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Makeover books offer hope for everywoman

BY SUZANNE D'AMATO

Washington Post

With their cadres of beauty gurus and wardrobe winnowers, celebrities make the business of style seem simple. But most of us, sadly, lack a crew of hangers-on to tweeze our brows and schlep our Spanx.

That's where makeover advice books come in. Lose a scarf, add some blush and presto chango! Any plain Jane can look a little like Halle Berry. At least, that's the kind of transformation that these releases suggest is possible:

'Brenda Kinsel's Fashion Makeover'

"30 Days to Diva Style!" trumpets the cover of this book (Chronicle Books, $23). Diva style, in this case, doesn't mean Diana Ross so much as clothes that showcase your assets and let your personality shine.

Yes, that's roughly the same idea as every other makeover book on the market, but Kinsel's friendly, genuinely helpful voice elevates her read above the rest.

This illustration-packed book isn't for everyone, though: It caters to older women who need confidence as much as new clothes. For them, this step-by-step guide to building a wardrobe could be a godsend. But women with more style are likely to find Kinsel's diva a little dowdy.

'How Not to Look Old'

If you believe that "aging sucks" and inexpensive jeans make some women "look like hell," you'll find a soul mate in Charla Krupp, veteran beauty editor and author of this book (Springboard Press, $26).

Krupp maintains that her no-nonsense book is about "looking young without looking ridiculous" -- a statement that seems slightly less credible once she fesses up to having had an eyelift, laser treatments and Botox injections.

Still, if you can get past the talk of fillers, plumpers and other iffy-sounding injectables, Krupp offers smart fashion and beauty tips that are suitable for women of all ages.

Whether she's riffing on globby mascara or singing the praises of control-top pantyhose, Krupp manages to sound both down-to-earth and well-informed: Throughout, you'll find specific product recommendations and where-to-buy info. Going under the needle may not be for you, but the bulk of Krupp's matter-of-fact advice doesn't hurt one bit.

'Just Try It On!'

Most people shop for clothes when they need them. Sounds logical, yes, but too often it means that you end up buying a $200 cocktail dress when you meant to spend half that (but it was the day before the party!). Or maybe you snap up the last Miraclesuit in the store, even though it's one size too big (but you're leaving for the beach tomorrow!).

If this sounds familiar, Susan Redstone's book (Citadel, $16) could be your salvation. This truly novel guide to shopping smarter relies on a simple concept: Clothes arrive in stores on a set schedule every month.

By shopping as new merchandise becomes available, rather than waiting until you desperately need a specific item, you'll choose from the broadest array of options. Once beach day arrives, you'll already have that perfect suit (and coverup, and sandals) in hand. Bye-bye, impulse shopping.

For women who don't want to plot out every purchase on an Excel spreadsheet, Redstone's ultra-organized approach could prove maddening. For the many people who shop at end-of-season sales because they need to, some of her pay-full-price suggestions could be a big budget buster.

But if you're the type who scrambles from sale rack to designer boutique trying to fill in the gaps in your closet, only to end up with a heap of junk you never wear, this innovative read just might change your life. Or your wardrobe -- which, if you're a true fashion junkie, is more or less the same thing.