Gok Wan on negative body image and nailing midlife fashion

Hitting TV screens in the 2000s, Gok Wan rocketed to fashion fame with his numerous TV hits, including How to Look Good Naked and Gok’s Fashion Fix.

Having now worked in the industry for more than 25 years, Wan turned 50 this year, giving him a fresh perspective on style, taste and fashion in midlife.

"Life can just take over," he admits, "your body changes, your attitude changes, you get a little bit exhausted with everything – everything just becomes overwhelming and all-consuming."

This, coupled with societal expectations and outdated rules, can lead many women to lose touch with their personal style.

"There are historical pressures, probably created by men," Wan says, "that say you reach a certain age, and you’ve got to cut your hair short, lower your hemlines and can’t buy what’s considered ‘young fashion’ which is all complete nonsense, as far as I’m concerned.

"You’ve done your time, now it’s about you."

Having experienced severe negative body image himself, battling with an eating disorder throughout his 20s, Wan emphasises that bodies are not consistent throughout our lives – and accepting that is crucial to feeling confident.

"Our bodies change our entire lives," he says, "For women, their bodies can change monthly – it’s about adapting to that body and having a relationship with it.

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"Body confidence isn’t about waking up and saying, ‘I love this.’ It’s about looking in the mirror and saying, ‘I accept this’. Accept the skin you’re living in – whether it changes due to weight gain, illness, surgery or ageing, your body is incredible. It walks you to the person who needs you and enables you to talk to the person who needs you," he says.

Wan’s famous capsule wardrobe on Fashion Fix influenced women across the UK to streamline their collections in favour of a few well-tailored and timeless pieces.

Almost 20 years later, his philosophy hasn’t changed. "You need three or four piece of great tailoring," he says, "a blazer that fits your shape is timeless and versatile. Pair it with a clean, high-quality white shirt with classic details, and you’ll always look polished."

If we’re honest, most of us have probably hit midlife and still not found the perfect pair of jeans. Wan says to go for a brand you know and trust with your other pieces, "invest in classic, straight-cut jeans from a brand that suits your body shape." When it comes to cost, Wan says to spend on classic cuts and "leave the fashion trends like deep flares or distressed styles aside".

As you hit midlife, you’ve probably figured out what styles you like and which you don’t – but colour remains uncertain territory for the majority. "My mum had her colour analysis done when I was younger, and got told she was an autumn, so for 30 years only wore three colours of orange, moss and brown," Wan says.

"But that doesn’t matter – colour is entirely subjective," he laughs, "fashion is art – it’s about emotion and instinct and how that colour makes you feel, not whether it matches you on a wheel."

If you’re still weary about yellow (for example) washing you out, Wan says to step out of the artificial light of the changing room and look in the mirror and ask, "Does this colour make me happy? Does it give me joy? Fashion should spark an emotional reaction – because after all it’s about how you feel in the clothes."

Having recently teamed up with JD Williams, Wan has curated an ‘Ageless Style’ collection intended to offer timeless and well-tailored pieces for women of all ages and body types.

"Whenever I take on an ambassadorial role I ask what is the brand trying to change? What do they stand for?" he says.

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"Now we’re talking about the menopause more than we ever have done – thank you, Davina [McCall], you’re amazing – we’re talking about midlife way more than we ever have done before.

"I identify as a male and I feel pressure, but nowhere near like my contemporaries. I mean, I dress like a 14-year-old skater boy most of the day," he laughs pointing to his oversized flannel shirt, "and I’m a 50-year-old man! But no one ever questions what I wear, the moment it’s a 50-year-old woman – the tone shifts."

Wan says that being part of a campaign which is debunking social rules about midlife fashion is "amazing and it truly feels like it’s making a difference instead of spoon-feeding people what they should and shouldn’t be wearing."

For Wan, the phrase ‘midlife’ fashion is ineffectual – "We need to get rid of anything that makes women feel bad about themselves. Words like ‘trying too hard’ or ‘dressing too young’ – having to be ‘age-appropriate’. Don’t worry about looking young. The point is to look like you."

Having stepped into a new era of fashion, less has changed in Wan’s approach than he was prepped to believe. For him, midlife fashion is less about rules and more about rediscovering what brings you joy – "You should celebrate who you are – invest in yourself.

"Enjoy the journey of dressing and remember, your body is amazing, your style is your own and midlife is a time for joy, not compromise."