 MAKE IT WORK: Gunn branches out from ‘Project Runway’ with new show. BY DANIEL KUSNER
For a gay dude, Tim Gunn is basically a ladies man. From the impeccable suit-coated style he always exhibits on “Project Runway,” it's hard to imagine him in anything more relaxed than business casual. And so far, all of his advice has been designed for women’s fashion — like his to-die-for book “A Guide to Quality Taste & Style” (Abrams Image, $17.95). His new eight-episode series, “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” is no different. The makeover reality show, which he co-hosts with Veronica Webb, premieres Thursday on Bravo. It’s like “Queer Eye” — but for women. And with his Thurston Howell III-like inflection, Gunn is nothing like Carson Kressley. He’s always so dang proper. If gay dudes dress to be noticed by their queer brothers, how does Tim Gunn impress a gentleman caller? There's a melancholy footnote about his personal history. In previous interviews, Gunn has explained that he’s on sabbatical from husband hunting. Decades ago, a suitor apparently dumped him like a pair of second-hand Birkenstocks. That's hard to swallow, because Gunn is more adorable than a pair of Manolo satin mules. Earlier this week, Gunn was doing a conference call about his upcoming show. That’s when I bombarded him his “quality, taste and style” wisdom for gay dudes who dress for a night of flirting and tavern hopping in hopes of not going to bed alone. Howdy, Tim. Hi, how are you? I hear that you occasionally visit Dallas. Is that true and why? I was in Dallas last fall. And, actually, it was the first time I’d been there in a long time. But I love Dallas. Gay men in the 21st century are bereft. They need you to cough up an appendix to your book that’s specifically tailored for them. I’m working on it. Seriously? I really am. Do you have a title yet? No and, you know, I have to tell you, Veronica and I just finished our taping. We’ve been like sequestered jurors. We’ve been just bound and hand-tied to “Guide to Style.” So now I can start working on the book again. It’s been in hiatus. It all sounds so S&M. But anyway … It has been kind of S&M. One of the last times you checked out a hottie, what was he wearing? Well, I have to tell you I’m always turned on by a good fitting pair of jeans. Does “good fit” mean flaunting the package, or are you totally disgusted when you notice that? I’m not a fan of that. I’m not a fan of that at all. Okay. No, I’m talking about a fashion fit, not a sexual foray fit. Let’s say it’s one guy checking out another guy in a good fitting pair of jeans. What are the elements of a good pair jeans? Well, it goes back to a theme that Veronica and I have. It’s all about fit. It’s all about form fitting. It’s all about flattering your figure. It’s all about helping make you look long and lean, because men want to do that just as much as women. And I have to add, it’s also about what state of repair are those jeans in. I’m all for neat, dark washes. None of this excessive fading and rips and tears. I find that that’s really a turn-off — I mean, unless you’re a 12-year-old boy, and I’m not interested in them. What about underwear: jock straps, comfy and ribbed cotton tighty-whities, on the occasion you ever go commando. Any thoughts on that? Oh, God. I mean you’re taking my memory cells back so far I can’t even recall. It’s enough to dress the outside. While I’m all in favor of good quality undergarment foundations, it’s all about support and helping the clothing on top and not necessarily about how you pack the package. Do you recoil when you see the ubiquitous Abercrombie and Fitch logo? I don’t recoil. I mean I have a certain respect for the brand and what it does. I just don’t think it should be worn by anyone over 21. CLIP LINK:
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