By MANDY STADTMILLER
Posted: 3:27 am
September 11, 2008
FORGET back-to-school for the kids - it's time to address your inner "shlumpadinka," a term Oprah has made the latest makeover catchphrase.
What's a shlumpadinka?
As Oprah says on her Web site: "I made this word up a long time ago. It represents, for me, a woman who dresses like she has completely given up . . . and it shows."
It's an epidemic that is seen "most seriously in the 'has-been' celebrities on reality-TV shows or the most popular cheerleader in high school that has never moved on or progressed," explains Rick Wellman, color director at Patrick Melville Salon in Midtown.
"We all know her . . . and now you can actually help."
From a subtle-but-not-too-trendy hairstyle that turns heads to simple fashion choices that wow your friends, The Post did just that, taking one willing staffer and giving her the Total Shlumpadinka Makeover.
"I'm fully aware of how I look, and when I'm in a hurry, I definitely can go for the shlump look," admits 30-year-old Sara Garafalo, whose wedding photos prove that, at heart, she's a bona fide head turner. "I figured with the new fall season, I should learn how to turn a new leaf and get rid of some of the frump."
But the real question here: Are you a frump?
Read along to discover the fiercest shlumpadinka-over tips Sara followed, how you can get the look, and the most crucial de-frumping tips that every girl, woman and governor of Alaska should follow.
Or, as Sara said when she saw the traffic-stopping results: "I saw that by simply taking a little more time, I was able to look so
much better."
But don't take her word for it. Listen to the reaction of her husband, Andy, whose jaw dropped when he walked in to see the final results.
"It was definitely eye-opening," he says. "She wouldn't normally wear those kinds of clothes, and it was a different style than I was used to seeing, so it was just like, 'Wow, she looks phenomenal.' "
HAIR DO-OVER
From Rick Wellman, Patrick Melville Salon
What she got: "I got rid of her overprocessed, faux-blond color and brought her back to her natural brunette with rich tones and excited it with deep auburn."
What you can do: "If you have freckles . . . go for gold and copper! Don't be afraid of coppers and reds, which will compliment your skin (avoid wine colors in the hair). Just remember, red is one of the most eye-catching colors. Be ready for the attention and embrace it."
What you should avoid: "If you have rosy or pink skin, steer away from the reds, gold or coppers as it may exaggerate flushed skin. Go for more natural beige tones."
The biggest nonshlumpola tip: "If you want to make your blond look lighter, wear black. To make your red look more intense, top it off with a jade-green blouse. Look at a color wheel and choose a shirt the opposite color of your hair tone to make your hair shade pop!"
