Only a few more days until reality sensation Project Runway returns to Bravo. I’m so excited– I cannot wait for all the new sewing room drama to unfold! No, really, I’m really excited to see more of those awesome fashion creations that come about from the challenges set forth in the show. As ridiculous as the challenges get, there are always a few designers that shine through.

If you watch the show religiously, as I have over the last four seasons, I’m sure you have your favorite designer that didn’t quite make it to the top honors. Even though our favorite character’s weren’t named “best in show” we still love them. Here is a quick rundown of my favorite losers from each season.

Season 4 - Rami

We all love the flamboyant, over the top & ruffly Christian Sirano (who can deny his sweet disposition and “fierce” one liners?). However, Rami is my favorite loser from season 4 for his thoughtful and carefully constructed designs. Rami rocked the final challenge. As Nick Verros (Season 2) said (pretending to be Rami) after the fashion show at Bryant Park, “You want wovens bitch. I’ll give you wovens!”

Rami is a true businessman whom has been established in the fashion industry for quite some time now. In the final challenge, he designed an entire line encompassing knits, wovens, skirts, tops, separates, dresses… the list goes on. Beyond his versatility as a designer, the refined aesthetic and attention to detail sets him apart from his competitors. Given the same amount of time, he is able to produce finished pieces that are elegant and show off his awesome technical skill.

Season 3- Uli

Sweet, blond, and German… No, Uli is not Heidi’s doppelganger, but she is season 3’s queen of colorful prints and flowy dresses. She won the audience over with her positive free spirit and adventurous feminine style. Uli has a zest for life and even though she grew up in the harsh reality of communist East Germany, she has managed to escape the drabness of her childhood and grown to create beautiful clothes.

In the last challenge, she showed a cohesive elegant collection. I have to agree with the judges up until that point she was making the same dress over and over. However in the collection for Fashion Week, Uli stepped out of her comfort zone mixed it up with some separates, solids, & sparkling details but in keeping with her signature style. She had the prettiest, most wearable collection for the average woman and for that reason she is my season 3’s top pick as favorite loser.

Season 2- Daniel V

Daniel Vosovic…Season 2’s young designing prodigy. He wized through challenges with creative ease sending his more experienced fellow contestants into a tizzy. Daniel’s clean, elegant, and perfectly constructed designs brought him all the way to the finale where Chloe Dao snatched victory away from the fan favorite designer. I can’t overstate how bummed I was when Daniel lost Season 2’s final challenge (I’m still in denial).

Anyways, his unique perspective and design talent showed through his work. His wit, thoughtfulness, and understated personality makes him a likable character to watch and root for (unfortunately ladies, he’s gay and taken). Daniel continues his blooming career in the fashion industry (he designed all the outfits on the cover of “Bonfire” magazine from Lipstick Jungle) and he will be an up and coming designer to watch. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Season 1- Austin Scarlett

With a name like Austin Scarlett, you have to be from the south and a seriously fierce diva. Well, Austin is a city boy from New York New York, but true to his name he is a true diva. Austin was Season 1’s over the top personality. You couldn’t ignore his pale skin, blond hair, and the way he dresses like a Louis XIV French Courtier. But you have to give it up for the boy for not being afraid to show off his style. We all know he was probably beat up a lot as a kid growing up.

Personality aside, Austin produced some awe inspiring garments. He was the only one to use real produce (corn husks) in the grocery store challenge. He took chances and sometimes he failed to edit his ostentatious style, but no one can deny he has a point of view (not to mention he can sew like a bad-ass mofo). And although he never made it to the final 3, Austin is still doing well for himself these days. He designs his own line of (what else…) wedding gowns. Laurie from the “Real Housewives” bought one for her opulent OC wedding.

That’s my loser round-up! Can’t wait to see who becomes my new favorite loser this time around on Season 5…cuz, ya know, I’ll never be satisfied with just one winner.

“Some days you’re in, and some days you’re out.”

No one hears host Heidi Klum’s famous one-liner more than the judges sitting next to her on Project Runway. But now it looks like one of the judges actually is out… of a job!

It has been confirmed that Nina Garcia has left Elle magazine. Friday she was given notice to leave her post as fashion director, a position she has held since 2000. Some say she was “let go” but other sources claim that Garcia resigned as Fashion Director of Elle Magazine. Her contract was reportedly up for renewal, which could have been one of the reasons why the higher ups at Elle have said ‘auf Wiedersehen’ to Nina. Since neither Garcia nor anyone from Elle has yet commented on the whole matter, it looks like we will have to wait to see how both camps explain the sudden farewell.

Nina didn’t just fall into the Fashion Director position, she worked hard to get where she is (or should I say, was)! She began in the fashion industry in the decade of big hair and shoulder pads, remembered fondly as the 1980s. She attended Ecole Superieur de la Mode in Paris and the Fashion Institute of Technology. This girl knows her stuff! She also worked in the public relations department for Perry Ellis back when Marc Jacobs was the designer. But working for Marc Jacobs doesn’t make you invincible, as some may think. Then she moved to Mirabella magazine as Assistant Stylist and Market Editor, until taking a position at Elle Magazine. This woman has done it all, and that still doesn’t keep her off the chopping block. At Elle, she worked her way up the ranks until she became Fashion Director in 2000. At Elle, Nina was in charge of around 20 editors and assistants, who worked alongside her to develop articles and layouts featuring new trends in fashion. Her working-class fairytale story is almost too good to be true— I guess we now know that it really is too good to be true seeing that she no longer works for Elle.

Speculation about her departure from Elle has been circulating for months, especially after the arrival of Joe Zee at the beginning of 2007 as creative director. Last spring, Garcia left the magazine on maternity leave, and began writing a monthly fashion column, “Fashionina,” for Elle upon her return. I may wonder if this played a part in her eventual exodus from Elle? Garcia was in the office on Friday morning, but by the afternoon it looked like things had gone ka-put. That sounds like a textbook firing move. Sources close to the building say Hachette’s Midtown offices were abuzz about the rumor of her exit.

This unexpected exit comes at such a successful time in her life, which makes me feel a little sympathetic towards Nina. Her first baby, Lucas Alexander Conrod, just recently turned one in March. Her book, The Little Black Book of Style, hit shelves last September. She is even slated to appear on an episode of Ugly Betty next month along with season four’s Project Runway winner, Christian Siriano. Not everyone can have all the good luck! Let’s just hope for the sake of her reputation that her recent departure from Elle won’t affect future deals with Project Runway. That’s practically the only thing she has left. Only Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn have made it work thus far, and are signed on indefinitely for the fifth season. But there has been no word about Nina and divo fashionista Michael Kors continuing their reign as judges on the program. And to make things even trickier, Runway will be moving from Bravo to Lifetime after the upcoming fifth season. It seems like everything is going wrong for this Señorita.

But does anyone even feel bad for her? Or do you think she got what she deserved from being so mean on all those seasons of Project Runway?

Christian Siriano became the youngest Project Runway winner, at 22, when he beat out the other finalists Jillian Lewis and Rami Kashou. Being the big winner of the night, Christian won a six page spread in Elle magazine, a Saturn Aura, and $100,000 to help start or run his own company.

“I’m humbled,” he said in a phone interview hours before Part 2 of the finale aired. “Project Runway the show, with the challenges, that’s my game. I can make clothes quickly and I can make clothes creatively.” But Project Runway at New York Fashion Week? “I was really nervous. … It was a really scary thing. I only planned to win. I didn’t know what I was going to do with my life if I didn’t win.”Christian also gave an exclusive interview to OK! magazine after his victory.

Although Christian always seemed so cocky and confident on the show, his nerves got the best of him in the finale.“I was just competing with really amazing designers. I mean, Jillian and Rami are really amazing designers. They are so talented, it was scary. I didn’t know what the judges would want, it was scary, but it worked out.”

Christian got a big boost from celebrity guest judge, Victoria Beckham. “I’m going to hopefully meet with Victoria next week, so that will be great.”

Who is another one of Christian’s favorite celebrity style heroine?   “Cate Blanchett. I think she takes a little risk with her fashion. It’s Europeon inspired, and she wears a lot of Alexander McQueen and I interned there, I just think she’s fabulous. And Sarah Jessica Parker too.”

What’s next for the young designer? First he’s going to take some of his PR prize money and buy a bed. “Yes, that’s the first purchase, let me tell you. When that check comes in the mail, it’s like ‘cha-ching.’ Yes, deposit that check, and clicky-click that bed, I mean that.”

In the meantime he’s been keeping busy with charity events. “I did a benefit for my high school, raised $50,000, that was great.” First and foremost, though, “ I want to work on my own line for next season, that’s like a really big goal for me. I have a lot of things going on. I don’t want to jinx anything.”