By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Calli Wagner modeled Escada’s metallic brocade blouse and matching skirt worn with thigh-high black boots.

Escada celebrated its boutique’s new look with a grand re-opening celebration Wednesday, also honoring Violet S. Loo, president of the board of directors for The Contemporary Museum.

Party-goers were treated to informal modeling of Escada’s fall collection of dresses and coats worn with thigh-high boots, while enjoying pupu from Jackie Takeshita’s The Bistro Catering. Boutique manager Mariese Montano-Smith wanted to make sure no one when home hungry, so there were some generous sandwiches that required nibbling while hiding in a back corner of the boutique before rejoining the rest of society.

Greeting guests at the door were Connor Coffin, left, and Sean Herndon, right, pictured with New York-based special events manager Kathryn Knox, and Hawaii boutique manager Mariese Montano-Smith.

Christa Wittmier is surrounded by contenders in the recent “Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Man” contest, from left Ricky Stinar, Sergey Victorovich and Napua Canda. All fashion parties could use more guys from outside the fashion realm. It was funny when Ricky started stripping off his tie and unbuttoning his collar midway through the proceedings. Most women I know like men to dress well, stopping short of caring more about clothes or being more fastidious than we are.

Karen Vance models a skirt and scallop-hem blouse embellished with hundreds of gold bugle beads, tiny sequins and fine, intricate passementerie. The skirt alone is $3,990.

Among the stylish guests were Kim Smith, Margaret Jen Akinaka and Erika Kauffman.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The top 5 in Saturday’s competition were, from left, winner Hudson Taylor, Anthony Ing, Wayne Coito, Bradley Krzykowski and Ricky Stinar. Taylor is $1,000 richer after picking up the prize check.

The weekend’s Hawai’i Women’s Expo offered the expected clothing, accessories, beauty and health care purveyors, as well as a little eye candy in the “Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Man” contest sponsored by 2Couture.

I was one of 14 judges, including MidWeek’s Yu Shing Ting and the prolific Christa Wittmier, in a contest with 18 hopefuls strutting their stuff in aloha shirts, swim trunks and evening attire.

There were some excitable women in the crowd, but no one moreso than program hosts Iwalani Tseu and 2Couture designer Eric Chandler, who at one point during the swim competition seemed to overheat, blurting, “I need some water!” He wasn’t joking. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Well, I survived First Fashion Friday. Thanks to Melissa Chang and Jennifer Lieu of Aloha Tower Marketplace for inviting me to speak about day-to-night transitions and lining up my models Kristin and Amanda. I sure hate to speak in public, but the crowd was so nice, though I always have to wonder what they’re looking for, especially when, after the show, they come up and say things like, “Oh, I could never do that” or “It’s too hard, I’m just a casual person.”

I was showing really easy stuff that the models could take on and off in 1 minute. There was nothing extravagant, fussy or overly dressy about the garments in my segment, just stuff people ordinarily wear, like Hawaiian print tea dresses, tank tops, elastic waist skirts. It just made me wonder why people would seek help with no intention of adding a few simple tricks to their repertoire!????

Also presenting that night were Wendy Robin of Studio and Stargirl Cosmetics, and Hugette Montesinos of DISfunksion magazine.

For my part, I just talked about simple office-to-dinner, and beach-to-club transitions that would affect the most women. It’s all about appropriateness. If you work in a formal office, it’s as simple as hiding a sexy satin or feminine top underneath your “I mean business” jacket. If you’re casual by day, then throw a nice soft evening jacket or wrap over your day tank or tee. And accessories also go a long way in completing the look. I always see women out with giant bowling ball weight purses at night. Switch it out for an elegant clutch or handbag instead. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

LesPros Entertainment

Few have the genes to make it as an international supermodel, but with accessibility and likeability a factor in Japan modeling careers, it seems there are many more opportunities there for Hawaii models.

Find out if you have what it takes during the LesPros Girls search for Japan’s next top model, taking place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the 6th and 7th, at the Ala Moana Hotel.
You have nothing to lose, and if you happen to be among the first 100 to apply, you’ll receive gifts including beauty products, tote bags and the best-selling products from Japan.

Applicants must be females between the ages of 13 and 22, born between Oct. 14, 1985, and Oct. 10, 1995. The winner will receive $3,000, a LesPros exclusive contract, and opportunity to compete against Japan winners.

The Tokyo-based LesPros Entertainment Co. is one of the largest artist management company in Japan, representing models, actors, musicians and athletes.

Visit for more information and to download an official entry form.

By Nadine Kam

Rebecca Taylor look for Spring 2009. Nice shoes.

New York Fashion Week starts tomorrow, so I am moaning at my desk, wondering why I decided not to go while beauty bloggers try to offer some consolation, telling me on Twitter, “Don’t worry, we’ll spare you the sore feet,” and “Hopefully, we’ll cover it so you’ll feel like you’re there.”

Well, yeah, now I remember the sore feet bit, and I guess that could be equated with childbirth, painful but the pain is forgotten by the time the next one comes around.

I am sure if I were there I would be moaning about the distance and the timing of the shows and why I am killing myself trying to get to as many shows and parties as possible, when, of course the answer is, “You only live once,” and it’s not every day you can share space with Diane Von Furstenberg, Damien Hirst and the Olsen twins.

Check out the schedule here.

I have the feeling that the Spring 2009 garments to be shown will be exceptionally pretty because, given the state of the economy, designers will have to work extra hard to entice people to buy.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam videoStopped by Nuuanu Gallery last Friday to check out boxes of T-shirts coming in from artists across the country, on exhibit as part of Jesse Arneson’s and Scott Na’auao’s “Dirty Laundry” show continuing through Sept. 21. Official grand opening is during First Friday, the 5th. The idea is to not get rid of your old shirt just because it has an itty bitty stain or hideous blotch. I, for one, am prone to wearing white and somehow ending up at pasta restaurants and spattering marinara sauce on myself. Now, apparently, all life’s little accidents can be turned into art! I’m already accustomed to wearing holey T-shirts at home because I have parrots who love nothing better than to pick seams apart while riding on my shoulders. And forget wearing jewelry around them.The gallery still held the Jerry Okimoto and Satoru Abe exhibition when I was there. Over the weekend it was transformed with a grape sorbet color scheme.Above is a video of Scott and Jesse opening boxes and taking a look at some of the shirts for the first time, with gallerina Mariko Merritt also admiring the shirts and some of the aromas wafting from them.My favorites were Rosemarie Fiore’s fireworks painted works, though they are meant to be seen, not worn due to chemical treatments and general shredding and burning that wouldn’t stand up to washing.

By Nadine Kam

The dress.

Well, I guess I spoke too soon when I said I wouldn’t be adding to my wardrobe over Labor Day weekend. After I wrote that Friday, I headed home, then out for dinner, when a friend called and said a top I had admired at Betsey Johnson had gone on sale and did I want her to buy it or put it on hold for me. “It’s $75, $75!” she emphasized.

“Uh, well, I have to try it on,” I said, but told her to go ahead and put it on hold.

So I went to Ala Moana first thing Saturday morning, just before the store opened, but what I had really looked at that night was the same design, as a dress with a feminine 1930s-40s vibe. I tried both on, and even though the top was on sale, I still liked the dress better for ease of wear. With the top I’d still have to hunt for the right pencil skirt — darn, I had just passed on a good M Missoni one on sale at NM weeks ago — or jeans, which I rarely wear. So I got the dress AND a peace dove bracelet.

The bracelet.

I interviewed the designer at the time the Honolulu boutique opened and it’s amazing to think it was only then that — although she’s been in business for 30 years — she was just starting to license her brand, which seemed very belated. Girls would have killed long before now for Betsey Johnson jewelry, shoes, sunglasses, purses, etc. But, I get it. When you’re so engrossed in the day-to-day biz, it’s hard to address the future beyond the next collection. I don’t envy designers. It’s a tough business, hard to predict consumers’ future desires and you pretty much have to make the right call every season.

Anyway, my friend called while I was in the store and goes, “Are you buying it and would you mind if I buy the same thing?”

She was in the mall so walked over and ended up with the top, so I guess it all worked out. I don’t know how other people feel about friends buying the same clothes, though it seems to happen to me now more than ever. I guess it’s natural for people who hang out together to share or grow into similar tastes, but it makes it hard when you have to check in with each other to make sure you’re not wearing the same thing at the same time.