Loathe as we are to give the show any more ink (or pixels as it were), it’s almost unavoidable. Project Runway mania hit the internet yesterday and today. The show finally aired last night with much fanfare. I went with our publisher yesterday to the New York Magazine screening of the show and the first thing he said was and I quote “I’ve never seen so many attractive women at bar. This is where single men who have done good in their lives go when they die.” Then the show started, the women started talking and he said, “I take that back, can we leave now?” His apparent distaste was for the show itself and the reaction from the 90% female crowd. My immediate question was, what did you expect? You’re going to a Project Runway screening. This is not a superbowl party (thank god).

So let’s get to it. I have to agree with Tim Gunn who said at the beginning, this group seems to be the most talented group since the show’s start. The group also seems to be somewhat boring. Keep in mind I am saying this after only one show. Everything can turn on a dime. Here’s a quick look at the contestants and their performance:

Carmen: Carmen looks like she’s going to be around for awhile. If there’s going to be drama, Carmen looks like she’s going to be at the center of it. Her designs are right at the center of the bell curve. There’s no compelling reason for her to be kicked out early. The conspiracy theorist in me believes that Carmen will stick around because of the “what happens with her next” ratings factor.

Chris: This guy is so loveable. When he went running for the garments at Bryant Park the attendees at the New York Mag event gave a collective awww and when he said that he got the garments that he wanted they all cheered. He’s another middle of the road designer.

Christian: If Carmen is the center of drama, Christian is the red glowing bullseye. He’s the case of the emperor has no clothes. I wanted to puke when I saw what he put together. But the judges loved it, go figure.

Elisa: The girl with the everything train on a dress just lost me when she went to sleep. I agreed with the judges though, her design was one of the worst, but also showed the most promise.

Jack: His dress was gorgeous, if he sticks around and gets better, watch out.

Jillian: She created something out of the 80s, I swear her dress belonged in Dirty Dancing.

Kevin: The lone straight male designer (I think) out of the whole cast, who made it a point to highlight that, will probably be out very quickly. His design just seemed very blah.

Kit: Kit Pistol looks like she’s out of ammo. Her dress was just as blah as Kevin’s.

Marion: Marion’s dress was a mess. I wince watching this guy.

Rami: Rami’s dress was simply gorgeous. It was so beautiful. As soon as I looked at it, in comparision to all the others, I knew he had was miles ahead. My early money is on Rami. But don’t go to Vegas and use my pick, I’ve been wrong before (just not often).

Ricky: This guy is gone within the next 5 shows. Ugh.

Simone: Our publisher is in love with Simone. He’s already putting feelers out to see if she’s already married. I on the other hand, saw a train wreck. Her dress was too simple and the color was just off.

Steve: He is so cute. But cute will only get you so far. His business suit was probably the most staid item, but at the same time personally it was a favorite. I loved it. Behind Rami, he’s one to look out for.

Sweet P: I feel silly calling a fashion designer the same name as Popeye’s child. Ridiculous. Her dress looks like something done for Christmas. It was ok. She has a 50/50 chance of being around midway through the season.

Victorya: Victorya is my sleeper pick for top 3. I don’t know why but I see flashes of brilliance in her work.

The Ebony Fashion Fair is close to kicking off again this year and from the list of designers participating this looks to be the most promising year since the first one in 1956. Billed as the largest traveling fashion show in the world, the fashion fair showcases works from the collections of major designers around the world. The list of designers involved this year looks like a who’s who in fashion around the world. Names like Anna Sui, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Tracy Reese, Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Christian Dior, Christian Lacroix, Givenchy, Nina Ricci, Valentino and Vivienne Westwood are all showcased this season.

Our own international editor, Tenisha Anderson, traveled with the fashion fair last season and said that it was exhausting but the work was well worth it. The fashion fair brings the industry’s best to places and eyes that would never see all that is high fashion. One of the main purposes of the fair is to inspire fashion’s next great designer. The traveling show has been to hundreds of cities big and small in the US, London and several Carribean locations. The Fair has raised over $52 million dollars for scholarships that has helped hundreds of young people attend college.

To view the full schedule of Ebony Fashion Fair cities this season, click here.

If there’s one thing that we love in the Fall it is beautiful fashion ads that start sprouting up as early as August. This season via Showstudio, we’re treated with the YSL ads shot by Inez Van Lambsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. Chances are your ad won’t go wrong with Gisele Bundchen fronting the campaign. It’s about the collection as well and we’ll knock through our favorites one by one. The classic blocked heel pumps with rounded tip is top on the list. The nylon Shiny Duvet trench coat another wishlist favorite at Papierdoll. Another item that consistently runs through our minds while ogling Gisele is the handbag seen below.

We’re not sure what Amity Cooper was thinking when she decided to create 50 handbags for the 50 different states in the Union. Most fashion designers have some sort of commercial ulterior motive though they will deny it with their very last breath. The Alaskan designer decided to do it out of a sense of patriotism and we’re happy she did, the bags are that good. They may become collector’s items in the long run, but for now Cooper’s decided to keep them reasonably priced and very off the wall in the process. Some of her bag names include Mississippi Brunch Bag, Arizona Rattler, Hawaii Weekender, Louisiana Market Sac and many others representing the various states of the Union.

Samantha Cabrera interviewed Cooper in the November 2007 issue of Papierdoll, you can read the entire interview here.

Visit her site here.

Fashion bloggers are nothing if not opinionated. This week they let their opinions run wild and free. An interesting post talking about the apparently disappointing Roberto Cavalli H&M line starts things off. It’s somewhat of an extension of what we’ve been saying for awhile now. There is this danger however nebulous of prestigious designers watering down their lines when they go into stores for the masses. H&M is a great store and we’ll shop there till the our dying day, but does Roberto Cavalli belong there? That question and a bunch of others (and some answers) are in this week’s websnop round-up.

Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing Baby…55 Secret Street is not impressed with Roberto Cavalli’s H&M line.

Has Paris Hilton gone soft? Stiletto Jungle features the not-so-Paris cozy cardigan she recently snapped up.

The Limited Edition Dooney & Bourke handbag designed by Hayden Panettiere is coming to a DB store near you. Bag Bliss has the scoop..

Bag Snob Guide: How to build the Ultimate Bag Wardrobe!

Beauty Snob escapes with organic bath swizzles from Fraiche!

Not just for evening anymore, Coquette’s got her hands ready for the little clutch.

Vintage style is great but the fit can be tricky, so Fashiontribes tracked down the Top 10 Vintage Reproduction websites.

KRiSTOPHER explains her name, “Kristopher? With a K?”.

My Fashion Life lusts after the Marie trench coat by Vidler and Nixon. Trust us, its gorgeous!

Diva or Disaster? Read Second City Style’s honest review about Rachel Zoe’s new book "Style A to Zoe"

Stylehivechandelier earrings!

WELOVEBEAUTY.com Loves “Wind Kissed” Cheeks!