Louise Roe – Plain Jane – Interview

I had the pleasure of speaking with Louise Roe the other day about her new fashion makeover show Plain Jane on the CW Network, where she helps transform ugly ducklings, “top to bottom, inside and out”, which means “it’s not just a shopping trip.”  She says of the girls, “I’m almost becoming their best friend. We go shopping and makeover their look, but I’m also giving them confidence and pushing them a little.”  The goal is (no surprise here) to get the guy, and Louise Roe is determined to give her plain Janes the tools they need to get him.  London-born and currently L.A.-based, Roe has appeared on MTV’s The City and E! Entertainment’s Fashion Police, as well as writing for Elle magazine, Vogue.com, and other fashion publications and websites, including a bi-monthly column for MSN called Front Roe.  She was happy to let me pick her brain about fashion for a few minutes, and I can’t wait to hear her delightful accent again on Plain Jane!

Kelly Christiansen:  You’re big on budget fashion. On your website, you say “Fashion should be aspirational, but attainable.”  Is that something that’s prominently featured on Plain Jane? Do you live that credo yourself?

Louise Roe:  Absolutely! There’s lots of shopping on the show.  I’m a big fan of H&M, Zara, Bloomie’s [Bloomingdale's]…I LOVE Target when they do the designer collaborations, I love Aldo for shoes. I LOVE shoes.  You guys have Topshop now in New York and online.  It’s so easy, and it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to look stylish.

How did you get into fashion?

Well I went to university for journalism.  I’ve always wanted to do the writing thing, my dad’s a journalist, too.  I kind of fell into the fashion thing, and now I do a bit of TV and I still write a column for MSN.

Fashion Week will be coming up soon.  Are there any particular designers’ shows you’re looking forward to?

I’ll be in New York and London for Fashion Week.  I love Marchesa…and Alexander Wang, he’s very popular right now.  In London I’m very excited to see Holly Fulton’s show…she’s a new designer, I LOVE what she’s doing, lots of color.

Any Fall trends you’re excited about?

I love the sort of 60’s thing, and we’re seeing more ladylike looks. And feathers! I just wore a feathered headband from H&M last night, actually.

I read on your blog that you went to Coachella [music festival in Indio, California] this year. Were there any bands or performances that stood out?

Yes! I went with a bunch of my boy mates, who were all excited to see the band Phoenix.  I had never heard them, so I kind of just went along, but they were fantastic! And now I can’t get enough of them.  And of course, getting to see Jay-Z and Beyonce rock it out was amazing.

Any fashion moments at the festival?  Celebrity sightings?

I didn’t really see anyone.  I did see a few women wearing high heels, and that was just NOT happening for me.  I was in cutoff shorts and flat sandals the whole weekend.  I did get on the internet when I got back to see what the celebrities were wearing. Kate Moss always blows me away.

I’m looking forward to Plain Jane–it starts this Wednesday?

Yes, July 28th at 9 p.m.! Thank you so much for the interview!

Find out more about Louise Roe at her website, www.louiseroe.com, or follow her on Twitter. To see previews and behind-the-scenes footage from Plain Jane, check out The CW.

About Kelly Christiansen

Kelly Christiansen lives in a studio apartment that's way too small for her shoe collection. She dropped out of the Fashion Institute of Technology to pursue a career in ophthalmology, but scrubs can't compare to stilettos and skinny jeans. She eats, sleeps, and breathes fashion. And cheap champagne. Kelly plans to one day take over Paris Vogue..and the world. She blogs sporadically at Fashion School Dropout (fsdropout.blogspot.com).