Wanting advice on how to dress to disguise her tummy won mum of two grown-up children, Sue Williams a two night stay in a boutique hotel in Manchester after she took part in our Facebook style competition.
More than 200 women asked professional stylist, Julie Dickson for advice during the takeover with Sue being picked as one of three lucky winners.
Her prize included a day of being pampered with her hair and make-up by make-up artist Collette Casey, who can be found making up the celebrities who often grace the red carpet, and choosing outfits with the help of Julie who styles many well-known clothing brands, including Damart, for photo shoots and journalist Look Books.
Sue, 49, said: “I found Julie’s advice so helpful. I suppose I’m stuck in a rut in the way that I dress and avoid lots of colour and drawing attention to myself because I’m self-conscious about having a bit of a tummy. Julie made me experiment, particularly when it came to colour, and I was amazed how good I looked in clothes that I wouldn’t have thought of wearing.
“Julie also gave me tips on wearing a tummy control vest top which meant I could wear jackets and long cardigans that I would normally shy away from. I loved trying on all the different outfits and knowing I could take them home. My son is getting married in India next year and the tops will be great for that trip.”
Once Sue had selected her outfits, Collette took over with hair and make-up. She said: “Sue likes definition around the eyes but not too much as she wears contact lenses so although I used an eye-liner I softened it some satin eye shadow in the same shade. Sue always wears her hair straight, but we decided to have a bit of fun and go with some curls.”
Sue said: “It was amazing to see the final look, I loved how I looked in the clothes and with my hair and make-up. I loved the colour and the curls, it all made me feel much taller and more confident. I’m definitely going to be more experimental in the future, now I know how I can look and it makes me feel.”
Once she was ready, Sue had her photograph taken by a professional photography before joining her daughter and the other winner, Ann, and her son for a celebratory champagne afternoon tea in the hotel.
A day of pampering was a big change for Sue who can often be found holding the ladders for her husband in all kinds of weather. She said: “I work for my husband’s security company which fits and services intruder alarms and I often get the glamorous job of holding the bottom of the ladder, usually in the wind and the rain so I’m normally dressed in jeans and a waterproof coat. This made such wonderful change.”
