By Nadine Kam

KICKS/HI photos

KICKS/HI was chosen to be one of the 20 select partner shops worldwide to participate in the Reebok Pump 20th anniversary launch today.

The KICKS/HI x Reebok limited-edition Pump 20 was inspired by the beauty and strength of the ocean, drawing on the Hawaiian saying “Mai Huli ‘Oe I Kokua O Ke Kai,”which loosely translates to “never turn your back on the ocean,” with dual meanings of the immediate life-and-death force of nature, and the ocean as a resource for the life and health of the entire planet, and as such, we must not forget to care for it.

The shoe’s outsole is tan, representing the ocean sand bed. The midsole is the white caps of the waves breaking on the shore-with the blue splatter as sea spray; the upper consists of a deep sea blue to a free-dive blue to symbolize the depths of the ocean; with the tongue acting as the wave’s crest, and the Pump ball on top represente the sun on a perfect day at the beach.

The launch celebration tomorrow begins with a 10 a.m. beach clean-up at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. Any and all friends, family and volunteers are welcome to join the KICKS/HI team as they give back to the community by bagging up trash and debris, with giveaways to volunteers courtesy of KICKS/HI, Reebok and Red Bull.

Later Saturday night, KICKS/HI and Reebok will present the “SHAKE+POP: KICKS/HI x REEBOK PUMP LAUNCH PARTY” at Thirtyninehotel, starting at 9 p.m. and going til 2 a.m. for 21 and older. Special guest DJ FOURCOLORZACK, from Seattle, will be there, as will DJs Delve, Compose and SS$olution.

Check out www.kickshawaii.com

By Nadine Kam

AR Collection
Pieces from Aloha Rag’s first collection will range from about $200 to $400, except for leather motorcycle jackets like the one below, which will run higher.

Here’s a look at a few more of the samples from Aloha Rag’s inaugural AR Collection set to hit the boutique’s sales floor in early 2010. Not all the images could fit the print edition of my story today: http://www.hsblinks.com/1ca

The story had a long genesis, perhaps dating about 10 years back when I first started shopping at Tatsugo Yoda’s Kapiolani Boulevard store. I loved the store because, predating Neiman Marcus’s entry into the marketplace, Yoda was a pioneer in bringing in small designer brands we could otherwise only read about. There wasn’t much of a market here for mid-range ($400 to $600) designer apparel in those days, so traffic at the boutique was slow and I was intrigued when one of the salespeople there told me Yoda didn’t care if pieces sold. He just bought what he liked and hoped someone else would be able to relate to his spare, evolved aesthetic. I liked the idea that he seemed to envision himself as more of a connoisseur or curator of clothing than marketer.

I kept thinking I would love to sit down and talk to him. But once his merchandise mix hit the $1,000 mark, I couldn’t afford to visit very often. If I did drop in, it was usually during a sale or because I was heading for dinner at nearby Gyu-Kaku.

I finally caught up with Yoda in New York, where I just happened to walk past his boutique during a stroll after dinner at Flor del Sol. (At the restaurant I spied about a half dozen blondes dining with a group of a half dozen brunettes, with all the dark-haired women lined up on one side of the table, and the blondes on the other. I wanted to snap a photo, but my b.f. said that would be rude. So now the moment is lost to the eye.)

I made a note of the address, at 505 Greenwich St., and returned the next day because I had read so much of the NY press that said how much his New York (downtown) merchandise mix differs from the Hawaii (uptown) store. It seemed weird that he would have to reinvent Aloha Rag for NY, but it all makes sense when you read my story (see link above).

Yoda was at the shop unpacking boxes when I arrived on a rainy day after the Erin Fetherston show. So we made plans to meet up again in Honolulu when he returned last month, though his visit here was shorter than expected due to his need to continue working on his line.

Alexander Wang Fall 2009 top, pictured at Style.com.

At his boutique, still under the influence of the spring shows, I bought a white Alexander Wang top from the designer’s Fall 2009 collection. Apparently, Wang was a season ahead of everyone else in doing whites and cutouts, so the top will work fine into the new year.

Wang recently picked up another accolade, having won the 2009 juried Swiss Textiles Award on Nov. 13, with a prize of 100,000 euros, or $147,000 toward producing and marketing a future collection, partially incorporating Swiss fabric. Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy were the 2008 winners.

I really like Wang’s Resort 2010 collection. I wish his clothes weren’t so darned pricey, though. Michael Kors better be looking over his shoulder because if Wang wanted to claim the “great American sportswear designer” title, it’s his as far as I’m concerned. Not that I believe he’d ever want to box himself in with such a label.

The hero shot from Alexander Wang’s Fall 2009 collection.

Love Alexander Wang’s 2010 Resort collection for its marriage of structure and ease. Looks like he’s also trying to bring back light denim, and in one case, the overall bib!

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:

(more…)

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!