By Jeff Long
So, it looks like these guys may have used their hiatus wisely. Immediately, there is an air of seriousness and purpose that season one couldn't touch. Each week, one of two fashion Houses have to create collections. Iman tells us that one house will win and a designer from the losing team will be sent home. The finalists will create entire collections and the winner will be featured in Harper's Bazaar and get $125,000! Of course, we start with some choppy shots of New York a la Project Runway, but that's OK. Just establishing where we are. And, we waste no time meeting our first designer. It's Jeffrey and he's 26 and appears to have some flare. He's tattooed and fabulous. He has wanted to be a fashion designer since he was seven. His forte is mixing men's and women's wear. He walks into a cold warehouse reminiscent of a mid-'90s music video as he VO's that he was told to bring a look that represents who he is as a designer. Here's some guy, Stefan Campbell, who is a fashion show producer. He's got a headset on and a clipboard in hand and he is MOVING. I like him already because he scares me. Behind him are a slew of, dare-I-say? actual models. Stefan barks at Jeffrey that he needs to pick one of this stack of sewing kits. He does and it has the number seven in it, with a corresponding model. That's also his order in the fashion show. The one that's taking place shortly. Stefan barks at him to get moving!
, Cindy, who is 27 and from LA, enters. She tells us that, when she was growing up in Mexico, her mother would dress her in loud outfits that she always wanted to take apart. That was her start in fashion! Then, they all start coming in. Stefan starts steering people to a prep area. This guy Calvin Tran tells us that he has three stores in the US, so he's apparently super-successful already. Well, have fun on this show. Calvin says that he wakes up every morning wanting to be a good person, but, by 3 o'clock, the bitch comes out. I would suggest to Calvin that this may be a blood sugar problem and perhaps he should keep a Clif Bar or maybe a container of almonds in his desk for those post-lunch dips. Cesar is 44 and from Miami and already I like him because he has a kind face. He says that his partner died from colon cancer a year and a half ago, and he would have been a nurse had he not been in fashion. He took a break from fashion after his tragedy and this is sort of a reintroduction for him. That's very sad. Here's Dominique, she's only 21 and is feeling a little insecure about it. But, like all young bucks in fashion, she expects to give everyone a run for their money. Stefan's really pushing all of them to get ready for the show. He is truly scary. He's going to be a star.