Project Runway season 12 begins on Lifetime tonight!  If you didn’t care for the team challenges last season, this season has a few different surprises, including an expanded role for Tim Gunn. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the show’s resident sage will provide insight to the judges about the design process, and will also be able to save a designer from elimination. In another twist, the judges won’t know who the designers of each piece are until after votes are tabulated.  This season will also include a designer from Alabama: Ken Laurence!

A little more about Ken:  “at the age of 10, his interest in fashion design was peaked and he began sketching. By the age of 13, he enrolled himself into a home economics class, where he began to use his first sewing machine. Mastering fashion illustration and sewing basics, he began educating himself on pattern making, textiles, and the prerequisites of being a fashion designer.  From that moment forward, he adopted FASHION not only as an art form but as a lifestyle!” 

I expect him to present a strong point of view just from viewing his home visit , closet tour and portfolio.  Planning to watch at 8PM? Follow me on Twitter tonight (@SameChicSouth) as I provide my usual commentary about the designs and designers.   Yes, I will watch while wearing my Raybans, a la Michael Kors.

To add even more fabulosity, Belk is serving as a retail partner during this season and will supplying the items for the famed Accessory Wall.  Belk President and Chief Merchandising Officer Kathryn Bufano notes, “As the authority on lifestyle and fashion in the South, we are looking forward to adding our perspective to the show. We enjoyed pulling together more than 200 items for Project Runway to use, and we look forward to seeing how the contestants utilize the Belk accessory wall for their runway looks.” 

“We’re very pleased to have Belk as our retail partner. The way they carefully curate their collection is a perfect fit for the show not only for our designers and the models on the runway but also for our fashion conscious viewers at home,” says Project Runway Executive Producer and The Weinstein Company’s President of Television, Meryl Poster.

But wait – there’s more!

During this season of Project Runway, Belk will feature the show at belk.com/projectrunway with information about accessories seen on the show, video clips and featured products based on the winning designs. Belk will also sponsor Facebook-based sweepstakes. Entrants will be eligible to win one of the following:

• A selection from Belk accessory wall
• A trip to New York City to see a taping of Project Runway.

Belk’s Project Runway sweepstakes will open August 8 at facebook.com/belk. The sweepstakes ends at midnight on October 25. Stay tuned!