Summer Makeovers: The Hire Me! Edition
Shruti, 22, Future Lawyer
Currently enrolled in law school at the University of Michigan, Shruti was preparing for her internship interviews and needed a new look that would help her convey a more professional, serious attitude. "Since I started law school right after undergrad, with no full-time work experience, I'm definitely on the young side for my profession," says Shruti.
"Shruti's look was young and demure – attributes that could prevent her from being taken seriously in the legal world," says Eva Scrivo. "We set out to give her a more mature, polished look that exudes confidence." That meant cutting her shapeless, grown-out layers into a sleek bob and adding highlights and lowlights for dimension. "Shruti had fine, mid-length hair – a combination that made it look even thinner. I cut a strong bob line that hit just below the chin, to help strengthen her jaw line and overall bone structure," says stylist Donna Tripodi. To help camouflage the thinness at her roots, Tripodi then shaded her roots a few hues darker than the rest of Shruti's hair. This creates the optical illusion of thicker hair and the appearance of more depth.
"Shruti's brows were what first caught my eye," says makeup artist Mara Palumbo. "I started by sculpting and perfecting her arch, while maintaining the fullness of the brow and using a powder that’s a shade lighter than her natural color to fill in any gaps." Palumbo then created a clean complexion using tinted moisturizer, some sheer powder in her T-zone, and some light contouring under the cheekbones to help strengthen Shruti's facial structure. In addition to her stunning brows, Shruti was also blessed with long, lush lashes, so Palumbo used neutral tones on her eyelids to emphasize them.
The important thing to remember about working in a conservative place is that you can still look stylish and experiment with your hair and makeup, provided you do it in a sophisticated, grown-up way. "This look, hair and makeup, is perfect for a law office setting and something that's super easy to do on a daily basis," says Palumbo. "I think the new look makes me feel more at ease and therefore more confident," says Shruti. "It brings the focus to my features, so it might help capture an interviewer's attention without being distracting. It certainly looks more mature without looking old or dated, and it helps to convey a sense of quiet confidence."
Photographed by Erin Yamagata
in NYC