Follow the adventures of a group of women who come under the scrutiny of fashion expert Jorge Ramon in his show I’ve Got Nothing To Wear. HAFIDAH SAMAT gets a few tips.

STYLE guru Jorge Ramon adores Grammy-winning singer and actress Beyonce Knowles.

It is, of course, undeniable that Beyonce, lead singer of the award-winning Destiny’s Child, makes heads turn with her attire.

“Beyonce has a great body and dresses in a way that’s fashionable and sexy and yet it’s not vulgar. With her fashion clothing line, House of Dereon, she offers everyone the same opportunity to dress fashionably,” Ramon said during a phone interview in which he spoke of his latest TV show, I’ve Got Nothing To Wear.

The six-episode half-hour programme premieres on Discovery Travel & Living (Astro Channel 707) on Saturday (May 24) at 10.30pm.
Ramon believes that being fashion-conscious is self-empowering and that it’s essential for women to develop a personal style.

“It’s easier when I’m working with women who say, ‘you know what, I really love colour’, or ‘I want to find the perfect pair of jeans,’ I love working with women who have an opinion of themselves. Trends come and go, so women should create their own individuality to look good and feel confident.”

Ramon feels his show is a must-watch as it appeals to both genders and “fuses everything in fashion”.

I’ve Got Nothing To Wear focuses on a few women from various backgrounds who are yearning for a makeover.

Ramon goes to work on them, together with a team comprising three fashion prodigies under the supervision of designer George Simonton, who is known for his eye for detail and beautiful jackets.

Ramon combs through the women’s wardrobes and separates the items worth salvaging from the utter fashion crimes. The chosen outfit is dispatched to Simonton’s “chop shop” where the prodigies rip, revamp and sew the pieces into something totally new!

Picture this: a seemingly outdated pair of slacks transforms into an evening gown; or a gold lame bolero jacket is turned into a trendy clutch!

“Beth, one of the participants who is a comedian, needed something that was going to give her a bit of presence on stage; she showed me her grandmother’s dress. Beth was very attached to that dress, which to me was old-fashioned and dowdy.

“The prodigies cut it up and made it into something young, fresh and super-cute,” said Ramon.

He explained how the participants had been selected.

“Each woman had something going on in their lives. One was learning to become a comedian, another was a singer, and yet another was pitching for a new job. For the production crew, all these elements produced good stories,” said Ramon.

Here’s an important fashion tip: before a woman gives herself a “makeover”, she should focus on her wardrobe.

“In order to give your wardrobe a makeover, really figure out the things that fit your body well or things that would make you say, ‘Oh, this is something that I would wear only at funerals and births’. Get rid of things that don’t fit which will end up taking up room in your closet.

“Be very true to yourself and honest as to what you’re going to be wearing.”

He added that women often develop “an emotional connection with their favourite outfits.”

So, how does a woman overcome this attachment?

Try to think out of the box, Ramon stressed. Understand and learn the fashion rules and apply these, he says.

“I noticed that women often get confused about changing trends and tend to feel overwhelmed about what works for them. Some are in a rut, wearing the same thing over and over again.

“What they should do is to break away from stereotypes and experiment with patterns and colours. Hence, the concept of ‘chop-shop’ in the show where an outfit gets a ‘makeover’ while retaining its authenticity.”

Ramon, 38, burst onto the fashion scene as a stylist for children. Later, he was recruited by teenage publication Seventeen in New York. He was appointed fashion editor, becoming the first male to head the section.

He also honed his craft working with former supermodel, TV producer and host Tyra Banks, and fashion industry darlings, including Giselle Bundchen. He has styled for a bevy of Hollywood beauties including Beyonce, Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson.

Ramon was previously featured as the fashion consultant in the 10-episode lifestyle makeover show Cover Short.

When asked what kind of makeover would be suitable for Victoria Beckham, Ramon burst into laughter, saying: “I’d probably sit her down and give her a drumstick. I’d actually give her something to eat before I do a fashion makeover.

“Oh yes, I’d rather eat with her than dress her because I think she’s got impeccable style. She’s really self-created but I do think she needs something to eat more than anything new to wear,” he said, laughing.

“You know, the one celebrity I’d love to style is American singer Miley Cyrus (she was recently featured in Vanity Fair in what may be deemed as provocative poses).

“I’d like to give her a more sophisticated look which nevertheless retains her freshness and youth,” he added.