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The slideshow of the Tamarac Square Fashion Project third runway show is now up. Check out all the designs here, then come back and visit Cat to post a comment about who you think should have won. The designer with the most "votes" will score a gift certificate to Sketch in Cherry Creek as well as some other fun prizes.

It was another difficult evening of judging -- so cliche, Cat knows -- but she has been really surprised by the level of talent on display. She's long said that Denver is experiencing a fashion and design renaissance, but that she wished some of the designers would move past just reconstructing thrift-store finds and screen-printing T-shirts. Both of those are great things to have on the scene -- God knows, Cat adores her Colfax T-shirt -- but there needed to be something more.

And now there is.

Stephanie, Gino, Alec, Mona, Deb, Jose, Crystal, Lisa, Nancy, Armando, Kandyce, Tricia: You make me so proud to know you.

Later today (Thursday) there will be a complete slideshow of last night's Tamarac Square Fashion Project. Can't wait until then to tell the judges who you think should have won Challenge #3? Post your comments below. (You'll have to wait for the slideshow to see who actually won!)

Any comments will count as "votes" for the Cat's Pajamas People's Choice Award given out on the runway each week. Once the slideshow is up, post your comments on that entry, please.

For Challenge #2, featuring oufits made from materials out of Ace Hardware, Deb Henriksen won Cat's award. She scored a $50 gift certificate to the Hornet and two movie tickets good at any Landmark Theater -- including right nextdoor at the Mayan. Congrats, Deb.

The previous week, Lisa Ramsfjord Elstun took home two tickets to Landmark, two tickets to Starz and two tickets to Comedy Works. Way to go, Lisa.

For a look at last week's runway show, click here.

For a refresher on the first challenge, click here.

Who will be this week's People's Choice? Only you can tell the world...

Today's contestant in the Cydney Payton Design Challenge is Gino Velardi, who is best known around town for his stunning gowns. Seriously, he has this feathered babydoll number that Cat might just kill for...but that's another story, as he's got something else in mind for the director and curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Next week, Payton will announce her pick of the eight designers who accepted the challenge of creating a museum-opening outfit for her.

On to Gino Velardi's artist's statement:

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Today's entry into the Cydney Payton Design Challenge comes from Crystal Sharp, whom everyone knows as the proprietor of She She on South Broadway and Bayaud.

Check out her design, and then go here to see the slideshow of what she -- and the other eleven designers competing in the Tamarac Square Fashion Project -- produced for last week's runway show. Don't forget, we're down to the last 24 hours to vote for your favorite...

Here's Crystal's artist's statement about the design for Cydney:

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And now Cat presents the second entry in the Cydney Payton Challenge, a design created by local fashion fave Mona Lucero.

Next week Payton will choose her favorite sketch, and the winner will be announced on the Tamarac Square Fashion Project runway on April 25. Stay tuned to Cat every day to get a sneak peek at the designs.

Here's Mona's artist’s statement:

One of the wonderful things about a gallery or museum opening is the interesting ensembles worn by artists and art connoisseurs. The best ones are a true expression of the wearer's unique style.

As the executive director of the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver, which is about to make a splash with a new building, people will look to Cydney Payton for aesthetic direction -- whether in the exhibitions or in her own personal dress. I believe she should convey a fashion-forward-yet-authoritative style.

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Cydney Payton is the city's reigning art matriarch. And how lucky we are, because Payton's no stodgy old maven. No, the executive director of the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver loves Manolo Blahniks and red lipstick, wishes she could meet Miuccia Prada, is listening to TV on the Radio, and even once had big hair. At least that's what she tells us in her style Q&A with Cat.

So Cat invited Payton to judge a very special Cat's Pajamas challenge as part of the Tamarac Square Fashion Project. Eight of the competing designers accepted the task of sketching a museum-opening outfit for Payton. Over the next eight days Cat will post their designs for you all to judge and comment on. And on Wednesday, April 25, Cat will announce Payton's choice on the Fashion Project runway.

The winning designer will receive accommodations at the Adam's Mark Hotel, dinner for two, theater tickets, tickets to see Peace Project, the new exhibit at MCA, and a brief meeting with Payton herself.

Let's start with Tricia Hoke.

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