“I’m his real first love and this is why I’m in all black today. I’m in mourning,” giggled Claudia Licursi, who was dressed to the nines Friday afternoon, even donning a small black hat with attached veil. She pointed to a picture taped to the mirror of her styling station of Prince William and Kate Middleton – only Licursi's head was superimposed over Kate’s.
All day Friday, Leslie K's salon held a "Royal Wedding Reception" fundraiser for its Relay for Life team to benefit the American Cancer Society.
“One of the girls said we should all wear hats the day of the wedding and it developed into the idea of a mock royal reception/cancer benefit,” said owner Leslie Kogut as she strolled around the salon in a lace hat and heels.
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For each donation clients made Friday, the salon gave them a goodie bag filled with product samples, wedding favors and a replica of Kate Middleton's engagement ring. For a dollar a ticket, they were entered in a raffle to win a salon product gift bag filled with hair goodies and gift certificates to the salon. Everyone seemed to be in the royal wedding spirit as donations flew into the box.
The salon itself was transformed into an upscale celebration. The air was sweet with the scent of large flower arrangements donated by Leslie’s in-laws at Kogut’s Florist and stylists and customers alike snacked on a towering wedding cake and cookies.
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“It’s really quite magical what they’ve done,” customer Janet Flynn said while biting into an Italian cookie and sipping fizzy punch in a plastic flute.
Amidst all the pomp and camp is a real important cause, one that Kogut has been dedicated to for 10 years.
“This year marks my 10-year anniversary with Relay for Life," she said. "I am a two-time breast cancer survivor so this event is very important to me.”
Kogut was dignosed first in January of 2001 with breast cancer and again in June of 2003; beating it both times.
Leslie K. will also have a booth at this year's Relay for Life at Lyman Hall in Wallingford on May 13th and May 14. The staff will be cutting off 10 inches or more of hair from volunteers and sending it along to the Wigs for Kids organization which makes hairpieces for children with cancer who have lost their locks due to treatments.
But Friday was all about the royals.
‘We do a lot of fundraising for the Cancer Society but this one is just so much fun! I hope we continue it and dress up tomorrow, think of the donations we could get,” added stylist Jean Ingham, wearing a large brimmed hat of her own design.
“I prefer Kate’s dress to Diana’s,” stylist Kathy Nagel said while washing out her clients' hair. “Diana’s was too much – like too much frosting on a cake.”
Stylists Melissa Rosa and Hermila Leon crowded the front desk computer, discussing their fashion likes and dislikes as they looked at photos from the royal wedding. Rosa’s feathered hat soared high above her head as she explains how she made it.
“I braided my hair and then interlocked the wires from the feathers I bought at Michaels through the braids,” Rosa said. The result is regal. “We all love Victoria Beckham's look. Her hat is stunning! It defies gravity.”
Kogut approached the desk to see the picture of the kiss between the royal couple and talked about cancer prevention.
“The key is finding cancer early. I had no previous cancer in my family and if it wasn’t for me giving myself a self examination I wouldn’t have found the lump," she said. "Self-examine your breasts and seek out mammograms because they will save your life.”
The salon is also accepting donations for the race at its 247 South Broad Street location any time before May 13th.
“Thank you so much, this was great. I felt like I was at a real royal reception,” customer Janet Flynn said to staff as she walked out with a new hairstyle and a cookie to go.
