Dress My Nest

I got really burned out on home decorating shows a while ago, but recently I’ve been sucked back in by Dress My Nest on the Style network.

Thom Filicia (Queer Eye’s home décor guru) and his fashion stylist pal Erika revamp someone’s living room based on that person’s favourite outfit. Isn’t that an intriguing concept? (First of all, given the chance, what outfit would YOU choose as a visual explanation of who you are?)

Thom isn’t literal about how he translates the outfit into the room décor. He pulls colors, textures and moods from each garment and accessory, like a pinstripe in a blouse might turn up on the sofa or in the rug, and a woven straw handbag might be represented by wicker baskets or seagrass wall covering.

The episode pictured here was about a woman whose entire existence revolved around Hello Kitty (a subject near and dear to my heart, as you know). Her "inspiration outfit" dress has cute little pink hearts with curly green leaves, and I think Thom did a masterful job of translating that dress and the HK infatuation into this structured pink sectional (and see how the curtains are reminiscent of her denim vest, and the heart pillow echoes the hearts on her dress, etc etc). Thom even worked a few small and tasteful Hello Kittys into his design, bless his heart.

I especially appreciate the fact that they do much of their shopping at Pier 1 and other stores that are more or less accessible to someone of normal means. I mean, I can’t exactly ditch everything and redo the living room from top to bottom, but at least they’re not filling my head with tantalizing and utterly unachievable notions of West Elm and the like.

Dress My Nest seems to air on Thursday and Saturday mornings on the Style network. Check it out!