By Nadine Kam

I enjoy Fashion Indie’s “Before They Had Stylists” feature, like these pictures of Kanye. Need I say which is the before and after? THAT’S entertainment!

You can go to http://fashionindie.com/category/style/before-they-had-stylists/

Sorry I couldn’t light it up for you, the Wordpress link function isn’t working right now.

By Nadine Kam

Joker T-shirts are featured in the window at Hot Topic. (Sorry about the reflections but they were behind glass.)

With the long-awaited debut of the latest Batman film, “The Dark Knight,” this weekend, Hot Topic is offering a promotion in which those who spend $20 on any Dark Knight merchandise from the store will receive a voucher good for $8 off your ticket to see the movie. That would be pretty close to seeing the movie free if you were planning to pick up some merch anyway.

They say the voucher will be accepted at Consolidated and Regal Cinemas here.I was walking by the store and of course the image of Heath Ledger as the Joker caught my eye. I had been waiting to see this movie since it was announced that he would play the Joker. It makes me sad now. If he were alive today, the T-shirts would be great marketing; now such things feel a little macabre and exploitive. I’m know I’m going to miss him forever.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The happy couple, Yu Shing Ting and Travin Makinano.

After quietly marrying last August, Travin Makinano and my Midweek compadre Yu Shing Ting finally had their dream reception and renewal of vows on the lawn of Waikiki Aquarium the evening of July 12.

As the invitation read, the ceremony was one with “no gown, no bouquet, not even a cake,”and I suppose, for a style editor, that just wouldn’t do.The bride wanted a green wedding so ono Hawaiian food was served on recycle-able paper plates and had small bouquets made of a mix of real and keepsake plastic flowers. Guests also received small paper hearts studded with wildflower seeds to sprout at home or wherever a touch of color or greenery is needed.

The bridesmaids — all 10 of them — plus maid of honor were dressed in green ruffled strapless dresses by Fighting Eel, while the ushers and best man wore aloha shirts from Hawaiian Moon. The bride looked beautiful in a simple, strapless white gown with a shirred bodice and small train that Travin dutifully lifted off the ground as she walked.

Congratulations Yu Shing and Travin!

Photographers had to stand back to get the entire wedding party in the picture!

A few more photos follow. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
A look at Club Monaco style in mostly black and white, with seasonal color accents.

Club Monaco opened its doors July 11 and I think I was the second customer, which caused Joline Tang and Desiree Yamamoto of PacRim Marketing and Crystal Yamasaki and Char Chang of the Bennet Group to make fun of me. Yeah, we all know shopping is an occupational hazard from working in the vicinity of all these boutiques.

I can look impulsive but I’m not a frivolous spender. I tend to study everything available before making a single purchase. Being no richie, not even close, I look for what will deliver the most in terms of versatility, longevity and wow factor, as well as pairing with what I already own. It’s the Club Monaco philosophy as well, so I’m naturally drawn to their “blank slate” designs. You can do anything you want with them in terms of mixing them into your own wardrobe without looking “branded.” These points were lost on some Hollister-branded kids who came in to make fun of the clothes. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Tarina Tarantino photos
Labbit earrings will be about $120 when they arrive later this month.

Tarina Tarantino’s latest jewelry collaboration is with Kid Robot. Didn’t think Dunnys, Munnys and Smokin’ Labbits could get any cuter.

The L.A. designer can do no wrong, having had successful collaborations with Hello Kitty, and even managing to make Barbie cool. I may have to switch out my Hello Kitty Pinkhead heart toggle necklace for one of the new Kid Robot designs!

The collection is scheduled to debut July 30 at kidrobot.com, at Tarina Tarantino locations and in Hawaii at Chic Icon, 7192 Kalanianaole Hwy., and Queens at 831 Queen St. I might also check out Hawaiian South Shore on Ward Avenue, which always carries a good selection of Tarantino pieces. Prices will be between $65 and $975.

This amazing pearl and ribbon Munny necklace will be about $975. I wore a black Munny charm on my Tiffany bracelet — until I lost both after a back massage at the Iolani Fair. I had taken it out and stuffed it in my pocket, but I guess it fell out.

By Nadine Kam

AP photos

If you’re wondering whether to go long or short this fall, it looks like either way, you’ll have plenty of options.

Gucci’s Frida Giannini showed both lengths during the collections yesterday as part of AltaRomAltaModa week, in Rome. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Two of the entries in the Design a Coach Tote contest. At left is huynh2u’s Juicy Tote, and at right is Charmed by Coach by rachellenicole.

OK designers, time to put your skills to work again. This time, Coach and Brickfish.com have teamed up for a contest for those who want to try designing a Coach tote.

These contests really show the kind of concerns that designers deal with every day. As consumers, it’s easy for us to vote on designs with our wallets, as we decide what works for us and what doesn’t. But when you’re looking at a blank piece of canvas, well, where do you begin? Do you start with traditional Coach iconography of its logo horse and carriage, scarf prints and purse charms? Do you use the platform to send a personal message of peace, love or hope? Or do you start from scratch with your own style? Given the strength of the brand, it probably wouldn’t be wise to veer too far astray from its iconography, but coming up with an original twist is the trick. (Think Louis Vuitton, still the leader in this regard.)

Last I checked, the Classic B&W submitted by jlmullinax was the No. 1 vote getter from the million who have checked out the design entries. At right is Pink Lilies by mellistsa, a nod to breast cancer awareness.

You can check out the 1,200 or so entries by going to:

http://www.coach.com/CoachClique/
www.brickfish.com

Top prize for the winner is a party at Coach, a $2,500 Coach shopping spree, and $500 scholarship or cash prize.

A runner up will win a $1,500 Coach online shopping spree and $250 cash or scholarship.

By Nadine Kam

Honolulu Academy of Arts images

OK you fabulous costume lovers, Lesa Griffith, over at the Honolulu Academy of Arts sends word that the academy will be hosting a Classic American Musical Costume Contest extravaganza at the end of the month in celebration of the film series, “Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance: Classic American Movie Musicals.”

How many other times will you have a legitimate reason to dress like Carmen Miranda?

The series starts July 27 with Busby Berkeley’s Carmen Miranda romp “The Gang’s All Here.” Channel your inner Ethel or Carmen and bust out your fruity, frou-frou Technicolor get ups for the 7:30 p.m. screening in the Doris Duke Theatre. The contest winner will receive four free passes to the theater.

Otherwise, non-members will pay $7; $6 seniors, students, military; $5 museum members; $3 for children under 12.

I tell you now so you can get a head start on those costumes. Happening a little closer are screenings of four classic films by Japanese animation genius Hayao Miyazaki. Starts July 12 with “My Neighbor Totoro.” The other animated films are “Porco Rosso,” “Spirited Away” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

Call 532-3033 for more info. See the full film schedules here.

By Nadine Kam

ABC photo
The happy couple, DeAnna Pappas and Jesse Csincsak.

I wasn’t going to post anything on “The Bachelorette,” but you know how after the finales people sometimes just want to talk about it, and some people were snooping around doing searches for the show, so I thought I’d add my 2 cents.

I started watching the series after Andy Baldwin’s turn, so I’ve been keeping up with poor DeAnna’s story since she was ditched by her bachelor Brad.

What’s funny is how the audience can get so involved and feel like we’re getting to know the bachelors as well, though I think the premise is a little weird. It’s like sending a person into an office of 30 people and saying, “OK, fall in love with one person.” It’s kind of eww-y, not to mention limiting. I’m so thankful to be in a relationship. I think in the past 10 years I’ve only met two people I’ve been attracted to. One was gay; one was like Ashton to my Demi and as cool as it may be to find a guy who’s not ageist. I don’t think a big age difference works for most women. As smart, creative, gorgeous and interesting as this guy was, when he talked about stuff it was all the sort of thing I’d already been through. Having been there, done that, I have no need of repeating any stage of my life. In Hollywood, freedom and financial stability can be great equalizers. In the real world, you really want to be in the same place. Or at least I do.

So DeAnna’s choosing snowboarder Jesse over stable Jason made sense to me. Both seem like such great guys. With Jason I could see her settling into comfortable, happy routine. With Jesse, there was more of a sense that, at 26, they are both in the same place and that life would be an adventure in terms of personal growth and building a life together.

Of course we hate unrequited love and lack of closure to our stories, so one poster has already suggested that ABC make Jason the next bachelor. That would be great. He deserves a second chance like DeAnna.

By Nadine Kam

Valerie Joseph will be moving into Ala Moana Center, but the first order of business is to pack up the Ward shop and some things have to go to make the job easier.

The boutique’s last day at the Ward Entertainment Center is Wednesday, July 9, when there’ll be a cocktail reception provided by Phuket Thai from 5 to 9 p.m., and 15 percent discount off all items.

Call 593-7388 for more info.