By Nadine Kam

Guy Kawasaki photo
The signs are the same wherever you go, so I’m sure Guy won’t mind if I borrow one off of his blog taken at Stanford Shopping Center the week after Christmas.

Yes, I’m afraid that this is one of the signs of the times. Like any addiction, I don’t think that our society can quit shopping cold turkey overnight. I still see people shopping out there, scooping up post-Christmas bargains, but for retailers, it’s probably nowhere near the amounts they’ve been accustomed to seeing over the past five years.

Those who cannot see beyond the sale signs must be ecstatic about signs reading 60 percent off, but that is short-sighted. Maybe they don’t see how interconnected we are as a society, and that as retailers’ fortunes go, so do our own. A lack of business will mean more will close (International Council of Shopping Centers is predicting that up to 73,000 retail establishments could close in the first half of 2009), more people will lose jobs, leaving fewer to support the businesses that remain — it’s a cycle just like the one that brought boom times here, but a vicious, downward one.

As a result, I am — cautiously spending. I feel lucky to still have a job and that my income hasn’t changed. But, like a lot of investors, I did lose a boatload of money in the stock market this year, which I feel compelled to replace, and the only way to do that now is the painful, old-fashioned way of saving. Which means, for now, going easy on the credit cards.

For me, it’s not that hard because I was never one to spend money I didn’t already have in the bank. But, it has meant rethinking the $300 to $600 dress, and post-Christmas, the only thing I’ve bought for myself was a black Rebecca Taylor jacket on sale at Neiman Marcus for about $190, to replace my ratty old Theory jacket. In past years, I usually picked up three to four things at the same sale.

I plan to acquire only two other things in January, a new season $69 A/X mini skirt and a navy J.Crew T-shirt. Simple and streamlined, which I think is a direction people are heading as they lose their appetite for consumption. Like I said, I don’t think we’ll stop buying, but we’ll buy less at lower prices and with more consideration.

Instead of buying the pieces above on the spot as I might have in the past, I actually went home first to think about how they would fit into my wardrobe. There were a few other things I considered but decided I can live without.

I noticed some designers are starting the process of bringing down prices by changing fabrication to soft cottons that have a cocoony, homespun comfort to them. I’m also seeing prices drop to 2006 levels that still had some connection to real incomes.

For 2009, I am hoping for an end to CEO greed and a return to realness all around. Real wages for people who work for the good of the economy and real pricing based on real quality and real integrity.

This is my last rant for 2008. I will try to be more cheerful in 2009.

If you have time, I would love hearing about what you’re buying and not buying and why.

What has changed is people have become more patient in waiting for bargains as they’ve noticed items lingering on the racks to the end of the season.

I still see people shopping out there, scooping up the post-Christmas bargains, but who knows how people will behave in 2009?

The most sensitive among us have lost their appetite for consumption.

By Nadine Kam

You just can’t stay home, can you? Even when you know there will be swarms of people buying and exchanging, even when you know your bank funds are perilously low, you can’t resist the post-holiday discount sales beginning Dec. 26.

Here are a couple more, and don’t get into any fights or accidents out there:

Cottage by the Sea: The Ward Warehouse boutique wants to help ring in the New Year with 15 percent off its 2009 sterling silver ring collection, bearing words such as “Whereever you are, you will always be in my heart.” The discount is good through Jan. 10. The first 200 people who purchase $100 or more at the boutique, beginning Dec. 26, will also receive a free drink Koozie made of fabric and bearing words such as “love the moment” and “live, love, laugh.”

LUSH Christmas cake soap with vetivert and aloe vera.

LUSH: Is clearing out product to make room for a fresh start, so buy any holiday product or body soap and get two holiday products or two pieces of body soap (of equal or lesser value) for free through Jan. 18, while supplies last. Not in Hawaii? Go to www.lush.com to check on what’s going on in your country. The USA site has a forum that allows people to share incidences of random acts of kindness as more companies become aware of their role in social responsibility.

Nordstrom: Save 40 percent or more while earning twice the Rewards points on all Nordstrom credit or MOD card purchases made in-store and online through Dec. 31, 2008. Does not apply to Nordstrom Rack.

Saks Off Fifth: Get 50 percent off all cashmere sweaters, outerwear, seasonal gifts and home items, boots, hats, gloves and scarves. Get 25 percent off your entire purchase of items not covered by the 50 percent offer. These deals, good through Sunday the 28th, cannot be combined with any other offer.

Valerie Joseph: Buy one item and get 25 percent off your second item. Get the details at the store.

By Nadine Kam

Merry Christmas, from Waipahu, HI!

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Anteprima tree trimmed with the company’s shimmery wire handbags.

Anteprima hosted a party Saturday night to benefit Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children while marking the company’s second anniversary in the islands and showcasing some of its designs straight from Italy.

It would be great if the boutiques carried the designs in Honolulu, but this marked the only time — for now — that we could inspect the garments up close. They are very fine, with some that look like draped threads. There was one dress with scalloped, shirred detail at the rear, such that a woman would have to have those buns of steel and a whole lot of self-confidence to walk into a room, and even more importantly, walk out, leaving little to the imagination.

Keao Crabbe, left, and Kelsey Campbell, model Anteprima dresses and purses.

The event took place on the fourth floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center, where the boutique has a home on the ground floor in the passageway leading to the Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The Anteprima Plastiq boutique is small, so I was confused as to how this large party would take place there. I thought it would spill over to the courtyard, but fortunately, employees were able to direct me upstairs where one of the first things I saw was the shimmering gold Christmas tree comprising dozens of Anteprima’s signature knit PVC wire handbags.

The stage for the Anteprima show on the video, as well as some of the camera angles, reminded me of introductory scenes from Second Life. Click on the image to view the entire video.

Viewers watched a video of Anteprima’s Spring-Summer 2009 presentation before seeing six of the designs modeled by local beauty queens. At one point in the video, a model tripped, causing the audience to gasp as if it were live. There’s a lot of editing in the video, so I’m just wondering why they left that in there unless they wanted that dramatic moment.

Anteprima photo
How do they hold these threads together? The company also showed many skirts made like this top.

Guests feasted on sushi from Suntory, dim sum from Beijing (the restaurant, not the city), desserts by Satura Cakes, as well as fun food for keiki from Senor Frog, tho’ I missed that part. It’s not often a grownup party makes a place for little ones, but considering the beneficiary of the event, it was fitting to have balloons, clowns and face painting. For grownups, there was music by Pili’oha.

Kim Gennaula, who only recently left KGMB, is already doing her part as director of philanthropy for the Kapiolani Health Foundation, tasked with raising funds for the center. The foundation also gained a natural emcee in Gennaula, partnered at the podium by husband Guy Hagi. In the end, Virgo USA, Inc., dba Anteprima Foundation, presented its check for $10,000 made out to the center.

Six designs made it to Hawaii. It looks like the models are wearing pink stockings, but that’s due to the slide projection over their bodies.

Anteprima/Virgo USA, Inc., chairman and CEO Tak Munemura, left, with Maki Munemura. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Iona Dance Theatre’s Lotus floated at the surface of Parc Blue, which led to curiosity about “Atlantika” for those who missed its debut. If you missed the “Atlantika” debut, check out my video from October.

It snowed in Vegas, and it snowed in Waikiki last Friday — specifically on the rooftop at the Parc Hotel — where guests were invited to enjoy “A Waikiki Winter at the Parc,” a celebration marking the unveiling of unveil the hotel’s new roof-top pool, Parc Blue.

A snow machine sent soft snowflakes into the air at the deck’s entrance, such that I caught one right in the eye upon entering. This being a winter sunshine state, others dressed in black didn’t know what that “that white stuff” was and tried to steer clear of getting any on their fine threads and hair. It was a little annoying at first, but the combination of clear skies and cool snow wafting about proved magical by evening’s end, as close to a white Christmas as we’d get short of heading to Mauna Kea when conditions are right.

Peter Shaindlin, Chief Operating Officer of Halekulani Corp., center, welcomed guests, from left, Eric Kaneda, actor Daniel Dae Kim, Juli Henning, Sean Nakama and Wendy Kaneda.

The Lotus from Iona Dance Theatre’s “Atlantika” floated on the pool’s surface, while the Sea Anemone and Octopussy worked their way through the crowd, posing for photos, while guests nibbled on pupu served up by Roy’s, Nobu and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.

groundUP Pirates, from left, are Ckaweeks, Dodge Distad, ringleader Noa Laporga and Kristof Menor.

At the far end of the pool, the groundUP Pirates — a collective of independent artists numbering about 100, who bring their collaborative expression to events around the world — were busily creating a painting for the water-themed occasion. There’s been a lot of interest in their finished work since the party, but no word yet as to whether it will be made available for sale. Find out more about the artists at groundupmovement.com when the site is out of maintenance mode.

Condos have rules against hanging laundry from lanais, but what’s to stop hotel guests from putting their laundry out there?

Guests had a 360-degree view from the rooftop, and the hotel projected holiday greetings onto some of the blank walls surrounding the property. But, they couldn’t do anything about the sight of pants hanging from another building’s balcony. The juxtaposition was amusing. Maybe I was the only person who thought so. Another juxtiposition, the Lotus in the pool, and the Lotus downstairs at the valet’s. Book the hotel’s Room and Vroom package and you get to zoom about town in a Lotus Elise or Exige. Check out the details here.

Hotel guests who can’t drive away with the Lotus do the next best thing. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Touchstone Pictures
Isla Fisher, as shopaholic Rebecca Bloomwood, attempts to take charge of her closet. Click on the photo for the trailer.

I got a chance to interview Patricia Field yesterday in advance of the opening of “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” though we won’t be running the story until closer to the film’s opening in February.

Who can wait that long?

What was most interesting to me was that the boutique-owning stylist for “Sex and the City” and now, “Ugly Betty,” says she’s NOT a shopaholic. I mean, you’d assume a person who shops for a living might be, right? But the -holic part would suggest a form of mental illness, and she’s firmly in control of her finances and material desires.

While she loves clothing and accessories across the board, high and low, new and worn, she’s very practical about it all, saying that she probably owns less clothing than her fans would imagine, to the point where she says she basically wears the same thing over and over, changing things up with accessories. But that’s where her styling skills come into play and not everyone is so blessed.

Even so, her advice for shopaholics who want to gain control over their spending habits is to stop buying clothes because a T-shirt is a T-shirt is a T-shirt, and focus on learning how to accessorize those basic pieces to update your wardrobe for the most impact and least expenditure.

The film’s timing is good, balancing lots of eye candy with the idea that there is a bigger price to pay for overshopping than what’s on the price tag.

I sent a post off to Twitter about the interview, and fans of Field were quick to respond, including someone I know locally who asked, “OMG, did you die?”

Well, yeah. That happens sometimes when you get a chance to speak with some of the people you idolize. In fact, I’m just lucky she had a good sense of time because she wanted to give me the full 20 minutes allotted to individual journalists across the country in her marathon day of phone calls. Otherwise, I was like, “Hi, uh, um, OK, bye,” which doesn’t happen too often.

The other memorable time I was on nervous mode was talking with the film director Ang Lee, post “Brokeback Mountain” and in advance of “Lust, Caution.” When the man has time to speak, you have to take the call, and unfortunately, it happened on a day I had a five-hour photo shoot for HI Luxury magazine. The session was scheduled to end about 3 p.m., the same time he wanted to call after getting off a plane from LA to New York. With any luck, my shoot would end early and his plane would be delayed to give me time to return about $50,000 worth of clothing to boutiques and get back to my desk.

Didn’t happen. His agent called just as I left the Halekulani and I had to explain I was in my car and could we reschedule in about a half hour. They granted an extra 15 minutes, the point being that once the director arrived home, that was his sanctuary away from work. That gave me enough time to make it to Ala Moana Center and park. But while waiting in the car, I got impatient, and figured I could make a run with the bags to the shops. I had just dropped off the last bags when he called, and there I was with cell phone, trying to balance my notepad on a planter outside Dior, trying to sound intelligent and stress-free.

I don’t think I fooled him, but he is the nicest man.

By Nadine Kam

If you’re still shopping for last-minute gifts, check out Aloha Tower Marketplace’s Wednesday Night Market, where you can throw some support toward local brands like Sierra Dew, Meesah, Zsuzsa B., KariJane Threads and Beauty and the Beach Hawaii through Hifi’s (Hawaii Fashion Incubator) pop-up boutique.

The event runs 5 to 10 p.m. on the 17th, also featuring:
>> Wine tasting by HASR Wine Co.
>> A chance to win a free solar hot water system provided by Blue Planet Foundation.
>> A 21st century photo booth.
>> Fashion makeovers and a Hawaii RED magazine photo shoot sponsored by Don Marco-Spiers Salon and Spa.
>> The Lifestyle Lounge with a display of local fine artwork and furnishings.
>> A display of environmentally friendly vehicles, including an all electric truck and clean burning diesel cars that can be purchased right now.
>> Gift Wrapping and gifts available from the Pacific Aviation Museum, this month’s not-for-profit beneficiary.

Dress from KariJane Threads.

This will be the second Night Market@AlohaTower, which takes place the third Wednesday each month. Community involvement and social responsibility is the main underlying theme at every event. Local not-for-profits are offered a space to raise funds and awareness of their cause. They may hold an auction, sell items, or use the space for community outreach.Call 732-6699 for information and updates.

Fru Fru Ruffle Bikini by dfly for Beauty and the Beach Hawaii, on the Web site.

By Nadine Kam

Hey, you out there. it’s not enough to look good. Sometimes you have to feed your head. My recommendation is to visit a museum sometimes.

Here’s a link to my video for the Honolulu Academy of Arts exhibition, “Muraqqa’: Imperial Mughal Albums from the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin,” which opens to the public on Thursday, the 18th. The detail work is so incredible, they’ll be offering magnifying glasses to viewers so they can fully appreciate the details of the miniature, book-size paintings.

By Nadine Kam

Super Good for You
Check out the Super Good T-shirts at Split Obsession. The girl loves mustaches. If you’re a fan of the 1970s style of facial hair, check out Diego Luna and James Franco (below), among others, in the movie “Milk,” this weekend.

If you’re doing some last-minute Christmas shopping this weekend, here are a few spots to keep in mind:

Split Obsession: Meet Candace Okamura, the creator of Super Good Clothing, between 2 and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at the boutique, where T-shirts, buttons, jewelry and charms will be awaiting holiday shoppers. There will be free gifts with purchase, and an opportunity to enter a drawing to win one of two new designs to be released in spring. While there, shop for Super Good, Flip the Bird, Paul Frank, Ames Bros., Poetree, and 2K by Gingham T-shirts with a “buy one, get the second half off” offer. The promotion ends Dec. 18.
Split Obsession is in the Koko Marina Shopping Center.

Soleil: Sadly, Summer Vaimaona will be closing her store at 909 Kapahulu on Dec. 31, but the good news for fans of the boutique’s street-meets-Polynesia style is that she’ll be launching an online shop on Jan. 1, 2008, continuing to feature the work of Pacific region designers for the island glam girl. Until then, a closeout sale begins on Dec. 15, with savings of 20 to 75 percent to the end of the month.

Anné Au’s Rock Shop: The shopping event returns, for those who want to avoid the craziness of the malls for a more intimate shopping experience, from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 13 at thirtyninehotel. Vendors include Anné, APB, Gravis Skate, Electric Sunglasses, Kisa Kosmos, Isidra’s Custom Cuts, Meesha, Michele Leong, Organik, Soleil Boutique, Soozou, and Vestal. Admission’s free.

Shima hoop earrings, ring with druzy stone and 14K gold vermeil Shima Disc necklace, by Misa Jewelry’s Misa Hamamoto.
Riches Kahala: Will host a Misa Jewelry trunk show from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Punahou graduate Misa Hamamoto was working in investment banking before leaving to pursue her passion for jewelry, which she describes as “reflecting the island girl meeting the city girl or nature melding with modern, urban life.” Misa now lives in LA but will be at the event to assist shoppers in trying on and selecting ings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces inspired by nature and the ocean, reflecting her upbringing in Hawaii and Guam. She donates a percentage of all jewelry sales to benefit Hawaii charities specific to coral reef preservation. Check out her designs at misajewelry.com. For more information, contact Riches Kahala in Kahala Mall at 737-3303.

Alliway: Holiday weekend sale Dec. 13 and 14 with 15 percent off everything in the Ward Warehouse boutique. In addition, holiday shoppers will be able to take san additional 15 percent off “cheap thrills” and clearance items already marked down 40 percent or more. Holiday cookies and refreshments will be served all weekend to help keep your energy level up during the busy season. There will also be a Miemiko trunk show from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, featuring Miemiko Atelier’s letterpress papers and curiosities.

Alli’s affection for man’s best friend is well known, so she’s also asking caring souls to help dogs this holiday season by bringing in any of the following items from the Hawaii Dog Foundation wishlist in exchange for an Alliway coupon good until the end of the year. The alliway 3-2-1 coupon will be good for 30 percent off alliway jewelry 20 percent off all handbags and 10 percent off everything else in the store:
>> 5 lb bag or more of nutro dry dog food
>> Heartguard for 40 lb dog or more
>> 3 cans or more of nutro food
>> GREENIES brand dog treats
>> Flea or tick medication
>> Poopie bags
>> ID tags with HDF on one side and HDF phone number, 256-6927, on the other side.
>> Dog collars (sizes 14 to 28 inches)
>> Dog leashes
>> $10 cash
Call Alliway at 589-1141 for more information.

By Nadine Kam

Swann Galleries
Visionaire issues are “albums of inspiration” reflecting a collaboration of artists, designers, writers and photographers. Each issued is unique, built around a theme. At front is a deluxe monogrammed portfolio by Louis Vuitton, created to house a particular issue.

For those interested in collecting a piece of fashion history, New York’s Swann Auction Galleries is hosting a Photographic Literature and Photographs Sale on Dec. 11, spotlighting issues 1 to 50 of Visionaire (Lot 267), a collection of the extraordinary art and fashion publication — artworks themselves — worth an estimated $25,000 to 35,000.

Visionaire features artist collaborations and elaborate packaging for each of its uniquely themed issues. Each issue is conceived as “an album of inspiration,” incorporating the work of renowned artists, designers and photographers, crafted specifically for the publication. Among the designers and brands who have participated in the creation of the publications are Louis Vuitton, Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang, and François Berthoud, along with photographers such as Mario Testino, Mary Ellen Mark, Bruce Weber, Nan Goldin, Nobuyoshi Araki, and James Nachtwey.

The issues have typically employed multiple materials, including a luxurious Hermés leather travel pouch containing postcards from around the world, a Tiffany’s box (the post-9/11 “Love” issue) with an Elsa Peretti heart, a Levi’s One-Pocket Sack Coat, Diana Vreeland’s newly disclosed memos, the first battery-operated publication, and an inkless issue. The issues were created between 1991 and 2007.

The auction will also include such imagery as Herb Ritts silver print “Madonna, Hollywood (1986),” edition notations 8/25, in pencil, estimated to sell for $4,000 to 6,000. (Lot 388)

Other works up for grabs:

Weegee’s “Woman in Ruffled Bikini / Acrobat,” two silver prints from the late 1950s to early ’60s, estimated to sell for $2,000 to $3,000. (Lot 359)

Édouard Boubat’s “Paris” (Lovers), silver print with the photographer’s signature, dated 1960; printed in the 1980s, estimated to be worth $2,500 to 3,500. (Lot 364)

Brush up on more photo history at www.swanngalleries.com