Saturday With Tim Gunn - Continued

LK: Do you have an iPod?

TG: No, I have been presented with iPods but I give them to my associate Marsha Tonkins, who now has lots of iPods.

LK: Do you ever miss teaching?

TG: I feel like I am still an educator. The Liz Claiborne Inc. events like the Kate Spade event today, contain an element of education and even the role that I play on Project Runway, even though I'm not telling them what to do, there is an element of teaching. There's a quality of interaction and dialogue that I find enjoyable and stimulating. Right now we're out on the audition tour - which has been fantastic - for Season Seven and even that has been a substantial dialogue. Can I talk about the process?

LK: Yes, please.

TG: Anyone who is interested in being on the show has to apply in advance and then they are vetted by the Bunim-Murray casting experts ahead of time and they have a 15-minute appointment. So, its not this rush rush rush rush rush and oh there are 500 people waiting outside. Its very civilized and very organized and we have quality time with each individual. My feeling about it is that they are "innocent until proven guilty" rather than "Oh God, what do you have to bring to the table?"

LK: So when they come in you are expecting something good?

TG: Yes.

LK: How many designers have you seen so far?

TG: About a hundred and fifty.

LK: How many do you move forward?

TG: Owing to the fact that they have been vetted ahead of time, we have a high percentage. About twenty percent.

LK: That's a lot!

TG: We also have our eye on who will mature and I am encouraging others to come back.

LK: Are you working on another book?

TG: YES!!!! Just did the contract on Thursday?

LK: What can you tell us about it?

TG: My deadline for the manuscript is January 1st.

LK: Do you have the same publisher?

TG: No we have a new publisher. I now have a book agent named Peter Steinberg, who is fabulous!

LK: How are the Lifetime people treating you?

TG: I don't have the adequate words to sing the appropriate praises of the Lifetime people. They are so fabulous. From the president and CEO, Andrea Wong, all the way through David Hillman, Julie Stern, Dan Suratt... They're incredible, I love them. David is a very important presence at the auditions. He's very nurturing. They really celebrate the quality of the design work of these contestants. They are very respectful of the fact that if we don't have talent, we don't have anything.

LK: But you also have to have personality.

TG: Well you do, but in my experience, you can't have a fashion designer who doesn't have a big ego - an over-the-top personality of sorts, but what we don't know is how they will really be on the show. This is one of the things that I love about the show. You just can't predict what is going to happen. How will they respond to the design challenges...

LK: The lack of sleep?

TG: It's emotionally, physically and creatively draining, and you just don't know who is going to be able to sustain it.

LK: Tim, are you going to do a podcast for season six?

TG: Well, I'm certainly going to do something podcast-like, if not a podcast because I love doing the podcast. I only did it for one season - for season three and it was purging and cathartic for me. Boy is there a lot to talk about in season six. Boy is there a lot.

LK: We will look forward to that!

LK: Did you see Uli in Miami?

TG: No I didn't but I gave a shout-out to her on the morning show yesterday! I also did a live-chat on the computer yesterday. Also, Kenley's mom and sister were at yesterday's Kate Spade event.

LK: Let's talk about the new apartment! Do you love it?

TG: Oh, I couldn't love it more! I plan to live there for the rest of my life!

LK: What is the status, are you unpacked?

TG: Oh, no, I'm having it painted.

LK: What color?

TG: Oh, that ochre color that I love - a little darker than the last apartment because I have so much light! I don't even have to turn a lamp on!

LK: Since purchasing it, how many nights have you slept there?

TG: Four!

LK: Tim, do you travel first class?

TG: Well, if I am traveling for Lifetime, my agent very nicely worked things out so that I do travel first class, but if I am traveling for Liz, I go coach.

LK: How is Isaac Mizrahi's collection for Liz Claiborne selling?

TG: Accessories are flying off the shelves and apparel is a little slower. It's indicative of the whole retail industry right now. it's not coincidental that I am traveling for Kate Spade right now, because that is mostly accessories.

LK: Does Isaac has an office at Liz, do you pass in the hall? This is a question from one of our readers.

TG: No, Isaac has a large studio on Tenth Avenue, about a ten-minute walk from where we are and he has an entire staff there. He is really a contract player rather than an employee. That's an important distinction.

LK: Which do you think was the best season of Project Runway?

TG: I'm very conflicted... Two...Three...Four....

LK: What about Season One?

TG: We had some clunkers...when it came to designers... people who I knew would not make it all the way through the show...but it was our infancy... for me always, the best challenge will be the first challenge from season one.

LK: Who is your favorite Real Housewife of New York?

Pause...

TG: Well, LuAnn is the one that I like to watch the most...because I find her to be such a mass of contradictions. I mean she's the purveyor of all things proper, yet she behaves very inappropriately.

LK: Is it okay for me to post this?

TG: Absolutely.

LK: As a result of becoming well-known has anyone contacted you from your past that you were surprised to hear from?

TG: Yes, people show up at our events. A friend named Barbara whom I worked with 27 years ago at The Corcoran was at yesterday's event! I was thrilled to see her.

LK: Do you love working for Liz Claiborne?

TG: Yes! What I love most is my boss, Bill McComb - love him!

LK: Okay, what is the status of the decorating in your apartment...it's painted...

TG: No! We are still working on it. Most of the apartment is aubergine. It's like living in a bruise - so it requires several coats. Also, the half-bath I am leaving the way it was decorated because it's hilarious. I've had a couple of dear friends in to see the place and I don't prepare them for the bath and they scream when they see it.

LK: Is it aubergine?

TG: No, it has pink color-blocked wallpaper, a faux Louis 14th commode for the sink. It's over-the-top, it's wild.

LK: Do you watch American Idol?

TG: No, I never have. I'll be honest. I have an addictive personality and I just don't want to become invested in it.

LK: Have you watched "Army Wives?"

TG: Yes! I have, I think it's really excellent.

LK: What about Lost?

TG: No.

LK: How do you keep your schedule straight?

TG: Marsha - it's all Marsha!

LK: Where do you go from here?

TG: I return to New York tonight...

LK: Sleeping at your own apartment?

TG: Yes, and then tomorrow is the AIDS walk. I'm walking with the Liz Team.

LK: How many hours of sleep do you usually get?

TG: If I'm lucky - five.

LK: Do you have a book you could recommend?

TG: Yes, it is by Michael Sims called Adam's Navel. It's about the evolution and societal aspects of the development of our bodies. It's fascinating.

LK: What is the must-have fashion item for the summer?

TG: A pop of color!

TG: Wait until you see what our first model is wearing this afternoon. We start with jeans and a t-shirt and add accessories.

LK: How can we stretch our fashion dollars?

TG: Well, first take a fashion inventory of your closet. Determine what you already have, ask yourself "What do I want?" and "What do I need?" When contemplating a purchase, ask yourself how that item will fit into what you already have, what role it will fill and how often you will wear it. That is our message at Kate Spade.

LK: What's the most fun you've had in the past twelve months?

TG: I have fun all the time. I love these events. I love them.

LK: But this is your last one...

TG: It is and then we will start with John Bartlett...

TG: Actually the most fun I've had in terms of "I really can't believe that.." was doing the red carpet at the Oscars. That was phenomenal.

LK: Let's get back to Project Runway, what will we really really love in Season Six?

TG: I think you are going to love Los Angeles as a backdrop. Season Seven is moving back to New York.

LK: They will continue to alternate?

TG: I believe so.

LK: How many more seasons are you committed too?

TG: Four more - through the tenth season.

LK: Tell us about the "Models of the Runway" show.

TG: I was dubious about the idea, but I have to tell you, they have raised the bar. There is content that used to be on Runway, that will now be on "Models" which means that there will be room for more designer content on Runway.

LK: More designing, sketching, sewing?

TG: More of everything! And Heidi is clearly a mentor to them and it is really good.

TG: And Adair, our Kate Spade model, I encouraged her to audition for season seven.

LK: Models have to audition?

TG: Now they do!

LK: Which of the Project Runway designers are you most proud of?

TG: Chloe, Emmett, Nick, Austin, Christian, Laura Bennett, Uli, Mychael Knight...

LK: We don't hear too much from Uli....

TG: It's a scale issue. She insists on doing everything herself. She's also doing a lot of styling.

LK: How do you spend a typical Sunday morning?

TG: Well tomorrow I'll be doing the AIDS walk, but I'm usually traveling.

LK: Are there any questions you are tired of hearing?

TG: Some questions are difficult if they are personal style questions. These require a Socratic approach and they can go on and on and they aren't that interesting to everyone else.

LK: How many frequent flyer miles do you have?

TG: I haven't a clue - when would I ever use them?

LK: When is the last time you had a vacation?

TG: When I took my niece to Paris in 2001.

LK: Do you need a vacation?

TG: When I do have time for a vacation I am going to stay in New York. I want to go to the museums and go to the shows and take long walks and do all of the things that I love to do.

LK: Thanks very much for your time, Tim, you are so generous.

TG: Thank you!

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