"Project Runway" design mentor Tim Gunn unsheathed his most elegant weapon, his tongue, to dispatch the biting words a fashion magazine editor made about fat Minnesotans.

When he was here Tuesday, I asked him about Vogue editor Anna Wintour infamously averring in 2009 that after a trip to Minnesota she could "only kindly describe most of the people I saw as little houses." Gunn was at Bloomington's Mall of America to truly meet fans while autographing his new manifesto to civility, "Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work."

Gunn's response was the only time he looked even mildly perturbed during an exhausting evening that ran beyond its defined time because he signed every book brought forth by those with wrist bands.

"Repugnant, irresponsible, unkind, hideous comment," said Gunn. "I'm sorry, it is."

Gunn's not worried about the tiny terror, who is believed to have inspired the book "The Devil Wears Prada," coming after him in any way. "Nooo," he said gently. "Wouldn't that make the whole story even worse?"

Gunn and Wintour already had beef (suddenly an applicably recherche term in fashion circles due to Lady Gaga's Video Music Awards attire) because his book includes an anecdote about Wintour requiring bodyguards to carry her down flights of stairs at a fashion show. It may have been a Manolos thing. Wintour demanded a retraction but so far has only received flowers and a note from Gunn, who apparently witnessed Wintour being transported like royalty.

Signing well past closing

Wintour, who reportedly eschews sharing elevator space with regular people, could never have pulled off what Tim Gunn did at the MOA.

All the huggers got hugged. Most people received both an introductory and a departing handshake. He denied no photo request, signed items unrelated to his book and pleasantly began these unhurried interactions with What is your name?

Last time I saw a celebrity signing books late into the night, that person was comedian Chelsea Handler, but her people were moving them in and moving them out of the basement of Northrop at a good clip after her second show. Gunn's autograph session was set to run from 7 to 9 p.m., but by my watch it was 10:16 p.m. when he left the stage, feigning rubbery legs.

Dressed to impress

"He said we matched," Fox 9's Jason Matheson said after his time with Gunn.

They were easily the most beautifully attired men at the signing, as you can see at startribune.com/video (which includes no caricature of Wintour wearing horns -- although I thought hard about doctoring a picture to include one). If you could only see the impromptu dueling fashion shows on the Fox 9 set between anchor Tom Butler and Matheson, you'd know he always comes dressed to impress.

Yet Matheson begged to differ when I asked his significant person, Ryan Farrell, how much time Jason spent in front of the mirror before meeting the august Tim Gunn. "Oh, it wasn't me," said Matheson, who claimed Farrell was debuting a labor-intensive look while Susan Marler, wife of Fox 9 meteorologist Keith Marler, was debuting a new haircut.

"Tim Gunn is in my top 10 of people I would want to meet before I pass on," said Susan. "He's just so kind and sincere and a classy guy and I love him. There you go."

'Project Runway' reunion

Might have walked right by Christopher Straub, the Minnesotan on Season 6 of "Project Runway," had Gunn fans Rob Spikings and Jeffery Perkey not clued me in to Straub's new look.

At his Envision preview for his 2011 collection at 9 p.m. Friday at Minneapolis' Graves Hotel, Straub will be the guy in the blond hair. He still has that ribbony beard on the outskirts of his face (unless he changes it between now and then).

"I don't drink, but I would have drunk with [Gunn had they had dinner]," said Straub. "Special occasion."

From the way Gunn hugged and air-kissed Straub, you could tell their time together was a special occasion for him, too.

Advice on good manners

Some lovely parting gifts left Minnesota with Tim Gunn.

There was a handmade cashmere bow tie from a Minnesota guy whose name would be here if he spoke louder. Painter Vigee Blue whipped up a striking water-soluble oil portrait of Gunn. See www.mnartists.org/vigee_blue (and, yes, she renamed herself) because she's good.

I had my own etiquette gaffe story for Gunn to mediate regarding the new president of my N.C. undergraduate alma mater who never sent a thank-you note for two 2008 portraits I painted of her because I was so excited she got the job.

"I'm appalled," said Gunn, who advised me to find out if her office received them. Did that long ago. "Perhaps you should send a note saying you are no longer going to donate to the alumnae association," said Gunn, who then thought better of it and said I should take the high road instead.

Not doing that, and I'm also not wasting a stamp on this woman. At this point, she's only going to blame the U.S. Postal Service, although gossip has it she seems to have learned manners from the same place Anna Wintour picked up some of hers!

C.J. is at 612.332.TIPS or cj@startribune.com. More of her attitude can be seen on Fox 9 Thursday mornings.