By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Victoria’s Secret Angel Marisa Miller will sign autographs for fans from 4 to 6 p.m. today.

I was at the opening at the Victoria’s Secret store this morning at 8 a.m. for its blessing because it’s my job to be there. What I don’t understand is why, by the time the store actually opened at 9:30 a.m., there were more than 600 people in line waiting to get in. Do they think they’re going to run out of bras? Is it a point of pride to be the very first customer? It’s not like a pop-up shop that’s going to go away overnight. Victoria’s Secret is really here to stay after we’ve patiently and agonizingly waited our turn while they opened more than 1,000 other stores around the world.

The line started at 6:30 a.m. and that’s got to make the company happy. Victoria’s Secret Angel Marisa Miller was there for photographs and interviews, and the City Managing Director Kirk Caldwell was there to welcome the store, and, filling in for our traveling mayor, to place a lei around Miller’s neck with requisite kiss. The opening, he said, is “very good news for Hawaii,” as a bright spot in our economy with such a major retailer demonstrating their confidence and commitment to the state.

If you read the story in the print edition today, you can learn about the opportunity to become the next VS Angel by entering online at VSAllAccess.com and CBS.com.

Star-Bulletin business reporter Nina Wu, in black, interviews the first people in line to get into Victoria’s Secret. The line went around the corner, between Sears and Longs, to the parking lot, and alongside Sears past Jamba Juice. As person after person entered the store, I wondered how many it could contain. (It swallowed up the former Island Snow, TheGap and Disney spaces.) They stopped the line at 500, then started admitting a few people at a time as shoppers exited.

The job is more demanding than you’d imagine, and the Angels have to have more going for them than a super body and pretty face as they also serve as ambassadors and spokesmodels for the brand. You can begin to imagine what that takes when you realize such media dynamos as Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum have served as Angels.

Kelly Boy De Lima, of Kapena, was the second person to make a purchase. Guys are quick, no-nonsense shoppers and he picked up a gift card for his daughter’s 18th birthday.

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By Nadine Kam

Dr. Hugo Higa hosted an open house at Aesthetic Vision Center Friday night, where it was rumored he might oblige volunteers willing to give a new botulinum product, Dysport®, a try.

Dysport, which received FDA approval two months ago, is a newer, more affordable and, I’m told, a less painful alternative to Botox® as an anti-wrinkle facial filler.

The event also helped introduce women to the latest skincare products from SkinCeuticals, but those with furrowed brows jumped up when the doctor called for volunteers. It was like watching kids on Christmas morning as about 15 women lined up for injections.

It was a generous offer, considering most of the women received 30 units of Dysport, a value of about $300.

I’m not quite ready for any kind of facial injections, and plan to rely on creams and facials as long as possible. It helps that I have a low threshold for pain, so avoid needles as much as possible. So when they say it’s painless, I don’t know, but there was sure a lot of laughter and zero tears while they were in the chair.

I asked how it feels as the Dysport goes to work, and they said after a while, the area feels heavy. Full relaxation of lines could be expected in about two days, but I could see results on some of the women immediately, and it looked as if they had naturally smooth foreheads.

It’s so amazing that we’ve come to a place where a procedure that might have been done in private a decade ago is now almost a non-stigmatized public spectacle. People are expected to try to look young by any means possible, which is different from altering one’s appearance. When you try to look like Barbie, someone else, or 17 again, you’ve got problems.

I was aware that I was making an icky face as the needle was going into others’ foreheads, when the doctor turned around and laughed when he saw my expression.

As for Higa’s background, he’s a dual–trained ophthalmologist and oculoplastic surgeon, who performs medical procedures to improve quality of vision. Along the way, he added cosmetic procedures that enhance appearance, adopting a “whole you” philosophy after learning that patients were quicker to see a doctor for vanity concerns than health reasons, and while he worked on the beauty aspect, he could also check their eye health.

Aesthetic Vision Center is in the Ala Moana Building that is also home to Bank of Hawaii, opposite Ala Moana Center. You can also visit the Web site www.aestheticvision.com.

By Nadine Kam

Miss Universe pageant photos

The Miss Hawaii USA has sent a request for a show of support for Aureana Tseu, who is competing for the title of Miss Universe, along with some online competitions.

Go to http://missuniverse.com/members/signup to vote for Best Hair by CHI and Most Glam photographs.

“It is a little humbug because you must create an account first,” they said by email from Las Vegas. But hey, we supported Jasmine Trias on “American Idol” and Mark Kanemura on “So You Think You Can Dance.”

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

Nadine Kam photos
After the Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show, Gail Shiraishi, left, and Melissa Chang show the gift bags women received for attending.

Nordstrom hosted its first Beauty Trend Event Saturday morning, which had hundreds of women waking up early on the weekend for a live 7:30 a.m. QVC-like introduction to some of the newest beauty products on the market.

The lineup was nowhere as crazy as last year’s grand opening tailgate event, just because seating was limited to the first who paid $15 to attend, but there were still a lot of women in the house, who made their way to the third floor through a gauntlet of cheering Nordstrom employees.

There were a few pieces of clothing by BCBG Max Azria, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Sue Wong, Radio Fiji and Trina Turk shown during the event, but the focus was on the face, with presentations divided into three segments of videos and live information sessions on Beauty Trends, Beauty Secrets and Beauty Values. A show of hands revealed only a few of those in the house had ever attended one of Nordstrom’s beauty events on the mainland.

Midweek style editor Yu Shing Ting is in the chair talking with Jamie O’Banion, president and co-creator of the Organicare line of organic skin care.

There were about a dozen presenters delivering quick, exuberant pitches and giving away various kits and sets that would be available for purchase on the sales floor immediately following the presentations. About 24 brands, from Chanel to Dr. Zein Obagi’s Z.O. Skin Health, were offering gifts with purchase. A lot of the new textures and blendability factor of new products are amazing, making the intro of sheer color to one’s look virtually dummy proof.

Two views of model Connor Lane, at Nordstrom Saturday, and at right, in a Bravo photo from “Project Runway.” I worked with him on a photo shoot for the February-March edition of HI Luxury magazine. You can pick up the magazine on newsstands; the photos go online in April.

Model Connor Lane was tasked with delivering the prizes to the winners, while dressed in clothing from Nordstrom’s men’s department. Those with a sharp eye and good memory might have seen Connor in the Season 4 “Project Runway” (Christian Siriano’s season) episode featuring Tiki Barber and a menswear competition. Connor was dressed by Elisa Jimenez in an ochre velveteen vest with dark-gray pants and brown long-sleeved shirt. The rest of us know Elisa only as the crazy “spit girl,” but Connor said she was fine to work with. It’s just another case of reality TV hyping overemphasizing one strange incident.

Makeup stylist RC Stephens of NARS and Hank Hoffman, National Artistry Trainer for Smashbox Cosmetics, delivered high-energy presentations worthy of their runway ready brands. Hoffman was the last to work the runway, so it was a little harder to get the crowd revved up. I’d say most women were tired, getting hungry and were probably feeling fuzzy minded by then. But their energy quickly returned with his call to check out the Smashbox beauty value kits that were being offered exclusively at Nordstrom: the company’s Smashbox’s Fashion Week Glam Box Pro Kit ($68) and Complexion Kit ($48) of season must-haves. Rushing downstairs, I saw dozens of women with the Glam Boxes in hand, as well as other kits mentioned during the event.

I returned the next day, when it was saner, for a chat with Hank Hoffman about what’s coming up at Smashbox. He’s pictured with Nordstrom’s Heather Olsen.

I shot some video of Hank for some general lessons on applying eyeliner and achieving a smoky eye, made easy with a combination of Smashbox’s gel liner and creaseless shadow. You can go to www.smashbox.com (go to “Get the Look,” then “Videos”) for pro videos of him demonstrating how to achieve different looks, along with step-by-step guides to tools and color products used.

Laila — The Essence of Norway creator Geir Ness gives Jen Yamane a hand massage with his lightly scented hand cream. Where there are hand massages, there’s always a line.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
Josie Maran, left, and Soledad Alberti were at Sephora Saturday to introduce Josie’s self-named green cosmetics line.

Model/actress turned eco-entrepreneur Josie Maran visited Sephora Saturday afternoon to talk about her line of eco-conscious cosmetics.

She and makeup artist Soledad Alberti helped perform makeovers on Sephora shoppers, including one prom goer who showed Josie a photo of her green gown and was hoping to get a cosmetic match for her event that night.

The line was a hit with women in search of low-maintenance, natural-looking makeup. And the line’s organic ingredients was a plus, as well as its luxurious feel.When she talked earlier about the line’s biodegradable packaging, I thought it had to do with boxes, but it extends to the metallic-looking compacts as well, which she said is made from corn.

Josie’s next project is a green lifestyle TV program.

There seems to have been a lot of progress made on the green front now that the movement has picked up mainstream momentum over the last two years. People are buying less, too, because they have less money. It’s good that people are thinking about all these things, but contraction is a rough thing on the economy. I feel like we have to go back to a 1970s lifestyle before we can start living in a sustainable way on a human and planetary scale. That’s a long way backward to recovery and right-sizing our relationships with things.

By Nadine Kam

Here’s a look at some of the Fall 2009 barely there makeup looks coming off the New York runways:

Thakoon
Lead artist: Diane Kendal for NARS Cosmetics

Inspired by the 1940’s, reflecting the surrealist images of photographer Lee Miller, combined with ‘80’s rock and roll glam, for a look that’s strong without being too girly. To bring strength to the face, Diane focused on creating smoky eyes and full brows, while downplaying the lips and keeping skin fresh with a light blush for a healthy glow.

3.1 phillip lim
Lead artist: Ayako, International Makeup Director, NARS Cosmetics

Hair and makeup was created to emulate Tao Okamoto’s look, a Japanese model in Phillip Lim’s Fall 2009 collection. Fused together, Phillip wanted the makeup look to mirror Tao’s mod style with a touch of rock ‘n’ roll for a “poetic mod-rock” look. False lashes were placed on the outer half of the bottom lash line and was the central focus of the look. For an exaggerated effect, matte charcoal shadow was used with a wet eyeliner brush to draw lashes beneath, as if to create a shadow effect. The wispy lashes were accompanied by shimmering pink and gold shadows, while the lips were muted with concealer. Matte skin was accented by a gentle sweep of shimmer over cheekbones to catch the light.

Marchesa
Lead artist: Talia Shobrook for NARS

Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig created their Fall 2009 collection with fairytales in mind. To highlight this theme, Shobrook envisioned of a naughty aristocrat running out of a party, “like a young girl going into the woods wearing a gorgeous ball gown, putting on makeup rather naively.” The look features wild brows atop flawless skin. Beneath the brows was a colored lid of matte white, as if applied in a fleeting moment. Soft lips complement perfect skin.

Rodarte
Lead artist: James Kaliardos for M.A.C

I really loved the sisters’ urban warrior collection, with pieces representing a patchwork of leather, tulle, lace and lamé. To go with the look, M.A.C created the stone face look inspired by sculpture, with white around the eyes and paintstick blended into the skin. Lips have a dark brown cream color base, with the addition of white and black to create a stone-gray lip.

Cassandra, left, and model Kelsey Campbell.

Coincidentally, Julie Aragaki hosted a party at Bonsai for her latest project, a magazine called Chromatic Wednesday night, where I spotted model Kelsey Campbell with “the look.” It was created for her by Cassandra, who also does makeup for Janet Jackson, so she has to be on top of trends.

I think non-models would prefer more color though. I often look washed out even WITH makeup!

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Of course, Marc Jacobs had to be different, and enlisted non other than Francois Nars himself to create a neon-glam look with a touch of 1980s Culture Club:

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 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

If you’re in need of a color boost to lift your spirits, check out the bright juicy colors of the new Rock & Republic line on view at the front counter of Neiman Marcus’s Cosmetics department.

Definitely not for those too timid for shocking pinks and other saturated colors for eyes, lips and cheeks.

And, to add to your sales stops, the Stuart Weitzman boutique at Ala Moana Center is having a sale that starts today, the 20th. Get 30 percent off your first item, 40 percent of your second, and 50 percent off your third and beyond, the latter on select styles only. The sales prices are not applicable online. Call 941-4371 if you need more info.