We headed up to the Manhattan Mall last night for the launch of Liz Claiborne’s line for JCPenney, where Tim Gunn presided over the catwalk, tucking in shirts, fixing collars, and frowning on one male model’s combat boots. “I am not a fan,” he tsk-tsked. We caught up with the notoriously fussy Project Runway mentor backstage, where he shared his thoughts on celebrity collaborations (he likes them!), Lifetime’s editing (a lot ends up on the cutting-room floor), and what he thinks would be the ultimate Project Runway challenge (hint: It involves capes).
Tim Gunn on Lifetime’s alleged censorship: “I actually censor myself. Of course the book is edited, too. There’s a lot that’s not in there. I never want to be mean-spirited, I never want to be unkind. I never want my former students to think I’m nasty or snarky. We have dozens of hours of tape and it has to edited down to 90 minutes, so lots of things end up on the editing-room floor. I’m not an editor, nor could I be. I don’t know how I could begin to tell a cohesive story.”
Tim Gunn on Lifetime’s alleged censorship: “I actually censor myself. Of course the book is edited, too. There’s a lot that’s not in there. I never want to be mean-spirited, I never want to be unkind. I never want my former students to think I’m nasty or snarky. We have dozens of hours of tape and it has to edited down to 90 minutes, so lots of things end up on the editing-room floor. I’m not an editor, nor could I be. I don’t know how I could begin to tell a cohesive story.”
Tim Gunn on front-row politics: “At one Diane Von Furstenberg show, someone didn’t have a seat so I offered to stand. They said “Why would you stand?” And I said “I’d be glad to stand for Diane!” In a heartbeat. I’m not a buyer, I’m not an editor. I’m just taking up room. So I have no expectations at all, and I’m just glad to be in that place. Unless you are an editor or a buyer, you should be very grateful that you’re in the company of such wonderful cultural stuff.”
Tim Gunn on his ultimate Project Runway challenge:
“I would love to do something with superheroes. Fighting crimes against fashion! I would love to do something with the New York Public Library and their design collection.”
