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| Jason Meisner Jeffrey Allen, Sarah Perlmutter and Monique Thomas flank stylist Fred Connors, in centre.聽(Nick Pearce Photo) |
For a little while at least, AV俱乐部 turned downright glamorous. A red-carpeted catwalk was erected in the Rowe building鈥檚 lobby and an attentive audience filled the seating. The occasion was the 鈥淏ig Reveal鈥� of What Not To Wear, and staff and students alike gathered to watch the transformations and garner fashion tips.
Plans for What Not To Wear began in August, while students were still in their vacation clothes. The program was the brainchild of Management Career Services and the Career Services Centre: four students would be chosen for professional makeovers and wardrobe updates, then have their transformations featured at the Big Reveal. Monique Thomas, Jeffery Allen, Jason Meisner and Sara Perlmutter were selected from more than 40 applicants.
Stylist Fred Connors, owner of the salon/caf茅/gallery FRED, acted as Stacy and Clinton rolled into one: he picked clothes, critiqued, offered advice and also acted as the Big Reveal鈥檚 emcee. Snappily dressed in black tie鈥攁nd black everything else鈥擬r. Connors鈥� fashion wisdom and frequent wisecracks kept the audience entertained between the reveals, and the metamorphoses themselves were mind-blowing.
鈥淩atty t-shirts and jeans are commonplace in the halls of academia鈥� but won鈥檛 get me a first class job,鈥� wrote Jason Meisner in his application letter. Until now, the PhD student in Neuroscience and Anatomy confesses he would 鈥渦sually just resort to Value Village.鈥� When he took the catwalk, however, his 鈥渕ale corporate鈥� makeover was first-class Euro-chic; a black moleskin jacket, grey vest and tie, and a fashionably weathered leather briefcase.
But it was a long road to effortless style. 鈥淭he first thing I said to him was, 鈥榊ou look exactly like the unibomber!鈥欌�� Mr. Connors told the crowd as Mr. Meisner strutted down the catwalk. Still, 鈥淵ou can work miracles on a very strict budget.鈥�
Student Jeffery Allen received a 鈥渕ale business casual鈥� makeover. 鈥淚 own one long-sleeved, blue, collared shirt which I bought at Frenchy鈥檚 with my mom.鈥� When he took the stage, however, he owned not only a collared shirt, but a scarf, vest, and snazzy pair of sunglasses.
鈥淛eff was quite an extraordinary makeover, don鈥檛 you think?鈥� enthused Mr. Connors as Mr. Allen showed off his new look. 鈥淛eff鈥檚 lovely girlfriend was cutting his hair prior to coming to me.鈥� Saving pennies is important, but looking good doesn鈥檛 have to be expensive; the priciest thing he was wearing was his jeans.
Monique Thomas鈥� hip 鈥渃orporate female鈥� look proved that dressing professionally doesn鈥檛 have to be boring. 鈥淪he鈥檚 got a little bit of sass and a little bit of an attitude,鈥� said Mr. Connors. Her strong personality carried over into her workplace look in details like a dramatic pink pashmina and heeled boots.
鈥淪he was actually terrified of me (when we met), just so you know,鈥� Mr. Connors joked as the commerce student took the stage, looking calm and confident.
鈥淚 was scared to get my hair cut,鈥� she corrected as she took the mike, every inch the professional.
Sarah Perlmutter鈥檚 鈥渇emale business casual鈥� ensemble was the last makeover. The 25-year-old grad student was wearing a pair of size six black pants鈥攖wo sizes too big for her petite frame鈥攚hen she came to see Mr. Connors.
鈥淚n order to look polished, you need to wear clothing that fits your body properly,鈥� Mr. Connors scolded the audience. 鈥淒on鈥檛 think you鈥檙e hopeless and walk out of the store. Just pick a smaller size!鈥�
Ms. Perlmutter looked stylish in a tailored jacket and scarf, but she remained modest about her Cinderella moment. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檒l ever be walking on a catwalk again, so (it was) a great experience.鈥�
Each Big Reveal look was put together in under two hours and with minimal expense. Clever cost-cutting measures were implemented鈥擬r. Meisner鈥檚 briefcase, for instance, was borrowed from his existing wardrobe.
聽鈥淚f you want to be successful, you need to look like you want to be successful,鈥� said Mr. Connors. 鈥淵our university degree will most definitely get you an interview, (but) the image individuals project at that interview will get them the job 鈥� You have very, very little time to make a great first impression.鈥�