Stacy and Clinton's new show about style reflects what we always knew

Eleven years after the TLC show What not to wear The new show hosted by Stacy London and Clinton Kelly will finally confirm what we always knew: everyone should feel free to Wear whatever you want.

London and Kelly team up for the first time in a decade for the Amazon Prime Video series Wear whatever you wantThe eight-episode first season promises to do away with all the rigid fashion rules that the original series boasted in favor of a more modern, inclusive model.

Let’s be honest, What not to wear was somehow poisonous

For ten years, between 2003 and 2013, “normal” women everywhere lived in fear of being taken by surprise by London and Kelly and the What not to wear Crew. I'm only kidding!

The TLC show ran for 12 seasons, and during that time no frumpy, middle-aged nobody was ever truly safe from public scrutiny. What not to wearContestants' friends and families would secretly sign them up to be ambushed in a public place, only for two snarky co-hosts to tell them how awful they looked. London and Kelly would then sort through the clothes the clients had accumulated over their entire adult lives and declare everything hideous, old-fashioned or unflattering…sometimes all three at once.

No matter how much the attendee loved the bomber jacket or the old Doc Martens, they went out with yesterday's trash. These items of clothing were almost always replaced by “business casual” trousers, skinny jeans, tailored blazers and pointy shoes. Out with the unique personality; in with the twin sets and pearls.

In other words, get in your box and stay there, ladies!

Looking back, the original program was not only incredibly cruel, but it also forced its participants (most of whom were women) into societal norms that not everyone fits. London and Kelly were the first fat-shamers, and one of their most common criticisms was that the clothing wasn't feminine or form-fitting enough. “You look like a boy!” they crowed. “I can't even tell if you're a woman underneath!” they admonished.

After the costumers' wardrobe is replaced with boring but terribly expensive “basics,” the contestants' hair and makeup are also given the standard procedure to make them look like everyone else. (They wanted the Jennifer Aniston Friends Bob, right?) In nine out of ten cases, the subjects looked downright miserable at the end of the makeover, probably because the “improvements” actually removed everything about them that them.

A new era of self-love and acceptance

In 2024, everything is different, and we've spent the last decade learning about body shaming, gender nonconformity, ageism, and the use of body modification and art as a form of self-expression. If Kelly and London are to be believed, they've noticed the changes too and are determined to embrace individual style and not put everyone in the same box.

In a joint statement, London and Kelly wrote: “The world has changed since the course of the What not to wearand thankfully, we do. These days, we have no interest in telling people what to do based on society's norms – because there are no norms anymore! However, style is still an important form of communication, and we're excited to show new clients how to align their personal messages with their life goals. It's time to celebrate individual style, not dictate it.”

Here, here! We couldn’t agree more. The press release further calls for Wear whatever you want a “transformation show” that helps customers “live out their fashion fantasy” and “discover the truth about their style on the journey of a lifetime.”

Both hosts also serve as executive producers on the series, as do Sandy Varo Jarrell, Suzanne Rauscher, Justin Rae Barnes and Janelle Couture. Barnes will serve as showrunner. The series is produced by All3Media's Bright Spot Content and Amazon MGM Studios.

There is no official trailer or broadcast date for Wear whatever you wantbut we will keep you updated as more information becomes available.