Finola Hughes Chides Simon Cowell for His Look, Also Really Dislikes Sweats

You remember her on 'General Hospital' or as Blossom's step-mother, but now Finola Hughes is making her mark on the fashion world. She's the host of Style's makeover show 'How Do I Look?" and she produced the series 'Running With Heels,' which followed three interns at Marie Claire as they worked their way up in the fashion magazine world. The actress-turned-fashion-guru graciously chatted with PopEater about her shows, her personal style and what she thinks of Simon Cowell's t-shirts.

What was it like to work as a producer on 'Running With Heels'? "You know it was something that I'd already wanted to be. It's like a fly on the wall behind what was going on in a fashion magazine. It's sort of just been a sexy dream of mine -- what life would be like ... I always wanted to be a journalist or always wanted to be inside a magazine, so it was an extension of that. And then bringing three little young new girls into it and putting it up there was part of the fun."

Will we see more 'Running'? "I hope so, I don't know yet but I hope so. I mean it did so well in England, in England they just took to it because they just love that kind of thing. They're so into the whole fashion scene and what goes on behind it ... I think if we did it again, I think we would take more risks with the casting -- I thought the girls were great -- I would just love to push the envelope a little bit more."

What prompts your love of fashion? "I grew up with very little money, we had no money to spare, so my mom used to take me into stores and ... thrift stores and I just got used to looking through the racks and I just started to develop this sort of artistic vent when it comes to fashion ... It's really hard for me now, I'm always looking at fashion as 'Oh this is a really good piece!' Or 'That's a really cool thing.' And then I have basically this kind of wardrobe that is not particularly eclectic as more schizophrenic. I mean literally I go from sweet Victorian bodices right .. to Alexander McQueen lace-up black leather pants ... So I run the gamut ? I've got the really crazy wardrobe that when I step into it and look at it, I'm like 'Oh geez, I don't even know who I'm supposed to be today.' ... I'm just interested in the whole artistic flare of it, but also how an every day woman can enjoy that theatrical, artistic side to herself. I find it quite depressing to see women just get up and put on sweats and go to the market. I think that's not representing the female energy in a way. It's kind of dowdy."

Besides sweat pants, what's the worst thing you've ever seen one of your 'How Do I Look?' subjects wearing? Unless it's done artistically, I hate overalls ... this last season with everybody using jumpsuits, I thought those were cute but that's a whole different thing. Just overalls ... you know you look like a painter or a farmer. It's just not female, I just hate it. I think the worst thing I saw was an all in one -- oh jeez this is terrible -- footed, I'm not kidding, an all-in-one footed ? what's that terrible material that people wear to keep themselves warm?"

Cluelessly: Gore-tex? "No, no. It's soft and fluffy and it's everywhere. Oh God, I don't possess one item that's why I don't know what it's called. You know, they make sweat shirts out of it and everyone wears it."

Oh velour? "No not velour, it's the other thing, it's softer."

Fleece? "Fleece, fleece, fleece, fleece ... So it's an all-in-one footed, teddy bear fleece pajama set. And I was like 'OK A, you're never getting laid. You're never getting laid in this outfit. Ever. Your whole life. And B, where's your self respect?' She was like a 37-year-old ? [And] who the f--- produces it? I want to know who you are out there that makes this, produces this and sells this to the public because you need to be stopped. So that was the worst thing I ever saw. That's pretty bad right?"

That's terrible. "It's terrifying."

What kind of advice would you give women to dress well? "Respect the body you have. Dress the body you have today. You know like lots of times we're losing baby weight or we're trying to get back into shape ... but dress and respect and celebrate the body you have today ... This is the one you're waking up with ... So everything's a rehearsal, you're on hold until such and such happens? Everyday you just have to celebrate who you are today and dress that and be form-fitting. Don't wear big sweats because youre trying to cover something up. You just look three times the size. I have a big deal with sweats. Sweats and me, we don't meet anywhere."

You don't own a pair of sweats? Yeah no. I do actually, I do. I have a couple of pairs of Juicy sweats, which I've had for like a thousand years ? But those big, you know, massive 'I went to Yale' [sweats.] Yeah, I'm very proud of the fact that you went to Yale, but the big huge sweatshirts that you stole from some boyfriend 5 years ago ... could you take it in, maybe? Or just show me there are boobs under there. My other pet peeve is not wearing bras that show you have two boobs. You know sometimes women wear the sports bra all day and it's like 'Oh that's so sad. Is there just one there?'"

Is there a celebrity you'd like to make over? "I always used to go on about Simon Cowell but I think that's just easy meat. I've always wanted to see what his shirt would look like un-tucked. 'Hey, we?re entering the 21st century here.' Who else? I think Britney could be chicer, now she?s getting herself together. I'd actually like to go back over time and maybe stop Madonna from going to the Metropolitan Museum ... dressed like a bunny. That would be nice."

Who has the best style? "I really like Kate Moss. I think that she sort of always gets it right and it's very relaxed ... I like Chloe Sevigny. I do. Because I think she takes a ton of risks. I think she has a real street thing. She gets what young kids are in to."

What's next for you? "I've got the producer bug ? I have two things that are in the production lineup and that [are] really exciting. One has to do with fashion and the other has to do with young girls ? and there's a movie coming out for Lifetime, it's called 'Killer Hair' ... It's about these murders that take place in a beauty salon. Yeah, so it's perfect."