Entertainment Weekly has posted the first (frustratingly un-embeddable) trailer for Project Runway All-Stars, which debuts January 5th and will feature all of the most interesting (and some of the most talented) designers who didn’t win their season, along with an entirely new host and panel of judges. Although frustrating finale decisions have tempted us to cut the Runway cord in the past, and our spirit animal Tim Gunn won’t be appearing, there’s no chance we’ll miss All-Stars – mainly because it features the return of our favorite contestant of all time, Austin Scarlett. After the jump, we have some observations and predictions about the season, based on the first glimpse. … Read More

Last week, we learned that Heidi Klum won’t be hosting Project Runway All-Stars, which is currently filming in New York. Then, when we heard earlier today that Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles will be filling in for Tim Gunn as mentor for the spin-off season, we vowed not to watch it. But we’ll be damned if Lifetime didn’t find a way to suck us back in before the day was out — they’ve released their list of All-Stars competitors, and it’s pretty freaking amazing. We’re excited to get back some of our favorite Project Runway designers, from Austin Scarlett to Anthony Williams to last season’s shamefully jilted Mondo Guerra. We’re even psyched about the return of one of our favorite villains, Kenley Collins. Hell, we’re so excited we’ll even put up with one more season of Michael Costello! Check out the full All-Stars cast after the jump, with photos to jog your memory. … Read More

We know, we know: After last year’s horrible season finale — which we will forever refer to as “Mondogate” — we swore off Project Runway. But old habits die hard, and we found ourselves watching the Season 9 premiere last night, just to see whether it was worth our time. And you know what? We weren’t disappointed. Although the idea of bringing 20 contestants to New York only to cut four in the first half hour was gimmicky, the challenge was great: Tim Gunn roused the designers at five in the morning and dragged them into the work room to create a look from their pajamas and bed sheet. So far, the characters are intriguing and the judging makes sense — even Nina and Michael behaved themselves! Our take on the 15 contestants who remain now that the Rafael Cox has been auf’d is after the jump. … Read More