I've met corporate executives who come on the show wearing baggy pants and t-shirts and the two of us look at each other and wonder, 'What are these people thinking? I mean, how could you not be aware that what you wear reflects how you feel about yourself? The show isn't about being mean to people or making fun of them, although that is one of the reasons why it's fun to watch," Kelly notes.
Both Kelly and London agree that "What Not to Wear" is about helping people shine: using fashion to project confidence, poise, and character. We've all heard the maxim "you are what you eat." Well, for Kelly and Clinton, you are what you wear. In addition to the shopping spree and good advice given by the hosts, guests also receive a free makeover and hair cut. Basically guests get a total image makeover: which has led to a barrage of women banging down the doors of TLC aching...
Fashion design and haute couture still have their place on reality television and in professional circles but the majority of women in the UK and in the U.S. fill their closets with more mundane numbers: outfits suitable for work, after-work cocktails, or dinners out with friends. "What Not to Wear" is also not going to enlighten viewers about designer fashions. The outfits London and Kelly put together for guests sometimes seem deceptively simple.
Kelly puts it more bluntly. "What many people love about the show is how we downplay name brands. Our focus is on helping people craft an affordable, simple yet sophisticated wardrobe. If you want to learn about Prada and Gucci, go somewhere else."
