A message to my readers

A bit of personal news to share today: my last day at the Observer is Friday.

I've had the pleasure of witnessing incredible change on Charlotte's retail landscape since arriving at the Observer in 1998. Concord Mills wasn't around back then, SouthPark was considerably smaller and I used to order my Kiehl's online (or have it shipped by my family in Michigan).

It has changed a lot in the two years I've been lucky enough to be the Style editor.

I'm not leaving Charlotte – my family and I have grown to think of this town as home. I will continue to focus on writing about fashion and beauty, just in a different forum.

Some things, thankfully, will never change. On that list is my appreciation for the readers who took the time to e-mail, call and post on my blog.

We might not always agree, especially when it comes to men's facial hair, but the exchange of ideas this job has afforded me is priceless.

Longtime Observer writer Cristina Bolling will be covering style news. If you have story ideas, e-mail style@charlotteobserver.com.

You can find me at rachelsutherland.net, Twitter, Facebook or send e-mail to rachel@rachelsutherland.net.

Eva Mendes is Tastee

Charlotte-based Tastee Cosmetics is expanding it's reach again. The line debuted on QVC in July.

Now, the line is available at Douglas Cosmetics stores in Westport, Conn., Philadelphia and Center Valley, Penn., Marlton, NJ and Washington, DC.

Founder Jami Svay says the line has also been introduced to celebs, including Eva Mendes, Jessica Alba, Reese Witherspoon, Selena Gomez, Mo'Nique and Kirsten Dunst.

BIG ONE-DAY SALE: Neiman Marcus SouthPark will have a one-day sale, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. Save as much as 40% off regular-priced merchandise throughout the store for one day only. This includes denim, cashmere, Tory, Ralph Lauren, DVF, Trina Turk, Leifsdottir, Kay Unger, Akris Punto and Armani Collezioni and more. Exclusions will apply.

Cosmetics will be included in this sale for the first time ever at 20 percent off. The following cosmetic lines will be marked down: Shu Uemura, Armani Beauty, La Prairie, YSL, Orlane, Estee Lauder, Sisley, Kiehl's, Laura Mercier, Cle de Peau, ReVive, Lancome, Guerlain, Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown, Christian Dior, Amore Pacific, Chantecaille and La Mer.

TRUNK SHOW: Tara Davis, designer of the FLOW by Tara Davis line, will showcase her Fall 2009 collection, 5-9p Nov. 20 at Modern Salon and Spa-Metropolitan. Bring a canned good or non-perishable item for entry, to be donated to City Dive, Inc. The fashion show will begin at 7p.

Free Friday: Alicia Silverstone EcoTools set

Up for grabs this week is the limited edition Alicia Silverstone EcoTools 5-piece brush set. The set includes a hemp bag and four brushes. The lining is made with recycled plastic. The brushes have sustainable bamboo handles and 100% cruelty-free bristles.

• To enter, send an e-mail to style@charlotteobserver.com. Entries sent/posted elsewhere will not be considered.
• Your e-mail must contain ECOTOOLS in the subject field of the e-mail. Include your name, phone number and mailing address in the text of the email.
• Entries must be received by 4 p.m. Friday. Entries sent after the deadline will not be considered.
• E-mails that meet the stated criteria will be entered into a random drawing. One entry per e-mail address, please.
• Only the winner will be contacted. Please do not post your contact information in the comments section on the blog.

Empowerment, scholarship and beauty

If you're a high school senior with a passion for fashion (design or marketing, merchandising and retail management), you could win a full-ride scholarship to the Art Institute of Charlotte.

The local winner will be entered in the national competition, where prizes include a scholarship to study fashion marketing and management at the Art Institute, a tour of Seventeen magazine, $500 shopping spree, lunch with a style professional and a visit to NYC during Fashion Week.

Deadline for entry is Nov. 20. Complete details for entry can be found here or by calling the Admissions Department of The Art Institute of Charlotte at 704.357.8020.

DOVE REAL BEAUTY WORKSHOP: The 3rd annual Dove Real Beauty Workshop for Girls, hosted by UNCC's Gender Excellence Learning Community, will be 1-4p Dec. 5. How can we encourage young girls, teens and women everywhere to embrace a more positive image of themselves, both inside and out? This awesome event, which fills up quickly, is a great place to start. It is free to girls (ages 10-13) and their female mentors: moms, stepmoms, sisters, friends, aunts, etc. It will be held at Breathing Room Yoga Studio, 214 W. Tremont Ave. Advance registration is required. Send an email to: dovegenx@gmail.com.

BENEFIT FOR YOU: Meet beauty experts Maggie and Annie Ford Danielson, Benefit global trend artists, 11a-3p Nov. 14 at Belk SouthPark. Get expert advice on everything beauty: from how to discover your signature fragrance from the new Crescent Row collection to mastering your perfect makeup look. Along with free cosmetic consultations, there will be a free gift with purchase of more than $55 during the event. Space is limited. Call 704.364.4251, ext. 8240 for reservations.

NCDT Runway For The Ballet

The NC Dance Theatre is staging its third Runway for the Ballet at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Booth Playhouse at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center.

Apparel from Capitol, Scout & Molly's, Black & Blue, ChezElle and E Martini will be featured, interspersed with excerpts from NC Dance Theatre's Innovative Works.

Ramona Holloway of 107.9 WLNK's "Matt and Ramona Show" will emcee. Tickets start at $30, and include complimentary food and wine. Click here for event details.

Free Friday: $100 gift card for Shapes Salon

Up for grabs this week is a $100 gift card for a free massage or facial from Shapes Salon & Day Spa on Providence Road.

• To enter, send an e-mail to style@charlotteobserver.com. Entries sent/posted elsewhere will not be considered.
• Your e-mail must contain SHAPES in the subject field of the e-mail. Include your name, phone number and mailing address in the text of the email.
• Entries must be received by 4 p.m. Friday. Entries sent after the deadline will not be considered.
• E-mails that meet the stated criteria will be entered into a random drawing. One entry per e-mail address, please.
• Only the winner will be contacted. Please do not post your contact information in the comments section on the blog.

Buff Faye's drag-tastic Halloween

Buff Faye (lower left) and her festive Halloween crew

I finally, finally(!) met Buff Faye.

She's the long-lost sister of Tammy Faye (rest in peace), and Buff's just as fabulous as you'd expect the winner of the Ms. Crown Royal Rugby Pageant 2008 and Miss $1.98 Pageant at the HideAway in Rock Hill, SC, to be. You may also recall she was in the top 25 of RuPaul's national Drag Race competition this summer.

Now, she and her band of divas sing, dance and serve a killer brunch once a month during Buff Faye's Drag Brunch at Hartigan's. I was lucky enough to see the crew in action earlier this month, in full camp drag/Halloween glory.

Here's your chance to check out the special encore: Buff and her crew are doing it one more time at a Halloween event 7-10p Thursday, Oct. 29.

Check it out. And tell Buff I sent you!