Makeover Magic!

As a stylist and slightly obsessed fashion maven, it is impossible for me to head into town and stroll around and get all those annoying 'to do' jobs ticked of the list without taking in the good, the bad- and the downright ugly of the fashion choices people are choosing to don (and inflict, it must be said!) on the world. The girl in the funky skirt, clumpy punk-rocker boots and bleached blonde hair, the tragic guy in the shell-suit, the glamorous 'yummy-mummy' is her skinny jeans and riding-boots ensemble and the pretty school girls caked in foundation and vampire eye-liner parading the streets on their lunch hour from the local convent school- they are all on my style radar!

Ireland and small-town Ireland has definitely become more stylish of late- BUT, I still think that the motto of 'less is more' could be applied more liberally than the fake tan and foundation is! When I observe all of these different style offerings perambulating the streets, browsing the shops and indulging themselves in the cafes- I am always, as a stylist subconsciously assessing and musing over their choice of attire, and musing of how I could completely transform them with a few relatively unpainful tweaks- or staring in horror and morbid fascination at how they could have contemplated leaving the house in that rigout! Were they trying to outdo Lady Gaga? Well I suppose it is coming up to H'alloween- which I'll reluctantly have to factor in when scouting the streets for potential makeover victims!

This month, The Guardian- a great Nenagh based weekly newspaper, commissioned me to style, organise and write up a makeover feature for their Autumn/ Winter issue of their Fashion and Lifestyle magazine which I had great fun organising and running. All the shops I featured and outfits I styled in the makeover are from boutiques in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary- an excellent town for boutiques and occasion shopping- and with a tempting range of cute cafes to fuel up in as you shop 'til you drop!

Pop into New Moon for accessories and hats to die for, 5th Avenue boutique for funky fun, Adeline in Lisa Baker for quality sopistication, Marion Murphy Cooney in The Design Atelier for a piece of designer heaven and Mary in Slattery's of Nenagh for sheer class and top to toe style. Capture your stylish new look with professional Nenagh photographer, Tom Doherty who captured the girls' new look post makeover. A magician with the camera, the girls' were thrilled with their new looks and how Tom captured them with such ease and professionalism.

Treat yourself to a style consultation and personal shopping trip- or perhaps a wardrobe overhaul. Call me on: 087- 1348618- for a new, more confident, glamorous you in time for Christmas!

Maiken wears: pleather pants, neaon top,  houndstooth jacket, Guess bag from 5th Avenue boutique; shoes as before; necklace e29, Slattery's

Freda wears: Frank Lyman dress e275, cuff, Shira earrings e35 from Slattery's; black pumps e135 from Lisa Baker ; clutch bag e29 New Moon

Maiken wears: Navy/lace detail dress, e70, Cathriona King hat, e150, from The Design Atelier; shoes Lisa Baker.

Teal dress, e150 from The Design Atelier; Suzie Mahoney hat e220, New Moon, clutch bag and shoes as before.

*All makeover photographs are courtesy of Tom Doherty Photography, Nenagh. Tel: 087- 75 18 601