Are You Pro-Gunn? Tim Gunn vs. Anna Wintour

Of the catch phrases I whipped out as Tim Gunn last Halloween (black pinstripe suit, white shoe polish through my hair and a Mood Fabrics bag over my shoulder = flawless), "Conde Nast...would be well served by having lots of straitjackets around" wasn't one of them. "Make it work" -- Yes. "Thank you, Mood" -- Yes. "Ms. Wintour doesn't know how to work a Manolo" -- No.

This new, more pithy Tim Gunn is making the TV show rounds promoting his book Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons For Making It Work. First on Live With Regis and Kelly and again on The Daily Show, Gunn related a now infamous tale about the time he witnessed Anna Wintour being carried down five flights of stairs. The story goes, she was leaving the Peter Som show and needed to make a quick exit. Enter bodyguards with big arms.

After he was first quoted, Gunn said Anna demanded a retraction...which he didn't give her. Gunn believes the Conde Nast crew have accumulated too much mystique and he isn't afraid to call attention to what he sees as ridiculous power mongering. So, basically, fashion's most lovable mentor and fashion's most influential editor have maneuvered into a David and the well-dressed Goliath battle. I wonder how he's going to make that one work.

-- PHILLIP B. CROOK

Previously > Need To Know: Louise Roe