Fiona Smith and Jane Burt both hail from Prestonpans, and shared a desperate need to sharpen up their look for jobs in the ''big city'' - Edinburgh. Out had to go the

unco-ordinated casual clothes, the dowdy hair colour and the clumpy cuts. So we

called in the A-team: Emilly and Jim from leading Edinburgh salon Paterson SA created brand new colour and cuts, while Anneli from Bobbi Brown at Jenners worked on a flattering new beauty look for each girl. Clothes, the Doc thought, should be something sleek and simple - lean black tailoring inspired by Pam Grier's hip-slimming black trouser suit in the movie Jackie Brown . . .

n Jane (above left), age 24, is a research assistant at First Scottish. 5 feet 10 and a size 10, she felt that most of her clothes were far too casual for the office, yet was afraid a conventional suit would look boring. She considered her hair was dowdy and dull, but could not decide whether to let it grow or try a shorter style.

n Fiona (above right), age 26, works as a care centre supervisor. She is six feet in height, size 14, but slightly short-waisted. Following a disastrous root-lift perm (on the eve of her wedding last November) she had her hair cut short and dyed dark to match her natural shade - but had been depressed about it ever since. Clothes-wise, she wanted to find an upbeat tailored look which suited her height and flattered her curvy figure.

Jim discussed hair style possibilities with Fiona, who has always regretted having to have her hair cut short. He suggested opting for a style with long layers - which would allow her to continue growing her hair, yet look sharp and groomed in the meantime. For Jane, Jim suggested a short, contemporary cut with heightened crown and slanting fringe.

Emilly helped Jane choose chocolate and copper red haircolourings to complement her skin tone and dark brown eyes. She painted bold slices of the brown and red shades to add life and depth to Jane's naturally brunette hair.

Fiona was desperately unhappy with her dark, dull hair colour. Emilly's solution was to paint two different blonde shades in slice sections through her hair, adding tonal definition to complement her pale skin and blue eyes.

Fiona generally finds standard size 14 garments too short in sleeve and leg length. The Doc's solution was long-fitting tailoring from Marks & Spencer. The flattering knee-length black jacket and flat-fronted trouser combination masked her short-waistedness perfectly. Jane chose a black narrow shouldered trouser suit from Next - simple, yet very smart.

While Emilly worked on hair colourings, Jim developed complementary cuts which Jane and Fiona would find versatile and easy to manage. Both girls had fringe sections which could be flipped back and forth to minimise or maximise the impact of their new, heightened haircolour slices.

Anneli developed a very natural,

sun-kissed beauty look for Fiona to complement her new hair colour. She showed Jane how to open up her eyes by lining the socket with soft taupe colour.

Dear Doc

I realise that short skirts are the height of fashion this summer, but my knees are too lumpy to be seen in public and my bum is far too big for trousers. I cannot bear to cross the threshold while my fashion dilemma remains unresolved. What do you advise?

Katie of Kirkintilloch

Dear Katie

Perhaps you should take inspiration from the Jemima Khan look. Try layering a long shirtwaister over soft trousers. Otherwise you'll just have to stay indoors until September, when maxiskirts are set for a big revival.

Do you have an embarrassing fashion problem? Write in complete confidence to:

Dr Gardner at ffm, The Herald, 195 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1QP

accident

& emergency

The Doc dressed Jane (left) in a black jacket, #79.99, and matching trousers, #39.99. Both by Next. White

stretch poplin shirt by

Marks & Spencer, #21.

Emilly enlivened Jane's dark hair by painting slice sections in chocolate and copper red. Jim cut Jane's hair to brush forward in a soft, face-flattering style. The parting can be switched from left to

right, maximising the

colour impact.

Beauty note: Anneli used Bobbi Brown's SPF 15 face lotion, and an eye cream

to help prevent fine lines.

For Jane's matte, natural look, she chose sand oil-free foundation - with light bronzing powder and tawny blush. To open up the eyes, she used taupe (over a bone base) around the socket line, adding moss eyeshadow in the lid and mahogany

as an eyeliner. For lips, she chose red lip liner and

cranberry lip stain.

All colours by Bobbi Brown.

The Doc dressed Fiona (right) in a long-line black wool jacket, #100, and matching flat front trousers, #45.

Cotton poplin shirt, #21.

All by Marks & Spencer.

To lighten and enliven Fiona's hair, Emilly painted sections in subtle, realistic shades of blonde which complemented her pale complexion. Jim cut Fiona's hair into an easily-managed, contemporary style. The parting can be switched from left to right.

Beauty note: to create Fiona's sheer, sun-kissed, healthy look, Anneli chose sand moisturising foundation -''locked'' with soft sand

loose powder. She added medium bronzing powder and sand pink blush.

Over a white base,

she used taupe and

toast eyeshadows,

with rich brown

as an eyeliner, and thickening mascara in

black. Finally for lips

she chose toasted pink lip colour and cola lip pencil.

All colours by Bobbi Brown.