Recently Oprah had Carson Kressley (of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy fame) on to explain the phenomenon of his new Lifetime hit reality series, How to Look Good Naked. If you’ve ever caught the BBC edition of this show, you know how it works.
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- Woman hates her body.
- Woman’s man hasn’t seen her naked in years.
- Woman strips in front of the host and says what she hates about her body.
- Woman puts herself in a lineup of where she thinks she belongs size wise; she always adds about three inches to herself when she selects her spot and the host has to place her in the correct spot.
- Woman gets a fierce makeover.
- Woman poses for semi-nude shots.
- Woman is cured of her mental illness (seriously, some of these women are HARDLY heavy!) and confidence is through the roof.
That’s how it works on the BBC version with host Gok Won, and the show has kept the same concept for the stateside edition. Carson Kressley is just about as compassionate as Won, and he’s always helping the makeover-ee feel like she’s at the top of her game. One thing that sort of irks me is that there’s no way these woman can recreate a salon blowout or professional makeup at home, which is sort of a buzz kill. I like shows that SHOW the women how to apply their makeup or what tools to use to get that salon quality hairstyle at home, so they’re able to actually implement these things into their everyday routine. Oprah mentioned that this is Lifetime’s biggest hit in the 22 years that they’ve been a network, so that just goes to show how warped we are about body image in the U.S.
Like every other makeover show the fun begins when the women go shopping and realize that shopping for their body types and knowing what works for them is the key to looking good clothed. Often you can feel great naked, but ill fitting pieces that bunch, ride, or lay poorly can all have an effect on how we perceive ourselves. Look for fabrics like Modal and Tencel, both which flatter any body shape and are nearly wrinkle resistant. Remember to utilize accessories to draw attention away from areas you’d like to place less focus on. And when in doubt remember Kressley’s mantra: “How you carry yourself is more important than having a perfect body.”
Tags: Carson Kressley, How to Look Good Naked, Lifetime, OprahShare This
