H&M opening goodies

Charlotte's first and highly-anticipated H&M store will open at noon Thursday at Northlake mall, and as if they need to, officials are enticing shoppers with a few freebies.

The first 200 people in line will get a free t-shirt and an "Access to Fashion Pass", valued from $10 to $300, among other promos.


The approximately 26,000 square foot store will offer women's and men's collections, with separate “store within store” sections for accessories, lingerie, sports apparel, maternity and the plus-size line, H&M+. The Northlake location will also carry the children's line, outfitting newborns up to age 8.

The Swedish retailer opens its doors in Charlotte just in time to hype its Holiday 2013 trends, which reportedly include "sequined and embroidered knits, lightweight down jackets, sheer dresses and slim fitted trousers for women; and wool jackets, oxford cotton shirts and tweed trousers for men."

The Northlake store is also one of the H&M locations participating in the American Red Cross’ Holiday Mail for Heroes program, which provides cards and personal messages to troops during the holiday season.

No word yet on when the 17,000 square foot H&M at Carolina Place in Pineville is expected to open, though signage on the storefront announces they've reached the hiring phase.(However, the website only shows positions at the Northlake store.)

Free haircuts for veterans

Solace Salon and Spa in Concord will offer free haircuts to all veterans with military ID from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 12. Solace will also accept donations for the American Legion.

Local owner Raegan Brogdon wanted to give back to the community after moving to a new location and invites veterans to enter a world of calm and tranquility when they come through the door.

Solace is located at The Rossean House, 5160 Poplar Tent Road, directly off George W. Liles Parkway in Concord.

Walk-ins are welcome but advance reservations are recommended: 704-795-7627.

Getting ahead of the holidays

A couple of local events are happening this weekend to help prep and perfect your look for the holiday season.

On Friday and Saturday, Aveda Institute Charlotte is offering complimentary makeup applications and holiday hair styling. If you're already in Christmas shopping mode, there's the added bonus of a free shampoo and style with the purchase of two full-size Aveda products.

The institute is located at 1520 South Blvd. Ste. 150, Charlotte. Additional details: 704-333 9940, info@aicharlotte.biz.

Also on Saturday, Charlotte Plastic Surgery will host its Fall Skincare open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Uptown location, 2215 Randolph Road.

This event includes specials on skin care products, injections and surgeries. The open house will also feature raffles and giveaways, the biggest of which is the facial rejuvenation package. This consists of two laser treatments, SkinMedica products, Botox and Juvederm. (Package valued at roughly $2,600.)

Doctors, estheticians and staff will be available to answer questions on procedures, products, etc. Additional details: 704-372-6846.704704.372.6846.372.6846704.372.6846

(Also, keep an eye out next week: CPS Skin Health Specialist Melody Robinson shares tips and recommendations on keeping that glowing complexion now that heating systems have kicked on.)

No RSVP is required for either event.

And now that you've hauled out your winter wardrobe and identified the items that no longer fit/you're not loving anymore...

The Delta Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority will host two clothing drives for business attire and related items, from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 14 at the Delta Zeta Chapter property, 4248 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte.

The following items are requested in good, presentable condition.

For men: Solid colored suits (navy, black or dark gray); white or off-white shirts; dress slacks (navy, black or dark gray) and ties.(No bold colors or patterns, please.)

For women: Suits (navy, black or dark gray)' white or light-colored blouses; dress pants and knee-length skirts (navy, black or dark gray.)

Other items: Plain cover portfolios, computer bags, resume paper, etc.

As part of the Delta Zeta Chapter's 79th anniversary, members want to help those who are seeking employment (but are short on resources) look their best. All the donations will be distributed back into the local community, whether through a city-wide announcement or through an assistance service partner. (The method will depend on how many items have been donated.)

Details or questions: www.zetasofcharlotte.org.

"Catching Fire" and CoverGirl

Happy November.

"The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," movie comes out in three weeks and CoverGirl is playing to the female fanbase with the limited-edition release of its Capitol Collection.

The line features a range of products - eye shadows, lipstick, nail polish, etc. - in 12 different looks, representing the 12 districts of Panem.

"The Capitol Beauty Studio" on CoverGirl's website breaks down each look with the products used, inspiration source, a video tutorial, a before and after photo mash-up of the models, tips on toning down the fantastical elements of the look for everyday wear and each district's "nail look." (Probably the most fun.)

The product designations centralize around "Catching Fire" as a common theme, with "Flamed Up" curl mascara; "Sizzle" lip gloss and nail polish names such as "Inferno," "Sulfur Blaze," "Scalding Emerald" and "Black Heat," among others.

The Capitol Collection appears to be available at most national retailers, as well as number of online merchants such as Amazon.

I find it interesting that a makeup company is hyping "The Hunger Games" franchise.
Not only because the dystopian story revolves around teens (the most likely consumers) killing one another, but particularly because author Suzanne Collins used outrageous cosmetic procedures - such as vividly dyed skin and hair - to show how vapid and wasteful Capitol citizens were.

Curious.

I trust this campaign will still make millions.

Vampire facelifts: This is a trend?

Sorry, come again?

Apparently if I kept up with the Kardashians (snort) I'd already be aware that as bizarre as they sound, Vampire Facelifts are a seemingly legitimate, registered and trademarked procedure.

Before you go Googling, take a second to think about what the name implies.

Vampire. Facelift.

(Are you trading your soul for eternally magnificent skin? What does the finished product even look like?)

Like those sparkling Cullens from the "Twilight" series, that - regardless of how idiotic they might be - were portrayed as genuinely good-looking?

Or Vampire as in Bela Lugosi in "Dracula"?

Not a bad looking cat, but that's not what I want my face to look like. 

Personally, when you start mixing mythical creatures like vampires with modern beauty procedures, I can't help but envision something like this:

Those cheekbones. The brows. Amazing.

So I'm going to need some clarification on what type of vampire we're talking about.

Thankfully, Carolina Wellness's Maria Hamrick - licensed esthitician, medical assistant and laser technician - took the time to walk me through what the Vampire Facelift entails.

The short version: A patient’s own blood is drawn, spun through a centrifuge and the resulting platelets are re-injected – in combination with a hyaluronic acid such as Restylne or Juvéderm – at strategic points in the face, Hamrick said. That includes deep wrinkles and saggy skin that’s dull or grayish.

Lauded by fans as an alternative to Botox, the Vampire Facelift has been around at least since 2011 and allegedly improves skin tone and color, as well as lift saggy skin and fill lines and wrinkles. But critics call it a gimmick, with results comparable to other injectable dermal fillers.

If you head over to Vampirefacelift.com, the site spells out each step of the procedure. (The best is probably No. 3: "Injecting the magic into your face." WHAT?!)

So how much blood are we talking? About two teaspoons, Hamrick said, adding it’s the hyaluronic acid that provides immediate results. Apparently it can take a week or two before the "magic," erm, PRP, produces visible results.

A Vampire Facelift runs about $1,500 and is not something insurance covers, Hamrick said. But the entire session – which includes sitting for 30 minutes with a numbing cream on the face and about 10 minutes for the blood work, followed by injections – takes an hour tops with no downtime, Hamrick said.

Happy Halloween.

Woo Charlotte: Excitement at the mall

I don't want to be a traitor to my generation, but I really hate the mall.

To be clear, I don't hate the stores, they're the reason I end up going. I just want to get what I need and leave.

But there's the mayhem of the parking lots - especially on weekends - and having to remember which entrance is the closest to the store in question, not getting trapped by the kiosk vendors as you power walk through the window shoppers ... It's too much.

With the mall experience in mind, I'm more than excited about the grand opening of Woo Skincare and Cosmetics tomorrow from 4-8 p.m. Photos: Store grand openings.

The store/spa, which had a soft opening Oct. 1, is in the Colony Road Shopping Center on Selwyn and has 1,500 square feet of luxury/niche brands that are usually the siren song of "the mall." (Fortuitous bonus: Blo Blow Dry Bar is Woo's neighbor.)

With a location like that, you could in theory, be in and out again in no time. That is, if you can stop shopping.

Laura Mercier. Bobbi Brown.Trish McEvoy. Nars. Butter London. Bumble and bumble. Those are just a handful of the "pretty" offerings.

When it comes to skincare, Woo has more that a few lines (Darphin, Natura Bisse) that include brands typically only available through doctors, (SkinCeuticals, Dermalogica, Latisse) thanks to medical director Dr. Robert Graper.

Gentlemen, they've got Jack Black, Supersmile whitening systems, St. Tropez products, Tan Towels and more.

But Woo co-owner and Charlotte native Kara Campbell is quick to emphasize the store "caters to all ages, all people, all price points.


"We love to educate the consumer. Our motto here at Woo is 'Everyone leaves happy.'"

The Woo concept is the brainchild of brand founder Woo Caroland, who's resume includes a number of NYC art galleries, Sotheby's and the art department of Vanity Fair.

The first Woo location opened in Nashville's Green Hills area in 1992, the second in Buckhead Atlanta in 2008. It was after visiting that location that Campbell said she and Woo met through a mutual friend.

Campbell also worked for years in NYC: seven years as executive director of Clinique International Cosmetics Division, and seven more leading marketing for Chanel's skincare and cosmetics division, Chanel Beaute, before returning to Charlotte in 2002.

Since meeting Woo, Campbell said, they've been eyeing the Myers Park area as a possible store location for more than two years.

"We knew we wanted to be in this neighborhood," Campbell said. "We wanted to be strategically placed away from the mall, but close enough to Uptown."

The mix of products and brands in the Charlotte location represent the best from both existing Woo locations, Campbell said.
The Atlanta store doesn't carry the Chantecaille (pronounced Shan-tuh-kigh) line, but Charlotte does.
(P.S.- Their holiday "The Diamonds" eye shadow trio is pure heaven. Are you listening, Santa?)

Woo is also the only game in town (and the region) to offer the Tata Harper skincare line, Campbell said, noting the products are organic, 100-percent natural, nontoxic and contain no synthetics such as parabens. "It's extremely effective," Campbell said.

Want more? Woo Charlotte has pro makeup artists and beauty experts that provide spa and salon services such as a range of facials - including Jet Peel, which uses oxygen and saline as an alternative to microdermabrasion - waxing, brow/lash tinting and fake tanning, among others.

10-percent of Wednesday's grand opening profits will be donated to Freedom School Partners.

"We want people who come here to be thrilled they came," Campbell said. "There's no pressure. We want to be a place where everyone would love to get a gift from."

Get friendly with Woo Charlotte on Facebook.

Pink Ribbon Pilates giveaway

Tuesday is yoga day at the Observer, when certified Kripalu yoga instructor Nancy Nicholson comes to the building and leads a class at lunchtime.

I've worked in enough other offices to recognize this is conveniently wonderful. Because once you get over the initial awkwardness of doing downward dog in front of one of your 12 bosses, it really is nice to get away from your desk and do something that helps prevent feeling like (too much of) a crazy person.

So, in the interest of physical and mental wellness for all...

Gaiam has released two new products in its Pink Ribbon Collection: the Pink Ribbon II yoga mat and a Pink Ribbon Pilates dvd, from celebrity Pilates instructor Mari Winsor. ($1 from the sale of each of these goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. )

This is Gaiam's second annual Pink Ribbon (3 mm) mat, which features inspirational messages and comes with a free download for a yoga workout. Suggested retail is about $22.

Pink Ribbon Pilates features four 20-minute Pilates workouts and includes a resistance band to help you get more from each session. Suggested retail is about $15.

We've got one copy of Pink Ribbon Pilates to give away. Email me with the subject line "Pink Pilates" and include your name and daytime phone number. We'll pick a winner Friday afternoon.

(And if you're ever in the area around noon on Tuesdays, you're welcome to come to yoga day. The first class is free.)