Nothing lifts your spirits more than fresh flowers. “A flower a day keeps the blues away.” In a vase, but also in your wardrobe. Feeling a bit low? Pull your sunniest floral prints out of the closet—they’ll perk you right up. Or let yourself be inspired by the shades of a summery bouquet and shine in fresh pastel colours. Customers Nicky, Joke, Christelle and Ilse show you how!

Make-over 1: Nicky wants to keep dressing just as trendy after her mastectomy

Nicky walked into our photo studio tired from her chemo treatments, but her eyes sparkled and her generous smile won over all our hearts instantly. That red flush? It’s from all the cortisone she’s taking to counter the side effects. But it might also be a little bit of (healthy) nerves. Because how do you shine in front of a professional photographer’s lens?

But look, Nicky turned out to be a natural talent. She enjoyed the day and all the tips she received. With her mastectomy coming up, she wonders how she can still keep dressing in a hip way. She doesn’t want to hide, but with a few extra kilos from the treatment, it can sometimes be a challenge to find fun outfits for her changing body. Our team to the rescue!

Our stylist’s secret? layers layers layers! Layers work wonders when you feel insecure after breast surgery. A cool biker jacket gives structure to your upper body. But even a flowy kimono can easily elevate comfy jeans and a blouse. Pick a basic top in a beautiful fabric and wear something over it with a deeper neckline. That creates the illusion of a décolleté and lengthens your silhouette.

Nicky signed up for our photo session at the very last moment, after days and hours of doubting. That alone made us absolutely want her there. Because gathering all your courage and taking the leap? We love rewarding that with an unforgettable make-over. And does she glow!

Make-over 2: Joke doesn’t like her chemo curls at all—until we get our hands on them...

Joke is living proof that you don’t immediately feel like your old self again when your hair grows back. Those chemo curls? She has a hard time making peace with them. She really doesn’t like them and also doesn’t know what to do with them. Just grit your teeth and wait it out, right? Until our hair & make-up specialist An brings out her tricks!

The secret recipe for curly awesomeness? Don’t try to hide your stubborn chemo curls by flattening them. Play them up instead! Use a dab of wax or gel to create a side part and extra volume. Compliments guaranteed for your new, punchy haircut.

Our stylist Sarah also surprises Joke with her tips. Joke is small but looks much taller in this cool yet feminine ton-sur-ton look. Looking for that extra sparkle? Then invest in a few items with eye-catching details, like this blouse with colourful sequins on the puffed sleeves. Gold shoes complete the picture.

Lilac is one of those colours that instantly gives everyone a fresh, healthy glow when you wear it close to your face. Not a fan of this sweet pastel shade? Try combining lilac with bold coral. And mix and match different textures and materials. That makes a simple look much more interesting.

Make-over 3: Christelle forgets her worries for a moment as a top model-for-a-day

Christelle has already completed a long treatment for metastatic ovarian cancer, and her outlook is not very hopeful. But she takes each day as it comes and tries to experience as many fun moments as possible. She may be 60, but she lights up like a little girl in a candy shop when she goes through the rack of outfits with our stylist.

Many of the outfits on that rack are ones she would never have chosen herself. Such bold colours! And such trendy combinations. And those sneakers—“will my swollen ankles even fit into those?” But she came to enjoy herself, so she puts her full trust in us and lets herself be dressed and styled like a seasoned photo model. Carte blanche is what we as a team love. Gotta love Christelle!

That she should also switch to another pair of glasses was something Christelle did not expect. Another surprise! And mission accomplished. Just look! With larger, rounder frames, we open up Christelle’s gaze and soften her expression. Her playful deep brown eyes deserve to steal the spotlight!

This soft Liz scarf looks like you elegantly tied it yourself. But looks can be deceiving: you simply put it on like a hat and tie a simple knot with the two sewn-on ribbons. Ready in an instant! Ideal if you’re not great at wrapping or draping, or if you can’t lift your arms high after an underarm procedure. The length of this scarf's ribbons is no coincidence either: they fall nicely over your collarbone to cover your port catheter.

Another top tip from our stylist: a shorter blouse with a knot in front instantly creates a waistline and conceals your tummy. And wide trouser legs in a fluid fabric make you look much taller. Bonus: the trousers are almost as comfortable as sweatpants because of the elastic waistband, but look a hundred—or a thousand?—times more chic.

Make-over 4: Ilse doesn’t want her breast prosthesis to stand out too much

Ilse has been wearing a prosthesis since her mastectomy and wanted tips on how to draw attention away from it. She worries that others will notice it right away.

We had just snapped the last photo with Ilse when her style question popped into our minds. She had been standing on our set for hours without anyone noticing anything. Logical: we were all so captivated by her generous smile and warm personality. Proof that you are so much more than your bust, right?

Do you, like Ilse, feel that you look boyish with your new super-short hair? Then emphasise your femininity with refined fabrics and elegant cuts. Before you know it, your short hair becomes a true fashion statement. Unless you love a touch of boyish charm, of course. In that case, you’re set with stylish jeans and a casual white T-shirt.

From head to toe in candy pink—doesn’t that look tacky? Not at all! Just look at the bold features of this sexy fitted jumpsuit: the sturdy stretch fabric, the collar with lapels, and the long bootcut legs. Back to the seventies, but in a contemporary interpretation!

Curious about Ilse’s make-up? Because how natural does it look, right? Then be sure to check out our article: “Fresh and Glowing in Just 10 Minutes: Easy Makeup Tips During Chemo”. In it, Ilse shows you herself how to recreate her make-up routine in 6 simple steps—in a maximum of 10 minutes total.

Did you know that ...

... all the photos in this article were taken with real Rosette la Vedette customers? Women just like you and me, who lost their hair due to chemotherapy. If you’d also like to experience such a photoshoot day with a professional team of photographer, stylist and make-up artist, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We now and then look for models-for-a-day for our campaigns.

[Make-over: spring 2021]