By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
One of the Harari designs on the runway at the 39th annual fashion show.

The Sheraton Waikiki ballroom was packed Sunday for the Hui Makaala annual fashion show. It was a good day for lunch and the show indoors because outside it was gray and rainy, meaning fall has finally arrived after a very long, hot summer.

Designs on view were by Hawaii’s Tapestries by Hauoli, and the L.A. based collections of Ryan Roberts and Harari. Because Hui Makaala is an Okinawan scholarship organization, the opening entertainment included the Paranku Club of Hawaii, and Jon Itomura and Eric Nitta performing a Shishimai (lion-dog) dance, completely believable as one giant, friendly, tail-wagging dog. They both must have hit the ground pretty hard when rolling over as two halves of the dog, but the furry costume must have had something to do with breaking the fall!

On the video you’ll see a little bit of Ryan Roberts’ feminine daywear, as well as designs by Harari. I missed the beginning because of technical difficulties with the camera. Someone had changed the ISO setting to 1600, which caused whiteout, just one of the many problems with shared equipment. I need a camera sponsor.

After the show, I rushed over to the Blaisdell for the one-day Wikiwiki Vintage Collectibles & Hawaiiana Show. Picked up some costume jewelry, a Ming’s silver-and-pearl brooch and looked at some pocket watches for the b.f. This one was nice, with a gold filagree face, but he’s super fussy so he needs to see it himself. The next show’s in February and promises to be two days instead of just one. Sometimes we need the extra day to think about a purchase.

These days it takes a lot of commitment to doing vintage shopping the old-fashioned physical way. It’s one more biz that has changed due to Internet shopping, which makes it easy to shop very specifically, no leg work necessary. I try to shop local as much as possible and it’s more important than ever to support our neighbors, because in the long run, their fortunes determine the rest of ours. We’re all on this rock together and it doesn’t look as if tourism will be picking up any time soon.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Watch out mom and dad, Luke Hagi is not shy about being surrounded by women, from left, Condesa-Azria Nora Meijide-Gentry, Erika Kauffman and Marisa Gey. Luke modeled Vuitton boys’ wear all evening.

If you were wondering where the boys were Thursday (Oct. 23) night, they were at Louis Vuitton Waikiki. The point of the party was to showcase the store’s new men’s department, which has moved upstairs.

There was one scene stealer among the male models in the house, and a pint-sized one at that. He was Hagi, the son of KGMB’ers Guy Hagi and Kim Gennaula. The little one got at least as much attention as recent Hawaii’s Most Beautiful Man contest winner Hudson Taylor. I see him everywhere since he won the competition last month, even at, of all places, Sephora!

And, for the big boys, Hudson Taylor and Michael Hsia show Louis Vuitton’s menswear for Fall 2008.

Dale Ruff, Regional Vice President Louis Vuitton Hawaii, left, was the evening’s host, with guests, from left, Dialta Alliata di Montereale, Chris Lee and Condesa-Azria Nora Meijide-Gentry. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Well, I said I wouldn’t be posting for a while, but here I am at Podcamp Hawaii at the Hawai’i Convention Center, with free Wifi, and how could I resist not commenting on Sarah Palin’s new $150,000 wardrobe. I’m sure a lot of fashionistas will now be contemplating a new career in politics. I thought Jon Stewart got it right when he said theirs is a family of professional grifters. Not good.

Last night, I was thinking what I could do with $150,000 and after figuring I could dress myself for a campaign for a mere $5,000, started wondering where does one even begin to spend that much. Say a designer suit off the rack is $5,000, and that’s generous, even for Neiman and Saks, if you pick up 10, that’s only $50,000! Throw in 10 pairs of $500 shoes, $5,000. What the heck did she buy? Well, I guess some money went to the kids.

For ideas on how to dress for $2,500, check out the Budget Fashionista.

Palin makes Hawaii politics look good.

By Nadine Kam

If you’re wondering why I am disappeared, I am on vacation. Sadly, a staycation given the economic situation. Not that I didn’t see it coming. About two years ago my b.f. and I sold our respective homes to get ready for the coming downfall. There was no way housing prices could be that high, with incomes not budging. Too many people were looking only at their monthly payment, without looking at what they actually owed.

I started telling all my friends to start saving because the crash would be bad. I just didn’t think it would be this soon (I thought we had two more years to save and invest) and this rapid.

It all sort of puts a damper on fashion talk. It feels like 9/11 all over again. I guess I mentioned this on Twitter, because one of my followers wailed, “Nooooo, ur the one who is supposed to buuuyyyy, that’s not right!”

People who love fashion will continue to love fashion, but conspicuous consumption may have to take a back seat for a little while. Otherwise, it would be the equivalent of going to a funeral in a pink pouffy dress. One of the measures of fashion, after all, is appropriateness.

After 9/11, fashion did take an exuberant turn, as if to lift spirits. That’s when Marc Jacobs came up with his Conte de Fees line of fairy tale patchwork handbags for Louis Vuitton. Maybe that’s why, at Roberta Oaks’ SideSHOW sale over the weekend, I came away with one of her fuchsia tank tops and a bright, multi-color patchwork skirt sewn from multi-color scarves. It was so happy and I feel happy wearing it. Spring 2009 is looking especially buoyant. I can’t wait.

Anyway, I will be checking in with all the people I never get to meet up with when I’m working. I’ll also be keeping up with email and will be back at work on Nov. 3. I may still be Twittering, but I probably won’t be updating this blog until the 27th. See ya soon.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Here’s one of my candids of Kate Schuette in Dior from our fashion shoot at Foster Botanic Garden, where the first thing that happened was I was attacked by a swarm of fast, crazy ants running up my legs in the parking lot, causing the crew to say, “Look, Nadine’s dancing.” Yeah.

I’m on vacation but that doesn’t mean the work stops. Another HI Luxury deadline looms. Darn if we didn’t just finish the October/November issue, available at Borders and Barnes & Noble. It has Daniel Dae Kim on the cover and model Kate Schuette in a fall fantasy fashion spread featuring Dior, Fendi, Escada, Issey Miyake and Versace.

Another outtake of Kate in Versace. Leah Ball took the photos that appear in the magazine.

By Nadine Kam

Closet Swap courtesy photo
Inside the Luana Hills Golf & Country Club dining room with Closet Swap hosts Alyssa Fung, right, of Fashionista’s Market, and Tanna Dang, of The Wedding Cafe.

Fashionista’s Market’s Closet Swap was the first event I covered with this blog, and it returned splashier than before on Sunday at the Luana Hills Golf & Country Club, an inspired choice to reinforce the idea of going green. It is in such a beautiful setting in Maunawili Valley and the lush drive there is spectacular and serene.

A lot has changed in the economy over the last year, and the idea of swapping unwanteds for goods you actually want and can use seems more timely than ever. The event was a benefit for Sustainable Saunders, a non-funded pilot project at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, to increase sustainability at Saunders Hall, starting with cutting the building’s huge water and electric bills ($760,000 annually for electricity alone) that we pay for as taxpayers. Successful solutions will then be rolled out campus wide, then, who knows? All of us could use new ideas to save.

The morning started with a great buffet of pastries, fruit and cheese tray, fried rice, eggs, hash browns and Eggs Benedict plus mimosas. Then it was on to games and a contest for the privilege of entering the sacred swap rooms first. The winning table would have a 3-minute jump on picking out merchandise that participants had brought in to swap. Everyone was allowed to take one item per item brought in.

Nadine Kam photos
Haruko Katsuie’s table was one of two to win rights to shop first, by coming up with this dress of recycled newspapers, magazines and the country club’s silverware.

The contest involved dressing one “diva” from each table in an outfit fashioned from newspapers and magazines placed at the center of each table. When it was over, judges — designer Allison Izu Song, Allison Kim-Czerniak of Alliway, Molly Watanabe of Smart magazine, and yours truly — chose Haruko Katsuie’s table as our winner because we liked the spoon detail on her belt. Hers was the only table to make use of the flatware, and when recycling, creativity counts. Of course Molly also loved the sweetheart bodice, comprising Smart magazine covers.

Shopping the racks filled with others’ discarded treasures.

Then the swap began and the site had ample space for the women to move around without fighting for items. I heard there were some Gucci and Kate Spade purses up for grabs, though I was videotaping the action didn’t check out the tables and racks immediately. You just know that the best stuff was quickly claimed. What was new this time was organizations like host Fashionista’s Market, The Wedding Cafe, Alliway, Jessica’s Traveling Boutique and Split Obsession contributed new items to the stacks to make the hunt a little more interesting.

By day’s end my finds included a Morgan black leather mini skirt with black lace overlay (lace is big this fall!), a sheer black Ann Taylor evening blouse, and for whatever reason a two-seasons-ago silver sequin shrug (so hard to resist shine). I have no idea when I would ever be able to wear it; I only know that when the occasion presents itself, I will be ready.

Alyssa with Jackie Trinh, left, who exited with a bag of clothing and a handful of purse finds, some with the original sales tags attached.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Clinton Kelly hosted a fashion show at Macy’s Ala Moana for women sizes 14W to 24W.

Clinton Kelly made a quick return to Macy’s Ala Moana after appearing in Honolulu in June for a petites fashion show, on Saturday afternoon for HER, an event showcasing styles made for women sizes 14W to 24W.

One of the points made by the “What Not to Wear” TV host is that larger women tend to hide behind baggy clothing, which has the effect of making them look not only larger, but sloppy. A better option is to choose styles with shape built in, and at best, styles that nip in the waist, to enhance natural curves and give the illusion of an hourglass figure, no matter what your size. It’s actually advice that would work for anyone and he doled it out with self-deprecating quips and humor characteristic of the TLC series.

Clinton Kelly signed copies of his book, “Freakin Fabulous: How to Dress, Speak, Behave, Eat, Drink, Entertain, Decorate, and Generally Be Better than Everyone Else” after a fashion show and Q&A session.

One of the event’s attraction was a prize drawing of a $500 Macy ’s Women shopping spree. The winner, Natasha Nairn, is a social worker with Child Protective Services, and, having dropped 100 pounds over 10 months, proved ready for a new wardrobe. Congratulations, Natasha!

Shopping spree winner Natasha Nairn with Clinton Kelly before going shopping. Natasha already started with a good sense of style.

By Nadine Kam

Diesel
3oth anniversary “Dirty Thirty” jeans are available today, Oct. 10, only.

Diesel is marking its 30th anniversary today with the unveiling of its one-of-a-kind ‘Dirty Thirty’ jeans, available for one day, today only, at select Diesel stores nationwide, including the Ala Moana Center and Kalakaua Avenue stores.

As a thank you to fans for their loyalty and support, Diesel is offering the premium denim for $50. (Diesel jeans usual entry price point is $160.)

‘Dirty Thirty’ denim will be available in two styles: Matic for women and Heeven for men. They feature detailing such as a back patch with the xXx sign in Roman numerals to commemorate Diesel’s 30 years, along with the words “Dirty Thirty.” Buttons are customized with “Diesel 1978.”

The limited-edition jeans have already sold out in most of Europe and Asia.

By Nadine Kam

Photos and video by Nadine Kam
Aatila Tanaka models jewelry by Kensei in “The Art of Jewelry.”

Belle Époque glamour, elegance and opulence were the order of the day Oct. 5 when Kensei Takeda presented “The Art of Jewelry Fashion Experience” Sunday at the Halekulani as a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

Models wore cascades of gemstones, beads, as well as feathered and veiled hats and hair pieces also created by Kensei, a hair stylist by day, accessory designer and collector of all things beautiful in his spare time. His perfectionist’s eye was evident in sumptuous styling, with, for a change, clothes as accessories to his dramatic jewelry creations.

The presentation took months of planning, and I was treated to a sneak preview in March when Kensei and show producer Dale Young hosted a lunch and mini show for Jane Lyman on her 86th birthday. Sitting at Jane’s table was one of her friends, Gladys Goka, from the days of Bon Ton, a downtown clothing store where much of Honolulu shopped in the 1930s.

MAC Cosmetics makeup artists Vanessa Buyson, Robin Gallo and April Moon created the looks on the models, and pianist Ginny Tiu performed during the lunch. Cheryl Bartlett and Cathy Foy-Mahi performed during intermissions between the show’s three segments.As a finale, Kensei held a drawing for two of his necklaces. One was won by Pia Solywoda, who claimed to be so certain of her win, she showed up with no necklace and wore black and white that so perfectly matched the onyx and silver necklace she won, Kensei immediately put it around her neck.

Kensei greeted well-wishers after the show, including Leilani Keough, who’s wearing a dress by Jeanie Chun, who was also in the audience. Chun is in the process of moving her business.

Cathy Roberts is adorned in turquoise from earrings to an updated version of the concha belt.

Among those enjoying the show were, from left, Lance Ishibashi, Catherine Fong and Stacey Gross. Catherine and Stacey, who’s also a jewelry designer, wore hats from Catherine’s Manoa vintage boutique Catherine’s Closet. Meanwhile Lance, formerly of Phil’s Gold & Diamonds, is looking forward to opening his own jewelry store just before the holidays. Details to come.

After the show, models Tessa Yu, Cathy and Aatila wait for their cars at the valet station in their civilian clothes, a little different from Kensei’s vision.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Ashley Layfield is the Spanish jellyfish in “Atlantika.”

Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre presented its splashy fundraiser “Atlantika” Saturday night at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, an event guests won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Guests followed a procession of mermen, draped in blue veils, into the pool area where they were greeted by the spectacle of dancers reimagined as sea creatures, from a mermaid and feathery anemone at the entrance, to a towering sea dragon on stilts and covered with yards of streaming fabric. This may be one of Iona’s most elaborate events ever, the vision of creative director Cheryl Flaharty.

Among the guests was Henry Ian Cusick (that’s Desmond to non-”Losties”). Many of the guests dressed in blues, greens and other aqua tones to suit the night’s theme, so it didn’t surprise me that some of those I photographed at the beginning of the event ended up in the pool at the end of the night. I was just praying I didn’t end up in the pool by accident while running around the pool to shoot video. I was only sorry that I didn’t capture the moment the guests made their running leap into the pool. I had overheard them plotting, but thought they’d wait until after dessert.

Among those who ended up in the pool was Kenwei Chong, who also tried to get Cheryl into the pool. Dressed in white, she wisely ran for shelter.

Others inched closed to the pool and its warm water when presented with windup toys, that swam away, sometimes too far for them to reclaim, causing much sadness among the big “kids.”At a typical event, I might shoot 20 video clips, but because of the costumes and because the dancers move so well, I ended up with 66, a lot to go through.We were treated to s sound track of bubbly and psychedelic music of the ’60s by DJ Julien Palmarini. Hair, including Summer Partlon’s towering Octopussy beehive, was by Dack Quigley. Meanwhile, the part of the Ethereal Jellyfish, in white in the video, was played by the Star-Bulletin’s Michelle Poppler, who I totally didn’t recognize while shooting the video, even though she was an inch away from my face!

Rain arrived with dinner, sending some guests running for cover, which was weird, this being a water-themed event and all, but I had no doubt that in sunny Kahala, it would pass quickly, and it did, just a light blessing.

Food — such as sea critter fritters (baccalao) and pan-roasted kampachi with sea foam, mussels and clams — was rather slow to arrive and Cheryl said later, while toasting marshmallows beachside, that they had trouble getting started because no one seemed to want to sit down. Everyone was too busy strolling around, admiring the dancers and their extravagant costumes, photographing and videotaping all that was happening.

It was great fun an you can read the who’s and why’s about the event in my earlier story at http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/08/21/features/story01.html

And original blog post at: http://blogs.starbulletin.com/fashiontribe

The living fountain, Robyn Franklin. (more…)