Tim's Take: Dress for Success
It was standing-room-only in the Museum & Galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising when students, faculty and those-in-the-know turned out to hear “Project Runway” mentor Tim Gunn discuss his latest venture—his recently released book, “Tim Gunn: A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style.”
Gunn recently stepped down from his post as the chair of the fashion design department at Parsons The New School for Design to join Liz Claiborne Inc. as chief creative officer, a newly created position for the New York–based manufacturing giant. Gunn co-wrote the book with Kate Moloney, Parsons’ assistant chair of fashion design and a California native whose mother was an instructor at FIDM.
The two joined forces to write the book, a practical primer to finding one’s personal style and incorporating it into one’s life.
The charismatic Gunn opened the discussion with a compliment for FIDM’s downtown Los Angeles campus.
“I’m thrilled because I have never visited FIDM,” he said. “What a facility you all have. I’m totally wowed by it.”
Gunn and Moloney fielded several questions from the audience, ranging from “Project Runway”–related queries and opinions about current trends.
When asked what trend each most wished would end, Gunn opted for anything that exposes the midriff, while Moloney singled out jersey gauchos.
“There must be a plot against the women of America,” Moloney said. “It’s brutally unflattering.” The two, however, have divergent opinions on leggings, Moloney added.
Several students asked how to find their own creative voice.
“You are a barometric gauge of our society and culture,” Gunn said. “Be a sponge and find your voice and you’ll have an epiphany.”
On that, he and Moloney were in complete agreement. “Genius can’t thrive in isolation,” she added. —Alison A. Nieder
