Carson Kressley of 'How to Look Good Naked'
When you're a style guru known for your quick wit and unabashed sense of self, sometimes people are overwhelmed when you pay them a visit. And when you ask those same people to get naked for you in front of millions of viewers, such as Carson Kressley does every Tuesday on Lifetime, people might look at you as if you're crazy.
Not surprisingly, Kressley understands this, and it feeds his charmingly self-mocking attitude. In fact, his wonderful style is prefaced by his self-deprecating presence. Just talking to him is like an ongoing comedy routine about body image, silhouettes and hairstyles. And oh, the hairstyles!
"I was on Queer Eye (for the Straight Guy) for four years, and now we're entering the second season of Lifetime's `How to Look Good Naked,' says Kressley. "I've had more hairstyles than Liz Taylor has had husbands -- and they weren't nearly as cute! When I see old episodes or press photos, I cringe; it's like a 'hairtro-spective!' When we started, the flatiron was all the rage, and boy, did I ever overuse it. My hair was like a french fry!
"I had so many different styles: the Judge Hatchett, the Hillary Clinton 2.0, and now, just when I thought I was starting to look hot and handsome with shorter hair, I have realized I have the Suze Orman!" he says, laughing. "I don't love the haircut, but at least my checkbook is balanced. No, that was just a joke! I like the shorter hair on me. It looks handsome, I think, and shorter hair on men I think is always more youthful! Now a word about highlights -- just kidding!"
And while his blond locks are certainly a major part of his look, it's the clothes on his back that have earned him his reputation as a world-class stylist. His look continually evolves, but one thing remains constant: his understanding of sartorial profile, the silhouette.
"I like to wear a little bit of everything," he says. "I have very few limitations when it comes to clothes; I'm really willing to try anything. And I really do think that that is the point of fashion. Always evolving, looking for the newer interpretation of something.
"Of course, I am hugely influenced by Ralph Lauren, for whom I worked for seven years in New York. I think he has a great eye for updating a classic and reinterpreting it in a newer, sexy way without being overt.
"Skinnier silhouettes are great, but too extreme can make me look like an ice cream cone -- not cute. I think fit is something that is so important and not nearly as recognized by consumers today. And for sure I love to wear lots and lots of color. I've been doing this a long time, and I know what colors look best on me -- pinks, aqua blues, browns, orange and navy. I hardly ever wear black; its just too severe on blonds. I have a navy tuxedo from Zegna that is just to dye your hair for!"
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