I wasn’t excited about a single designer last season, but the show returns to New York this time (no more crappy Los Angeles), and I was immediately inspired by several designers. Here’s an introduction to my favorite four.

#1 Maya Luz the punk rock kickass

Maya Luz photos by Conor Doherty.

What she made on the show was my favorite:

I want to buy this dress. Everything about it is perfect and elegant.

#2 Amy Sarabi, the other punk rock kickass

I am in love with these, especially the mushroom motif.

What she made on the show was my third favorite:

I wasn’t a big fan of this. A lot of people have made this skirt before, though this pattern gives it a punch. The challenge was to make something that was representative of the designer’s signature style, and I don’t think she quite did that, because the samples of her other work are way more impressive. Maybe she’s just warming up.

#3 Jay Nicolas Sario the craftsman

I couldn’t dig up a website or a past collection elsewhere, but it seems Filipinos everywhere are thrilled to have one of their own on the show for the first time.
Love the jacket on the left, hate the dress on the right.

What he made on the show was my second favorite:

I’m not 100% sure about the bunch in the middle, but overall it’s a classy outfit.

#4 Janeane Marie Ceccanti the whiny

She has an annoying personality. There wasn’t a single interview bit where she wasn’t crying and making embarrassingly dramatic statements. I’m sure Portland is embarrassed. But her clothes are pretty, elegant and understated; great for everyday wear.

What she made on the show:

I didn’t like this very much but I’m willing to accept that she had trouble with her first dress (which she scrapped) and started work on this very late. I’d wear the top but hate the skirt. I don’t think she’ll get very far.

The pieces I don’t like in Leanne’s collection are the awkward skirt in picture #3 and the weird curves that result in a pointy edge in the top seen in picture #4.

All pictures by Kashish after the jump.

All pictures by Kashish, after the jump.

All pictures by Kashish, after the jump.

All pics by Gyanendra Das, after the jump.

All pics by Gyanendra Das, after the jump.

All pictures by Kashish after the jump.

My first impression of Jerrell’s collection is that the did a lot better than I thought he would, but I still find the aesthetic a little too glittery and cheesy.

Not that all of it is good and not that there is time for all of it: from the shows I know of, Work Out, Millionaire Matchmaker, The Real House of Wives of Orange County, Kathy Griffin are all pretty much boring, and Flipping Out is amusing but nothing worth spending my time on, Step It Up and Dance is interesting but I can do without it, and some of the photo shoots in Make Me a Supermodel were fantastic. Shows that boasted mad, crafty skills were not only entertaining but inspiring as well. I was amazed by the level of skills the finalists brought to the show in Project Runway and Top Chef, though of course this culture of fierce competition is pretty disturbing, especially when the best of the best is picked from a set of tests where certain rules must be followed, and where a winner must be picked for the sake of having a winner. Stephanie vs. Richard makes as little sense as Rembrandt vs. Dali. Can you really say one is a topper painter than the other? And can you factor in patron satisfaction?

Last night, anyhow, I was able to catch a repeat of the first episode of Shear Genius 2 while working on the redesign of this blog in the foreground. This was my first time watching the show ever and I was very excited by the two interpretations of Betty Boop. Those two were my instant favorites from that elimination round, though I admit the winning Wilma Flinstone rocked the most. I shall now forward this post to that family member, though I’m not sure if I will watch the new season of Real Housewives of NYC. My curiosity there has been satisfied.