Icon Makes Dallas Stop

Icon, is an overused moniker.  There are very few professionals who refine, define, and change their chosen professions.  Frederic Fekkai is an icon.  And, he loves Dallas.

Fekkai made a rare public appearance yesterday at Neiman Marcus, Northpark.  Along with Fekkai’s entourage, an adorable tweeny/teeny young man with his father’s eyes stood near Fekkai.  I thought it was poignant and befitting, this week after Father’s Day.  We can post all sorts of gifts, ideas, and silly banter, but seeing this boy look so admirably at his father, melted my heart. 

The Spawn was thrilled with a little afternoon pampering, and delighted in her new tortoise shell hairbrush (autographed in gold by Fekkai). I’m quite certain we were the only attendees schlepping their stylist with them to the event. 

I heard a fabulously funny story from a D Home insider, jump to get that, and some juicy scoop from Fekkai insiders.

First, the story…  D Home, as part of the 2008 re-design treated its writers and columnists to professional portraits courtesy of Dan Sellers.  Sellers is widely considered to be one of the top photographers in our fair city, not only of people, but real estate as well. 

Last fall, I nervously arrived for my appointment with Sellers with an armload of clothes.  I wasn’t sure what to expect. Incredible images from the pages of D, D Home, and portraits of Dallas’ elite  (hubba hubba) lined the walls and halls of Sellers’ studio. His affable nature immediately put me at ease.  Also there was Michele Gaudio, one of D’s freelance make-up artists.  With me, she had her work cut out for her…

That morning, before arriving, I visited my stylist, Ryan Wyatt for a blow-out and some serious flat-ironing.  Michele commented immediately, “Oh, your hair is perfect…”

She and I chatted, and I let it slip…my fanatic devotion to Frederic Fekkai products.  As it turns out, Michele is a veteran of the cosmetic trenches of Neiman’s, Northpark.  She is a Bobby Brown protégé, and a master of her craft.  And, then, her story, her own brush with Fekkai, perhaps a decade ago as he launched his product line.

He was booked to be at Neiman’s one afternoon, and although by that time he was the celebrity stylist, and red carpet aficionado. But, that day, it was a test to see if Dallas would embrace him as well.

A Birkenstock clad mother strolled through Neiman’s with her infant in a sling. Approached by a sales associate, and perhaps intrigued by the chaos, she took a seat in the chairs.  Fekkai glided by and stopped to survey her tresses.  As he consulted, advised, and fretted over the young Dallas hippie, she paused, unbuttoned her blouse, lifted the baby, and started breast feeding right there.  Fekkai never missed a beat, and continued the consult.  Michele reported the entourage was horrified, but Fekkai, ever the gentleman was nonplussed.

So, yesterday, I asked Fekkai if he remembered this.  He smiled, laughed, and said, “It could have, I really don’t remember…” However, let me tell you, his eyes, the way the question hit him…he remembered, I have no doubt.  Fekkai may be the greatest stylist of our time, a marketing genius, and an icon…  But before that, he was a hairdresser.  Thousands of women sat in his chair, pouring their hearts out, crying, complaining, and maybe even flirting, but Fekkai is old school.  He would never, ever betray his brood. No kiss and tell…hence the magic of his persona.

Check out my resulting portraits in the pages of the print product of D Home, or my website:  www.amandatackett.com. (The Trophy Husband, in true male form said, “Wow, in these pictures you look just like you did 15 years ago!”  Communication and honesty, so important in a marriage…)

After loading up on some of Fekkai’s recommendations for The Spawn and me, I met some of his incredibly gracious handlers.  I noted the recent appearance of Fekkai products in Target.  I was told, “DIVERTED PRODUCT.  We have never, and will never sell to Target and other mass retailers.”  

The industry is apparently being pirated by these diversions, and the story broke in Women’s Wear Daily recently.  And, so, it all comes back to Dallas, the circa 80’s ground zero for Paul Mitchell’s war on diverted distribution and counterfeit products.  That is the real concern for Fekkai.  Diverted products lead to counterfeiting, usually from China.  (And, as we all learned with last year’s pet food fiasco, safety standards and quality control aren’t a priority for these knock offs.)  Buy your Fekkai at Neiman’s, the associates are specifically trained to guide you through the selection process. (Ask for Louis, he’s fabulous!) 

Oh, and here’s some additional dish…  Keep your eyes on Ryan Wyatt, my stylist who attended the Fekkai event with me.  Something tells me he’s about to break out big, like best of big, right here at home. 

Yesterday was fun.  It kind of reminded me of this… 

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