by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Giselle Demers

Age: 48

Occupation: Image consultant

Bio: This pleasantly loquacious Île Perrot chick says her sense of style has been admired by friends and cohorts since elementary school. A single mother with a background in business administration, Giselle credits that bastion of wisdom otherwise known as Oprah Winfrey for her foray into the wonderful world of image consultation. “God bless Oprah, many moons ago I heard her saying that to be happy you have to do what you love, so I started searching for what I love, and here I am today, doing it.” One of only a small handful of local image consultants, for a few bucks Giselle will figure out the colours that work best for you, take you shopping for clothes, and be on call “for life” should you find yourself in desperate need of style advice in the future. “It used to be that image was for movie stars and politicians, but now image is for everyone.” Contact her via www.image-style.ca.

Do male clients ever come to her for makeovers? “Of course, more and more all the time. Metrosexuals, you know, they want to look good. A lot of people come to me as they approach their 30th and 40th birthdays. But people also come when they find themselves dating again, or suddenly out on the job market. “

Something she’d like to see Emploi-Québec start doing: Covering the cost of image makeovers for the perpetually unemployed. “You know, they have courses showing people how to fix up their CVs, but nothing teaching them how to dress. I’m actually approaching them now about sponsoring my presentations about presentation. This isn’t just a superficial thing I do—presentation is crucial when you’re looking for work.”

Do the husbands whose wives use her services generally see transforming their spouses into beautiful flowers as an absolutely crucial, worthwhile endeavour, or more as an indulgence that keeps the missus happy and shuts her up for awhile? “My services are often a gift from husbands—and it’s a beautiful gift to give. I had one guy who had tears in his eyes when he saw the changes in his wife. She was transformed into a gorgeous redhead, totally amazing!”

Have any clients left their spouses once she’s made them over, suddenly deciding they need to find a lover as beautiful as their new selves? Not that she’s aware of. “I help people on the inside as well.”

Is there any hope for the critically obese? “Absolutely. There are key elements for any person or body type, and if you follow them, you can make a big difference. Proportion, lines, prints, colour density, colour contrasts, textures; all these elements will enhance your form positively.”

Something else she does: Volunteers her services at the Lakeshore General for women afflicted with cancer. “I’d like to start helping out at women’s shelters as well.”

Childhood ambition: To become a showgirl.

Last book read: Noble House, by James Clavell.

Musical preferences: John Pizzarelli, the Beatles, Diana Krall.

Words of wisdom: “Do what you love.”

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