Insiders' Guide.(beauty makeovers and the Murad Acne Complex Kit)

Total Makeover

Elements of Style

cara litke

it is the crucial scene in any makeover movie: The heroine sheds her frumpy clothes and reveals her true hotness with a slinky new wardrobe. In this Total Makeover, the three heroines were hardly frumpy -- but Kathleen Maignan, Chopin Rabin, and Barbara Drayer were finding it difficult to match their fashion to their new bodies. "The days of hiding behind baggy clothes are over," says Michael Carl, Allure's fashion director. "Slim-fitting styles are much more flattering, and they're huge confidence boosters -- especially for these women, who thought they'd never be able to wear them."

Barbara Drayer, school fund-raiser

The Challenge: "I got a new job, and my old work clothes -- black pants and a button-down- -- won't cut it. Now that I feel better about my body, I want to look more polished." The Solution: "Barbara has classic style, so we chose something neutral and tailored," Carl says. "She's petite, so we went with a dress that hit at the knee and added high heels." Drayer's Reaction: "I'm pretty preppy, so the detailing was out of my comfort zone. But once I tried it on, I felt professional and stylish -- I'm finally able to see past my black pants."

Kathleen Maignan, data manager