Richardson- and Dallas-area reality television fans – especially those with a passion for fashion – are getting a double dose of guilty pleasure these days with the appearance of two local designers on Lifetime’s “Project Runway.”

Going into its third episode tonight, Shirin Askari of Richardson and Louise Black of Lakewood were among the top five performers on the show, and at least one of them is guaranteed to continue through next week’s fourth episode.

Askari, a 2008 fashion design graduate of the University of North Texas, won last week’s challenge, earning immunity during last week’s elimination competition. Black also made the top three last week, but still is at risk in this week’s episode.

Both designers work in the Dallas area.

The designers’ challenge last week was to create a fashionable outfit for actress, model and mommy-to-be Rebecca Romijn. Contestants had 30 minutes to sketch a design, received $100 for material, and then two days to produce their outfits.

Askari designed a red sleeveless dress with a fully lined coat.

“The main thing I wanted to focus on was comfort,” Askari told the judges. “Because I am sure when you are pregnant, you have enough things that make you uncomfortable.”

“This is nice,” Askari said after winning the challenge.

Black, 32, is an El CentroCollege student “who has already built a strong reputation from her Gothic-meets-Victorian corsets – one of which features a skeletal spinal column,” Darla Atlas reported recently in The Dallas Morning News.

Askari, 24, “whose pieces are a bit more flowing and brighter, says she's inspired by Fred Astaire movies and has a collection of Lucille Ball dolls,” Atlas reported.

“It feels amazing. It was a shock,” Askari said of her stint on the show during a phone interview with Lori Forgay of The Denton Record-Chronicle. “I didn’t think I would get as far as I did. I felt very blessed to get in the first time.”

The show’s sixth season was taped last summer in Los Angeles, but contestants are contractually obligated not to disclose results of the competition.

Mark Macesich is a neighborsgo assistant managing editor and a “Project Runway” fan.

Twitter with us

Angela Chambers, neighborsgo senior editor, and Mark Macesich, assistant managing editor, will Twitter each Thursday night as long as Shirin Askari of Richardson and Louise Black of Lakewood (Dallas) continue in the competition. Join the conversation at twitter.com/angelawchambers and twitter.com/mmacesich, or get updates at twitter.com/neighborsgo, twitter.com/RichardsonGO, twitter.com/LakeHighlandsGO.