By Nadine Kam

While working on today’s story about makeup artist Nolan Makaawaawa, winner of Lifetime’s “Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist,” I went to the TV Web site to look at some of the finale footage, and a familiar face popped up on the screen.

It was local model Courney Arndt, who’s now working in L.A. and was one of the models in the Badgley Mischka fashion show. It’s great to see two more people from Hawaii making a splash in a bigger pond.

You can watch the video here and see more of the show as well.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Kathryn Drury Wagner, author of “The Ultimate Guide to Shopping on O’ahu,” center, with stylist Margaret Jen Akinaka, left, and presentation coach and consultant Pam Chambers. Margaret is heading to New York to help with some of the Fashion Week shows coming up in February.

Saturday’s “Ultimate Shopping Experience” had the feel of a class reunion, with many of the designers and retailers I’ve met and written about over the past two years all under one roof.

It was good news to all that people did show up to shop in the Honolulu Design Center’s Cupola, while in the Ice Bar they could listen to the pros’ fashion advice.

The event was presented in conjunction with the recent release of Kathryn Drury Wagner’s “The Ultimate Guide to Shopping on O’ahu” (Watermark Publishing). Kathryn gave the first talk of the day, titled “Miss Personality: An Office Wardrobe That Won’t Put Your Co-workers to Sleep.”

I videotaped her talk, editing to fit the blog attention span, and thought I’d be back to videotape the next presentation. That proved to be too optimistic as I got sidetracked by conversations and lured to shop, especially by that temptress Catherine Fong (just kidding Catherine!) of Catherine’s Closet. I bought three hats from her and knowing my bad habit of buying things to admire rather than use, she chided, “You better wear them!”

Also there were Allison Izu Song showing her petite denim collection and new tank tops, Split Obsession’s Erica Apana, Tanna and Bryson Dang of The Wedding Cafe, Fabulocity, Fashionista’s Market, Ginger 13, Global Village, Mu’umu’u Heaven, and “The Coop” by Hawaii Fashion Incubator, with Jodi Salmonson of Martinique and Zsuzsa Bakonyi-Rodgers of ZsuzsaB manning the booth when I dropped by.

Marylea Conrad, left, was there to represent her lines, Melia Conrad (swim and casual wear) and Ki-ele (jewelry) and. She’s with her mom Leah Ablen and Brie Thalman.

Catherine Fong, left, with Sunny Weeks, brought in some of her vintage hats, jewelry and dresses from Catherine’s Closet’s.

Blaine Ashley, center, was there to show some of the garments available through her online boutique ShopBlaineAshley.com. Charisse Tao, left, and Dani Checinski helped model some of the garments available at the site.

DisFUNKshion’s Hugette Montesinos stopped to chat with designer Roberta Oaks who had one of the prime spots close to the entrance of the Honolulu Design Center’s Cupola.

By admin

Nadine Kam photos
elle Couture Jewellery’s creative director Lance Ishibashi and KCC’s Carol Sakihara at the opening of her students’ exhibition Friday night.

By Nadine Kam

elle Couture Jewellery creative director Lance Ishibashi made room in the new 909 Kapiolani jewelry boutique to share the floor with some talented young designers from Kapiolani Community College over the weekend, with the opening of an exhibition that will be on view through Jan. 29.

Lisa Shiroma’s copper “Star” necklace with satin ribbon.

I enjoyed looking at the pieces and entertained the thought of owning some of them because they are so different from what’s in the marketplace, which tends to follow big trends. Unfortunately, only a handful are actually available for sale, at a maximum of about $330. Given the class project nature of the work, many of them have sentimental attachment to the pieces they created, and you can’t put a price on that.

I loved Mia Takara’s brushed silver “Bear Fuzz,” but unfortunately, she’s not parting with it. It started as a ring with claws that wrap around the finger, but she found it difficult to attach the two pieces.

The students have access to limited tools and materials, but the show just proves how these are not handicaps when imagination is at work.

Since my story ran in the paper Thursday, some generous souls in the community have already offered donations of jewelry findings to the KCC program headed by artist Carol Sakihara. I’m sure more assistance would be welcome.

Jeremiah Skurtu with an “Industrial” ring he created. It was so large, they had to develop a special casting method for it. Below, he also wore a skull ring he created while attending high school in Texas.

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By Nadine Kam

Angry Woebot’s Aaron Martin was putting the finishing touches on his mural at The Contemporary Museum’s Contemporary Cafe yesterday, a work created over three days (slow for him but necessary for the performance aspect).

In case you couldn’t get there during the lunch hours he was working, I shot some video in which he talks a little about his method.

More of his work is also on view at Nuuanu Gallery, 1161 Nuuanu Gallery, through Feb. 7. You can read about the details here.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The mood was relaxed and the setting perfect at the Inaugural Gala at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

Hawaii residents didn’t have to be in D.C. to dress up to party with Barack.

I started the evening at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, where the Democratic Party of Hawaii’s Inaugural Gala shared its big day with the grand reopening of the hotel after more than six months of renovations. The Pink Palace was dressed in its distinctive color, and the party — on the lawn and in the Monarch Room — was a great way to reintroduce the luxury property. I kept overhearing guests saying they hadn’t been there in years and suggesting booking mini vacations on the property.

Madeleine McKay, pictured with Michael Titterton, wears a bustled gown of her own design.

Makana Shook wears a fishtail holoku by Mamo Howell at the Pink Palace event.

One of the highlights was the toasts by Hawaii’s former governors, with a trio of “Banzai”s from George Ariyoshi, “Mabuhay” from Ben Cayetano, “Imua” from John Waihee, and “Cheers” from Judge Jim Burns, standing in for his late father, John A. Burns, who jokingly referred to the new administration as ushering in a new era of hope and openness, “even for the white guys.” The video of their toasts will be sent to the new president.

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Honolulu Rainbow Inaugural Ball director Marshall Tokunaga, center, at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel with HGLCF founder and president Jack Law, left, and HGLCF executive director Jeff Davis. Lucky we have a president, not a monarch, so Obama need not be threatened by Marshall’s crown.

It’s with the same spirit of hope, change and inclusiveness that members of the HGLCF held its own Honolulu Rainbow Obama Inauguration Ball at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel. There, revelers were dressed to reflect aspects of the new administration: bold, colorful, and most of all, chop suey, with a mix of suits, tuxedos, ball gowns, Hawaiian attire, lei, even a tiara or two.

Jack Law with Kawai Aipia, left, and Shade Vaughn, who posed for pictures with guests as Barack and Michelle Obama at the HGLCF event. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The coconut wireless at work. Women in line at Macy’s pass on the word about the cosmetics settlement and the product giveaway that’s part of the settlement.

Yes it’s true! Today, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom are among stores giving away $175 million worth of cosmetics as part of a class-action settlement. The giveaway will end while supplies last, or through Jan. 27. Better head there quickly. There were lines at all three stores at Ala Moana Center, and at Nordstrom I was told they’d likely run out of product by day’s end. along. No rainchecks will be issued.

At Macy’s Ala Moana, the Boucheron Femme Eau de Toilette was the first to go.

Retailer Defendants that will be participating in the settlement product distribution are Bergdorf Goodman, Bergner’s, Bloomingdale’s, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Dillard’s, Gottschalks, Herberger’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Parisian, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Younkers.

A class member will be eligible to receive, while supplies last, a maximum of ONE free cosmetics product from one of the Manufacturer Defendants from which he or she purchased Department Store Cosmetics during the class period, May 29, 1994 through July 16, 2003, from the list of products below. No questions asked, but you’ll be required to sign your name upon receipt of the product.

Some of the products up for grabs at Neiman Marcus.

Boucheron (USA) Ltd.:
>> Femme Eau de Toilette (1 ounce/30 ml)

Chanel, Inc.:
>> Coco Mademoiselle body lotion (3.4 fluid oz)

Christian Dior Perfumes, Inc.:
>> J’Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml)

Clarins U.S.A., Inc. (choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last):
>> Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml) OR
>> Clarins Beauty Flash Bomb (30 ml)

Conopco, Inc. (distributed by Coty, Inc. on behalf of Conopco, Inc.) (choice of ONE of three products, while supplies last):
>> Calvin Klein Euphoria Bath and Shower Crème (6.7 oz) OR
>> Vera Wang Princess Body Polish (5 oz) OR
>> Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel (6.7 oz)

Estée Lauder Companies Inc. ( choice of ONE of two products, while supplies last):
>> Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (15 ml/0.5 oz) OR
>> Clinique Moisture Surge (30 ml/1 oz)

Guerlain, Inc.:
>> My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

L’Oréal USA, Inc. (formerly known as Cosmair, Inc.) (choice of ONE of eight products, while supplies last):
>> Lancôme UV Expert 20 OR
>> Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara OR
>> Lancôme Fatale Mascara OR
>> Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara OR
>> Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense OR
>> Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Gel (6.7 oz.) OR
>> Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel (6.7 oz) OR
>> Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel

Parfums Givenchy, Inc.:
>> Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette (15 ml)

The line moved quickly at Nordstrom.

If you want to know the legalese:

Plaintiffs’ claims arise under Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. §1),
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §16720 of the California Business and Professions Code (the
“Cartwright Act”), and Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §17200 of the (the Unfair Competition Law or “UCL”).

Plaintiffs allege that defendants engaged in anti-competitive practices that discouraged the discounting of Department Store Cosmetics Products (“DSCPs”). DSCPs are defined in paragraph 2 of the settlement agreement as high-end, prestige or specialty beauty and cosmetic products and product lines (including color products, treatment and fragrances) sold by the Manufacturer Defendants under various brand names from May 29, 1994 through July 16, 2003. These products are sold primarily through traditional department and/or specialty stores and not through mass distribution channels in the United States. As a result, plaintiffs alleged that affected consumers paid United States. As a result, plaintiffs alleged that affected consumers paid more for DSCPs than they would have paid absent the alleged anticompetitive conduct.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
At the Ala Moana Sephora, Smashbox National Artist Hank Hoffman and his makeup team introduced the company’s new Muse collection. He’s pictured with Sephora’s Savy Wendin, left, and Ala Moana store director Jeannie Higa.

In case you missed Thursday’s paper, this is just a reminder that Smashbox National Artist Hank Hoffman is in town offering makeovers and demonstration’s of Smashbox’s new Muse collection of spring color. Hoffman was at the Ala Moana store Friday and Saturday and will be at the Pearlridge store today, the 18th, to 5 p.m. In case you miss him, you can watch his video demonstration online at www.smashbox.com.

The Martin Luther Day sales are on, and one new stop to add to your list is the new Custo Barcelona store at Ala Moana Center, which is welcoming spring pieces and sending out fall designs at about 40 percent off.

Sadly, the Theory store will be closing its doors at the center — I heard Jan. 25 — and they have an abundance of separates and dresses to move out before the date.

Fighting Eel photo

Downtown, Fighting Eel will be hosting its Martin Luther King Day sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 19, with 25 percent off everything in the store, including marked down items and Fall 2008 styles. The FE headquarters is at 47 N. Hotel St. Call 524-1472 for more info.

And at Waikele, Barney’s New York Outlet is hosting its Winter Clearance Blowout, with an additional 60 percent off selected sale items.

Enjoy your day off. I’ll be working.

By Nadine Kam

In last Thursday’s print edition of the paper, I wrote about cleaning out your closet and the idea of shopping your closet to make a list of needs before you go shopping and come home with a bag of wants.

Found a blog that addresses this recessionista tactic http://shopinyourcloset.blogspot.com/ though the resulting finds weren’t what I had in mind. They’re the kind of things that should have been tossed long ago.

You’re welcome to contribute to the blog and so many of the items shown are so thugly that at the least, they’ll make you feel better about what you have in your closet.

If you can top the toe socks posted recently on the shopinyourcloset blog, do tell!

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The brightly colored windows at the Louis Vuitton store at Ala Moana Center pays tribute to the late designer Stephen Sprouse.

Someone asked me last week what’s coming for spring and I said “bright colors.”

She seemed puzzled by the response, saying, “Really? I thought in times of recession people wear black.”

Well, given that my last three purchases had been a black skirt, a black jacket and a black bracelet, I had to reconsider. Sure, retailers are showing lots of brights, but that doesn’t necessarily mean people are in the mood to buy them.

My mood has been black so maybe that’s been reflected in my color, or non-color choice. The other thing I wanted to buy was a dark navy T-shirt with black sequin bow at J. Crew on the Island, but when I went back after two weeks, they had sold out of them. I was too busy to try it on when I saw them, but they had so many at full price I felt certain they’d still be there. I didn’t think people were paying $80+ for T-shirts anymore.

But there’s only so much dark colors a person can take. It makes me somewhat depressed to go into stores now and see racks still filled with fall stock in their somber colors. There’s a dearth of new stock, but if people are not seeing anything new, they’re probably less inclined to buy.

The design on the Louis Vuitton window echoes the design on its latest collection of handbags.

I applaud Louis Vuitton, who’s showing neon brights and graffiti scrawl in an eye-catching window display, a tribute to 1980s pop designer Stephen Sprouse, who died in 2004.

The lettering was done by Stephen Sprouse as part of a collaboration with Marc Jacobs for Vuitton about eight years ago.

I was just talking with someone about the art of the window display, and it’s refreshing to see this splash of art and theater in the mall. It made me stop to look.

The Gap necklace set against my Roberta Oaks skirt.

I’m not quite ready for Day Glo, but eased into color with a purchase of a costume necklace at The Gap. I was wearing a purple T-shirt and my Roberta Oaks patchwork scarf skirt that day, so it just matched. It was one of those iffy things I don’t really need, so my b.f. asked that question we ask now with every purchase: “Are you going to get $14 worth of pleasure out of that?” So, that was a pretty easy decision.

The Gap is embracing color this spring, recently partnering with Pantone to create a line of limited-edition T-Shirts in the season’s hottest colors. They just opened a T-shirt shop in The Gap’s rotating concept venue adjacent to its flagship store at 54th and 5th aves. in New York. It features The Gap’s upcoming spring tee collection in true Pantone colors, including a limited-edition tee in Mimosa, Pantone’s color of the year for 2009. The display will be up through Feb. 8.

Lisa Herbert, executive vice president of Pantone’s fashion, home and consumer division said Mimosa was selected because the sunny yellow “best expresses hope and reassurance.”

The Gap/Pantone collaboration features Pantone’s 2009 color if the year Mimosa.

By Nadine Kam

Jason Momoa is well-dressed for a family outing, He and Lisa Bonet welcomed their second child together, son Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa, in early December, reports his hanai dad Takeo, who explained Nakoa means “warrior,” mana means “strength” or “spirit,” kaua means “rain” and “po” means dark, referring to his time of birth on a dark and stormy night. Namakaeha is also Jason’s middle name.

Meanwhile, Maui-raised model Tori Praver will be featured again in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition due Feb. 15. Tori is one of three models in the running for the cover of the issue, which is kept secret until its release. Tori became the youngest face of GUESS? when she was 17, and since then has graced the covers of Glamour and Cosmopolitan magazines, as well as the pages of the 2007 and 2008 SI Swimsuit editions. Maybe her third time will be a charm. The photo is from the 2008 edition.

Terry Tsiolis photo for Details

Honorary local by now? Matthew Fox makes the cover of the January/February issue of Details magazine, which hits newsstands on Obama’s inauguration day, Jan. 20. Timed in advance of the return of the TV series Jan. 21, he talks about the “Lost” series finale, saying, “It’s going to have a very global and epic ending.” Can’t wait to see how it all comes together and wraps up.