Carol Hayes Talks with the Telegraph about working in the industry in the midst of LFW…

Carol Hayes, MD of Carol Hayes Management

Journalist and Business Woman Emma Sinclair, spoke to Carol Hayes this week on how she got into the industry and what led her to start the The Carol Hayes Management agency; now a well-known name in the Fashion, Beauty and Television world….

“For some, Carol’s name will ring a bell because she featured on the hit TV show Secret Millionaire last year. She left her Carol Hayes Agency in London’s Camden and spent eight days in East Glasgow’s Easterhouse Estate, a deprived area of the UK, where life expectancy is just 54. It’s an episode that moved me and ended with Carol helping a local children’s charity and a care home looking after people with early stage dementia, which her mother sadly suffered from.

Carol’s parents worked hard and “didn’t have much” but never expected anyone to help them. That ethic was passed onto her from an early age. She started working life at 13 with a Saturday job washing hair at a local salon. She recalls she was “pretty dreadful at it” and rarely received a tip – but it gave her some much needed pocket money.

At 16 she left school with one O-Level and started work in a clothes shop in Hampstead, north London. She had limited experience in retail and was a little rougher round the edges than some of the boutique customers, but Carol recalls how Shelley Parker, the shop owner, “took a gamble” and gave her a job. “Everyone,” she says, “should have a Mrs Parker in their life.” Read More Here.

Article Taken from The Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-business/9876436/London-Fashion-Week-How-Carol-Hayes-puts-make-up-artists-in-the-spotlight.html

 

Gok’s Style Secrets on tonight – 8pm Channel 4

Super stylist Gok Wan is back with a brand new fashion and flirting makeover series helping some of Britain’s 15 million singletons get dating and having fun in the process. Gok will be the personal stylist, flirting coach, wingman, agony uncle and matchmaker of one deserving singleton in each episode.

Head to toe, he will transform their clothes, hair, makeup, self- confidence and flirting skills.  In this week’s episode he’s coming to the rescue of 31 year old, mother of two, Ruth Walker who’s been single for two and a half years following the breakup of her marriage to her childhood sweetheart.

A champion Kick Boxer, Ruth had her confidence shattered when her marriage broke down and is so scared of getting out there again she’s become a serial ‘date breaker’ choosing to stay at home in her gym baggies.  Fear not, Gok is on hand to give her a crash course in everything a woman needs to know about dating style, seduction skills and, as her wingman, makes sure that Ruth doesn’t go down without a fight.

Featuring Gok’s own ‘how to guide’ for attracting the opposite sex, advice on what to wear whatever type of date and jaw dropping transformations, ‘Gok’s Style Secrets’ takes his unrivalled skill at making women over to a whole new level.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/goks-style-secrets

Get Gorgeous with Gok this Christmas

Gok Limited Edition Deluxe CollectionGok Limited Edition Deluxe Collection

For the perfect Christmas present or simply to spruce yourself up before a Christmas party, take a look at the Gorgeous by Gok beauty range at Boots.

Available in store and online, products range from ‘Liquid Gold’ Body Wash & ‘Molten Gold’ Body Oil to bejewelled soaps and a gorgeous candle in Art Deco packaging.

Gorgeous by Gok range at Boots

From a quick 10-minute treat, to a night of full-on pampering, there’s something indulgent for everyone.

Here’s Gok himself explaining this festive collection…

Buy the Gorgeous by Gok range by clicking here.

Gok Cooks Chinese celebrates its 5th week at No.1!

Gok Cooks Chinese

Gok Cooks Chinese has hit the cooking world by storm as it celebrates its 5th week at No.1 in the UK non-fiction bookcharts.

Gok Wan’s first cookery book which accompanied the Channel 4 series, contains 82 simple and delicious recipes from his family cookbook.

Gok Cooks Chinese

The hardback sees Goks’s love and passion for Chinese food and cooking techniques shine through on every page and he draws on his Chinese heritage to give a different angle on how to eat – it’s all about sitting down, relaxing and tucking into fantastic fuss-free food.

Gok Cooks Chinese

To find out more about Gok Wan and his many other projects take a look at www.gokwan.com or give us a call on 020 7482 1555

Cook the perfect fried rice with Gok Wan

If you haven’t already, make sure you check out Gok Wan’s new cookery programme ‘Gok Cooks Chinese’ on Channel 4.

Today we’re featuring a tasty recipe from the show – Gok’s Perfect Fried Rice.

Get your wok out and follow these easy steps:

Serves 2-4

• Neutral oil such as groundnut, for frying
• 2 Chinese sausages, thinly sliced diagonally
• 2-3 medium eggs, beaten
• 300g cooked long grain rice, chilled
• 75g frozen peas
• 7 water chestnuts, sliced
• 50g tin of anchovy fillets in oil, drained and roughly chopped
• 2 spring onions, trimmed and sliced
• ½ – 1½ tbsp light soy sauce, to taste
• Salt and ground white pepper

To serve

• Chinese chilli oil
• ½ iceberg lettuce, leaves separated

Gok’s Perfect Fried Rice

Method

1. Heat a wok until medium-hot and add a dash of oil. Fry the sausage quickly on either side until coloured all over, with the white parts turning pink. Remove and set aside.
2. Season the beaten eggs with salt and pepper. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the hot wok and pour in the beaten egg. Scramble the eggs, scraping the bits that are sticking to the wok. Aim for a well cooked through scrambled egg, separating into pieces.
3. Once cooked through add the rice, scraping the bottom of the pan and tossing the rice as you heat it through. Once the rice is hot add in the remaining ingredients, except for the sausage.
4. Continue to cook over a medium heat, tossing and mixing. Once the anchovies are beginning to melt into the hot rice, taste and season with pepper and a pinch of salt. Continue to stir-fry for 3-4 minutes, taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more soy if necessary.
5. Serve the fried rice with the Chinese sausage on the side to scatter over. Drizzle with a little chilli oil, serving extra on the side, and wrap spoonfuls of the rice in lettuce leaves to eat.

‘Gok Cooks Chinese’ is on Channel 4, Mondays at 8.30pm

Keeping up with Gok Wan

Gok Wan's Made in China - Tonight 8pm Channel 4

Get tuned in tonight at 8pm to see Gok Wan travel to his ancestral home to explore the largely unseen world of Chinese mass production for a new Channel 4 TV special ‘Made in China’.

Made in China may conjure up images of poor quality or cheap labour, but is that really the case? Gok believes it also represents ingenuity, cutting-edge manufacturing technology and the unparalleled work ethic of the Chinese nation – and he is setting out to prove it.

Gok goes to ‘Jeans Town’, ‘Bra Town’, the factory that makes London cabs, and ‘Thames Town’ – a perfect replica of an entire English market town. His journey ends in Shanghai where a stylist pushes the boundaries in fashion.

Gok has also been busy launching his latest collections for TU at Sainsbury’s and Simply Yours.

Gok Wan for TU at Sainsbury's New Collection

With Simply Yours, Gok has created a definitive collection of must have shapewear which he has called his ‘Wall of Fame’ collection as he has gone back to basics, looking at key shapes, styles and materials that are classic.

If you are after one of Spring/Summers hottest trends, the peplum dress – his new collection at Sainsbury’s has a great dress to suit you with prices ranging from just £20.00 to £45.00. The bold Patterns and 50’s style dress will be great to see you through the season.

Gok Wan's Simply Yours Collection

To keep up with everything that is Gok, check out his fab website at www.gokwan.com or follow him on twitter @therealgokwan / @goksworld

Made in China is on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm.

Gok Wan gives us an insight in ‘Made in China’ and shows his support in ‘Gok’s Teens: The Naked Truth’

Gok Wan

Stylist and TV personality Gok Wan has travelled to his ancestral home to explore the largely unseen world of Chinese mass production for a new Channel 4 TV special ‘Made in China’.

Made in China may conjure up images of poor quality or cheap labour, but is that really the case? Gok believes it also represents ingenuity, cutting-edge manufacturing technology and the unparalleled work ethic of the Chinese nation – and he is setting out to prove it.

In the upcoming C4 show, Gok sees how the China he explores sits alongside his own personal journey and the stories his father has told him of his homeland.

Gok is not only dipping his toes in documentary, but you will also get the chance to see him in Gok’s Teens: The Naked Truth – a three-part series for Channel 4 where he gets the chance to draw on personal experience to help give teenagers the advice, confidence and self belief they need to tackle their issues and anxieties.

You can catch Gok’s Teens: The Naked Truth on 31st of January, Channel 4 at 8pm.

Made in China will be aired this Spring.

To keep up with everything that is Gok, check out his fab website at http://www.gokwan.com or follow him on twitter @therealgokwan / @goksworld

Gok Wan

Fabulous Frames from Gok at Specsavers

Gok Wan at Specsavers

As one of the better known spectacle wearers, Gok is a long-time collaborator with Specsavers, advising customers on the latest trends and recommending glasses to suit their face shape and colouring.

His debut collection of vintage inspired specs, GW by Gok Wan is a capsule collection of 30 stunning glasses in retro cool designs, just oozing with style. Gok has utilised unusual finishes, including wood effect etching, bottle green detailing and jewel coloured marbling to create must-have specs that make a statement.

Specsavers are linked with Anti-bullying charity Kidscape who provide support for children who are being bullied and helps their families through free workshops, publications, DVDs and information and training for schools.

Gok has been working with the charity for four years and has helped them launch an international competition to help find people who love the way they look in their glasses.

“Physical appearance is one of the most common reasons for bullying. As a specs wearer myself, I know how cruel kids can be if you wear specs at school.”

Try the GW by Gok Wan glasses on now by visiting the Specsavers Facebook page and using the Gok Wan app.

Gok Wan for Specsavers 

Vodafone – World of Difference Programme Ambassador

Gok Wan - Vodafone World of Difference Programme

Gok is passionately involved in a number of charities, but it was one in particular that opened his eyes to just how many were out there when he was named the ambassador of a Vodafone Foundations programme.

“When you are on the TV and you are ‘famous’, one of the most useful things you can do is generate PR for people that really need it instead of running up and down the red carpet.”

The Vodafone World of Difference programme gives people right across the UK the chance to work for a charity of their choice for two months, and get paid for it. It’s open to anyone over 18 in the UK who has the enthusiasm, drive and commitment to donate themselves to a charity.

Over the years the charity has helped hundreds of people bring their skills and experience to the charities of their choice by matchmaking them with their ideal organisation. You can try it here on Charity Matchmaker.

“I’m all about confidence and feeling good about yourself, that’s why I love World of Difference so much” said Gok. “Nothing makes you feel better than getting involved in your community. This is a unique chance to go out there, donate yourself to a charity and get paid for it! So come on people, get in touch with your local charity or check out the matchmaker tool which will match you with your perfect charity. Your community needs you!”

This year’s winners are to be announced this month, but you can find out more information about applying for next years programme by logging on to vodafone.co.uk/worldofdifference

Gok Wan – Vodafone World of Difference Campaign

Gok’s second collection for TU Sainsbury’s out now!

Gok Wan for TU at Sainsburys

The second collection from our very own Gok Wan has been launched at Sainsburys stores!

Check out all the amazing party outfits perfect for the Festive season that you can dress up or down – perfect for those after work parties.

Gok Wan for TU at Sainsburys

Gok has also kept some of the standout pieces loved from his first range and introduced new colours, and has upped the drama and excitement with the fabrics, colours and prints so now there are even more ways to feel fabulous.

Check out more from the range here