GMA’s Dr. Jen Ashton is trying to ‘stand out’ after TJ & Amy suspension but ‘sexual’ item went ‘too far’, expert says
GMA’s Dr. Jennifer Ashton wore tasteless boots during a TV segment while advising on medical exams, a stylist has claimed.
And she thinks NBC’s chief medical correspondent’s latest style choices could be an attempt to boost her spot on the program.
Recently, the 53-year-old chief medical correspondent appeared on GMA3 What You Need to Know to talk about what’s appropriate during an OB-GYN exam.
During the important January 12 segment, she also advised patients on how to protect themselves.
At the same time, Jennifer was dressed in a $1000 pair of white leather over-the-knee Proenza Schoeler boots.
And, she finished off her look with a statement outfit by the luxury Japanese fashion house, Sacai.
Dr. Jennifer’s interesting choice of outfit came just days before she’d attracted comments online having presented decked out in a flimsy, bright green blouse.
“Dr. Ashton is looking HOT,” wrote one GMA follower at the time.
TV stylist Lalla Brohnstein spoke exclusively to The U.S. Sun – and she believes the choices could be linked to TJ and Amy’s controversial suspension.
She says: “Dr. Ashton is a medical host, but the white leather thigh-high leather boots are sexual and looked overtly dressy.
“Once you put these types of boots on with anything, they’re quite sexual looking.
“Also, the general rule in styling for TV is to wear one statement piece, whereas here Dr. Ashton wore two statement pieces.
“She appears to have started to change up her look and is gradually veering towards something different.
“Before now Dr. Ashton looked comfortable and wasn’t heading down the fashion route, instead wearing block colors and more sweaters.
“Now she’s choosing statement pieces that are termed as out there and more suitable for the red carpet.
“It seems as if she wants to stand out more, perhaps reflecting that she’s a more significant part of the program.
“Any changes often show through choice in clothes.”
Jennifer’s fashion switch-up comes amid turbulent times for the morning show’s panel.
It was last November when her colleagues, co-hosts Amy Robach and TJ Holmes’s alleged affair hit the headlines.
And while Amy and TJ were removed from GMA3 and are off-air until an internal review of their alleged affair is completed, Dr. Ashton looks to be soldiering on through.
In fact, since joining ABC News in October 2017 the Columbia University grad has become a firm favorite among viewers.
She has built up her profile further by covering the Pandemic and featuring her growing friendship with immunology expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“With the subject matter of this particular segment being so serious it would’ve been better to have worn an understated outfit,” adds Lalla who styles celebrities for TV and red-carpet events.
“She could have chosen something very simple that didn’t stand out so much.
“Simple pumps would have looked nice.
“I would’ve kept the dress on its own since it has a sophisticated, smarter look.
“And her earrings were really nice.
“It seems as if she could probably be celebrating her new married life with her new looks.
“Or she’s branching out to show her fashion side, which is totally different and a new turning for her.
“The other segment where she wore the vest under the green shirt looks like a much better style direction than the white thigh-high boots.
“Here, she dressed down her whole look and gave it a more casual feel.”
Aside from her expanding role on the daytime TV show and Ashton, who was previously married to surgeon Rob Ashton, remarried millionaire Tom Werner last month.
The best-selling author and the Boston Red Sox chairman tied the knot on November 6 at a glittering ceremony in New York.
“You can see that Dr. Ashton is probably starting to explore fashion more, “ adds Lalla who has worked for stars such as Michael Buble.
“She’s recently got married and her media profile is growing.
“But my advice would be to bring the fashion down a notch for her job on TV.
“I like the fact that she does have that chic sophisticated look going on at times though.
“When you’re styling TV presenters, I always say that it’s important that the person is comfortable and that clothes aren’t too tight.
“With TV presenters, the camera can add inches on as well.
“The looks can still be flattering.
“Colors are also important while bold prints don’t tend to work.
“For the younger presenters, I stay on trend and look at what’s on the catwalk.
“With the younger market, I would select the cooler fashion labels with similar shoes.
“But I think when it’s an older presenter, then it’s more about what they feel comfortable wearing
“Perhaps using what they’d wear every day, but a little bit dressier for TV.
“For someone like Dr. Ashton, I would choose sophisticated dresses and offer a bit of edge with chunky jewelry or a statement necklace.
“There’s so much you can do to the simplest of dresses and updating hair and makeup.
“The secret is not to overdo it on TV.
“With Dr. Ashton’s personal style and when she’s off camera, I think she’s brave and inspiring.
“There are also a lot of dresses that she wears out at night socializing.
“These look really great on her and so at over 50, if she’s got it, she should absolutely be flaunting it in her personal time.”