Sim Makeovers 101

Hey all, Jezi here!  We are diving right into a Sim Makeovers Guide!  I have found loads of tips, tricks, and shortcuts over the years of playing Sims, considering about seventy-five percent of my time playing the Sims is in Create A Sim, CAS.  Sure, I have forced myself to branch out into decorating and design so that you all have more than just CAS & Guides blogs from me.  So who is ready to learn about Sim Makeovers with this guide! 

What is a Sim Makeover

What am I talking about when I say Makeover?  Well, redoing a pre-existing Sim.  We are not starting from scratch here or designing brand-new Sims.  Maybe you downloaded new CC you want to try, or you are just freshening up your Sims’ looks or… fixing up those townies.  Whatever the case, you must conduct a makeover; I am here to help!  

10 Simple Steps

In this Sims Makeover Guide, I will highlight my CAS workflow on a makeover so that you know what order and how I go about my Sims’ makeovers.  I have found that I get much more done with a set pattern in a shorter time.  I used to take hours per Sim until I made this pattern for my workflow.  So here are ten steps to help you create amazing Sim makeovers.  

 CC in photo found in THIS BLOG HERE

For example, we will do a ‘Pastel Y2K’  makeover on a townie.  To help you more, I will also include a description of the steps I take.  Yes, explaining the method to my madness… 

Step 1 – Have a Plan

To create lookbooks and style blogs, I have at least a general plan from the start for Sim Makeovers.  If not, I cannot download the CC, I need to complete the task, or if I go with no inspiration, I default to my personal preferences, which is OK occasionally.  So I generally pick a trend, character, or aesthetic look, do a little research to find the core components of the look I am trying to achieve, and then move onwards to Step 2.

Featured CC – THIS BLOG HERE

Alright, so our plan is a feminine Pastel Y2K Makeover. I sometimes pick broader plans or a specific piece of CC or color to include in the look, but you should be good if you have a general idea.  And if you have enough CC downloaded, you can also pick things out as you go along but, it takes me forever when I don’t have a plan.  

Step 2 – Download CC Based On Your Plan

Alright, I am a CC hoarder, so I have loads of options anyways; however, even if I am sure I have everything to look at, I still go on TSR to check for new things to fit the theme.  In my experience, I can generally just scroll through the last month of creations and find plenty of CC for what I am trying to accomplish.  Of course, you can always search and use filters to find CC that matches your theme. And a bonus if a collab or collection matches your plan. Having CC already in your game before you start your Sim Makeovers just helps save time and going back and forth in and out of the game.  

So for the CC for this Sim Makeover, I downloaded things from the Perfect Night Collab and The K-Pop Collection, along with other pastel CC pieces.  I also went directly to Arltos, as this creator has a lot of adorable Mary Jane shoes that will work perfectly for this look.  

Step 3 – Select your Victim… I mean Sim

Sometimes this is step 1 lol.   You know that moment when you see a Sim or a townie and are like, we must change this… NOW!  Sometimes that happens… or you just want to makeover a townie…

So who to pick.  I’d like to work with a Sim I have not worked on in a long time.  I am leaning toward Zoe or Summer.  It has been over four years (I think) since I have given either of them a proper makeover.  So… who to pick… let’s go with Zoe Patel.  

Step 4 – CAS Full Edit Cheat

Don’t go straight to CAS if you want to alter features and traits; if you go straight to CAS, these elements are locked on existing Sims.  But do not worry; there is a way around this… CHEATS!  So go into your household in the gameplay mode and then pull up your cheat code menu by pressing CTL+C+ Shift, and then in the box type in testingcheats on, and press enter.   Once completed, type in the cheat box cas.fulleditmode and press enter.  You can change features and traits when you go into the CAS menu.  

Find more CAS Tips & Tricks HERE and more cheats HERE.

This cheat is an absolute must for me!  Just makes everything so much easier if i want to change features in CAS! 

Step 5 – Use Filters

One thing that speeds me up looking through all the CC I downloaded is using filters.  I filter out all non-CCs first and then sometimes select a color.  But I know I want to use CC, so… no point even scrolling through the other items when they can disappear!

  If you want more filter information, check out this blog HERE.

Step 6 – Skin & Preset Mods

Generally, I start with skin, and CAS presets.  I usually select a body type, then, as I go, change it up a little to match what I would like the Sim to look like.  After I have the general shape down, I pick the skin tone and significant CC details I wish to add, like; freckles, defined cheekbones, or deep contours.  After that, I add face presets so the Sim does not look like a cookie-cutter Sim.  I know there are a few randomized or set options for each, but basic generated Sims often look the same to me structurally.  I add many skin features, skin overlays, and CAS preset mods so my Sims look unique.

CC Skin Used HERE

Step 7 – Clothing

I pick a specific aesthetic, trend, or character to inspire the makeover.  I find it easiest to start with clothing first as I match the outfit’s accessories, hair, and makeup to the look.

For Zoe’s look, I wanted a nice soft pastel Y2k Look.  So I started with pastels, pinks, purples, blues, and yellows. Plumbob N Fries had a lovely two-piece crop top and pants outfit with a tee shirt perfect for the pastel Y2K look.  So after going through loads of CC, I decided on that.

Step 8 – Accessories & Shoes

Once you have the clothes sorted, it is time to move on to accessories and shoes.  I always do sunglasses and earrings before selecting a hairstyle, just in case I want to use statement accessories or hoop earrings.  I also like to select my necklaces and shoes after clothing to ensure these elements match well.  

CC Featured – Earrings, Necklace, Nose Piercing, Watch, Ring, & Nails.

After the outfit, I went for shoes; with the long pants, shoes don’t show all that much.  However, I did want the shoe to still fit the Y2K aesthetic.  Initially, I was going for pumps or Mary Janes with socks. However, with the pants, I decided on a pair of super thick plastic heel sandals that are super trendy this summer!  For Accessories, I just followed the Y2K cute pastel aesthetic; pastel, hearts, butterflies, cute… and POOF perfection!

Step 9 – Hair

I generally select a hairstyle a little later than most Sim creators.  But there is a method to my madness and reasons… Sometimes with longer hair, the style will cut into clothing; this is why I always wait to pick out the hairstyle after clothes.

CC Featured – Hairstyle & Belly Ring

I like for the Sim I am making over to still loosely resemble their once former selves.  I wanted to keep Zoe’s long brown hairstyle.  But it needed that Y2K cute glam vibe and still show the earrings.  This hairstyle I found in the photos worked perfectly and looks absolutely stunning!

Step 10 – Makeup

Finally, it is makeup time.  Leaving makeup for last, I can pick the colors and style of the makeup to match the overall outfit.  After getting the makeup on, I generally return to CAS features.  Here I  add more if need be or adjust accessories.   

CC Featured – Eyebrows, Eyeshadow, Eyeliner, Eyelashes, Blush, Lip gloss, & Eyes

Even before makeup, Zoe looked like she could star in a Y2K fashion show… but we can do better!  MORE PASTELS!!! For Y2k pastel looks, you can never go wrong with bright-colored pastel eyeshadow.  I selected an eyeshadow from the K-Pop Collection with a purple swatch and it looks amazing!

Summary

CC Featured – Top, Bottoms, & Shoes

Of course, I go back and forth between the steps as sometimes things need to be adjusted.  I will say this way of doing Sim Makeovers definitely speeds up my process of styling Sims.  The extra time allows me to do more styles and looks! Zoe’s new look turned out fabulous!

If you are looking for more CAS guides, check out the following blogs; Jezi’s CAS Suggestions Part 1, CAS Things You May Not Know, CAS – Preset Mods, or Styling Sims With Jezi.  And if you are looking for lookbooks; Gossip Girl Inspired Lookbook, Get That Look – Mermaidcore, Get That Look – The Clean Girl Trend, or Barbiecore Sims.

Keep up with more Sims stuff and what I’m up to at @TSR Jezi.