\t\t\t\t\tActress Garcelle Beauvais, fashion designer Sergio Hudson and publicist Inga Beckham celebrate Christos Garkinos\u2019 new memoir, Covet the Comeback<\/em>, at Etro\u2019s Beverly Hills boutique.<\/span><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNina Fernandez\/BFA.com<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n \n\tCovet the Comeback<\/em> <\/a>is a heartfelt, tender, and powerful memoir that follows Garkinos\u2019s childhood as part of a Greek immigrant family in Detroit to chasing his California dreams and the many career pivots he\u2019s experienced along the way \u2014 at one point going from the top of Mulholland to rock bottom. And back again.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cI looked at all the touch points [of my life],\u201d he says of his new memoir<\/a>. \u201cI resisted bad relationships I shouldn\u2019t have gotten into or being in jobs that weren\u2019t great for me. Or were great for me. Things I learned from mentors like Richard Branson that I could [impart] to other people as they go through life.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \n\tOver the last five years, after overcoming a series of personal obstacles, Garkinos found a loyal following of shoppers (aka The Stos Squad) who tune into his epic Instagram Lives each day to shop from the closets of his rich and famous friends. Garkinos\u2019s social media account<\/a> boosts over 35K insatiable followers.<\/p>\n \n\tAs an expert on all things luxury, beauty and shopping, Garkinos spoke with The Hollywood Reporter<\/em> about his new book, fashion tips and wellness staples.<\/p>\n \n\tSelma Blair, Garcelle Beauvais and Kathy Hilton celebrated with you at your L.A. \u201cCovet the Comeback\u201d launch party. Debra Messing attended your New York book signing. What did their support mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tThey\u2019ve been in my life for 20-something years. One thing about me is I\u2019m a ride-or-die-for-life. Some people come and go, but I have stayed close to Selma and Garcelle. And Kathy [Hilton] is a newer friend. Monet [Mazur] has been my friend for 25 years. They\u2019re friends first and then collaborators [second].<\/p>\n \n\tA few of the women are also mentioned in your book \u2014 along with some really great style and life advice. I had never heard that Cindy Crawford tip before: \u201cSay \u2018Thursday\u2019 when taking a picture. Everybody together \u2014 Thursday. Cindy Crawford taught me that.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tOh! It works. Debra Messing was at my signing [in New York]. She had another word that she uses. I don\u2019t know [remember] what it was. [You say it] to open the mouth up [while posing]. I\u2019ll have to ask her what that was.<\/p>\n \n\tWhat can readers expect from your book?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tIt\u2019s about pivoting and figuring out how to pivot and what to do and never giving up hope. It\u2019s the ultimate comeback story. I was a young gay Greek boy from Michigan who had big dreams of being in [Hollywood] and most of the dreams came true. And then they stopped happening [after our Bravo show and my HSN line ended]. And then I was like, \u201cAm I going back to Michigan? Like, is this it?\u201d That\u2019s what it\u2019s really about. The other thing to take away from me is everything you do in your life gets you to the next point. When my business [Covet by Christos\u201d] launched five years ago, my experience came together at [once]. Sometimes when people are like, \u201cWhy am I doing algebra in 10th grade? I don\u2019t understand. I\u2019ll never use it.\u201d For me, that was the whole HSN experience, which I loved, but I was like, \u201cWell, how am I going to use this again?\u201d But the HSN experience helped me so much with what I do every day now with [\u201cCovet by Christos\u201d on IG Live].<\/p>\n \n\tWhat inspired you to revisit the past, present, and future \u2014 now?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tI lost my father. I was young. He was 59. His dad died at 59. His brother died at 59. So I was like, \u201cOkay 59 [might be it].\u201d \u2026 And then I hit 60, I\u2019m like, Wait. My story is going to be different, [than] what\u2019s happened with the men in my family.<\/em> So I look back \u2014 all these great things happened to me over the last five years. Like post-COVID, I met someone I got married to, business exploded and I was at a place in my life [when I could] look back and go, Okay, I am sober. How can I help somebody with my story?<\/em><\/p>\n \n\tMany people in Hollywood associate you with your time with Decades and its corresponding Bravo reality show, Dukes of Melrose<\/em>. How did that era inform what you do now?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tIt was about fashion. I love fashion, but [Decades was] all about the high-touch customer experience. I still work closely with people. Even though I have a huge online business, there\u2019s still a high-touch element to it. I know people\u2019s lives. People tune in every day. I call them \u201cThe Norms of Cheers.\u201d So, when someone joins the live, I [look at it] like that. If I look back at [the Decades era], there is that element where I was styling people, but it also goes back to my parents and [when I was working at] their restaurant. They set an environment for how they wanted people to be treated when they walked in. I learned that from when I was a kid. <\/p>\n \n\tFrom my standpoint, it\u2019s just about every day [how you feel]. My parents\u2019 restaurant every day, having a store every day, working for a brand-name music store \u2014 you are bringing things to life and making sure people have a fun connection. Shopping is one of the last few shared connections we have. That\u2019s why I was so excited about the launch of the Printemps [in New York]. It\u2019s beautiful. People are lining up to get into it. So it\u2019s a thing, right? It\u2019s how Barney\u2019s felt when you were going to Barney\u2019s. What I do online every day is of the same nature.<\/p>\n \n\tWhat makes what you\u2019re doing on IG Live a different experience for the consumer?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tYou never know what\u2019s going to happen. There\u2019s always laughter. It\u2019s always fun. [One of my colleagues] always says there are more people on my shows than there are people shopping at Bergdorf\u2019s. I [try to approach business and life], like, \u201cHow do you think differently?\u201d I stumbled into this. I didn\u2019t realize I\u2019d be a pioneer in social. I had this vision for \u201cLive in the Closet with Christos.\u201d I didn\u2019t know what it [was] and then my back was up against the wall with the pandemic. And if it wasn\u2019t for DJ D-Nice doing Instagram Live [early on], I wouldn\u2019t have figured it out as quickly.<\/p>\n \n\tWhat\u2019s something women should consider before making a big purchase \u2014 especially online?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tI always talk about, \u2018What\u2019s the story you want to [tell] in your life? Whether it be, \u201cI want to be Sophia Loren tonight or Gwyneth Paltrow from the Sliding Doors<\/em> era [in 1998]?\u201d Just think, \u201cWhere do you see yourself? Let\u2019s tell a story.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tWhat\u2019s your biggest hack for being event-ready?<\/strong><\/p>\n \n\tMake sure when you\u2019re shopping that people are talking about measurements so you understand what\u2019s going to fit you,I was one of the few guys who probably saw the Oprah episode where everybody was like, \u2018What do you mean I\u2019m a 36 double D?\u2019 If you don\u2019t know your bra size, you are screwed. So I highly recommend getting professionally measured to understand what your true bra size is. Because otherwise, it\u2019s like a square peg in a round hole. When you don\u2019t have the right bra, no outfit is going to work. So, I think under-gear is the most important thing before you put a dress on.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tThe biggest tip I always tell everybody: \u201cAre you using your bra from five years ago?\u201d I like Third Love [for undergarments].<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\tGarkinos gifted guests at his L.A. launch party with his favorite Retrouv\u00e9 hydrating serum<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m a Retrouv\u00e9 boy,\u201d he says. \u201cI love Retrouv\u00e9. I use everything [and] anything Retrouv\u00e9.\u201d\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\u201cI use the Knesko eye mask<\/a> in the morning,\u201d Garkinos says. \u201cEspecially when I have had to be live on television. It gives me a morning glow.\u201d\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\u201cThe best fragrances are by Soma Ayurvedic<\/a>,\u201d Garkinos says. \u201cI literally cannot walk anywhere [without people asking me], \u2018What are you wearing?\u2019 And no one really knows about [their jasmine oil], and I\u2019m afraid to tell people about it [because it\u2019s my little secret]. But it\u2019s the best. People go crazy for it. I use that. It\u2019s a little tip for before you go out.\u201d\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\u201cIt\u2019s a red light, blue light mask<\/a>,\u201d Garkinos says. \u201cI do it three times a week for 15-20 minutes, and it helps with inflammation.\u201d\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n\t\u201cI talk about best friend pieces when you\u2019re building your wardrobe \u2014 like a crop denim jacket, a crop leather jacket, a great duster, a great little black dress for your closet. Build up your daily [wardrobe],\u201d says Garkinos.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \n\t\u201cEverybody needs to have a great clutch in their wardrobe. More than one, please. [At least] two great clutches. I always say it\u2019s like a dusk-to-disco thing. You throw your clutch into your bigger bag. And then at night leave your bag at work. [I recommend] a Chanel kiss lock clutch<\/a> in satin. Bags are great investments.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\t\t<\/a>\t<\/div> \t\t\u201cI love a cropped denim jacket<\/a> because they\u2019re comfortable. Frame makes great ones.\u201d\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Starry](\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-hollywoodreporter-2021\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u2018Covet the Comeback\u2019 by Christos Garkinos\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\tShop Christos Garkinos\u2019 Favorite Skin Care\t<\/h2>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRetrouv\u00e9 Hydrating Lip Serum\t\t\t<\/h3>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKnesko Eye Mask\t\t\t<\/h3>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoma Ayurvedic Jasmine Body Oil\t\t\t<\/h3>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDr. Rajani MD PlasmaGLO LED Face and Jowl Mask\t\t\t<\/h3>\n
\n\t\tShop Christos Garkinos\u2019 Spring Fashion Picks\t<\/h2>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tChanel Satin Quilted CC Kiss Lock Bag\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSPRWMN Black Leather Eyelet Lace-up Moto Jacket\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoes Jeans The Lucia Tailored Duster\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tElyse Walker Dove Cropped Cardigan\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVeronica Beard Francis V-Neck Dress\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFrame Le Vintage Jacket Raw Hem\t\t\t<\/h3>\n