The Worst Outfits Seen On Project Runway

The only thing more memorable than a good outfit on Project Runway is a bad one. For over 20 seasons, the reality TV show has brought together the most exciting fashion designers and put them through their paces with unusual challenges.

Whether it's due to the challenges of being out of their wheelhouse, the short timeframe of the challenges, or lack of experience, not every designer puts a good garment on the runway.

Since the show first aired on Bravo in 2004, hundreds of looks have come down the runway and fans have remembered these as some of the worst.

Wendy Pepper’s Candy Bikini

(Season 1, Episode 1)

Season 1 was already delivering memorable bad looks. Wendy Pepper's candy-covered bikini creation for the unconventional challenge was terrible, even for a challenge where the contestants couldn't use the material.

She used the models' undergarments and placed balloons over them to create a very short skirt. This was paired with a very skimpy candy top that barely fit the model.

Project Runway fans on Reddit have long theorized that Wendy wasn't eliminated so she could stay and cause television. "Wendy was there longer than she deserved because she was so overdramatic. That candy creation she made for the unconventional challenge was terrible. She was okay as a designer, but she was a drama plot construct from the producers."

Santino Rice’s Lingerie

(Season 2, Episode 4)

In Season 2, the designers were tasked with creating a lingerie line that would impress judge, host, and supermodel Heidi Klum. Santino Rice decided to take inspiration from the model's homeland of Germany and created a line that looked less sexy and more like Gingerbread-inspired Lederhosen.

Judge Nina Garcia called the looks "aesthetically not pleasing" and complained it lacked a "delicate" touch. Santino soon fired back that underwear "was meant to be taken off," and that the lace and frills look had "already been done."

Despite the poorly designed and poorly made looks being critiqued, Santino managed to stay in the competition. As a fan on Reddit put it: "It seems pretty obvious he was kept around for drama. His lingerie looks were some of the worst things I've ever seen."

Luckily, the memory of these bad looks didn't affect Santino's career, as he went on to judge the runway on RuPaul's Drag Race.

Blayne And Stella's 'Popping Fabric'

(Season 5, Episode 9)

In Season 5, the designers were set a task to create Avant-Garde designs inspired by the zodiac. Blayne and Stella's unusual leotard creation which, according to the designers, was a mix of "bling" and "grody," is one of the most infamous in history.

The libra-inspired outfit included a white leotard, with black leather straps all over it and a bright ruffle of fabric on one leg. While Heidi Klum declared the outfit did not look pretty, the most memorable judges' commentary was Michael Kors declaring, "She's pooping fabric." Both were ultimately eliminated for the "haphazard" outfits.

• In an exit interview with Entertainment Weekly, Blayne defends his outfit. While he may not have used the spandex material, he defended his design.

I mean, my critique with the judges, they were like, 'It looks a bit off balance.' That’s kind of ironic because that was my zodiac sign [Libra].

The designer continued, "I loved my design. I thought it really captured the challenge. So I don’t have any regrets, but it was just different. It was a difficult challenge."

Ping Wu's Burlap Sack

(Season 7, Episode 2)

Entertainment Weekly shared that the Season 7 challenge saw the designers take burlap sacks and turn them into elegant cocktail dresses. Ping Wu, sadly, missed the mark with a dress that looked even more like a sack than it originally did.

If the burlap sack design wasn't bad enough, the slit went far too high. Despite being warned by mentor Tim Gunn that the elevated runway would make the dress too short and "vulgar," Ping did not fix the issue so the model's bottom was on show throughout the fashion show.

Despite the design being unpopular with the judges and the audience, Ping stayed. Fans took to Reddit to suspect Ping was being kept in because she made good TV, not good garments.

"I still think the only reason Ping didn't go home is because the producers wanted her there for the next challenge of paired teams," the Redditor said. "They predicted the c***show that was Ping and Jesse (although it probably would have gone badly with just about anyone). Once they got their team drama the producers were fine having the judges send Ping home."

Bert Keeter's Avant Garde's Puffy Pants

(Season 9, Episode 6)

In Season 9 of Project Runway, the contestants had to work with an art student to create a design, and then turn that drawing into an Avant-Garde look. He took the shape of the student's pieces and made them extra puffy, adding puffiness to the model's bottom and unusual shapes to the top. Although Heidi liked the look, the outfit is frequently compared to a Teletubby.

"Bert made these gray clown pants with stuffed shapes stuck all over them," a Reddit user summed up his look. Bert was overall a polarizing figure in his series of the show, argumentative, and difficult to work with in group challenges.

Sandro Masmanidi's Parachute Leotard

(Season 12, Episode 1)

Season 12's opening episode asked the contestants to use parachute material to create chic new looks. Sandro Masmanidi decided to showcase his unique point of view by creating a skintight leotard with purple frills.

It's obvious from the moment she hits the runway that she is not happy with the design, as she keeps using the tassels to cover herself. It's soon revealed that quite a lot of her private area is on show. Judge Zac Posen tells him that his model looks like a "s***** cat toy" and the whole panel questions his taste.

Alexandria von Bromssen's Sportswear Look

(Season 12, Episode 8)

Alexandria von Bromssen's unusually shaped trousers certainly made an impact and inspired Michael Kor's "pleasure me pockets" description. The challenge saw the designers work independently to create high-end performance wear for Heidi Klum’s New Balance line, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The designer was overconfident in her challenge, believing as a marathon runner, she had it in the bag. Sadly, the designer put a pair of drop-crotch "poopy pants" down the runway, something Tim Gunn is a famous hater of.

The judges universally hated the look, which was paired with a shirt that looked like it was "slashed" by a bear. Heidi said it looked the model pooped her pants, while Michael Kors thought the pockets looked like they would aid self-pleasure.

Emilio Sosa’s Barely There Bikini

(Season 7, Episode 7)

One of the most controversial eliminations came when Emilio Sosa got to stay over Jesse LeNoir in the unconventional materials challenge. The contestants had to make looks from hardware materials. Luckily, Emilio was such a strong contestant the judges let him get away with this offensively bad look.

Emilio sent a half-naked model down the runway in a half-finished pink dress, which he claimed was intended as a bikini. The pink bikini saw the blonde model barely covered up, with sequins and tassels protecting her modesty. As Reddit notes, the only thing more annoying than the look is that he lied about his intentions.

The Redditor wrote, "Aside from this being horrific, and basically a naked model, Emilio LIED to the judges when he claimed the bikini was his original intent."

The viewer continued, "He had designed a dress (like everyone else had) and he failed to execute it. There is no way he should have gotten to stay after sending that thing down the runway."

Project Runway returns for its 21st season on Freeform in 2025.