The Makeover Guy

Hi, Christopher –
 
I just finished reading, laughing my way through – and implementing – “Staging Your Comeback.”  Thank you, thank you, thank you! …for your expertise, for writing it, for all the hard work that must be behind it!
 
For years I’ve been in “survival mode” doing the bare minimum.  I forgot how much I enjoyed pretty makeup, hair and clothing!  Now that missing sense of joy and fun is back in my life. It’s also given me the push to start exercising again and eating better.
 
I’ve read several books on this topic over the last year or so – yours is by far the best, most clear, most fun, the easiest to start doing NOW.
 
I would so love to come out for a makeover – and have my Mom and my two sisters get one, too!  I’m going to e-mail them now…
 
Thanks again –
 
Allyson Hearst
Valley Center, CA

ladeda.

It's time to update.  

I like this video. We worked really hard to get this woman to be blonde...and it still didn't get light enough. And...after I saw the video...in 2001, I immediately made an appointment to have my eyes done. Bags be gone, I said.

Watch this clip for some fun "archive" makeovers from Good Company in 1991.   Perkins waitresses.  I admit I got just a tad over zealous on the eyebrow arch of the first makeover.  Hind sight.

Well, a few blogs back you might have seen my first TV makeover on Good Company. Christopher Hopkins Salon, which was actually IN the KSTP Studio building at the time, was called in to makeover some Shabby Husbands, and then, when people saw the segment they called the studio suggesting we makeover the wives. The show got a little guff for using the word shabby. How times have changed. It is fun to watch for me noting how differently I'd make them over today. Styles are always changing, and though they were the look of the time, it's fun to think what I'd do now. Probably not poofy bangs and a french twist. What hasn't changed is how I feel about those teal leggings and bulky jacket with a large print on the final makeover. (I did NOT pick out the clothes!) Please become a fan and join the fun at my facebook fan site by clicking here!

This is a blog I wrote directly after doing a photo shoot for AARP the magazine. They saw it and asked that I not publish anything until the article came out. Well article cam out. As well as some FANTASTIC video of the experience. You really want to see this, I promise! (You can also enter the sweepstakes to win a free makeover with MOI and my staff at reVamp!) Check it out by clicking here. Until last week I have counted two experiences as peak life moments. Moments when all the stars seemed to align and all involved seemed to know it was something special. One was myVocal solo concert in Hannover, Germany with the Hannover Philharmonic, and the second was the actual creation and makeover process of "Staging Your Comeback." I now count AARP the Magazine as the third. No, not membership into AARP, though the thought after last week sounds more like an honor than a sign of age. Let me explain. A month ago I was contacted by the features editor from AARP the magazine, Gabrielle Redford, who asked us to do the hair, make up and fashion styling of "Faces of Fifty Plus Model Search" winners. I agreed. The project evolved into what can only be described as magic. Seven women and three men selected from 9000 entries were chosen as the "Faces of Fifty Plus Real People Model Search." Flown into Minneapolis from Hawaii to Portland to New York City they received the full treatment. A complete makeover from the staff at reVamp! salonspa, lodging at the Graves Hotel, and a fashion photo photographed by top San Francisco based photographer, Thayer Gowdy. A local team of videographers captured the magic of the 4 day process of shopping, primping and posing, along with a behind-the-scenes photographer John Wagner, two stylists, the reVamp! team, Gabi the features editor, an art director, Dian Holton, a bra fitter extraordinaire, Loni Eiden and a gaggle of assistants. It was just wonderful. Let me share a few of the letters that help sum up the energy of those involved. Mahalo to my new found friends, Each one of you made a lasting impression on me that will be with me forever. What a joy to spend so many wonderful hours with you and to share in the love and passion of life so worth living. Each of you have an incredible gift to share and have imparted it so freely without reservation. Mahalo Gabby for being such a wonderful host to Bill and I and also to Dian for giving so many pointers during the fashion shoot. You earn a well deserved rest:). What can I say about you, Christopher, who has the same name as my eldest son! Full of love, passion, energy and excitement that rubbed off on each of us. I cannot believe how we literally ran through Macy's with an entourage of video cameras, boom mikes following us every inch of the way. And Robert, such a support throughout the whole process. Marie and Kate, we made a great team, and I am so glad we were the final three. I will treasure our meeting and hope we will communicate often. Until then, Me ke aloha, Much love, Laurie Hi, Christopher! Have you recuperated yet?? I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your efforts! I've been raving about what a great guy you are to all my friends here in Atlanta. It was such a pleasure working with you and your fabulous staff. What fun the whole thing was! Give my love and thank you to all!! I hope we get a chance to meet again sometime. Peace and Blessings, Cynthia Hey Christopher: I've stepped back into the real world but, of course, I'd rather be back in Minneapolis being treated like the queen bee that you guys made me. Actually, my peeps here call me Queen Bee when they're not calling me The Witch. Yesterday I started my morning with your CD and all I could think was "What DON'T you do?" Can you take one more statement of how great you are? With Robert, you are the most caring, efficient, effective totally beautiful team I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Thank you so much for all you did to make the AARP project work. Then at the end to give out fabulous gifts, Holy Cow! You could bring world peace if we could get the crusty world heads of state to you Your crew at the salon, by the way, are amazing and truly supportive of the creative standards you personally embody and radiate. So Christopher Hopkins, thank your mom and give her a big kiss. She brought a beautiful person into this world and we're all very grateful. MMM Dear Christopher, People here love my hair ~ thanks to you ! Seems like I was in a dream of sorts for two days. Wish it wasn't over! Thanks again for all your brilliance and care. Kate Dear Christopher, Thank you so much for that fantastic experience! Christopher, you were going a million miles an hour, but you were totally in your element and it was fun to see you in action. I totally loved the way you could visualize the final "product" and work to make it happen. . . or not, if something else caught your fancy along the way. You have an absolutely wonderful team at ReVamp! I could have fallen asleep with that wonderful hair wash, until they began ripping off Kate's eyebrows and you screamed. Robert, thanks for the wonderful conversations. You're such an interesting person and have had many interesting life experiences, hope we keep in contact with each other. Thanks Dian for ensuring each of us felt comfortable throughout the experience and giving us very cool suggestions for the photo shoot. It was so much fun working with Thayer, Mark, Josh, Brian and John! It was my first "photo shoot" and after 2 days, I actually missed being in the limelight. Thanks for the laughs, mouth wide open! Hard to believe I was ever painfully shy as a young girl. Gabrielle, you have such a beautiful spirit. Thank you for keeping us informed prior to and during the whole experience. Thanks for making me feel at ease to the point that the interview just felt like talking to one of my friends. Lastly, I am so grateful for this whole experience. Oh, and my bra! How could I forget?! I'll be forever grateful Lonnie! This whole experience will be one of my pleasant "life memories" that I will always cherish. Thanks isn't enough, but it comes from my heart to yours. May all of you be blessed in everything you do. Marie Christopher, So enjoyed working with you and all involved with the AARP project. Delightful bunch of people and a pleasure to work with. Life is a learning process and you provided me an opportunity to view your labors and loves, and I ate it up. If I can be of any service to you and your endeavors, please never hesitate to contact me. I cannot wait to see the article. Hello to Robert, he's a gem ! Hugs, Lonnie

I've finally figured out how to post some footage of some now "vintage footage" of my makeovers. This, my first TV makeover was done at KSTP TV in Minneapolis. "Good Company" was a local talk show that ran for many popular years. We all miss it. I had the good fortune to be on the show regularly from 1990 until they stopped production in 1994. Steve Edelman and his wife Sharon Anderson went on to create Edelman Productions who produce many popular shows for HGTV. Christopher Hopkins, The Makeover Guy on Good Company 1990

Mr. Hopkins,
 
I can't thank you enough for writing this book, it is changing my life!  I bought the book some months ago just on a whim and there is sat on the shelf.  Just about a week ago I was feeling every single day of my 48 years and just wanted to find the end of the earth and jump off.  I then picked up your book and couldn't put it down.  After reading just a few chapters I screamed out loud, "I may be 48 but I will not go down without a fight"!  I've scribbled in it, made notes and am in fact going to buy another book just so I can cut out the sayings and inspirations in this one to put in my Revival Guide book. 
 
I've never had any fashion sense and although have worn makeup my whole life, I've never really known how to apply it or what looks good.  I didn't even know where to get help.  I have to take most of the responsibility for this downhill slide.  My only occupation of late has been mom to a blind dog so I didn't really go anywhere and just got plain LAZY and stopped wearing any makeup or doing anything to my hair.  I figured what the heck, I have few friends, live in PO DUNK VILLE and who am I trying to impress.  I heard it from the husband too ("what for, you're beautiful without it")  Well after reading your book I realized that person was ME! 
 
I needed to look in that mirror and see the person staring at me was someone special, that person that deserved to look beautiful, deserved to be happy.  I can identify with so many of the stories in your book.  Even if the only thing I have scheduled for the day is mopping the floor by gosh I want to be able to pass that mirror and say, "DAMN STRAIGHT SKIPPY you are one hot gramma and you deserve it"! 
 
I had gastric bypass surgery in 2003 and had gone from 250 pounds and a size 24 to 110 pounds and a size...well I haven't figured that out quite yet.  I can wear a 14-16 in the little girl department however I don't feel Hanna Montana is quite my style nor is glitter. 
 
I have a few people I am going to give copies of your book to.  I want to share it!  Having always been the "Caregiver", I now know it's ok to take care of me too.  Your book has given me all the tools I would have never had before and I would have stayed the Casual (actually the Ma Kettle of Casual except I do wear a bra).  Your book is such an inspiration and I am SO excited to get started on the new me, the person I want others to see, the person I want to see and be. 
 
I intend to keep a record (photos and all) and come see you someday so I may thank you in person for saving my life and giving me back the "take no crap" person I used to be. 
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I AM INVISIBLE NO LONGER!
 
Respectfully yours,
Ld Lutzow
Nampa, ID