It's late afternoon in New York City and Tim Gunn and I are bonding over our mutual disdain for leggings.
“I fundamentally don’t understand the appeal,” Gunn says with his signature charm. “They were never intended to be a pant for men or women. They’re a form of undergarment, and yet they’re everywhere.”
While the debate on whether leggings are pants isn’t new, discussing it with Gunn feels like analyzing “Macbeth” with Shakespeare himself. As the epitome of fashion expertise, Gunn is the friend you wish you had on speed dial — especially on those frustrating days when you’re staring at your closet, convinced you have nothing to wear.
At 71, his work in television and academia has made him a beloved icon in both fashion and pop culture. After 16 years on the hit television show “Project Runway,” where he served as a mentor guiding contestants with his trademark encouragement and thoughtful critiques, Gunn became a fan favorite with his unique blend of kindness and candor. He later co-hosted the television show “Making The Cut” alongside Heidi Klum, which ran for three seasons.
Gunn’s iconic catchphrase, “Make it work,” also describes his approach to fashion. Instead of following rigid fashion rules, he encourages people to dress in a way that reflects their authenticity and boosts their confidence.
“I fully subscribe to the harmony and balance that’s achieved when you’re mindful about three things: silhouette, proportion and fit,” Gunn says. “With harmony and balance, you look great no matter what you’re wearing. I’m talking about clothes that fit our individual shape rather than hiding it.”
Gunn says he looks at dressing as dividing ourselves into a series of thirds, from our shoulders to our toes.
“Two-thirds on top, one-third on the bottom,” he explains. “A dress is two-thirds on top, one-third on the bottom of the leg. For men, it would be a shirt on top, pants on the bottom. It’s why I really object to untucked shirts on men, because we’re cutting ourselves in half and it’s a very jarring proportion.”
For the best look, he says clothes should fit in such a way that, “It doesn’t look like you squeezed into a wetsuit or shouldn’t cascade like a tent. Your clothes need to follow your shape.”
That said, Gunn believes there are several essential items everyone should own.
“Every man and woman needs a classic blazer, because if you’re at the office and the boss calls you in and you’re wearing jeans and a T-shirt, you can throw the blazer on,” he says. “It’s the easiest way to look polished and presentable.”
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn in 'Making The Cut'
Photo Courtesy Of Amazon Studios
Gunn also stresses the importance of having a well-fitting pair of jeans that isn’t faded or distressed.
“Jeans are a classic item that can go almost anywhere,” he says. “Another must-have is a white shirt. It could be from Brooks Brothers or Carolina Herrera, depending on your preference. Pair it with jeans or a skirt for a polished look.”
For women, Gunn believes every woman needs to have a basic black dress hanging in her closet.
“You can dress it up for a night out or pair it with a cardigan for work,” he says, admitting that he also loves a good trench coat. “It’s my coat of choice because you can wear it to the grocery store or to the opera. It could be a classic military-style khaki trench or a red patent leather Michael Kors trench, depending on your taste.”
Continuing To Inspire Others
In addition to his work as a television personality, Gunn is also an exceptional public speaker, known for his warmth, wit and wisdom.
On Feb. 12, he’ll be speaking at the Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services (JFS) “Reflections of Hope” Luncheon on a variety of topics, including mental health.
“As a teenager, I spent two years and three months in a psychiatric hospital after attempting suicide,” says Gunn, who describes himself as an unhappy child who battled social awkwardness, a debilitating stutter and who struggled to understand his sexuality. “It [being hospitalized] changed my life for the better. I had a wonderful doctor who gave me great coping mechanisms that I continue to use.”
Despite the challenges he faced in his youth, Gunn believes those experiences shaped him into the person he is today.
“Things happen for a reason, and I feel so fortunate to be who I am,” he says. “Every experience helps us grow and if life were only filled with happiness, we wouldn’t truly appreciate the good times, because we’d have nothing to compare them to.”
Tim Gunn and 'Project Runway' contestants
Photo Courtesy Of Lifetime
The Return Of A Beloved TV Show
Looking to the future, Gunn says he will once again be voicing the role of Baileywick, the castle steward, in the Disney Junior animated television show “Sofia the First.” The show, which originally ran from 2013 to 2018, will soon be returning to television. Gunn’s character, inspired by his “Project Runway” persona, will offer guidance to Princess Sofia, reflecting Gunn’s real-life mentoring style.
“The show always offers a lesson that’s heartwarming and uplifting,” Gunn says, “I think for parents and caregivers, having a show like this for children is just so important.”
Photo Courtesy Of Lifetime
Beyond that, Gunn plans to take each day as it comes.
“There really isn’t anything that I would wish for or want to do that I haven’t already done,” he admits. “I’ve been so lucky and most of my life path has been completely unexpected, including spending 42 years as a teacher — I never dreamed that would happen.”
Gunn laughs, remembering how he hated the social aspects of school as a child and dreamed of a career in art and design, never once imagining he would end up in education. Yet after graduating from the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design in Washington, D.C., he began teaching there, and was later offered a teaching position at the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
“I never saw myself as a teacher, but I think I’m good at empathizing with students,” says Gunn, who has established a reputation as an educator who inspires his students to think critically and to find their own unique voice.
As a renowned fashion consultant, Gunn found his own voice authoring four books that blend his fashion expertise with personal anecdotes. He says a fifth book, based on a very different topic, may be in the works.
“I was in the process of writing a fitness book with my personal trainer, Jason, before the pandemic hit,” Gunn says. “When the world was turned upside down and people were dealing with so many difficulties, Jason and I agreed it wasn’t the right time and we shelved the project.”
Tim Gunn voices Baileywick from the Disney Junior show 'Sofia the First'
Photo Courtesy Of Disney
Gunn says the two have talked about reviving the book idea, which centers around Gunn’s own fitness journey and how he decided to learn fencing in 2016.
“Here I am, in my 60s at the time, learning to fence and the oldest person in the class,” Gunn says with a laugh. “I was a competitive swimmer many years ago in school, but hadn’t been as active, except for walking several miles each day.”
Gunn learned through fencing that he needed to build up his core strength and began working with a personal trainer.
“Fencing was a great pandemic sport because you’re wearing a mask, and you maintain a distance of at least six feet because of the length of the sabre between you and your opponent,” Gunn explains.
Unfortunately, his aspirations to continue mastering fencing were cut short when he sustained a hernia in the process of lunging.
“I knew the minute it happened, and because of the pandemic there was no elective surgery, so I struggled for a year and a half until I finally had surgery,” he says. “It’s healed beautifully, but I don’t want to jinx it so I’m staying away from fencing.”
Instead, Gunn works out twice a week with Jason, who is also a physical therapist.
“Jason is very conscious about body mechanics and knows what exercises I should avoid and he’s very conscious of what exercises you can safely do at a certain age,” Gunn says. “It’s really about using my own body weight as opposed to equipment, similar to Pilates.”
When it comes to fitness and fashion, Gunn is continuing to make it work.