An Evening with Tim Gunn

The University of South Florida was more fashionable last night. Not only was the school hosting one of the biggest names when it comes to taste and style, there were few sweat suits in sight as most of the 1,000 people who crowded the ballroom put their best outfit forward, hoping to impress the one and only Tim Gunn.
The Project Runway mentor spoke for two hours about American fashion, his career at Parsons School of Design and the Design Piracy Prohibition Act, which he’s been a strong proponent of in D.C. A Q&A session followed for over an hour covering all things fashion, style and runway related. Here are of some of the highlights of the night.

Unlike most of the fashion industry Tim Gunn has a grip on reality
“We should all shop with budget in mind,” he said. “We’re thinking of what will fit in with what we already have, what will get the most life in our wardrobe.” And don’t even bother showing him your beloved Birkin bag because he will not be impressed. “If I never see another $6,000 handbag, I will be happy,” he said about one positive effect of the current economy. “You know, how about a $2,500 handbag and you give the balance to charity?”

Project Runway will be back for season 7
With all the original judges and in New York City starting January 14th. “There were a lot of mixed reviews about season 6. There won’t be for season 7, believe me,” he guaranteed. Also scattered here and there were a few teases about the upcoming season. Heidi will be pregnant (and fabulous, of course) throughout, “Models of the Runway” will also be back and Michael Kors and Nina Garcia get into some kind of shoulder treatment conundrum.

He’ll play favorites if you really beg for it
When asked which Project Runway designer he thought could really make it in the business he responded: “They all have potential but I will tell you, Mr. Christian Siriano, he’s a genious.” As for one designer he thinks stands above all others, “because of her legendary work, design and leadership, it has to be Diane von Furstenberg.”

Having him as a professor is as amazing as you thought
Talking about his years at Parson’s School of Design he mentioned how he used to bring Grace Mirabella (you know, the former editor of a little magazine called Vogue) to talk to his freshmen and give students a tour of the Met to look at fashion history.

Those haute couture shows, yea, you can say they’re ridiculous out loud now
“Those creations…? (Let’s use the lower case ‘c’) from Paris Fashion Week, they’re ridiculous!” he exclaimed when talking about how fashion should be functional.

Lindsay Lohan’s bosses must be on crack and the Olsen twins are cooky
A while back, when asked about Lindsay Lohan’s recent employment at Ungaro, Tim Gunn responded: “It’s got to be a publicity stunt! Or a crack-smoking board of directors?”
As it turns out he had no idea that comment would make it to the press although he stands behind it. And in fact, “I don’t believe Lindsay Lohan or Lauren Conrad would ever make it past freshman year at my program,” he said when asked what advice he would give them if they were his students. “With most celebrities, they’re not designing but I’m happy with anything that employs young designers.” But the rule doesn’t apply to the Olsen twins: “I think their work is interesting. I mean, they’re cooky but their work is interesting.”

Crocs and broad shoulders look bad so can we please move on now?
“Who would have ever anticipated the existence and phenomenal ascendance of Crocs? I mean, really?” He recalled on his appearance at Regis & Kelly when the TV host actually made him try on a pair of Crocs. “I got the comfort part but when I look down, I see hooves!”
And as for a trend that needs to just go away: “Big broad shoulders. That whole 80’s thing makes most women look bad and boxy.”

You can’t shop with Tim Gunn but you can have the next best thing
In his book “A Guide to Quality, Taste & Style”, a sort of self help book to the style needy, he’ll teach you how to shop the right way. But just like that episode of “Friends” where Phoebe teaches Joey how to play the guitar, there’s much to be learned before it. So in other words, you can’t touch the guitar and you can’t go shopping until you figure out who you are, are proud of who you are and know where fashion fits into that situation.

If you look bad, that’s all on you
“Like it or not, the clothes we wear send a message about the way we are,” he said. “Everyone needs to accept responsibility for what they wear.” So don’t get frustrated every time you see someone looking like a mess. “I have learned to turn that sense off.”

You can get Tim’s book “A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style” here.

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