CARSON KRESSLEY
Designer/Author/Actor
Accomplished stylist, breakout television star, equestrian, author and now fashion designer Carson Kressley is out to make-over the world. Kressley is one of the stars of the hit original series “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy” for the Bravo Network. He is also a best selling author on the New York Times List for the “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy” companion book. His sharp wit and undeniable sense of style have made him one of the standouts of the show. Having won the 2004 Emmy Award for “Outstanding Reality Program,” the cultural impact of the show has proven to be been tremendous, helping to bring gay culture to mainstream American audiences. The show, which recently wrapped its fifth season, was also nominated for a 2005 Emmy Award in the same category.
Currently, Kressley recently launched, to great success, his new collection of women’s and menswear, Perfect by Carson Kressley, exclusively on QVC. Perfect by Carson Kressley for women includes career staples such as the quintessential navy suit and a tailored print blouse, along with casual wardrobe essentials like a tailored dark denim skirt and polo sweater. In addition, Kressley designed outerwear pieces such as a luxe leather jacket in camel and a trench coat perfect for those in-between days. For men, Perfect by Carson Kressley focuses on rich outerwear pieces, including bomber jackets, touring coats and vests that pair effortlessly with pullover sweaters.
Kressley made a cameo appearance as an elf in the 2006holiday re-make of “The Year Without a Santa Clause.” Kressley is currently working on show for Lifetime, “How to Look Good Naked,” scheduled to launch in January 2008. The show is a non-scripted BBC import. He recently co-starred in the film “The Perfect Man” for Universal in June 2005.
Last year, Kressley celebrated the release of his children’s book “You’re Different and That’s Super” for Simon and Schuster. “You’re Different and That’s Super,” touted by OPRAH, tells the story of a young pony who doesn’t quite fit in with his peers. Illustrated by Jared Lee, the book. 2004 saw the release of Kressley’s New York Times’ best-seller style-help guide “Off the Cuff” was by Dutton Publishers. Written in Kressley’s witty and energetic style, “Off the Cuff,” currently available in paperback, is an essential style guide for men and for the women who love them.
A longtime fashion guru, Carson Kressley began his career as an independent stylist, which lead to a long tenure with Polo Ralph Lauren in New York. At Ralph Lauren, Kressley worked on the design team of the men's sportswear division, then moved to the corporate advertising group. His responsibilities included fashion styling for the company's national retail advertising campaigns, as well as domestic and European men's fashion shows. He has also worked extensively styling catalogs for such retailers as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Bloomingdale’s, as well as editorial and film shoots. Kressley graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Gettysburg College with degrees in Finance and Fine Art. He is also an avid nationally ranked equestrian and a former member of the U.S. World Cup Equestrian Team.
In addition to doing his part in helping to bridge the gap between peoples of different genders and sexual orientations, Kressley is an avid philanthropist, championing a wide array of charities and organizations. A strong supporter of many gay rights causes, Kressley uses his celebrity to advance many different concerns such as the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club, for which he has hosted numerous charity events. He was also one of the hosts for the 2004 AIDS Walk in New York City and was a major donor in establishing the first college scholarship program for gay youth in his hometown of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Carson has also contributed his time to GLAAD (The Gay and Lesbian Association Against Defamation), Heritage of Pride, Inc., The Trevor Project and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network.) Also an advocate of medical interests and mental health causes, Kressley is a member of the Lay Advisory Board for the New York University Medical Center’s Mental Illness Prevention Center and recently participated in Katie Couric’s annual fundraiser for The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health in conjunction with The National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance. He recently donated his time to consult on a NYC shopping spree to the Dream Foundation, which enhances the quality of life for individuals and families battling terminal illnesses by granting dreams and wishes. Kressley is also a proud member of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Kressley currently resides in New York.
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