Suzie Hill and her mum, Ellen, go to the Girls' Day Out every year. Last week, reports Sharu Delilkan, two different women came home.
When Suzie Hill and her mother, Ellen, set off for the Girls' Day Out at Epsom last weekend - a tradition since the show began in 2001 - they had no idea they'd be coming home as two completely different women.
Suzie, of Beach Haven, and her mother were chosen at random for the Extreme Dress-over. As Suzie says, ``We were basically grabbed at the door and whisked away.''
Girls' Day Out, designed especially for women, usually attracts more than 170,000 of them.
This year it's estimated that 200,000 women turned up to the country's largest marketing event.
A wide variety of shows during the three-day event included celebrity chef demonstations from the likes of Peta Mathias and Madonna's Kiwi ex-chef, Peter Chaplin.
Modelling competitions and runway fashion shows on the Fashion Stage in the Entertainment Marquee were popular.
This year thanks to The Aucklander and The Viva Lounge, two lucky women were chosen each day and given the chance to become real-life Cinderellas with the Extreme Dress-over.
Suzie, 43, says the day of pampering - teeth whitening, a $1000 shopping spree, manicure, hair and make-up makeover - was nothing short of overwhelming.
``Mum and I keep wanting to do a pamper weekend away but it's never happened,'' she says.
Ellen, 64, has ``always dreamed of a makeover. I wanted to go to a place where they would teach you how to put your make-up on.''
She admits she's been rather lax with make-up. Looking back to the time when she brought up her three children, she laughs: ``I got into a bad habit of hardly bothering with make-up and not looking after myself.''
A manicure novice, Ellen says it was ``absolutely fantastic having my fingers massaged - I've always done my own nails.''
Suzie says her favourite part of the day of indulgence was being able to ``grab stuff off the racks and try them on.''
Both mother and daughter admit the clothes and colours recommended by La'qua Image stylist Susana Tuya were not necessarily what they would have chosen for themselves in the past.
Suzie says she'll definitely be more adventurous the next time she goes shopping.
Susana says: ``Ellen was sure she was a size 14-16 but when we were done we'd managed to get her into a size 10.
``This is not uncommon among older women who tend to dress for comfort rather than style.''
Colour artist Petra Rijnbeek says both Suzie's and Ellen's faces had similar skin tones.
``I didn't need to dress up their eyes because they both have beautiful blue eyes. I used browns to bring out Ellen's blue eyes - a good trick for when you're getting older.''
Vanita Thomas decided to style Suzie's hair so that it ``wasn't too full-on'' and didn't detract from her bright dress.
Vanita was aiming to give them a funky look.
``I was flattered when Ellen said she wants me to come and do her hair every morning,'' she laughs. As well the pampering, Suzie and her mum have won a dinner for two at the Novotel and Hotel Ibis in Ellerslie which they intend to enjoy in the not-too-distant future.
Suzie says she and her mum have never missed a Girls' Day Out and they're not intending to start now, especially after such an amazing day being spoiled rotten.
``It was wicked all day - I really enjoyed the hair and make-up part.
``It was also interesting to learn how subtle changes like just curling your hair with the tongs can make you look so different.
``I'm definitely going to try and maintain the look. My only hope is that I remember where all the pins go.''
THAT WAS THEN THIS IS WOW!
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