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Therapeutic Opening For Pure Platinum
by David Sepulveda | Mar 23, 2010 12:11 pm
(11) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Business/Labor/ Economic Development, Citizen Contributions, Westville
For several hours on Friday evening, the scene outside a new Westville salon could have been mistaken for any trendy New York nightspot.
Pure Platinum, LLC, a new Westville Village business located in the Lesley Roy Home Couture building, bills itself as “a fun, creative, and trendy salon.” True to their billing, the salon, with its stylish slender footprint at 845 Whalley Ave., held its grand opening extravaganza Friday evening. Inside, guests and well-wishers were thrilled by remarkable transformations of body and spirit shaped by the hands and hearts of Pure Platinum staff.
Pure Platinum personnel hosted a special two-tiered fashion show for cancer patients in an adjoining space donated by Ms. Roy, that drew both tears and enthusiastic responses from the packed house.
Business owner Vicki Frenzel brought together five cancer patients and their nurses from the Griffin Hospital Cancer Unit in Derby, and other Connecticut areas for complete makeovers. The transformations included hair, make-up, “prêt-à-porter” or ready-to-wear imported and American fashions and accessories, provided by Yurway Boutique of New Haven. Fashion photography was provided, gratis, by professional photographer Steve Blazo who also assisted with lighting and some stagecraft.
As the show started, patients and nurses began their runway walks holding large “before” head shots to obscure their faces until reaching their runway marks. Then, with purposeful, triumphant gestures, the models tore the photos in half to reveal the dramatic metamorphosis. The symbolic statements took on even more meaning as salon manager Kayte Bachyrycz (pictured), read moving introductions and tributes written by friends and family members.
Fresh from her chemotherapy treatment only two days earlier, Seymour teacher Roseanne Thornton, who has wrestled with three different forms of cancer, was excited to be out on the town. “Tonight,” she exclaimed, “I have eyebrows!”
Cancer patient Ruthann Pawlyk lauded Griffin Hospital staff. She said they show concern for the emotional as well as the physical needs of the patient. “With so much negative news,” she said, “it’s heartwarming to know people still care.”
Another patient, Lucille Robillard, said the process of being made-over was a great pick-me-up; “I feel pretty - you had to see the before,” she quipped.
Jennifer Thomas, the youngest of the patients said, “you feel pretty again, after having lost your hair.” Showing off her natural looking wig with subtle highlights, Thomas said she was impressed that salon owner Vicki Frenzel took time out of her busy schedule to personally style her wig. “She never charges patients to style their wigs,” said manager Bachyrycz, explaining that Frenzel has had an ongoing commitment to serving cancer patients.
The idea of having make-overs as part of the grand opening was inspired by Bachyrycz, whose mother had been a cancer patient at Griffin Hospital and who was appreciative of the excellent care and empathy displayed by hospital staff. During frequent hospital visits, she formed friendships with staff and thought the show would be a great way to express gratitude and give a lift to cancer patients. The grand opening event represents the kind of outreach and community involvement the salon will revisit, according to Bachyrycz, perhaps with a follow-up Mother’s Day makeover nomination event.
For Chris Heitmann, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance (WVRA) Executive Director, the arrival of the high-fashion salon aligns with WVRA goals and with the family of Westville businesses that already serve the greater community. He cited a new, as-yet-unreleased report by the Connecticut Main Street Center, a non-profit organization that serves as a resource to WVRA and other “main street” districts’ revitalization efforts around the state. Heitmann said the report recommends maintaining and attracting complementary business clusters, a goal which is helped by the arrival of Pure Platinum.
“With Soho Hair Group, Odeon, Authentic Beauty & Body, Simonae Boutique, Fiana’s Hair Design, Continental Moda, and the soon-to-open Rodrick Gilchrist Design Studio, Pure Platinum builds on Westville’s fashion and style cluster which, in turn, helps support other business clusters including restaurants, antique shops, and art galleries. It is a welcomed development and positive sign of the growth and vitality we strive to promote throughout the Village,” he said.
Following the make-over celebration, a fifteen-model, high-fashion show displayed the considerable talents of Pure Platinum staff. In addition to providing hair and make-up design, the versatile stylists designed and fabricated the outfits worn by the models.
From behind a bank of back-lit translucent doors, silhouetted dancing figures emerged through individual doors, with a dazzling array of hair, make-up and fashion creations.
“My team is unbelievable” said a proud Frenzel who seemed reluctant to take credit for herself. “We work as a family.” Bachyrycz underscored that notion and said the salon staff, who form a tight-knit unit, also strive to create a culture of friendship and trust with their customers to better understand their fashion and style needs.
After the Pure Platinum fashion show, models mingled with guests for some voguing, dancing and lounging, and occasionally struck poses for appreciative photographers. A beaming Janel Waterhouse, was succinct in her assessment of the evening’s event: “Westville is rockin’- it’s the new center of the universe!” said the jubilant Westville resident.
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Comments
posted by: The Consignment Corner on March 23, 2010 2:43pm
Great coverage as usual by David. It’s exciting to see the growth in Westville and welcome to our new neighbors! Having been born in Westville it’s great to see the area making the come back it so rightfully deserves. Bill
posted by: Adam on March 23, 2010 5:59pm
Great and inspiring story Dave. Now where’s that hot blond??!
posted by: Steve Blazo on March 23, 2010 6:28pm
Great article and great event, but the unsung and unmentioned hero of the night was Bianca, who had a lot to do with the planning, scheduling, and orchestrating of the fashion show. She was stuck behind the scenes for most of the night.
As a contributor and spectator, I had tears in my eyes as the show unfolded and progressed—it was truly touching, and well done—I feel honored to do my part by documenting it with photographs, but congratulations and thanks to Bianca for all of her efforts.
Steve Blazo
posted by: David Sepulveda on March 23, 2010 8:02pm
Pure Platinum owner Vicki Frenzel did credit Bianca Jennifer with a great deal of the operational planning and execution of this great event. I regret that I could not mention all the fine people responsible for the success of this memorable event.
posted by: pat lopiano on March 24, 2010 11:38am
I went to SCSU as an undergrad in the mid-eighties and lived in an apartment house on Tour Ave in Westville and I am happy to read that this historic yet hip section of New Haven is not only living up to it’s reputation, but, exceeding it. I often pass through the area still as an Ansonia resident and will check out the new salon soon.
posted by: Tim Kane on March 24, 2010 4:23pm
David:
Inspirational, heart-warming, and truly in the spirit of the Westville I see on a daily basis. People giving of themselves, selflessly, doing the right thing. So many stories in a small neighborhood. Perhaps, if we report more stories like this, the face of the news will change…
Keep up the great work.
Tim
posted by: Edgehood on March 25, 2010 12:39pm
In Lesley Roy’s building…?? Leslie Roy is awesome…a true New Haven original…
posted by: Regina Day Ivey on March 25, 2010 10:52pm
Sounds like everyone had a good time. It certainly was for a great cause. Looking at the pictures and the title you can imagine my surprise as I started reading thinking it was a review for a topless establishment! A good article.
posted by: Adrienne on March 28, 2010 11:40am
It’s so uplifting to hear that functions, dedicated to bringing up the spirits of those so deserving, are taking place. When reading David’s article, one clearly senses the upbeat pulse of the evening, the enthusiasm of the people involved, and the gratitude of the patients. Sounds like it was a great event.
posted by: P.J. on March 29, 2010 12:50pm
This sounds like a wonderful and very stylish event! As a cancer survivor, I really appreciate Vicki’s compassion and generosity. It’s very traumatic to lose your hair while going through treatment, and make-overs such as this one are a huge boost to a woman’s self image. It sounds like a great time was had by all. Fantastic article celebrating Westville and awesome pictures!
posted by: Olga Khlystov on April 5, 2010 12:15am
I am so happy to start working @ Pure Platinum in westville New Haven, and would like to welcome all my clients to follow me and enjoy great atmosphere and perfect hairstyle created right for you. New people and walk-ins always welcome! love you all, your stylist Olga Khlystov.
