Riveting, despite its predictability, the season opener of Project Runway presented the usual suspects with new names, in the sunnier backdrop of L.A. (a major demotion to this NYC fashionista’s mind, which cannot ‘get’ serious fashion and palm trees). What no rain and cab strikes?

   Any who…Tim is kinder than ever, helping recovering addict Johnny through a confidence/stress crisis, which pays off, as Johnny does one of the best designs., while Heidi makes one wonder why normal humans gain weight bearing their young- as she is svelte again!.

   Ari tells us she does not sketch; she meditates, and goes home on her space ship, no surprise, while a Qristal, a gutsy plus size designer buys a pair of scissors to cut her own fabric to stay under the time limit! Unfortunately, the fabric is a vivid Pucci-esque print, which she pairs with a solid in such a way that it looks a bit catalog, and only Ari’s spacy air-head imitation keeps Q. from being homeward bound.It appears that This Time, the judges are going to START by letting the contestants know that the Fashion Spaceship has landed, and that these clothes are to be for Earth Women (drat, there goes a lot of fun!). Third on the razor’s edge is Mitchell, who smocks beautifully, has seemingly never heard of LINING, and presents a design so sheer, it would be de trop for a sophisticated bride’s intimate trousseau!

   So far, there are too many contestants to name names, but there is clearly some real talent here- some trained, some natural, some experienced. Christopher envies the training others have had, but the handsome, naturally talented self-taught cutey wins the challenge! Bravo.

Funniest lines were Tim saying he wants INNOVATION- HA!- like we see that at Fashion Week- 40 years I have been at this and I know; I did not study Retro, boys and girls, I wore it! Then there was the irrepressible Michael Kors,saying of Ari’s dress that she was one of those designers who made him woner if he was not intelligent enuf to understand it, Nina thought of Ari that it was “Like speaking to someone in another world”, and guest judge Lindsay Lohan lost it in girlish giggles. Which brings me to the most pleasant surprise of the night, the demeanor of the much discussed Ms. Lohan: she was lovely, kind, gracious, generous and made this writer very happy- so nice!

   Hooked for another season, sew for us designers , sew!…Mary