By Nadine Kam

For those who can’t have enough pairs of rubbah slippahs, and you can snatch those up at Old Navy on the 28th, “Flip Flop Saturday.” Solid color slippers for summer will be $1 per pair, with a five-pair limit per customer, as a door buster special beginning at 8 a.m.I guess they’ve done this before, because when I talked to one of the employees at the Ala Moana Center location on the phone, she said, “If I were you, I’d get here early.”

By Nadine Kam

Tahiti Pearl Market photo

If you’re looking for something to do tonight, the Social Wahines, Pacific Edge magazine and Fashionista’s Market are hosting “Eco-Chic Wahine” in the Ward Warehouse conference rooms above The Wedding Cafe.

The event, sponsored by Tahiti Pearl Market, runs 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 25. It’s an eco-friendly shopping party featuring Kanu Hawaii, Lei Saisons, Alliway, Styrophobia, Roketo Design, and Organik Clothing, which will be showing its Fall 2008 eco collection.

Guests will enjoy complimentary dessert and iced tea, while shopping and mingling with fellow wahines. RSVP online at www.socialwahines.com/rsvp for the co-ed event. The cost to attend is $10 per person.

Social Wahines is a social and business network for Hawaii’s young professional women interested in meeting people, making new business contacts, and most of all, having fun.

By Nadine Kam

eLuxury.com photo
I now have the adult version of this 3.1 Phillip Lim children’s clipped feather swing skirt. (It’s not actually feathers, but fabric.)

It was with great sadness that I discovered a 3.1 Phillip Lim skirt for $250 on eLuxury, after I had paid more than $300 on sale. I was relieved to find it was a children’s skirt I was looking at, though if I had known there was a children’s size available, I definitely would have tried to squeeze into the 9/10 or so.

Maybe the sales gods just haven’t been with me, because I had eyed a black See by Chloe top at Nordstrom when it opened. It was more than $400, and now, it was gone. All the See by Chloe and Phillip Lim stuff were gone. I was kind of mad that my boyfriend had told me earlier not to get it, not because of the price, but because it had a rather large bow in front and he hates extraneous, fussy, frilly things — which I guess makes me wonder why he likes me.

It’s not like he runs my wardrobe or anything, but if he speaks I must listen because when it comes to clothes, he’s generally right. A guy with a good eye can be your best shopping ally because he’s less likely to indulge your fantasy life and dress the real, often dumpier you.
It’s a fact that in a dressing room I’m another person, so I come out with some choices that are good for someone else, and pretty bad for me. It helps that I’ve sought the opinion of one of our photographers here, Craig Kojima, who was pretty brutal. So now when I try things on, I always hear his voice saying, “That does nothing for you.”

If you’re about to make a mistake, just say those words and see if they’re true or false. Something worth buying will make your body look better than it really is. The no’s will be obvious. Something marginal will be just OK, neither excellent or bad on you. It’s the marginal things that pose the greatest problem, because they could be easily be yesses. But if you can say, “It does nothing for me,” and walk away, you could end up saving a lot of money, though it still doesn’t stop me from falling in love with individual pieces, rather than the way they look on me.

I wish I could be one of those with classic, appropriate adult style day in and day out, but I have a feeling I’d be bored.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
From left are Tori Richard, Ltd., president and CEO Josh Feldman, Kahala store manager Krishna Chatterjee, and Kahala creative director Dale Hope.

The Kahala Store celebrated its grand opening with a blessing and pau hana celebration at the Ala Moana Center June 19, with entertainment by Makalei, and kalua pig springrolls and fish and poi on the menu.

It was a kamaaina gathering with all the “kids” — Josh Feldman, son of Mort of Tori Richard; Dale Hope, former Kahala owner and son of Howard of Sun Fashions; Pua Rochlen, son of Dave of Surfline/Jams World — all-grown up and in charge. You can read stories I’ve written about them here: Tori Richard, Kahala, Jams World.

The Kahala brand has been reinvigorated under Tori Richard, revisiting its surf roots. In keeping with the theme, guests left the party with a bar of surf wax, among other things, including an inspirational booklet bound to leave some thinking about the things we take for granted, like grace, family, honor and aloha.

I was just thinking about that this morning, when I was driving and came upon a coned lane, one of many on our roads, and a driver with a bumper sticker that read “Drive with aloha,” sped up to cut me off. I was so mad I took down the license plate number, NWS 836. It wasn’t getting cut off that bugged me as much as the hypocrisy of appropriating the word “aloha,” when that woman clearly had none.

But, I digress. The store, at 800 square feet, was too small to accommodate all the well wishers, so expanded into the mall’s common area and Blue Hawaii Surf across the way. And with an abundance of ginger and maile lei, it was one of the sweetest-smelling parties I’ve been to in a while.

I thanked Mark Cunningham for being a vision in orange in his Kahala shirt and color-coordinated cords. He said, “I’m not afraid of color. Color can’t hurt you,” joking that most people would only wear these colors at Halloween and Thanksgiving, if that. Katye Killebrew sneaked into the picture. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

June 20 is the first day of summer! What will you be doing? If you have no plans, there’s always a sale to clear out the spring merch:

Photo courtesy Fighting Eel

Fighting Eel and Ginger 13 are teaming up for a sample sale from 5 to 8 p.m. June 20 at the FE headquarters, 47 N. Hotel St., second floor.

Check out discounted styles for a $2 entry fee that will be matched and donated to the American Red Cross China Relief Fund.

Sales are cash only. Call 524-1472 or email info@fightingeel.com for more information.

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Photo courtesy mixmix

mixmix Ala Moana is offering a 40 percent discount on every collection, and for great deals on designer clothing, head out to the boutique’s 1133 Bethel St. location (544-0011), now serving as an outlet since their big move to 1440 Kapiolani (945-3131), across from the Bank of Hawaii and Nordstrom. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Photo courtesy Ann Kagawa Lee

A few months ago I put a notice of a toilet-paper wedding gown contest in the paper and it’s paying off for finalist Ann Kagawa Lee, who already won a trip to New York for final judging of her creation at the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! museum.

That’s so great! It was an oddball kind of item, but having been inspired by a T-paper gown game at The Wedding Cafe and The Bridal Boutique at the time, I figured that creating toilet-paper wedding gowns is just one more of our citizenry’s many talents.

Putting things in the paper involves some guesswork as to what people will want to read/what they should read, but it’s worthwhile if an item does get the right person to respond.

Go Ann!

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Russell Tanoue is putting out the call to vote for dancer Mark Kanemura.

Speaking of talent, a more traditional kind involves the Fox reality competition, “So You Think You Can Dance?” Photographer Russell Tanoue has launched the campaign to vote for local dancer Mark Kanemura, who’s made it into the top 18 so far.

The program airs at 7 p.m. today, the 18th, with the voting period following the show, and elimination tomorrow at 8 p.m. It’s one of my favorite shows because the dancers are so talented and the choreography is amazing.

The girls have taken a back seat to the guys in past years, but look really strong this year. The guys are more technically trained than ever, but better watch out!

By Nadine Kam

Spent the morning at Kahala, not the place, but the new local men’s sportswear store that opened Sunday in the Ala Moana Center Nordstrom wing. The brand is back after some major retooling — story t.k. (that’s journalese for “to come,” though why it’s t.k. and not t.c. is a mystery in a business that involves proper spelling).

After my interviews were done, spent some time talking to aloha shirt guru Dale Hope, who’s back with the company he owned a couple of decades ago. We were people watching because he couldn’t help noticing who was wearing Kahala shirts and how people style themselves, from footwear to sunglasses. It’s part of his process as a guy who might appear to be laidback but is intensely observant and detail oriented.

I’d never met him before, so you know how people just kind of assume, businessman, business mind. But he’s been a tactile, fashion person from childhood and went to some lengths to get his aloha shirts custom made, the start of his relationship with Kahala. As an 8-year-old boy!

That’s pretty incredible. At 5, I hated the stuff my mom bought for me, but I just accepted it. It didn’t occur to me then that there’s always another way if you’re willing to look/work for it.

By Nadine Kam

www.junkoyoshioka.com
Junko Yoshioka designs wedding gowns and evening wear and we’ll be seeing her creation for Loretta Ables Sayre Sunday night.

There’s a lot of downsides to fame, but one of the perks is being dressed by designers in garments made just for you.

Loretta Ables Sayre, nominated for a Tony for her role as Bloody Mary in Broadway’s “South Pacific,” will be attending the Sunday awards ceremony in a full-sweep gown by Junko Yoshioka, made of chiffon and silk faille, in teal. The awards telecast will be at 7 p.m. on KGMB/CBS.

Don’t have a picture of it, but you know how stars love to keep us surprised.

Junko has also dressed Jessica Alba, Helen Hunt, Claire Forlani, and Courtney Ford for her wedding to “Superman” Brandon Routh.

By Nadine Kam

Don’t want to get in the biz of promoting every little garage sale, but this one is called Royal Vintage for good reason, as it’s being hosted at the home of Princess Alliata de Montereale. Check it out.

She has more parking than usual for a private residence, but it’s a good idea to carpool.

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Other weekend shopping deals:

At Royal Hawaiian Center, which is marking the completion of its $115 million revitalization with “Nou Ka Hale: Our House is Your House” open house June 14 to 20:

Allure: Receive a gift with any purchase of $50 or more, while supplies last.

Anteprima: Get a free limited edition logo charm with any purchase of $350 or more, while supplies last. Starting July 9, receive a free Olympic doll with any purchase of $500 or more, while supplies last.

Bob’s ‘Ukulele: FREE soft ‘ukulele case with any ‘ukulele purchase of $50 or more.

Borders Express: 15 percent off new Hardcover Best Sellers selected titles.

Furla: Receive 30 percent off selected items.

Island Soap & CandleWorks: Buy four large soaps, and get one free.

L’Occitane: Mention “Friends and Family” sale to get a “Friends & Family” 25 percent off discount June 14 and 15.

Leather Soul: Receive 10 percent kama’aina discount with Hawaii ID.

LUSH: “Reincarnate” store party on takes place 2 to 10 p.m. June 14. Guests receive a free gift bag with any purchase of $50 or more.

Princesse Tam-Tam: Enjoy 10 percent discount from June 14 to 20. Receive a premium scented candle gift with purchase of $100 or more, while supplies last.

Salvatore Ferragamo: Bi-annual clearance sale runs through June 30.

Tourneau: Get a $250 gift certificate with any purchase of $1,000 or more, while supplies last.

Walking Company: Enter to win The Walking Company’s Nou Ka Hale accessory gift basket during the company’s Big Sandal Sale.

Western Classics: Receive 15 percent off all merchandise, excluding boots.

And more last-minute Father’s Day shopping ideas:

Harley Davidson Honolulu: Logo cap ($28), embroidered silk shirt ($135)

Royal Hawaiian Golf Shop: Nike Golf Bag ($330)

Little Hawaiian Craft Shop: Men’s stone pendant necklace with petroglyph inlay ($45 to $95), Gentleman’s Wood Jewelry Box ($225), Larimar men’s pendant ($165)

By Nadine Kam

Photos by Nadine Kam
Peter Shaindlin with Bud League of INspiration, in front of one of Shaindlin’s nude figures, covered for our PG readers. Bud mixes Energie with an Armani Collezione jacket and a little tattered, shredded cloth “for a little effect.”

Honolulu Design Co., Stage restaurant, HonBlue, Bouvier Productions, Matthew and Louise Evins, and our other co. HI Luxury, sponsored “Body & Soul,” a photographic exhibition and auction celebrating the human figure June 12.

On view were framed photographs by Nic Gariaeff, and 4-by-8-foot images by Volcano artist Chiu Leong and Peter Shaindlin. Who knew the Halekulani chief operating officer is also a budding artist? “It’s just a hobby,” he said humbly.

Father and daughter Chiu and Asia Leong in front of one of his clay-covered figures.

While there I caught up with the lovely jewelry designer Asia Leong, who was also there as a photographer to support her dad. She’s back home from her other life in Paris and says she’ll be here for a while. What would be weird for most people to know is that I’ve written stories about her twice but never met her due to the magic of the phone interview. I just recognized her from her photos, and with her dad there as one of the featured artists, put two and two together.

The invitation called for über-chic attire, and people were asking, “What does that mean?”

Not much here, where a come-as-you-are attitude prevails. I, for one, wasn’t about to go home and change, and just wore my teal BCBG work dress. But I did have some fun clothes spotting.

From left, Michele Henry, Malie and Walter Moran. Michelle is wearing an ostrich feather-trimmed dress from BCBG.

From left, Charlotte Hutton Cox, INspiration’s Donna Sakamoto in a dress from Adore, and boots, and Austin Cox.

Charlotte Cox’s black dress was simultaneously simple and chic, and when I asked about the label, it was even cooler when she reached down the front. I was like, “Oh, you’re wearing it backward.” Done that before when I either think the back is prettier than the front, or it’s so low cut in front, I prefer to wear the back forward, but the dress by Amsterdam designer Percy Riaus can actually be worn five ways.

She said she looked at it five times before trying it on, hoping that it wouldn’t fit. Of course it did and she couldn’t resist taking home her ultimate black dress. The museum exhibition developer just moved here and is looking for a job, BTW. She has a good eye …

The statuesque artist Dana Forsberg, was, like photographer Elliot Takane, impressed by the large-scale images created with the help of HonBlue. Forsberg is wearing an ensemble by an Argentinean designer.