Tim Gunn

( Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times )

Tim Gunn spent many years laboring in relative obscurity on the faculty of the Parsons School of Design before becoming the on-air mentor to the competitors on "Project Runway," starting with its initial season in 2004. Gunn, 58, subsequently landed a gig as creative director at Liz Claiborne; starred in a Bravo spinoff, "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style," for two seasons; and wrote two books, with a third, "Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible," scheduled for publication this September. He has made guest appearances on sitcoms including "How I Met Your Mother" and "Gossip Girl" and is a host of ABC's daytime talk show "The Revolution."