I didn’t think anyone could replace Tim Gunn but Christian is wonderful and has really grown into the role as PR mentor.
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Ironically today I was thinking Christian is so immature compared to Tim Gunn. Even when Tim laughs, it’s in a mild mannered way. He doesn’t ogle models or male guests, he doesn’t flirt (overtly or covertly) with contestants. He doesn’t make himself the center of attention when walking into a room.
I appreciate his lighter side (Christian), as sometimes on the show Tim is a bit too stoic. In interviews Tim is much more laid back and quite talkative!
At the end of their 4th season of hosting, Christian is 37; Tim was 55. They came of age in different eras. Tim has spoken candidly that being a young adult at the height of the AIDS crisis had caused him to emotionally retreat.
^^^ I’ve heard Tim talk of that before.
I love Tim - there is no other! And maybe that’s why Christian works - he’s not trying to be Tim - or Heidi - he is HIM.
Tim Gunn is a legend to me. Does he have an autobiography out? That is one I’d read.
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I found Christian Siriano intensely annoying until 1. Someone pointed out to me that it made for good television and 2. I went back and watched season 4 (which I had never seen) and saw how much winning meant to the unknown 21 year old. Now – I love him!
I should watch his season! I was not a PR watcher at that time.
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Definitely watch it. He was (is) brilliant.
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To me the fact that Christian and Tim are so different is a positive. NOBODY can replace Tim Gunn so IMO going in a new direction (active designer v educator, younger, different personality) was a smart move.
Also we just see small clips of the mentor/designer discussions so they likely get edited down to showcase a particular personality etc.
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Not per say - but there’s a wonderful book he wrote, Tim Gunn: The Natty Professor: A Master Class on Mentoring, Motivating and Making It Work! I’ve also read his Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work -
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i think Christian is a brilliant designer. I think he has a better handle on what the judges want and expect better than Tim Gunn because he is current in the design world. Guess it depends on how you like their styles of mentorship–Tim Gunn as a patient advisor or Christian’s blunt critique. I figure might as well be blunt–as a contestant you’ve only got a few hours to save yourself. Sometimes Tim’s advice got lost because he was too nice about it.
There is quite a bit of difference between being a good mentor to shape something over time (like being a teacher as Tim) than mentoring a short term contestant (as Christian).
You all make good cases for Christian. I’ll lighten up on him (a little) 
Not only does being an active designer help…but I also think the fact that he was such a successful contestant gives Christian unique insight into the PR process from that perspective (judging, awareness of time constraints etc.). FWIW Christian designed my favorite challenge of this season where everyone had to use the same bolt of fabric.
(None of my comments should be read to mean I don’t love Tim Gunn – I absolutely do miss his presence. But he just isn’t an option as he and Heidi left for a new show on Amazon.)
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Loved that project too. What fabric type was that? I know one of Christian’s concerns is the fabric choices that the contestants make. They often choose harder fabrics to work with which make the time constraints worse. I think him choosing the fabric put the contestants on an equal footing creativity-wise.
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Christian and Tim Gunn are definitely different…and I love them both!
I also liked the challenge where they all had to use the same bolt of fabric.
I didn’t really care for Christian in his original season - it felt like he was only designing for a specific body type. But wow, he has completely changed, designing for people in all sizes and shapes.
I just finished a rewatch of seasons 1-6, with 3,4, and 5 being my favorites. I was surprised that season 5 Kenley really wasn’t a villain. She just couldn’t take criticism.
My D went to art school where critiques are just part of the process just as they are on Project Runway (although what we see on PR is “critique lite”.
It has always been amazing to me how many students outright reject suggestions from a professor --the person you are PAYING to give you their opinion and is there to HELP you succeed. Some students fold and quit, some never grow because they don’t take the feedback, but the successful ones (even though their ego may be bruised) try something new and stretch. They may decide their original way was better but they always realize they don’t know everything and willing to learn.
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I think this was part of Laurence’s problem. She didn’t seem to take guidance very well. I’d imagine that the mentoring aspect of the prize might not be valued. Brittany, and even more so Bishme, seemed to act upon suggestions for improving their designs.
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I think Bishme will gain more in an apprenticeship than Laurence.
I wonder if contestants get job offers after the show. If I was in sportswear, I’d hire Brittany , for sure.
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I have been rewatching seasons Project Runway on Prime which has been fun (binge watching after a surgery, so I do fast forward through recaps, etc.) I have also been searching what the contestants are up to now.
Starr Ilzhoefer from season 1 was a corporate lawyer when she joined the show. She eventually went into real estate and was indicted in 2018 for mortgage fraud!
Bishme (from this season of All Stars) sounds just like Michale Knight from season 3. It is eerie.
In season 7, Anthony Williams sounded very familiar to me, but not from Project Runway. I eventually figured out that he is Anthony Elle from HGTV’s Luxe for Less and Rock the Block.
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