Rant of the day: Gok’s Clothes Show
Gok Wan and Alexa Chung have a new TV programme starting this week called Gok’s Clothes Show. I know Alexa and Gok are the nation’s sartorial sweethearts but really, there is such a thing as overexposure. Our TV channels need to get a bit more creative with their choice of presenters and content. Can’t we have some new blood? Does every Sunday supplement, website and fashion weekly need to have a swimwear-to-suit-your-shape feature ghost
written by Gok?
Here’s an idea, how about an intelligent programme about fashion rather than the tired old celebrity and makeover formula – surely by now we all know that dark colours are slimming and boot leg jeans flatter heavy hips? And there must be other well-dressed people out there than flipping celebrities? Another thing, fancy calling it Gok’s Clothes Show! There’s only one Clothes Show and that belongs to my beloved Caryn Franklin. (That said, I’ll still be watching it on the iplayer – I’ll report back on my findings.)
Update: OK, I’ve just been Googling and it looks like the programme is now called Gok’s Fashion Fix. Probably because they realised that The Clothes Show was there first and Caryn and co might sue their asses.
22 June, 2008 @ 7:16 pm
I love caryn franklin! She is seriously awesome and the clothes show would have been too annoying without her. I’m not looking forward to goks show much because it seems he says things like ‘look! prints are in for spring!’ and shows a few videos of catwalks (where they don’t even state the designer) and women just take this on face value, get out any old printed top they have, and consider it the word of fashion. Then he shows a print that would flatter ‘flat chests’ and ‘curves’ and voila. It all seems so dumbed down and served on a plate with no creativity or personal style factored in.
22 June, 2008 @ 7:26 pm
Exactly Selina, that’s what I was trying to say but you articulated it better!
22 June, 2008 @ 8:01 pm
I am sorry but for love or money I cannot stand this man – he is so irritating. The show looks semi interesting and I will be tuning in. Aside from a similar name, I do not think this bears much in relation to the original Clothes Show which is on Living (well the last time I looked it was) it is just another rehash fashiony reality show. As for presenters, Channel 4 always rinse out the same presenters for years on end till they get tired of them. Hence Alexa Chung. I am still waiting to see ‘The Devil Wears Primark. What happened to that?
22 June, 2008 @ 8:50 pm
I totally agree. Not interested in alexa (yawn) or Gok ( since i read an article about him making the professional models cry on ‘how to look good naked’) or what they tell me to wear. Honestly, give me trinny and suzannah or even lisa butcher and mica paris!
Anyway aren’t they all just turning us into fashion victims?? all black tights and waist clinching belts around our armpits? no thanks
I reckon ‘the devil wears primark’ will air after this investigation is shown tomo night on BBC 1 Panorama about child labour.
PS love the blog. Thanks.
22 June, 2008 @ 10:23 pm
Here here!! Do you know what else really gets my goat? it’s slightly off topic but Kelly Osbourne presenting project catwalk! Arghh, makes me mad!! What next – Peaches Geldolf lecturing fashion students at Central St Martins? Please tell me she hasn’t done that?
P.S Thank you for tagging me!! I will definitely post tomorrow. I have been slacking the past week, getting back into the swing of office working has really taken it’s toll…xx
23 June, 2008 @ 9:51 am
As well as the celebs, they’re doing a street style thing where they go around the country getting the most stylish people they find in each city to do a bit of catwalking, and then choosing a winner from each.
Surprisingly, they’re not all dressed in Kate Moss for Topshop and Urban Outfitters, either, though the shock factor is still there. Rave girls and goths and stuff.
23 June, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Love you opinion spot on – in fact somewhat too restrained! Love everyones elses unfetted views. Yep get the project catwalk issue too.
So fashion fix intro
Gok – hey girl lets get your bangers sorted
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Oh girlfriend who took yours away
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Ok lets get down and look at how to fix your lumps and bumps with a great fashion mix (gives a once over at Alexa)
Alexa – Ha ha yes lets (looks seriously at her hips as if there is a bump that need fixing whilst twiddlying with long necklace).
23 June, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Love you opinion spot on – in fact somewhat too restrained! Love everyones elses unfetted views. Yep get the project catwalk issue too.
So fashion fix intro
Gok – hey girl lets get your bangers sorted
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Oh girlfriend who took yours away
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Ok lets get down and look at how to fix your lumps and bumps with a great fashion mix (gives a once over at Alexa)
Alexa – Ha ha yes lets (looks seriously at her hips as if there is a bump that need fixing whilst twiddlying with long necklace).
23 June, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Love you opinion spot on – in fact somewhat too restrained! Love everyones elses unfetted views. Yep get the project catwalk issue too.
So fashion fix intro
Gok – hey girl lets get your bangers sorted
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Oh girlfriend who took yours away
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Ok lets get down and look at how to fix your lumps and bumps with a great fashion mix (gives a once over at Alexa)
Alexa – Ha ha yes lets (looks seriously at her hips as if there is a bump that need fixing whilst twiddlying with long necklace).
23 June, 2008 @ 9:57 am
Love you opinion spot on – in fact somewhat too restrained! Love everyones elses unfetted views. Yep get the project catwalk issue too.
So fashion fix intro
Gok – hey girl lets get your bangers sorted
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Oh girlfriend who took yours away
Alexa – ha ha
Gok – Ok lets get down and look at how to fix your lumps and bumps with a great fashion mix (gives a once over at Alexa)
Alexa – Ha ha yes lets (looks seriously at her hips as if there is a bump that need fixing whilst twiddlying with long necklace).
23 June, 2008 @ 11:37 am
Spot on. Gwok’s biggest fan in our house is Leyla, she is 7 so thats about right.
My gripe about these programmes is that they focus on a couple of show stopping outfits that look good on, when seen on the box, hence the clothes are often bright heavily patterned and garish. I feel that more effort should be made to educate and devlop a personal style, not a one hit wonder. I am sure many people revert to old ways a year on.
The person I most admire currently on the box is Mary Portas, I often think it would be interesting to see what she could do with this format. Finally, yes, Caryn Franklin was fantastic and I wish someone could bring her back.
23 June, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
Could not agree more. I’m sick to death of those makeover/how to dress shows they all seem like the same show but with different presenters. Well, sometimes different presenters.
And don’t even get me started on that Gok Wan, what’s he even famous for anyway? Giving no-brainer fashion advice? There’s much more to fashion than just blindly following trends
23 June, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
I’m not really a fan of the whole Gok thing though I’ll probably take a little peek at the show just to see what it’s like.
23 June, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
Caryn Franklin does do the clothes Show with Louise Redknapp on some digital channel
23 June, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
What makes me go ‘huh?’ is how the girls he makes over are always so *surprised* when they see themselves in public places in underwear. It happens EVERY week.
(but I do think I’ll watch it)
24 June, 2008 @ 10:07 am
I haven’t watched this but I’m not a fan of either the Gok or the Chung…. Gok especially irks me with his boob grabbing antics…. Disneyrollergirl: A SERIOUS fashion programme is on its way I believe on the BBC… I was gutted because they asked me to be a part of it but I turned it down because I thought it was fashion tv fluff…
24 June, 2008 @ 12:13 pm
Well, what a heated debate! I don’t really have anything against Gok or Alexa per se. I have worked with Alexa in the past and actually, she’s a great girl – professional, creative, clever, quite lovely in fact. And I don’t blame either of them for doing this project, you’ve got to take what’s on offer after all. I know this progamme talks about going out to find Britain’s best dressed person on the streets but I’ve heard that their findings leave much to be desired. I’m prepared to eat my words though.
My main issue is that the channels are so unimaginative. They just jump on the latest bandwagon and trot out the same old formulas (formulae?) both content and presenter-wise. It’s so predictable!
Mary Queen of Shops is about the only good thing on TV because Mary herself is a force to be reckoned with, has been doing this job for decades and is a real expert in her field. Sorry Gok but I’d never heard of you (or for that matter Nicky Hambleton-Jones) before you were on telly and I’ve been working in fashion for a long old time. It just irks me that the bods in charge of TV can’t be innovative or take a risk once in a while. Oh for a fashion version of The Culture Show which could be populist but innovative at the same time – can it be that hard? Interesting that Susie mentions this BBC offering (Susie can you not re-approach them?), maybe it will be something watchable.
24 June, 2008 @ 1:18 pm
I hate the way on these shows they have back up every statement with a few pictures of celebrities(mostly 10 years younger)! Do people really want to look like Kate moss or Gwen Steffani anyway??The person they end up making over usually ends up looking like a fashion victim! What happens to them the next fashion season?!
24 June, 2008 @ 11:53 pm
I totally agree, although I love Gok Wan he is on TV a lot lately.
Less said about Alexa, the better.
2 July, 2008 @ 3:53 pm
Alexa, so judgemental of everybody she talks to on tv, always trying to put them down without them noticing. Do you think after sex she makes a sly comment about her boyfriends performance and hopes he doesn’t notice, but the audience at home do and they all think she’s cool for doing it, then she remembers, there is no audience, pretty much in the same way that there isn’t an audience for most of her programs. Can you tell i fancy her.