Mash together elements of "Project Runway" and "Top Chef" and you get Bravo's latest reality competition show "Platinum Hit (10 tonight)."

This time the contestants want to be songwriters, well, kinda. Like one of the guest judges, Jermaine Dupri, they already seem sick of toiling in the background and are ready for center stage.

That's why you get one guy who proclaiming himself 'a musical genius,' and another who says "I sing for the widow, I sing for the orphan." For real.

The eighth season of "Project Runway" (Lifetime, 9 tonight) starts out with with a fuzzy warm vibe and ends up being cold-blooded.

Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum introduce the 90-minute episode, giving little sketches of the contestants, and then we get an extended introduction to each one. They meet up in pairs and trios in locations around New York, so we see how they relate immediately, who's awkward, who's friendly, who's cocky.

By the time they meet up with Heidi and Tim, we are already getting to know them. They are a talented group, we're told by the hosts, so talented there are 17 of them instead of the usual 16.

Wasn't it just last week that "Project Runway" ended?

On the other hand, the L.A. season is dead to us, so YEAH! PROJECT RUNWAY IS BACK!!

Last night, we got to see Heidi when baby Lou was just a peanut, and we got our much needed dose of Nina Garcia and Michael Kors. And of course, Tim Gunn.

And we met the new designers. I'll just run off my first impressions formed as they were introduced.

Because I have been enjoying Project Runway so much this season, it's the perfect time for this freebie (although I missed Michael last night). It's the new Very Hollywood fragrance from my very favorite Michael Kors. The perfume is said to have notes of mandarin, gardenia and vetiver. Which really just means this perfume is sweet and somewhat seductive. Probably best for night-time use.

It sells at stores for $45 an ounce for the spray. This is a very generous oversized sample bottle (not the fancy kind on the stuff that's in the stores). It's free to the first person who can tell me Michael's real name AND leave me an e-mail address to find you.

(Sorry for the delay on the freebie today ... technical difficulties with the N&O blogging software!)

Michelle Obama, in her continuing tour of American fashion designers, picked a Michael Kors dress to wear for her first official White House portrait, which was released Friday.

This is a big departure for Michelle, who typically picks relatively unknown and up-and-coming designers for her big public appearances.

The dress (sleeveless, did you have to guess?) is a black crepe jersey racer-back from Kors' spring collection.

With the pearls, Michelle is classic and stunning with what's become her signature breath of fresh air look.

Apparently, Michelle wore an green Empire-waisted gown from Kai Milla when Milla's husband Stevie Wonder was celebrated at the White House last week. I'll see if I can find a picture of that dress.

Also checking to see if Vermillion, which sells Michael Kors locally, will be carrying the portrait dress for spring.

Here's yet more proof that the NY Fashion Week buzz that the fall collections have a harder, grittier edge than usual
is dead-on ...

This leather strapless dress from ... Michael Kors. Who'd of thunk it?

Love the dress (which even has pockets!), even though I don't quite know where you might wear it around here. I also like the necklace, which looks a lot like what Vera Wang did with the oversized chains for spring.

• Photo gallery: View designs from Day 7

If this dress and coat were in navy or red or even black, then yes, I wouldn't have a hard time believing that this look is from my beloved Michael Kors.

But neon yellow?

He even matched the belt and the shoes!

Oh Michael, how far you've come from September's spring Fashion Week show of red and blue!