TLC's Clinton Kelly wears many hats, all of them with style

Clinton Kelly, the charming cohost of TLC's "What Not to Wear," is a man of many talents. Obviously, he's got style: He and Stacy London have made over hundreds of fashion frumps, banishing clothes that bag and sag, and substituting fresh looks and accessories. But did you know that Kelly, a 1991 Boston College grad, is also a journalist? A former editor at Mademoiselle and fashion trade pub DNR, Kelly's putting out a book this fall titled "How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better Than Everyone Else." Not to mention hawking a new clothing line on QVC. We rang up the renaissance man - who'll be at Macy's Chestnut Hill today at 6 p.m. - to find out how he does it. - HAYLEY KAUFMAN

Some of the women on your show just can't dress themselves. Why is it so difficult for people to see how they look?

Believe it or not, a lot of people do not have full-length mirrors. People just don't put the effort into it. They buy things without trying things on. They don't listen to that little voice inside them. To be honest, the secret of the show is it's two solid days of shopping. We're ecstatic if we can get seven outfits out of it.

So if someone's going to make over her wardrobe, she'll need to spend that kind of time?

It's going to take some time. So one of the secrets is the sheer volume of clothes. The other is tailoring, whether it's a hem or a sleeve being shortened or darts being added. Shopping is step one; tailoring is step two. The other two secrets: a bra fitting, because the clothes will just hang better. Four is shapewear - maybe it's a tummy tamer or a thigh slimmer.

You don't mince words on the show. How hard is it to tell it like it is?

I don't find it to be that difficult when I'm doing the show. People have signed on at that point. I'm there to help them - it doesn't help to lie to them. In my real life, I don't walk around criticizing people. I think people are afraid to walk up to me at a cocktail party sometimes, which I find incredibly depressing.

Who are your favorite designers?

I wear a lot of Etro, Hugo Boss, and Ted Baker. My new thing is I'm buying fewer things that are higher quality - custom suits and shirts. I don't have a ton of things. Oh, I also wear Rock & Republic jeans. I'm 6 feet 4 inches, and they're the only things that are long enough. So yes, I'm buying fewer things, but, you know, in the summer I'll just wear a Lacoste polo shirt and cargo shorts from Club Monaco.

What about shopping?

I have an assistant, and she'll pull things. My own style has evolved over the years. Now I'm doing jeans and jackets.

With tucked-in shirts?

Tucked-in shirts. I don't mind an untucked shirt for a weekend. But anytime you wear a really long untucked shirt, and you cover the crotch, you make yourself look so much shorter.

Overall, who dresses better: men or women?

In America, women dress better. In London, men dress better. American men, forget about it. They won't take chances. What I love about European women is that they really know how to wear accessories. American women are afraid of accessories; they wear these little tiny things. But a lot of American women are really trying.

If there are three style rules everyone should adhere to, what are they?

I go over this in my book: fit, proportion, and appropriateness. Without fit you can't have style. End of story. You can wear a $5,000 Prada suit, and if it doesn't fit, it doesn't matter. Proportion: the size of accessories, prints, and clothing should be proportional to your frame. If you're small you don't want to overwhelm. And then appropriateness. The thing about dressing down at work - it's inappropriate. And these college students who wear pajamas to class? It's disrespectful. I think you can be comfortable and stylish at the same time. That's my new mission. Or that's been my mission [on the show] for the last five years.