Tim Gunn: "I Don’t Want to Be Seen As Predictable"

The breakout star gives some insight into season eight of "Project Runway."

-Sarah Polonsky, www.BettyConfidential.com

If there is one man that knows how to put designers under rapid fashion fire it's Tim Gunn. But how does the mentor to aspiring stylistas really feel about the slew of young hopefuls he advises onProject Runway? "There are so many designers," Tim reveals to BettyConfidential. "Making rounds of the workroom takes forever. I end up feeling spent and exhausted physically and mentally."

This is not to say that Tim does not love his job. He does. This is why Tim has always made it his chief duty to assist each and every designer with his or her creations-until now. "I can divulge that this season has been the only time I haven't been able to make it around to all of the contestants the first round." Looks like season eight (airing on Lifetime July 29 th ) will be jam-packed!

How does a master teacher of clothing artistry get through to so many aspiring designers at once? "From 29 years of teaching I've learned to give students breathing room, even if they're out in the hall trash-talking me," he says. "There's a designer this season that takes it upon his/herself to walk around to designers after I give my critique and tell them whether I gave good or bad advice."

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However, this sort of cattiness never flusters the sophisticated Tim Gunn. In fact, when it comes to disgruntled designers who have a hard time swallowing his pearls of wisdom, he simply calls them out. "I have to say 'Listen to your own voice!' That individual is not responsible for your presentation of your work on the runway, you're responsible for your own."

If anyone knows about being responsible it's Mr. Gunn. The self-proclaimed "fashion therapist" also works as spokesman for the skin disease psoriasis. "Psoriasis affects how people present themselves to the world," Tim says. "Together we work on how to make their fashion work for them." Tim began this effort because his sister suffers from the disease. "My sister has it, it can be limiting." He offers up fashion advice and an understanding ear to other people dealing with the embarrassing skin discoloration caused by psoraisis on his own television show Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. "Manage your condition is my advice, and get to a dermatologist," Tim advises.

When it comes to advice, sometimes even the seemingly omnipotent Tim needs to turn to his colleague, Heidi Klum. It's only when neither of them can come to a decision that things become difficult. "Our intention for this season was to have 16 (contestants)," Tim reveals. "Heidi and I couldn't make up our mind when we got it down to 17. So, the first challenge is to determine who goes. The very first episode is like the end of the casting."

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Tim always seems to know just how to make everything work in the end. That must be why his catchphrase has fittingly become "make it work." He says it so often that, "I've become very careful with it," Tim claims. "I don't want be seen as a predictable. I only evoke the phrase when it is necessary and appropriate."

You can look forward to even more of Tim in the upcoming season than ever before. "I'm glad to have more on camera time to say how I feel about what happens."

The audience will be glad too.

Sarah Polonsky is a senior editor at BettyConfidential.