Food & Drink

Words of Wisdom from Clinton Kelly

By Seattle Mag November 7, 2013

ck2

!–paging_filter–pIf you’re into current fashion and watch TV, it’s hard to imagine you’ve never heard of a href=”http://clintonkelly.com/” target=”_blank”Clinton Kelly/a, a smart, sassy and totally honest New York-based style expert, perhaps best known as the co-host (with Stacy London) of TLC’s “a href=”http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/what-not-to-wear” target=”_blank”What Not to Wear/a” and most recently, on ABC’s “a href=”http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew” target=”_blank”The Chew/a.”/p
pKelly was in Seattle recently for a Help Me Clinton event at the downtown a href=”http://www.macys.com/” target=”_blank”Macy’s/a (for whom he is a brand ambassador) for a fun and very well attended trend presentation. I had a chance to sit down with Kelly for a few minutes before the event and shared a thoroughly enjoyable chat about what to wear, when and how./p
pLet me say one thing before I continue with the meat of our convo. I have had the privilege to chat with many fashion designers and fashionable celebs and sometimes they’re amazing and inspiring (DVF comes to mind) and sometimes they seem like they’re on pills (no comment), but Mr. Kelly was an absolute delight. He was articulate, intelligent and present. He answered my questions with thought and his commitment to helping to make women look and feel good was evident. Anyway, I really liked him and wish that we were best friends./p
pHe started out talking about fashion pet peeves, which I figured he’d have a lot of (I was right). A biggie: athletic trainers used as fashion foot wear. Those sneaker wedges, which have become a trend, are fine for kids, he says, but when worn by older women tend to make them look like they’re trying too hard. And nobody wants that./p
pThe t-shirt trend for women is another of his pet peeves, since “they’re shaped like a tee, and it’s rare that you find a woman who is shaped like a tee, so if you have any rolls or bulges, the shirt tends to vacuum seal itself to them.” Which, again, is not a good look./p
pThis led us to talk about one of my personal pet peeves: trends. I know that most everyone in the mainstream fashion media deals in trends, but I think that they’re totally dumb. Guess what, military and menswear for women are in because they never went out and never will—because they’re not trends, they’re just styles. Ugh. If you like pointy-toed heels, wear them, even if a magazine says that rounded toes are in. Go your own way on those types of things. Of course, I do write about trends in the magazine, but I do always struggle with it because it’s a concept that I just fundamentally have an issue with. Anyway, I digress. But Kelly helped me out so much, I will forever be grateful to his levelheaded and totally smart response to the question of trends./p
pYou’re right, he tells me, we need a new word to define seasonal trends, like what not to wear anymore once the season changes, but ultimately, larger trends give us something to talk about. They define generations, currently and in the past, and allow us all to participate in modern culture. Don’t be a slave to them, however, because once you are, you’re a trend ho, and that’s never cute./p
p style=”text-align: center;”img src=”/sites/default/files/newfiles/ck1.jpg” alt=”clinton” width=”405″ height=”611″/p
pA few more chestnuts from Mr. Kelly:/p
pWomen with big tummies or breasts should: wear jackets to take the attention away from stomach and disperse it around the upper body. Wear the right bra, one that fits you correctly, stationing your boobs should between the shoulder and the elbow (a professional fitting is the best bet for this). This creates some separation between the chest and the tummy. Look for pieces that accentuate the narrowness under the bust at the mid rib cage. Pick a top that accentuates that area with some kind of decorative element, a knot or a twist or a ribbon or something. The garment should float away from the tummy. Rather than cling to it./p
pThe number one tip for women with large hips: keep the lower half of the body as streamlined as possible. Don’t chop up the line of the lower leg by doing a cropped leg or rolling up the hem. Opt for dark wash denim or other dark fabrics; wear little heels to lengthen the leg; look for tops that hit at mid hip; and balance the body by having your shoulders and bust comparable to your hips. Strengthen the shoulders to create an hourglass shape with epaulettes or flutter sleeves./p
pWhen talking to young girls about fashion make sure that they understand that there is more to life than fashion. The bottom line, he says, is that, “clothing is a wonderful way to express yourself to the world. Just make sure that what you’re saying is what you want to be saying, so align your message with your appearance. It’s not about the clothes. It’s about what you want out of your life and how your clothing helps you get there.”/p

 

Follow Us

15 Valentine’s Day Gifts

15 Valentine’s Day Gifts

Fleece slippers, chocolate figs, and The Book of Love

Who doesn’t want to celebrate love and make someone (anyone!) feel special? So, whether you’re all in or not so much, if you’re looking for gift ideas, here are a few to consider...

The Best Gifts for Travel Lovers 

The Best Gifts for Travel Lovers 

Tinsel, eggnog, mistletoe, and luggage

Travel lovers are the easiest people to buy for. Wrap a gift in old maps and they’ll spend hours deciphering the roadways and important coordinates. Put something inside the wrapping that will satiate their wanderlust, or encourage it, and you might be their next invitee to Paris.

Black Black Friday launches in Seattle

Black Black Friday launches in Seattle

The event is designed to boost Black-owned businesses

An initiative launched in Seattle encourages residents to spend money at Black-owned businesses, starting on Black Friday. Called Black Black Friday, the movement was organized by Laura Clise, founder and CEO of the Intentionalist, an online directory of thousands of small businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, LBGTQ+, families, and differently abled people,…

Costco Goes for the Gold

Costco Goes for the Gold

Have a sudden need for gold bars? Better act fast.

The warehouse retailer known for everything from its popular food court to organic maple syrup and bulk, well, everything, is now in the business of selling gold. That’s right. Costco is peddling one-ounce gold bars online. But you have to be a member to buy them. And they’re not cheap. Shoppers have two options: One…