Someday my stylist will come

For most people, makeovers are the stuff of fairytales. What most girls dream of – perhaps after seeing too many episodes of Oprah and Queer Eye – is to have some fashionably dressed white knight on his/her dashingly groomed horse bring them to a more beautiful place, one where mullets, ill-fitting jeans, unmanicured nails and clunky shoes don’t exist, where hair always flows tangle-free and skin glows under direct sunlight. Call it the Neverland ranch if you like, but this fairytale land of perfection doesn’t really exist. And as soon as the cameras leave, you’ll soon find out that the ultra-chic stilettos you’re sporting, courtesy of your friendly reality TV stylist, hurts like a heart attack. (Well, I’ve never had a heart attack, but the look of pain I get from high-heeled footwear looks endearingly similar to my father’s when he gets chest pains.)

So it was with surprise that I received numerous e-mailed messages pleading for a wardrobe facelift when I posted my e-mail last month for those in need of a free makeover. What drew you guys to it? My dazzlingly fabulous styling skills? Or the fact that makeover was free and the lucky victors would emerge with a free starter makeup kit from MAC and gift certificates from Chocolate Clothing Co.? The latter seems like the most plausible but since my ego is just a wee bit tender I’ll just go with the first.

For those desperate for a makeover, stuck in a rut covered with matronic T-shirts – you know the kind, with weird butterflies, odd stripes or too-tight collars – and other bad pieces from the ‘80s the retro tribe would just as soon forget, remember that the key elements of a makeover are all within reach. All you’ll really need are the following: a little disposable income (granted, this is the hard part especially for students living on allowance and working girls on a budget – but where there’s a will, there’s a cheap ukay ukay store at the corner or lots of department stores with really reasonable prices), inspiration (check out your favorite movies – although for those obsessed with Molly Ringwald, I’d suggest magazines like Lucky and In Style since they break down trends into wearable pieces that’ll give your wardrobe a longer shelf life and also give advice on clothes for each body type), and a fun gay friend (remember it’s important you have someone with you who has reasonably good taste and is honest, so you know it won’t be bullshit when he gushes about the pink 17-tiered puffy ball gown and matching tiara you just tried on). You can also try makeup counters at department stores and test drive different looks – all for free. The people at the MAC counter in Rustan’s Makati, for example, are expert makeup artists. Simply show up, tell them you’re in need of a new look, and they can show you different makeup tricks that can make a world of difference.

Our makeover madness continues with a back-to-school episode. Girls fresh from a uniformed existence making their way to a coed fashion free-zone should fear not. Dressing for school is easy. Just remember to skip the bright red lipstick and red stilettos, and you should be good to go. Don’t be afraid to buck trends and go with your own style – a little confidence can go a long way. Or if you’d like to make a big statement, slap on a pair of oversized sunglasses. They always add a little mystic and allure to any outfit and can give you added privacy when you’re snoring through a class on the basics of physical education.

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Chocolate is located at Rustan’s Makati, SM Makati, Galleria, Megamall, Eastwood, Rustan’s Alabang, Rustan’s Gateway, Rustan’s Shangri-La and Rustan’s Malate.