Tan France, is most well known for his starring role as the fashion expert on Netflix’s reality show, Queer Eye. Beyond that, he is the host of Netflix’s Next in Fashion, web series Dressing Funny, and his best-selling memoir, Naturally Tan.
He visited Temple University for a moderated discussion on On February 22, 2022, only his second public appearance since the Covid-19 pandemic. Before the event began, students were able to electronically send in questions to then be answered during the question and answer portion. Tan France discussed important topics such as diversity, representation, racism, Islamophobia, activism, his career, and of course, fashion.
This event was hosted by the Temple Main Campus Program Board. Our moderator was Dr. Scott Gratson, Director of Communication Studies at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communications. He is also an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and said he was so excited to interview Tan, someone he admired so much.
Important note- Tan discussed many other, aforementioned, important topics during his lecture, for the purpose of this article, I will be focusing on fashion. During his presentation, I took notes on everything that was said. I did my very best to make sure to accurately represent what he said and present those messages in this article. If you are interested in learning more about some of the other significant topics that Tan discussed, I recommend reading his memoir, Naturally Tan.
When the moderated discussion began to focus on fashion, Tan discussed how summer in Philadelphia is disgusting and ruins everything. Even on the day of this event, the weather was horrible. This transitioned to Dr. Gratson asking about the role of street style in fashion. Tan believes that fashion starts on the street, those trends go up to high fashion, then goes back down to street level.
Focusing on genders’ role in fashion and the comment about clothes having no gender. As a designer, he said there are things made for women’s bodies (meaning from a cis-gendered, anatomy point of view- factoring in boobs, butts, and wider hips) and other items of clothing that are designed for men’s bodies. There are items of clothing men can wear, but wouldn’t look good. Either way, if you wanna wear something, you should wear it. Non-binary people and women can enjoy clothes that actually fit their bodies correctly. No one should have to wear androgynous fashion. There is nothing wrong with clothes that highlight your body.
The question was raised about students defining their fashion and style with no money. His answer was high fashion is for the rich, but you can get fashion elsewhere. Fashion does not equal style! He doesn’t care much about fashion, it excludes people, honestly rich people just buy ugly things anyway. He believes less money equals a more interesting style because you have to work to find a good outfit. This challenges us as students to think differently. He also mentioned how, during his time filming in Philadelphia, that Philly thrift stores rock!
Dr. Gratson brought up an experience highlighted in Tan’s book. The story is about Tan working in his father’s denim factory when growing up and how that impacted his discovery of fashion. Tan said that this experience gave him a window into a world of fashion that no one else at school had. At home, he wore modest clothing, with this opportunity he got clothes from the factory to bring home and play with using his sewing techniques. Clothing gave him the opportunity to do something beyond a traditional job, like a doctor or lawyer. He described his goal, at seven years old, was to make women look hot!
In his university, he studied psychology but decided to drop out and sign up for fashion school. He did not tell his parents he switched over to fashion until his graduation day. His mother said ‘no son of mine would do something creative.’ Begged his mom saying ‘give me the chance I will work hard and be the most successful child.’ All of his extended family did academics, Tan said he became successful to prove them wrong, even before Queer Eye.
Question and Answer Portion
Student question– asking for general style advice, how to understand fashion and find his own style
Tan’s answer- Tan called the student up to the stage to personally help him! The advice he gave was to know your proportions, don’t drown in clothes, and crop tops can really help along getting legs. The focus should be more about how you wear it versus what you’re wearing
Student Question- What are your favorite and least favorite fashion trends?
Tan’s Answer- He said it’s really hard to give an answer because clothes are changing rapidly during this difficult time. Fashion is currently going through what happened in the 90’s. Once you have been through a trend, you look back absolutely shocked, thinking ‘I looked like that and wouldn’t do it again.’ He said he loves experimenting with style and will never criticize someone for experimenting with clothing. If he had to say a trend he hates, it would be Crocs. He doesn’t think people are getting in relationships wearing Crocs, and socks with Crocs would be the reason you are single. He also does not like low-rise jeans and definitely doesn’t want them to come back. On the other hand, he absolutely loves the comeback of 90’s, straight-leg jeans.
Conclusion:
Overall, getting to listen to Tan France was such an honor and a joy, I really learned so much from this experience. At the end of the presentation, Dr. Gratson and the entire audience declared Tan an honorary Temple Owl, with Dr. Gratsons final remark, “thank you for teaching us how to fly.”