Style guru Tim Gunn – best-selling author, Liz Claiborne brands chief creative officer, and fashion consultant – is best known for hosting the hit TV show, Project Runway, but last weekend, he gave Pittsburghers some advice on style at a fashion show featuring looks from Kate Spade, Lucky Brand Jeans, and Juicy Couture.
What are Tim’s all-time tips and advice for spring?
* Mixing patterns is hot right now…but be sure to do it correctly. Keep your patterns in the same color family, and make sure that they are distinct enough from one another.
* Cropped pants – they aren’t for everyone! With very little exception, people with shorter legs should probably stay away from cropped or “capri” pants as they often cut you off at the calf or ankle, making the legs appear even shorter.
* Own a classic button-down collared white shirt.
* A bright-colored, bold jacket (think: bright pink!) can be a perfect accessory this time of year, whether you pair it with jeans, a tee, and boat shoes, or a dress fit for cocktail hour.
* Bare midriffs: almost always a no-no, according to Mr. Gunn. (Though some may disagree: peekaboo cut-outs in the midriff region have been showing up on some of our favorite fashionistas! It can be done tastefully, however, and doesn’t have to be a throwback to Britney Spears circa 1999.)
* Dress for your body type, and your style. Gunn isn’t a big fan of “trends” and advises sticking to classic staples that work best for you.
Trends shown on the runway included Navajo-inspired prints, the aforementioned pattern-mixing, pineapples and bright colors from Kate Spade, bohemian looks from Lucky, and whimsical pieces from Juicy Couture. Gunn also dished on some behind-the-scenes dirt on Project Runway – from Gretchen and Kenley’s off-air antics to (jokingly) accusing Heidi Klum of smoking crack due to some of her choices….but his best takeaway of the day was twofold: “be yourself” and, just as importantly, “BE NICE!”
— Event coverage by Ashley Marie Boynes