FASHION REDUX
"What Not to Wear" TLC Cleans Your Closet
by J. Gregg Gautereaux
Are others laughing or pointing at your recent ensemble behind your back? Do you feel like the cuckold to your wardrobe's wandering fashion eye – the one that left you years ago? Get your fashion fix from cable channel TLC's resident fashion gurus Stacy London and Clinton Kelly seen on "What Not to Wear."
Your closet will magically appear with helpful sartorial suggestions, and you're sure to reap the rewards of these two gurus and their wanderlust for traveling to only the best fashion houses.
The co-hosts of WNTW stress that they do not try to demean each fashion victim's style, but that they humbly give each show's guest "alternatives" to their daily choice of garb. Though criticized by some for being rough on the customers (i.e., the guinea pigs getting all the free clothes!), the show co-hosts only mean the best for "client" and us the viewer. Plus, a little schadenfreud is always good for the ratings and good fun for us as we collectively say, "I wouldn't be caught dead in that."
The surprise "hook" of WNTW is sprung each episode when the co-hosts gather all of the offending articles of clothing and then exchange them for up to $5,000 worth of wardrobe upgrades. Not bad for two week's worth of being secretly filmed, suffering some good-natured barbs, and having it all recorded on a nationally broadcast show for friends and colleagues to enjoy.
And, to show that there are no hard feelings, the show throws in a free hairdo and some makeup tips to boot. The show works, for some maddening reason, and the fashion-victims are all, truly, better off because of their experience.
While reluctant at first (and who can blame them!), the fashion victims usually come around to the hosts' way of thinking – especially when they see all of the new clothes.
|
MORE ARTICLES 
VIEW ALL ARTICLES
