Happy Wednesday – How is everyone doing?!

The Ask M Famous question this week comes from a dear friend of mine who is preggers and due in November.  I just love her!  In conversation over frozen yogurt, which just happens to be her caving of the month, she begged me to help her with her morbid fear of the dreaded stretch marks.  BTW, if you have a burning question, please feel free to share it with me.  Email your questions to, askmfamous@christophermacken.com

So here we go,  “Do creams, oils, etc. really work to prevent stretch marks?”

Well now, this question is one that I had to research.  The odds of me ever becoming “with child” are about as good as me ever knowing what baseball team is favored to win the Super Bowl!  But alas, I digress…

What I have found thus far is this: If you want to keep your belly from looking like a satellite image of the desert taken from the Hubble Telescope, check out this product…

Bella Mama Cocoa Butter

Not only does this product claim that it works, but some of the most famous pregnant celebs have used it to regain their taught figures.   Angelina Jolie, Heidi Klum, Trista Sutter, Melania Trump and Jennifer Garner have all reportedly used this product and given it rave reviews.

Still many articles do insist that stretch marks are inherited, and try as you may, you will either get them or not.  I find this hard to believe, because I feel that it is a matter of your skin’s elasticity that gives it the ability to bounce back from child birth better than Brittany Spears in her last come back tour. Continue Reading »

Hey there and Happy Monday!

I must say that, for the most part, the majority of the attendees at the 2010 Prime time Emmy Awards looked great… scratch that… They looked good.  After I have reviewed all of the pictures and footage of the star-studded event, I am left asking one question… Why was Kate Gossellin there?  In all seriousness I have to say her hair looked better than I have seen it in some time – glad she got a good weave. Her dress on the other hand, aside from being slightly “promish,” did fit her fairly well, and I feel it would have fit her better if she didn’t try to smuggle two of her kids into the gala in her bra.  Really Kate – are those things new?  The fabric on her bodice gathered around the…umm…center of her twins caused even me to stare for a slightly uncomfortable length of time.  “And the Emmy for using your ability to have a large amount of children and profit from them goes to…”

Surprisingly, many of the usual fashion disasters were able to pull together something beautiful and in the case of Kelly Osbourne, I have to say that she seems to have grown into a beautiful young lady.  The dress that adorned the rock princess was the creation of Tony Ward, and it was perfect for her.  I don’t like to see stars attempting a look that is simply does not fit them.  This dress showed off her new “slightly smaller frame” (you go girl) and still showed off her care-free attitude.  It was reported that when asked what he thought of his daughter’s appearance, Ozzy sweetly said, “umgh ytst lok night umm it thhsu jbegdt”.  Awwww he is proud of his little girl.

In the day of reality super stars no red carpet would be complete without the incomparable Kim K.  Her name is becoming about as common on the lips of everything pop culture as her fellow celebs that are all famous for having talent.  I take that back, she is actually, in my opinion, a very talented woman.  She has grown a “well known name” in to an empire and her whole family truly has her to thank.  The only think that could have made her red carpet appearance more goddess like would have been for her to arrive via chariot.  This stunning creation by Marchesa was definitely fit for this queen.  Her stylist allowed the dress to be both the gown and the jewelry, giving her left arm a touch of glamour with a beautiful bobble that I am sure was handpicked for her.  Her hair pulled up and back in a very intentional but unintentional way showing off her face and giving the boddess the “stage.”  Way to go Kim!  I have to say I was enthralled with your look.

Continue Reading »

Ok so we all know the old saying, “Do not put off for tomorrow what could be done today.”   Well normally I would agree with that, but in this case, things are simply falling right into place for me by waiting until the last minute.  All week I have been sitting down at this computer and staring, quite blankly I might add, at a screen that had a couple of sentences on it and I might add, not very good ones at that.  So, I tried all the usual tricks to get the creative juices flowing: candles (I’ve gone through three pillar candles), music (every genre you can think of), having a glass of wine… or three (that usually does the trick). But, nothing!  The only thing that my attempts got me was glazed over and singing along with Bobby Brown to “My Prerogative” and dancing around the house with the dog while using my wine glass as a microphone (the reverb on a good red wine glass gives you very nice pitch and tone) … “can’t tell me how to live, it’s my prerogative….  do what I want to do….”

What was the big problem?  I just write about my life and what is going on right…  It’s not like I am penning the 8th Harry Potter book (oh but wouldn’t it be great if they came out with one), but this week has provided plenty of reasons to be distracted. This week has literally been one social engagement after another.  Wednesday evening at Steel Restaurant and Lounge was fabulous, as usual, because I got to go out and celebrate the successful launch of the “Ask M Famous” style column.  Most of you are aware that Steel is my standing Wednesday night spot – free sushi and $5 Kettle One Drinks.  It is really a blast.  I have met so many cool people and will, of course, be there this upcoming Wednesday at 5 p.m. with some close friends who will be in the area.  Come hang out with us!

So, Thursday it was my turn to play hostess with the mostest. I had a small gathering of people over for dinner and cooked a fabulous meal.  You should know, I am trying to learn to cook (thus far in my life, the only thing that I could make without fail has been reservations.)  I am enjoying having people over and showing them a great time with great food and, of course, a fabulous bottle of wine.  If any of you have recipes that I can try, please send them too me at askmfamous@christophermacken.com or copy and paste them to the comment section of the blog.  That way you can share them with everyone as well.  At any rate, my guest of honor on Thursday night was one of the team members for a certain potential Georgia Governor candidate who just happens to be a Republican.  It was a great opportunity to actually speak with someone regarding the issues and not a television commercial.  Now if you know me, you know that I am not going to get very political or try to sway you in one direction or the other; the point of me saying this is to encourage you to actually research the candidates and decide what platform suits you best! Continue Reading »

In response to your recent questions and tweets, I am proud to present “Ask M Famous,” a popular new question and answer column.  This Q&A promises to be as funny as it is informative.  Check back each Wednesday for new tips, tricks and even a few giggles.  If you have a burning question, please feel free to share it with me.  Email your questions to, askmfamous@christophermacken.com

This week’s question was a recent tweet I received from a new follower.

Roxie from Decatur, GA says, “Hi Christopher!  Love your tweets.  Question for you, what are your thoughts on designs on toenails and fingernails – airbrush or jewels, etc?”

Well, Roxie, this is one of those questions on which I am going to have to give my opinion without offending, so please hang on and forgive me.  Remember, this is simply my opinion.  I am personally one of those people that will notice every detail of a person’s outward appearance – it is my life!  This observation includes nails.  Though I am all for an acrylic or gel nail, I am definitely more prone to want to see a lady in either a solid nail color or a very natural nail look.  I’m sure you have all seen the difference in a bad French Manicure and a good one.  The French Manicure that has the air-brushed white tips makes the look appear cheap, and the addition of jewels or specialty airbrush art definitely screams “VIP room at the local gentleman’s club” and not “Board Room.”  You can usually tell a great deal about a woman by her choice in manicure. Let’s just say that there is a length that stops looking “Madame Vice President” and starts looking, well, just “Madame.”  If you are reading this, and tracing the words with a 5-inch pink and lime green acrylic nail that has been adorned with stones that would make Swarovski nauseated, then I am sorry if you don’t agree.  Again, simply my opinion, which most people actually hold in high regard.  You know what on second thought, get a emery board, there is still time to fix it!

Be M Famous,

Christopher Macken

Find me on Facebook and Twitter

Hey Ya’ll (attempting my best Gomer Pile impersonation).  I feel like it has been forever since I posted a blog.  I know I know….  I promised an update for everyone two months ago, shortly after I moved to Atlanta and well… I didn’t follow through.  I could say that I was super crazy busy, or that I have some important reason why it slipped my mind like ADHD, ADD or LMNOP, (don’t think too much about that last one) but the truth is that I had just left a Salon that was very dear to my heart and couldn’t bring myself to write.  The truth is that I sort of walled myself up.

Well, I am not walled up anymore.   I feel like the time I spent back in small town USA after the fast paced life I led in Miami and Orlando was time well spent (all but the last month, nudge nudge wink wink).  We will call that last month, uhum “split ends of the worst kind!!!” Glad that is over.  I did make some amazing friends that I will continue to treasure in Atlanta.

Alas I was able to regroup and grow my company to the place that it is right now.  I have a terrific new publicist, and she is leading the company through a growing period that it has never gone through before.  I am so excited to be back on top of my creative game.  I have a huge new area of the company that will be announced soon.  (That same publicist says I can’t say anything yet, or she will kick me with her classic black leather 4 inch Manolo Blahnik if I didn’t listen…  hey, who owns this company anyway?)

I guess one of the best developments recently has been the social life…  And I have been social.  Most of you that have followed me for a while, know how full I keep my social calendar.  With that being said, Atlanta is by far the most social city I have ever lived in.  This city thinks a great deal of a stiff drink with well-dressed, beautiful people.  One of my new favorite hang-outs is Steel Restaurant and Lounge located at the bottom of the Plaza Midtown Towers.  The drinks are great, and the sushi is to die for!  It has become my standing Wednesday evening appointment.  The staff is funny and kind and the ultra trendy people there are more that eager to chat.  LOVE IT LIVE IT LOVE IT.  Not only does my publicist like how social I am; she encourages it.  She is already penciling in invites for me to charity events and art exhibits.  Atlanta truly does have so much to offer in the way of culture and adventure. It’s not even September, and I am already thinking Christmas parties and where I will be for New Years.  crazy huh…  CRAZY AND FABULOUS!!!

Oh how could I forget…  Miss Coco Chanel (my beautiful black standard poodle) is adapting very well to being a pompous metropolitan pure breed.  As a matter of fact I have stumbled across the most amazing groomer.  The Pet Set on Piedmont Road in Midtown Atlanta is terrific.  They are a Doggie Day Spa and Hotel.  She loves it.  After taking her to get her hair did, we usually head over to Piedmont Park where she gets all of the attention she wants…  judging from the way she prances, I think she knows how beautiful she looks.  No kidding, to date 5 people have stopped us for pictures of her…  I feel like Mister Cellophane…  Should have been my name…. Continue Reading »

As some of you may know, Life has done a fairly huge 180 degree turn for me. I have been on TV, Radio, written columns for magazines, and recently on a billboard. I forget how much has changed in my life until I am reminded of myself as a kid growing up. Now I have a very busy and very full social life. Plenty of people around and always a fabulous event to attend. This was not always the case for me. Growing up life was much different. I was the insecure kid with glasses that was the target of name calling, and bullying. I went through much of my middle and high school life just trying to fit in. Wanting so badly to be that cool guy that always had a choice of tables to sit at in the lunch room instead of the one looking for a quiet corner that he may be able to eat and not be noticed.

As adults we like to think that the bullies from school somehow disappear, or mature into good hearted people. Some of them do, some of them don’t. In school I was referred to as “Queer” and beaten up in the locker-room. Too afraid to defend myself and not knowing how to find a voice to speak up. Through my life and my travels I have found a very loud voice and am able to speak very openly, sometimes too openly, about my feelings, concerns, and all of the good things in life as well! I have been very blessed to have a platform that I can speak from. Last weekend my Spiritual Guide in Atlanta reminded me of the importance of making a change. Using such a platform to make a difference in everyone’s life and not just my own. She was so right.

I have been out and very proud of who I am for the past ten years; And in those ten years I have seen the world become much more tolerant. When I left my small hometown of Milledgeville Georgia for the big city in Florida I was leaving severe name calling, threats, and even people stealing hubcaps off my car, and was hoping to find a home in a place where people accepted me, and maybe a place where I could find love.

Although much has changed we still have a very long way to go. Just in the past month I was attacked by a very homophobic person. Hit twice in the head and once in the groin. The actual punches didn’t hurt near as bad as the motives behind it. I just don’t understand peoples need to hate. I can’t fathom why someone would harbor so much disdain for a human being simply because they are not like them. I have so many friends that are so different and so beautiful in their own way and even when I don’t like the way they think, I can’t imagine wanting to hurt them. I could not impose harm on another living, breathing being. That person is now facing charges. However Georgia doesn’t classify attacking a person because they are gay as a hate crime. Georgia along with 19 other States doesn’t feel like it is a “Hate Crime” if I were killed because of who I love. It is time for us to change that. Continue Reading »

I have decided to make the announcement. Word is getting out anyway…

…I have had such a great run here in Milledgeville over the past two and a half years. So many terrific people and great clients. Thank you all for your support of, both me and Christopher Macken Cosmetics. The time has come, however, for me to branch out and extend my career in new and exciting directions. Most of you know about my love of the city and how I miss living there. I guess by this point you all see where this is going…

I will be relocating to Atlanta in the next couple of months. It is time for me to challenge myself again. My Cosmetic line will still be available here in Milledgeville and you all know I am still very much a part of Salon 2000.

This was not an easy decision and took some time to make. I knew that leaving would be difficult but the challenges ahead of me are exciting and the opportunity for myself and my company to grow are plenty. Again I can’t begin to thank everyone of my friends, family, and clients for their support over the years. You all have made everything possible.

I will not be gone for good. I will continue to come back to the lake and visit on a fairly regular basis. I have had all the R&R that Lake Sinclair can provide and am ready once again for hustle and bustle. I do encourage all of my clients to continue to support Salon 2000 and know that if you can’t make the trip to Atlanta I understand and Kenny Dennis and Barbara Morrow are very Talented and will take very good care of you.

You can follow my journey on Facebook, Twitter, and of course, the official Christopher Macken Blog. I certainly hope you all stay in touch.

Thank you all for your warm “well wishes” and you will all be missed.

Much love,
Christopher Macken

The past week has been a bit of a eye opener for me. None of us are perfect despite how we would like to view ourselves. I am no exception to the rule. As many of you know, I have had a long standing, very “rocky” relationship with a business person and community leader that, of late, has had his share of troubles. I have never been very quiet about my personal feelings and have, perhaps, held on to things a bit too long. I guess I realized how involved I was when the media contacted me. My comment to them is my new stance on his and my view of one another, NO COMMENT.
He and I have spoken, very civilly I might add, and agreed to bury the hatchet and be civil to each other. Please let this put to rest any rumor that I wish any ill will to him or his career. The fact is that my feelings toward him and his feelings toward me are based on a business situation that happened between the two of us and no one else. As we decide how we will coexist in the future we will do so civilly and without comment, or involvement from anyone else. As I have stated before, my personal views of him or anyone else in no way reflect their ability to conduct their professional life the best way they can.
I wish this person well in every endeavor and hope he can work through this situation that I am sure he will find to be a small bump in the road. As I said before, I never realized how public our feud had become until someone gave my phone number to the media. I don’t appreciate being put in the middle of something that I was simply an observer of. Lesson learned.
Lesson for the day…. Learn how to let things go. I have and it does feel good!

Love,

CM

As I sit here… Pinot Grigio at arm’s length I am analyzing my life. In a good way. I think that everyone should stand back and take a good look at themselves. We all get so caught up with the day to day routine that we start to blur the lines between what we should be doing to succeed and what we are doing to “get by.”

I for one have taken a drastic step recently. I decided to start pulling back on the amount of actual styling that I am doing in the salons. I will of course continue to take my private clients but by making this choice I am able to focus on the direction and drive of my company. Christopher Macken Concepts has never been stronger. With that being said it was still not easy to make this move. I have had such a great “income” from the salon that I was too afraid to steer away from it. The catch is that the salon was only allowing me to grow to a certain level. Time to branch out! Time to reach for that golden ring; latch on to it, and run for every goal I have ever had. If you had told me 10 years ago that I would have a cosmetic line, a clothing line, and an advertising company all by the age of 28 I would not have believed it could happen. Continue Reading »

The time is now… the moment is here. I am so very excited about some of the new fashions that are emerging. They remind me so much of the styles in Miami. Classic, sophisticated, with a slight edge and always a sexiness. I am constantly reminded that many people get so comfortable in a style that they stop trying new trends. I, for one have never understood this. I love to allow my own personal style to grow and evolve. I have, on more than one occasion, looked through my closet and had a “what was I thinking” moment. We all have. Even after I have come across that shirt that I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing any more, I still do not throw it out. As my own personal style has evolved I have always had a hard time letting go of some of my “last season favorites”. Case in point… My Armani jeans. I have only worn them one time, and didn’t really like them on me then; yet at this very moment they are hanging in my closet next to my new favorite Oscar de la Renta navy pin stripe dress pants. The fact is that those jeans, the very ones that I have never like on me, look far better on the hanger.

As sad as it makes me to admit, I liked the label more than the jeans. There I said it! I am a label addict. And you know what I do not feel bad for it. I like nice clothes. I like the way the Italian linen feels on my skin and how the cut of my couture Versace blazer hugs my shoulders. When you really think about it, your outfit can make or break your whole day. Your choice in attire can empower you to take charge of your day. Walk with a bit more purpose and hold your head at the perfect “I know who I am” angle. Now I have over the years met people that feel that is shallow to have the idea that “the clothes make the man”. The fact is they are right, that’s why I say… “the LOOK makes the man”! Odds are that no one will ever know who made your suit, but they will know if they made it well and how it fits.

Example…. About 9 years ago I was in Las Vegas visiting a friend. I was there on a shoe string budget seeing as how I worked for a certain theme park in Florida that is run by a friendly rodent and didn’t have a lot of money to spend. I wanted so badly to go to this one nightclub in Caesar’s Palace but didn’t want to pay the high cover charge. One night I was very bored and got dressed in my best jeans that fit me perfect, a solid black button up long sleeve shirt, and a black Blazer that hung from my shoulders as though it was made just for me. After adding the black Kenneth Cole boots (the most expensive thing in my closet at that time) I made my way to the strip. Of course I walked past the club that I wanted to go to thinking that perhaps I could live vicariously through the people waiting in line. As I walked past I got closer to see in through the door, the bouncer that was guarding the rope unlatches the red velvet barricade and says “right this way sir.” I couldn’t believe it! I kind of looked around to be certain he was talking to me. He was! I partied for free that night. All because of the look that I was wearing.

My advice to everyone is to take an hour on a Sunday afternoon and thumb through the newest issue of your favorite fashion mag. If you see something that peaks your interest tear the page out. Next time you go shopping, take it with you! Even if you cant find the exact brands you can always “copy cat” the look with off brands. Remember, you don’t have to have a million to look like one! This will help keep your style in check and evolving, and in the end keep you looking and feeling your best!

Happy Shopping!

CM