Tim Gunn on Project Runway and more

So close. I spoke to style guru Tim Gunn today – the day before the finale of "Project Runway" Season 4, but couldn’t get him to so much as hint at the winner. He did say that he’s thrilled with the outcome. Really, it sounds like any outcome would have pleased him – Gunn says all of this season’s designers were talented enough to win and he’s expecting big things (bigger than we’ve seen from past vets so far) from many. Gunn said he’d jump at the opportunity to do a fifth season, which has yet to be announced, but seems inevitable given the show’s continued popularity. As for his other Bravo show, "Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style," Gunn didn’t sound certain there would be a Season 2. Ever the diplomat, Gunn did admit the underwear drawer surprise scene in each episode "bothered me to no end." He’d like to see more education and fewer gimmicks…that is, if there’s anything to see at all. Sounds like a decision has been made, it’s just a matter of when Bravo announces it.
I’ll have much more from Tim Gunn on "Project Runway," Isaac Mizrahi, his new job with Liz Claiborne, the trouble with petites and plus sizes and his own wardrobe in the St. Paul Pioneer Press on March 23. That’s in advance of Gunn’s March 26 appearance at Herberger’s Rosedale Center.

In case you missed it on the biz pages, Isaac Mizrahi is leaving Target. He’s moving on to a more lucrative  – and challenging – undertaking: trying to revive Liz Claiborne.
Analysts are saying it’s a big blow to Target, which reinvented its image as a trend retailer with the introduction of Mizrahi’s exclusive collection five years ago. Isaac Mizrahi for Target sells as much as $300 million annually, according to the New York Times.
I was impressed by the line when it debuted, and season after season, I find myself drawn to a jacket or dress. But honestly, I couldn’t tell you the last time I actually bought an Isaac Mizrahi item at Target. Like so many of the retailer’s fashion lines, it’s always better in the flashy ads than in the fitting room. Don’t get me wrong – I love that Target continues to take fashion risks and introduce the public to edgy designers most people couldn’t afford (or find). But perhaps this shake-up is a good opportunity to take a step back and make sure there’s substance behind the style.