The recent season of “Project Runway” concluded on Sept. 7, just right before the official start of New York Fashion Week. This season, the judge’s panel, which included Elle editor in chief Nina Garcia, media personality Elaine Welteroth and fashion designer Brandon Maxwell, awarded the big prize to Baltimore-based designer Bishme Cromartie.
Cromartie made his solo New York Fashion Week debut on Tuesday with a show at the event’s main venue, Spring Studios. Cromartie’s latest collection was titled Faye’s Quantum and fused avant-garde and streetwear inspiration.
You May Also Like
Pieces in his collection included denim cargo pants, hooded draped dresses and romantic ruffled gown skirts coining what the designer defined as “street garde.” “I wanted the collection to feel sexy, strong, masculine and feminine at the same time,” Cromartie said in a statement.
For Cromartie’s solo show, “Project Runway” judges Welteroth and Garcia came out, in addition to designer mentor Christian Siriano. Other notable guests include costume designer and stylist June Ambrose, singer Rebecca Black and singer and puss*cat Dolls member Carmit Bachar.
Ambrose wore an orange and blue checked jacket with white pants. For footwear, she selected pointy-toe brown heels. She accessorized with a New York Knicks hat with bunny ears, matching the colors in her jacket, oversize orange sunglasses and an orange Hermès Birkin bag.
Black took a minimalist approach to color with black and white, and gave it an edge. She wore a black corset top, a black-and-white vertical striped skirt, white leggings with sheer black paneling and statement faux pearl earrings. She accessorized with round sunglasses and a black handbag. For footwear, she selected a pair of yellow and black plaid mary janes.
Bachar kept it classic in a black dress with an asymmetrical cutout on the neckline for a sensual effect. She completed her ensemble with black pointy pumps.
Related Articles
Although Cromartie was the one who took home the ultimate prize this season, the other designers, including Brittany Allen and Laurence Basse, did give their all to their final collections during the “Project Runway” finale, which were also shown as part of New York Fashion Week.
Below, WWD takes a closer look at some of the designers and trends the final three contestants debuted during the show’s season finale on Thursday.
Brittany Allen: Barbiecore
Allen has made her love of pink known throughout the entire series, and of course, her final collection had to showcase her favorite color. The designer sent a Barbiecore-friendly collection down the runway, taking traditional activewear and giving it a high fashiont wist. Hoodies were given corset bodices, snap away track pants were turned into skirts and she even created sporty gowns.
Laurence Basse: the sheer trend
Basse was known for her love of leather couture, and while her collection was heavy on leather she also found other ways to express her love of sensual designs. One of Basse’s looks featured a sheer top with a feathered high neckline. The sheer trend has been dominating the runways and events red carpet since 2022 and continues to persevere.
Bishme Cromartie: sequins
Crystals and sequins began taking off as a trend during September 2022 Fashion Month with designer’s spring 2023 collections. It wasn’t long before the trend would fittingly hit the red carpets. It was quite literally a winning trend for Cromartie to adopt as he came out victorious as the winner of “Project Runway All Stars” season 20.
