After having spent 22 seasons as a judge on Project Runway — the latest season of which came to a close on September 10 — Nina Garcia, speaking with the Television Academy while in Istanbul, finds there’s an extra comfortability when it comes to fan interactions these days. “And it’s fans of all ages,” she says. “Men, women. And in the most unexpected locations. Even here in Turkey, I ran into a fan of Project Runway. There are very few shows that have this kind of staying power. It's been on I don't how many different networks, but the fandom is around the world.”
The legacy and impact of a show like Project Runway is immeasurable, considering it has acted as a blueprint for so many other reality competition series, many of which have themselves stood the test of time: RuPaul’s Drag Race (18 seasons), Ink Master (17 seasons), LEGO Masters (five seasons), The Great Pottery Throw Down (nine seasons).
“It has really been something I feel so proud to be a part of, for so many reasons,” Garcia says. “Obviously, the understanding of the process of fashion, which was for so long so guarded. This show really helped propel a fascination with fashion and the development of so many designers. I have been in fashion for so long, so I see the most established designers, but it is always the younger designers that fuel the creativity of the future.”
Project Runway stars Law Roach, Heidi Klum, Christian Siriano and Nina García
When she looks back at the hundreds of episodes of Project Runway, Garcia says she remembers all the “important cultural moments” that have made it to air: “Fashion is such a reflection of our culture and such a reflection of what happens in our day to day [lives]. And I know people might think that fashion is banal and maybe superficial, but it is not. It's a reflection of what happens. A lot of conversations that have been so important in the last 20 years have happened on our show; we've never shied away from those conversations but embraced them. We've moved with the times very quickly. I don't think there's a moment where I can say, ‘Oh, yeah, we didn't address that problem,’ whether it was in fashion or in culture. It always surfaces. And the editing has been so authentic and so respectful of reality. I'm very, very proud of it.”
We asked Nina Garcia to share some of the TV projects that help define her.
My favorite show as a kid: The Brady Bunch, The Love Boat
I grew up in Colombia, and we would get these shows dubbed. The American shows were my fascination, because I so aspired to live in the United States. The first one that I really loved and would spend hours watching was The Brady Bunch — Carol Brady and Marcia and this idea of the ideal American childhood and what the ideal American family could look like — the family dinners, the six kids. We were only two kids, so to me, six kids seemed incredible. Everything seemed so perfect.
Then I had a moment when it was all about The Love Boat. I don't know, being on that boat and the stars that would come in every episode. That was a big moment for me. There are others, but those two — I couldn’t miss one of those.
A show that was formative for me as a teen: Dynasty
I really loved Dynasty. Oh my god, Alexis Carrington [Joan Collins] and the fashion and the bitchiness and the drama. It felt very grown up — a real, grown-up soap opera. And I think I lived for every outfit she wore. I was mesmerized by the fashion, because there were so many looks. And the jewelry! It was all so glamorous.
A show that is must-watch weekly viewing for me: The White Lotus, The Studio
The Studio's Seth Rogen
There are so many, but every season of The White Lotus. I can't wait, and I will not miss it. Hacks — I'm still reeling over no more of that. I loved it. Your Friends & Neighbors I loved.
The Studio was a real surprise, right? A friend recommended that I watch it; I watched those first three episodes, and I was hooked. I mean, Seth Rogen was so funny. It's just funny and sharp and quick-paced — 30 minutes pass, and you're like, “Wait, what happened? I want to see more.” And the characters are all so incredibly funny and special in their own ways. I think the character development is key for any of these shows. You really need to connect with more than just one character.
The most stylish shows on TV: Sex and the City, Mad Men, The Crown
I do have a list of what I think have been the most stylish. For me, obviously, Sex and the City was incredible. I mean, watching that show, and the perspective of Carrie, the styling, the Fendi bags, the Manolo Blahniks, the whole thing was just incredible. I'm so happy it lasted for so long, because that was such a seminal show for fashion.
And Mad Men. I think I cried when it ended, because the fashion was so inspirational. Everything was so perfect. That’s a show that I wish had never ended, but it actually had a perfect ending. And The Crown. In terms of the fashion, they really did their homework, and they got it so right.
But I could go on and on. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Even Love Story. The impact of that show has been surprising. I couldn't see anything else on my feed but the fashion of Love Story. It brought back “Carolyn Bessette style,” and we wrote about it endlessly [at Elle]. I think the power these shows have is incredible, and when they embrace fashion, I really love that.
The last show I watched: East of Eden [releasing on Netflix in October]
It is fantastic. Excellent. I couldn't stop watching. I am obsessed with Florence Pugh, who plays a wonderful role. You love to hate her, but she is so, so good. Incredible.
The show I love that may surprise people: Ted Lasso
It’s very odd for me to like, because I'm not very into sports. I started watching it with my husband, and I was like, “Wait, this is really funny.” And I don't even get the sport that much, but I love it. Jason Sudeikis is incredibly funny, as is Hannah Waddingham. I'm glad it's back. And I've actually learned something about football!
The show I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never seen: Girls
I never watched Girls. Can you believe that? I still regret it. Maybe I should go back and watch it now, but I'm watching other things. And I'm a huge Lena Dunham fan, but somehow I never watched the show. And it's such an iconic series. I mean, everybody that was in that series is incredible.
And Euphoria took me a long time to watch. I watched it really late, because I just was scared of it. Then I finally watched it, and I watched all of it. And it just blew me away. It's so good. I really regret not watching it while it was airing, because you can bond with people by talking about it. Those water cooler discussions are very key. But I don't know, it just scared me, and then I watched it and was like, “Wow, that was a great show.” And talk about fashion and makeup — it was great.
Season 22 of Project Runway is available to stream on Hulu.
