Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.

- Coco Channel

Click on any of the BEFORE photos below 

to see some stunning transformations.

Tina Kathy

  Christopher Hopkins Makeovers

Seeing is believing. Click on any of the BEFORE photos  below to see some stunning transformations.
Nancy	Rici
Diane	Gail

“Oh, never mind the fashion. When one has a style of one’s own, it is always 20 times better.”
— Margaret Oliphant

DOLCE & GABBANA

“I went to those memorable photographs of Irving Penn portraying his wife in a black tulle ‘mermaid’ gown. Jennifer looked just perfect in that mood.”—Stefano Gabbana

“Staging Your Comeback: A Complete Beauty Revival for Women Over 45″ 

by Christopher Hopkins

When it comes to clothing and make-up, we tend to fall into particular patterns by our mid-twenties. We’ve decided which clothes look best on us and we’ve perfected our hair and make-up. We know what works and we stick to it. And that is precisely the problem. We go through our thirties and well into our forties, failing to notice that our appearance has changed in subtle — and not so subtle ways. What once worked simply doesn’t anymore. Fear not, for help is on the way!

Christopher, known to millions of his fans as The Makeover Guy works his magic, from hair and make-up to a customized wardrobe, helping you to find your own unique style… without spending thousands of dollars. You’ll learn the mistakes common to women over 45 and how to avoid them.

Excerpt:
“We have been programmed to believe that something outside our control is responsible for how we look: genetics, aging, time. But now more than ever, we have the power to change and improve what Mother Nature handed us and continues to hand us. Anyone can look, feel, and live better than ever before. Opportunities for a new love, a new career, and a new life are literally at our fingertips. Who would have imagined that Raquel Welch would become the face of MAC cosmetics at age sixty-six, or that a first-time mother would birth twins at age sixty-seven? What was once unheard of is now common, and what was once accepted now seems archaic. For women today, anything is possible. By preparing yourself for the part, you can create the scene, however you want it played. You’re the star in your own show. It’s your turn.”

Fads and Trends

New sells. Hot, new, "the latest" makes almost anything more enticing. Consequently, we may get sucked into the frenzy of being "with it" or having the latest look, when it might just not be right for us. When offering image advice, I avoid talking fads. I want to give advice you can use for the rest of your life. If you're perpetually excited about the latest fad and want it, there are hundreds of magazines, Web sites and TV shows in which we can lose focus and spend all our extra time, money and energy. 

Many younger women are fad victims. I often hear, "That's so cute!" when it's absolutely awful. Whether it is a fashion fad, a hairstyle or hot makeup look, it may be "new" but that does not mean flattering. It may be interesting on bone-thin celebrities and models but it is rarely appealing on someone with less than perfect proportions. 

Trends are another matter. Fashion trends usually develop slowly. If a trend is something that is flattering to you, be the first to discover and wear it! But if it's not good on you, don't waste your time or money. It will end up sitting in your closet with one or two unfortunate wearings. 

Case in point: One year, I bought my grandmother black leggings and an oversized black and white plaid shirt when that was the trend. I thought, "Hey, let's show her great legs!" But she was very busty with skinny legs and the outfit made her look like she was about to tip over at any minute. I learned. Not only was it inappropriate for her body type, but inappropriate for "who she was." Lois was a Classic. We went for a walk and she wore the outfit to please me, but she never wore it again. I still have a photo of it. What was I thinking? 

I did the same with my mom who is A-shaped. I figured an oversized sweater over leggings would cover the large part of the A, if you get my drift. And it would, if a person didn't move. But once you walk, the diagonal line from skinny ankles to wide hips catching the drape of the fabric is immediately apparent. Though as a Dramatic she could pull off the trend in style, the look was just too of-the-moment and not ideal for her body type to be comfortable as a frequent wardrobe staple. 

If a trend is something that is flattering to you, be the first to discover and wear it! If not, leave it in the store rather than unworn in your closet. 

Finally, classic clothing is always in style. You can't go wrong with it. You'll rarely be embarrassed when you look back at photos of yourself. Classics are the pieces in which you invest: a little black dress, a white shirt, a trench coat, a great pair of jeans, a pair of black high heel pumps, a string of pearls. 

Classics are universally flattering to everyone, and any age. They will never be wrong, and never be inappropriate. Spend money on them, and they'll serve you well for years. Add your personal style or current trend in the color, line, pattern, texture and accents that flatter YOU. That's the key to looking current AND attractive, always. 

Dress fashionably, but don't be a fashion victim.

There's a big difference between being a slave to the latest trends and being aware of them. You want the latter. Every season, the fashion industry presents hundreds of trends. Some are exciting, some are fun, some are silly, and some are downright idiotic. Your mission is to be a smart shopper and buy only the trends that work for you—your body, your personality, your lifestyle.

Fashion coach Susan Sommers, whose business, Dresszing, helps women shop in their closets, advises her clients to ask themselves, "What one or two pieces will make my wardrobe pop right now?" The pieces don't have to be superexpensive, but they should be of the moment and the color and style should mix well with at least two items you already own. If the of-the-moment item is pricey, before you splurge ask yourself, "Is this something I can wear after this season is over?" Treat your wardrobe as an art collection, and curate it with looks that are worth the investment because they go the distance. If you have doubts, skip it. Know that you can always add a hit of style with more disposable items, like costume jewelry and other fun, instant-gratification accessories.

Excerpted from How Not to Look Old: Fast and Effortless Ways to Look 10 Years Younger, 10 Pounds Lighter, 10 Times Better by Charla Krupp. Copyright © 2008 

Low-Fat Dressing

• Ditch the sack. Body-conscious—but not tight—clothes are always best, whatever your size. A figure hidden in yards of fabric always looks bigger.
  
  
• Think vertical. Seams, stripes, piping, or a deep V-neck all stretch you out. Be wary of anything horizontal.
  
  
• Equalize your proportions. Pear shapes should offset a bigger lower half with details that broaden the upper body (flutter sleeves, boat necks); well-endowed women can downsize their busts with simple tops.
  
  
• Disguise thighs. Minis can be tough because they bisect the leg where it's biggest. I'm a firm believer in skirts that hit at midknee, where your leg is slimmer.
  
  
• Emphasize your waist. In fact, emphasize all your strongest features. Use color and pattern to bring the gaze to shoulders or good legs (and divert it from other areas).
  
  
• Avoid flimsy fabrics. Materials like gabardine or stretch cotton—especially in tailored form—give the body structure. Thin fabrics show every bulge.
  
  
• Invest in shapewear. Suck-you-in lingerie can take off five pounds. And yes, you can breathe with it on.

Audrey Hepburn didn’t follow fashion

My favourite of all the oft-cited fashion icons, Audrey Hepburn, is a classic example of a woman who wore what suited her throughout her life, fashion trends be damned.

(Images, L-R: AudreyHepburn.com, Audrey Hepburn — L’Ange des Infants)

Throughout her life, Audrey Hepburn wore simple shapes, often in dark colours, with simply styled hair and the eyeliner that highlighted her characteristic ‘doe eyed’ look. Her look evolved subtly over her life, but she was always recognisably herself.

Look at any acclaimed style icon and you’ll see a similar pattern: they find what suits them and stick with it. From Marilyn Monroe’s overt sex appeal to Grace Kelly’s regal chic or Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ feminine but untouchable look, the people who are lauded for their taste long after their death are the ones least susceptible to jumping on unflattering fashion trends.

It’s ironic that the people paid to sell fashion trends now, so often reference the look of women who dressed consistently throughout their lives to do so — and a lesson that a constantly-changing wardrobe might not be completely glamorous after all.