Gok Wan shows off signature style
FANS of celebrity stylist Gok Wan were so keen to see him at Westfield Derby that they started queuing six hours before he arrived.
Gok, who presents the Channel 4 programme How To Look Good Naked, was greeted by hundreds of people at a book-signing on Saturday.
And he described the reception he was given as "amazing".
He said: "So many people come out to these kinds of events, I know they're shopping and everything but everyone's polite and excited and lovely."
Originally from Leicestershire, he said it was nice to be back in the East Midlands, adding "it feels like coming home".
He said: "Everyone's so nice and it's nice that people appreciate what you're doing with your work. It makes it all feel worthwhile."
And when asked if the people of Derby would "look good naked", he said: "Everyone looks gorgeous."
Among those who got a signed copy of Gok's new style guide, Work your Wardrobe, was Carrie Bridges.
The 25-year-old, of Booth Street, Alvaston, presented him with a bunch of 12 red roses and got a kiss on the cheek in return.
She said Gok's programme – in which he gives makeovers to women, photographs them naked and gets them onto the catwalk in a bid to improve their self-esteem – had helped her to become more confident after being bullied about her weight at school.
She said: "I love him to bits, he's made a massive impact on my life.
"For years I hated the way I looked, I couldn't even look in the mirror.
"Now, I'm a lot more confident."
Her mum, Kate Bridges, 48, added: "Carrie used to be very shy and quiet but Gok helps people know they can have confidence, no matter what their shape or size."
At the front of the queue was Jody Beckett, 15, who arrived at Westfield at 9am and waited with her mum Janet Thomas until just after 3pm, when Gok arrived.
Jody, of Lincoln, said: "He's just amazing, he makes you feel so good about yourself."
And three generations of one Chaddesden family turned out to meet the presenter.
Tina Antonio queued for over an hour-and-a-half with her children Christina, seven, and Angelo, four, and her mum, Maria Stingas.
The 34-year-old, of Wood Road, Chaddesden, said: "He said "hi" to the kids. He's lovely, you can feel comfortable with him."
Fan Victoria Cooper, 19, of Cadwell Close, Alvaston, had her picture taken with Gok.
She said: "He said it was lovely to meet me and he didn't want to rush us through.
"He's got a really positive attitude towards self-esteem."
2 Comments
by roxanne, mickleover
Tuesday, November 10 2009, 12:03PM
“i really enjoyed meeting gok wan thanks to the future mother-in-law for telling me about the book signing and thanks aiden my wounderful partner for buying me the book so i could get it signed by him. Oh and thank you gok for signing my book xx”
by Chris, Derby
Monday, November 09 2009, 3:44PM
“Why queue from 9am and waste a whole day? I bought my book at 2.50, bought something from another shop before joining the book signing queue, by which time there were 180 to 200 people. Gok arrived at 3.25, I got my book signed about 4pm and Gok had left by 4.20 (10 minutes before he was due to even if he had arrived on time). Anyone arriving at 4pm would not have had to queue for long and still got their booked signed (probably having a greater oppertunity of taking a really good photo of Gok). On a better note thank you to the ladies that took photos for anyone that had turned up alone, you did a great job!”