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 THE AMBASSADOR
Queer Eye’s Clothing Guru Has Turned Into A Mini-Mogul, With A Fun Style Guide And A Movie To His Credit. But It’s In Middle America Where He’s Making A Real Difference.
Carson Kressley is on the move—literally.
The week after his new book, Off The Cuff,
came out, he is hurrying down Bleeker
Street in New York, talking to me on his cell. He has just
come from making over, of all people, Tony Danza—
“craziness” he calls it—as Queer Eye is obviously
planning new ways to keep people tuning in as the Fab
5 continue with their mission to make over the world.
(Carson later reveals that they are going to Australia
and England to shoot some international episodes.)
INSTINCT: Carson! My sister in Texas wants me
to tell you that she loves you. I almost thought she
was going to start crying when I told her I was
going to be chatting with you. She’s even more
excited that you’re an equestrian, because she
owns and rides horses herself.
CARSON KRESSLEY: That’s great. Do you know
what kind of horses she has?
Um, ones with hooves. No, I don’t know the
breed. Well, I don’t get to compete very often and
I never get to practice, which is a little scary, but
I was at the World Championships in Kentucky
this year, and I showed two different horses, and
I got a prize with both of them, so I was really
happy. I try to get on a horse as often as I can, but
my schedule doesn’t allow for that much these
days. [Somebody in the background says something
to Carson] Hi. Oh, you are? Good to see you. Bye!
[He’s back on the phone with me] Some lady from
Omaha. [Laughs] I’m big in the Midwest.
Not just the Midwest. I know that straight girls
are always on your tail. Yeah, I’m a total chick
magnet. If I was straight, I’d be getting lucky all
the time. It’s ironic, don’t ya think? But it’s a small
price to pay to be able to go shopping all the time
with somebody else’s credit card. [Somebody else
shouts at Carson] Hiiiii! [Back to me] Girls love
me, by the way.
I can tell. I guess I should just get used to that
happening during this conversation. The
icing on the cake, though, is that I really do get
to help guys. The show and my new book may
seem superfi cial, but those emotions you see on
the show…they’re genuine. It helps people feel
better about themselves. And for me, growing up
gay and different, I didn’t always feel great about
myself. But now that I’ve found my place, it’s nice
to help people feel better about themselves as well.
Aside from the ladies from Omaha, when a 16-
year-old boy comes up and tells me that the show
has allowed him to broach the subject of being gay
with his family and has made it at least okay to talk
about, that’s the most gratifying thing.
Do you ever cover up and pull the Hollywood
starlet moves when going out in public? Not really.
I sort of like the attention. I’m a total people person.
But when I do, I usually wear the baseball cap and
some big Jackie O. sunglasses.
Are baseball caps allowed? I don’t remember reading
in your book that they are allowed. They are, they are.
They’re in the chapter on acceptable hats.
Okay, so how do you hide the fact from the ladies
in Omaha, which is going to be our code now for
Middle America, that not all gay men are stylish?
That’s a great stereotype to have, that everyone’s
stylish and has a well-decorated apartment, but we all
have gay friends that can be affl icted with bad tastes.
Bad taste does not discriminate against race, creed,
gender or sexual orientation. [Laughs]
In the guy department, do you have a type? As
long as they’ve got all the hardware, and a pulse,
I’m pretty much into them. [Laughs] No, I’ve
dated all kinds of guys. There are lots of things I
fi nd attractive in all types of men. But I defi nitely
go through phases. I went through my Harleydriver
phase, my professional wrestler phase, you
know, the usual ones.
Well, we both have a thing for hockey players. I love
hockey players.
When was the last time you went to a game? When
I was up in Canada making the movie [The Perfect
Man], I went to the Stanley Cup. It was Tampa and
Calgary. Who even knew that Tampa had a hockey
team? What are the odds? But I wanted the Flames to
win, obviously. [Laughs]
If we’re basing our loyalties to sport teams based
on names, give me the Giants any day. Yeah, size
matters. Although I do like the Red Sox, just because
they’re named after a fashion accessory.
What about the White Sox? They’re fine, but they’re
not as cute as the Red. I also like the Packers. Hold
on one second, I’m about to have my picture taken.
[Carson: “Do you want it taken all together?” Lady:
“I don’t mean to bother you.” Carson: “That’s no
problem. Parker, hold on one second. Where are you
from?” Lady: “Chicago.” Carson: “Oh, I love Chicago.”]
Hey, Parker, I’m back. Another one from the Midwest!
Theylove you! We allknowyou’re gay, gay, gay. What’s
your“straightest” trait? Having sex with women! No,
just kidding. Wait, what do I do that’s really butch? Oh,
this is hard. [Pauses] Oh, you know what it is? I’m a
total gear-head. Anytime we’re making over a straight
guy and they mention cars, I can have a long in-depth
conversation about American muscle cars and hemi
motors and multipart engines. My dad’s a car dealer! I
even read Hemmings Motor News.
Wow. I love meeting other gay guys who can talk
cars. I have subscriptions to, like, six car mags.
When I’m back in New York and we have lunch, we
have a lot to catch up on. Cars, hockey, chicks. Oh!
I think in turn for making all those guys a little gayer,
their straightness is starting to rub off on me!
Have you ever given bad style advice? Yeah, in
eighth grade I told my friend it would be cool if he
wore parachute pants, and I’m just waiting for him
to write the National Enquirer any day now, exposing
me as a fashion fraud. “Carson dressed me as an extra
from Saved By The Bell!”
We know you get chicks coming up to you on the
street—what about straight dudes? Yeah, big, scary
guys who would have beat me up five years ago,
pulling up in their cars, saying, “Yo, dude.” I’m, like,
“Whaaaat?” and getting ready to run away. “We love
your fucking show.” Um, okay. I also get a lot of ladies
in airports saying, “Would you do my husband?” Lady,
what exactly do you mean by “do,” and is he hot?
Okay, last question: What was your biggest
accomplishment in the past year? Winning the
Emmy. That meant a lot to all of us.
I know you mention in your book that an Emmy
would definitely be too big to wear around your
neck, but you do wear it around your neck, right? I
did for a while. No, actually, I just stuck it on the hood
of my car, so now everyone knows which station
wagon is mine. —PARKER RAY
Carson wears:
Velvet Suit by VERSACE.
Silk shirt by TOM FORD FOR GUCCI.
Silk pocket square by HERMES.
Vintage silk cravat by WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND.
Watch by CARTIER.
Croc shoes by DOLCE & GABBANA.
Gloves by LOUIS VUITTON.
Fur collar part of a coat by MOSCHINO.
Cuffl inks stylist’s own.
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