Gunn's anti-Trump tack winning him a fan base

People love to love Tim Gunn.

The elegant mentor of Bravo's "Project Runway" has built a following as a reality TV anti-Trump: Instead of bullying the show's aspiring designers into submission, he is the gentle voice of reason encouraging them to — here comes the catch phrase — "make it work."

"I'm thrilled by the fact that people like my seriousness, like the support that I bring to (the fashion industry) and the fact that I believe in it," the 54-year-old told The Associated Press in a recent interview.

Gunn, the chief creative officer at Liz Claiborne Inc., brings his sartorial expertise to a new makeover series, "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style," premiering Thursday on Bravo.