Q&A with Christopher Hopkins - The Makeover Guy

Hi, I am 54 years old and need some help. My son is getting married in November and I really want to look my best. I don't wear make up but would love to try. I have short hair which is grey and a little ageing. My face is also quite thin. On the plus I'm 5 6 tall and told I have good legs. I can't really look for an outfit till late summer and then I won't really have a clue. Where do I start? Thanks x

I have yet to find a long evening dress which hides my large tummy & midriff. I don't want to be incased in tight underwear if I am going to be dancing but I don't want to look fat? I am size 14/16 & 5ft 7ins. I can't even depend on black because the event is a Spring wedding. Please suggest a shape of dress I should aim for.

I'm 67, don't dye my hair & have it cut short & "chippy" so the grey at the front becomes a feature. My hairdresser said "no" to dyeing as the hightlights looked brassy after a few weeks, so I opted for natural silver ones instead.

My question is about eye make up.

I wear specs - I have one frameless pair and one chunky statement designer pair. My eye makeup is definitely not what I used to wear when younger as I've opted for a more soft look & wear browny shades with mascara. I've dropped the eye liner too.

Any suggestions on a change for me - I've had my colours done & am classed as a "true misty summer" so I avoid black or strong colours near my face. I like to have some eye make up as I think my eyes need some help behind spec lenses & frames, but I don't want to look overdone or "muttony".

Help/suggestions welcome - thanks!

grace have a look at my photos, I am quite dark browm with just a few low lights in the front, thats what worrys me the shade is miles away from ash blonde. HELP.

Glass have you thought about ash blonde highlights - only a short step away from grey (!) but look much more glam. Is your hair long or short? You could also have a few lowlights and layers to add variety.

Dear Christopher, Please help I am 52 and look quite good for my age except one thing that I hate...My face seems to be drooping either side of my mouth and it ages me and would really appreciate your expertise, thank you

I'm 68, almost 69...5' 3"...11 stone..
I had surgery on my spine last year, gained a lot of weight while I was in the NHS queue...but gradually shedding it since the op. Aiming to lose at least another half stone.
Trouble is, I've spent two years now dressing for comfort...and don't know where to start... I'm also on a budget, so can't afford expensive mistakes. And, as I'm aiming to lose more weight, I haven't bought anything new for ages....and am feeling decidedly dowdy....Help, please!!

Welcome to GN Christopher.

I am 57 and have to have my hair coloured every five weeks to keep on top of the grey.
I hate the hairdressers but I am afraid to take the step of going naturally grey or am I infact ready to do it at all.
What would you advise as far as gradually tuning down the colour and allowing the colour to become more natural, my hair is brown so it is a huge contrast brown to grey, and what would you advise whilst having this transition as far a make up and clothes.

Don't knock Jacques Vert!!! Just spent lots of money on a lovely dress and jacket. I am 54 pass for 40 on a good day. 5ft 3 no idea what I weigh.I am small had both dress and jacket taken in. I love it and I hope my Son will at his wedding next week.

[I am 72 - still own teeth - naturally blonde hair - 5'5" slim- 9 stone - long legged - not TOO wrinkly -] BUT - therefore how to dress..??
Where can I find "Maggie Smith clothes" (as in 'Magnolia Hotel' film - i.e. elegant; stylish; classic; - befitting the 3rd age without embarrassing my children yet not feeling like a fogey ? A wardrobe to suit me until I die. Cashmere and silk? - or should I go with polyester easycare...for their benefit....)
AND: Who is going to design a pantie/girdle/corselet/ knicker/ garment which has cast iron across front to really flatten belly (come back whalebone - all is forgiven....!) - for those of us (not only in my age group surely.. )- who are slim but with certain protrusion around the mid-. which ruins the profile.?
And why do slim people (chest/back 34") have such difficulty finding E-cup bras??
and... and.... why oh why... etc etc.......
GrumpyGrannyAnn. x

Just like inishowen I also have big boobs and tummy. I weigh 9 and a half stone but I'm under 5 feet tall!! I try to wear v necks and things that aren't too high around the neck line but these days my decolletage looks like it needs a good ironing! so I am also trying to disguise that too but large jewellery swamps my lack of height, so I am running out of ways to hide my unfortunate shape. Diets don't seem to work for me these days. Oh dear, reading this back to myself I remember I don't have a great deal going for me in the body department. In my head I'm 5ft 7" and drop dead gorgeous then I have to go and spoil it all by looking in the mirror. Help please.!!!!

Similar problem as Silversands but have always had thin hair which is getting thinner all the time. Keep it shoulder length and tied back. Too fine and thin to have short [would just blow around]. Even my fringe is now barely visible [but too high a forehead not to have one].

Silversands: Finasteride does reduce hair loss, but it doesn't bring back what has already gone! I now get it on prescription.

I am now 66 and my shape has definitely changed especially in the last couple of years. I have put on weight now size 15/16 and have no waist and the weight is proving harder and harder to shift. I eat a good sensible diet.and play badminton 3 times a week
. I can wear clothes to cover up this problemin the day time but being retired we now go on several holidays a year and beach wear is my problem . I cant hide it.I have no shape except big boobs and a tummy I am 5ft 2 inches ( If I was 3 inches taller it wouldnt be a problem Ha Ha ). Any tips for making the best of a bad body on the beach !! I refuse to give in I still want to feel good about myself and in my head I am still only 45.

Along with some other grans asking for advice I have scanty eyebrows and short eyelashes. How do I make the best of this deficiency? I also have a very round face, several chins (inherited from my Grandma) and short grey/white hair. How can I disguise the chins and make my face look less round? Also wear glasses. I didn't realise how few assets I have!

I have a problem that I seem to share with oh so many other Grans that have coloured their hair since the 1960`s - my hair is thinning on top! I have tried Revive didnt work; Regaine didnt work and |I tried it for almost a year - costly!) I have tried the fibres you shake on to make hair look thicker, it just looked matted; I try every single hair thickening product I can find or is mentioned in magazines; I have been to the hair dressers and asked for a sympathetic hair cut - they chopped the lot making it look even worse!
CAN YOU HELP ALL THE THINNING GRANDMOTHERS PLEASE?

My body shape has changed since the menopause. I've got huge boobs and a big tummy. This makes buying clothes really difficult. I hate elasticated trousers but they're the only ones that go round my tummy, then they're too wide on the hips and legs. Blouses and jackets looked horrible with big boobs, so I always wear V neck sweaters or tops. I despair sometimes!

Don't ask whether you should be wearing any particular style at any age, wear what you want whatever your age.

Faranth, Travelling to France by ferry there was a fellow passenger with long grey/white hair and she looked fabulous, but she clearly went to a good hairdresser because it was beautifully cut and styled. Many older women with long hair do rather go for the Mary Beard style of wearing long hair.

at last no more frumpy older ladies(we hope) why women neglect there appearance when they get older is a puzzle to me.to look good is to feel good.we are not trying to impress anyone like we do when we are young but elegance in an older woman is beautiful, and if you are out to impress an older gentleman then elegance is the way to do it.but remember ladies dress to suit your figure and not dress in what your grandaughter is wearing it looks hideous.
if you are slim then some of the younger styles will look pretty on you, i just think we can all look good when we are mature ladies as long as we use common sense.get on to u tube and take a look at Twiggy she has lots of advise......it will be interesting to see the opinion of "The make over guy" Christopher Hopkins...Lillian

And one other question: is 67 (with white hair) too old to wear a white skirt with a colourful top? Thanks!

I am 67, 5ft 3, slim (8st 12lb) and white haired. I'm so tired of all the shops being full of grey, black and brown clothes and am searching for brightly coloured jeans/trousers. However, while bootcut used to be perfect, I now have to wear flat shoes all the time (arthritis) and wonder what cut of jeans is most suitable for my age/height?

I soo agree with you- by way of contrast - how lovely yesterday to be treated so well in the Cheltenham branch of Jigsaw!

Please see my post below.

With groomed and shaped eyebrows being such an important feature of current make up trends how can the 60+ woman really improve her rather thin and insignificant brows to frame her face? I really envy some of the neatly groomed brows that younger sisters are sporting.

Plus point+

I was shopping in Cheltenham yesterday in the new Jigsaw store (which has been re -jigged from an earlier' Country Casuals' where I purchased a 2003 version of the navy and white striped Breton top. The two charming young assistants expressed their pleasure at selling to the more 'mature' woman! Their day had consisted of older ladies going in and saying the merchandise was 'too young'. I like their stylish, classic items.

Well done Jigsaw for appreciating us ! I will be in again !

I,m 67, disabled, walk with crutches, flat shoes only due to loss of use of left leg and arm. Usual size 18/20 in trousers and tops. 5ft tall, weight 12st 8oz.
Would really like to be able to wear something different for a change or special occassion, but at present feel out of it for skirts or a dress.
Hair colour salt & pepper, eyes are blue, skin shallow due to medication. Do not wear make up due to intollerance to ingrediants in them (ie:- nickle/alcohol etc.)
Help needed thanks