From The Straits Times    |

One’s a bonafide Hollywood girl who loves the limelight, fashion and all things beautiful. The other’s business-driven, charming and has worked his way to win the first season of Donald Trump’s The Apprentice. They could not be more different than chalk and cheese, yet somehow; they fell head over heels in love with each other.

Now into their fourth season of their own reality series, which tracks their trials and tribulations they encounter being a married couple, we spoke to Giuliana and got a sneak peek into how much their life has changed and what it’s really like to be Giuliana and Bill.

hw.com: How did you tweak your husband’s (Bill Rancic) wardrobe for Hollywood and how did he take to it?
Giuliana Rancic: Firstly I got him some aviator shades and then, I told him the spiky hair he favours was so four years ago and in place, got him to do a comb over like, Cary Grant. I also got him to wear some cool cargo pants, nice T-shirts and some Converse sneakers.

And poor Bill, he was always reluctant initially and he’ll say it’s an improvement – but he looks more modern and hip now!

hw.com: Being on the judging panel of “Fashion Police” on E!, was there an outfit in Bill’s closet you would have reported on?
GR: For that, I normally don’t let Bill leave the house in anything bad – but there was one time we were on our way to an interview and he came out wearing a black belt with brown shoes. I almost jumped out the window from embarrassment. That, to me, is fashion suicide – the shoes and the belt always has to match. I see that a lot on the Red Carpet and really think it’s important, so we got Bill more belts.

hw.com: Do you have a stylist for ‘Giuliana & Bill’ or are we looking at your own personal fashion reality?
GR: There is a bit of a blur when it comes to my fashion styling on the show. There are days when I get home from filming for E! (Fashion Police & E! News), and don’t change out immediately. So, 40 per cent of what you see is stylist, by default.

But in our new season, we start with me looking for a new stylist. This is only because, Jose, my current stylist who has been with me for years, has gotten really busy with other projects – so I get to try out a couple of new people. As the process of looking for a new stylist is ongoing, we got potential stylists to post some pictures of looks they’ve chosen for me online, to see what viewers like better.

hw.com: For someone in your position, what’s the biggest deal breaker with a stylist?

GR: I think a deal breaker for me would be, if a stylist comes in and thinks dressing me involves just popping on a cute little Shoshanna dress and calling it day. That cute dress is part of it, but I need things to be a little more interesting than that dress alone – accessories are key. I don’t want just a great pair of black Brian Atwood pumps with that cute dress, which is a great look, but too predictable for me. The look a stylist provides me has got to be interesting from head to toe.

hw.com: Speaking of your look, how do you feel now that your ombre hair colour has become a signature?
GR: [Laughs] You know, this ombre hair colour went from being fashionable to complete utter laziness. It saves me time and money to wear it this way. But I feel this is going out of style soon, though I love it. So for fall, I might have to change it up and probably go dark like my roots, which people are used to seeing me in anyway.

hw.com Let’s talk about Fashion Police – who’s the last person who made you cringe on the Red Carpet?
GR: The last person would have to be Emma Watson during the premiere of Harry Potter, on the Red Carpet here. Everything was way too much and heavy, from the makeup to her Bottega Venata dress. Emma Watson is a very beautiful girl – young and fresh with an adorable pixie haircut, but someone goes and tries and covers up all the natural beauty.

hw.com: Which celebrity do you love on the Red Carpet?
GR: Jennifer Lopez is looking great! I tuned into American Idol this year just to see what she was wearing. Here’s a woman who is 40-years-old, a mother to twins, who still can rock that blue eye shadow without looking desperate. Wherever she shows up for an event, she’s always hitting it out of the fashion park, with her outfits and her style.

hw.com:  How about in the worst-dressed department?
GR: Courtney Love – sadly, there isn’t a week she doesn’t seem to end up on our worst dressed list. Remember when she had that style transformation years back and she was looking really amazing? That needs to happen for her again. She has shown that she has an eye for good pieces; she just needs some help putting it together again.

hw.com: You’ve explored some deeply personal and relatable issues in your marriage on Giuliana & Bill, where do you take your viewers this season?
GR: Last season we were really open about our struggle with infertility. But this season is about what Bill dubbed the “year of fun”. This season, we were focused on doing things we might not have had the opportunity to do if we had that baby. For example, I took my first two-week vacation since 2001 and we went to Italy, and what a difference two weeks makes instead of one! Iimmersed myself in my family and culture – we just had the best time ever.

Giuliana & Bill Season 4 premieres September 7, 2011, Wednesday (Singapore time 9.40pm) on E! Entertainment (StarHub Cable Channel 441)

All images courtesy of E! Entertainment.