By Nadine Kam

Labor Day weekend usually means three things here: outdoors, barbecues and end of summer sales. I know a lot of people looking forward to shopping but I’m kind of shopped out, having cornered the market on difficult-to-wear shoes in recent months. I’m not usually a shoe person at all, but the styles cropping up over the past year have just been so amazing. (Sorry Katlin, I bought your Jeffrey Campbell shoe too, in purple AND black, so we’ll be twins! BTW, I’ve seen bow ties at Nordstrom and Ralph Lauren.)

I’m not the only one. The Twitterverse has been abuzz lately with talk about fabulous shoe finds. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Designers always have to find something to capture our attention and hard-won dollars. Just as we’re suffering “It” bag burnout, they’ve amped up the shoes and shades.

If shopping is your weekend sport, here are a few things going on:

>> Barneys New York: Get an additional 60 percent off selected sale items through Monday. Waikele Premium Outlets.

>> Fighting Eel: Labor Day clearance with an additional 25 percent off select items that have already been marked down, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Saturday, at 47 N. Hotel St. Call 524-1472.

>> Shasa Emporium: Labor Day Weekend sale through Monday with 25 percent off all Tylie Malibu handbangs, 25 percent off existing markdowns, 25 percent off select denim, and 10 percent off regular priced merch, with some restrictions. At Kahala Mall. Call 735-5122.

Split Obsession photo

>> Split Obsession: Back to school sale through Sunday with 60 percent off its sale rack, 30 percent off all denim and bags, 20 percent off sweaters and toys, 15 percent off all tees and hats, and 10 percent off all blind box toys and accessories. At Koko Marina Shopping Center.

>> Hawaii’s CW Station and the Valerie Joseph Boutique are presenting the fall launch of “90210″ in advance of the TV premiere, and the season premiere of “Gossip Girl” from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Ala Moana Center boutique. Attendees will also have the opportunity to win a makeover from Profiles Hair Salon. There will also be fashion shows at noon Saturday and Monday on the Ala Moana Center Stage.

If you just happen to be in the mall, Blue Hawaii LifeStyle has launched its signature açai bowls, featuring the super antioxidant berry, organic granola and organic honey, and will be offering free tastings from 9 to 11 a.m Sunday and 8:30 to 11 a.m. Monday. Bowls otherwise will sell for $6.95 to $11.95. Look for it in the Nordstrom wing. Call 949-080.

You can follow Ala Moana at www.twitter.com/alamoanacenter for updates on sales and events, for instance, an Ann Taylor Labor Day Sale with up to 60 percent off original prices on select styles, and an A|X Armani Exchange end of summer sale with an additional 25 percent off already reduced merchandise.

>> “Fashion + Music = Art” add up from 8 p.m. Sunday to 4 a.m. Monday (you have the day off, right?). The event will feature an 11 p.m. fashion show by Urban Nomad, sponsored by DisFunkshion magazine, with live street graffiti artist, an art gallery by local artists and photographers, body artistry by Flaunt Makeovers and the music of DJ Euphorik. Cover is free. At Ala Moana Center, 3rd floor, Ho’okipa Terrace. For more info, visit www.pearlhawaii.com.

Honolulu Academy of Arts

Also, check out the gift shop at Honolulu Academy of Arts, which has introduced a line of handblown glass jewelry by L.A. artist Jenny Gaynor, who studied in Murano, Italy. Call 532-8703.

While you have the time, some may want to enter Avon Books’ Model Photo contest that ties in to the release of Carol Alt’s new book, “The Year’s Model”? Up for grabs is a prize of a professional photo shoot, a meet-and-greet with a modeling agency, a wardrobe and the possibility of gracing the cover of Carol Alt’s next book. Just upload your lovely mug online through Nov. 21, 2008 at http://www.harpercollins.com/Imprints/Avon/Sweeps.aspx

By Nadine Kam

Aveda photo

It’s natural to let go of some of our upkeep during the summer months when it’s hot, you feel a little lazy and there’s not as much going on as during the fall and spring months.

But fall is coming on fast and if your locks need a touchup, Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa at Ala Moana Center may be able to help. The salon is hosting its annual Cut-a-thon tomorrow, Aug. 27, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The cost for shampoo, conditioner and haircut (no blow dry or styling), will be $35 (cash only).

Limited appointments; reserve at 947-6141.

By Nadine Kam

Michael Phelps’ Olympic accomplishment was phenomenal and the press follow-ups begin, but this S.I. poster makes me wonder, what were they thinking?

At first glance, the arrangement of the gold medals looks like a belly dancer’s halter top. I mean, I’m all for men being in touch with their feminine side, but this seems disrespectful to me because any visual designer would have known what the impact would be.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam videoWe tend to consider dance more in terms of performing than visual arts, but there’s a fashionable element connected to costume design, which takes creativity and construction expertise. It’s not that easy, as evidenced by this week’s drag queen episode of “Project Runway.”

Out of all the creative occupations, I’d consider a dancer’s life the toughest because of limited opportunities combined with a short shelf life, so I’d imagine you’d find a lot of tough, can-do attitudes in dance. That seems to characterize the mindset of Cheryl Flaharty, artistic director for Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, who’s busily imagining all manner of creatures for the troupe’s Oct. 4, 2008, fundraiser, “Atlantika.”

While she envisions a human fountain with arms continuously spouting water, and an Octopussy making her arrival by popping out of the center of a table and spreading her arms across dinner plates, Flaharty has no idea how they’ll be constructed. She only knows it’ll be done.

Eight weeks ahead of the party, it’s make it work time!

Tables are $3,000 to $10,000 for 10. Call 262-0110.

By Nadine Kam

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Philip Rickard has opened a new store at Ala Moana Center on the third level just outside Nordstrom. The jeweler was there with his marketing rep Liz Lerner to greet guests and talk about his jewelry.

Philip Rickard opened its doors with a blessing on the third level of Ala Moana Center’s new expansion Thursday, Aug. 14, close to the Nordstrom entrance.

Those who attended had the opportunity to see jewelers at work engraving bracelets and finishing pendants from behind a glassed room. There will always be jewelers there to work on custom pieces for buyers. Much of the Hawaiian jewelry orders are customized due to the personalization aspect of adding names, initials and sizing the pieces.

One showcase is devoted to designs created for Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. fashion shows.

One of Philip’s most famous customers is Gwen Stefani who, he said, always admired Hawaiian jewelry when she traveled to Hawaii as a young girl, but could never afford it. Of course, times change and when she was able to place her first order with Rickard, she bought seven bracelets.

Since then, he’s sat down with her to design pieces for her fashion shows and describes her as being a person “on fire.”

“You can feel the energy around her, and she’s so creative,” he said. One of the things she had asked for were large bangles that the company had never offered. Since then, he’s found there’s a lot of demand for large pieces.

If you have any doubts about the labor that goes into this jewelry, you can watch work being done on the premises. Here, a large bangle is being engraved.

It was fun to try on other pieces, feel the weight of the gold and see the artistry behind the engraving. I was like, “I want to try that!” I did take a jewelry making class once, and enjoyed creating designs in wax involved in lost-wax casting, but I couldn’t take the heat involved in working with metal. Every time it came to polishing rings, the pieces would get so hot I couldn’t stand it and they would go flying out of my hand and pinging around the room. They probably could have taken someone’s eye out, so it’s safer that I just look and admire, and that means I have great respect and admiration for jewelers. Anyone creative, really.

Philip Rickard will be among a handful of Hawaii luxury companies featured during a September installment of E! News Extra.

Philip Rickard photo
These bracelets were created by Hawaii jeweler Philip Rickard for Gwen Stefani’s Spring 2008 L.A.M.B. runway show during the Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week.

By Nadine Kam

Hey Gucci fans, Ala Moana Center has joined the Web 2.0 universe and is now on Twitter. They posted this special offer this morning, good through Monday:

“Visit Gucci for a Hawaii exclusive charm with purchase now through 8/18/08. While supplies last, call 942-1148.”

You can continue following them for special offers at http://twitter.com/AlaMoanaCenter

You can follow me at http://twitter.com/fashiontribe

By Nadine Kam

Yahoo photo

Ahh, one of the great mysteries of the Olympics has been solved by opening the Yahoo home page this morning.

I guess a lot of people had the same question I had when looking at Kerri Walsh, which is, what is that black stuff she’s wearing on her shoulder? Many thought it was a tattoo, but it was raised and looked velvety to me. Turns out to be medical tape.

A lot of feature stories are born this way, out of those hundreds of trivial things that make you go huh? in the course of a day.

Check out the feature here.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Mini cupcakes from Cake Couture accompanied delicious pupu from Town restaurant at a party to celebrate the debut of Celine’s Tourbillon collection. It was a cupcake kind of weekend for me, starting with pink-frosted mini cupcakes at Betsey Johnson Thursday, a cupcake going away for our SB intern Bali Fergusson Friday, and heading to lunch at The Contemporary Museum Saturday there was a bridal shower on the lawn with a tiered arrangement of cupcakes for dessert.

A garden party theme party marked the debut of Celine’s new Tourbillon collection of handbags and accessories. The design reflects Celine Vipiana’s passion for horses, and with the swirling pattern that looks like a floral print from a distance is imagery of a carriage race against canvases of white, blue, red, black and green.

Prices start at $165 for a key case to $890 for a travel-size weekend bag.

From left, Celine store manager Miki Hayashi Yim welcomed Maki Takushi, Toshie Taniguchi and Masami Clahan. Maki created dozens of green-hued flower arrangements in many sizes, like the one above, for the event. Knowing the color scheme, she was able to coordinate her outfit — with light green scarf and cream-colored jacket— to match the flowers perfectly!

Celine photo
It’s hard to see, but within the floral, whirling trompe-l’oeil Tourbillon pattern is imagery of a horse, carriage and rider.

Emily Lopez showed up with two dates, her husband Michael Goyne, left, and Kawika Williams.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
The HOT stage at intermission. I wanted to get a photo of the Vuitton trunks and travel bags during their big scene, but I was so mesmerized by the spectacle I couldn’t think fast enough at the time.

Louis Vuitton deserves a lot of props for its support for the arts over the years. For a time, it seemed the Hawai’i International Film Festival would not be able to go on until Vuitton came to the rescue. The company has also supported Bishop Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Historic Hawaii Foundation, Honolulu Symphony, Maui Arts & Cultural Center and Hawaii Opera Theatre programs over the years, starting in 1983.

So Vuitton was a natural choice in a bit of clever product placement that accompanied HOT’s recently ended run of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” over at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. I didn’t get to see it until closing night yesterday.

The story of multiple love triangles provided the perfect vehicle for moving dozens of Vuitton trunks and travel bags across the stage as the well-heeled couples go on a motorcar excursion to a country estate, where they meet and plot their way to the conclusion.

I arrives about 5 minutes late, so spent the first half of the program sitting in the second to the last row of the theater, before moving up to my seat during the second half. Even from the back of the room, the Damier canvas looked like a star.