Each year we recruit a fashion-savvy guest stylist to help pick out the clothes, imagine our "afters" and run interference with the winners so I can catch them saying funny or poignant things about their fashion foibles to make you laugh and cry.

This year's stylist is Lynne Kudus, a student in the fashion-design program at Santa Fe Community College.

Lynne, who moved here from Malaysia four years ago, is a world traveler and has been a fashion fan since shortly after her birth.

"I am the only girl in my family, and I was spoiled with beauty and fashion by my mother," Lynne wrote in her cover letter. "She would dress me like a princess and put makeup on me before we left home. She taught me the importance of matching shoes and handbags with the dress and made sure that I went to school with different hairstyles."

Lynne wrote that in her final year of college "it was compulsory to attend the Image Grooming course by Ms. Norma Norell." There she learned "the importance of wearing heels to work, dressing for success, firm handshakes and how to sit properly in front of your customer or client."

Lynne's passion for fashion combined with a killer work ethic have made her an invaluable part of this project. Her outfits have provided inspiration. And she provided some delightful and unexpected moments of comic relief.

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com