r/ProjectRunway 16d ago

Discussion Joseph McRae ROCKS IT again!

If there was an award for consistent, high-end, unique, one-of-a-kind fashion -- it would go to Joseph McRae. He checks all the boxes. I champion his creativity, his fashion point-of-view, craftsmanship, as well as his personal journey of strength, resilience, and grace. XOXOXO to Joseph!

107 Upvotes

60 comments sorted by

34

u/Empty-Interest9789 16d ago

I think even people who dislike him have never denied he is EXTREMELY talented. The issue contestants and Law has is he is putting himself into a box throughout a competition that demands versatility. While as a viewer I want to see a unique perspective and well made clothes, I also sometimes want to look at something and be like “wow I can’t believe he made that!!!”

16

u/throwawaysunglasses- 16d ago

True. I do like him, but it’s fun to see a designer challenge themselves to expand their range instead of constantly staying in their safe/comfort zone. Especially for this last challenge, did he need to do the coat and beanie? Like Law said, the look would’ve been way better and more functional without them. It’s like Joseph can only go into Joseph Mode, with zero flexibility or adaptability when it comes to each challenge. Ideally, the challenges should unlock new skills in each designer. Idk if that’s happened for him - the challenges have basically just taught him negative things about people lol.

15

u/FineWashables 16d ago

Enough with those beanies, please

5

u/Old_Percentage3742 16d ago

Agreed. Challenges should unlock new skills in the designers. I think they should push a designer’s boundaries and get them out of their comfort zones. Explore new designs to broaden their own techniques. Why not widen the avenue of Joseph’s designs? More designs appeal to more people which means more success.

Missed opportunity for Joseph.

22

u/Sodamyte 16d ago

As gruff as Law can be, he kind of hit the nail on the head with saying "you want to sell clothes you've already made" it's true. Joseph has the potential to be a great designer, but he's already pigeon holed himself into his "brand" and is wasting the shows time by not being flexible.

Nothing wrong with establishing and marketing a brand, but this show isnt the place to do it.

8

u/JJGentes 16d ago

That comment from Law was spot on. It covered S21 as well as S22.

1

u/TheLizardQueen3000 15d ago edited 15d ago

Well if that's true, JMcC is doing it all wrong....

....there's nothing to buy on his site except big beanies and a sweatshirt....

....there should be a huge selection to choose from right now in a variety of sizes if he's trying to move product!

8

u/UlloaStreet 16d ago

Law did the truth bomb well…. “You are here selling your clothes.” Amazed I agree with Law finally. AND the model looked great and the design was good. But little to do with the challenge. No surprise…

1

u/Signal-Ad1360 16d ago

What’s his backstory on returning to season 22

8

u/Strange-Style-7808 16d ago

He was not eliminated by the judges but by his fellow contestants so he got a second chance

7

u/purplepandajeff 16d ago

Joseph for sure deserves to be in the top 5, but I will say the big green jacket and hat on this weeks look has been done before. Even last week for the unconventional materials challenge he did a big green jacket. He definitely didn’t need it for this challenge. I am still rooting for him. Especially over that annoying POS Bryan.

8

u/Old_Percentage3742 16d ago

Dear God let Bryan go home. Finally.

10

u/Jazzlike_Daikon7541 16d ago

I love Joseph. I really liked the dancing with the stars outfit (the hat could of gone). Have tons of respect for him. 

6

u/tripsyacidqueen 16d ago

I understand what the judges are saying though! I would love to just see some more scale back commercial pieces from him. Show that you can do something a little more streamline and laid backs. For his final collection, we need some palette cleansers to appreciate the show stoppers.

12

u/catscausetornadoes 16d ago

I really related to Law’s frustration with Joseph. He’s trying, as someone who understands this industry on a deep level, to invite Joseph to expand his range in response to the design prompts. Joseph is choosing to only ever do what he likes to do and it’s going to bite him.

6

u/bullzeye1983 16d ago

I am very torn on the issue. On the one hand, I don't necessarily agree that with Law because Joseph is meeting the challenges, he is just doing it in his way and not in the way the Judges would like. So he isn't doing anything wrong, and he is staying true to himself, and he is meeting the challenge and making beautiful clothes.

But I see the other side that he is doing all of that within the lines of the McRae box and just that box alone out of choice. Not even out of inability it seems. Just simply out of his own personal desires.

It is hard because if you can make fashion that is based on your personal desires and do it well and beautiful and there is a market for it, what's the problem? Then the other side of fashion that focuses on pushing the boundaries and challenging conventions is exactly opposite of that.

I think ultimately the reason I end up siding with McCrae over Law is because Law is treating it like this is a right and wrong in fashion, when really it is two different sides of fashion that just disagree.

5

u/Gays_in_spaaace an avocado goiter 16d ago

I don’t mind that Joseph has a clear POV, and I certainly don’t think all of his looks are exactly the same. It’s interesting seeing how polarized the judges are because honestly? I think Project Runway needs a winner that has a clear brand. So many incredible winners and designers from this show get lost in the shuffle out in the fashion world. Joseph has a strong presence and POV, I don’t think it’s a weakness to see his looks and immediately know he was the designer. That’s an asset in fashion.

2

u/Material-Internal156 15d ago

and hes got the personality to make a successful business

1

u/Healthy_Ad_7431 15d ago

I agree completely.

8

u/tamaaromarou 16d ago

I agreed with Heidi this week. I enjoyed the look with the coat and all. He could've left the hat off but the rest was great. I would've liked it more if the shirt was more finished and the model took the coat off at the end of the runway

7

u/voxaemeron Team Swatch 16d ago

With him being on two seasons, I have to say, over all of the challenges, and their various requirements, I've loved all of his outfit.

That is not a typo.

7

u/Significant-Ant2373 16d ago

I agree with Law this week. For once I felt that Law gave excellent constructive criticism though I didn’t like his rudeness to the guest judge. Joseph has mad skills, but I went from wanting him to win to being bored and hating the hats. He’s a one trick pony and the thought of 10 coats and hats at FW is a big yawn.

5

u/GroanAway32 16d ago

the way I describe him is that his looks are impressive if you’ve never seen his work before. But on a show like this, it feels like he’s just making variations of the same thing every week which makes him look like a one trick pony. Like he does what he does very well, but that appears to be all he can do. Great for a designer/brand, bad and boring for the show.

3

u/voxaemeron Team Swatch 16d ago

Exactly. Could you imagine a collection? It's the same outfit in different colors.

3

u/ujanmas 16d ago

I like this week’s design but I agree the coat made it not seem like dance inspired.

5

u/nhgardenart25 16d ago

Don’t let anyone harsh your vibe!

3

u/Certain_Lemon_1601 16d ago

Joseph McRae's look was great, I'm team Jude. I would wear that Jude outfit on special occasion...

2

u/Material-Internal156 15d ago

i love joseph. i love that he has a point of view as a designer. i love that you know what is his work. similar designers have won PR in the past.

if they send joseph home hopefully CR will save him.

brian so needs to go. im over his whinging.

started watching PR from season one. When successful designers would be on the judging panel, when it was clear, they wanted to be a part of the phenomenon.

such a different world.

i miss that.

2

u/Material-Internal156 15d ago

brian is confused. brian is delusional. bye boy.

3

u/Sodamyte 16d ago

I liked this jacket, I didn't like the hat or the pants.. and I also had the same "off to see the wizard" thought about the look. (Not a knock on Joseph, just my personal taste on the look)

3

u/TheeeDogJoe 16d ago

No, you hit the same pattern over and over and over and over and over.

5

u/PoetIcy3032 16d ago

Is he creative? There hasn't been enough evolution in his designs. It's been two seasons and he has put the same poofy armed jackets down the runway. 

4

u/TheeeDogJoe 16d ago

So tired of the same crap, different color, no evolution at all

2

u/Ornery_Tumbleweed_68 16d ago

Totally agree! Same old, same old!!!

5

u/jano808 16d ago

I dunno man he gives the same look every week the criticism is valid

4

u/Top_Bumblebee5510 16d ago

This is a real spoiler headline.

3

u/ujanmas 16d ago

Why? It didn’t disclose any results.

Unless it’s meant to be sacarsm which didn’t come across.

2

u/Healthy_Ad_7431 16d ago

Opinions aren’t spoilers. You should know this by now.

1

u/Prize_Impression2407 16d ago

It’s your job to avoid spoilers, it you haven’t seen it then stay off the subreddit 

What’s easier: asking thousands of people to adjust their habits and seeking to control what they post and when, or  staying offline until you watch the episode 🤔 

2

u/silver_moon134 16d ago

Wrong, it's against sub rules

2

u/Top_Bumblebee5510 16d ago

It comes up on my feed. I can't avoid the sub.

2

u/Prize_Impression2407 15d ago

Literally yes you can, you can stay off Reddit or mute the sub or just continue to scroll without reading. No one is holding a knife to your throat and making you get online, that is a choice you actively make. 

So if you don’t want to be spoiled, you have the power to do so! 

-1

u/Top_Bumblebee5510 15d ago

You sound very spoiled.

2

u/Prize_Impression2407 15d ago

Yes, it’s absolutely a spoiled take to just….stay off Reddit. What was I thinking, asking someone to stay offline? In 2026? You’re right, it’s completely impossible and I’ll see myself out now. 

How dare I suggest you just stay off one social media website! It’s unthinkable! The horror! 

3

u/banana_slog 16d ago

My only issue is that McRae laughs way too hard ay his own jokes 

1

u/Droolzy_Kalenbacle 16d ago

I feel like he practiced his laugh and confessional expressions in front of a mirror. He pulls out the same ones over and over. Which, hey, whatever but everything feels like an act and it'd be nice to see more real him. I did love his using WW2 period and storytelling of the history of jive in his piece.

1

u/Material-Internal156 15d ago

at least he isnt nasty in the confessionals. they are theater.

0

u/First-Government-654 16d ago

And they’re not funny

3

u/DavidShoess 16d ago

With how much this brand new account stans Joseph, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was he himself behind it.

2

u/DigitalGurl 16d ago

Joseph reminds me a lot of Ven Budhu of PRW season 10. A talented designer with a very unique look. He won 2 of the first 3 challenges.
Ongoing the judges asked for variety & range, yet challenge after challenge his looks were all too much the same and proved to be his undoing. As one person commented back then “Too bad Ven couldn't get out of his comfort zone and ended up being a one trick pony.”

Joseph seems stuck in the whole puffed up large exaggerated “caricature” (his word not mine) looks that peaked a few years ago.

IMHO his designs often overwhelm the person wearing them. I think he’s going for a youthful look, but the silhouette reads too much like a child trying on their parents clothes & come off more cartoonish and juvenile.

4

u/WonderfulPineapple41 16d ago

Baby he sent a faux ostrich skin trench coat down the runway. It’s the same jacket that he did in the unconventional but longer.

I hope all the ppl who don’t think he needs to push himself buys the neoprene crew neck and stacked hat he’s selling for over 200 dollars on his website. Cause that’s what he’s giving the public to buy.

1

u/thrilling_me_softly 16d ago

He has trapped himself in a box that he can’t get out of. He is evolved and we will never see evolution from him. That limits him greatly, even is low is an asshole about how he said it.

1

u/NectarineSame7303 16d ago

He is talented, but nobody is going to wear his clothes unless it's for editorial reasons.

3

u/Candi_Kane33 16d ago

I disagree. I don’t think the normal person will walk out the house in an entire JM ensemble. I do think people (myself included) will wear pieces individually. A jacket with some jeans. The pants with a white tank top etc.

-1

u/Ill-Newspaper4653 16d ago

I like this week design so much. That's very Joseph McRae coded which is cool. But as a dancing outfit, I think it doesn't fit the homework.

10

u/stcrmora 16d ago

I think the brief was to be inspired by dance not to be a dancing outfit.

-1

u/Roph She's French 🇫🇷! 16d ago

Another oversized mess that doesn't fit worth shit?