'Project Runway' gives a sneak preview

The folks at Bravo's "Project Runway,” are leaving no cuff unturned when it comes to hyping the Nov. 14 premiere of the reality series.

On Tuesday, they choreographed a sneak preview, emceed by the show's host Heidi Klum -- drop dead gorgeous in a blue mini-dress -- in a dramatic clear plastic tent erected on the plaza at Lincoln Center.

Each of the season's 15 contestants sent three signature designs down the runway -- from bloomers to ball gowns with some especially potent misses and many hits, boding well for the coming season. Of note, and not necessarily in a good way: the odd staining technique of Elisa, 42, of El Paso, Texas, and the antics of Christian, 21, of Annapolis, Md., this season's youngest contestant, who went positively Zoolander at the end of the runway, totally out-mugging his model.

As for the playing field, which includes Long Island's own Jillian Lewis of Selden, the show's father figure, Tim Gunn, who watched from the sidelines said "This is the first season that any one of the designers could win."

In other words, stay tuned.

-- Anne Bratskeir