I didn't know this at the time. But I was really living the 'Queer Eye/Straight Guy' concept during the time span of 1989-1995. I am not straight but I still fit the concept of the show.
It wasn't until 1989 that I not only came out but I actually started going out. Prior to 1989, I was a real homebody/momma's boy. Then I met a guy in the summer of 1989. We were real different in many ways. While he was outgoing, popular, attractive, fashion-conscious and a party club guy, I was a very introverted and plain-looking. I was a sports fan with absolutely no eye for colors or fashion. I wore very boring looking clothes. I was not well groomed. I had a long stringy ugly hair style. I was a nerd screaming for a makeover!
This guy really came to my aid in the first week of our friendship. He helped pull me out of my shell. First he took me to a barber shop he had frequented himself regularly. There he had me get a more hipper-looking hair cut (a style to this day that I have stuck to)
Then we went clothes shopping. I remember going to stores which were tailored more for the younger crowd. This guy had such a knack for eying the right colors and styles for me. Before meeting him I had no idea people should look for clothing that match their eyes and their skin color and tone. He knew the right styles that were perfect for my height and weight.
Later he was a big help to me when I finally moved from home. I was clueless when it came to shopping for furniture. But this guy had an eye for the right type of furniture to match the type of aprtment I moved in to. Before meeting this guy, I had never been to IKEA. And I had no clue what a valance was. He felt valances were right for my windows and he was right. They looked great.
So as you can see I was a total KLUTZ until my 'queer eye' came along and rescued me.
And if only I had known how a concept like this could have such marketing appeal later on. My friend and I could mave made millions marketing this idea. LOL. Just kidding.
I am sure some of you out there may have been on either side of this concept yourselves during your lifetimes?