Tim Gunn's Guide To Style

Tim Gunn, creative director for Liz Claiborne, has his own show called “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style”. He has Greta Monahan as his co-host and sidekick. Greta also works in the industry as a stylist and owner of GRETTACOLE spas, salons and boutiques. The show features a different fashion victim each week, and they go through a series of steps to help re-vamp and makeover the suffering female.

Last week’s episode featured Erica Mollica who is 35 years old. She is a veterinarian that is preparing for her wedding. She is 5’11” and has trouble finding clothes that fit in length, so she opts to wear clothes that are meant to be too small (baby tees and capris). Erica stated that she “wants to be WOW with confidence” after the weeklong intervention. Due to her height and lack of ability to properly dress it, she slouches to try to compensate.

Each week, and after the initial evaluation of the client, Tim and Greta completely empty the “fashion victim’s” closet to give them distance from their clothes, so they won’t be haunted by where they came from. It is much like a style (or lack there of) detox. While doing this, they have a category of “keepers and menders”, in which Greta will adjust existing garments or use them to create completely new items. In a previous episode, a dress was made into an adorable clutch purse. This week, two identically terrible sweaters were made into outfits for stuffed animals.

The first shopping trip is almost always to an undergarments store. Tim believes that undergarments are the basic building blocks to fashion, and they need to fit properly, and can even change the overall look of your clothes.

Tim sends these clients to get an opti-tech body scan, which creates a life-size simulation of the client, with exact measurements of their bodies. He shows them how their old clothes actually look on them, and he them compares that to how proper outfits can emphasize their body and its shape. For Tim, it is all about silhouette, proportion, and fit, and people need to think of their bodies as thirds instead of halves. He then gives the client a postcard size body visual of themselves, and actually draws the appropriate lengths of skirts, shirts, pants, sleeves, waistlines, and pant/skirt shapes that work best for their body type.

Before the actual shopping trip, Tim sends the client to In Style Magazine where they get more information and tips on how to dress and add style and accessories. Right before the shopping starts, Tim gives an “essential list” which is constant in every episode. The items on the list include: basic black dress, trench coat, dress pants, skirt, jacket, classic shirt, day dress, any occasion top, jeans, sweat suit alternative, and as a bonus, an indulgent trendy item. Tim and Greta accompany the client on this trip, but they are only there for support- they will not tell the client what to purchase.

Once the shopping extravaganza is complete, Tim takes the client to see a high-end celebrity designer. This week, Erica had the opportunity to meet Yigal Azrouel. In every instance, the client actually gets to choose one of the designer dresses that they got to try on, to take home as a gift.

The last step in the transformation process is to get a makeover from renowned hair and makeup artists. The client then meets Tim and Greta back at Tim’s loft to show them the new hair and makeup. That is where the client gets to see just how their old wardrobe looks compared to the newly purchased one.

Finally comes the fashion show for the family and friends. The client puts together 3 different looks (completely on their own) from their new collection of clothes. The fourth look reveals the designer dress that was chosen, and the show actually brings in all the designers, stylists, artists, and other celebrity consultants to come in and view the overall new look. Tim and Greta invest in one last gift to give the client (which is usually expensive jewelry) to signify the journey and transition that has just occurred.

Throughout the entire show, tips are given to help guide, even the viewers, to success. Tips this week include:
* Skirts should fall just above, just below, or at the knee
* A higher cut leg on a bathing suit makes legs look longer
* Don’t use too much foundation-less is more
* A wet eye shadow gives a more intense look
* Using a lip pencil helps lipstick stay on longer
* Use a diffuser for added volume to hair