Tuesday Topic with Christine Rutter

FACTORY worker Dorothy Greenwood will be swapping her overall for a chain of office when she steps into her new role as Mayoress of Blackburn this month.

But with her new position comes the worry about her appearance, which will come under scrutiny as she works in the public spotlight.

"It will be a bit different, a factory worker being Mayoress," said down-to-earth Dorothy, 56, a quality controller at orthopaedic wear company Promedics in Blackburn. "I hope I can identify with the people. I always dress smartly but I was worried about what I should wear to meet people. I needed a new look."

Does the woman who will be one of the most photographed people in Blackburn during 1997 pose a style challenge to the experts? Does her wardrobe need updating? Do her tresses look old-fashioned? Are the contents of her make-up bag suitable for the task ahead?

We turned to the style experts of her home town to give Dorothy, of Rosewood Avenue, Blackburn, a whole new look. She was given tips on dressing for her part as Mayoress - accompanying the Mayor, husband Peter - from experts at Debenhams, before she was whisked to the Alan Rene hair salon where stylists brought her locks up to date.

Make-up experts at Boots gave her a make-over and Dorothy tried out her new look as she dined with her husband at The Millstone Hotel, Mellor - voted one of the best restaurants in Lancashire.

OUTFIT (pictured above): Two-piece J Taylor green crepe pleated skirt, £50, tunic-style jacket, £65, and creme flowery blouse, £30.

SALES MANAGER LISA WOODS: "This is a really versatile outfit which can be mixed and matched and will work for day and evening. The outfit looks professional and is not too fussy, so that Dorothy will look approachable as the new Mayoress. She looked lovely in it, as well."

DOROTHY'S VERDICT: "The outfit was very elegant. I can mix and match it with other things and I felt comfortable in it. Ideal for my new role."

STYLE: Blow dry.

STYLIST: Lisa Cameron: "Dorothy had recently had it cut and coloured so we decided to blow dry it and give it a softer look. Her hair is fine but there is a lot of it. The softer style is more modern and flatters her face."

DOROTHY'S VERDICT: "I liked the whole effect of it. It was a softer effect and looked smart. I felt really pleased with it."

Left: Dorothy at work before her transformation

MAKE-OVER: Using No 7 cosmetics and a £15 cosmetic voucher for Dorothy.

NO 7 CONSULTANT JANET FERGUSON: "Dorothy has great skin. I experimented using turquoise and pale pink eyeshades. I told her how to tone down her make-up for daytime. A make-up base helped to keep her make-up on all day and a light diffusing foundation gave her a soft focus effect when photographed.

"She had great cheekbones. The crystal blue eyeliner made her eyes sparkle. I pencilled fair eyebrow hairs and gave her a natural pink lipstick. It is important for the Mayoress to look good because she is in the public eye. If you look good, you feel good."

DOROTHY'S VERDICT: "I have never had a professional make-over before and I looked marvellous at the end. She really emphasised my eyes and I looked very glamorous. I picked up some useful tips. I will be maintaining the look with products they gave me." MILLSTONE HOTEL

Church Lane,

Mellor

Four-course meal with wine for £56 at the award-winning restaurant, featured in Which Guide to Best Country Inns, with an AA Rosette and chosen as the AA's best romantic hotel.

MANAGER NICK TAYLOR: "Dorothy looked lovely. Very regal. They started with a selection of Lancashire delicacies, such as parcel of Lancashire cheese and leek. Followed by loin of Pendle lamb for Dorothy and Peter had a sirloin steak. Also had desserts, coffee and a bottle of German Hocheimer Queen Victoria wine."

DOROTHY'S VERDICT: "This was the wonderful ending to a perfect day. The service and food were excellent." PS: Dorothy was so impressed with her new look that she will be recreating it for the official photographs of the Mayor and Mayoress. She said: "Looking good makes you feel more confident. The day was wonderful. I was treated like a queen for the day and everyone was lovely."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.