My Makeover Day (or how I learnt to appreciate pink)
I waited in the hotel lobby with nervous anticipation. It had been agreed by Kathryn and Sarah at 100percent that as I was flying into Stansted Airport late the night prior, they would put me up in a hotel overnight and pick me up first thing. I had agreed to allow the day to be a surprise and had no idea of what was going to happen, I’ve always been a big fan of surprises and as this was something I had never had I waited with my friends – the butterflies, which whirred around inside me. It was silly to get like this I know but getting nervous meeting people face to face for the first time is something I’m especially good at.
A bright and cheery face entered the foyer, it was Sarah, I recognised her from the website pictures, it’s always refreshing to meet someone so bright and bubbly in the morning and within seconds the butterflies had vanished. Just outside, Kathryn was standing at the car with a welcoming smile, once again I recognised her immediately from the site, nerves as good as gone now we departed for Cambridge, chatting, discussing the day and joking with each other along the way.
First stop was within a Clarins salon for a facial, this is where my ignorance became apparent. It was a one hour session and I was led up some stairs by a young woman who took me into a room with a bed in the centre, her first request was to take my top off, my shoes and my socks. ‘That lynx deodorant really does work’ I thought to myself, bemused as to why I was stripping off my clothes for a facial. Abby, my therapist, allowed me time to strip and pop myself onto the bed, before returning to explain what she would be doing, I freely admit a lot of it was beyond my knowledge of products but it sounded good. The idea behind the strip was to allow the feet to be lightly rubbed as well as the chest, shoulders, arms and hands. It was a way of getting you to relax yourself prior to the actual facial starting, thereafter the main part of the facial would be carried out ending with a neck, shoulder and head massage. I freely admit, it was fabulous and I can understand why people do them now, I felt so good and fresh when I left the salon that in my head I’d already elected that I would happily have that done again, it was truly one of the most relaxing things I’ve ever had done.
A short break followed for coffee prior to the engagement at Toni and Guy for the hair, this was one of my 
fear points, was they going to want to colour my hair? I had been quipping with colleagues earlier in the week about coming back with Union Jack designs or ‘Sports Brand Logos’ shaved into the side of my head.
A delightful young woman called Chelsea led me to the ‘chair of no return’. I had found out that I had won the Makeover just after having my hair cut short, so had been praying it would grow to give them something to work with come this day, I think it had deliberately been lengthening on a go-slow as I certainly hadn’t achieved ‘Rapunzel status’ with flowing locks, on the good side they couldn’t possibly make me look like someone from the classic 80’s band, a flock of seagulls. I had been a barbershop man for about 8 years prior to this, but barely seated in my designer Toni and Guy robe, which I had assumed you wore like a straight jacket back to front, was being offered tea or coffee. Within moments I was whisked over to the sinks by a young guy who was shampooing and conditioning my hair, the banter was enjoyable and not football, weather or holidays, how refreshing as I’m not a big football fan, the weather where I live is rain or wind generally and its been a couple of years since I last holidayed, further to that the hair products being used smelt really lovely.
Back to Chelsea and Sarah popped up with a camera in her hand taking photos, I freely admit I hate being photographed but even I make exception for the great day I was being treated to. I explained to Chelsea my ‘areas of concern’ with my hair and within moments she was cutting and teasing and layering while chatting generally and explaining what she was doing, the reasons why and how to maintain it. It was a totally delightful experience and more products to take home with me to maintain the look, also found out that Toni and Guy do a free ‘Fringe Cut service’. Think my nearest one is 60 miles away though, one of the joys of living in the middle of nowhere. Toni and Guy if you’re reading this, get yourself a shop somewhere in the South West of Scotland please..
It was feeding time shortly after an amble through part of Cambridge and it was agreed that Italian food would be great. My Italian is useless so I can’t recall what it was I ate but it was delicious, wine accompanied the meal, a Zinfandel Rose which was lovely. This is where you may think he can’t remember what he ate but he can remember what he drank, hmmmm? So for those who doubt, it was chicken with pasta and a delightful sauce which had gorgonzola in it….I just can’t remember the Italian name for it. We talked more over the meal and recalled various stories about each other, it was really great to get to know both Kathryn and Sarah and it made the experience feel more and more personal.
Clothes shopping time, I had, as you may have seen on the main photos played safe in black, that old favourite that hides our sins and cuddly bits. Passing through a couple of shops it was soon noted the limitations if you have a need for a waist bigger than a size 40″. I just surpass that number and I’m sure many other guys out there know how limiting that can be. Even more so if you’re a jeans wearer, which I have a couple of pairs but normally just for fishing, outdoor rough wear and tear kind of stuff, they often only go up to 38’s, especially in the ‘name brands’
Marks and Spencers, the magic sign, do accommodate for the larger man and have an excellent range so that was where the attack took place, I recall a comment Kathryn had made about ‘Do you wear pink?’ to which I mannishly said ‘No’ in my deepest voice. In the back of my mind I knew it would happen. Moving between the various ranges it suddenly looked like we had so many clothes being carried between Kathryn and Sarah that we could have started our own shop. Into the changing rooms with a small entourage of people waiting outside the ‘Whip em off and try em on’ process began.
One of the things I find with changing rooms is they are really hot, unfortunately my head doesn’t do hot and soon my hair was self lubricating and redefining the Toni and Guy look. What I would have given for a fan or air conditioning that actually worked. Must admit the clothes themselves I loved, felt great in myself and still partly disbelieving this was all happening for me. Suits, shirts, shoes, trousers all tried, modeled and then on slipped a blue cashmere top, I love the feel of cashmere so can appreciate how lovely it is to wear, but then I heard the words ‘can you get us the Salmon version of that top’. It was time for Tony to do ‘the pink thing’.
On it slipped, reforming my hair into another random effect that resembled an out of control birds nest, made a mental note that I must invest in a small brush or comb to carry around with me, how vanity can overtake our lives with one day of feel good factor. But essentially that’s what its all about, believing in yourself, learning to love yourself for who you are and not hiding away hoping you don’t get noticed. Standing there in my ’salmon’ top I certainly would get noticed. Honest admission time, I liked it and the act was it drew more attention to my facial colour and tones (albeit quite red and hot by now) I could also see what was being said about wearing black draining the colour from your face. So Trinny and Susannah your good, but Kathryn and Sarah, you’re better, far friendlier and just as good an eye.
Off then with arms loaded with goodies for tea and cream and jam scones, its lucky I’m not on a strict diet but as I’ve said in previous blogs if you can’t have indulgence now and then you won’t have a good relationship with food and will be tempted to binge with regret. As the day drew to a close Kathryn had also agreed to return me back to my family in Essex so that I could stay with them and visit for the next few days. From there they had the long haul back to Northampton.
I really can’t tell you how lovely a day this was, how great the company was and how privileged I feel to have been selected as the Face of 100% of the year 2008. I totally recommend others to enter the competition as the day was fabulous and you really are treated as ‘This is your day’ both Kathryn and Sarah are most enjoyable, considerate people to spend time with and I like to think that in them I have found friends for life.
I’d like to use this opportunity to thank them both for everything they done for me, they were both fantastic. Can I still enter for this year’s competition though????
Thanks Tony. Come on you men! If you want to win a make-over worth £500 then enter The Face of 100% People competition now here!
