US vs British What Not to Wear

I don't have cable at home so I don't regularly watch What Not to Wear. But last December I spent a week at my sister's and watched it every day while my sister and her kids were at school. Here in Vilnius I get the BBC international channel and I've watched the British version of the show. I've been struck by what seems to be a major difference between the two shows.

The US version with Clinton and Stacey seems to focus more on actually educating women about style and what works well for them and their bodies. Whereas the British version seems to focus more on the psychology of the women -- their low self-esteem and lack of confidence and perceptions about their bodies. When I watched the US show I felt like I learned something about style that I could apply to myself even if I had a different body type. With the British show I feel like I am watching a counseling session.

Has anyone else watched the two versions of the show? I'm curious if it's just me or if others have had the same reaction to the British version.

17 years ago

Lucy

Active Member

I used to watch (and love) the British version with Susannah and Trinny years ago, and it took awhile to get used to the American version with Stacy and Clinton. I think you may be on to something about the difference. I think it took me so long to warm up the American version because, at first, Stacy and Clinton seemed so fake, and it seemed to me that they weren't being honest with women about their appearance. Susannah and Trinny were very straigtforward and talked openly with the women they were helping. It seemed to me that Stacy and Clinton were always dancing around specific body issues in an effort to keep from hurting their guests' feeelings. I had always put it down to a cultural difference--American's need their criticism sugar-coated a bit more than the British.
But, overall, I think you are right. Susannah and Trinny seemed to get more emotionally invovled with their guests than Stacy and Clinton. And, although in both versions the hosts are using the same style rules, I think you may learn more about how to dress *yourself* by watching the American version.
That said, I really do like the American version now, but I still miss Susannah and Trinny!

Anonymous

I concur with everything Lucy said. I loved the British version and miss it.

shiny

Veteran

There is a new British version filmed in America! I saw the premeire episode a few weeks back. Trinny and Susannah drove to a diner in New Jeresey to makeover a waitress.

I agree with your assessment, AJ... and I have to say, I found the new version fairly treacly and didn't really learn anything from it.

I adore Stacey and Clinton ... especially Clinton. Stacey has grown on me over the years. I took awhile to warm up to her!

Maya

I'm not crazy about either version, but I find the US version better in terms of sheer entertainment. I don't like dealing with people's emotional baggage--either in real life or on TV. But what Lucy said is true. There are so many times where Stacy and/or Clinton refer to the contestant's "tiny waist" and I just roll my eyes and let out a big sigh. Half the time the women are NOT "tiny" in any way, shape, or form. Even if a woman has a classic hourglass shape and is on the bigger side (let's say 40-30-40), she may look great and she may have an ideal WH ratio, but her waist is still not tiny. And there is nothing wrong with that! I'd rather have them say THAT than pretend every woman in the world has a tiny waist when it simply isn't true. I'd rather see them teach women to be honest with their bodies than to be completely delusional about them.

I'll also write a disclaimer that I have only seen T&S once, and it was on an American special, not the original British show. But all the psychoanalysis going on drove me nuts. I prefer how S&C focus on the clothes, and let the psychological aspect of the makeover occur on its own.

Oh, the episode Shiny was talking about is the episode I saw. It took place a town over from where I live. They even drove past my town, and I know that because I saw a sign for the exit on the highway while they were driving

I really want to know where all those shops they went to are! I'm so curious now. I don't do much shopping out here in the 'burbs.

Amanda

I forgot to add that the British shows I've seen here have a new pair of hosts/stylists -- a model named Lisa and a pop singer named Misha. I find it a bit difficult to take them seriously because they always seem to spouting off pop psychology yet I am fairly certain that they don't have any qualifications for this type of "analysis."

You know, if there is one thing in the world that would just *annoy* me, it would be having a model psychoanalyze me and try to talk to me about having a positive self image.

shana

I actually enjoy the British version. I find T&S to be much more honest about figure flaws and "what not to wear" without being as condescending and mean as Clinton & Stacy. Plus, they don't always push the same standard uniform on every client that walks through the door. I like Clinton & Stacy too and I agree that you can probably learn more from the American version but somehow I found the British version to be more entertaining.

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Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I’ve watched every single show, both British and American. I have two main points to share:

o In both versions the hosts are overly rude. Clinton Kelly gets away with it by the skin of his teeth because he’s a bloke and very humourous.

o I hands down prefer the British version because the finished candidates look better and DIFFERENT. The American version is like a sausage machine. Everyone ends up looking the same. Also, the candidates are usually young. I like to see older women get a chance too. The British version includes women in their 60’s and 70’s. I love that.

Angie,

It's funny that you mentioned that in the American version everyone ends up looking the same. My DH said the same thing. He asked why I watch it when all the women end up in the same type of outfits (ie trouser pants/jeans and empire tops) and the same hairstyle.

I actually haven't watched in a while because they really do end up dressing everyone the same. I was hoping for someone with my coloring to come on the show to see what Carmindy did, since I know squat about makeup (although she goes pretty heavy on the makeup for my taste). But I just lose interest so quickly. They have had some Indian women on but they are usually darker than I am.

I mostly like the American version for Clinton and his interaction with Stacy. I think he's hilarious and adorable. It's true that everyone comes out looking the same and I really dislike how they shun any kind of current trends. I can appreciate the modern classic look, but it's certainly not for everyone. Some of the younger contestants, especially the ones who seem to have a more individual style, really seem to lose their identity. I also don't find all their outfits very practical. But I've written about this numerous times already so I'll put an end to it here.

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