What Not to Wear

What Not to Wear is a television show on TLC that is supposed to help people dress with “style.” The guests on the show usually have really quarky or just plain bad sense of style. The hosts are a homosexual man and a heterosexual woman. They help direct the guest in the right direction are very harsh and straight forward with their opinions. The hosts go through the closet of the guest and dump all or close to all of their wardrobe in the trash while the guest begs for them not too (I guess for the dramatic affect). The show shifts from the hosts hating on everything the guest has and the guest coming up with excuses to a very emotional experience for the guest. After they start trying on pretty clothes and looking attractive the guest realizes the difference in how you feel better if you look good. After their makeover and education of how to do their hair and make-up, the guest builds a whole new level of confidence. The guest leaves the show with a new haircut, make up, new wardrobe and a better idea of how to dress stylish and for their body type.

This show does a good job showing the insecurities of women and how to overcome them. Women can identify with the guest and learn from their style mistakes. For example, one of the guests always wore over sized clothes and too many holiday sweaters. She had a very bubbly personality so she thought crazy patterns and bells on her shirts represented that. Once she started trying on new form fitting outfits she never stopped crying. She was so overwhelmed with the idea of looking beautiful and feeling beautiful and couldn’t contain herself. This definitely appeals to women because it shows them that they are not alone with their insecurities.

All the power is given to the two hosts of this show. The hosts are able to give their opinion and critique of the guests with no questions asked. The audience also is influenced by what the host says is in style.

What Not to Wear can come off as a materialistic show that only concentrates on the visual appearance of people but it is deeper than that. The show gives the guests and viewers a fresh look at taking care of yourself and looking your best. The recurring message of the show is that every woman is beautiful. The only aspect of the guest that the hosts critique is how the guest chooses to dress their body type. This ideology that every body type is beautiful and can be dressed attractively should give all women confidence and a boost in self-esteem. All in all, the entertaining fashion t.v. show helps women gain confidence and improve their overall emotional health.