Tim Gunn, hero, bashes Kardashians as “largely vulgar, tawdry”

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I don’t know what has gotten into Tim Gunn lately, but I love it. A few weeks ago, he declared that the Kardashian women had “an absence of taste” (and he also bashed the Jersey Shore kids). Now it seems that Tim is really on the war path regarding the Kardashian and their alleged “style” and he’s going even further in his criticism. These are the words he uses: cheapness, tawdriness, largely vulgar, and poser. Chuckle. God, I love Tim:

Tim Gunn has turned his critical eye towards the Kardashian sisters’ fashion sense. The style guru, who is usually polite and soft-spoken outside the confines of “Project Runway,” appears to have put the hit reality- show girls in his sights — and has been firing away for weeks.

He stepped up his sneers on “The Joy Behar Show” last week, saying that while the Kardashian style — which gravitates towards skin- tight, butt-enhancing and cleavage-bearing — “may have some sexiness to it, I find it’s largely vulgar.”

Gunn went on to say that their look “has a cheapness and a tawdriness [to it].”

The Kardashian bashing began when the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” stars — Kim, 29, Kourtney, 30, and Khloe, 25 — unveiled the special collection they designed for Bebe during last month’s Fashion Week. It’s the first of five sea sons worth of clothes that the girls will be designing.

When asked whether he supported the Kardashian Bebe spring line, a mix of jumpsuits and revealing one-shouldered dresses, Gunn told wonderwall.msn.com that the clothes didn’t talk to him.

“I just think the Kardashians have an absence of taste and I don’t think that that should be perpetuated,” he said. “I’m sorry I’m sounding like an old farty, snob, but it bothers me.”

Together, the sisters own DASH, a boutique that specializes in designer clothing and accessories that reflects their fashion aesthetic. (The Miami branch serves as the backdrop for the spinoff series, “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami.”)

The outspoken sisters, each of whom has a very active Twitter account, have remained uncharacteristically mum about the sartorial slams.

The closest they’ve come to addressing Gunn’s unprovoked attack came during a “Twitterview” when little sister Khloe told Wonderwall, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and everyone has a different sense of style. I love criticism! It makes us all better.”

Although he’s clearly no fan of their fashion taste or “how they navigate the world,” Gunn did have one nice thing to say about Kim — kind of.

“She’s pretty, but she’s a poser,” he told Behar, referring to the way Kim mugs for the camera. “I find that when she’s static and still, she has an attractiveness. I find that when she’s moving, it all goes away for me.”

It’s unlikely that Gunn’s comments will have any effect on the sisters’ activities. “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” which follows the over-the-top antics of the extended Kardashian clan, is E!’s top-rated series. Last month’s fourth season finale drew 4.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched show in the network’s history.

[From The New York Post]

So is Tim saying that any beauty he sees in Kim goes away when he sees her in motion? That’s pretty funny. I would actually diagree – I think Kim is horrible in still photography, she looks much better when you see her on the show or in interviews. Her features are so extreme, and she’s such a horrendously bad model, she only works in motion for me.

Kim Kardashian has a relaxing afternoon while getting both a manicure and pedicure at a Los Angeles nail salon

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78 Responses to “Tim Gunn, hero, bashes Kardashians as “largely vulgar, tawdry””

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  1. meme says:

    I love this man. Make it work!

  2. Popcorny says:

    Tim Gunn = Hero
    -For slamming the Lardass’ians.
    Hell yes!

  3. gg says:

    Gunn went on to say that their look “has a cheapness and a tawdriness [to it].”

    Well, yah, that’s solely what it’s based on – Cheap Slut. When’s the fragrance coming out – “Kheep Kshlut”? LOL.

  4. Peach says:

    Thank you, Tim Gunn. International Treasure and Speaker of Truth.

    I say he should become the Patron Saint of Celebitchy.

  5. Huma says:

    Love it. I’m with you, I think Kim looks better in motion. But yeah, her mugging is ANNOYING and desperate.

  6. dude says:

    UM who the heck is this guy? i mean gay? Do you feel better for putting down young girls? He needs to unpucker his ahole & get over himself! He is certainly no prize. He’s a hag!! Quit riding Heidi’s coat tails puhleeze!

  7. Lem says:

    Dear Mr. Gunn

    A t shirt over a dress shirt and tie yet under a suit jacket “has a cheapness and a tawdriness [to it].” Like someone has bought your chest space for advertisement. Please try to refrain from such outfits in the future.
    Please return to being an old farty, snob. It bothers me.

    I’m glad they (the KKK’s) are staying mum. You can’t take on Tim Gunn and come out on top. Plus, you know, I get to read him instead of them. Bonus!

  8. pebbles says:

    Love the Gunn!

  9. Kaiser says:

    Lem – the photos of Tim are from his appearance yesterday for International Women’s Day – he’s out there supporting and celebrating “strong, intelligent” women, and that’s what the t-shirt is about.

    http://www.womenforwomen.org/events-supporting-women/international-womens-day.php

  10. Lem says:

    Dude? lookin to stir the pot? Riding Heidi’s coattails, lol, not bloody likely.
    He does not unpucker! Ha!

    He’s earned his cred. Let him speak!

    Nevermind, I realized you are defending the sisters. That worries me. …..

  11. noway says:

    I don’t think her features are extreme at all. I think Kim is beautiful and people are not used to looking at someone who has features from her roots in the Middle East. I’m glad to see a dark-haired woman, although admittedly her clothes and poses are designed to be attention grabbing.

  12. ogechi says:

    Whether the obscure Tim likes it or not. The Kardashians rock. Many people admire and love them, i am one of them. I see all his comments scream ENVY. Leave the ladies alone and allow them be. Focus on your age mates.

  13. Lem says:

    K: If you say so… looks like he’s hocking a spa from here!
    {ETA: the more I look at that link K, the more inappropriate a shirt that ‘appears’ to say spa seems}
    That outfit would be expectable on the Piv. Mr. Gunn, as ambassador for the de-slobification of America, should know better. Lest, we have young boys who think that is an expectable look!
    Standards people, standards!

    (you’ll have to forgive me. I dream of Tim Gunn, I have imaginary conversations/arguments with him when I wear my ‘fleece suit & bathrobe’ (does he own a Sunday morning comfy?)and he sits on my shoulder when I go shopping)

  14. Icecat says:

    @dude – “This Guy” is Tim Gunn. He worked hard to get where he is now. He has every right to give his advice on fashion, and he is usually spot on.
    Do you know he made practically NOTHING on the first season of Project Runway??

    Love This Man – And, yes, he probably is gay you homophobe.

  15. Sudini says:

    Total respect for Tim Gunn!! I absolutely love him. He’s so smart, gracious and so incredibly tasteful and talented.

    He summed it up perfectly – most, if not all, of the very common and talentless reality people personify tawdry and classlessness.

    He’s earned his career unlike many of these people and in doing so, has earned the right to call it like he sees it. Anyone who doesn’t understand that is kind of an idiot IMO.

  16. dude says:

    Ice: Im not a homophobe!! I can call someone gay if i want! I didnt use a homophobic slur did i? Let the kardashians wear what they want! Why does he have to comment!?? They arent asking him for a thing!! There are plenty of people who are more famous then the Kardashians who dress 10x worse than them. Drew Barrymore dresses like a slob, Chloe Segingjty However her name is spelled looks like bum. The Kardashians have 2 stores that are doing pretty well so Im guessing they dont need Tim Gaggs advice!

  17. TaylorB says:

    I LOVE Tim Gunn, I want him to come to my house, raid my closets, take me shopping and set me right on style even if he has to smack me upside the head with a BlueFly Wall handbag. Other than my scrubs, I couldn’t put together a matching outfit if someone held a gun to my head.

  18. bellaluna says:

    I love him! I also love that he doesn’t censor his opinions to spare feelings. And the fact that he and I agree wholeheartedly about the Kartrashian sisters doesn’t hurt one bit!

  19. Peach says:

    [lets all respond in a Tim Gunn tone]
    Dude,
    While I hear what you’re saying, what concerns me the most is not that you’re ‘afraid’ of homosexuals. But that you attempted to use the term gay as a derogatory.
    It is profoundly alarming that in this day and age something along these lines would occur.

    And while Tim Gunn has served as the department chair at Parsons, worked with all manner of designers and inspired an entire generation of fashion, you have only succeeded in speaking on his sexual preference.

    Now is when you work it out.

  20. weslyn says:

    wow i didn’t think they were that popular..um can these people please stop watchin the show so they can fade into oblivion…

  21. Icecat says:

    @dude – I think many would take offense to your comment. i.e. unpucker his ahole?? He is a hag… WTF?

    Don’t get me wrong, I am actually a fan of the Kardashians. My comment had nothing to do with them. It had everything to do with you putting down someone with whom you don’t even know who he is, or what he does for a living…He commented on thier fashion because he is IN the fashion world. That’s his job.

    I don’t think anybody who is not a homophobe would make a comment like yours. You obviously have no gay friends…
    Sorry if I misinterpreted you. And, yes, you have the right to call anyone you want gay. You just did it in a very HOMOPHOBIC way.

  22. snowball says:

    Hmmm, what makes Tim an expert on fashion…

    He was on the faculty of Parsons The New School for Design from 1982 to 2007 and was chair of fashion design at the school from August 2000 to March 2007, after which he joined Liz Claiborne as its chief creative officer.

    And the Kartrashian’s fashion resume..

    :crickets:

    Yeah, he’s envious. As for the t-shirt, he most likely showed up for the even dressed as usual, then they gave him the t-shirt. Rather than stripping, he put it over his clothes. That’s what’s happened in many of the fundraising or charity events we’ve had locally.

  23. princess pea says:

    Young girls?! Defend the Kardashians if you absolutely MUST, but don’t use youth as a shield. Kim (29) and Kourtney (30) are grown women, full stop. I could maybe buy that Khloe is a young girl, were it not for the lookitmeeeee,i’msogrownup wedding spreads. Oh and the successful businesses, too.

    We’re not talking about teenagers, here. Let’s stop giving celebrities permission to behave like children by not identifying them as CHILDREN.

    Also, Tim Gunn does not need to defend his credentials. Two days after the Oscars and the ridiculous “red carpet style squads”, and someone wants to shit on TIM? Please.

  24. thank you to all who addressed the “gay” thing in dude’s post. people like that make me feel sad and when i see twice as many people who fuss it makes me feel like we don’t have to hide or be ashamed. the world really is changing, thank you. you guys rock!

  25. and in a comment aimed at the post i would like to say that if tim gunn is talking about your fashion sense (or lack there of) or your fashion line then you can not call his comment an “unprovoked attack” as that article did. silly.

  26. bellaluna says:

    Princess Pea, thank you for pointing out that any Tomasina, Dickhead, and Henrietta (with little or NO fashion credentials) are out there bashing away on the Oscar “fashions” while people are busily bashing the bejeebers out of Tim Gunn, who actually HAS a right to speak out on fashion, or lack thereof!

    Also, excellent call on the “young girls” comment: if we were talking about the younger two sisters, then yes, they are young girls. Kim has a porno out, Kourtney has a baby, and Khloe is married – since they are all over 21, none of them qualify as “young girls.”

  27. NJMDPS says:

    He is a pompous blowhard. Jerkweed. The “K” girls do their thing. Don’t harm anyone. People are just jealous. Me, I like them. I find them “interesting.” There is a lot worse on TV and in life. Lighten up.

  28. NJMDPS says:

    And I also believe “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” had fabulous ratings. Don’t know much about “Runway.” Don’t like Klum so I don’t watch.

  29. dude says:

    Unpucker his ahole has not a thing about being gay u dope! I was referring to his stuck up ways ie: take a stick outta ur a**! Ever heard of that?? Is that homophobic?? Your right I dont have any gay friends..I have gay relatives!!!
    The Kardashians are young compared to him…he is rude!! Thats what makes him a hag! What man wants to pick a fight with young girls. I didnt say teenagers!! 30 yo is YOUNG!!

  30. Jackson says:

    I. Love. You. Tim. Gunn.

    I’m thrilled that someone is calling out these talentless poseurs.

  31. dude says:

    I actually support GAYS! I just dont like BITCHES…male or female! Thats my point! Back up off !!

  32. mins15 says:

    Lem, the shirt says Kate Spade not spa.

  33. Icecat says:

    Wow. You really told me!!

    ROTFLMAO – You’re hilarious!!!

  34. gg says:

    dude, you are high on something. You sound phobic to me too.

  35. dude says:

    yeah im high! B/c i dont like tim gunn that means i hate gays too! WTF is wrong with me?

  36. Sudini says:

    @Dude – to be honest, your first comment really does come across as derogatory and homophobic just for the fact that you felt it necessary to reference his homosexuality when it’s not even relevant to the article or to this thread. It would be like saying “who is this bloak? I mean black?” The subtext reveals an attempt at an insult by way of deriding or mocking his sexual orientation.

  37. city says:

    I love Tim Gunn. He is fabulous! And as Creative Director for Liz Claiborne, he has every right to comment on any fashion. If you read the article, he was ASKED to comment on the Kardashian’s spring line with BeBe.
    I want to meet this guy!

  38. ogechi says:

    The K-sisters are young. Grandpa Tim respect your busted ego head and leave ladies young enough to be your children out of your envious life.

    At least K-sisters bring life to so many homes, what value do you add? Are u not ashamed of yourself? You are older than their father, that’s basically why they ignore all your retarded comments!!!

  39. gg says:

    Good grief the slutty porn K sisters are not in the same universe as Tim Gunn. Pretending they are is hilarious !

    It’s like comparing Pavarotti to Chris Brown.

    And they are old enough to know how to be classy if they cared to. They are not young girls in any sense of the word. Their snatches have seen too much traffic.

  40. Lem says:

    “Lem, the shirt says Kate Spade not spa.”

    well, then we’re back to advertising by T or tacky logo T

    either way poor(inappropriate)fashion choice and not necessarily warranted for “This year – maybe more than ever – the women we serve are in dire circumstances. Women in Sudan, Nigeria and other countries where we work are reporting about the rise in food prices. Staples like rice and beans have doubled in about a year – leaving families hungry and wondering where their next meal will come from.”

    HERE HERE for overpriced women’s accessories! Um, how is that supportive?

  41. dude says:

    sudini calling someone black doesnt make a person racist!! I think people are overly sensitive & defensive when it is not always necessary! Tim Gunn does NOT have the right to judge anyone! Nor do I! But what he said was rude and not needed. They will have their bebe line without him. Actually its probably beneficial if anything, gets their name out there even more! So thanks tim your helpful after all.

  42. TaylorB says:

    “At least K-sisters bring life to so many homes”

    If by ‘life’ you mean crabs then yes, yes they do.

  43. gg says:

    dude what you have said is far ruder than anything Tim Gunn said.

    And calm down, you are overexcited over nothing.

  44. princess pea says:

    dude, are you this upset by any and all fashion commentary? What I hear you saying is that you don’t think anyone should comment on anyone else’s clothing, designs, taste or actions. Maybe stay away from fashion-related threads if it is so upsetting to you.

    ogechi – Can you honestly not tell what value some people find in Tim Gunn? He brings sartorial joy to many of us, just peruse the comments and see all the responses in his favor. Also, I wonder if you write off all older individuals as irrelevant… Meryl?

  45. Icecat says:

    Exactly; Calm Down Dude. You’re Freaken…

    BTW – He is not judging them, he is giving his ASKED opinion on their fashion sense…

  46. Rachel says:

    Wow. So controversial. And yet, the first thing that came to my mind was how much I’d love to have a slumber party with Tim, Heidi and Michael. Can you imagine how much fun that would be! That bitch Nina would NOT be invited. You can tell she’d be a buzz kill.

  47. valerie says:

    y r people defending the kardashians? i will never understand..

  48. Kim says:

    Hes right. They dress and act like two bit hookers. They are white trash gold diggers. And they are way to big to wear the skin tight stuff they sausage their bodies into esp. Chloe. It has nothing to do with being young. There are plenty of young classy starlets out there with REAL talent not a reputation built off their sisters porn tape.

  49. Kim says:

    You cant compare Project Runway with people who have REAL talent competing vs. Kardashian show where all you see is how vapid these girls are 24/7. No comparison.

  50. bros says:

    Dude: the kardashians are not youg girls. they have babies, are married, etc. also, they set themselves up as tastemakers, and so, are fully available for people to state their opinions about them, positive or negative.

  51. notgaga says:

    Dude,

    Maybe lay off the caffeine in the morning. When one opens a store, markets a line of clothing and sells a reality TV show one is submitting to judgement. Tim didn’t comment on the show,their childraising or their romantic lives, he commented on the clothes and how they wear them–all within his realm of expertise. As someone who has taught fashion design for decades, written a book on style and is a paid consultant on style, he will be asked his opinion; has every right to give it and the credentials to back it up. If your aesthetic is different, then c’est la vie.

    BTW, saying you have relatives who are gay doesn’t make you not-homophobic. You can’t pick your relatives–just like they didn’t pick you. Your first post came across as homophobic, as if you were disallowing Tim’s opinion because he’s gay. If numerous people are misreading you, then the mature way to respond is to wonder why you came across that way, say what reasonable thing you meant and then apologize if you gave offense. But then again, I’m “old” and don’t know anything.

    Noway, I find it hard to believe that there is anywhere in the US were one would not see people with Middle Eastern (or Armenian) features. You are right that they don’t fit the seeming preference for blonde anorexic beauty in TV and cinema, but I think Tim was referring more to the way they carry themselves and dress.

  52. I love you, Tim Gunn.
    Are we still on for Goodwill shopping later this week?

  53. Icecat says:

    @Kim – THANKS!!

    I couldn’t have said it better myself 🙂

    The folks on Project Runway are very talented people.

  54. Sudini says:

    @Dude – you missed my inference. You’re right, calling someone black certainly does not make someone racist. My point was that to use any descriptor when it’s irrelevent and for no other reason than to look down on someone is a passive-aggressive attempt at an insult. And maybe you didn’t realize you were doing it, I don’t know. But it’s important to point these things out.

  55. Tess says:

    Tim nails it.

    Udderly.

  56. dude says:

    notgaga: Just b/c I dont seek out gay friends to prove im not a homophobe doesnt mean I am one! Everyone is saying im excited & over reacting! Your the one writing a book & responding to every post i make. Whose excited now?? Im sorry, next time i will tip toe around everyones sensitive feelings! Dont want to put anyone into a tizzy!
    Oh & last time I check kardashians didnt go on Project Runaway so they arent asking for timmy’s advice!

  57. Popcorny says:

    Dude! I think I know why you are getting called excited! I will tell you!
    It’s the emphatic exclamation marks! They add a certain energy! It’s almost like caps! Just not so loud! Very vigorous!
    Just wanted to let you know!
    Carry on!

  58. Icecat says:

    @Popcorny – You just made my afternoon!!!!!!!!!

    LOL 😀

  59. GatsbyGal says:

    Arrghh, Popcorny, you beat me to it!

  60. Chana says:

    Tim Gunn is truly hilarious. Those Kardashians really are just tawdry tarts who got famous because one of them has a sex tape. That’s all. They dress like hookers everywhere they go and act like the world should respect them for their “hard work”.

    dude probably had a bit too much caffeine this morning.

  61. lisa says:

    I don’t care what anyone says.. I love Tim.. LOVE HIM. I saw the show and he was just so perfect..

    I am tired of these dlist people getting attention for nothing.. NOTHING. but to each his own..

  62. juiceinla says:

    Calling the Heir Apparent to Mr. Blackwell: Tim Gunn, Tim Gunn, come accept your rightful place as the new present and forever king of good taste!

    Cheers! Swoon!

  63. Hahaha the comments here are always awesome. So is Tim Gunn.

  64. Lady D says:

    @ Peach,
    Can I please ask Peach, what do you do for a living? I sincerely hope you are a teacher or life skills coach or motivational speaker, or something along those lines. Your thoughts need a larger audience than one blog (even one as great as Celebitchy) can give them. Mostly because some people still have a lot to learn. Would you be a therapist/shrink type person? None of my business I know, and you’re certainly free to respond that way,just curious about how you garnered your insights.

  65. Camille says:

    I didn’t think it was possible, but I love Tim even more now!

    And what the hell is up with Kim K’s face? She’s definitely had more work done. She is starting to look weird. Not hot at all.

  66. gg says:

    lmao @ popcorny!

  67. Maritza says:

    I love Tim Gunn, he is so articulate, poised and proper.

  68. ohsofabulous says:

    Not impressed by them or their clothing. I have never watched their show either. However, from what I have read about them, I don’t understand the fascination
    With them. But I do have 1 question, I wonder if their dresses come with complimentary butt pads?

  69. TG says:

    Something tells me Tim Gunn is not the Kardashian’s target audience. I like thier show and think they have a unique beauty. I don’t always like what they wear. I am not in to that look Kim and JLo go for, but she doesn’t always dress that way. Give her time, she isn’t even 30 yet.

  70. mags says:

    if you are a writer, designer, artist, etc any kind of feedback is good feedback. in my experience, rough criticism can be really hard to take but in the end its usually the most beneficial.
    honestly, to have tim gunn give you free critiques of your clothes is an HONOR, no matter what he says. b/c you know it’s legit and you can use it to make your stuff better. that seems to be what the K(can’t spell) sisters response was. which makes me actually respect them some.

  71. For Sooth? says:

    I love Tim as the weathervane of decency. He recently made his opinion known about someone else that I just can’t put my finger on right now but it was spot on. I’m sure it was about another fame whore without talent. It may have been about Paris Hilton.

  72. CeeCee12 says:

    The only reason we know these famewhores is because one of them got screwed by the guy from For the Love of Ray J.

    I never realized they had fans. I thought we all agreed to mock them.

  73. ogechi says:

    @CeeCee12:

    You said mock them? I can’t believe this! Mock them for looking nice and making waves or mock them for what? This is funny.

  74. blue_planet says:

    I happen to think Kim is very beautiful, however as with all beauty, you can cheapen it, or enhance it

  75. Alexa says:

    @dude said that he had gay relatives. I have a gay sibling and used to hang out with her and her friends all the time when we were younger (teens & twenties). Perhaps because some gay people refer to other gay people as “gay” or “queen” or “fag” all the time, we just kind of pick it up without a thought. Kind of like the “n-word” – it can be ok for two black people to call each other “n-word” – but never a white person to call a black person “n-word” (supposedly). That’s my thought on the matter. 😉

  76. Amy says:

    Yea he’s right. Those girl’s are vulgar, from their powder pasted faces, thickly lined brows to their publicity stunts.

  77. mosesc says:

    Always support tim gunn~~~

  78. Alice Winfree Bowron says:

    @mosesc “Always support tim gunn” – amen, me too, ALWAYS. Tim is brilliant and not impressed by stupid fads or inane eejits with no talent, only impressed by real beautiful style. The man reads and speaks and thinks for himself – BRAVO indeed.