Gok talks fashion fixing for the cash conscious, this season's styles and the designers he admires.
We live in harsh times at the moment. Is there more of an emphasis on shopping on a budget in the new series?
It's not so much shopping on a budget, it's all about the 'capsule wardrobe' which, in layman's terms, means the basics that anyone needs in their wardrobe. We've developed a new concept whereby every woman needs to have a minimum of 24 pieces in her wardrobe. Those 24 pieces must be interchangeable for different outfits. So instead of spending hundreds of pounds on sale items you're never going to wear, or thousands of pounds on designer items you only wear once, or going and buying disposable clothing for a Saturday night and then throwing it out on a Sunday, we're asking 'How does the average woman have a successful dressing day every day with just her key pieces?'.
What advice would you give to people who are shopping for clothes and want to save a bit of money?
I would say always make sure that any piece you’re buying can be interchanged a minimum of three times with any outfit - if it's a top, it needs to go at least with a skirt, a pair of trousers and a pair of jeans. It's just about being slightly more careful with what you buy. It means it's going to take slightly longer to shop, and I know for some women that's a nightmare, but you are going to be saving money. The disposable clothing days are over. The last couple of years we’ve gone mad, it's got a bit ridiculous, and now we need to be a bit more careful. Our choices need to be far more informed, and that's what we're going to do on Fashion Fix. We'll not only fix you from a fashion point of view, but also give you those insider stylist secrets that allow you to be your own stylist.
Why do you always feature women? What about a makeover for the men?
I styled Alan Carr for this series' celebrity section, so there's a little bit of men's fashion in there, even if there's no male makeover. On the next series of How to Look Good Naked, we're going to try and get some guys on there.
Is it quite a lot of work staying on top of the fashion trends? Do you have to scour the magazines every week?
Absolutely. Every month I get all the magazines. I still do mood boards, even after a decade of working in fashion. It's like a muscle, you have to exercise it. I need to know what the designers are doing, I need to know the current trends, I need to know what celebs are doing, all that kind of stuff. I've got to be abreast of all of it. A stylist only works with what's out there already, I don't redesign stuff, so I have to be on top of it. And it's knackering.
What are your fashion tips for this summer?
This summer, keep it neat and keep it simple. Clean lines – I think it's about freshness this season. Last season it all got a bit messy. I'm loving the global stuff this year, we've got loads of injections from all over the world, and it's not just the obvious ones from Africa and Asia, we’ve got great patterns and textures coming in from Eastern Europe as well. I think it's gorgeous.
Who are your own favourite designers?
On the high street, I love what Top Shop's producing at the moment. They're in their element. And also I think Mango are giving them a bit of a run for their money. Their stuff's great, it's really, really clean and beautiful. From the high end, I'll always be a big Chanel lover, because they just go against the grain of fashion, and I’m also loving Azzedine Alaia this season – beautiful.
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