Yesterday, I finished watching all 20 seasons of Project Runway.
That’s right—every last unconventional challenge, dramatic critique, and “make it work” moment. And while I’m now working my way through the All-Stars seasons (there aren’t nearly as many!), I already feel a little heartache knowing I’m nearing the end of my runway binge.
I watched Project Runway in real time when it first aired and absolutely loved it.
For years, a friend and I would plan “girls nights” around the show—cooking dinner, drinking wine, and soaking in every moment of fashion magic and chaos. Rewatching it brought back so many warm memories from that time, especially the thrill of seeing what each designer would create under pressure.
Jay McCarroll’s runway show from Season One? Still my all-time favorite.
I also loved revisiting Christian Siriano’s and Jeffrey Sebelia’s seasons. Christian brought so much talent and personality to the screen, and while Jeffrey stirred up a bit of controversy (on what was otherwise a pretty tame show), I still admire his boldness.
And of course, Tim Gunn—what a gem. I was initially heartbroken when he left, but Christian stepped into the mentor role beautifully.
One of the fun (and sometimes shocking) parts of rewatching the series was googling the contestants to see where they ended up. I had no idea Santino Rice—whose impressions of Michael Kors and Tim Gunn had me crying laughing—is now a full-blown conspiracy theorist on social media.
It was also heartbreaking to learn that Wendy Pepper and Michael Knight passed away. And I was stunned to find out Kinley Collins is now a real estate agent in Florida following an assault arrest. The journey of Project Runway alumni is as unpredictable as the fashion challenges themselves.
I’m not entirely sure what prompted me to rewatch Project Runway from the very beginning, but I’m so glad I did. Things have been stressful lately—at work and in life—and with the Texas heat setting in, I’ve needed healthy distractions.
A few summers ago, I found comfort in watching Dawson’s Creek for the first time. It became a source of calm and nostalgia during a difficult time. Project Runway has offered a similar sense of joy, comfort, and—somewhat unexpectedly—inspiration.
In fact, rewatching it even pushed me to try something I’ve never done before: hemming my own pants. I recently bought two pairs of trousers from a thrift store that fit great but were way too long.
Usually, I’d pay someone to alter them. But after watching hours of designers whip up full garments in less than a day, I thought: why not give it a try? I skipped the hem tape (thanks to the tricky fabrics) and found a YouTube video to guide me.
I measured, pinned, and hand-hemmed both pairs using supplies I already had. It’s not perfect, but they look good enough—and it saved me money and gave me a little boost of confidence.
So now that I’ve stitched my way through every season of Project Runway, the question is: what should I watch next?
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