Project Runway Predictions!

Project Runway starts its fifth season (and last season on Bravo) tonight. Season 4 devotees know they can't produce a better winner (or better catchphrases) than last season's champ Christian Siriano. And real die-hard fans know that designers get booed by the judges for being too consistent. Last season's Laura was predictable whenever she designed evening wear. Jeffrey from Season 3 never stepped out of his edgy shell to create something non-rock 'n roll, and Rami in Season Whatever bored the judges with his phenomenal draping skills in challenge after challenge. Rather than predict the winners, here are my picks for who might play it safe in with one style, and how.

Daniel from Massachusetts will go hog-wild with animal prints. He may get similar criticism as Uli in Season 3, when they wondered if she could design with solids. Our guess: Even if he can design with solids, this zoologist wannabe will still have animal print accessories walking down the runway. But maybe he can be Pucci about it and make some signature print that’s innovative and packs zoologist flair.

Emily, a globetrotter, says she’s inspired by her friends, family and travels. We so hope she brings some harajuku-meets-geisha flavor to the workroom this season. There’s nothing more disappointing than a designer who has influences that they don’t apply, and the judges know that better than anyone. Let’s just hope she isn’t a Gwen Stefani type with her harajuku.

Korto from Liberia may end up drawing from her African heritage too often. Her bio says she loves African braiding, textures, and makeup. Hopefully she and Daniel don’t get paired up on group challenges. She may, however, opt to be a little YSL when it comes to model castings and give the African models a chance on the runway.

Leanne, who we’re calling “Leanimal” from now on—the cheeky name of her own line—will probably be on of the few contestants who keeps the judges on their toes. Her background and varied experiences separate her from the pack. There’s some sass there, too—something Rodarte about her, and it’s not just because he’s listed among her fav designers.

Stella sounds eerily like the Season 3 winner Jeffrey. If she can refine her rock style, the judges will be eating out of her hand. If not, she’ll probably make the first few episodes; but once it gets down to the nitty gritty, she may not last long. It’s no wonder one of her favorite designers is McQueen, but hopefully inspiration lies beyond the edgy rocker schtick.

Terri has a background in lingerie, which could catapult her into a bunch of different directions. The path we hope she doesn’t follow, however, is Ricky’s from Season 4. We’d like to see Terri and the Leanimal pair up sometime this season, and maybe as a better pair than Christian and Mark in Season 4’s couture challenge. With Karl Lagerfeld as her biggest fashion inspiration, maybe she’ll bring something clean-cut and eclectic. That would be so Phillip Lim meets Anna Sui!

Jennifer describes her theory of design as “Holly Golightly attends a Salvador Dali exhibit.” Sounds versatile enough, and we bet she can sew too, since she spent time in Italy as an embroidery designer for Blumarine. However, she may be too much of a perfectionist, and that may get the best of her from time to time—like Jillian from Season 4, who always sewed up until the last minute.