By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Outside the Bryant Park tents after the Gottex show, Sept. 14.

In New York, fashion isn’t limited to the runways.

Outside the Koi Suwannagate show:

Inside the Catherine Malandrino show at Chelsea Art Museum:

Japanese media outside the Malandrino’s show:

The tamer side of Patrick McDonald:

At Max Azria, Sept. 15:

The uniform of New York fashion week: Very short skirt or shorts, very high strappy bondage heels and motorcycle or boyfriend jacket. Below, front-row footwear at the Jill Stuart show, Sept. 14:

At the Malandrino show:

Jason Wu’s models in their own clothes before the show:

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By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Nadine Benton, Western Field Sales Manager for Piaget with company president Larry Boland, show their Piagets. He’s wearing the new Piaget Polo FortyFive, the company’s first combining titanium and stainless steel. Between them, Justine Miguel models jewelry from Piaget’s Paris-New York collection, and Piaget’s Miss Protocale Classic watch, at $146,000. Her necklace is $350,000.
Today’s the last day to catch a showing of Piaget’s Red Carpet Collection of diamond jewelry and watches at Neiman Marcus.

It may be one of your only opportunities to try on a diamond watch valued at the cost of a small condo, like I did when a piece from the Limelight Creative Design collection was draped over my wrist. It was heavy. I guesstimate that it probably weighs more than a pound, but it had a smooth finish top and bottom, designed to avoid catching on fine clothing. The amount of sparkle was amazing, real fire power with flickers of brilliant reds, oranges, yellows, blues and greens. At $220,000, I had to give it back.

I tend to be more funky than glam anyway, so the Eiffel Tower peridot ring from the Paris-New York collection is more likely something I’d wear … if I had $37,500 to spare.

Of course there were plenty of time pieces for men. This Altiplano Double Jeu piece with alligator strap has two faces, one on top of the other in two separate cases connected by a hinge. Even with the double cases, it remains relatively thin.

Here’s a larger view of the pieces on Justine, who wears a Teri Jon gown. The Miss Protocale Classic watch also comes with a black patent band that can be switched out. Both black and diamond bands can be worn as bracelets when not used with the watch face. Sharene Boulos plays harp in the background.

By Nadine Kam

Dior Homme photos
Fall 2009’s ready-to-wear will debut with the launch of Dior Homme at Ala Moana Center next Wednesday.

I don’t often have news for the stylish men in town, but this one’s a biggie. Dior Homme will arrive at the Dior flagship at Ala Moana Center next Wednesday. That’s hot!

The expanded boutique will feature a full offering, covering 500 square feet, of the Dior Homme collection, beginning with fall 2009’s shoes, accessories and ready-to-wear designed by Kris Van Assche.

Midnight black and crisp white set the mood for the new men’s section, with lacquered walls and black carpet contrasting with the white carpet and polished limestone floors of the women’s sections.

By Nadine Kam

Banana Republic

Do you see yourself in this picture? If so, stop into the Banana Republic store nearest you, where you can pick up an entry code for the chance to win a walk-on role in the AMC series “Mad Men,” plus a $1,000 BR gift card.

The catch is, you’ll have to submit a photo of yourself glammed up in your best “Mad Men” style, reflecting a time when men were men and it was OK for women to be curvy and voluptuous.

The contest ties in with Banana Republic’s “Mad About Style” guide to classic, tailored dressing in 1960 meets 2009 style. The guide is a great cheat sheet for achieving “Mad Men” style, pairing character profiles with looks off the rack.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Makana, in a vintage kapa print-inspired jacket and milo grounding stick, took part in a pre-concert press conference with Royal Hawaiian general manager Kelly Hoen and Monarch Room maitre d’ Coronado Aquino.

The very talented, and I must add, stylish, Makana opened the Royal Hawaiian Monarch Room’s “Curators of Hawaiian Music Series” July 9, marking the return of Hawaiian music to the historic showroom after a 15-year absence.

He follows in some mighty huge footsteps as the Monarch Room has played host, since the 1970s, to performers like Ed Kenney, Marlene Sai, Emma Veary, John Rowles, Cecilio & Kapono, the Beamer Brothers and Andy Bumatai.

For the occasion, maitre d’ Coronado Aquino busted out photos of himself with the performers, and, shades of Dorian Gray, he looks just about the same now as he did 20 years ago when he posed with the Beamers!

Makana put on a wonderful show that showcased his slack-key and fusion skills, singing Hawaiian, contemporary and even a Portuguese tune, with a dash of flamenco. So amazing to watch, with a little slack-key lesson thrown in for good measure. He reeled me in showing how easy it is to get the bass notes going. Just when you start thinking, “Yeah, I can do that,” he throws in a gotcha! A rapid-fire string of arpeggios impossible to follow unless you happen to be equally brilliant. I did try that at home later. Of course in the space of his 20 notes, maybe I could fit in three. That’s why he’s on stage and I sit at a desk. Fans can also follow him at Twitter, @makanamusic

More than a fan of his music, I’m also a fan of his style. In my mind, wardrobe is a big part of the performance arts and he’s always turned out well, on the street and on stage. He’s part of a new vanguard of young performers, such as Raiatea Helm and Jordan Segundo who recognize presentation as part of the job.

Makana will be performing two hourlong concerts — 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. — each Thursday through Aug. 27, when Maunalua takes over the showroom September and October, followed by the return of Cecilio & Kapono in November and December.

Tickets for the cocktail shows are $49 ($39 kamaaina) per person with a two-drink minimum. Three-course dinner packages at Azure at the Royal Hawaiian, Beach House at the Moana Surfrider and Twist at Hanohano in the Sheraton Waikiki, are also available at $99 ($89 for kamaaina) for adults and $69 ($59 kamaaina) for kids 4 to 12. Two-drink minimum applies and is not included in the price. Call 931-4600 or visit www.royal-hawaiian.com for all the details.

BTW, I liked James H. Collins’ Associated Press photo of Makana in the NYC subway.

Kimi Matar, center, showed up with soap opera star Robert Parks-Valleta and actress Hannah Cornett, in town to prepare some of the groundwork for Robert’s Tag the World Celebrity Triathlon coming up Aug. 23.

There were dozens of celebrities in the house to support Makana, including Jimmy Borges, left, and Kimo Kahoano, pictured with, from left, Vicky Borges, Kehaulani Kam and Leilani Kupahu-Marino.

Betsey Johnson boutique manager Marilee Mattson was also there with her husband Alan Mattson, president and COO of Castle Resorts & Hotels.

Coronado Aquino with Cecilio & Kapono, before they cut their hair, and below, with Keola and Kapono Beamer.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
What came first, the accessory or the wardrobe?

I contributed to the economic slowdown when, for a couple of months earlier this year, I failed to shop. There comes a point when the closets and dresser drawers are full, and before bringing home anything, one starts asking, “Do I really need another black dress?” Or jacket, or purse, etc.

We probably all have much more than we need (want is another story), so after a while I stopped looking. Then, I was working on this HI Luxury men’s June/July fashion spread, centered on one of summer’s best accessories, the Panama hat.

Accessories are so big now that more people are wise to the ways of stylists and how they can change up and personalize a basic wardrobe with scarves, jewelry and layering.

I can’t afford a Montecristi, but I did buy a summery straw hat (I know, I know, they don’t offer sun protection), and with the hat as inspiration, I picked up the pieces above to wear with it. All of a sudden, I was cured of shopper’s block. It was the first time — outside of print — that I tried building a wardrobe around an accessory. Usually, I fall in love with a top, skirt or dress first, and the accessories are icing. I think this economy is forcing everyone to shop and think differently. These are interesting times.

Leah Ball photo for HI Luxury
Kahi Kapololu in a Newt at the Royal fedora, $650.

Here’s a link to my long-ago opus about the Panama hat as it appears on the Web site of Hawaii’s Montecristi go-to guy, Brent Black. I’m glad he picked it up because I can’t find it on the Star-Bulletin site anymore.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
The storefront minutes after the Miu Miu name was added at far right.

Miu Miu opened its doors at Ala Moana Center this morning and I had to make the tough decision of rolling out of bed at 7 a.m. for the 8:30 a..m. blessing, or stay home and convalesce. I don’t know, maybe standing in the rain last week at the Royal was too much for me, combined with the stress of appearing in two traffic courts at the same time Monday. (Totally dismissed, of course!) I was moving at that typical local uncle’s glacial pace by Wednesday, and stayed home completely on Thursday.

I was awake anyway, before the alarm went off, and was debating the merits of going out in the rain again, or staying in bed, and bed was winning. I could always go later in the day, because the store will be there, but then I started thinking about parking and how nightmarish it would be any time after 9 a.m.

I wanted to snag a space in the sweet spot just beyond the new addition, behind and between Nordstrom and J. Crew-on-the-Island, which makes it easy to traverse the mall in any direction.

One of Miu Miu’s mosaic design dresses.

By the time I got there at 9 a.m., I found I could have stayed in bed because the kahu was late and wouldn’t be there until 10:30 a.m. Prada area manager Joseph Incao took charge and welcomed employees and first customers into the store. The blessing would have to wait.

It’s funny to me how these stores remind me of the process of sending newspapers to print at the last second, in that I’ve seen so many instances in which they’re always fitting the last tiles just before the guests arrive. With luck, you don’t see the menehune behind the magic, but this time the menehune were in plain view: Roberto Stefanini, Franco La Rosa, Rudi Malisani and Simone Gazzetti, who had come from Italy a month-and-a-half ago to work on the boutique. They were putting up one the finishing touches, the Miu Miu name on the storefront.

Prada area manager Joseph Incao, right, welcomes staffers to their new home.

One of the first shoppers inside the store was a woman headed to the airport, left, who couldn’t leave town without something from Miu Miu. She entered with large black suitcase in tow. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Custo Barcelona store director with Mario Nanguse, both in Custo.

Custo Barcelona celebrated its opening at Ala Moana Center with a shopping event last night. I guess this was really good news for guys because when I stopped by, there was a whole bunch of them, one of the few times the men outnumber the women, but that reflects Custo’s casual-chic appeal. The clothes are comfy and casual, but the mix of fabric, texture and color make them look like you took time to dress.

At least three of the shoppers said the same thing to me, that they like the clothes because you can just throw them on and go just about anywhere, except, maybe a funeral.

Darieus Legg, right, and Damien Boone, who wears one of Custo Barcelona’s men’s shirts.

Freida Hulse shows a Custo Barcelona long-sleeve hoodie.

I’ve been shopping Custo ever since I met designer Custo Dalmau eight years ago, but you know how over time you build up immunity to that which you see all the time? I haven’t purchased a Custo piece in a long time.

But walking into the store is like falling in love all over again because other retailers have been holding out on us. Most boutiques only offered the long-sleeve T-shirts and tanks, but the new boutique features a wide range of men’s and women’s wear, including skirts, dresses, jackets and trench coats. There were so many adorable pieces but when the store started filling with women I just had to leave and commit to coming back later rather than wait in line to try anything on.

Pretty dresses, all in a row.

Shoppers browse tables and racks for Custo Barcelona’s signature bold print designs.

Sale prices are currently at $35 and $45 on selected tops, and even at regular prices, dresses range from about $100 to $200, which I think is great for quality, statement pieces that few others will have.

There were several girls with armloads of clothes, and people kept saying how you had to try pieces on because they look much better on the body than on the rack. I guess some people have bad imaginations because for the first time, I heard many squeals of delight coming out of the dressing rooms when women saw how good they looked in the designs, as if it were a surprise!

By Nadine Kam

Another inspired choice by H&M, who announced Monday that its next collaboration will be with British designer Matthew Williamson, who will be creating women’s wear, and for the first time for the designer, a men’s wear collection.

For all the good it does us in Hawaii, the collection will arrive in the stores on April 23, 2009.

He’s noted for his use of color and bold graphic design that led him to work with Pucci, in addition to his own label.

I can’t wait to see what he comes up with. Here’s a taste of his work from his Fall 2008 collection.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photo
Model Karen Vance, dressed in sequinned skirt ($98) and a crisp white blouse, stands next to a holiday display at Express, which is divided in half into men’s and women’s sections.

In spite of the news that so many people are unemployed or on the verge of it, up to their noses in credit-card debt and having difficulty paying their necessary bills (rent, mortgage, utilities) on time, it sure didn’t look like anything was amiss at the long-awaited opening of Express Friday.

There was an evening celebration at the newest Ala Moana Center boutique, and both girls and guys came to shop for up-to-the-minute styles at prices somewhere between H&M and Zara. I checked back there late Friday and the crowds hadn’t let up. There were still lines to get to the cashier.

Going for the graphic tees, at $16.50 each.

I haven’t seen this much enthusiasm and quickness to spend in a long time, and I think most people Friday were still shopping for themselves rather than thinking ahead to Christmas. I don’t think they were aware, either, that 15 percent of sales from that evening’s event will go to YWCA of Oahu’s Dress for Success Honolulu program.

Shoppers were greeted with a sale, with some items offered at 40 percent off, and if you’re one of those lunatic Black Friday shoppers, you will be able to take an additional 25 percent off your Express purchase between 6 a.m. and noon that day.

Fun dresses for the holiday season.

Express style expert Kevin Matthews was there to share the company’s fun, flirty holiday collection, as well as help customers with their choices. I was particularly enamored of the black strapless cocktail dress with ostrich feather skirt. Who does ostrich feathers at this price point ($248)? And there are colossal necklaces that appear to have been inspired by Dior.

Matthews said Express’s aim is to be a one-stop shop for all aspects of an individual’s lifestyle — work, leisure and play — from Monday to Sunday.

“There are other brands that do this, but we give amazing fashion that does not break the bank,” he said. The idea is to be able to pick up an outfit and still have money left to go out to dinner or to a club, and for girls, looking so good that someone else will pay for your drinks.

Cheers!