We're currently in the middle of a Y2K cultural revival, and the world of reality TV is no exception. Many TLC fans will remember the beloved 2000s show What Not To Wear, which was hosted by Stacy London and Clinton Kelly.
The original show enjoyed a very long run, starting in 2003 and going all the way until 2013. Now that it's been over a decade, an exciting reboot of the show has viewers thrilled about what Stacy and Clinton have in store for us next.
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The original series was known for fashion experts Clinton and Stacy taking an average citizen and transforming them into a fashionista. Much of their advice was very professional workplace-minded, teaching people how to look put together and tidy instead of sloppy and slouchy.
While the advice was helpful to a countless number of guests who came through the show—and presumably viewers watching from home, as well—since then, the advice that the pair doled out can feel a little prescriptive or limited, more one-style-fits-all than is perhaps the case today. This is why the reboot, which promises a very different approach, has folks abuzz.
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The Makeover Show Is Getting A Makeover
Sensing that times have changed, Stacy and Clinton are also trying to adapt in terms of the advice they'll be giving out. In an official joint statement that the two put out, they noted that "the world has changed a lot" since the original series aired, and that they had as well. It seems that the two heard the criticisms of the original series and took it to heart.
The statement goes on to acknowledge how their new approach to fashion would be much more open-minded than before:
These days, we have zero interest in telling people what to do, based on society’s norms—because there are no more norms! However, style is still an important form of communication, and we’re excited to show new clients how to align their personal messaging with their life goals. It’s time to celebrate individual style, not prescribe it.
That is, the duo would focus less on criticizing an individual's closet or personal style and would instead work with them to make it as flattering for them as possible. With any luck, the reboot will promise viewers a much more positive, accepting approach than what we often saw in the 2000s.
In the spirit of this change, the show's title has also undergone a makeover. It will now be called Wear Whatever The F You Want, and instead of being about teaching people to favor a different kind of style, Stacy and Clinton refer to it as more of a "transformation show."
The core of their message, it seems, is still true to the original. Stacy and Clinton always aimed to help boost an individual's confidence through fashion, setting them up to look their best so that they might feel their best. In that sense, the reboot of the series maintains a similar through-line.
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Stacy And Clinton Have Also Changed Over The Years
In addition to the show's format getting an update, it seems that both Stacy and Clinton have changed in the time that the show has been off the air. It was a poorly kept secret that, towards the end of filming, there was increased tension between the two hosts, and after the series concluded in 2013, the pair actually didn't speak to each other for a while.
At one point, Clinton shared that the two had grown so estranged that Stacy even had him blocked on social media. Though it remains unclear what, exactly, caused the two to have a falling out, it appears that things grew strained while the two were on set together, and once the show ended, it was obvious that they would part ways and pursue separate projects.
For her part, Stacy remained in the fashion world, even having her own spin-off show called Love, Lust, Or Run. Outside of fashion, she made some important strides as well—in 2019, she revealed that she was in her first serious relationship with a woman, and not long after that she officially came out as a lesbian. She's been with her partner, Cat Yezback, ever since, and Cat makes frequent appearances on her social media.
Meanwhile, Clinton also kept plenty busy, working as a moderator on The Chew and even getting into writing. His memoir, I Hate Everyone, Except You, was a collection of essays that he published back in 2017. The essays played with the idea of Clinton being a public figure, and that while people thought they knew all about him, there was so much happening behind the camera that they didn't.
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Eventually, the pair did reconcile. Apparently, Stacy noted it had been so long since they'd spoken that she could hardly remember the reason why she'd cut Clinton out of her life in the first place. No matter the case, it seems the two have been able to put old grievances aside and reunite for the new spin-off. Seeing the iconic duo back together again is just another reason viewers are so excited to tune in.
An executive from the reboot's new network, Amazon, noted how impactful Stacy and Clinton had been as TV figures in the past. The statement went on to describe their legacy in further detail:
Since Clinton and Stacy first appeared on television, they have remained at the forefront of showing us how to use fashion as a means of self-empowerment. Their playful banter and distinct approach have helped instill confidence in viewers for almost two decades.
Indeed, a huge draw of both the original and of the highly-anticipated reboot is the fun dynamic that Stacy and Clinton have between them. Hopefully the two are able to slip back into their old rhythm as if no time has passed to deliver the kind of playfulness that fans are looking for. Perhaps the two will be able to address their former feud with humor, and perhaps Stacy will have new insights from her personal life to share, as she's come out since the last time she was a host on the show.
While an official airdate for Wear Whatever The F You Want has yet to be released, we do know that it will be airing on streaming platform Amazon Video. This time around, both Stacy and Clinton serve as executive producers on the project, along with other producers Sandy Varo Jarrell, Suzanne Rauscher, and Justin Rae Barnes.
