BoomerGirl Diary

Sometimes the only thing we need to break a fashion rut is a little push in the right direction. We like to joke about fashion dos and don'ts, but the real styling woe is the fashion yawn. Who says that you have to do something wild and dramatic?

The truth is that most people gain the most mileage and the most lasting results from smaller changes.

For most of us, hair is the easiest fix. Maybe it's a mental barrier that starts a top-to-bottom fashion shake-up. Hair is one of the easiest things to change and yet, it's the one aspect of personal appearance that tends to change the least.

Wardrobe is an obvious place to freshen up your style, but few of us have the means to afford a complete closet rehab. So here we focus on adding functionality and versatility to our wardrobes, as a shy 50-year-old nurse goes from drab and conservative to spirited and sexy.

Mary Lou Ponder (50, St. Louis)

A native of Massachusetts, Mary Lou moved to St. Louis with her husband a few years ago. She got married for the first time at 48 years old to a man almost seven years younger and wants to tell women that "it's never too late."

For her 50th birthday last year, her husband nominated her for a makeover saying that she is "a beautiful woman with a lovely figure, but she admits that she has always had a bit of a body image problem."

Now, Mary Lou was ready for a change. She said that she grew up shy and conservative. It doesn't help that Mary Lou is a registered nurse and wears hospital scrubs at work daily. Currently, she works at the John Cochran V.A. Hospital.

"I don't have to get dressed up to go to work, so you can get very out of touch with fashion," she said. Sadly, jeans and a sweatshirt are typical attire for Mary Lou. We informed her that if this were "What Not to Wear," those items would go into a trash bin. But we're a kinder and gentler makeover crew, so she got to keep her old clothes, but we hope to see a lot less of them.

Before

Stylist Lyndsy Walker immediately thought of Katie Holmes when she saw Mary Lou's before photo. She envisioned the transformation of the pre-Tom Cruise Katie into the "because of Tom Cruise" Katie. The actress with a sweet smile developed a look of sophistication that still speaks to her girlish maturity as a new mom. And Mary Lou has the same girlish gleam and the demeanor you'd expect from an angel of mercy.

Mary Lou's outfit needed to hint at her personality, so Walker thought of giving her a pop of color and something that flatters the figure hiding under those drab, baggy clothes.

After

Mary Lou's hair was cut short with longer bangs a la Katie Holmes, because it offers a more youthful look that isn't over the top. Hair stylist Jaclyn Surber blended a custom color for Mary Lou's hair that has hints of browns and purple to make her green eyes pop. Makeup artist Garry Vesper further accentuated her eyes by tweezing her eyebrows from underneath to give a more sexy, yet professional look. He also used a lip plumper for a nice healthy pout.

For the outfit, Walker said that "there was a whole lotta girl missing from her before outfit." She wanted to see Mary Lou's slim waist. Because Mary Lou prefers to feel a bit covered up, Walker balanced a pretty neutral and essential little black dress with a splash of color. The result is a very multifaceted outfit. The mock turtleneck underneath can be worn separately with jeans or slacks. The dress can be worn alone or with the jacket. The jacket can be worn with just about anything, and the shoes will elevate basic outfits to another level.

Walker chose patterned black hose with patent leather shoes because she didn't want Mary Lou to feel that her legs were too bare or on display.

"And then I saved the wild pattern for her clutch purse, because smaller accessories are ideal for really loud colors," Walker said.

The look: Jacket ($105), dress ($129), mock turtle neck ($34.99), earrings ($16), hosiery (2 for $12), shoes, BLBGirl ($110), Guess clutch ($50), all from Macy's.