Clinton Kelly is a very busy man this weekend. On January 29, the style guru will be celebrating the 250th episode of the popular TLC makeover series, What Not to Wear, which he co-hosts with Stacy London. Then, on January 30, he returns as special correspondent for TLC’s revamped take on the Miss America pageant. But even with a crazy, hectic schedule, we still managed to steal him away for a few minutes.
Wow, what a milestone—250 episodes, that’s like forever in TV years!
I can’t believe it! I really thought we’d do 10 episodes of the show and get cancelled and I’d go crawling to my old boss and beg for my job back. [Laughs] I’ve been saying, “I gave that show the best years of my life!” I started at about 33 and now I’m going on 41—those were great years!
So how are you celebrating on the show?
There’s the typical makeover. A woman named Crizti was chosen because she exemplifies a lot of fashion mistakes all in one person. She had a couple of outfits that were a little bit slutty, a couple that were age-inappropriate, a couple that were full-on hot messes. And then on a double-decker bus we bring back a bunch of people who had been on What Not to Wear over the years for her ambush. She was sitting among all of them and had no idea. It was kind of corny, but cool.
What was it like to see those former fashion victims again?
It’s a blast and a little bit overwhelming. I won’t lie to you, when you’re confronted with 15 or 20 former contributors—it’s like, This Is Your Life.
Do you ever feel like your efforts have been wasted?
Oh, yes! Sometimes I want to kick them in the ass on the way out the door. [Laughs] But I never would do that because I’m a gentleman. You get out of What Not to Wear what you put into it and if you’re willing to take the advice, there’s no stopping you. But if you’re going to fight us every step of the way, then forget it, there’s no hope for you.
New episodes are airing until April—can you give us some highlights?
This year, the producers did a fantastic job in casting—I think that every single show is either really entertaining or really inspirational. There’s a woman named Annie, who is really interesting. She’s a motorcycle-riding lesbian mom. We also have a nudist.
So that episode is What To Wear?
She prefers to be naked and that’s cool, but she can’t do that, because she lives in New York, so we’re kind of teaching her how to look best when she has clothes on. It’s hard to convince someone that it’s important to have clothes on and look good in them when they’d rather be naked all the time.
You and Stacy have been at it now for nearly seven years—are you growing tired of each other?
Stacy and I have had ours ups and downs. We have an arranged marriage—we did not choose to do this show together, we were put together by producers and casting and agents and luckily we got along really well from the get go. We laugh our asses off—there’s not a day that goes by without a belly laugh and that is a good way to spend your life.
In 2008, you came out with a book called Freakin' Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else. How exactly did you become an expert on all things fab?
Being fabulous is so exhausting, I can’t even tell you. It requires constant attention to oneself. [Laughs] Honestly, growing up I wanted the exact life that I’m living right now. I envisioned it from an early age and created it—I’m an example of creative visualization gone right. I remember being 10 and thinking I was going to live in New York City and go to great parties and meet really interesting people and have a beautiful apartment and be in a great relationship and it happened!
Yeah for you, but what about the rest of us? Any suggestions?
You can’t be fabulous without dressing well and fit is the most important component. You could be wearing a $5000 Prada suit and if it’s too tight, you’re going to look like a stuffed sausage, and if it’s too loose, you’ll look schlumpy. Also, proper table etiquette—learn how to use a fork and knife well. I’ve been to dinner with people whom I thought were really fabulous and then the way they shovel food into their faces makes me want to puke.
Have you ever been guilty of a crime against fashion?
Absolutely. On What Not to Wear, I tied a coral sweater around my waist, but I only did that because I had a stain on my pants. But the biggest fashion faux pas of my life was definitely my Z Cavaricci jeans, which were pleated, tapered and acid-washed—and I thought they were so cool.
You are in Las Vegas for the Miss America pageant…
Yes, on Friday, I’m hosting a special [Miss America: Behind the Curtain airing on TLC, 10/9c] And, then I’m a special correspondent for the Miss American special itself.
What does that job entail?
I don’t even know yet, to be honest with you. It’s behind-the-scenes stuff, so I’ll grab the girls as they come off the stage. I’m sure I’ll be talking to some of the girls as they are eliminated, which is always fun, because they’re nice and bitter.
Have you always watched the pageant?
It was a little bit dorky, but when I was about 8, I would write down all the state names in alphabetical order in a legal pad and when the contestants would come on I’d give them a rating and see if my top 12 matched the judges. I was a really freaky kid like that. [Laughs]
by Megan Walsh-Boyle
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