September 17, 2006
Tim Gunn, Project Runway Designers, and Their Adoring Fans
Yesterday afternoon, a crowd of people excitedly waited on a line along Elizabeth Street. No, they had not missed the San Gennaro Festival - they were there for fashion. Emmett McCarthy, a season 2 designer from Project Runway, was having an event at his store, EMc2, featuring clothing and appearances from Project Runway designers like Chloe Dao, Kara Janx, Alison Kelly, Nick Verreos, and Emmett himself....plus Tim Gunn!
We settled into the line at 1PM, and the line did move - just very slowly. Good thing Project Runway fans are a nice bunch - we made friends with a gay couple in front of us and a family from NJ behind us (nothing is cuter than seeing an immigrant grandmother asking PR designers for their autographs on behalf of her granddaughter). And Emmett and his employees came around to rally those waiting and passed out water to everyone. Emmett added that Tim was being "really slow" and that's why the line wasn't moving very quickly.
As we shuffled slowly towards the store, in the store, and through the courtyard to see Tim Gunn, we saw Alison (so pretty!), Nick (so handsome!), Raymundo (who now does some styling - at least he did on Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency), Kayne's model Amanda (totally cute and totally chatty!), and Kayne (Mr. Kayne!). Everyone was very nice and happily signed autographs, posed for photographs, and even held one fan's dog. 
As we inched closer to Tim Gunn, we saw Nick and Tim get very excited about an apperance from the Project Rungay guys, Tom and Lorenzo. (And it turns out that Laura from Blogging Project Runway was the woman helping Tim with the signing - of course, we only know that from reading Project Rungay's post today.) And now we knew why Tim was "slow" - he was autographing Tim Gunn bobbleheads, Tim Gunn t-shirts (both available from EMc2), and taking time to pose for photographs. Then we started to get nervous, because there were rumblings about Tim needing to leave at 3PM - and 3PM it was!
Luckily we were able to have a moment with Mr. Gunn, and he was as charming and dashing as any one would imagine! Not only did we make him hug us immediately, we gushed over him and Tim was sweet and bashful. Then, we mentioned we were Gothamist, he said "I read Gothamist!" and he hugged us again. Aw - we would have waited six hours for that!
EMc2 still has some Tim Gunn bobbleheads and t-shirts for sale. And check out the store - there are some lovely clothes there (though definitely at designer prices); we especially love Nick's Nikolaki tailored blouses and jackets. EMc2 is at 240 Elizabeth Street, between Houston and Prince Streets.
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The next new episode of Project Runway will be on September 27, so we're hoping that there will be a marathon this Wednesday. Here's are our posts on Project Runway, including a post about this past Friday's runway show at Fashion Week. And definitely catch up through Tim's podcasts and his blog posts.
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The event was really good - even in spite of the wait - and I can't praise how well it was run enough. Sure, it was crowded, but Emmett made sure all the people waiting on line were informed and comfy with water, and all the designers were more than happy to meet and greet fans. It was very intimate and nice. And Tim was awesome - he was like a machine, signing bobbleheads and graciously spending time with all the fans.
You actually waited in line? This is so sad.....
Hopefully you'll grow out of such lame adoration.
so jealous!
Two (seemingly identical) photos of Jen & Tim Gunn!
One wasn't sufficient?
THE Korean chick is kinda hot.
You had to be there...the designers were friendly, Tim was charming and the wait was long but worth it.
Jen looks hot
why is that korean chicks head twice as big as tim gunns?
Oh my god! We were the gay couple in front of you! How fantastic was it?! So glad to have met you and shared this day!
sorry, jen...ur losing a lot of cred here...c'mon who actually attends these events?? ugh
wait...people who are commenting on a blog post about project runway are calling jen pathetic?
Jen's cute but way too loose. Where do you think "Everybody have fun tonight. Everybody Jen Chung tonight" comes from?
i
OMG!!! What a FABULOUS way to spend a sunny Sunday in the city, if only Paris were there!!! Did you go home, pull the blinds and watch Project Runway re-runs, 'cause that's what I woulda done. Isn't New York wonderful!!!
i heart project runway groupies named jen
My responses:
- As a "loser," I've also spent my sunny weekends - and even some "vacations" - blogging, so my priorities are certainly screwy. I've also been known to see movies and go to museums during beautiful weather - I know, totally crazy.
- While I'd like to say that my head looks huge next to Tim Gunn's because I was in the foreground, I have to say that my noggin is large. I can't even wear some kinds of hats.
- Re: Slideshow and the last image - good point, I should reorder the Flickr slideshow.
- Michael - Nice waiting on line with you (at least you understand) and I hope you got to meet Tim!
- And bring on the "Wang Chung" jokes - I can't get enough of those!
I gotta admit... the Jen Chung joke made me laugh... sorry... and I gotta say, totally cool event. I only watch three reality shows: Amazing Race, America's Next Top Model, and now, Project Runway. Love it! You go, Jen, glad you got to meet Tim Dunn. He seems like a great person, even for a fashionista!
My only question is, how many pinstriped suits does Professor Gunn own, anyway? He's got more pinstripes in his closet than Derek Jeter.
Nice photos, Jen. We all have our neat little obsessions... never explain, never apologize and wave it proudly.
im commenting on an old post.. but jen, don't you ever get tired of referring to yourself as "us" "we" and "gothamist" ??
#20: I was always under the impression that Gothamist was a collective of sorts, hence the "us" and "we."
i dont think they travel in a pack though.
Not sure if everyone knows...but Tim has been nominated by OUTzoneTV.com for 'Sexiest Gay Celebrity of 2007'....you should go to the site and vote for our man so he can beat out the eleven other nominees, including Lance Bass and Ellen Degeneres! Go vote!!!!!
I was the first to get his autograph! i go to the school :P