Civic Duty Shoes at CLT's SilverFly

Who would have thought that Tyvek - that papery-looking material usually used in FedEx envelopes and home construction- could be so stylish?

But the New Jersey-based brand Civic Duty found a way to be fashion-forward while creating shoes with uppers made entirely of Tyvek.

Designer and brand founder Steven Weinreb said that Tyvek, which is made by DuPont, was an appealing material for his casual footwear line for several reasons:

It’s water-resistant but breathable. Extremely lightweight, yet very durable, and full of unique characteristics such as its ability to be scrunched up (perfect for packing) then “fluffed back up” and be ready to wear, Weinreb said.

Also, because the material takes print very well, it’s great for printing bright colors. (Have you seen the company’s hue of orange? Love.)

Plus, the papery appearance is just fun.

The line has been featured in Oprah’s “O” magazine and has been a hit with a number of customer bases: the trendsetters - who gravitate toward the bright colors - the eco-conscious (the shoes are completely recyclable) and the animal lovers (all styles are entirely vegan), among others.

It looks like patent leather, but is actually a cruelty-free synthetic.

Weinreb started tinkering with Tyvek years ago while working for an international distributor near his home in New Jersey. They were distributing a casual travel shoe in the U.S. and he found himself more interested in the shipping bag than the shoe itself.

The recession ended that job at the close of 2008, he said, and searching for a new one revealed that Weinreb’s age and level of expertise essentially made him unemployable in a market trying to stay afloat.

So his interest in developing Tyvek into shoes was prompted by job necessity and, voila, Civic Duty Shoes was born. The small company got its official start about four years ago and now his line is the one with international distribution.

Weinreb will be at SILVERYFLY at the Metropolitan Friday and Saturday, helping pair people with their perfect shoe.

Civic Duty Shoes founder Steven Weinreb

He’ll bring numerous styles (for men and women) and colors in a variety of sizes for the trunk show. While customers won’t walk out of the store with a new pair, he said, their order will be shipped (likely directly to SILVERFLY) within the week.

Weinreb said he enjoys visiting the stores that carry the shoe line because he values the customer feedback. "It gives me really good insight on what we're doing right, wrong and suggestions customers have and would like to see."

The casual footwear brand is partially known for its trademark argyle strip down the back of the shoe, which made more sense than a large logo typically found on athletic shoes, which Civic Duty shoes are not, he said.

“If you go try to play basketball in them, forget about it,” Weinreb said (with perfect New Jersey phonetics). “It’s not going to happen.”

But just because the shoes aren’t meant to run a 5K in doesn’t mean they’re not comfortable. One thing he hears most often from customers is how surprised they are with the comfort level, as casual sneakers typically don’t offer much arch support, he said.

Real life example? Weinreb said he can walk all over New York City visiting boutiques that carry Civic Duty (we’re talking up to 60 city blocks in a day) and the shoes remain comfortable for hours

Civic Duty Shoes usually retail between $50 and $60, come only in whole sizes and – despite their delicate appearance – have the lifespan of any other shoe, Weinreb said, adding he's had pairs that have lasted more than two years.

“They’ll wear down the same way other sneakers will, but it won’t be the upper that wears out," he said. "The more the rubber hits the pavement, the more it wears away ... It depends on how hard and how often you use them."

At shows such as the one this weekend in Charlotte, Weinreb said, they've invited people to pour water on the shoes or challenge them to "tear the Tyvek," to demonstrate the shoes are much sturdier than expected.

"It's really taken a good bit of education to let the consumer know it's okay to buy these shoes. First thing they think is 'It's paper, it'll tear, it'll disintegrate,'" he said.

"But to have these big macho guys trying to tear this piece of paper, it's kind of fun to watch. Obviously there's a tearing point for everything. It does happen," he said. "But 98 out of 100 people can't do it."

Weinreb said the brand's offerings are growing slowly, typically adding one new style per season. They’re experimenting with messenger bags and backpacks, as well as exploring creative marketing methods to boost brand exposure.

"I'm not enamored with the traditional 'Lets buy a billboard' (approach)," Weinreb said. "I like to try to find other creative ways to do things ... To let people know these are fun, comfortable shoes."

More trunk show details here.

Hot scissors hit Charlotte

So have you heard about this “hot scissor haircut” method?

It started gaining attention in the U.S. toward the end of 2013, mainly in NYC, but has apparently been wildly popular in Europe and Russia for ages.

Essentially, a pair of scissors are plugged in and heated (to between 230 and 338 degrees, depending on your hair type) and are supposed to be the silver bullet for split ends.

In theory, the heat seals the end of each hair, helping to retain moisture and manage split ends, as well as keep styles looking fresh longer.

To read the Jaguar TC Thermocut page, they describe it not as a haircut, but a wellness treatment:

"Fine hair will be given more volume, split hair will become healthy and more resistant, permed hair will be given more elasticity, dull, brittle hair will be regenerated, every type of hair will be easier to style."

A segment that aired in October on the "Today" show is partially credited with having brought one of the first pairs of hot scissors to Charlotte, said Zahava Thornton, co-owner of Poza Salon in Myers Park.

Thornton learned about and researched the growing trend online, she said, and clients began mentioning the "Today" show segment. So several weeks ago, Poza invested in a set of the $1,400 scissors, patented as the Thermocut system by Jaguar (not the car company) and made in Solingen, Germany.

So far, Thornton is loving the results. “Everyone's always looking for a split end cure.”

What many people don't realize is that a hair is fibrous, like a strand of yarn or ribbon, she said. “Ends unravel and with heat, sun exposure, from your flat iron ... (the damage) works its way up.

“So once an end is split, it’s probably split at least an inch up … This kind of cauterizes the ends.”

Thornton uses hot scissors on Racheal Haywood's hair.

Styling with hot scissors is ideal for several types: those who are growing their hair out, those who want to keep hair healthy without losing length, those maintaining the Ombre (two-tone color) look and those who want a very pronounced edge, such as China Doll bangs, Thornton said.

While one cut with hot scissors will provide improvement, those who use hot scissors five or six times will see the most benefit, Thornton said, as pre-existing damage is cut away.

An internet search of “hot scissor haircut, Charlotte N.C.” (and a number of variations) doesn’t turn up much, not even Poza Salon. The initial investment cost and relative newness of hot scissors has likely kept them off the local radar, Thornton said.

So because “hot scissors” are still a bit of a local rarity, you can expect to shell out money and time.

While no special training is needed, the heat element requires a stylist to slow down and hold the sheers differently to avoid burning themselves, Thornton said. (In all our Web trolling and research, we didn’t find any serious safety warnings, for stylist or client.)

Regularly, a haircut would take about 45 minutes, but a hot scissors appointment is allotted 1 1/2 hour.

At Poza, women’s haircuts range from $45-$105, and for the hot scissors method, an additional $50 is tacked on for the extra time needed. But so far, clients haven’t balked at the price, Thornton said. “The reaction has been to the difference you can feel at the ends.”

But as word of mouth spreads and the trend starts taking hold in Charlotte, more local salons will likely invest, especially with summer – months of sun, swimming and elemental damage – approaching, Thornton said.

Racheal Haywood after her hot scissor haircut on Tuesday

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Oscar trends most likely to be seen around CLT

(Full disclosure: This mainly has to do with hair and makeup, as dresses are entirely their own category. Though, not sure about anyone else, I preferred a lot of the "after-party" gowns to what was worn on the red carpet. But that's another story...)

Soft, unstructured and sweet. These are elements from the 2014 Oscars that local experts believe will carry forward, particularly in Charlotte.

 There’s always at least one beloved or trending element - hair, makeup, dress style - that gets recreated by the masses after the red carpet gets rolled back up.

Old Hollywood glamour is expected to be a big request with everyone from women attending special events to teens for the upcoming prom season.

Sandra Bullock, Kate Hudson and Jennifer Lawrence were the celebs named most frequently by local stylists for representing the night’s best.

“Everything was sweeter this year, very soft and ethereal looking, almost like it could have been from ‘Frozen’,” said Tonya Reid, owner and stylist at T. Reid & Company in Dilworth.

A refreshing change from the perfect doughnut buns and sky-high ponytails of past seasons were the long, relatively simple styles at the Oscars, Reid said.

“I noticed the trends are changing, things are not as severe.”

The hair

“Every year, post-award season, we definitely see more and more photos coming in of celeb styles from different red carpet looks,” said Terra Hines, stylist at Varji & Varji Salon & Spa in SouthPark.

The Academy Awards appear to be the event that bring out elegance in the stars, Hines said, noting  Margot Robbie was another who wore their hair in a way she believes will be replicated around Charlotte in the coming months.

“The biggest trend that I noticed this year were the stars wearing their hair down, curled and either pinned and tucked to the side or tucked behind an ear,” she said.

This trend isn’t entirely new, Hines said, but a recurring classic. Last year, she had several clients request similar side-swept, curled looks, particularly the style Jennifer Lopez wore at the 2013 Golden Globes, she said.

But the loose, long curls and wavy styles will be considerably different among the younger crowd, Hines said, after requests for lots of braids dominated prom season in Charlotte. “When it comes to prom last year, the largest influences came from “The Hunger Games” styles.”

Reid doesn’t believe braids have come to an end, but will be a way for the prom set to give texture to the side-swept styles. “Or you could put a pretty brooch or something sparkly (where the hair gets secured at one side), which could really play it up,” she said.

"Or y could take that side of the hair and do a chain of knots or loops ... There are ways you could make it a little more interesting,playful and youthful."

For those with shorter hair, local experts said Jennifer Lawrence's red carpet pompadour up-style impressed on a number of levels.

Chelsea Below, a stylist with Shine Salon in Elizabeth, said the volume in the front JLaw’s 2014 Oscar style “was really different” and gave great inspiration for a formal, but playful and temporary, change.

“We’re seeing a trend toward shorter styles. That (could) be a challenge with prom to see how to change it up.”

And volume isn’t just for those with shorter hair, Below said, but all lengths and ages. “We’re seeing a lot more volume than a couple years ago. Instead of sleek, straight hair, there’s move volume, waves, (in styles) up or down.”

Jennifer Misenheimer is one of two stylists at Escape Hair & Skin Studio in SouthEnd who mainly does special occasion styles,  such as prom and weddings. Hands down, Lawrence wore the next hottest trend with her tousled crop, Mishenheimer said.

“It’s between a bob and pixie cut, between the shoulder and jawline,” she said. Unlike a traditional bob, the perimeter of trending crop cuts remains one length with choppy, textured layers.

JLaw also disproved the misconception that updos are impossible with shorter lengths, Misenheimer said. “There are a lot of interesting new twists to put waves in and tease short hair."

“With the shorter haircut, we’re starting to see a lot of clients warm up as celebrities do it. There’s been long hair for awhile, and it will stay a trend, but my more fashion-forward clients are going towards these cuts.”

Especially for those who dare the seriously short styles, Misenheimer said, hair accessories are expected to grow in popularity, thanks to Lupita Nyong’o’s “fabulous” jeweled headband.

The Makeup

What was noticeable about Oscar makeup is that it wasn’t, said Kenna Ehman, a stylist and makeup artist at the Hearst Tower location of Modern Salon & Spa.

“In general there were a lot of very soft nude lips, not a lot of blush, but very natural,” she said.

Proving popular was an abundance of “really accentuated” lashes - real or false - with smokey eyes using natural tones of shadows or cat eyes using only liner and no shadow, she said.

“Very pretty but not over the top, it looks like they did their own hair and makeup even though you know they didn’t,” she said. “It’s very re-creatable, which is awesome.”

Misenheimer agreed, citing Bullock again as an example. “You didn’t see very bold looks, everyone was looking more natural, with softer looks.”

And the men?

"I'm not sure about men with hombre hair," Misenheimer said with a laugh.
"But if anyone can do it, Jared Leto can," she said of his subtle two-tone locks.

Another surprising trendsetter for men was Johnny Weir and his pompadour, Misenheimer said.

"Johnny looked quirky and right on trend." She's noticed a number of male models who have updated the style of shorter/shaved on the sides with a longer, often slicked-back length over the top turning to blow-outs for yes, more volume.

Expect to see more pompadour in edgier men's fashion, she said, and even on the local hipster scene.

Honorable mentions

Color has to be considered, Misenheimer said, citing Liza Minnelli's cobalt blue streak and Kelly Osbourne's continued work in pastel lavender.

"How bold is that to wear something like that to the Oscars, where it's all glamour? Those two were great."

While pastels have been popular in hair for some time, Misenheimer said she expects to see more bold colors like Minnelli's, as a nod to the returning  90's styles, particularly in Charlotte.

"I've got clients wanting streaks and panels of bold colors. It's right on trend."

Jeffre Scott + Goldfaden MD = reader giveaways

There’s a special panache that comes with being the one and only.

And starting next week, Charlotte’s Jeffre Scott Apothecary will be the first and only store in the Carolinas to offer products from the Goldfaden MD skincare line.

Scott’s Providence Road store has specialized in elite skincare and cosmetics since it opened in 2006. Prior to owning his shop in Charlotte, Scott’s resume included being a national makeup artist for Chanel and a career in NYC that ranged from buying for Barney’s New York to starting his own retail product management firm.

Jeffre Scott Apothecary will be the first store in the Carolinas to offer Goldfaden skincare.

Needless to say, Scott has stringent criteria for the specialty items that stock his shelves. “We don’t have a lot, but what we have works.”

Goldfaden MD’s tag line of “Physician Strength, Naturally Inspired” hints at a number of attributes: Paraben- and petro-chemical free, 100 -percent vegetarian with no animal testing, hypo-allergenic, etc.
The big selling point: It’s the first natural skincare line (developed by a dermatologist) with physician strength results, according to brand officials. Products retail from $35 to $115.

Since hitting the market in October 2012, Goldfaden MD’s products have been named as faves by a range of magazines, from Self and Harper’s Bazaar UK to Real Simple and Marie Claire.

A lot of promotional material comes through the newsroom, but Scott receives even more product pitches from possible beauty vendors. So I asked Scott what made him want to offer Florida-based Goldfaden products at his store.

“My philosophy is about taking time to find a fit for (the Charlotte) market,” he said. Any potential products that pique his interest must also get a thumbs-up from his staffers and a few trusted clients, he said.

Goldfaden reps also know their core skincare customers: women who are 30-plus, naturally -focused, interested in natural ingredients (but don’t want to compromise efficacy levels or potency), who also want rapid, if not immediate, results.

“She’s the affluent mom who eats healthy, exercises, is fashion/beauty/brand conscious and wants to use products that are both effective and that she feels good about using,” brand reps said.

Scott prides himself on providing customers with an experience: No high-pressure sales tactics, plenty of education about possible products and readily available samples. “So they can walk away and feel confident in their purchase,” he said. “We’ve built that trust with the customer … and (value) cultivating a long-term customer rather than an immediate sale.”

After nearly a year of talks with the company and test runs by some of Scott’s most trusted, Goldfaden MD got rave reviews and the green light for his store.

 “It’s almost like a spa/doctor treatment at home … It’s results-driven,” Scott said, noting locals gave it five stars for component integrity and simplicity.

And Goldfaden reps felt Scott was a perfect fit for their first foray into the Carolinas. “We love Jeffre … It is a luxury niche, knowledgeable apothecary focusing on education and client service.”

It’s one thing for a business owner to talk up their newest product in a sales pitch and entirely another to be so confident you’re offering some for free. Sounds like giveaway time...

Scott provided two new, full-sized Goldfaden MD products: “Bright Eyes” dark circle radiance concentrate ($52 value) and “Wake Up Call” overnight regenerative facial treatment ($80 value).

Want to win?

Before Monday, send me an email with "Goldfaden" in the subject line. Please include which product you'd like to win, the Goldfaden MD attribute you're most excited about, your full name, mailing address and daytime phone number.

Just remember: If you win, you've got to report back with your results. (Bonus point to those who chronicle through photos.)

Want even more?

Jeffre Scott Apothecary will host a two-day event March 14-15 with Lauren Wolk Goldfaden - daughter-in-law of brand founder Dr. Goldfaden - and Lisa Goldfaden, Dr. Goldfaden's daughter.

This will be one of the first events in the store's spring beauty event calendar, featuring a variety of brand creators and experts nearly every weekend from March 8-April 24.

All events have limited availability and require a $75 RSVP (to be applied towards any purchase.) Details and to register: 704-339-0010; sheila@jeffrescott.com.

'Top 10' for fall

Night time temps have started falling below 60 in Charlotte. Could it finally be time for fall? According to the calendar, the official season change is this Sunday.

Fresh from a 10-day trip to NYC where she worked backstage at Fashion Week, Charlotte's 19-year-old makeup artist Katy Albright has been in the thick of fall fashion.

She shared her "Top 10" favorite looks, as well as some insider knowledge on the best products to pull them off.

1. Perfectly bold eyebrows

It's time to put down the tweezers. Fall 2013 is all about beautiful, thick eyebrows. Benefit Cosmetics "Brow Zings" ($30) are the perfect tool to get perfect brows. This kit has colored wax, soft powder, two brushes and tweezers. Complete the look with Anastasia clear brow gel ($22) to keep unruly brows in place.

2. Smokey, burgundy eye shadow 

Accentuate your eyes with warm, earthy tones. Burgundy is the perfect shade to complete this season's look. Use Aveda's "Cinnamon Bark" ($14) to achieve a warm, matte finish. If you're looking for something with perfect shimmer, try Makeup Forever Diamond Eye Shadow #311 ($20.) 

3. Wine-stained lips

An updated version of the red lip, berry shades look great on all skin tones. Try NARS "Volga" ($26) for a strong, matte finish. For a more subtle effect, try Tarte Lipsurgance in "Moody" ($24.)

4. Bold, geometric liner

This season, eyeliner comes in many different shapes and sizes. Whether its applied in thick strokes or in fine detail, MAC Chromaline in "Black" ($19.50) gets it right every time.

5. Fresh face

Clean, natural faces made their appearance this fall on the runways. To achieve a soft, dewy complexion try Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream ($39.)

6. Bright matte lip

Here to stay, a bright, bold lip paired with a naked eye completes the look for fall 2013. Colors ranging from reds to pinks hit the runway this fall. Try Aveda Nurishmint lip liner "Barberry Bloom" ($16) or Makeup Forever Rouge Artist Intense #36 Satin Fuchsia ($19.)

7. Illuminated skin

A healthy glow to accompany a perfectly clean face makes its way just in time for fall. Use a small amount of NARS illuminator "Copacobana" ($30) right above the cheekbone to create this look.

8. Bright liner

Bright blue hues accented the eyes of models at Stella McCartney and Anna. Use NARS Larger Than Life "Barrow Street" on upper lash line for a colorful twist on the typical black liner.

9. Metallic shadow

Use subtle hints of metallic silver or gold in the corner of the eyes or as liner this fall. Makeup Forever Aqua Cream #2 Steel ($23) is the perfect shade of metal. Sugarpill "Goldilux" ($12) has a highly-pigmented gold you can't ignore.

10. Smokey Underline

A new version of the "smokey eye" appears on models at Marc Jacobs. To replicate this look, apply Stila Smudge Stick waterproof eyeliner "Stingray" ($20) and delicately smudge towards the outer counter of the eye.