“Project Runway” mentor Tim Gunn may hail from Washington, DC — but it’s New York City that he calls home. The reality show, which just premiered its 12th season, will again wrap at Fashion Week — what the sartorial expert affectionately refers to as a “fashion circus.” One of the reasons the former design department chair at Parsons still lives in the Big Apple is that it’s his creative muse. “There isn’t a single aspect of the city I don’t find inspiring,” says Gunn, 59. “I’m that person on the plane who has his face pressed against the window as it’s flying into JFK — just in awe of how staggeringly beautiful and phenomenal this city really is.” This is his New York.
1. Strand, 828 Broadway, at East 12th Street
“I’m a bookaholic! Some people go vintage clothes shopping — I go to Strand for used, and some new, books. I have bookshelves all over my apartment full of biographies, art books — I studied fine arts in college — books on architecture, interior design and, of course, fashion. I easily have several thousand books.”
2. Suitsupply, 453 Broome St., at Mercer Street
“Suitsupply is a horrible name, up there with Dress Barn, but it is my one-stop shopping destination for suits, ties, shirts, shoes and even socks! When I shop, it’s a surgical strike — I know what I want, I get in and I get out. I buy everything off the rack and have it tailored right there. I used to be a die-hard Bergdorf, Saks and Barneys guy, and I just couldn’t afford it. About a year and a half ago, I read a review about Suitsupply, and it said, ‘If you love Isaia and the European brands, this is the place to go, and at a fraction of the price.’ I haven’t been to Saks, Barneys or Bergdorf since!”
3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., at 82nd Street
“The Met is like my temple of solitude, and it’s only a 20-minute walk from my apartment. One of my favorite recent exhibits was ‘Impressionism, Fashion, and Modernity,’ which is now at the Art Institute of Chicago. It was filled with impressionist paintings I had looked at for most of my life, although looking at them through the eyes of the clothes in the paintings, they were as fresh as though I had never seen them before. It was quite a startling experience. I saw it three times!”
4. The Al Hirschfeld Theater, 302 W. 45th St., at Eighth Avenue
“I saw ‘Kinky Boots’ there before it won all those Tony Awards. I knew it was going to be a hit at the time. When I left the theater, I told the usher, ‘It has Tony winner written all over it!’ I love the theater, but I’m not a night owl. I’m usually in bed by 10:30 p.m. Grandpa needs his beauty rest!”
5. J.Crew, 10 Columbus Circle
“People only see me in suits on TV, but I do wear casual clothes, like jeans and button-downs, and J.Crew is my go-to store for those things. What you won’t find me in is cargo shorts! If I had a garden and needed to put tools somewhere, maybe I’d wear them. Cargo shorts are utilitarian and not even remotely fashion. They make your legs look wider than they are.”
6. Hearst Tower, 959 Eighth Ave., at 56th Street
“I love Norman Foster’s architecture, and I’m especially crazy about the Hearst Tower. The building is a landmark, so that’s why he built a modern glass structure on top of the existing base. If you just look at it at street level, you’d have no idea what was up above. Then once you’re inside, there’s a [three-story] waterfall that the escalator goes up. It’s just a breathtaking building from start to finish.”
7. Belvedere Castle, Central Park (enter park at Central Park West and 81st Street)
“When I was a kid, I was a Lego freak and loved building castles. As a grown-up, Belvedere Castle is like my childhood fantasy come true.”
8. Shawarma cart, 39th Street and Seventh Avenue
“I’ve been going to this cart with my colleagues for years now, and it’s absolutely delicious. I’m not squeamish about [street meat]. If it’s tainted, you will probably taste it immediately. And if there are a few germs in there that you may not encounter on a regular basis, it’s good for building antibodies!”
9. Porter House New York, 10 Columbus Circle
“I was introduced to it three years ago, and it’s become my favorite destination for lunch or dinner. I always get the New York strip steak for dinner and the roast chicken or the Cobb salad for lunch. Michael Lomonaco is a sublime chef — his food is extraordinary, and he’s very attentive to the diners. Also, the restaurant’s view over Columbus Circle and Central Park is spectacular.”