Earlier this year I cornered the cohost of TLC’s What Not to Wear, Clinton Kelly, at a cocktail party. The ever so humble, extremely handsome and candid Kelly had a good time telling me the following.
1. How much should the average person spend on their wardrobe?
Clinton Kelly: I’m going to skirt this question a little bit, only because it really depends on how much money you make. What I tell women during really strong economic times is that if you feel you are financially solid and you know you have a job, you have money in the bank and you want to spend some money on clothes, you need to come up with a wardrobe budget. Out of that budget, in good financial times, I recommend women spend 50 percent on classics and 50 percent on trends. If you’re on a serious budget or in financial uncertainty, spend 75 percent of your budget on classic pieces and 25 percent on trends.
2. You’re at a magazine rack and can pick three titles. What are they?
I’d probably pick — well I’d go for the cover, any cover that looks interesting. I don’t read a lot of entertainment magazines so I’d probably pick a home decorating magazine, maybe one men’s magazine. Men’s Health! I always want to learn how to lose my gut. And a food magazine, like Food & Wine. … You should ask me these questions before I have my cocktail.
3. If your TV only carried three TV shows, what would you want?
Real World/Road Rules Challenge, my all-time favorite show; Survivor — I still watch that after all these years; and Project Runway. None of those are on TLC. [laughing] I mean Cake Boss, BBQ Pitmasters and Say Yes to the Dress.
4. Favorite sports team?
[laughing even harder] Ah … the Yankees?
5. What’s been your oddest fan encounter to date?
I’ve had a lot of them, almost too many to count. Somebody wrote to me and said, “You, Clinton Kelly, should do a calendar and every month you could be wearing a variety of Daisy Duke shorts.” That’s my favorite.
6. What bores you?
These are the hardest questions! Besides boredom? I hate airports. I think airports are the worst places on earth. This culture of celebrity worship, tabloid television — like people talking about people like Heidi and Spencer. I could give a @#$% about Heidi and Spencer. That bores me. Heidi and Spencer bore me.
7. What’s your favorite condiment?
Does tonic count? Oh, Hellmann’s mayonnaise. Hellmann’s mayonnaise!! [light or fat-free?] Fully loaded.
8. What would someone be really surprised to know about you?
I feel like my life is an open book. What would people be surprised to know about me? That I have a tattoo … that says 10 ½. I’ve just given you a big scoop; I’ve never told anybody.
And where exactly is that tattoo?
Do you want to see it?
[Ah, yeah!!!] Slowly turning he shows me his tattoo, then his agent interrupts, asking, “What is going on?”
