Cloe Cabrera

Cloe Cabrera is the fashion and beauty reporter for the Tampa Tribune, News Channel 8 and TBO.com. Watch her style segments Thursday mornings on News Channel 8 Today and follow her on Twitter at Hot Pursuits @CloeCabrera.

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Fashion guru Tim Gunn dishes on Michelle Obama and other celebs.

Posted Nov 10, 2009 by Cloe Cabrera

Updated Nov 10, 2009 at 02:54 PM

If you’ve ever watched “Project Runway” you know who Tim Gunn is. If you’ve never seen the show, you should try and catch a few episodes on Lifetime. Gunn’s a scene-stealer and essentially walks around offering advice and encouragement to aspiring fashion designers.

The Chief Creative officer at Liz Claiborne, has got an eye for fashion and knows what works and what doesn’t—and he isn’t afraid to tell you. I wrote about Gunn in my Hot Pursuits column. Hopefully, I left you wanting a little more of Gunn.   

What do you think about Michelle Obama’s style? “I worship the ground she walks on. She’s wonderful. She gets it right.”

On celebrity fashion lines: “Most of the celebrities have nothing to do with their line.”

On Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen’s fashion line: “Interesting work. They are kooky.”

As a former Chair of the Department of Fashion Design at Parsons, how do you think Lindsay Lohan and Lauren Conrad would have done? “I don’t doubt Lindsay Lohan and Lauren Conrad would it beyond the first semester of freshman year.”

Who are your favorite designers? “Coco Chanel, Claire McCardell, Donna Karan. My personal favorite because of staying power and iconic look would be Diane Von Furstenberg.”

Fashion is a competitive industry. Any advice on how to survive? “You need to be like a weeble-wooble. You need to bounce right back up because the industry is trying to knock you over.”

Your thoughts on green fashion? “Eventually, I believe that everything in this nation is going to be green. We should be proud of it.”

“The silver lining to this economic calamity? If I never see another $26,000 handbag I will be perfectly happy. How about a $2,500 handbag? That’s an expensive bag—and you can give the balance to charity.”

Favorite era in fashion? “I wouldn’t want to go back for anything.”

On anorexic models? “When a model’s knee is bigger than her calf it’s ghastly! The industry has to be a partner in preventing it as opposed to enabling it. I blame the modeling agencies.”

On cosmetic surgery? “As long as you don’t notice it, it’s fine. Just don’t look like your walking in a 200 mph gale.”

What was your favorite season of Project Runway? Your favorite design? Season 1. The corn husk dress.

If you could make anyone over, who would it be? “I’d like to talk to Meryl Streep. She’s an incredible actress…but.”