‘Project Runway’ contestants display nerves, few tears as they show their stuff

NEW YORK, N.Y. – If Bryce Black happens to win this season of “Project Runway,” look for his new T-shirt: “Klum of Doom.”

That’s the garment the nervous contestant told his Lincoln Center audience he was planning to design, so afraid is he of the plainspoken “Project Runway” host and supermodel, Heidi Klum.

Yet there was one thing even more frightening, he said at Friday’s show, and that was appearing in public.

“OK, finally I’ve found something more terrifying than Heidi Klum,” he said as he gazed out at the imposing crowd to introduce his collection.

Black is one of nine remaining contestants on the show’s ninth season. His clothes included a number of odd-looking military-style jackets, some in pastel colours, and a lot of trousers with large, exaggerated seams.

Who’s on track to win? Hard to tell, but the crowd seemed to like the bright, breezy style of Anya Ayoung Chee, from Trinidad. She said her collection was inspired by “the easy, sexy vibe of the Caribbean.” Her designs included a long, silky colourful dress with a metallic halter strap, and a fetching black-and-white bathing suit with a flowing matching coverup.

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Representing the over-50 set was Bert Keeter, 57, who seemed a bit surprised to be there. “I don’t know quite how this happened,” he told the crowd, to sympathetic laughter. He favoured simple designs in white, tan and black – a typical item was a plain white dress with an armband for one sleeve.

Laura Kathleen got some approving looks for her collection, which she said was aimed at the everyday woman, who “goes through battles of vulnerability,” and who may have her guard up, but “lets it back down for love.” Her clothes were heavy on metallic accents, but also had their silky, filmy side.

Anthony Ryan Auld cheerfully acknowledged that he was colour blind, then offered up some seriously odd colour combos, like a rust-and-grey skirt paired with a red-and-white top, along with bright blue shoes. His models wore appealing pageboy wigs in black, blond and red – and one wore what seemed to be a futuristic pillbox hat.

Kimberly Goldson tearfully thanked her support team of family and friends for helping her pursue her dream, then showed off some bold colours, including a purple skirt with almost a bustle in back.

Olivier Green gave a shout-out to the brother he was seeing for the first time in five years, then showed a collection favouring big, boxy jackets and also a transparent vinyl look.

Joshua McKinley also liked the transparent look, offering up a vest with a clear plastic front.

And Viktor Luna proudly displayed colourful designs inspired by his homeland of Mexico, including motifs from photos he took there.

Klum, along with fellow judges Nina Garcia, Michael Kors and guest judge L’Wren Scott, wasn’t giving any hints as to her favourites.

“Now we’re gonna go pick a winner!” she told the crowd.