Customer Reviews

Project Runway - The Complete First Season

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The 12 designers have stand-out personalities that draw you in immediately, even if you don't have a clue about (or even an interest in) fashion. Each week the designers are given a challenge (such as buying their supplies from ONLY a grocery store with only $50 to make their first piece). They are put to the test both creatively and technically with each new challenge (such as redesigning the US Postal Service uniform or creating the perfect Grammy dress), and it gets really funny and bitchy at times. For each challenge, the designers are allowed to choose a model with whom to work by pulling numbers out of a hat to determine the order in which they get to choose, with the winner of the last challenge getting first choice. Each week, not only is one designer cut, but a model will be sent home as well. The top three designers go on to show their unique lines at New York's Fashion Week. The winner of that competition, as well as his/her model, receives impressive opportunities in the fashion industry!

The designers are judged by such fashion icons as Michael Kors, as well as world-famous supermodel Heidi Klum and occasional celebrity judges. The pieces they create range from funky to formal, simple to elaborate, extravagent to the completely outrageous!

I highly recommend this DVD, along with all the extras. There is no other reality show that can compare to Project Runway. It's really fun to root for your favorite designer, and you'll really feel for each one when they get cut.

"In the fashion world, as in this competition, you're either in or you're out."

This DVD does not disappoint! It arrived so quickly and the extras (Wear are They Now and Deleted Seams) on it are a lot of fun. Nina Garcia talks to Jay and Julia while they prepare for the "Elle" photo shoot and then you realize they haven't really had a chance to talk before since she was a judge and could not interact with the designers. She comes off much nicer and even younger in this setting. I was glad to see the Reunion show was part of the set. I think it would have been nice to have the audition tapes of the designers included as well, but they're not. It was fun to go through my favorite challenges with the designers again and since it's commercial free, it's even better! I can hardly wait for Season 2 to come out on DVD now!

As a reality show junkie, I was skeptical that this show would offer anything new. Unlike other shows, the participants are judged on their talent alone. Backstabbing and plotting, which has become commonplace in other shows, will not save you here. As one designer will eventually discover...what goes around, comes around.


Another thing to note, Heidi Klum carries herself gracefully and isn't in your face, like other models with reality shows. She isn't building herself up and she never acts fake to impress other people.

This show was nominated for an Emmy after the first season. Trust me; it is the greatest reality show ever. If you live for fashion, you will appreciate the talent and technique on this program. It was unbelievable to watch these designers bring material to life in just a few hours. I gained enormous respect with anyone with the ability to sew and design. I cannot wait until season two! December 7 is marked on my calendar in INK.

What sets "Project Runway" apart are innovative contests - the first project (called "Innovation") sets the tone, as it actually involves the designers going to a grocery store with $50 and being required to build an outfit out of things they find at the store. The challenges during the series are just that - challenges; they don't take it easy on the contestants and require definite skill to succeed. The results of the tasks are definitely interesting to see, as there are some that are remarkably creative, and others that just don't work.

Another refreshing point about "Runway" is although there are definitely big personalities in the pool of contestants and the show does show some catfights and arguments, the series focuses more on the actual work that the contestants are trying to do. Additionally, some of the people are actually pleasant to one another, which is a real shocker for a reality series. Additionally, Heidi Klum actually makes a very good host, managing to not keep the focus on her in her scenes, and yet not be so subdued that she becomes a non-factor. It's a tough balance, but she achieves it quite well. The pacing and documentary-style cinematography are also faster and sharper than most similar shows on TV today.

Extra Features

The bonus features are fun, included is a series of rather interesting "WEAR Are They Now?" segments, as well as deleted "SEAMS" and a pictorial gallery of some of the designers work throughout the course of the show. The "WEAR" segment catches up with Jay, Kara Saun, Austin, Robert, and Wendy. Totaling 40 minutes in length (all combined) I found these to be fairly interesting, offering a rather extensive look into what the designers have been doing since the show's conclusion. The deleted scenes (with a total run time of 15 minutes) offer the typical helping of "the stuff we didn't show" scenes where the camera was too shaky for the footage to make the final cut. Lastly, the designer gallery is simply a slide show of the designers work including final products of clothing they made, as well as looks at sketches of ideas that they may have had during the creative design process. There are no audio commentaries on this disc set but hopefully there will be one in a future season release.

I really enjoy watching Runway, although I do not always agree with the voted off designer, it remains an edgy an innovative show. I think that just might be the charm of the show. We all have our personal favorites but you can never be sure who will win !! Each week when the current episode airs, I call my sister and we gossip through the entire show each trying to predict the winner and loser !!!

Honestly, I never thought this would be the type of show I'd even want to watch, much less had to watch. But one night, nothing else was on, and decided to give it a try. Instantly became hooked. As others have mentioned, it's a reality show in which true talent wins out. Backbiting, gamesmanship, etc. is still present, and makes for interesting TV. But in the end, either you've got the talent to make it, or you don't. I eagerly anticipated the release of Season 1, so that I could catch up on the ones I'd missed. Am enjoying Season 2 on Bravo, but can't wait for it to come out on DVD, so I can watch at my leisure.

I am a huge Project Runway fan and have loved every season in its own right. But season 1 keeps pulling me back in. It's not like other shows where I get bored when I already know the outcome - the contestants themselves make such great TV that it doesn't even have to be about the fashion. Who can resist such deliciously sarcastic Jay commentary? Austin is a marvel every time he appears on screen, more fabulous each time. And Wendy... what can one say about Wendy Pepper? I can only sit back and marvel at the sheer magnitude of her ambition. She's easy to hate, but as a mom, I related to her in parts at the end of the show, leaving me in an uncomfortably ambiguous state of mind about Wendy.
Let's not forget dear Kara Saun... daring yet sophisticated style, no shenanigans tolerated...and then SHOEGATE! Between her blowup with Wendy and the Shoegate saga, I could watch that last episode a hundred times.

Don't forget Robert, admirer of women...and their bodies. Poor Kevin, one of Wendy's "bus" victims... Vanessa "I CON'T SEW" - her performance at the reunion show is pretty memorable. Stand in awe as Austin himself does a turn on the runway, goggle at the terror that is Morganza, gasp in shock when Wendy is chosen for the final 3, sending Austin (fabulous Austin) home... clutching one of the most gorgeous dresses made that season, laugh helplessly at the sharp wit from Jay...

Come on, pop a drink and sit down with me. Just don't take my dye!

Some of the projects result in the most ridiculous outfits - who would wear this stuff??? - and I wouldn't have picked the winner, but who cares when such fun is to be had. Heidi's smile lights up a room and who couldn't love Tim? Buy this video and enjoy.

I'm a T-shirt and jeans kind of guy, and I could really care less about fashion. But, my girlfriend made me watch it, and I got hooked. More than the later seasons, they got a bunch of characters together and stirred the pot. The clothes are important, but the real show is the interaction between the designers. It's entertaining, and the more you like "drama" the more you will like the show. Some of the smallest things get blown so out of proportion, and that's just more entertainment for us. A wonderful show, and they have just the right people (Tim Gunn, Michael Kors, Nina Garcia) involved, helping the designers along and judging their output. Bravo!

I would never have guessed that I would someday purchase the DVDs of a reality show, but this is the one that changed my mind. Aspiring fashion designers compete to win the chance to be "America's next great fashion designer" - what could be better? First of all, it is a competition based on true talent and skill - there is no faking it in these challenges - either you can put together a garment or you can't. Secondly, as fashion designers are artists, huge personalities abound (judges, models and contestants!) - no shrinking violets here. Finally, each weekly challenge is unique meaning each episode remains fresh - occasional twists help this cause.

Overall, one of the most fascinating shows on television today.

I do love Project Runway and I couldn't wait to get each season on DVD. While I am glad to have each show without commercials, I am disappointed that there is no additional material included. I was hoping for outtakes, extra interviews, or SOMETHING I hadn't seen on Bravo. Complete letdown. I'm not sorry I bought it, I'm sorry I paid so much for it.