Will 'Runway' Ditch 'Elle' Before New Season?

The murky future of Project Runway is getting even murkier.

Unconfirmed reports have been flying this week that Marie Claire is set to replace Elle as the partner magazine of the show following season five, which shoots next month. Now it looks like that could happen even sooner, with rumors that Nina Garcia, the former Elle fashion director who is one of the show's judges, is about to accept a position at Marie Claire.

Asked about that scenario, a spokeswoman for Hearst Magazines would only say, "We have no personnel announcements to make at this time." But WWD reported earlier this week that Marie Claire has been lobbying hard for the Project Runway partnership. The synergies make sense: Hearst owns half of Lifetime, which will be Runway's new television home starting with season six. (One source says Marie Claire may also pay the Weinstein Co. for the privilege.)

But if Garcia does land at Marie Claire sooner than later, it presents quite a quandary for Elle, which has seen a revival in its circulation and advertising performance since the show became a hit. According to sources close to the situation, Elle has more or less resigned itself to parting ways with Runway after season five -- but not before that. On the assumption that Garcia would be credited as an Elle editor-at-large, the magazine has already sold significant ad inventory against the new season; it's not clear what would happen if Garcia suddenly switches her allegiance.