They walked in wearing rhinestone-studded baseball caps, and appeared puzzled when asked to describe their personal style.

"I don't know," mused Shona Hickmore, a 20-year-old Arts student at the University of Alberta. "Whatever is clean?"

But by the time the young women, who are heading back to campus this week for the fourth and final years of their degrees, had left Southgate Centre after a complete makeover, they had ditched the hats and entered a much better head space.

"I feel more polished and put together," said Shona with a shy smile.

"I don't even feel like the same person," said April as she gazed wide-eyed at her reflection. "It's not really me in the mirror. I feel good."

Standring contacted Southgate Centre's marketing director, Aleisha Vermeulen, and found they were eager to participate. Southgate contributed a $250 gift certificate for clothes as well as the services of the mall's stylist, Emily Salsbury of Purestyle Management (www.mypurestyle.ca). The Journal pitched in with $500 in extra clothing funds. Eveline Charles Salons and Spas agreed to take care of the hair, and makeup stylist Jennifer Meszaros, of Definition Image Company, put her time and talent towards the finishing touches on the Hickmore twins' eyes, cheeks and lips. The Bay threw in a free makeup bag full of skin care and makeup products.

The results were truly transformative.

Salsbury shook her head while watching the young women pose for Journal photographer Sean Butts sporting their fresh, new looks. Though both April and Shona are quiet and unassuming, both had acquired a little attitude by the end of their makeover day.

"You even stand differently when you are wearing clothes you feel good in. There's a big difference from before," said Salsbury, who spent hours combing Southgate Centre to help the Hickmores select clothing that best suited their petite figures and punched-up sense of style.

The day began at Suzy Shier, where the girls discarded their ripped jeans and hoodies for three pairs of new jeans, a pair of dress pants, several tops (including four identical T-shirts in various colours for layering), a black baby-doll sweater and a cute cropped jacket -- all for $250. Salsbury concentrated on picking clothes the women could trade back and forth to get maximum bang for their fashion buck.

Later, at Dynamite, the Hickmores found sporty cotton knit sweaters, and sleek jackets and tops they could pair with a bulky scarf knotted at the neck to carry them from class to class.

Last stop was Spring shoes, where Shona found two pairs of flats and April indulged her love of heels with a pair of chic, shiny brown boots.

Salsbury observed the clothes that each of the twins was drawn towards, and made them realize they had more personal style than they had realized.

"Shona is casual comfort with an edgy flair. She wants to be comfy, but she likes bold details," explained Salsbury. "April is a little more trendy and likes feminine accents. She's more willing to risk it and work with her body. She knows what she's capable of as far as her look goes."

By early afternoon, the Hickmores were consulting with Meszaros over how to apply makeup to achieve a more polished finish. Neither April nor Shona wears makeup, so this was a brand new experience.

Meszaros started both off with sheer foundation and peach pink blush and brown/black mascara, and used sheer or light pink lipstick with a slick of gloss.

"Shona is a little more reserved, so I went with soft grey and purple on the eyes," said Meszaros. "April is more dramatic, so I went more smoky-eyed."

By 2:30 p.m., Shona and April were enjoying head massages while they had their hair washed at Eveline Charles. Shona was reluctant to part with her long locks, so stylist Dong Phan painted in blond highlights which will blend with Shona's natural hair colour as they grow out. Phan also cut some layers into Shona's hair to give it some bounce.

Stylist Tasha Tarry was thrilled that April was willing to take a risk and let Tarry do whatever she wanted. Tarry decided on a dark brown rinse with mahogany undertones, then cut about four inches off April's hair to create a classic bob with blunt bangs.

Meszaros and Salsbury agreed that the Hickmore twins will be able to maintain their new looks with ease. They insist creating a good look is merely a question of practice, and learning how to work with your body to emphasize its best features.

"The biggest misconception about fashion is that it costs a lot," says Salsbury. "Sometimes I think it takes more money and effort to look bad than it does to look good."