NEW YORK • St. Louis designer Michael Drummond was among 10 designers still standing on the fashion cult TV series "Project Runway" on Thursday when each presented a 10-piece collection at the famed Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in its new home at Lincoln Center.

But only three are likely in the running for a $100,000 grand prize and a package of sponsor goodies.

We have to wait until November to see which presentations really mattered. Because the show is only halfway through its eighth season, everyone left at this point in the show had to present a collection in order to prevent a spoiler. That means that though the judges and designers know which collections were being judged to see who would win "Project Runway," the rest of the audience did not.

The previously taped seventh episode of the season aired Thursday night, so fashion week fame was short-lived for Casanova (yes, only one name) when he was ousted from the program that evening.

Having a show during fashion week in New York is a coup for any designer because of the prestige. As a bonus, the audiences are full of international media, veteran fashion designers, celebrity stylists and retail buyers from the top department stores in the country. During Fashion Week, an estimated 100,000 people attend shows, and most of them are influential in the fashion industry.

Drummond appeared before a packed audience of "Project Runway" alumni and current celebrity guests and fashion media. He was the first to present, and as the shy, soft-spoken designer introduced his collection, he was clearly affected by the attention, which included more than 100 telephoto lenses, hundreds of cell phone cameras and video equipment aimed in his direction.

"I just want to dedicate this collection to my family, my friends and anyone who has ever supported me. It's inspired by X-rays, (painter) Mark Rothko and ... um ... oh, no ... nerves ... ahh, women's underwear, that's what it was. Bye," Drummond said before an electronic drum beat began pounding out an ardent staccato that could make anyone want to stalk down a catwalk.

His 10-piece collection was moody with sheer deconstructed knits in black and charcoal ombres, but there were splashes of metallics and sequins peeking through.

Drummond is known for an aesthetic that leans toward the dark side, but these looks shined with life or perhaps a little of the afterlife. A good descriptor may be haunted sophistication or what a socialite ghost would wear.

After the show, designer A.J. Thouvenot, also of St. Louis, who was ousted on the fifth episode of the season, said Drummond's collection "was so him but so much more elegant than anything that I'd seen him do back home in St. Louis. He did such a beautiful job." Still, Thouvenot didn't pick him as the top three contenders. Instead, he picked Casanova, Valerie Mayen and Mondo Guerra, who was the overwhelming crowd favorite.

Jessica Simpson, who recently debuted a "Show Me Your Blues" denim collection, was dressed in a sparkly gray long-sleeved minidress with shoulder cutouts for her appearance as the guest judge during the "Project Runway" finale. She was seated with the regulars — host Heidi Klum, Nina Garcia of Marie Claire and fashion designer Michael Kors, who designed Simpson's shimmery dress.

Among those in attendance were Tyson Beckford, a former model, reality television host and actor; iconic fashion designer Betsey Johnson; Jordin Sparks, sixth-season winner of "American Idol" now working on Broadway; and actresses Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Alexandra Wentworth. Beloved fashion mentor Tim Gunn stayed backstage during the show.

When asked, most people speculated that Guerra, Mayen and Gretchen Jones were the final three, but many praised the much-maligned Michael Costello for a stunning and well-constructed collection.

The other contenders are Ivy Hilga, Christopher Collins, April Johnston and Andy South.