When it comes to fashion and all things that surround it, Louise Roe is one name you should certainly take note of. Besides being a fashion journalist who once interned at Elle, the stunning English lass is no stranger to hosting style-centric TV programs such as Fashion Star and appearing on E!’s Fashion Police. But it is her stint in Plain Jane that allows Louise to put her fashion expertise to full use — transforming ordinary girls into more confident individuals with a better sense of style. In this special interview, we chat to Louise about Season 3 of Plain Jane, the role of fashion in creating self-esteem and the three items she would bring to a deserted island.
Hi Louise! Where are you calling us from?
I’m in Bali at the moment. I’m actually taking a little vacation ever since filming in Malaysia for 6 weeks so now I’m having a couple of days off.
What’s new in Season 3 of Plain Jane?
We just expanded where we travel to so we’ve got an amazing list of destinations. Everywhere from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Italy and Dubai. So really, so many continents. It was also a very dramatic series – more romance than we’ve ever had before. Some amazing Janes and some very stubborn ones as well. And some brilliant fashion – for me the fashion has just gotten better and better.
As the host of Plain Jane, how much does style play a role in increasing one’s self-esteem?
I think those are very linked and you can’t have one without the other. So in my opinion, it’s better to increase someone’s confidence and self-esteem by spending the week doing interesting things like breaking the girl out of her comfort zone and make her believe in herself more. And towards the end is when we go shopping because that’s quite an emotional experience and it often brings up a lot of emotionally prized memories and the way we see ourselves as women. It’s better to be in a slightly more confident position before we do the shopping.
Is everything we see in the show real or scripted?
You know what, I’m very proud to say that it’s completely 100% real. That was a very important part of me doing the show, I also have the fans that watch the show or the people who follow me on social media. They want to know the truth – they want to know if the date doesn’t work out, if the guy just says ‘Nah, I just want to be friends’. So we keep things really, really real and when I call the guy up at the very beginning in front of her, she is completely surprised and she can’t believe what’s going on. And you see every episode, there are tears, there are sometimes tantrums – it’s all real. It’s a true experience.
How do you think Plain Jane can inspire women out there?
In every way possible. I think that what I love about the show is that there’s always a girl that appeals to someone so if you watch the series you will have at least one or two women that you’d think ‘That’s what I do, that’s what I’m like’ and just watching these women face their fears and really blossom and embrace who they are and celebrate their figure, their career — celebrate what they already have as opposed to wishing they have something else. That to me is very inspiring.
How do you find the time to be a fashionista while filming?
Well, I get to combine both. When I film, I always have to wear quite stylish outfits so I enjoy putting together looks. When I was filming in Malaysia for the last month, I brought out three suitcases, I planned all the outfits before I left LA and to me that’s fun. But I have to say that when I’ve got my days off like today in Bali I just wear like a little dress or some denim shorts and a top. So I keep it a little more simple on my days off.
You’re in Bali at the moment. What are three items you’d bring to a deserted island?
Fashion-wise, I would definitely have my big shades, there’s an Australian brand I love called Quay – I got my sunglasses from there. I would take a really good SPF. There’s a nice brand – Boots No7, they do a good SPF and probably a huge Panama hat so I can stay in the shade!
(Photo credit: Louise Roe, Boots)
Stay tuned for more as we will be sharing Louise’s summer essentials and beauty secrets next!
Season 3 of Plain Jane airs on MTV (Astro Channel 713) every Monday at 9.30pm (MAL), 8.30pm (SG/HK) and runs through to late September.
