Project Runway season 2 is the second season of Bravo's Project Runway, a reality competition for fashion designers. Season 2 began airing on December 7, 2005. Following a nationwide search earlier in the year, sixteen designers were chosen as semi-finalists and brought to New York City in June 2005. After the first challenge, called "Road To The Runway", fourteen went on to compete as finalists. The winning designer, Chloe Dao, received $100,000 in seed money to help launch her own line, a 2007 Saturn Sky roadster, a spread in ELLE magazine, and a mentorship with the Banana Republic Design Team. Winning alongside Dao was her model, Grace Kelsey, who received the ELLE magazine spread. Michael Kors and Nina Garcia returned as judges for the second season. The fourth judging seat rotated each week, based on the challenge. Tim Gunn, fashion chair at Parsons The New School for Design, returned as a mentor for the designers.
(ages listed are the designers' ages at the time the show was taped in the summer of 2005.)
Daniel F. had been a competitor in the first season and was eliminated in that season's first episode. Determined to show that the judges "made a mistake" in eliminating him so soon, he returned to the nationwide tryouts with samples from his own design line. The evaluation panel at the tryouts decided to give him one more chance and brought him back as a contestant for season two.
The 16 models competing for an ELLE spread in the second season were:
^Note 1 : Although Daniel had one of the lowest scores for the challenge, he was automatically safe as he had immunity.
The designer won Project Runway season 2.
The designer won that challenge.
The designer had the second highest score for that challenge.
The designer had one of the highest scores for that challenge.
The designers had one of the lowest scores for that challenge.
The designer was in the bottom two, but was not eliminated.
The designer lost and was eliminated from the competition.
Models
Elimination Chart
Model
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
Grace
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
CD
WINNER
Rebecca
DF
DV
DV
DV
DV
DV
DV
DV
DV
DV
DV
DV
OUT
Heather
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
OUT
Eden
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
KJ
OUT
Rachael
ZG
ZG
ZG
ZG
ZG
ZG
ZG
NV
NV
NV
OUT
Danyelle
AG
AG
AG
AG
AG
AG
AG
AG
AG
OUT
Tarah
NV
NV
NV
NV
NV
NV
NV
ZG
OUT
Shannon
DE
EM
EM
EM
EM
EM
EM
OUT
Lesley Ann
RB
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
OUT
Cara
MD
MD
MD
MD
MD
MD
OUT
Eliza
GV
GV
GV
GV
GV
OUT
Claudia
KE
DF
DF
DF
OUT
Allison
JW
RB
RB
OUT
Melissa
DV
KE
OUT
Maria
EM
WD
Alyssa
HS
OUT
The model was the winner of Project Runway season 2.
The model won the challenge.
The model wore the losing designers outfit.
The model was brought back into the competition.
The model withdrew from the competition.
The model was out of Project Runway season 2.
Allison was originally eliminated in episode 2, but then was brought back after Maria withdrew.
In episode 10, the models were not used in the challenge.
Designer legend
Andrae Gonzalo: AG
Chloe Dao: CD
Daniel Franco: DF
Daniel Vosovic: DV
Diana Eng: DE
Emmett McCarthy: EM
Guadalupe Vidal: GV
Heidi Standridge: HS
John Wade: JW
Kara Janx: KJ
Kirsten Ehrig: KE
Marla Duran: MD
Nick Verreos: NV
Raymundo Baltazar: RB
Santino Rice: SR
Zulema Griffin: ZG
Episodes
Episode 1: Road to the Runway
Original Airdate: December 7, 2005
Before arriving in New York, the 16 contestants being considered for positions in this season's competing cast were given six yards of plain white muslin, $20, and one week to create an outfit that best represents who they are as a fashion designer. After arriving, the 16 contestants found that only 14 positions were available in the Parsons workroom and thus two would be eliminated at the runway judging.
WINNER: Santino
ELIMINATED: Heidi & John
Episode 2: Clothes Off Your Back
Original Airdate: December 7, 2005
Designers made an outfit using only the clothes they were wearing at the moment the challenge was announced. They had one day to complete their designs.
This episode is best remembered for Andrae's tear-filled panic attack on the runway, and the judges relatively unfeeling response.
Designers created a life-sized outfit for the My Scene collection. The winning designer's outfit would be duplicated for the My Scene collection. The designers had a budget of $150 and two days to complete the design.
Designers created a lingerie line consisting of three looks. A team event with four teams, each with a lead designer and two assistants. The designers had a budget of $200 and one day to complete the collection.
Designers created a day-to-evening ensemble for Banana Republic. A team event with five teams of two. Both designers on the losing team were eliminated. Each team had to finish their garment in one day. After that, all teams went to Banana Republic and each had to make a window that showed the idea of the dress; they had 30 minutes to buy all the materials they needed for the display and an hour to finish. The winner was chosen by votes from Banana Republic clients.
Designers created a figure skating outfit for 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen. The designers had a budget of $150 and two days to complete the design.
Designers took photos around New York and picked one to be an inspiration for an outfit. The designers had a budget of $100 and one day to complete the outfit.
This episode is most notable for Zulema's "Model Walk Off." Prior to this episode, all the winning designers stuck with their original models when given the chance to change by Heidi. Zulema stunned everyone when she not only announced she was changing models, but also making this decision by picking three girls to have a "walk off." She chose the eliminated Emmett's model Shannon, Andrae's model Danyelle, and Nick's model Tarah for consideration. She switched to Tarah, which left Rachael with Nick and eliminated Shannon.
Designers created a dress using only natural materials purchased in the New York Flower District. The designers had a budget of $100 and one hour for the purchases.
Designers created a new look to make over a fellow contestant, who then modeled the new look on the runway.
Chloe designed for Nick, Nick designed for Daniel V., Daniel V. designed for Chloe, Kara designed for Santino, and Santino designed for Kara.
All of the designers gathered for a reunion hosted by Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum on the eve of New York Fashion Week at which the final three designers will display their collections.
Episode 13: Finale – Part 1
Original Airdate: March 1, 2006
The three final designers were shown at home when Tim Gunn visited them, and then returned to New York to prepare their collections for showing at New York Olympus Fashion Week. Back in New York, they were surprised to find out that they had to complete one final challenge: an additional garment that they each had to design with the aid of one eliminated designer of their choice. Nick, Andrae, and Diana returned to help Daniel V., Santino, and Chloe, respectively.
Episode 14: Finale – Part 2
Original Airdate: March 8, 2006
Chloe, Daniel V., and Santino displayed their final collections of thirteen pieces at New York Olympus Fashion Week.
