Project Runway All Stars (2012– ) User Reviews (14)

Nearly as good as the original.

[Shopaholic35 · 7/10 · 17 June 2014]

Project Runway All Stars may not be as good as the original Project Runway but it definitely is able to hold it's own. I would say that the all stars version is more fashion forward. As the designers have had some time to develop their abilities and styles they are better equipped to handle the challenges. The competition feels more fierce and cutting edge.

I love that you get an update on your favourite and most hated designers. It's also a second chance for the designers who got robbed (by Heidi's obvious bias and lack of taste) to prove what they can do and shine.

I do totally agree though that the show is strongly overused for product placement and endorsements which can be distracting but I guess that's everything in life. Still great reality TV.

Poor 1st, 2nd seasons grow into better seasons

[bn229 · 8/10 · 1 February 2024]

(My review addresses the different seasons separately.) Let's start with the element that for me is the worst part of the first season: the hostess, Angela Lindvall. How on earth did she get herself cast in this role? She has no flair, no vivacity, no life. She is a big fake-sounding dud. (It is January 2024, and I am just getting round to watching this 1st season. I am very happy to report that she was only the hostess for the first season.) The next element that I found quite cringe-inducing was the mentorship of Joanna Coles, the editor-in-chief of Marie Claire magazine. I had seen her in some guest appearances on the original Project Runway, and I always liked her. She seemed quite savvy, rather no-nonsense, and spoke both candidly and kindly to the contestants. But here on All Stars, she seems to be following some awful directive from the producers to drum up drama and anxiety among the contestants. "So, who are you sizing up among the other designers? Who do you see as your competition?" What the hell kind of question is that?! (She asked that question of Rami in Episode 2 of the 1st season.) And she did essentially the same thing to Austin Scarlett. Tim Gunn is incomparable in this role: he spoke to the designers as intelligent people and he always kept his focus on their designs. Christian Siriano has also made a good mentor, though I think that he tends to hover around the workroom too much and harangues the designers about what they are or are not doing. Anyway - I have found myself fast-forwarding through the workroom scenes in All Stars and just skipping right to the runway show. I love the creativity of the designers and their amazing end products. (Well, many of them.) (Update) I have just finished watching Season 6, and I am happy to see that changes were made to the show. First, I actually thought that Alyssa Milano was a fine choice as the host of the show. As an actress, she has a nice stage presence. Also, she seems genuinely nice. You need that in someone who is going to be axing contestants at the end of each episode. The next GREAT thing about the later seasons is the addition of Anne Fulenwider as the mentor. SHE IS WONDERFUL !!! She is a no-nonsense mentor. She has a singularly keen eye for good fashion, and she is also very kind in her candor. I love her as the mentor. She gives excellent feedback. So, all in all, I am happy with the show.

Why Alyssa Milano?

[Somesweetkid · 24 June 2023]

Being a huge Project Runway fan from the outset of the series, I have but one burning question: what qualifies Alyssa Milano to be the host???? I see from her IMDB bio that her MOTHER is or was a fashion designer. However, nowhere do I see that Alyssa was either a model, fashion designer, graduate from any design institute or has anything to do with the fashion industry other than to wear designs (made for her?) for appearances at celebrity events and award shows.

Sorry to be harsh as she appears to be a "nice" person, but watching her critique and make notes about the all-star designers competing on the show makes me cringe somewhat. I just don't get it. I cannot take her seriously and I fast forward through any of her commentary. Sadly, she is no Heidi, or Tim or Christian or the lovely model who took over after Heidi and Tim started their other design competition show.

Why?

Finally. A design show isn't so commercial.

[mochmochmoch · 10/10 · 3 September 2012]

It's filled with all the industry legends of the design world. All these contestants are so lucky to have the ultimate education in the industry to have the mentor and feedback the way they get to have.

My only thing is, I hate the host because she feels negative, mean and doesn't feel special like Heidi. At the end when she was dismissing the runner ups she treated them like they were nothing when she should've been celebrating their accomplishments despite the fact that they couldn't get first.

Isaac was alittle nice about presenting his crits where the designers didn't seem to get his messages. I really like him in Michael Kor's shoes.

The mentor, Johanna Coles is like the best person to fill Tim Gunn's shoes because she's so knowledgeable, respectable, tasteful, warm and a female that more intimidating than Tim. Really great job picking her.

Overall, I like how the crits and the contestants came out more refined and civil as opposed to catty, dirty and negative crits can be. but I would've liked to have seen more surprises from the show because especially the last 3 designers worked so hard.

Watch as Project Runway spin-off gets devoured by sponsoring

[peterkowalski · 2/10 · 6 December 2013]

The original Project Runway is a classic. After 12 seasons, I can honestly say it hasn't lost its touch and never lost the quality. Heidi, Tim and Nina are absolutely fantastic, and they have been, always.

All Stars, on the other hand, is a completely different story. Stiff judges I can never agree with, boring challenges and the worst of the worst - so many product placements it's like the show is a walking commercial. If you had any doubts, the very last episode cleared them out. It's not even the very core of the challenge that was the problem - contestants were to design a dress for Marge Simpson, which, on some level, was a fresh and brave idea - but how both companies carried that out. The working rooms were all completely swimming with The Simpsons' decorations, silhouettes and stands, Marge's portraits were everywhere (on walls, on the desks) and if you had any doubts just WHO is sponsoring the show - "gifts" were given to the designers, God-awful Simpsons sneakers. "Thank you, Marge", you could hear designers saying, barely able to cover their disgust. Alright. We got it. The Simpsons team is sponsoring. Enough.

I'm not completely against product placement, but the companies must understand it's a very delicate matter. It can't be done by throwing everything you have in storage onto the walls.

Just as I was making my peace with The Simpsons' over-sponsoring, I heard, right in the middle of sewing, someone said... "Who wants some Resource water?"

And I gave up. Me and the show must part ways. I'm sure there are hundreds of people who don't really care - they will eat everything up, everything they see on the screen, they will take in and gladly have their brains washed. Not me.

On what planet is Alyssa Milano the right choice to host?

[cloudonline · 1/10 · 26 February 2019]

I have never liked Alyssa Milano as the host of this show. I just don't understand how she is in any way an expert who should be judging such talented contestants. I still watched the show despite this, but when AM started bumping her gums with her bullying of "Trump supporters", I drew the line. I could give a rat's backside who a person supports politically and I'm sick to death of these irrelevant, uneducated Hollywood has-beens displaying the very behavior they claim to abhor. I feel like Lifetime is smart to cancel this show - I can no longer be a viewer of a show that employs a bully like her. I am part of the silent majority who is done with the toxic social and political climate celebrities are fostering and have decided to fight back in the only truly effective way...hit them in the wallet by not watching any movies or TV any of them are on, and refusing to purchase products they plug. And my oh my is the list getting smaller by the day of things to watch and things to buy, but if everyone who's sick of it does the same, maybe they'll start to think twice before spewing hate speech about which topics they know nothing.

Alyssa is awful..where's Heidi..or anybody

[hpcmakeup · 1/10 · 25 January 2019]

This show is no project runway. It is sad and boring. The judges and mentors are boring and Alyssa Milano is dull and awful. Heidi Klume is fun and looks gorgeous in all the outfits she wears and jokes with the contestants..Alyssa is awkward and weird and hard to watch...

Nothing All "Stars" about it

[ymousnona123 · 3/10 · 19 February 2018]

I am a huge fan of Project Runway, and I was missing the show so I decided to give this a try. This show is terrible! I am most disappointed about the judges, especially Mizrahi. I feel like the judges don't know what they like. There are times during the competition when a designer would create similar outfits, and they would mention it but then send the other one home! I am extremely disappointed that Sam lasted as long as he did, and Emily went home. He barely spent time on his garment, and his last few designs were not up to par! It was visible from his critique and the others judges (except Mizrahi) that Sam's look was unresolved and not as well constructed as the others.

I am also frustrated that Marlene was picked over Amanda. I have nothing against her, but even the judges noticed she created something very similar and made the same mistakes! If the judges do not push the designers enough to grow, they are going to keep making the same dresses or jumpsuits. I truly feel for the designers that actually worked really hard, and a designer like Kini should be noticed more. He's talented, and even his fellow designers see that. I would give 0 stars, but I have given three stars because there some truly talented designers on this now.

What a shame! I think this will be my last All Stars season.

Fix Allissa. Hair and makeup.

[bdbj77 · 4/10 · 21 January 2019]

Blah. And more blah. Get some fun. Heide made it fun. Why not you?

All stars flop

[jessicalkedwards · 1/10 · 17 July 2014]

This is nothing like the project runway that we all know and love. All Stars this season just ruined it for me with its constant product placements and judges that were so easy to disagree with (with the exception of Nina who only appeared once as a guest judge). My major disappointment in the show was the over use and bad use of product placement. I secretly think that the contestant were being paid every time they mentioned Resource Water with statements such as; "where is my resource water?" Or does anyone have anything to drink, how about Resource Water". It couldn't have been any tackier if it tried. It makes me wonder if there was something in the Resource water that was getting the judges confused about what looked good and what looked bad. 9 times out of 10 they would pick something that looked badly constructed or just flat out the same thing they had picked last week as apposed to something that looked great. I don't think I'll ever bother watching the All Stars again, however, as for the original Project Runway, Tim and Heidi will always have me coming back for more.

Jeffrey

[trixierose02 · 15 November 2013]

I'm sorry I love this show but I'm starting to hate it. Jeffrey should have left already. You gave him too many chances ! It isn't fair for the other contestants. I am not sure if I want to watch this show anymore. I've been reading others saying that they are fed up with this show and that Jeffrey should have left. I also feel like this show is a lot better before. I guess you like models go down the runway almost naked. So yes you had a good reason to let someone go. Jeffrey isn't talented he makes excuses. He is acting like he doesn't want to be there. He doesn't care and he has no talent. Please get him off this show.

Not Sew Much

[Amelia405 · 4/10 · 1 July 2020]

I like Alyssa okay as an actress, but as a host & judge here... yeah, no. Feels very awkward & forced. Shouldn't a fashion/runway expert be doing this? The judges' voting seems way off, too. Like, they're picking the people more than the designs. It honestly doesn't feel like all-stars. More like rejects. No hate to the designers, but some of the work seems so subpar. At least I know it's not just me feeling this way. I want the old Project Runway back. Sigh.

All star my left foot

[reasonabledreams · 3/10 · 12 October 2023]

I think 3 stars is generous. The mental trip these designers make is, often, not interesting. The complaint I have, is also for the regular Runway.

Yes, I know the time & project is challenging.

They have a dress, outfit, on a 5'11" super thin, flat chested model & think a normal woman with breasts can wear it.

What bothers me most, is often, & these are "all stars", is unfinished, sloppy seam & hems, sorry tailoring comes first. AND the bust lines. I would say at least 75% have bust line issues. Some ill fitting or band of fabric, on tiny breats, &these empty unstructured tops with thin straps. Unattractive, unflattering, often the design is meant to be reproduced for real women. Heidi being a swims suit model has breasts. Also, the designs are often pedestrian & ill fitting.

These are supposed to be professional or at least out of design school.

I'm watching it but I'm annoyed

[dtdenver-987-925546 · 3/10 · 20 May 2019]

These women who have had a transactional relationship with Harvey Weinstein are so very obviously doing what they need to do to get theirs - and then preaching to the rest of us about proper MEETOO!!! behavior. Nowhere is it as blatant as this show. Also, their love affair (maybe literal?) with Sam is incomprehensible. I noticed that the episode that had a guest judge with the trendy gay hipster look - Sam matched his styling right down to the heavy black glasses that he'd never worn before. Did someone whisper in his little ears who the judge would be? The only time Sam had semi-great designs was when the other contestants helped him. I think the judges needed to know that before keeping him based on what he (actually Kini, Dom, etc.) did the first couple episodes.