StyleScene
Getting
Tulsa World • Page D3 • Tuesday, May 9, 2006
Crocodileembossed silver case by Baekgaard ($26) from Elephant Trunk in Utica Square.
Photos by ROBERT S. CROSS / Tulsa World
CLOE POISSON / Hartford Courant
Michelle McCabe applies eyelash extensions on a client.
Extensions so subtle no one bats an eye
B Y G REG M ORAGO
The Hartford Courant
carded
Business card cases make practical, attractive gifts for graduates
World Scene Writer
You see them saunter down the red carpet in designer gowns, bedecked in jewels and flawless makeup. The eyes are huge and never flinch despite the camera flashes. Oh, those eyes! Liquid pools, perfectly arched eyebrows, eyelashes out to there. Secretly you curse the stars born with long, thick movie-star eyelashes. Well, you can stop swearing and get yourself to a salon for some lengthy lashes of your own. You think Nicole Kidman, Paris Hilton, Gwen Stefani, Lucy Liu, Naomi Campbell and Liz Hurley were blessed with those big, fluttering eyelashes? Nope. They, like a growing number of women across the country, are in on the latest beauty-shop secret: eyelash extensions. What are they? They’re semipermanent synthetic lashes that are glued to existing lashes using tweezers and a lot of patience. The initial procedure can take up to two hours (longer if the existing lashes have to be prepped by tinting); they’ll last four to six weeks. Eyelash extensions cost anywhere from $150 to $500 with touch-ups running about $40 to $50. Several years ago Jennifer Lopez was responsible for a renewed interest in false eyelashes when it was reported that the beauty company Shu Uemura fashioned custom-made lashes using mink for her. Later, Madonna bested J.Lo with $10,000 mink lashes sparkling with diamonds. Traditional glue-on false eyelashes always tended to look, well, false. “When someone wears false eyelashes, there’s a line you can see. You can tell,” said John McGarvey, owner of Les Cheveux salon in West Hartford, Conn. “With eyelash extensions, you absolutely, 100 percent cannot tell.” Which is why the procedure is gaining in popularity. Women with extensions say their eyes look bigger and the lashes fuller without the need for the daily application of mascara. “The hardest part for me was lying still for three hours,” said
Tracy Lewis of Avon, Conn., who recently got eyelash extensions at Les Cheveux. “It was fun to try once, but I’m not sure I’d do it again. I’m happy with the results. I just wish they’d last longer.” Lewis said she had heard about extensions the week before while getting her hair done. She also had heard about it from neighbors. “I was curious, and I said, well, I’m going away for my birthday, so I decided to treat myself,” she said. “It’s nice to try something that you know is not permanent.” Theresa Blankenship, an eyelash-extension expert who has trained aestheticians using Shavasana Eyelash Extension products, said customers have gotten them for cruises, reunions, weddings and other special occasions. “It’s for somebody that’s always wanted eyelashes and never had a lot of them,” said Blankenship, who does extensions at a spa in Glastonbury, Conn. “They want to treat themselves.” Blankenship’s treats cost between $350 and $600 and last up to two months. After the eyelashes are applied, the customer can’t get them wet for 24 to 48 hours while the glue dries. Mascara may be applied to the extensions, but it must be water-based. The synthetic hair, she said, has the same molecular weight as human hair, so wearers won’t feel as if the lashes are heavy. “If done correctly, they look natural,” she said. “The client is going to be very happy with them, because they look beautiful.” There’s no need to use an eyelash curler, because the synthetic lashes are already curled. Both Blankenship and McGarvey said the trend was growing. “It’s going to be huge,” McGarvey said. “We like the way it frees women up from their daily makeup routine.” So far the extensions appear to be safe. Ophthalmologist Thomas Steinemann of the American Academy of Ophthalmology told USA Today that he hadn’t seen or heard of safety problems with eyelash extensions, but he advised asking whether the glue was safe for cosmetic use.
“Genie” enameled case by Debora Jedwab ($30) from Snow Goose in Utica Square.
B Y J ASON A SHLEY W RIGHT
“Here’s my card.” It’s one of the most oft-uttered and, potentially, wallet-cluttering phrases exchanged between business people. You trade contact information, then stuff it in your briefcase or purse along with credit cards, receipts and, hopefully, a little moolah. But retrieving that info can be a big pain when it’s lost in the paper shuffle. To keep your card-swapping tidy and stylish, we found a few holders for those business cards. They’re not only great for the networking professional, they can be fun yet practical graduation gifts, too.
Jason Ashley Wright 581-8483 jason.wright@tulsaworld.com
Black mini briefcase card holder by Ganz ($9.95) from Elephant Trunk in Utica Square.
Lavender enameled case by Spring Street ($24) from Glass Slipper in The Plaza, 81st Street and Lewis Avenue.
Blue card dispenser with metal clip by Wagner of Switzerland ($40) from Elephant Trunk in Utica Square.
Red bungee card case with elastic closure by Umbra ($7.95) from Snow Goose in Utica Square.
Turquoise leather case by Raika ($26) from Margo’s in Utica Square.
DRESS:
Dress them up or down.
FROM D-1 Ashley (left) hangs back in a white Rose & Lula silk halter dress ($210) from Azur Couture, while Melissa wears a green Velvet strapless Tshirt dress ($118) from Terri’s.
JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
selections en blanche is a white Rose & Lula silk halter dress. Dillard’s has snowy shades for the sizzle season, too, like a spaghetti-strapped Jessica Howard party dress in stretch sateen with a floral border design in turquoise, plus a coordinating ribbon belt. The store also has an ultra-feminine, fully lined crocheted dress with empire waist, V-neckline, cap sleeves and sheer hem by Chris McLaughlin. On the other end of the color spectrum is black, like the Fresh Produce sheath dress at Donna’s Fashions in Shops of Seville, 101st Street and Yale Avenue. One of her sales associates suggested cinching it with a belt, which can be done low, at the waist or up higher for an empire waist.
You’ll find more variations on the little black dress at Target, of which the store’s Mossimo brand has several. One is a sleeveless one with boat neck, fitted bodice and front-waist tie. Another is a knee-length dress with dipped neckline, shirred high waistline and softly draping skirt. Target also has a variety of summer dresses by Isaac Mizrahi, like his white, sleeveless “oval geo” dress. Mizrahi’s name also appears on a sweet, simple A-line dress in stretchy white sateen. He dabbled in seersucker, too, such a blackand-white sundress with an empire bodice, V-neckline and slender spaghetti straps. Most of these pieces can be dressed up or down, perhaps by pairing them with a fitted jacket or cardigan during the day. At night, opt for a light-weight scarf or shawl. On your feet, do flip-flops for day, Dupler suggested, then a tall wedge at night.
Knee or Hip Pain?
1p.m.,Thursday, May 11, 2006 Mary K. Chapman Health Plaza Robinson Room, 1819 E. 19th Street You’ll learn about the latest, most effective treatments that may offer dramatic relief of your knee or hip pain. Get expert answers on: • Medications • Latest diagnostic procedures • Non-surgical treatments • Exercise and nutrition
Jason Ashley Wright 581-8483 jason.wright@tulsaworld.com
Seating is limited, so call the St. John PulseLine today for reservations at (918) 744-0123. For more information, visit our website at stjohnhealthsystem.com