Heidi Klum will be portrayed by Angela Lindvall. The role of Nina Garcia will be played by Marchesa‘s Georgina Chapman. Joanna Coles, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire will star as mentor-in residence Tim Gunn. And returning to the fashion reality competition show stage is Isaac Mizrahi as Michael Kors. Guest judges will include Diane von Furstenberg, Miranda Kerr, Miss Piggy, Pharrell Williams, Nanette Lepore, Rachel Roy, Catherine Malandrino, and Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

The All-Stars in question are past Runway contestants who weren’t quite up to snuff, such as Austin Scarlett, Sweet P, Kara Janx and that much-reviled whiny copycat, Kenley Collins. Personally, I stopped watching Project Runway as soon as it hopped from Bravo to Lifetime,  deciding along the way that a season in L.A. was a good idea, but this new spin-off series could bring some much-needed fresh air into the franchise.

The All-Stars will compete for a handsome set of prizes, the most lucrative in Runway history: “an exclusive designer boutique in select Neiman Marcus stores and on neimanmarcus.com; $100,000 in technology and office space to help expand their business from HP and Intel; $100,000 cash from L’Oréal Paris; a feature spread in Marie Claire, for which he or she will serve as a guest editor for one year, and a sewing and embroidery studio provided by Brother International.” Well, at least they made returning to the scene of one’s former and very public embarrassment suitably enticing.

Will you watch Project Runway All-Stars when it premieres January 5 on Lifetime, television for women unemployed gay men? [WWD]

Halston with his girls — Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and Michael Jackson

Sarah Jessica Parker‘s departure was a tiny little mention in her Vogue cover story:

When Sex and the City, to her own surprise, made her a fashion star, she launched her own design label and perfumes, as well as signing on to run the Halston Heritage label, a relationship that recently came to an end.

Days after that story broke, Harvey Weinstein has followed SJP out to pasture, leaving the company in which he had equity stake for the past few years. Well, the good news is Halston’s parent company, Hilco, is still confident in the label — at least someone is — as its seen recent growth in retail.

And also, Liza picked Diana up in the Beemer  and they’re on their way with Elton riding bitch. Happy days are here again! [WWD]

- Red carpet favorite Marchesa is hopping into less formal territory with its one-off Playboy Bunny costume design for the new Playboy Club opening in London June 4th. Using the original iconic costume design, Georgina Chapman and co. added “Marchesa’s signature details, such as hand draping and embroidery.” I better not see a forty-foot train of tulle cascading from that bunny tail. [Vogue]

- Anna Wintour parachuted into the J. Crew store on Fifth Ave to celebrate CFDA winner Billy Reid and the two designers who subsequently ate his dust, Prabal Gurung and Eddie Borgo.  All three designed capsule collections for the Crew; Reid’s seven piece collection is available online now through May with Gurung’s premiering in June and Borgo’s in July. [Fashionista]

Lenox Corportation’s hired  Marchesa’s Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig to design tableware. They’re calling it “a couture tabletop collection,”each being inspired by a Marchesa dress, eight in total so far.

LINK LOVE: Fashionista

Walking into the Chelsea Museum alongside Brooklyn Decker, (also see Anna, Tonne, Nicole Richie) and being handed a glass of Dom Perignon was the only way (literally) to view Georgina Chapman’s fall 2010 showcase. The room had a cool vibe of fashion lovers, industry greats, socialites, and celebrities all mingling in the midst of artistry on live models. The amount of detail and handwork on each dress blew me away – each paired with an equally stunning pair of Loubs! The ironic reality of showing a line like this in a museum, is the true appreciation of the art that is Fashion Design. Hats off to the stunningly charming Georgina for bringing her genius to life!

Gallery here.

Written by Jomarie Sanfilippo

What do you guys think about designers stepping out of styling and onto the camera?

LINK LOVE: WWD

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Lily Donaldson, Chanel Iman, and Georgina Chapman star in the Fall 08 Gap campaign. Liv Tyler is also scheduled to be featured in the print ads. Surprisingly, Gap has continues to be ingenious with their advertisements. Although, these are not as poignant as the Gap(red) ads, Gap’s fall campaign sheds words of wisdom. The dramatic black and white ads all have a fun message. Teen supermodel sensation, Chanel Iman’s, phrase is “name your own destiny.” We think she speaks from experience. 

Thanks to Fashionista for the pics!