not terrible.
Ultimately, I don’t know that this says collection to me. It’s like some looks that go together, but nothing is in the same conversation.
Anna - The Breakdown
The first look took my breath away. The distressed white dress with the brown leather straps pinning the model’s arms to her sides is honestly fabulous.
The second dress is made entirely out of trash bags and leather, and if I had been told it was all leather, I would have believed her. We’ve got the same straps on the arms, but this time the model can move; she’s still super guarded, especially with her high collar.
Third dress has the same feeling of the trash bags, but is made out of a conventional fabric. There are gaps amongst the outer fabric shifts to reveal a lovely black lace underneath, a gentleness starting to peek through. Liris is wearing this dress, and she looks fucking fantastic.
Her fourth look is a pair of tailored pants and a white lace capelet.
Her finale look is a white lace that just flows gorgeously. The model is still strong and has some hardness in the bodice, but is so at ease.
Jude - Building Armour to Take Flight
The first tailored lady’s suit is a great, bold print of a black-and-white plaid with a red windowpane overtop. The pants have an outer panel that flows and flies that I really love.
The second look is a tailored jacket in a black stripe that looks really nice. I guess this is also more of a dress.
The third look is all in white. The bottom is an asymmetrical skirt with nice movement. The jacket has the topstitching ribbons that Christian went mad over. Again, I so wish we had seen more of this from Jude during the season.
His fourth look is a nice two-piece suit with an open back and a herringbone (I think; it went by so fast) pattern.
The finale look is a bold red jacket with lacing from the top of the shoulders to about the small of the back.
Joseph McRae - The Fighter
The first look has one of the pile hats that I hate so much (you can get your own from his website, starting at $110). Apollo Creed has definitely entered the chat with an oversized puffy jacket, striped pants, and tall (unfit) boots with high laces.
His second look is an enormous blue jacket with button closures in groups of three. You could wear this one day a year when the weather is crisp, and there has been no precipitation in weeks.
The third look is also massive. The pants are absolutely huge. The workout top is giant.
The fourth look is worn by Jessica and I think actually looks good, and I think it’s because there’s a juxtaposition in volume with this look. The boots are tall. The shirt is short. The jacket is also short, but the sleeves could hide small children. There’s a playfulness in this one that I think he forgot about in the rest.
His finale look has a great skirt that looks like a brush that scrubs glasses (in a positive way) and a tiny tube top made from a bomber jacket’s cuff material.
The Judging
First up is Jude, and they look at the red coat. Everyone speaks about how great his tailoring is. The young man is skilled. Fausto has the model walk, and everyone just gags over the flow. Heidi wishes that Jude had more head-turning looks, but Nina thinks Jude’s strength is in his chicness.
Anna’s look is the first look, the constrained look. Law points out the lace that we can see through the distressed holes. Fausto loves the whole thing. Heidi said her collection wasn’t cohesive, and I think she’s finally lost her mind because Anna told a whole story with her five looks.
Bi brings out his finale look (which is actually a full-length half-skirt attached to the bodice over pants…huh). Nina really loves this look. Fausto enjoyed the masculinity and femininity of the looks. But everyone hates the white look.
Joseph brings out his fourth look with Jessica, and Fausto claps because of how classically American his collection is, thinking that this really looks like American Freedom (but freedom from what? Bodies? Because no one had a shape except for Jessica, because this look showed skin). Heidi loves the enormous coat and the red dress. Nina wishes he would look at the attention to detail. Law pipes up with foolishness that I’m not going to chat about because I can’t give his JMcRae hatred any more oxygen.
The judges deliberate and have nice things to say about each of them.
For me, if this show was judged on the final collection, Anna is my winner, hands down. Her collection made me feel something, and we went on a journey. Jude’s looks were really good and, as I’ve said myriad times, I would love to wear something of his if he ever designed for men. Bi was my winner going in, but I don’t think his collection showed us his best work. Joseph doesn’t need this win (but $200,000 is nice for anyone) and his clothes aren’t my taste, but he definitely has a voice.
And the winner of Project Runway Season 22 is…the young man who was 1 when “Project Runway” premiered: JUDE MIKULENCAK!
I may not be super excited about his win, but this young man does have a future in fashion, and I’m happy for him. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
Will I be back next year? Who knows? I may show up a few episodes late, once I know if the format has changed…or if the GPCD gods on high tell me I’m their guy to blog again.
Until next time, designers!
What did YOU think of “Project Runway” Season 22? Are you happy with the winner? Drop your comments below!
