A Fletcher mom who prefers T-shirts takes some terrific fall clothes for a spin.

by Mick Kelly . photo by Rimas Zailskas

Julie Hayes has always been sporty. Growing up in Miami, she played softball and golf, and she’s always comfortable hanging by the beach in flip-flops and shorts. But these days, she’s not so thrilled with some aspects of the sporty look. Without a lot of styling, her hair can appear helmet-like, and she says, jokingly, “I feel like I put on the same helmet every day.” The 47-year-old Fletcher resident works part time on fundraising projects for Western North Carolina schools. She spends the rest of her time playing mom—cooking, doing laundry and hauling her two children, 11-year-old Katie and 14-year-old Kevin, around to soccer and band practice. “I love style and fashion, but at this point, it’s not a priority in my life,” she says. “Now, I’m more into my kids’ style.”

For at least one day this fall, VERVE’s style experts came up with a look for Hayes that was all her own. Meagan Scroggs at Hendersonville’s The Sanctuary decked her out in an indigo sweater with black pencil skirt and tights (Scroggs says both will be big this fall.) The kicker: truffle-colored Victory motorcycle boots by Bernardo.

Corey Prince at Hendersonville’s Salon 104 wanted to do something drastic with Julie’s hair, but he also wanted her to be able to style it easily at home. For fall, he gave her a warm brown color but with a few sizzling mod blonde highlights. Salon 104’s Megan McGarra added dramatic makeup to play off the indigo top, and voila—Hayes could have climbed onto a motorcycle or headed out for a funky date.

In fact, she was headed out for a date. Hayes and her husband Marty skipped their spring vacation this year to stay home and focus on Marty’s computer business. But the night of the makeover, they left the kids at home and treated themselves to Caribbean food at Nine Mile restaurant in Asheville.

Indigo Eileen Fisher sweater, black pencil skirt and leggings, all from The Sanctuary in Hendersonville. Victory boots by Bernardo also from The Sanctuary.

Julie’s makeup by Megan McGarra, and hair by Corey Prince, both of Hendersonville’s Salon 104.