TLC’s Clinton Kelly says helping people look better on the outside makes them feel better on the inside
By Tracy Ouellette
Staff writer
If there’s one thing Clinton Kelly, co-host of TLC’s “What Not to Wear,” has learned in the last nine years is that the people he and co-host Stacy London dress on the show benefit from far more than a new wardrobe.
“It’s never about the clothes,” Kelly said. “It’s about self esteem. It’s about showing people they deserve better. I keep in touch with so many of them and I’m just always hit at a ‘soular’ level how much their lives have changes. They tell me they got a new job, or found a new boyfriend or got rid of the jerk of a boyfriend they had before … It’s such a joy to hear how well they’re doing.”
Kelly says he wishes people would realize that what they see in the media isn’t real and wishes everyone would stop comparing themselves to the air-brushed, Photo-shopped, overly made up models that the industry uses to sell its products.
“Nobody is perfect,” he said. “We all have flaws. What you see in the media is not reality so you can’t compare yourself to that. Those models have been styled for hours. It’s all fake, it’s all BS and you can’t let yourself get caught up in that world – it’s not real.”
“You might as well be comparing yourself to your coffee table,” he added. “Actually, you should compare yourself to a coffee table, it’s more real than what you see in a magazine!”
“Your body is a wonderful vessel that carries your soul around; give it a break!”
Kelly’s passion for this is evident in his tone and says it’s the reason he’s spent nearly a decade changing the way people view themselves.
“There’s so much psychology to what Stacy and I do,” he said.
Kelly says he always finds it fascinating when he visits various parts of the country and takes in the fashion culture of each region.
The Midwest is one of the more conservative parts of the country as far of fashion goes,” he said. “It’s pretty casual, but not flashy. You don’t see a ton of bling. The east coast is all about labels. The west coast is very relaxed and the south has a style all its own. The south has a lot of bling.”
Kelly acknowledges that the tough economy has made it extremely hard for people to shop like they used to. He had several pointers for how to look fabulous on a shoestring budget:
No. 1 – Shop off season. If you’re really on a budget, shopping out of season. Buy your summer clothes when winter is approaching because everything is on sale. “Be the ant instead of the grasshopper and plan ahead,” says Kelly.
No. 2 – Hit the sale racks. “Shopping is work; style is work. You really have to get in there and dig around,” says Kelly Pass by the perfectly dressed mannequins, which are great for inspiration but always have the higher-end outfits on, and head to the back of the store where the discounted clothes are.
No. 3 – Use the latest trends sparingly to look current. “Trends help you look like you’re participating in modern society, but it’s mind-blowing how many there are each season. Pick one and rock that.”
No. 4 – Accessorize. Accessories are a great way to update your look. According to Kelly, neon colors are going to be huge this spring and summer. A simple plastic bracelet in a bold neon color is a fun and tasteful way to stay stylish and hip.
No. 5 – Look in your closet. Color blocking is the biggest trends of this spring and summer. Kelly says it’s nothing more than one color on top and different color on bottom. “Instead of a neutral bottom with a colored top, maybe you have a pair of colored pants from last year that you can add to that top.”
Kelly says looking good is as much internal as external and small changes and little additions add big impact to your state of mind as well as your appearance.
London and Kelly just wrapped up the ninth season of “What Not to Wear” last week. The show will begin airing next month on TLC.
Kelly, who is the spokesman for Macy’s, was in Milwaukee on Saturday, for the grand opening of Macy’s Southridge in Greendale. He says it’s been “the craziest month of my life” as he not only co-hosts the style makeover show, but is a member of the ensemble cast that hosts ABC’s new daytime talk show “The Chew.”
“I hope the chew lasts another 500 years,” he said with a laugh. “I wish everybody knew what it was like to go to work and cook and eat and laugh for hours straight. We have a blast every single day.”
Kelly has also written three books; the first, “Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That’s Right for Your Body,” he co-wrote with London; in 2008, he wrote “Freakin’ Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally be Better than Everyone Else” and his latest “Oh No She Didn’t!” was published in 2010.
Although he doesn’t have another book in the works at the moment, that will probably change as Kelly is a writer at heart, holding a master’s degree in journalism.
“I just haven’t had the time, lately,” he said. “I know some people in the business use ghost writers, but that’s just not me. Writing brings me such joy I want to do it myself.”
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