Sara Hoefert (left) and Karen Enzenbacher (right) work on a model’s hair prior to hitting the stage.
The backstage area at Paris Fashion Week was controlled chaos — models being fitted, makeup artists making final touches, and two Mount Prospect residents moving quickly between stations, their hands working with practiced precision on a model’s hair.
Minutes before the runway show, the energy was electric, according to Amethyst Skye Salon owner Karen Enzenbacher. This was the moment she’d dreamed about.
“It’s crazy, it’s chaotic, and it’s everything a hairstylist can dream of for an adrenaline rush,” Enzenbacher said.
For Enzenbacher and her colleague Sara Hoefert, both raised in Mount Prospect, the invitation to style hair at Paris Fashion Week March 2-10 represented the pinnacle of their profession. It was the kind of opportunity only a select few stylists ever get — a chance to work alongside some of the world’s most prestigious designers and see their work on an international stage.
Sara Hoefert (left) and Karen Enzenbacher (right) in Paris in early March as part of Fashion Week.
Neither woman had been to Paris before. For Hoefert, it was her first time in Europe. Enzenbacher had traveled across the Atlantic before, but Paris had been on her bucket list for years. When the call came through their team lead, Jay Marie, to represent Amethyst Skye at the prestigious event, they didn’t hesitate.
“It’s moments like this you just want to pinch yourself and know that you made it as a hairstylist chasing dreams,” Enzenbacher said. “Doing things like New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week — that’s something only a select few stylists get to say they’ve done in their career.”
The path to Paris started in 2012, when Enzenbacher opened Amethyst Skye in a salon suite at Randhurst. Over the years, the business grew. Eight years ago, she moved to a storefront on Northwest Highway in Mount Prospect, where both she and Hoefert now work and raise their families.
Hoefert grew up in Arlington Heights and attended South Middle School and Prospect High School. Enzenbacher is a Mount Prospect native who went to Euclid Elementary, River Trails Middle School, and Hersey High School. Both women stayed rooted in the community where they grew up, building their careers and families here.
The invitation to Paris Fashion Week came after a successful run at New York Fashion Week in 2024. That’s where Enzenbacher and Jessica Pascazio first styled runway shows for the prestigious event. The experience opened doors.
When Paris came calling, Pascazio had to make a difficult choice — her second baby was still very young. She decided to step back and give Hoefert the opportunity instead.
“It gave Sara the chance to enjoy the experience,” Enzenbacher said.
Enzenbacher and Hoefert kicked off March by experiencing a whirlwind that few people ever get to witness. The week wasn’t all runway shows and glamour. There was a seminar day where the stylists learned the exact looks the designers wanted on the models. There was also a team meet-and-greet cocktail party — a chance for stylists from across the United States and beyond, including New Zealand, to connect and build relationships.
Additionally, between the professional work, there were content days with photo shoots and videography sessions. And when the work was done, Hoefert explored Paris for the first time, soaking in the city that had captivated her imagination for years.
But the highlight? Backstage, minutes before the models hit the runway.
“That moment right before the models went out on the runway — that’s what we both loved most,” Enzenbacher said. “It’s the adrenaline, the energy, the knowing that what you’ve done is about to be seen by thousands of people.”
The Paris experience has already opened new doors. Enzenbacher and Hoefert now have their sights set on trainings and events in Milan, London, New York, and Los Angeles. The dream that started in a salon suite at Randhurst has taken them to the world’s fashion capitals.
For two women who grew up in Mount Prospect, who still live and raise their families here, the message is clear: big dreams don’t require leaving home. They just require the courage to chase them.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with the opportunities we’ve been given to advance in our industry,” Enzenbacher said. “Paris Fashion Week has opened up more doors for us, and we couldn’t be more thrilled with what’s to come.”
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