Tim Gunn Attracts Hundreds to the Mall of America

Tim Gunn of Bravo’s television show Project Runway graced us Minnesotans with his presence at the Mall of America while on his book tour. Gunn was out promoting his book Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making it Work. His book not only covers fashion but also how to make it work in your career, life and relationships. His book also gives stories about fashion’s greatest divas and behind the scenes stories of Project Runway’s biggest drama queens. Gunn even gives some insight to readers about his personal life.

Before going to his book signing I really didn’t know all that much about Tim Gunn other than being a fashion guru from Project Runway so I made sure to look my best before going. As I reached the rotunda at the mall where he was doing his signing, I could feel the excitement in the people around me. The line was wrapped around and around with men, women, and teenagers. As I looked around I was rather surprised with what I saw. I had come there expecting to see people dressed, well, I guess you could say rather stylish.  Stylish was almost close to opposite of what I saw.

                The majority of the people standing in line were middle aged to older women. On an average day at the Mall of America women are dressed very casual in jeans, cotton tees and sweaters; this is exactly what people were wearing at the book signing. Nobody looked like the put in any extra effort on themselves before heading out the door to this event.  I was surprised by this and as I looked around at the lack of people there my age. I think I could have counted on two hands the twenty something year olds there among the other 500 people. 

                This was all a little shocking to me until I made my way into Barnes and Noble to check out his book.  This is where I realized that his book really didn’t have all that much to do with fashion but more of a self help book.  His book is a how to book to make yourself  successful and having a better for you and for others.  In his book he says “Living a well mannered life of integrity and character is hard work, but the rewards are many: being a good friend, being glamorous and attractive and being a success!”.  As I looked back into the rotunda at the hundreds of people still waiting in line, it all made sense of why these people were here to see Tim Gunn, it wasn’t about how to be more fashion savvy but rather he was teaching them how to be more successful inside and out.