T
hese best buds, who
met as PhD students at
Columbia, prove the
theory that opposites
attract. Though they
share a love of science, Elizabeth
(above left) is a self-described “nerdy”
introvert, and Katherine is a social
butterfly who pledged a sorority.
Elizabeth grew up in the New Jersey
suburbs, and Katherine is from
Queens. Katherine is fashion-forward,
and Elizabeth is...well, not. “I wear
the same two outfits every day,
and my hair is just how it is because
it grows that way,” she says.
But now that Elizabeth is ready
to dive into her postdoc career as Dr.
Stivison, she has an opportunity
to undertake every scientist’s favorite
endeavor: “It’s a perfect time to
experiment,” says Katherine. In the
spirit of discovery, Elizabeth
agrees. “I had internalized the whole
‘smart women don’t care what
they look like’ thing,” she says. “But
now I see that’s not true. There are
amazing scientists I know who do
their hair and makeup every day.”
While she’s not aiming to go full-on
glamour-puss, she’d like some help
looking more professional—after all,
she can’t call Katherine every morning
to ask her what goes with what.
Actually, Katherine wouldn’t mind;
she just thinks her friend is worthy
of a makeover that will give the world
a hint of the beautiful mind inside.
“Elizabeth’s this fascinating person
and should feel that wow factor,”
says Katherine. “I want people to see
what I see.”THE REVEAL
ELIZABETH: Maybe it’s silly, but in
this time of change, with grad
school ending, this makeover is a
source of confidence and, in a way,
even comfort. My mind is open to
all the possibilities of what I can wear.
KATHERINE: You look great,
yet you’re still recognizable. I was
nervous that you’d look like a
completely different person, but
you’re still my Beth.
ELIZABETH: I’m outside my comfort
zone and surprised that I’m loving it!Elizabeth’s
New Look
THE HAIR AND MAKEUP
One word: bangs. After snipping off
a foot of Elizabeth’s naturally wavy hair,
Paves gave her a long ’60s-inspired
fringe to play up her eyes, her favorite
feature. He also added lots of layers
to keep her look modern and
deconstructed. Low-maintenance,
natural-looking color came next. With
evenly distributed fine highlights,
Asylum re-created the sun-kissed
strands Elizabeth had before her indoor
lab life. Brow expert Robert Gabriel
waxed, tweezed, and used a vegetable-
based tint to enhance her arches. “It’s
the most effective way to get instant
fullness,” he says. Since Elizabeth is
new to makeup, Carmindy did a subtle
espresso-toned cat eye. “It’s natural,
but her eyes still pop with her glasses
on or off,” says Carmindy. She finished
with neutral shadow, nude lipstick
topped with iridescent gloss, and a
touch of highlighter on Elizabeth’s
cheekbones.
THE CLOTHES
Sure, Elizabeth might wear sweaters
and maybe even a skirt on occasion, but
this unexpected combo of color
and texture breaks her out of her rut. The
fitted, feathery knit is a glammed-up
version of what she’s used to and goes
well with the softness of a satiny skirt
in orange, a versatile shade that eases her
into color and pairs well with neutrals.Elizabeth
Stivison, 32
HER FRIEND:
KATHERINE XU, 30@OPRAHMAGAZINESEPTEMBER (^2019111)