Fashion Articles

Beth has her hair done by Marga Coulp, owner of Classic Cutters at 27 Albany St. in Portsmouth.

Seacoast Makeover Week 3:
Hair, Make-up and clothes

Some women are born for the hunt, with superhuman skills such as the ability to smell a sale within a 50-mile radius and the stamina to shop all day without breaking a sweat. However, this is not true for all.

Seacoast Makeover participant Beth Peterson admits she has no sense of fashion or any urge to shop.

I say this with an unblemished shopping record, “Shut up!” This was a job for our fashion professionals. The Makeover Team wanted to open the trendy world of fashion to Beth, giving her tips and tools she will need for her new look.

Let's face it, most women want that New York Fashion Week collection of Christian Dior or Versace with those fabulous, must-have Jimmy Choo shoes.

But most of us don't have Prada purses filled with Paris Hilton cash to drop on designer clothes. The makeover team wanted the look, but easy on the wallet.

Serendipity

Martha Stolzer, owner of Serendipity at 41 Pleasant St. in Portsmouth, has spent the last eight years helping busy downtown shoppers find that perfect outfit. With a love of fashion, she has made this quaint, whimsical boutique one of the hot spots to shop, offering beautifully selected pieces from around the world, trendy fashions that flatter any women's figure and accessories that can pull any outfit together.

Martha immediately took Beth under her wing, patiently helping her find a new ensemble, encouraging her to take risks with things she would not normally wear. Martha wanted to give her a sleek work look, putting her in a black and pink Loco Lindo dress with a cool stained-glass design, adding a lightweight black shrug that can be removed for an elegant after-work evening look.

Martha said accessories are the key to making an outfit your own, and showed Beth how a petite, green-apple handbag from Jazzed works delightfully with a matching pair of green-apple Magic Bus dress sandals. Can't forget the bling. A Warren & Sofia beaded necklace, sparkling with charm, finishes these frocks off with top marks.

“I haven't worn a dress in a long time. I actually love it. I feel like a girl with a style,” Beth said.

Martha agrees that, when it comes to having a fabulous wardrobe, you don't need to have a lot of money, just a little creativity. For more information about Serendipity, visit Martha's Web site ( www.serendipitynh.com ).

You're Invited

A girl can't survive on one outfit alone, so we RSVP right away to our invitation from You're Invited, a sophisticated casual boutique at Shopper's Village on Route One in Hampton Falls. This unique shop on the block started out six years ago as a gift accessory store, showcasing beautiful home accents, bed and bath products, baby items and much more.

Just a year ago, owners and sisters Clare Gale and Kathleen Pilon, decided to turn one side of their shop into a boutique offering elegant and casual clothes with reasonable prices, such as Christopher Blue, Habitat, Willow and BKG, to name a few.

Clare and Kathleen wanted to give Beth a casual look for fall; dressing her in a white shirt from Eileen Fisher topped with a lightweight red, zip-up sweater vest from BKG, and adding relaxed, form-fitting jeans from Christopher Blue.

Clare accessorized the outfit with a red Osgoode Marley handbag and a silver heart chain necklace and bracelet by New England Jewelcraft. Clare and Kathleen pulled this outfit together for Beth with their fashion know-how and a beautiful line of clothes that work any room.

In her duds Beth said she's feeling this outfit. “It's comfortable and I like red on me.

I don't normally wear bright colors.”

Beth got the lowdown on high-fashion looks for less and a closet updated and

beautifully equipped for any occasion.

How did she like all the shopping? “At first I thought, 'this is not me.' Then I actually got into it and had fun with it. I like the way I look and my clothes fit great.

I'm actually a size smaller than I originally thought – bonus!

I feel like a new person.”

Imagine not stepping into a salon for seven years, your only haircuts given by friends using scissors from the kitchen drawer.

“I guess I just lost interest. It was easier to throw it back in a barrette and keep it simple,” confessed Seacoast Makeover participant Beth Peterson.

It was time to put Beth's hair in the hands of an expert for an updated 'do that would match the rest of her transformation.

The Makeover team began by zeroing in on a good stylist, and Marga Coulp, owner of Classic Cutters at 27 Albany St. in Portsmouth, stepped up to the challenge. At the consultation she immediately saw behind Beth's mousey brown, one-length hair, excited about what she could create with these untamed locks.

Marga has been beautifying women for 31 years, and when she's not jetting around her shop, she's flying planes. She took up flying 10 years ago, influenced by her husband, a pilot with American Airlines. She's also busy keeping up with the latest hair styles and techniques, taking classes for French cuts, Japanese straightening and more, while offering a full range of beauty services, including eyebrow waxing, manicures, pedicures and extensions.

The bangs have to go

Marga didn't waste anytime suggesting that Beth's outdated bangs ought to go. “Your hair is too long for your face, and you need layers to soften your look. Also you need a few highlights,” said Marga. “But first things first - the brows; you need a good waxing. And while we're at it, a nice French manicure and pedicure.”

The day of the appointment

Marga started out with scissors in one hand and six inches of hair in the other, cutting off some of Beth's mane before adding color.

She began foiling Beth's hair, highlighting it with a mixture of golden colors of blonde, sandy and red, which accented her skin tone.

Marga used an Italian hair color called Tocco Magico, made with coconut oil, helping the hair stay healthy and the color last longer.

While the color set, Marga got started on Beth's eyebrows. Marga believes that the eyes are the first thing you notice when looking at a person, and that a nicely shaped brow can lift the eyes, making them look larger.

Marga begin dusting Beth's eyebrows with powder to protect the skin. She then applied a lavender wax to create the desired shape, covered the area with a strip, and then pulled it to remove the unwanted hair. She finished with a lavender essential oil to soothe the skin, leaving a dramatic difference to Beth's look.

The cut

With the color done, Marga shampooed and conditioned with Eufora, a non-color-stripping organic product that gives hair moisture and shine, that increases manageability.

Adding a Eufora styling gel throughout Beth's hair, Marga started the cut with a layering technique called “walking the sheers” - giving her beautiful layers with movement and texture, framing Beth's face and enhancing her cheekbones. Marga dried Beth's new cut into a stylish shape, giving it body and bounce. She finished with Eufora hair spray, leaving it shiny and luxurious.

Nails/Pedicure

For the final touch, nail technician Tracy Harmon left Beth looking polished with a flawless French manicure and pedicure.

Beth said she felt like a new woman when everything was finished,

“I look so different. It really did make a difference waxing my eyebrows, and my cut and color is awesome,” she said. “I really like it.”

Marga was attentive to every detail, listening to Beth's needs and concerns. She spent a lot of time making sure the look was just right for Beth and easy for her to style on her own.

Now Beth is looking and feeling new and improved - psyched for her big reveal celebration, to show off her new look to family and friends.

Stay tuned: Voila! The reveal party is held at Anthony Alberto's, and Beth's loved ones are amazed at her transformation.

We would like your feedback about the makeover

Please email advertorial writer at dbreneman@seacoastonline.com

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