COOKING kitten Rachael Ray is not feeling Sir Mix-A-Lot. She doesn’t mind showing off her itty-bitty waist – but when it comes to the bum, she likes to keep that under wraps, thank you very much.
“When I try to bring more pencil skirts in, anything that clings to the bootilicious, forget it,” says her stylist, Jane Harrison Fox.
“That’s what she wants to hide.”
Fox says dressing the Emmy-winning chef for her talk show isn’t easy – she knows what she likes, what she wants and, more importantly, what doesn’t work for her.
“I know college guys think she’s really cute,” she says. “There’s something really appealing about someone who has a little meat on their bones.”
Or, you know, one that can take the meat, sauté it in globs of cheese and loads of olive oil and turn it in to gourmet-style mac ‘n’ cheese in less than 30 minutes.
Yum-o!
“We want her to embrace her figure. And she does. She likes to eat, and she knows she’s just not going to change that. That doesn’t mean that she’s in love with her figure. It’s more like, hey, this is who I am,” says Fox.
“I think she could get away by wearing tighter, more curvy girl clothes.”
Last season, Fox dressed Ray in lots of Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses and Prada heels. It was a purposeful departure from the soccer-mom jeans, wide belt and tucked-in shirt ensembles she wore on the Food Network.
This season, in an effort to stay comfortable – one of Ray’s main tenants of fashion – it’s more flared jeans, jersey tops and ballet flats.
“I’m a very modest person. I like to have as much coverage as possible. And I never look down in the shower,” says Ray.
“I like food, I eat, and I’m a size 6. I don’t care about being a zero. I get dressed and then I avoid looking in any reflective surface for the rest of the day,” she says, fingering a printed Norma Kamali dress she was hoping to wear to a Bill Clinton event.
In real life, Ray spends her days in Adidas sweat-pants, a baseball cap and a 20-year-old denim jacket. On the set, she favors Chloe boots, Pine IV denim and James Jeans, soft Splendid tanks and tees layered over each other, Missoni dresses and Nicole Farhi everything.
“We do three shows a day, so the first thing we decide is whether it’s going to be an all-jeans day, or do I feel like putting on hose?” says Ray, dressed in a stretchy, printed Nieves Lavi top and stretchy black DKNY trousers.
“And really, who ever feels like putting on hose? Clothes should be comfortable. Even if I loved a dress, if it was too tight or too low or too this or too that, I won’t do it.”
Watch Rachael Ray weekdays at 10 a.m. on ABC.
TIPS FROM JANE HARRISON FOX
Rachael Ray’s stylist dishes up clothing considerations. (How good is THAT?)
1. Highlight your assets.
In Rachael’s case, we emphasize her small waist and bustline with deep V-neck wrap dresses, wrap sweaters and belts.
2. Get a leg up.
If you’re short, heels are important. A slight platform is great; it gives you height and lengthens the leg but is still comfortable.
3. Lay a good foundation.
Make sure your undergarments flatter your figure, because you can’t build a great outfit without the right foundation. Rachael won’t wear Spanx. Instead, try La Perla and Soma for the right lift.
4. Get high.
Midrise boot-cut jeans with a little stretch flatter and offer coverage without looking dumpy. Rachael likes Pine IV, James Jeans and selections from Banana Republic and J.Crew.
5. Optical illusions are your friends.
To draw attention away from your bottom, stick with darker denim and pants. Pair them with a V-neck or scoop-neck top with something low – not too low, though – to emphasize your top.
6. Be yourself.
For Rachael, comfort is key. Nothing itchy, scratchy or heavy will do. Instead, layer colorful soft T-shirts and tanks for a casual look, minus the fuss. And if you don’t like it, don’t wear it.