Teachers Taught to Make Grade in Fashion

Style Experts Help Two Teachers Prep for Upcoming Year with New Looks

(CBS)  Back-to-school style isn't just about the kids. Teachers need to make sure their fashion is in vogue, as well!

And on "The Early Show" Friday, in our "Back to School Early" series, two teachers got "glammed out" makeovers for the upcoming school year from style expert Gretta Monahan and Lancome's Beauty at Every Age expert, Sandy Linter.

Marie Mele, 50, is a teacher in the Boston school district. Tamika Edwards is a 33-year-old teacher for autistic children in New York. Also on the show were Erika Marcineau, Mele's daughter and Candice Edwards, Tamika's sister.

Linter offered her thoughts on the makeover session:

What did you think when you saw Mele?
Like most women who are in their late 40's and 50's, her brow was a little minimal and that is what frames the entire face, so I focused on this. It is key to creating a palette that works.

I noticed she had a little less brow, put a little attention to her brows. Now that she's a blond, they are even less noticeable. It's important that you spend time because it frames your face.

Was skin another issue for Mele?
Well her face is a little pink toned, so I think a powder/foundation would be good for her as a way to even out her skin tone. It's also it's portable.

Do more mature women need to adhere to a specific lipstick color as they age?
Use a neutral color. lip-gloss is hard to maintain/people think lipstick sounds old, but it's not, there are moisturizing lipstick formulas that last long; darker lipsticks are aging. Look for lipsticks in a young, nude color.

What is Edwards' beauty issue?
I think here is no real issue because Tamika is minimalistic to the point of wearing nothing! She has gorgeous skin, and gorgeous skin color. She is 33 years old, so she still has the opportunity to add a little pizzazz.

What's the area you wanted to focus on with Tamika?
I think her eyes needs to be addressed. There's a lot of excitement going on in the eyes. My first tip would be for her to line the eyes, and then connect. She doesn't need shadow, but she should always wear mascara during the day. At night she can make it pop even more by adding shadow and color.

Does Edwards need full foundation?
No, I think she could use a powder bronze blusher to give herself a glow during the day.

Edwards is only 33, is there something she should remember when applying her makeup?
She needs to know that it's not about correcting, but about creating a little excitement. She is young enough to still create excitement without going overboard in her makeup look.

More Back-to-School stories
Monahan's notes on styling

Mele's styling:

To sum it up: Marie can't really do a skirt or a dress in her position, as she sometimes needs to get physical when fights amongst middle scholars arise; she finds that pants are much more suited to her work lifestyle. Though she is a special education teacher, two years ago she got her master's in administration and has since been promoted to not only teaching but also administrating the program. This does not require a suit every day, but certainly more professional attire than an average teacher and typically a jacket, often in separates form.

Hair: Jeff Jagling used multi tonal blond highlights to add more warmth and depth to her existing color to accent her natural frame of her face. Andrea D' Agostino rose the length and created a head of soft framing layers.

What did you think was the main issue with Mele's hair?
I wanted to create a more modern look, going too blond ages her, it looked old fashioned and passé. We wanted to create a healthy contrast which makes everything pop. What we've created is more natural to her own color, which brings to her a more modern look and now it takes half the time and saves time and money. We did reverse highlights and glazed her, but kicked up the warmth.

Mele's outfit: We wanted to keep the drama going, so we went with cropped jacket and yellow as a color. She goes to work in an office situation, so it's great to have pants to go back to. Pants don't have to be matchy-matchy. Go with bold jewelry. She needs to have a professional look, but doesn't have to fall into office corporate look -- she can still be very stylish.

Mele is around young kids and it doesn't hurt to be stylish as they notice everything. These pieces go a long way.

Edwards' styling:

Hair: It's not about lightening your style from the neck down, but it's also lightening your style from the head up. We wanted to cut the hair, put some color in. it's youthful, slimming, perks her up and brings the eye up.

What were you trying to achieve with her style look?
We wanted to do a more youthful look. She was very covered up, very heavy. I want to introduce a big color because most people who come from having a lot of weight, breaking free from black -- even if you incorporate. If you want a lift and lightness, you got to get out of black.

What was a big don't for Edwards?
Oversized clothing. I really wanted to show her it's not about being tight it's about being fitted. You need to get out of stuff that's too big. She has to get used to her new shape, and I also wanted to get her out of looking frumpy.

What's the look you created?
I wanted her to be on trend but be comfortable. That's why we went with two trends: the boyfriend jacket and denim leggings. If she wants to do fuller top and leggings -- within reason -- that's fine. Leggings are inexpensive way to update look.

MARIE
All clothes are from Gretta Luxe, shoes from Zara

Calvin Klein One Button Stretch Suiting Boyfriend-
Style Blazer, $99.98
Calvin Klein wide waist-band, stretch suiting, button tab front Pant, $79.98
Onyx Necklace, $90.00
Silver Hoop Earrings, $29.25
Black Lucite wide bangle, $18.00
Bracelet with Jet Beads, $18.00
Zara shoes, $79.90

TAMIKA
All clothes are from Macy's

White blazer, See by Chloe, $197
Urban Jungle Shirt, Zara, $25.90
Denim leggings, Buffalo, $79
Ruffle Satchel, Steve Madden, $58
Necklace, Ralph Lauren, $58
Shoes, Zara, $79.90

Special Thank You to Paul Labrecque Salon.

[sam-kiley]

bonjour maggie et toutes les autres
j'ai aimé aussi, bonne idée de penser aux "teachers" etre bien habillé, avoir une belle allure = respect de soi et des autres memes si ces autres sont des enfants..au revoir

[Cheryl12345]

I loved Mel's hairstyle I wished you placed a picture of her, so I could bring the picture to my hair stylist.

[jaggrl]

I loved the necklace that Mele was wearing, wish someone would have told us where to buy that.