Fashion Innovator? Gok Wan Please step forward

Love him or hate him, this is the guy who is an uber flamboyant fashion stylist with 2 very successful TV shows- "How to Look Good naked" and my fave "Gok's Fashion Fix" (UK), especially the Fashion Face Off part, which we'll come to later. As one journalist put it “Gok Wan, the campest, gayest man to grace the nation’s televisions since Kenny Everett?” ... whose camp charm and smiley demeanour showed a man who really wanted to help. He is televisual Prozac."
Yup that's Gok, he's like a fashion fairy godmother, transforming the nation into better dressed people with his little fashion fixes and love for high street labels as well as instilling self confidence in those who lack it with the use of clothes. After all, that is how he transformed himself, back in the days when he 21 stone...

So i've heard some interesting & unpleasant things said about him when he's working off-screen, his personality & sometimes crude sense of humour, both of which can be taken a bit too far..., but aside from that there's really no one quite like him. I read a great article in The Times this morning, you have to check it out here. What do you think?

Anyhow, his Fashion Face-Offs on Gok's Fashion Fix are worth watching because you see him contend against talented fashion experts (Editors, stylists etc..) working with the same fashion trends given. Both have to dress their own models showing off their creations with 2 very different budgets on a Catwalk face-off.


Fashion experts work with luxury designer labels & budget (ie. incredulous, unlimited funds) and Gok works with a high street budget of usually around 300 quid. The audience then decides which looks they think is more expensive/like more. Usually ole Gok wins!

Here are some examples of his previous Fashion Face-off looks from his Channel 4 Show, " Gok's Fashion Fix", the new show starts on May 25th, it's a bummer i can't watch it over here though!
I love Gok's ability to literally transform a cheapo dress (one that isn't designer) into something way more exquisite looking with accessories and a little craftista on the sewing machine.

I pulled these images a long time ago and remember the show vaguely. I think the dress on the left was originally a River Island dress, but the hem was ruched up with some sewing and the dress may have been strapless number but he took the extra black fabric from the waist band, cut it off and twisted & folded it then tucked it into a separate waist belt for some jaw dropping Avant-garde action.
The orange dress on the right was one length before Gok took to the scissors and cut and asymmetric hem. The necklace was created with a bit of haberdashery... instant glamour!

I don't really know how i can explain what Gok did here in the playsuit on the left, but i remember it wasn't a halter neck for sure. That piece that's folded and pleated for the halterneck, was cut off from the playsuit, wish they still had the originally piccies from the 1 series to show you.

Sources & images via: Telegraph, Daily Mail, Channel 4

Super cool stylist: Kirsty Drury

For those who don't know this face, this is Kirsty Drury stylist to the stars who is fast gaining a brilliant reputation in the styling world. Having recently teamed up with Wonderbra, check out the OSOYOU interview below for all you need about the seasons new trend, Gok Wan and more!

OSOYOU interview

Stylist to the likes of Kylie Minogue, Claudia Schiffer and Cat Deeley, Kirsty Drury knows just about all there is to know when it comes to fashion. And just before she jetted off for a 10 day shoot in Cape Town, we managed to catch up with her to pick her brain on what’s hot this season, her favourite designers and all importantly, who she'd love to get her hands on next!

As Kylie Minogue’s stylist, you must have got to know her pretty well. Is she as sweet as she comes across?

"I have styled Kylie and she is wonderful. She has her own fantastic sense of style, but enjoys listening to a stylist's ideas too."

Who’s been your favourite celebrity to work with?

"Gok Wan. I'm the Fashion Producer of the Channel 4 series Gok's Fashion Fix. He is hilarious and his sharp tongue and quick-witted retorts have me crying with laughter. He has a great eye when it comes to styling."

Is there anyone in particular you’d love to get your hands and re-style?

"Angelina Jolie. I want to get her out of those sombre dresses and dreary colours she's recently taken to wearing."

Do you have a style icon?

"At the moment I'm into Betty Draper and Joan Holloway in Mad Men. Or Grace Jones."

As a stylist to the stars, you must get loads of freebies, what’s the best thing you’ve ever received?

"Jean Paul Gaultier gave me a pair of made to measure gold sequined trousers."

Where do you love to shop?

"Oxfam on Wesbourne Grove, Topshop at Oxford Circus, TKMaxx early mornings, Rellick on Golbourne Road."

What are your top 3 style tips for the new season?

"A strapless dress worn with long gloves and a dusting of gold glitter across the collar bone and shoulders. Black sheer tights, with a tiny spot print if you're daring, are the new opaques. Wear them with party dresses for a glam eighties vibe. Black glossy ankle boots with a cone heel will update any outfit."

Have you ever made a fashion faux pas? If so, what was it?

"In the late 80's tights didn't have so much lycra in them and tended to sag between the legs so girls would wear a pair of knickers over the top of their tights. This particular night all I had left in my pants drawer was a pair of huge white knickers, which I wore over my thick black tights and under a long black knitted skirt. The boy I really fancied thought it would be funny to lift my skirt up over my head as I was stood with a big group of people under a streetlamp and my fashion faux pas glowed big, bright and white and everyone just laughed and laughed at me. I never lived it down."

What’s in your handbag right now?

"I've just arrived in Cape Town for a ten-day shoot so my bag is stuffed from the overnight flight. In it is my Gucci sunglasses, Topshop pink fluffy socks, Korres lipgloss, yoghurt raisins, The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer."

Finally, what are your 3 can’t-live-withouts this season

"A Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless bra is perfect for under all those strapless dresses. It's so sexy it can even been worn on it's own with a high waisted pencil skirt or trousers for that underwear as outerwear look that is so now. Long leather gloves to go with 3/4 sleeved coats. Over the knee boots to wear with mini dresses or hotpants and tights."