The cast of "Project Runway" Season 7. Photo: Courtesy of Lifetime
Lifetime TV announced the frenetic design competition will bring a new cast of 16 characters back to the nation's true fashion capitol when Season 7 premieres on Jan. 14 at 10 pm ET/PT.
The announcement took us a bit by surprise since it seems like we just finished our interview with Season 6 winner, Irina Shabayeva. (Okay, it was November, but December is one of those months that just flies by.)
Even if it seems a little premature for a new season, we welcome a return to the Big Apple. Design mentor Tim Gunn seemed out of place so far from NYC's Parsons School of Design, the Atlas Apartments and, of course, the essential show backdrop, Mood Fabrics NYC outpost. (If PR ever stops airing we think Gunn should just buy the place).
While we admire LA for all its breezy styles and the allure of its celebrity culture, there was something missing in Hollywood: Ratings for one thing.
They dipped considerably after the show's Season 6 premiere. Critics complained the show had lost its fashion edge since leaving original network, Bravo. Some even suggested the cast was in need of some mending. We tend to agree with Season 5's superstar winner, Christian Siriano, who recently confided to StyleList that none of the Season 6 finalists' Fashion Week collections "blew me away."
But what bothered us most about the LA season, was the conspicuous absence of judges Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. Sure, they showed up every now and then, but were no longer true regulars. Few of the celebrity guest: judges were as skilled at ripping bad designs apart at the seams. When paired with host-judge-supermodel Heidi Klum, the original trio is a style force of nature.
So here's hoping that now that the show's edgier contributors no longer have to catch the red-eye to be part on the action, we'll see more of them! Lifetime, please, "Make it Work!"
Meanwhile, followers of last season's fan and cast favorite Carol Hannah Whitfield, should check out Season 7's official Web site for her blog welcoming the new cast. Her first insider post contains hilarious footnotes from Season 6 designer and hottie Logan Nietzel, leaving us to wonder if all their charming on-screen flirting has led to more personal projects off camera.