'Project Runway' Season 19, Episode 13 Recap: “The Sky Is The Limit”
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We've rounded the final corner, and that gleaming Pilot FriXion Erasable Pen money approaches. You feel it. I feel it. And the designers certainly feel it; they spend seemingly half of this penultimate episode on the brink of tears. But the end is nigh, so when Christian fires off a letter beckoning the crew to Rockefeller Center at the start of episode 13, “The Sky Is The Limit,” our brave crew rallies for their last shot at New York Fashion Week.
The four remaining designers—Kristina, Coral, Shantall, and Chasity—have won 10 out of the 13 total challenges, Nina reveals, which, in theory, makes them the best of the best. And, she adds, this season will feature the first all-female finale competition in Project Runway history. But to get there, the ladies have to survive this week's challenge: Create a look that encapsulates their brand. “Show how your brand can be relevant, can be part of the conversation in this next wave of fashion,” Christian explains.
They have a day and a half, $750 to spend on fabric, and a seamstress to help cut and stitch, but there's still a lot of pent-up anxiety hovering over the designers as they sprint through Mood. As is his custom, Christian doesn't help the matter—he's too depressed by everyone's choice of color palette. Chasity's opting for black, Coral for nude, Kristina for blue, and Shantall (initially) for navy. After practically melting into a puddle on the floor, he manages to convince Shantall to try ivory, but Chasity, Coral, and Kristina won't budge on their choices, so he signals his disapproval with some (admittedly hilarious) hyperbole: “It's going to be the most boring runway ever.” Thankfully, he's wrong, but we'll get to that in a moment.
Back in the workroom, two members from the Council of Fashion Designers of America are waiting to dole out some last-minute biz intel. Maybe it's just me, but I find these sessions fascinating, borderline juicy, in large part because they peel back the Bravo curtain and analyze how these designs might fare in the real world. Might Coral's macrame creations actually sell, for instance? Is there a market for the draped jackets Kristina's known for?
Yes, and yes, according to the CFDA folks. Coral goes in for her session first, and the advisors applaud how she's turned a “craft technique into something modern,” but encourage her to apply more color—bold fabrics perform better from a business perspective. For Kristina, they identify her “signature” as “print and really cool draping,” but warn that prints can be tricky to market, so best to see what audiences appreciate best. Next, they recognize Chasity's affinity for gowns but nudge her toward more ready-to-wear garments. Finally, they adore the Latin American heritage evident in Shantall's work but fail to find a through line—she'll need that in the finale, if she makes it that far.
In the workroom, the designs come together with surprising ease. Only Shantall drags behind her competitors, but that's largely because she's picked the hardest possible design: a lined and tailored suit jacket and pants, both featuring some audacious cut-outs. Over at Kristina's station, her draped shirt and bandeau top are almost complete, but Christian's concerned the look mirrors what she's done before, on multiple occasions. A brand can't just be loose fabric and bralettes, right? Similarly, he fights Coral's desire to cover up her macrame-accented dress with a jacket. Edit, edit, edit.
After one final morning, celebrated with clinking glasses of Kristina's celery juice, the designers have a couple hours to wrap up their looks before the runway (and guest judge Karlie Kloss) beckons. I only have four designs to break down this week, but they're worth the extra words. Let's dive in.
I keep forgetting to take notes while I watch Coral's look float down the runway; I'm entranced by what I see. No other designer has managed to match Coral's recognizability: Her designs are so obviously hers. This asymmetrical dress with a macrame and beaded bust, featuring a miniskirt silhouetted under longer sheaths of chiffon? Breathtaking. The added neckpiece transforms the design into something high-fashion, but strip it off and you have the ideal gown for a bougie beach day.
The casual glamour of Kristina's design is covetable. She's turned the patterns and colors of rugged Americana into something luxurious and, dare I say, European. The ruching on the one-shoulder top is elegant, but paired with the denim pants the ensemble becomes easy-going. I could see this selling out quickly at the right boutique, but I echo my worry from earlier: Is the look too similar to what's come before? Can Kristina challenge herself to try something totally new?
The tailoring on Shantall's cut-out suit isn't 100-percent up to snuff; she clearly didn't have the hours to perfect it. But what she does have—a peplum-waist top with chopped pieces around the bust—is so sharp, so innovative, that it'd be a shame not to see what she can do with some real resources. As the comeback kid of season 19, she deserves a place in the final, and based off this look, I think the judges will give it to her.
There's really not a loser in this bunch! Chasity's all-black gown is also a killer. Rimmed in subtle onyx beading rather than overwhelming glitter—a clever editing choice on Chasity's part—the sultry mesh details evoke power and poise. Tack on those sculptural shoulders, and this is a remarkably effective look.
The judges are just as stumped as I am. They offer nary a real critique, only subjective notes: Chasity's collar might be “dated”; Kristina's top is “reminiscent of designs we’ve seen on this runway before”; Shantall's peplum isn't “modern” enough. But it becomes clear as soon as Brandon stands up and waltzes over to the other judges that something's up. Our crew's supposedly veering off-script.
But really, should we be surprised? Project Runway loves any excuse to break out the champagne. So of course, all four designers are going to New York Fashion Week! Does that make this week's episode a little...well, pointless? Sure! Was it fun anyway? Sure!
Shantall, Coral, Kristina, and Chasity will all have five months and $10,000 to curate and assemble a 10-piece collection to showcase at NYFW. They're each given a specific directive from the judges: Coral, embrace wilder ideas. Shantall, find your aesthetic. Chasity, focus on wearable clothes. And Kristina, create something we haven't seen before.
And you, watching at home? Pre-order takeout. The date's set for a girls' night.
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