Christos Garkinos, the "Robin Hood of Fashion," on Revolutionizing the Luxury Resale Market and Which Vintage Pieces to Buy Now

Summary

The Who What Wear Podcast: Christos Garquinos, the "Robin Hood of Fashion"

Episode Release Date: May 28, 2025

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Introduction

In this captivating episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, host Bobby Schessler engages in a deep conversation with Christos Garquinos, the visionary founder of the luxury live shopping network, Covet by Christos. Known as the "Robin Hood of Fashion," Christos shares his remarkable journey from his early days in Michigan to revolutionizing the luxury resale market. The episode delves into his entrepreneurial ventures, personal challenges, and insights into the evolving fashion industry.

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Early Life and Passion for Fashion

[03:00 – 05:00]

Christos Garquinos opens up about his upbringing in a Greek immigrant family in Detroit, Michigan. Growing up in his parents' restaurant, he fondly recalls observing his father, Nick the Greek, craft stylish outfits without any formal training. This early exposure ignited his passion for fashion.

Christos Garquinos ([03:20]): "The minute I realized I was going to be a fashionista, I was nine years old... Something like thunderbolt hit me."

This pivotal moment during his childhood playground experience cemented his desire to immerse himself in the world of style and elegance.

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Career Path: From Marketing to Fashion

[05:00 – 07:30]

Christos details his initial foray into the corporate world, working with prominent companies like Clorox and Disney. Despite his creative inclinations, he grappled with conforming to corporate norms, exemplified by his seersucker suit mishap at Clorox.

Christos Garquinos ([04:59]): "I showed up my first day in a seersucker suit with a yellow tie, thinking chic. They sent me home and said no."

Choosing to bypass Harvard Business School, he joined Disney, where he played a crucial role in expanding Disney stores across Europe. However, the digital revolution in music, particularly Napster's rise, led to a significant career pivot.

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Founding Covet by Christos

[07:40 – 14:54]

Transitioning into the resale market three decades ago, Christos leveraged his expertise in fashion to create Covet by Christos. Initially a one-man operation streaming live luxury and vintage fashion on Instagram, it has since expanded to a global network operating seven days a week across ten countries, amassing $150 million in sales.

Christos Garquinos ([13:11]): "We have a community called Stow Squad... They're ballers and they've all become friends."

Christos recounts the humble beginnings of his live shows, starting with just a handful of viewers, and his strategic partnerships that fueled exponential growth. His innovative model blends live interaction with the convenience of online shopping, creating a "Netflix of shopping."

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Personal Challenges and Resilience

[10:52 – 21:49]

Christos candidly shares his struggles with addiction following the cancellation of his Bravo reality show, Dukes of Melrose. This tumultuous period saw him drowning in debt and battling substance abuse. However, his commitment to sobriety over the past nine years has been a cornerstone of his resurgence.

Christos Garquinos ([11:10]): "I'm nine years sober now, so I'm really excited about that."

His resilience shone through as he reinvented his business model during the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming his closet-based live sales into a thriving global network.

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Insights on the Luxury Resale Market

[16:23 – 18:34]

Christos provides a deep dive into the luxury resale market, highlighting perennial favorites like Chanel clutches and Hermes Birkin bags. He emphasizes the enduring demand for these iconic pieces, often reselling at impressive percentages of their original prices.

Christos Garquinos ([16:23]): "Every girl and now I say boy, because I care... needs a great clutch."

He also spotlights emerging trends, such as the rising popularity of Miu Miu and Tom Ford for Gucci, underscoring their strong resale value and cultural cachet.

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Personal Anecdotes and the "Robin Hood" Philosophy

[07:40 – 09:13]

Christos shares memorable stories from his career, including helping a Chanel hoarder declutter her possessions and his playful moniker, the "Robin Hood of Fashion." This philosophy centers on making luxury fashion accessible by redistributing high-end pieces to a broader audience.

Christos Garquinos ([08:13]): "I have to keep my poker face on because I would see the Tom Ford for Gucci piece that they had no idea they had in their closet."

His approach not only promotes sustainability through circular fashion but also democratizes access to luxury goods.

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Advice for Aspiring Fashion Entrepreneurs

[20:16 – 21:38]

Offering invaluable advice, Christos encourages aspiring fashion entrepreneurs to trust their instincts, stay solution-focused, and seize every opportunity to network and collaborate.

Christos Garquinos ([20:16]): "Don't listen to the stuff in your head and don't listen to other people... just take that first step."

He underscores the importance of persistence and proactive engagement, sharing personal strategies that propelled his success.

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Future Endeavors and Conclusion

[21:59 – 22:54]

Christos reveals exciting future projects, including the release of his memoir, The Comeback, which has already topped several bestseller lists. He hints at plans to expand Covet by Christos into new categories, including beauty and supporting independent brands.

Christos Garquinos ([22:09]): "The business is going to start growing. We have so many new categories to get into."

He teases a forthcoming second book, promising an insider's look into the retail world with entertaining and insightful anecdotes.

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Closing Thoughts

This episode provides a comprehensive look into Christos Garquinos' extraordinary journey, blending personal resilience with entrepreneurial brilliance. His story is not only inspiring but also offers actionable insights into the luxury resale market and the broader fashion industry. Listeners gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to innovate and thrive in a competitive landscape, making this episode a must-listen for fashion enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs alike.

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Notable Quotes:

• Christos Garquinos ([03:20]): "The minute I realized I was going to be a fashionista, I was nine years old... Something like thunderbolt hit me."

• Christos Garquinos ([04:59]): "I showed up my first day in a seersucker suit with a yellow tie, thinking chic. They sent me home and said no."

• Christos Garquinos ([08:13]): "I have to keep my poker face on because I would see the Tom Ford for Gucci piece that they had no idea they had in their closet."

• Christos Garquinos ([11:10]): "I'm nine years sober now, so I'm really excited about that."

• Christos Garquinos ([20:16]): "Don't listen to the stuff in your head and don't listen to other people... just take that first step."

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Connect with Christos Garquinos:

• Book: The Comeback available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Audible.
• Instagram: @covetbychristos
• Website: covetbychristos.com

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This episode was produced by Hilary Kerr, Summer Hammeris, and Natalie Thurman. Editing by Ko Takasugi Chernovin, with audio engineering by Glen Canyon Audio and music by Jonathan Leah.

Transcript

[Al Ko]

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[Bobby Schessler]

Welcome to the who what Wear? Podcast, your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors and tastemakers who are shaping the ever evolving world of fashion. I I'm who what Wears Shopping director Bobby Schessler and today I'm chatting with the founder of the luxury live shopping network, Covet by Christos Christos Garquinos. Christos has been an established name in the fashion game for decades now with an incredible story from starring in a reality show in Bravo to being an on air personality on the Home Shopping Network. But he really hit his stride in 2020 when he founded Covet by Christos, a series of Instagram live shows where he sells luxury and vintage fashion around the clock. What started as a one man operation has grown to a business that streams seven days a week in 10 countries and has brought in $100 million in revenue. He joins me today to talk about his early love of fashion, running LA in the 90s, the trends he's noticing in the luxury resale market right now, and his new memoir, which we'll link to in the episode description. Oh, and by the way, I recorded this interview from my closet and Christos is such an expert that he immediately gave a spot on analysis of the pieces I do and don't wear. It's all coming up on who, what Where? Christos, thank you so much for joining me today.

[Christos Garquinos]

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here. I'm looking through your closet now to see what's in the back there.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay, I have to say while we're on that this is not the angle of the closet. The bag section's better, but this is where the power outlet is and it needs to be organized. So don't judge me too hard.

[Christos Garquinos]

Okay, I won't. I won't. I'm looking at the hangers, making sure the hangers are good.

[Bobby Schessler]

They're okay. We do have the same bracelet on, which we noted right before we started recording.

[Christos Garquinos]

So we have our black onyx wonder twin powers activate.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yeah, we love it. Okay, so your career is winding and fascinating. Let's start at the very beginning. So take me back to you growing up. You're a Greek family in Michigan. What was your relationship to fashion growing up? And did you always knew that this is what you wanted to pursue?

[Christos Garquinos]

You know, I'm a child of Greek immigrants. My parents immigrated in the mid-50s to Detroit. I grew up in the restaurant. I was four years old, on a milk crate, working the register. My dad was called Nick the Greek. He was impossibly good looking. There's a sign outside the door of the kitchen that said, this ain't no Burger King. You get it my way or you don't get the goddamn thing. So that was that kind of place. Very my big factory wedding. They would go out every Saturday night because they were the party kids of Greektown in Detroit. And I'd watch my dad get dressed. He had, like, no formal training. He just knew how to put things together. I would watch him put together outfits, like a mustard tuxedo jacket with the crazy shirt, his jewelry, his hair. And then the minute I realized I was going to be a fashion, I was nine years old. It's a typical gay boy experience when I'm by myself on the playground playing tetherball, which you know is the lonely game. You have no friends.

[Bobby Schessler]

Been there.

[Christos Garquinos]

Sad, right? The ball was going around and I heard the clickety clack of a girl's heel, like a high school girl who's probably cutting class. I looked over and I heard those stilettos. And I said to myself, someday I'm going to be around that. I didn't know what it meant. Something like thunderbolt hit me. And then a true thunderbolt did hit me because the ball came around, smacked me in the eye, and I got a black eye from it. So that pretty much talks about my life. You go up and you go down, you figure out something, and then it goes down like this. And so it's been that sort of crazy time for me my whole life.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay, so you started your career in marketing. Several, like, very big companies like Clorox, Disney. Tell me about that. And then pivot to fashion.

[Christos Garquinos]

So, you know, I went to School at Michigan. And during the weekends, I worked at Lord and Taylor. I used to put together displays. I used to love the brand. You're probably too young for this, but it's called Genera. I love Genera. Look it up.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay.

[Christos Garquinos]

The guy who does ATM used to do it. I remember, like, it being this amazing display, and I stepped back from it, and I heard this man going, oh, my God, I want it all. I'm like, who the hell is this queen? And I turned around, oh, hey, Richard Simmons.

[Bobby Schessler]

Oh, my gosh.

[Christos Garquinos]

What are you doing in Ann Arbor, Michigan? And he's like, I want all that. What did you just do? I'm like, okay. So I knew I had something. Like, I had a feeling for that. So I told my parents, I want to go into fashion. And they're like, you're getting a job. So I got a really big job. I went to San Francisco and I worked for Clorox. Now I showed up my first day in a seersucker suit with a yellow tie, thinking chic. They sent me home and said no. So I had to go. I was literally, like, in corporate America was a gray suit for two years. So I worked there for two years, and I got into Harvard to go to business school. And then someone at Disney in 1990 called me and said, hey, we heard about you. We heard you're like, a hotel.

[Bobby Schessler]

Whatever.

[Christos Garquinos]

I'm good at my job. And so they offered me a job in lieu of going to Harvard. I took it. I was at Disney during the heyday from, like, 90 to 95, and I was sent to Europe to open up all the Disney stores.

[Bobby Schessler]

Ooh.

[Christos Garquinos]

I was the minister of Disney culture. So it was very much Amway slash Mary Kay in terms of, like, indoctrinating people with, like, how to do Disney. So I did that for a few years. But my biggest love, other than fashion, is music. I idolized Richard Branson. I used to love Virgin Megastores. And I would just spend hours there. And, like, when you're young at 28, you do these games, like, what's your dream job? And I said, working for Richard Branson, but back in LA for Virgin Megastores. And I was on a really bad blind date in London. I said, I'm sick. I'm sorry. I have to go. And I went to the Virgin Megastore in Piccadilly. I was flipping through a Billboard magazine. They ran an ad for that job, and two weeks later, I started the job. It was like, total kismet or Gotcha. My hair grew to here you know, Bell Bottom Jeans had a marketing. I was out every night and I, you know, I'm not. Okay. I'm going to boast. I pretty much ran LA.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yeah.

[Christos Garquinos]

From 94 to 98. I was like that guy. Like, I was going out. I dealt with everybody because of my job. I had the purse strings to like, what we would feature at the stores. It was a great time. Until it wasn't. Because I went on fox news in 1999 and they're like, hey, Christos, what about Napster? Do you think it's gonna be a threat to the music business? I'm like, no, everyone's gonna want to have CDs. What's digital music cuts you goes out of a job a year later. So gone. So that was the pivot into fashion.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay.

[Christos Garquinos]

And so I had started a store in LA and then I stumbled into resale. This is 30 years ago, and Sex and City was just coming out in the late 90s and people were kind of understanding bag. There was no Internet. So, you know, I was working with all the best closets in the world and grew into fashion bec of this expert in fashion and the idea of resale, which is now like the most booming part of our economy, as you probably have seen.

[Bobby Schessler]

It's crazy.

[Christos Garquinos]

My life up to like, I don't know, 34 and a half.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay. So you can curate, you source, like, you know how to find it. So how did you discover that skill along the way? Was it just through working in the stores? Like, tell me about that.

[Christos Garquinos]

Yeah, I think it was inherent. I was doing it in my mom's closet when I was a kid, just kind of like, re merchandising her closet. And like, I understood the emotional connection people have with clothes and is ready to give it up or not give it up. So I coined myself the Robin Hood of fashion because I would take from the real rich and sell it to the slightly less rich in terms of, like, you know, getting a deal. Because resale is about the circular nature of fashion, but also getting good deals from a resale perspective. So I learned a lot in the job. I learned very quickly. I could go into someone's closet and you're probably not wearing the things the top of your closet. I see it. They're not being worn.

[Bobby Schessler]

No, I'm not at all. They're lopsided.

[Christos Garquinos]

I look up and then I look way down. Those are two things I know that people are not using. Sometimes I'd have to keep my poker face on because I would see the Tom Ford for Gucci piece that they had no idea they had in their closet. I'm like, oh, my God, how am I going to get this? One of my funniest stories is actually in the book cover. The Comeback is I got a call one day, and it was from a woman. She was whispering. She's like, I hear you help people. Like, I think you may have the wrong number. Beverly Hills Psychiatry is down the street, right? She's like, no, I have a problem. I live in New York and I'm a hoarder of Chanel. I'm like, I'm your man.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes.

[Christos Garquinos]

She's like, listen, I have two apartments. One I live in and one has all my Chanel. By the time she said that period, I was already in New York on the Upper east side, like, at her front door, like, knocking.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yeah. That plane was booked. Yes.

[Christos Garquinos]

So she opened the door, and she couldn't open the door. It was that full. Can you imagine?

[Bobby Schessler]

No.

[Christos Garquinos]

So it was like six days of two to 3,000 pieces of Chanel that I had to get through. There's a little bit of, like, you know, addiction sort of thing that goes down with people. So I had to talk her through each point. So I got it through and I made it happen. So if I could handle that, I can handle anything.

[Bobby Schessler]

Literally. That's absolutely wild. Okay, so many of our listeners know you from when you entered the Bravo universe.

[Christos Garquinos]

Yes.

[Bobby Schessler]

Your show, I think, was from 2013. Dukes of Melrose. How did that come about? And then obviously, everyone knew you in la, but the mainstream people back in Michigan, like, how did it go from being that to being this reality TV personality?

[Christos Garquinos]

Well, there's two, like, sort of threads to it. First off, being in LA in 2012, literally, I went to dinner once. I was like, hey, Rachel. Hey, Brad. Hey, everybody at this table. And I look around like everyone had a TV show. I was like, this is crazy.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yeah.

[Christos Garquinos]

So I was like, I need to get a show. I need to make this happen. But the real reason why I wanted the show is because since I was probably aged 13 or 14, my obsession was the Home Shopping Network. Kids would be playing sports outside. I'm like, I'm sorry. I need to watch Adrienne Arpel. She is selling her line and I want her to have a sellout. That was, like, my goal. And so I said to my manager, fun fact, my manager at the time was Freddie Demand's daughter, who is Madonna and Michael Jackson's manager. So I was like, pilar, we have to get on hsn I'm going to get this show on Bravo. Bravo show happened, and it was crazy. People ask me now because I'm still involved in the Bravo universe with Housewives, and I was just gonna watch what happens live. And, you know, it kind of led to my divorce and all this sort of stuff. So I don't know if I recommended to people. I mean, our show got canceled after one year, so it was a nightmare. But it led me to my Home Shopping Network. Everything I've done, honestly, has led me to this point with covered by Christos, whether it be hsn, having a TV show and having a store.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay, so tell me about HSN and when you launched Covet by Christos, what was that period like?

[Christos Garquinos]

Well, there's the professional period and the personal period. Like, the whole book's about comebacks and what happens. And so after the show ended in 2013, 2014, I kind of went through a rough patch of my life. I thought it'd be a really cute idea. I'd like to, at age 50, get addicted to drugs and alcohol, which was not cute. I'm nine years sober now, so I'm really excited about that.

[Bobby Schessler]

Congratulations.

[Christos Garquinos]

Thank you. But it definitely took me down a path of craziness. I was down to, like, no money. I had a million dollars worth of debt. Just this crazy time. And so I didn't want to go back to Michigan. I love Michigan, but like, I was the person that people from Michigan rooted for. All my friends and family, like, he's making Hollywood happen and if he only knew I was living at the top of Mulholland. And then if you live in la, it's like I was back down on Cloverdale at age 50, and I started this thing called Covid by Christos, where basically I went on the road, Walter Mitte style, to really small markets like Omaha, Detroit, and took my luxury goods and sold out of basically not my car, but like in hotel lobby. And this is 2018. I was just climbing myself back, just trying to remain sober. It was starting to grow with consignment. It's great if you have a really big month, but then you got to pay back the people from that month in the next month. In February 2020, I had my biggest month of all time. I was like, you, oh, my God, I think I've got this figured out. And I felt like my life getting back together. Well, you have a plan and then God has a plan.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes, we all know what happens next.

[Christos Garquinos]

So I'm in Chicago, in a small city outside Chicago, and All of a sudden, I'm supposed to go to Detroit for my next drunk show. I call my sister. She's like, you're not coming here. You hear what's happening? I was like, what are you talking about? She's like, read the news. I'm like, oh, my God. I went to the FedEx that was literally closing and put my foot out in the door. I'm like, please let me ship this stuff back to California. I don't know how I'm going to get it back. It was all my bags. I got on the plane.

[Bobby Schessler]

I.

[Christos Garquinos]

It was the craziest night of my life. And I. My husband meets me in a Hazmat suit. I'm like, literally, what is happening? We go back to our place, and I'm like, I gotta figure this out. I owe people, like, a lot of money. And so after Bravo, I had pitch this concept to TV networks, like, Live in the Closet with Christos. It's watch what happens. Live meets HSN meets me. And I'm in a closet. FedEx is outside the door, and I'm talking to you, and we're selling things. I don't know how this really works, but this is my idea. And they all love the idea, but they couldn't figure out how to do it. So on March 22, 2020, when I was like, I gotta figure this out, I went to a meeting, I did a little prayer, and then I got on Instagram, for whatever reason, I had like 2,000 followers. And I saw De Nice, the DJ. Remember the guy who's having, like, a hundred thousand people, like, live?

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes.

[Christos Garquinos]

Then we actually become friends now, which is so amazing. And I'm like, a hundred thousand people watching him. Dj. Oh, you just wait till I start this tomorrow. Live in the Closet Christos on Instagram Live. I gotta figure out how it works, but I will do this. And so I got on. There was like eight people, two of which were like, my aunt, who's like in her 80s, my sister, and, like, Russian bots. And I'm like, hey, anybody want a Chanel bag? And so that was my first day, March 23rd. And so what happened was I went back every night at 5:00, no matter what, and people wanted a connection. And sometimes I wouldn't sell anything or I just would make people laugh. I bring on some of my celebrity friends to kind of keep the viewership going. In December 2020, this kid from Europe who's a vintage dealer, reached out to me. He's like, I see what you're Doing. It's really interesting. So how much do you charge for it? I'm like, charge? Oh, my God. I'm the network. And I just flipped my whole model and then I was just off to the races. And so we now covered by Christos, CBC programs over 400 hours a month. It's on right now live. I'm not even on that much anymore. Yeah, I always say I'm like the Oz bear of the network. I give you your first cut. Now you go to Susie. Susie will take care of you. So we've just created this phenomena. There's this community called Stow Squad. There's these women who are like 35 to 65. They love fashion, they love conversation, they love to shop. They're on sometimes eight to ten hours a day. They're ballers and they've all become friends. And so I have been in this book tour for the last two months, meeting thousands of my followers. It's weird because, listen, I'm a little bit of a loner and I didn't leave the house for two years, basically. Anyways, it's been a crazy ride. We just crossed almost $150 million in sales.

[Bobby Schessler]

Oh, my gosh.

[Christos Garquinos]

And literally is off this phone.

[Bobby Schessler]

That's so crazy.

[Christos Garquinos]

In a closet like yours. I started this whole thing.

[Bobby Schessler]

That's crazy. So tell listeners a bit about what they can expect from this when they tune in.

[Christos Garquinos]

So it's kind of like, watch what happens Live meets hsn. I'd be at the top hosting you. You're on the bottom screen. You show me your wares. You could be anywhere in the world. I vetted you to be in the network. You're like, I've got this amazing Chanel bag. We describe it, talk about its quality, put the price in. And then basically it's like a gaming theory. Whoever sits the first on screen gets it. We also have become the biggest seller of beauty on Instagram. So we have Dr. Jason diamond on on Saturday with his products. We sell beauty also. So it's not just vintage. So when I started the network, even though I come from resale, I really had the vision of like Netflix of shopping. I don't need thousands of people to like be in your show. If you love size 42 shoes for a woman, like your Paris Hilton size, basically I have a show for you. It's very micro targeted and it's fun. So the first thing I learned from Richard Branson, he took me around the store. He's like, christos, I don't care if they buy Anything today I just want them to have fun. And that's what my father did back in the restaurant when he was like yelling at customers and they were there for like, oh, God, Nick really yelled at me today. I did something wrong. This happens to me every day. You know, I'm funny, but I'm also like, lady. So like kind of give them back what they're giving me. Because if you're watching a show, you're not a wallflower. There's definitely interaction, and so that's what it's all about.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay, so let's talk a little bit about products. I mean, you've been doing this for however many years in general. Yes. What are some of the items that have always been in demand and still are?

[Christos Garquinos]

Well, every girl and now I say boy, because I care them needs a great clutch. When I can get a Chanel clutch, it'll sell 20 times. So I'm always on a search for clutches. I think clutches are literally like the mainstay of any wardrobe. Obviously a little black dress. I call these pieces like your best friends in your closet. You know, a little black dress is important. A cropped denim or leather jacket is super important. Super important. Obviously an accessory like a great scarves is important. One thing you're also watching my show for is maybe to get your first Birkin.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes.

[Christos Garquinos]

I love a beat up Birkin. Doesn't have to be perfect. I can't believe I'm actually saying this. I have like more hacks in my closet. I didn't have an Hermes bag until like five years ago. I went from like a, you know, 35, 40 size Hermes bag, and now I'm back up to hacks in my closet. So, you know, I know it's a.

[Bobby Schessler]

Hard life that's so challenging. I still do not have one yet. So that's like obviously on the dream list.

[Christos Garquinos]

This will be my challenge for you, Bobby, to make that happen.

[Bobby Schessler]

Were you the one with Garcelle with her yellow Birkin on Housewives? That was you, right?

[Christos Garquinos]

That was me. By the bag? Yes, by the bag. That was me.

[Bobby Schessler]

I feel like she has like several now from when I've seen her on the show.

[Christos Garquinos]

She just has a really beautiful blue jean Birkin she was wearing, I think about a week ago. That was for me. Basically every bag's for me.

[Bobby Schessler]

I figured, yeah, she has a great collection now. Okay, so obviously Hermes, Chanel, what other brands are currently trending or what are people really in the mood for?

[Christos Garquinos]

Miu Miu is one of the hottest brands obviously in Fashion, but also from over resale perspective, it resells at about 85 to 90% of original price. So it's really amazing. So one thing, by the way, people, if you're listening to me, Alessandro for Gucci, I know it's a little bit paste right now. Collect it, because I see it trending in my stories and lives. Get that stuff Picoten. Three years ago, everybody's like, right. And all of a sudden it's like the French girls with a cigarette and a picotin.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes.

[Christos Garquinos]

And I would say Tom Ford for Gucci. Anything. Tom Ford for Gucci. I collect. I love it. I've met him a few times. Movie star presence. But I think for me, I was at the party that launched Gucci back in the 90s. That crazy LA party where they had in the gift bag. The Gucci thong thing.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes.

[Christos Garquinos]

That I still have a bruise from, because Demi Moore, I have a bone to pick with you. Demi Moore, elbow me out of the way.

[Bobby Schessler]

Oh, my gosh.

[Christos Garquinos]

True story. To get that gift back.

[Bobby Schessler]

That's a story.

[Christos Garquinos]

Not that I could fit into the thong, but like, God bless you, Demi. She's very sweet. She's great. And good for her.

[Bobby Schessler]

Loved her matte look.

[Christos Garquinos]

So good. Right.

[Bobby Schessler]

So obviously, Tom Ford for Gucci, what current brands do you personally love? Like, what's in your closet?

[Christos Garquinos]

I love dries. Anything dries. Actually, I'm wearing dress right now.

[Bobby Schessler]

Oh, my God, Obsessed.

[Christos Garquinos]

I actually do wear a lot of men's Tom Ford. Do you know what else I love, by the way? Zara jeans. Online. Insane.

[Bobby Schessler]

Very good. I like the shorts too. They're good.

[Christos Garquinos]

They have great jeans for guys. And I'm tall, so wait, how tall are you? I'm six three.

[Bobby Schessler]

Oh, that is tall.

[Christos Garquinos]

So anyways, they make great pants for like, tall people. I also enjoy Simone Rocha.

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes.

[Christos Garquinos]

Oh, my God. Simone Rocha. I have pants, I have shirts I love because everything's got a little bit of embellishment to it. It's a little interesting. So Simone, Rachel for men is like my other thing.

[Bobby Schessler]

I love, I love.

[Christos Garquinos]

And Casablanca. They make great suits.

[Bobby Schessler]

Fantastic. Tell me a little bit about your husband, because I also follow him.

[Christos Garquinos]

Oh, you do?

[Bobby Schessler]

Yes, I do. Before I even put two and two together. I guess I didn't realize that until recently. I feel like he has a great Chanel collection also.

[Christos Garquinos]

So Roland. His name's Roland Ryan. We actually met in match.com and we kind of came up together. He's been like that fashion guy for a while. But what kind of blew him up is that we were at Vogue World last June in Paris. He was wearing like a one of a kind emu jacket. And I saw Anna Wintour and I was like, she doesn't know who I am. And so I'm like, just go with me. I pushed him with Anna Wintour. I'm like, anna, you remember Roland, don't you? And she's like, oh, hi, Roland. That whole thing I've done before with people, of course she's like, oh, hi, Roland. I took the picture. Boop. And that picture went viral. Miu Miu saw it and said, who's this guy? They made him a brand ambassador. And then Chanel came in and was like, we like you. So we're working with Chanel. They're making the first ever couture short suit for him that he's debuting July in Paris.

[Bobby Schessler]

I love it. What advice do you have for people that want to work in fashion or, you know, maybe don't want to take that traditional route? What advice can you give somebody?

[Christos Garquinos]

Well, I wasn't traditionally in fashion either. I just had like, a Nate sense of business and, like, I think style and so I think it's about your fashion and listen to your gut. Because sometimes there's so many naysayers like, no, you can't do that and don't do this, and don't push your husband in front of Anna Wintour. You know, like, things like that. So I think the first thing is, like, don't listen to the stuff in your head and don't listen to, like, other people going, you can't do that. Two is don't be overwhelmed. One thing I've learned about being sober is staying in solution. If the first step is, hey, I may want to sell some things from my closet, what's the easiest way to do that? Maybe some poshmark or whatever that is. Just take that first step and don't be paralyzed. The world will take you through the next step in terms of what you want to do. You know, I would slide into people's DMs, for instance, if you like Law Roach, like, hey, LOL, I'm here in Chicago or LA. Do you need an assistant? I work for free. There's nothing wrong with that. You got to, like, understand your moment. Like that bad blind date I went to Virgin. One thing to think about is this may happen to somebody out there. I was in a hotel in New York and that's when I was, like, still working at Disney at nla. And it was early in the morning I got in the elevator ahead of Disney stores, was in the elevator, and I'm like, oh, my God, I never see this guy. I look like. But I'm gonna pitch myself. I was like, hey, Paul. And you know I speak French. If you ever need a job opening in Paris, I can be your guy. And he's like, it's 6:15 in the morning, kid. What's going on? But I took it and, you know, four months later, I was on a plane to Paris.

[Bobby Schessler]

Amazing.

[Christos Garquinos]

So I think it's like when you're at a party, like, go up to people, talk to them, like just whatever that is. Or if you see someone at the grocery store, like, make that first step. I believe in those moments 100%.

[Bobby Schessler]

Okay, so to wrap up, tell us first of all where we can get the book. What's next for you? What do you have coming up and anything else that we need to know.

[Christos Garquinos]

Well, the book, you can do it at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. The audible came out. So if you want to hear a crazy Greek man talk really fast for four hours, there's your book for you.

[Bobby Schessler]

Amazing.

[Christos Garquinos]

I guess the book has done super well. It hit four number one lists. Like, number one on the gay list, number one in the business list. This big distributor, Ingram is now doing the big push to be put it in the stores. And that really has not happened before because they really love it.

[Bobby Schessler]

Right.

[Christos Garquinos]

So that's happening next. The business is going to start growing. We have so many new categories to get into. You'll see a lot more beauty, you'll see a lot more smaller brands come up onto the site supporting independent brands, not just resale. I do have an idea for a second book which is going to be like, you know, there's that book about, like, what's it called? Kitchen Confidential. I've got some stories in retail, the inside of retail.

[Bobby Schessler]

Oh, yeah, people would love to hear that.

[Christos Garquinos]

I mean, like the time a lady checked herself out of the hospital. I swear this happened to me. And she walked into my store with her scrubs on and her iv.

[Bobby Schessler]

Oh, my God.

[Christos Garquinos]

Because she needed to shop.

[Bobby Schessler]

I'm dead. That's wild. You need to share all of that. 100%. Amazing. Well, thank you so much for chatting. I loved our chat.

[Christos Garquinos]

Thank you. It was fun.

[Bobby Schessler]

A huge thank you to Covet by Christos founder, Christos Garquinos. Make sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode. And while you're there, I'd be so grateful if you'd rate and review us. If you have any guest suggestions or any other feedback, drop us a [e-mail] or you can find us on social @whotwere. See you next Wednesday Wednesday on the who It Where Podcast. This episode was produced by Hilary Kerr, Summer Hammeris and Natalie Thurman. Our editor is Ko Takasugi Chernovin. Our audio engineers are at Glen Canyon Audio and are. Music is by Jonathan Leah.