Top 20 WORST Project Runway Looks Ever

#20: Jeffrey’s Egregious Mother’s Day Design

Season 3

The task was simple: take 150 bucks and design an outfit for the “everyday woman.” The models were mothers and sisters of their fellow designers, no pressure or anything right? Well, Jeffery certainly didn’t seem to think so. What made this outfit so infamous wasn’t just this messy look but also his total disrespect for Angela's mom. The two seemed to butt heads almost instantly and it almost felt like his design was more of a revenge look than actual attempt to win the task. Needless to say the look didn’t have many fans in the room. Well, you know what they say, mother knows best.

#19: Sean’s Bandage Skirt

Season 13

You know you’re not off to a great start when the designer says “I know my look is not the strongest.” The designers were given vintage suits to upgrade for the modern age and look, in Sean’s defence his inspiration piece was a tough sell to begin with. But it did look like he closed his eyes, improvised and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, the judges didn’t see the “deconstructed” masterpiece Sean was aiming for, instead comparing it to everything from a mistake to a shredded mess. And indeed, shred the look, they did!. Heidi Klum later noted it as one of her absolute worst looks from the series so far.

#18: Ven’s “Every Day Woman” Fail

Season 10

Just introducing his concept, Ven already started on the wrong foot. He savagely tore apart his client’s size and style, and you could practically hear the collective gasp from his fellow competitors. But surely, after all that criticism, he was going to create a jaw-dropping transformation, right? Wrong. The issue wasn’t just that the look itself was underwhelming; it felt like Ven was disappointed in his model and designed accordingly. Honestly, everything about this challenge, from his attitude to the final outfit, was so uncomfortable and quite frankly downright offensive. We’re just surprised the judges didn’t send him packing immediately.

#17: Bryce’s… Absorbent Look

Season 9

Sometimes a concept is so wild, you have to wonder where the inspiration came from. Buying runway materials at a pet shop? A bold choice, to say the least. Bryce clearly struggled with his vision, resulting in a chaotic, non-cohesive mess. One must truly pity the poor model forced to strut down the runway in attire made from items usually found in a hamster’s cage or used for puppy training. The judges somehow overlooked the material choice but called out the skirt for being yet another generic, uninspired “napkin” look. It was a messy, overwhelming disaster and sadly just a massive litter-al waste of an opportunity.

#16: Aaron’s Streamer Dress

Season 16

This week the designers were assigned either good and evil looks, inspired by the Disney movie “Descendants 2.” After a tense previous week, Aaron decided to enter this week feeling a little bolder, which brings us to his evening-wear look. Now, just looking at it, tell us, is that meant to be good, or evil? It’s kinda giving one of those worm people from “The Little Mermaid,” right? The dress looked like a mess and was even falling apart on the runway. Needless to say, there was no possibility of a happily-ever-after after that catastrophe. It’s safe to say his design was truly “Rotten to the Core.”

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#15: Elisa’s Not So Eye Candy Look

Season 4

Outfits inspired by candy? Sweet! This week, the designers were literally kids in a candy store, running loose in Times Square’s Hershey store to gather their materials, or should we say ingredients? Hershey’s may not be everyone’s favorite, but calling your inspiration “macabre” is certainly a choice. Elisa missed the brief’s playful spirit entirely, sucking the joy out of candy and replacing it with a design that was painfully bland. And honestly, we might have forgiven that if the look wasn’t so forgettable. It was definitely giving the candy left at the bottom of the bag because nobody wants it. Elisa really fudged this one up.

#14: Amy’s Décollet-Shag

Season 7

This look was a hairy situation from the start, proving that some fashion choices just shouldn’t be braided. Amy’s attempt at inner combustion was, frankly, a total burnout. By opting for a bodice that channeled a Wookiee in need of a serious trim, she missed the mark entirely, unless the goal was to provide Bigfoot with a formal upgrade. It was less high fashion and more "high-follicle disaster." Ultimately, this design didn't just walk the runway; it stumbled through a salon trash bin. It was truly a mane event of bad taste, leaving us all hoping this style remains permanently un-tangled.

#13: AJ’s Curious Focal Point Choice

Season 8

The designers were tasked with creating “chic” looks using party supplies. AJ certainly went for it, though the results were, to put it mildly, a bit distressing. The dress in question was a chaotic, frilly confection. Its most memorable feature was a questionable placement of beads dangling right in front of the model's crotch. We don’t know about you, but that doesn’t really say party on to us. The judges weren't exactly popping champagne over it, either, noting that the design looked like he’d simply tried to attach the entire party store to a single garment. While he avoided elimination, his “crotch-tastic” creation remains legendary.

#12: Plane Jane’s “Spiky…” Well, You Know

Season 22

Plane Jane’s “spiky” erm, cooch-uture was, quite frankly, a masterclass in unintentional comedy. When she waltzed into Project Runway Season 22, she clearly forgot that “drag eleganza” and “high-fashion runway” aren’t always synonyms. Christian Siriano’s bewildered reaction was the only sane response to a garment that looked less like couture and more like a medieval defense mechanism in a high-fashion battle. While the internet collectively gasped at the construction, one has to admire the audacity. Is it the worst look in series history? Hey, it made our list. Is it the most memorable? Absolutely. Mama, kudos for that bold choice. It was certainly... a statement piece, if nothing else.

#11: Jason’s Infinity Dress

Season 8

If there is a Mount Rushmore of Project Runway disasters, this garment absolutely deserves a spot. Jason’s pitch was peak pretension: a dress representing the number eight, which, when tipped over, creates the symbol for infinity. Genius, right? Well… that was the theory. The result looked like a fever dream stitched together with pure confidence and an alarming amount of safety pins. When your design is held together by hope and metal fasteners, you’re less an avant-garde visionary and more a craft-store hazard. The judges weren’t looking for infinity, just a dress that would survive the runway. Iconic. For all the wrong reasons.

#10: Take Them All Off!

Season 11

This week, the designers were split into teams and tasked with creating outfits for Aussie performance group Thunder From Down Under, basically Australia’s answer to Chippendales. Honestly, pretty much everyone missed the brief here. We doubt “Magic Mike’s” costume team was taking notes after seeing these looks. Heidi Klum might have ended the season on the spot if she hadn’t been contractually obligated to continue. Instead of sultry, rip-off fantasy wear, the dancers walked out looking like poorly tailored accountants trapped in oversized office wear. The tear-away mechanisms failed so spectacularly that the models practically had to escape their own outfits. Truly a performance nobody could forget.

#9: Ping’s Burlap Sack

Season 7

Note to all future “Project Runway” designers: if you’re going to add a slit to the back of a dress, make sure it stops when it reaches the models derrière. On seven season, Ping made the mistake of letting hers run a little too high; exposing way too much of her models behind. The challenge here was to create a fun party dress using a burlap potato sack. Unfortunately, Ping’s design was shapely in all the wrong ways; with the lower portion looking like a cardboard box she’d tacked on at the last second. Ultimately though, it was the butt flap that broke the design.

#8: Emily’s Unfinished Outfit

Season 11

Season eleven differed from its predecessors in that the designers were forced to compete in teams for each challenge. In the end, this didn’t make much of a difference for Emily, who was eliminated in week one thanks to this underwhelming look. The poorly constructed design can be blamed on Emily’s lack of initiative in the early stages of the competition. She failed to get much done on the first day, which had her playing catch-up for the rest of the challenge. The result was a top and skirt that just looks . . . well, bad. Seriously, what IS that thing hanging off her shoulders?

#7: Bert’s Shape-ly Mess

Season 9

For this season nine challenge, the designers were tasked with creating a look based on a painting they did with an art student. The ensuing design was meant to be more of a homage to the painting, and not a literal recreation. Unfortunately for Bert, he must have missed that part of the instructions, because he literally took portions of the painting and made them the focal point of his entire design. The result is something that looks like it belongs on the pages of a children’s book, rather than on the runway.

#6: Laura’s Rock-n-Roll Massacre

Season 9

For this season nine challenge, contestants were split into two teams and asked to design outfits for The Sheepdogs. The goal was to create something that would establish the band as trend setters. Laura was responsible for designing guitarist Leot Hanson’s outfit. While Laura seemed proud of her creation, we’re . . . not so enthusiastic about it. Hanson looks less like a rock god and more like he barely escaped with his life after being involved in some kind of 70s era massacre. The shabby jacket, blood-soaked T-shirt and bell bottoms just don’t do it for us; and we’re pretty shocked that it didn’t land Laura on the chopping block.

#5: Casanova’s Barely There Dress

Season 8

To kick off season eight, the designers were asked to remove an article of clothing from their luggage to be sewn into their final design. But there was a catch. Instead of using their own item, they had to use the item of the person standing to their left. This resulted in some truly inspired creations. Unfortunately for Carlos Casanova, his was not one of them. His dress was, uh, lacking, in a number of areas. The risqué look proved too much for the judges and he found himself facing elimination. Michael Kors called it “odd” and Nina Garcia said that it was “questionable in taste”. So yeah, not good.

#4: Santino’s Frilly Lingerie

Season 2

How Santino didn’t get eliminated after turning in these bizarre creations we will never know! During season two, the designers were tasked with creating a lingerie line consisting of three similar looks. Santino apparently took inspiration from Heidi Klum’s homeland, trotting out these lederhosen-inspired looks. The designs failed to impress the judges, with one going so far as to quip, “I think Santino embellished to the point where it wasn’t delicate and sexy any longer, it was vaudeville.” While he ultimately managed to stave off elimination, our dreams will forever be haunted by these inexplicable looks.

#3: Sandro’s Leotard

Season 12

Season twelve’s first challenge took the contestants out of the design room and onto the tarmac. The task was to create a look using parachute materials. While most of the designers played it safe and used the unique material to create long, flowing dresses, Sandro went in a different direction. He decided to make a skin-tight body suit … with predictable results. The finished product leaves little to the imagination, with the models most intimate areas on full display. Sandro didn’t get eliminated, but he also didn’t last much longer in the competition.

#2: Blayne & Stella’s Creepy Disaster

Season 5

For this season five challenge, Blayne was teamed up with Stella. Their goal was to create an avant-garde outfit inspired by one of the teammate’s astrological signs; and what the two came up with was interesting to say the least. There’s a lot to unpack with this design. The colourful fabrics scream “magicians’ handkerchiefs” and the black leather straps conjure up images of a BDSM dungeon. The outfit has no flow, no meaning and frankly, no proper way to describe it. In the end, it cost Blayne and Stella a seat at the table, as they were both eliminated for their fashion faux pas.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.

Bradley’s “Cher” Inspired Look, Season 3

If Only He “Could Turn Back Time,” He Might’ve Reconsidered This Look

Kenneth’s Colorful Streetwear, Season 19

So Bright You Need Sunglasses Just to Look at It!

Emilio’s Bikini, Season 7

We’re Not Sure Where He Cast His Net to Come Up with That Look

Blake’s Lingerie, Season 14

A Set That Has All the Structural Integrity of the Judges’ Faith in the Design

April’s Diaper Pants, Season 8

Do We Really Need to Say More?

#1: Wendy’s Grocery Store Disaster

Season 1

This design remains one of “Project Runway’s” most memorable…just not for a good reason. Trotted out all the way back in the season one premiere, the candy-inspired look was part of a challenge that required the designers to create something using materials found at a grocery store. With $50 to spend and one day to work, this was what Wendy came up with. The finished product is a mess and looks less like the work of an aspiring designer and more like the inside of a piñata. It’s unflattering, unwearable and truly unforgettable.

Which Runway look still haunts you? Let us know in the comments.