I was one of those girls with subscriptions to Vogue, Interview and W magazines who adored fashion. Even though I never had aspirations to become a designer and my passion for fashion has cooled, I’m fascinated by Project Runway, Bravo’s reality program about the fashion industry. (I also have a weakness for Tyra Bank’s America’s Next Top Model, go figure.)

Season three starts tonight and I’m looking forward to several weeks of top notch TV programming. The producers keep the cat fighting to a minimum. Yes, the personal drama is entertaining, but they don’t go too overboard unlike other reality TV programs. Instead, they put an emphasis on how the fashion industry works, the craft and skill used behind the scenes, and what’s necessary to be successful in the field.

If you have a tween or teen who’s into fashion and can identify clothing by the designer, why not watch the program with them? You’ll enjoy the program just as much as they will. Also, this is a terrific activity for kids who are considering becoming designers. As Tanika White writes in the Baltimore Sun:

Between the pattern-making and technical talk at Virginia Commonwealth University, assistant professor of fashion design Holly Alford often finds herself using a television reality show as a serious teaching tool.

Bravo’s hit series Project Runway, which begins its third season tonight, gives Alford’s students the truest glimpse into the world of fashion design, she says, more than any textbook ever could.

"It’s true to form," says Alford, who plans to stay up past midnight to catch the re-airing of the season premiere. "It’s very realistic as to the demands that are being placed upon the contestants. It teaches them certain core values of the industry and that design is not all about drawing."

Would-be fashion designers say they find the show — with its substance, smartness and style — inspiring. "To see young designers being able to do their thing, and maybe win this and become a famous fashion designer, it makes me want to do it, too," says Eleonor Little, 22, a student at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. "If they still have it when I graduate, I’m going to apply."

Finally, watching a show like Project Runway gives parents an excellent opportunity to have a great discussion with your tween or teen on topics like:

• career choices
• work ethic
• talent vs. selling yourself
• teamwork
• sexuality and tolerance (in the past many of the designers as well as the show regulars are gay or "flamboyant")
• female body image and how society views how a woman looks
• fashion – is it important or frivolous?

Or you can just have fun and talk about which designers you like, who you think will win, and what outfits are the most beautiful. Remember folks, TV is a tool. Use it to your advantage as a parent and use it as an opportunity to talk with your tween or teen.

(Image courtesy of Maddiesdolls.com)