Glamour is not high on the agenda for Brian Devereaux, host of the Channel 6 show Popscene. His wardrobe is neither hip or fancy. He has no interest in brand names or trend spotting. Brian simply wants to be himself.
His on-air wardrobe may come courtesy of uber-fashionable BT2. Off-air, however, he is a simple chap with simple taste. A bit of a bloke, he could see himself getting by with just a pair of runners, a set of jeans and a few t-shirts.
While he’s not adverse to wearing a suit and tie should the occasion arise, he is usually to be found in everyday clobber.
“Casual and easy going, nothing too outlandish, if I like it I’ll wear it,” he says of his sartorial tastes. “I prefer dark colours, although what I choose usually depends on my mood. No particular brand, if the clothes fit then I m a happy man.”
In the era of the metrosexual, are men nowadays expected to know more about fashion, we wonder? “I think men do care more about fashion now then in past years. But I am not one of them. I don’t do designer clothes. I would prefer Penneys if it fits better.”
His favorite outfit is the one you are most likely to see him wearing, whether he’s enjoying a pint at his local or living it up at a concert.
“It consists of my Converse and Nike shoes. I also love my Pumas. My favorite outfit depends on the situation. Generally I prefer a relaxed look. I even wear shorts to work if it is warm enough.”
As for grooming, Devereaux likes to keep it simple.
“I’m not big on colognes. But if I had to wear one on a night out it would possibly be something by Yves Saint Lauren. Pretty much any shampoo will do. My favorite shampoo is the one that’s already in the shower. So long as it does the job I’d consider it the right one. I also pretty much just wear what is in my closet or bedroom. It doesn’t take long to get ready on a regular day I just put on trousers, t-shirts and shorts or jeans and throw on a t-shirt. There is no big issue with getting ready.”
Despite his low-key tastes, Devereaux has a rather eclectic choice in fashion icons: “I always thought that Jack Black from Tenacious D has a savage fashion sense.”
But BT2 has tempted him to experiment with more daring styles. Recently he has donned hoodies, shirts and a jumper/shirt combo.
Sometimes, of course, he actually has to go shopping for himself. He’s a fan of the mega- mall. “Liffey Valley and Dundrum shopping centres have a good range from time to time, he says. “ Jack and Jones has good stuff occasionally.”
Despite the fact that his style on air and off is very much in the same vein, there has been at least one instance where the usually impeccable BT2 has offered him a piece of clothing that he had to just say no to.
“There was a flowery shirt that looked like a blouse that I refused to wear but it looked very good on one of the Popscene girls.”
Notwithstanding his laid back, whatever works attitude, Brian does have a sentimental attachment to at least one item in his wardrobe.
“I have these jeans that are three years old and fit so well that they will probably stay with me until the day I die. Also, I have a pair of white converse shoes: I call them my lucky shoes because I wore them when I passed my driver’s test, on the first try. So I wear them all the time.”
He also likes clothes with a comic book theme: “I’m a bit of a superhero fan so anything with a Batman or Spiderman logo gets my vote.”
Surely, though, he must have some sort of guilty pleasure in fashion? You guessed it: the answer is no.
“I like nothing better than to snuggle up with a good facial mask and a foot scrub. Only kidding, if my clothes are ironed I’m happy! No I’m a simply styled kind of guy, no hair care products, just me and my smile.”
So toss out the preconceived notions of the glamarous world of television. Brian Devereaux proves that less is more, even when you’re being styled by the professionals. It also goes to show that sometimes it is better to not become a slave to fashion. As Brian puts it: as long as he has a belt to keep his trousers up, the rest of the extras he can do without!