Sparkling. Effervescent. Contagiously fun.
All words I would use to describe our most recent makeover winner, Kristin Picken.
But what happens when your outside doesn’t feel like it matches your inside? And you feel like you look frazzled, tired and run ragged?
If you’re Kristen, you submit your name for the airdrielife makeover!
Kristin is a lifetime resident of Airdrie. She grew up here. Her entire immediate family resides here. Her roots are here. Kristin is the mom of three children all under the age of 11. She drives a school bus and totally loves her job. And although she’s happily married, her husband drives long-haul truck and is working much of the time – so, she runs the “ship” almost solo.
Like most parents, her life is focused around her kids. And her job. With little time for much else.
Recently, Kristin decided to focus more time and effort on herself, starting with her physical fitness. She’s started running again – and just finished a five-kilometre run for breast cancer. She’s also started going to the gym as part of her new routine.
Winning this makeover seems like the perfect reward for her efforts!
We began Kristin’s makeover experience with a quick consultation, where she revealed that her secret fantasy is to look “city.” Sleek, feminine and “Devil Wears Prada” are how she described it. Ohhhh the fun we’ll have at The Store Upstairs strutting her city-chic style!
Since Kristin lives in either comfy yoga pants or jeans (plus, her fluorescent safety vest!) most of the time, I chose outfits that were a more put-together, stylish take on her easy go-to staples.
Choosing totally on-trend pieces is easy at The Store Upstairs. What’s challenging is limiting it to only a couple of outfits!
Here’s what made the cut:
City Sleek – This fitted, cold shoulder sweater dress highlights Kristin’s fabulous figure in the hottest colour of the season: crimson. The supporting cast tones down the traffic-stopping sexy vibe; a winter floral-print coat with oversized shawl collar and perfectly finished with a lady-like handbag and cranberry velvet, pearl-embellished block heels lend a playful vintage vibe.
Up-levelled Athleisure – Camo print is everywhere this fall/winter season including these saucy leggings. To make them a little less yoga studio and a little more street savvy, I’ve layered a gauzy, lightweight rosy-toned sweater under an oversized cowl-neck sweatshirt and finished the look with a comfy, cool pair of grey suede booties.
Quirky Casual – Embellished step-hem jeans are “the thing” this season – the embroidery jacks up the femininity and uniqueness to an otherwise standard wardrobe basic. To add a little edginess to Kristin’s look, I’ve chosen an olive cropped jacket, playful wool cap (which is a super-quick, stylish fix for in-a-hurry hair days), a kicky western-vibe mule, and her own bold-framed eyeglasses.
A great transformation is NEVER complete without a new hairstyle and makeup!
To complement Kristin’s pretty features, Wendy from The Hair Lounge softened her sun-bleached blonde with a balayage colour treatment (hand-painted highlights) and cut her hair into a sexy, inverted long bob. Making it easy for her to still pull it up in a ponytail!
Makeup artist Sarika kept our makeover winner’s look subtle and natural with soft mauves and understated, frosty lips. Her bold, on-trend brows are the focal point pulling attention to Kristin’s pretty peepers.
Huge thanks to the local businesses and people who have contributed to making Kristin’s makeover a success: The Store Upstairs for providing the fabulous fashions, footwear and accessories, plus a $500 gift certificate to Kristin; Wendy from The Hair Lounge for haircut, colour and style services; Sarika from The Hair Lounge for makeup application; Kristy Reimer from Kristy Reimer Photography; and Leslie Davies, Wardrobe & Style Consultant from The Stylish Insider.
