Why don’t many women know what to wear? AFAIK women spend a lot of time discussing clothes.
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Remember that that show is predicated on the premise of having London fashionistas apply their own particularized definition of “what to wear” to women who don’t travel in those same circles. This “prescriptive” view of fashion is certainly prevalent, but that does not mean that the presenters’ views are literally indicative of a one single “right” way to dress. However, there will always be an audience for shows, magazines, etc. that “tell” women how to: dress; use makeup; lose weight; get a man. Women seem to like to be told what to do (even when it’s phrased in terms of “you’re doing it all wrong!”).
The times I’ve flicked by that, the women under the microscope often started out wearing stuff that seemed pretty practical and appropriate to their daily chores and milieu (let’s say being a garden-mad mum of three in the Midlands). Which would make it inappropriate for jetting off to Tuscany or lunch at the Ivy (the hostesses’ more likely reference points). Or else they would be someone who’s put on weight and hasn’t quite figured out how to conceal it (because fashion tips for fat folk aren’t as glam as the latest news from the runway).
Finally, we can all agree that makeover shows of every kind seem to have a built-in audience. You can’t have an “after” without a much-derided “before.”
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I think this will do better in Cafe Society.
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Not all women spend a lot of time thinking about clothes and the ones that do, generall don’t wind up on the show. Many women don’t know how to wear clothes that flatter their body type. A short waisted person with long, lean legs shouldn’t wear the exact same clothes as a person with a long torso and short legs. Plus, a lot of women get stuck in a rut, pulling on the same old sweat pants and t-shirt everyday when grabbing a good pair of jeans and a nice casual top would be just as comfortable and lot more flattering. Or they keep wearing the same tapered jeans they loved in high school even though it’s 20 years later.
The UK What Not to Wear was excellent at teaching women what to wear for their body types and I thought was much more practical. The US version tends to get stuck in the same old rut of boot cut jeans, a camisole with a jacket and gets kind of boring. But it’s always interesting to see just how much better people can look if they wear clothes that fit and flatter their figures.
I watch the American show, although I find much of it tedious. At the beginning, I get to say, “Ew, she’s going out of the house in that?” Then there’s the part where the poor woman is given five thousand dollars, that’s nice. Then Stacy and Clinton say funny things about all her clothes while they throw them out, and the woman gets a chance to explain herself…interesting. Then the painful, horrible shopping process, ugh! This is the part I’m likely to skip. But then there’s the best part: The lady gets a haircut and some makeup and turns out looking a lot better than you’d think she could. Then she goes back to show Stacy and Clinton and all her friends…but I’ve wandered away by then.
I can’t say it’s changed anything about the way I dress, but it’s nice to see that it’s (theoretically) possible to make a big change for the better. Plus, I really like Clinton. 
I watch (the American version of) this show all the time.
Something I like about it is that the women on the show are generally chosen because the way they dress is interfering with or incompatible with their career. You get a lot of women who didn’t see anything wrong with wearing sweatpants or extremely revealing clothing to their office jobs.
The hosts really do know what they’re talking about, and they’re good at diffusing the whining that you get out of some of their “projects.” I do agree, though, that they tend to recommend the same types of things for everybody.
Plus, Clinton is nice to look at.
I watch the American version. I used to hate the criticism but they’ve either gotten gentler or I’ve gotten used to it. I like the rapport between Stacey and Clinton. I think it is cool that the women (and occasional men) do seem to grow emotionally when they are given the chance to focus on themselves and think about how they feel and want to be perceived.
I am not big on shopping or clothes either but it’s interesting how symbolic it can be for these folks.
That said, if I never hear “you can always wear a cami under it” again it will be too soon.
I used to watch the British version, and once I got over the snark factor I liked the show and found it to be full of useful wardrobe advice. I’ve changed my clothing shopping habits and things have improved as a result.
Having said that, I thought the Brit version rather goes the “pub-tart” route a bit. Some of the outfits they push the chubby women towards show a lot more tit than I would want to show, particularly at work.
I watch this show and usually end up saying “Wow!” out loud at how pretty the women turn out to be. The clothes choices are pretty good too. I think they are really trying to pound home the idea of how to build a basic wardrobe that is versatile but quality and stylish. Then they point out how to tweak it.
I’m a guy and I really wish they would do this show for men – I would nominate myself. I used to dress really well then, over the years, between developing a big shopping phobia and just not caring, I’ve become a total slob. I have basically 3 pairs of work pants (I work in really casual office environments) and 2 pair of work shoes (one hurts my toes).
Help!
Did anyone see Clint’s PBS special, where he’s shown going through the stress of renovating his CT vacation home? It was pretty good and I like the way he threw in a makeover for the the contractor, the stonemason and his dad (who helped with the work) at the end.
Although the show is skewed heavily toward women, they have done some amazing makeovers of men before–it’s all in getting someone to nominate you. Maybe a friend could be encouraged to send some pics of you to the show’s web site and see if they can get you on the show…
We’d all watch it and cheer! 
Pretty much, anyone who dresses poorly, is doing so for one of the following reasons:
- Popular fashion tends to be unflattering unless you have a perfect body.
- Stopped caring at some point.
- Lying to themselves about their real age or body type.
- Truly, no fashion sense or knowledge.
#4 is actually decently rare, though. Most people fall into one of the first three groups.
My biggest gripe is that they make the participant throw away all their old clothes. Yes, they give them $5 grand but then they take them to clothiers where it’ll cost $500 for one outfit. That doesn’t go very far, especially considering they’ve thrown away their knock around clothes in addition to everything else.
I appreciate that London gives them pointers on how to dress. But I’d like an acknowledgement that real people wear sweats some of the time.
And it’s okay.
They had this; it was called “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” And the contestants would get loads of cool loot.
Thanks, SmartAleq, I didn’t know that What Not To Wear had featured men.
I have never seen a moment of Queer Eye; it pandered to stereotyes too much for me (the ads I’ve seen).
I’d disagree with this. Certain fashions tend to be difficult for non-model types to wear but there are always alternatives that are flattering. (for instance, that loose, baby-doll silhouette that’s been so popular for the last couple of years looks horrible on me but I can still find tops that flatter me) That’s what the show is teaching people, how to pick clothes that flatter and so look fashionable.
5-4-Fighting, they used to feature the occasional man on WWNTW but they haven’t in several years. I think there still may be some before and after examples on the website tho’.
Dressing well is like anything else: if you want to get good at it, you need to work at it. Read up on how things should fit and what to look for in clothing quality. Peruse the occasional magazine to see what fits look current. If you like someone’s style, take note of what they’re wearing and look for similar things to try in stores. Pay attention to what’s in stores; if it’s become impossible to find high waisted, tapered “mom” jeans, that’s a pretty big hint that they’re no longer in style. Acknowledge that fashions to change over time and what looked great ten years ago, probably doesn’t any longer.
It’s not rocket science but it’s not completely effortless. Even the fashionistas who just roll out of bed, throw something on, and look fabulous, ppay a lot more attention to trends than they admit.
First off, they don’t always throw everything away–they let people keep stuff that’s flattering and within the rules. They don’t let them keep things that are a bad fit, bad colors and most especially stuff that’s worn out and has holes and such. Secondly, the contestants shop in New York City–and I’ve seen people shopping in bizarre Goth supply stores and little hole in the wall shops as well as big clothiers–and at the end when they do the reveal the voiceover gives prices on items and they are by NO means always high ticket. I’ve seen people score twenty dollar silk tops, fifty dollar stylin’ shoes–the main thing is that when they buy spendy items it’s almost always a foundation piece that can anchor many different outfits. For example, a classic trench coat is worth spending a good sum on because it doesn’t go out of style and quality matters in length of wear, same with good jeans or wool slacks or really nice classic boots.
Shoot, turn me loose with five grand in New York and I’d need to remodel my whole house to make room for all the stuff I’d have!
There was an alternative to hip-huggers while it was in fashion?
Well I’ll be darned… :dubious:
One of the things I don’t like about the show is that they’re very bad with certain types of bodies. They tend to do much better with women who are hourglassy or thin or both hourglassy & thin. Some of the “afters” with certain women have still had the same problem as their “befores” - the clothes just didn’t fit and didn’t look good (I saw one with an unalterable knit sweater that was obviously pinned on the makeover-ee’s back. The show, with its experts failed to find clothing for her, I’ve no idea how the woman was supposed to have done so on her own.)
Still, most of the time, they do a good job of getting people out of clothes that don’t fit and don’t flatter them into clothes that do.
Actually the problem is in how the manufacturers do the clothing.
To be honest, to get a shirt to fit me correctly, I need to be able to pick my neck size, my torso size and my arm length. No womens clothing is shopped like that. They assume because I want to wear a 3x [because I am actually a 2x that likes the torso to be loose and not sausageskin tight] I have gorilla arms, so the sleeves are a good 2 inches too long.
Short of going to a tailor and having everything made, I wear mens polo shirts in short sleeve. I would rather have a polo shirt for a woman that has long sleeves and fits my arm lenght and neck diameter.
In addition to what aruvqan said, you should also remember that the women pick out the clothes themselves. So if the clothes don’t fit, that’s the person’s fault, not the hosts’.