Gok Wan (Gok’s Fashion Fix) Interview
If you happen to be walking down the street this summer, and an outrageously stylish, camp, forward gentleman rushes up to you, don’t be afraid. It’s likely to be Gok Wan, preparing to dissect your outfit for the TV cameras to relay to millions of viewers. So, come to think of it, do be afraid. Be very afraid.
Gok’s no-nonsense, straight-talking style, combined with an expert eye for fashion and a quick wit, have seen him become a stylist to the stars, and then a star in his own right. The presenter of How to Look Good Naked has secured himself a brand new series, Gok’s Fashion Fix, looking at fashion in all of its forms. Each show will take a passionate, insightful and often irreverent look at the news, views and don’ts-do’s of the fashion world. Here, the man himself reveals his fashion idol, the biggest fashion mistakes people make, and why we could all do with a little Gok in our lives.
You started off going to the Central School of Speech and Drama. How did you end up a stylist?
I left early, because I didn’t get on with the course very well. I bummed around for a little while, and then I went into hair and make up. I was a session hair-and-make-up artist, and I then learned on the job, really. I started working with a fashion stylist and loved what she did, and that kind of inspired me to do it myself. It was all by chance.
You’ve done a lot of styling to the stars. Have any of them ever refused to wear what you suggest?
Oh my God, every single one of them, at some point. You have the biggest arguments in a fitting, with everybody, whether it’s a model or a celeb or whoever. Of course, what I have to do is convince them that they’re going to look gorgeous and fabulous and feel wonderful in what I put them in. And that can sometimes take a bit of work.
So are you good at standing up for yourself in the face of a celebrity tantrum?
I’m absolutely fashion-committed, and very, very confident in what I do. But you have to be to do this job.
Who would you love to have the opportunity to re-style?
[Immediately] Justin Lee Collins, without a doubt. His dress code is terrible!
You’re poking around a lot of celebrity wardrobes in Gok’s Fashion Fix. Can you give an indication of who you’re featuring?
I can. Each week we’ll feature a new celeb – we’ve already got Geri Halliwell, Joan Collins, Mischa Barton and Kelly Osbourne lined up. I can’t reveal any more than that, you’ll just have to wait and see!
Was it difficult to persuade established stars to open up their wardrobes for scrutiny?
No, not at all, actually, we were really lucky. The format of the show is brilliant - a lot of celebs are exposed to so many different genres of fashion, but a lot of them never have the opportunity to talk about their own personal style, and how their image has helped their career. I think they’ve really enjoyed the chance to talk about the clothes they love, so they’ve all been really, really helpful, and come on the show and had some fun.
You’ve also got access to some top designers on the show. Who are you excited about featuring?
Well, fingers crossed, Vivienne Westwood. She’s my absolute fashion idol. She’s not been confirmed yet, but I really hope she does come on board. I absolutely love her work, so she’s my big one.
You’re also going to be helping people dress for less. Where can the bargains be found these days?
It’s not necessarily about the bargains, it’s about putting the clothes together for less. I get given £200 per outfit, and I have to style the whole outfit, including shoes and accessories, all the customising and everything else. We’ve got such a strong high street in this country, I think fashion is accessible to everyone. You’ve only got to walk down Oxford Street to discover that you don’t need thousands of pounds to buy a wonderful outfit.
Speaking of walking down the street, you’re going to be out and about on the streets too, aren’t you?
Yeah, it’s been great fun actually. We’re stopping people and analysing their outfits. It’s brilliant, you see so many different flavours, so many different styles, so many different walks of life. It’s a real insight into the way people dress. And it’s really interesting, I’ve discovered that geographically people dress differently as well.
So where do people dress the best and the worst?
Watch the show and make your own mind up!
Very diplomatic. In general, what do you make of British dress sense?
I think that we’re very fashion savvy. We’re very disposable. We’re quite fickle when it comes to our fashion. I think we dress well. But a lot of our fashion is governed by the climate. I think, on the whole, we get it right, but everyone needs to be Gokked a bit further.
When you’re out and about on the streets filming, if you meet someone who’s just got their outfit totally wrong, will you tell them?
Absolutely. I’m a fashion stylist first and a nice person second.
How do people tend to react to that?
D’you know, they’re fine. I’m never ever mean about it. I like to have a bit of banter with people. I often think if you tell someone that, say, their hair looks awful, but you give them a solution, they don’t mind.
What’s the worst thing about British fashion sense?
[Instantly] People who wear their mobile phone on their belts. If you’re not an electrician, you must never do it.
What else can we expect from the show?
Every week we’ll be showcasing the latest ‘must haves’, with all the latest information about the hottest things hitting the shops. We’ll do ‘Five of the best’, each week concentrating on a different type of outfit. So, for instance, the first week is floral dresses, and we’ll look at five of the best of them, in different price brackets. We’ve got the catwalk show, which is absolutely phenomenal, we’ve got hair, we’ve got make up. Basically, if you’d been swung around Joan Collins’ wardrobe three times and came out of it, that’s what we’ve got on the show.
You’re presenting with Alexa Chung. How are your roles different?
Alexa is going to go out there and interview some of the designers. And she’s also doing a strand of the show called Road Test, where she’ll be road testing different fashion products and she’ll be joining me in the studio every week as well.
And there will also be a live audience in the studio, won’t there?
There will be yes. I’m bricking myself. But it should be fun. It’s a real audience participation event. They’ll be getting involved, and we want their opinions and comments. It’s going to be a sort of Top Gear for girls.
You’re a stylist, and a very well-dressed man yourself. How big is your wardrobe?
I’m sorry, how big is my what? [Laughs] Twelve inches. [Laughs] I have a lot of clothes, put it that way.
What’s the most expensive item in it?
The most expensive? That would be a very expensive leather jacket, for about £5,000.
What’s your favourite item that you own at the moment?
Probably my watch. It’s a Rolex.
Have you yourself made any fashion faux pas that you’re now hideously embarrassed about?
Every single day of my life. You can always guarantee that tomorrow I’ll be appalled by what I’m wearing today.
How many times a day do you change your outfit?
Three or four times a day, normally. Depending on what I’m doing. I normally have to change my outfits for work. But I always change a minimum of twice anyway.
Could you give us some hints about what fashions are going to be big this summer?
Do you know what? There’s this great new show coming up on Channel 4. You should watch that. It’s got all of these really good insider fashion tips. It’s called Gok’s Fashion Fix.
Sounds brilliant. And I understand it’s got a very, very charismatic presenter?
Yes. And unbelievably fit too!
Yeah. It’s Alexa Chung, isn’t it?
Oi!
