By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
Almost walking on water, clockwise from left, Eric Kamakahia’ai Chandler, Aureana Tseu, Pamela Young and Takeo.

Before The Counter party Saturday night, I was at the sendoff party for 2009 Miss Hawaii USA Aureana Tseu, held at the home of Dr. Lawrence Tseu. She leaves April 1 for the national competition April 19 at Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas, and the party was an opportunity to thank the many who have supported her throughout the years, with food provided by 3660 on the Rise, drinks, and a mini fashion show of all the ensembles she’ll be wearing through judges interviews, and yes, lunch with The Donald, of Trump and “Celebrity Apprentice” fame.

It’s scary to think I’ve known Aureana since she was too young to be in pageants. Even at something like 14, she was always poised, outgoing, articulate and positive, so I always knew this day would come, as I’m sure those closest to her felt as well.

Good luck, Aureana!

2 Couture photo
Evening gown designed by Eric Chandler and Takeo, and made from multicolor silk with Austrian yellow and gold crystals. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
A T&C purple, long-sleeved shirt was altered to go from laidback casual to sexy.

Over the weekend, Jon Ching, manager of T&C Surf Designs’ Kahala Mall store, presented in-store Deconstruction/Reconstruction demonstrations on how-to recycle plain, old T-shirts into sexier, edgier pieces.

Perhaps borrowing from a burger campaign, the idea is T&C Your Way. This is, after all, the era of personalization and consumers want choices in all matters. So why wear a T-shirt everyone has if you don’t have to?

Ching showed a braiding technique that can be done simply and easily using only scissors, needle and thread. It leaves a ruched effect and a more shapely, body-conscious fit.

The technique worked really well with T&C’s tattoo graphics, so as a result, people bought new shirts like those used by the T&C crew used in the store’s window display. The window was designed by UH fashion merchandising students, and the clothing on view is up for auction, tentatively through the end of the week. When I was there, it was up to $75 for one of the men’s outfits, and $65 for the dress with hot pink braided straps.

For those with no talent whatsoever, or those too timid to take scissors to their new shirt, Ching is actually willing to do the work free, for now. That is a really good deal because the purple tattoo shirt in the window is only $24, and to have a custom piece at that price is pretty awesome.

Three men’s shirts were cut and stitched together to creating this wearable collage.

By Nadine Kam

Tanna and Bryson Dang of The Wedding Cafe hosted “Bride Wars” at the Ward Warehouse Sunday, where dozens of brides had the opportunity to compete for gift services good toward dozens of bridal services, with discounts for everything from tuxedo rentals, to diamonds to wedding planning.

Names of brides were drawn from those who had registered to participate, and those whose names were drawn kept playing games until they won.

The video shows a couple of the games, which involved recreating a table top with instructions from Naomi Lee of Les Saisons, and, guessing the carat weight of a diamond ring.

Nancy Arcayna wrote the story about the event in today’s paper.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The owners, from left, Ed Robles, Daniel Dae Kam, Pablo Buckingham and DK Kodama.

The Counter celebrated its grand opening with a party Saturday night that included the red-carpet (that was actually blue) arrivals of “Lost” castmates of Daniel Dae Kim, a co-owner in the endeavor with DK Kodama, Ed Robles and Pablo Buckingham, all there to make sure guests had their fill of mini Counter burgers plus sushi and more grinds from DK’s other restaurant, Sansei Seafood Restaurant and Sushi Bar.

Currently the most buzzed-about restaurant in town, The Counter has been open a month and is already the top-performing franchise in the country. Popularity still has its drawbacks as I keep hearing about hourlong waits, but, like I said in my review, the solution is to go at off-peak hours, like 3 p.m., making it one of those rare places where people are willing to make accomodations rather than be accommodated. When does that ever happen?

From left, Beth Shady, Jorge Garcia, Hannah Cornett and pro surfer turned actress Keala Kennelly.

The space is rather small for a party of the magnitude of Saturday’s event, so people flowed in and out for air. It was probably just as much fun outside with the paparazzi as inside, because the celebs were in a good mood and willing to do just about anything for the cameras, whether stuff their faces or ham it up with mock interviews.

Oh, and the burgers were truly yummy!

I left before Josh Holloway got there, but you can see photos of him at photographer Jeannemarie Viggiano’s Web site blog. She’s in many of the photos, and yours truly is in one of them. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Prada area manager Joe Incao with stylist Crystal Pancipanci, left, and makeup artist Jessica Hoffman.

Prada Corp. celebrated the grand opening of its Miu Miu store last night with a well-attended party of some of Honolulu’s most stylish, as well as a handful of celebs, including “Lost’s” Michael Emerson, dressed in crisp white linen, homegrown actress/singer Tia Carrere and “American Idol” season five finalist Katharine McPhee, who’s also working on her acting skills.

Of course dozens came dressed in Prada or Miu Miu, but the person drawing circles of interrogators all night was Ronald Cheung, dressed in a black Commes de Garcons kilt worn over Louis Vuitton neon leggings, with white shirt and very cool cinched buckled top that had an edgy bondage-meets-straitjacket vibe.

Tia Carrere and Katharine McPhee, both dressed in Miu Miu and in town filming “You May Not Kiss the Bride,” produced by Hawaii Film Partners and also starring Mena Suvari. It’s said to about an American pet photographer who gets caught up with Croatian gangsters while on honeymoon with one of the mobster’s daughters.

It was a great party and the floor was so packed that if you saw someone you knew, you had to grab them right away, before they got swallowed up by the crowd, never to be seen again.

From left, party-goers Denise Nakano, Chanel Wong, Candace Konievic, Rod Iasuda and Lesli-Ann Yano.

(more…)

By Nadine Kam

www.glamhawaii.com
G.L.A.M.’s Baby Love necklaces for mother and baby.

Cottage-by-the-Sea, at Ward Warehouse is hosting a model search and trunk show featuring the G.L.A.M. Hawaii jewelry design team of Genevive Marquez, Lisa Kehmeier, Amanda Dela Cruz and Michelle Cendana, who, after launching just a year ago, have already been featured in Audrey, Uproar and marthastewart.com, and worn by “The Hill’s” actress Lauren Conrad and celeb DJ and tokidoki model DJ Mia.

They will be introducing their spring line, “Splendor in the Grass,” nature-inspired pieces handmade with sterling silver or 14K gold wiring adorned with semi-precious gems, available exclusively in Hawaii at Cottage-by-the-Sea, or online at www.glamhawaii.com.

During the trunk show, which continues through Sunday, March 29, three winners will be chosen in drawings to receive a piece from the new collection, and shoppers will get a 15 percent discount on G.L.A.M. jewelry.

While there, the G.L.A.M. team will be on the lookout for two women to be Glam Gals to serve as models on their Web site and upcoming catalog, winning prizes and a yearlong modeling contract with the team.

By Nadine Kam

T&C Surf understands a lot of people are just making do with their old clothes while trying to keep the rent and cell bill paid and food on the table. But wearing the same old day after day can be a drag, so, they’re hosting “Extreme Makeover — T&C Surf Tees Edition,” deconstruction workshops demonstrating ways to transform plain, boxy old T-shirts into “new” wearables, belts and bags, with just a few basics: scissors, needle and thread.

The event takes place at the Kahala Mall store, where manager Jon Ching will be offering demonstrations from 3 to 4 p.m. March 26 to Sunday the 29th.

You won’t hurt their feelings if you start cutting up T&C shirts either. “Not at all,” said T&C marketing coordinator Michelle Cabalse. “As long as they’re having fun. The only trouble will be if they steal their brothers’ T-shirts and start hacking them up!”

T&C photos

By Nadine Kam

Amy Davis illustration
Peyton wears c.neeon dress, retro ’90s leather boots by Loius Vuitton, and silk skull scarf by Lucien Pellat-Finet, only because she has “waaaay too many by Mr. McQueen.”

Sometime Honolulu resident, artist and crazy rock ‘n’ roll chick Amy Davis sends word that she just started a new blog for Paper magazine, called Couture Voyeur. Voyeur is such a good word for the legion with a passion for fashion, but not the means.

It’s similar to her past Paper column, Style Fiends, but instead of “various hipsters styled out in très très delish avant fashion,” this time, she’s just reimagining one, Peyton, from week to week.

It’s a visual mashup of all the fashion, accessory and cosmetic finds that fill her eyes and head, emerging through her always fabulous illustrations. That’s one way to “wear” the best of the best when you don’t have the moolah for all. I told her I gotta get me some illustration skillz.

I look forward to viewing more of her finds.

Here are more views of c.neeon for spring/summer 2009:

By Nadine Kam

Associated press photos
Designs by China’s Jiang Zhuo were shown during a competition to name the winner of the 17th Hempel Award as the best International Young Fashion Designer.

China was the stage for the 17th annual Hempel Award in an International Young Fashion Designer competition that opened China Fashion Week in Beijing, China on March 24. Here’s a look at some of the pieces shown.

Norway’s Marianne Stabel Thorstensen showed a collection themed, “Chicks with Balls.”

A model presents a creation designed by Germany’s Jasmin Heiderich during the Hempel Award.

Models show a design by France’s Pascal Romme

A model presents a creation designed by Indonesia’s Kumiawan Yosafat Dwi.

The winner of the competition was, coincidentally, Chinese. Chen Jiawei, second from left, from Guandong, celebrates with models wearing her designs after learning of her win.

By Nadine Kam

Doh! I missed a Saturday email, so sorry if I’m letting you size 6 shoe fiends down, but the Stuart Weitzman Ala Moana boutique has a current season sample sale going on, starting today, of sizes 6 M only for $109.

For those who can’t afford to pay $400 or more, there are about 250 pairs of evening, fashion, everyday shoes and sandals available, and about 100 pairs of boots.

Shoes are THE accessory for spring 2009.