{Makeovers} Francie Gets Fancy!

Last month, FOFs were so moved by Francesca Kranzberg’s weight loss story, they voted her winner of a makeover with fashion expert, FOF Sherrie Mathieson.

Read on to hear Francie recount her day of beauty and to witness her jaw-dropping transformation.

10:45 am

Francesca arrives.

“From the day I found out when my FOF makeover would be, until the moment I alighted the train in New York, I could barely sleep I was so excited.”

Francesca arrived wearing a purple flannel shirt, rolled up cargo pants, a backpack and a side-slung shoulder bag. We had our work cut out for us!

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
We learn 6 fun facts about Francie (while waiting for the salon appointment)

  • She has 2 daughters Dena, age 23 and Alena, age 21
  • She met her husband through a matchmaking service!
  • She hosts annual cheesecake parties for her neighbors where she makes 20 different varieties of the dessert.
  • She teaches Mah Jongg at two Jewish Community Centers in the D.C. area
  • She works for an organization called JConnect in Maryland, that helps newcomers get acquainted with the community
  • She is incredibly committed to her goal of losing 120 lbs and is already halfway there!

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Hair and Makeup at Senses Salon

“Senses Salon is in a very funky space, the type that usually makes me feel self-consciously out of place. Instead I was welcomed as if I were a celebrity and fussed over as if I were one, too. I had three people blowing my hair dry at once – how cool is that?! Antonio, Barbara and their staff are truly artists.”

{Click here for the products and processes}

For her hair, Antonio Rosa, co-owner of Senses Salon:

  • Used a single-process color to give Francesca’s hair more depth and cover the grays. Women over 50 should get a coloring every 6-8 weeks, says Antonio.
  • Brightened her hair by adding soft caramel highlights.
  • Left her length mostly intact while adding layers for movement and long bangs to soften the look.

Makeup Products List
For skin:

For eyes:

For lips:

4:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sherrie works her magic at
Saks

“Sherrie and I had “met” over the phone a few days before the makeover. I was in line at the pharmacy as we discussed measurements. The man in front of me did a rather obvious double take when we got to my bra size!

At the Salon Z section at Saks, Sherrie showed me how to make different combinations with the same pieces. I came dressed all wrong and left with a lot of knowledge! I started reading Sherrie’s books on the train home. Her writing is conversational, like advice from an old friend, and the pictures really reinforce the tips. Now when I go shopping I find myself asking, “What would Sherrie think?”

Look 1:

“This outfit would work for a Saturday afternoon shopping. You don’t see the upper thigh. The length of the sweater camouflages where she is still losing weight in a fashion-forward way. ” -Sherrie Mathieson

Organic Cotton Tank Top in White by Eileen Fisher, $178

“The Skinny” Skinny Jeans by Eileen Fisher, $148

Green Cascading Cardigan by Eileen Fisher, $218

Marc Y Marc Little Birdie Hobo in Navy by Marc by Marc Jacobs Bag, $458

Tory Burch Patti Wedge Sandals in Royal Tan, $225

Gold Hoop Earrings by Alexis Bittar, $100

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Look 2:
“This is a very simple top; the length reaches right where its critical so she is able to wear these legging-simulating jeans. The navy bag picks up the color of the jeans. I chose classic Jack Rogers sandals because they are comfortable and go with a lot; this pair goes with gold or silver. She could wear this look out to a movie or casual dinner.” -Sherrie Mathieson

“The Skinny” Skinny Jeans by Eileen Fisher, $148

Navajo Hamptons Sandals in Platinum by Jack Rogers, $96

Handkerchief Linen Shirt in Taupe by Eileen Fisher, $178

Printed Nylon Little Tate Tote by Marc by Marc Jacobs, $168

Gold Hoop Earrings By Alexis Bittar, $100

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Look 3:
“This look would be great for a casual work environment like Francie’s. Prior to this, she wore loose shirts that fit her sloppily. I like this shirt because it’s not too tight and not too loose. It skims her body just right. It’s a neutral palette which elongates her figure, a patterned shirt would not have had this effect. The hoop earrings add a little touch of glamour.”  -Sherrie Mathieson

Stretch Cotton Shirt by Lafayette 148, $268

Metropolitan Stretch Pants by Lafayette 148, $328

Marc by Marc Jacobs Genuine Italian Leather Brown Clutch, $298

Michael Kors Clogs in Brown Leather, $250

Gold Hoop Earrings by Alexis Bittar, $100

(All items available at Saks Fifth Avenue)

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8:00 p.m.
Francesca returns home to her family and friends in D.C.

Special Thanks to: Lexi Miller at Saks Fifth Avenue, Sherrie Mathieson and Antonio Rosa of Senses Salon.

{Style Expert} Poof! 7 tricks to make your age disappear

When Carol Tuttle turned 50 two years ago she vowed to defy biology.

“I reached a fork in the road. There was the ‘I’m going to look old path’ or the ‘I don’t think so path,’” said Carol, the author of Dressing Your Truth, a best-selling guide to finding your signature style based on Carol’s system of beauty “Types.” “Around 50 your body wants to get a little saggier or put on extra pounds, but I challenge that. You can choose to maintain fitness and vitality, but it takes an investment–a more dedicated investment than when you were 25.”

After doing literally hundreds of makeovers with FOFs across the country, Carol says there are seven age-defying musts every FOF should know:

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7. Use lipliner, lipstick AND gloss.

FOFs often have feathering. Lipliner frames the lip so the lipstick doesn’t bleed. The gloss holds the lipstick and gives shine and a fuller look.

Carol’s picks:

Lip Liner: Clinique Quickliner for Lips in Honeystick is a good neutral that will blend with almost any lip color. Plus, it’s retractable so it never needs sharpening.

Lipstick: Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey adds just enough color without leaving you looking made up.

Gloss: Clinique Long Last Glosswear in Knock Out Nude has an SPF15 which is very important for protection.

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6. Swap black eyeliner for brown and avoid liquid liner.

Liquid and black-colored eyeliners accentuate eye wrinkles. Instead, choose a less-harsh brown eye pencil to line the top lid from the inside out. The only women who should wear black eyeliner are those with porcelain skin and dark hair.

Carol’s picks: Sephora Collection Slim Pencil in “Medium Brown.”

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5. Update your jeans. I tell my two adult daughters, ‘When I was your age, a woman’s waistline was at her belly-button!’ Today, jeans should land an inch and a half below your navel.

Carol’s picks: Not Your Daughters Jeans and Paige Premium Denim. These brands cater to fuller hips and thighs.

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4. Get a bra fitting every few years and buy new bras every 6 months. Saggy boobs really age a woman. Get a bra-fitting and invest in a quality bra. You should be recycling your bras every 6 months or when the backside of the bra is no longer holding its original elasticity. It’s better to have fewer bras and replace them more often.

Carol’s picks: Go to Nordstrom for bra fitting.

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3.  Use brow powder to cover grays between color appointments.

We all get patches of gray hair on our temples and our brow lines between color appointments. Cover the gray with a brow powder that matches your hair. Use an oversized shadow brush to dab on the powder and voila, your gray is gone.

Carol’s picks: Bare Escentuals Essential Brow Color easily covers the gray and is healthy for your hair. My line of brow powder, Dressing Your Truth Brush on Brow comes in eight colors to match your hair, from blonde to very dark.

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2. Incorporate a daily fitness routine into your lifestyle.

Maintaining your body doesn’t have to mean running 5 miles at the gym everyday. Even basic daily strength training can make a huge difference.

Carol’s picks: The T-Tapp, an easy, 15-minute fitness routine created by exercise physiologist Teresa Tapp. I highly recommend doing it 4-7 times a week. It helps with your posture and lymphatic system and reduces fat. If you’re dedicated and eat healthily you can easily drop a dress size with this routine.

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1. Update your hairstyle. The biggest anti-aging secret is the right color, cut and style. I see women lose 10-20 years off their appearance just by changing their hairstyle alone.

Carol’s picks:

If you have a rectangular face, go for a sleek and straight style with a few layers like Michelle Pfeiffer. Just keep your length no longer than your shoulder blades.

If you have a rounder face, go for a medium length, bouncy or curly style to create a youthful look like Susan Sarandon.

If you have a chiseled, angular face shape go with a short, edgy, layered look like Jane Fonda.

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Images via Carol Tuttle, Sephora, Nordstrom, figleaves, amazon.com, Top News, Blogmeister USA, and The Hair Styler

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