Ran the list of fall trends, as identified by Neiman Marcus, last week, but for those who need more visual aids, the store hosted a mini fashion show on Saturday, highlighting the trends. The event also marked the start of the Hawaii store’s 10th anniversary celebration. More details to come. How time flies!
The store has been very good for Hawaii’s fashion fans in that their arrival has also provided dozens of designers with a reason to come out this way to talk story and share their work. I’ve met and interviewed some incredible people along the way including Vivienne Tam, Anna Sui, Marc Carmen Valvo, Laura Mercier, Kelly Gray, Sue Wong, and so many more over the decade.
I’m waiting for the day they bring in Marc Jacobs or Philip Lim. Next five, maybe?
Two of the entries in the Design a Coach Tote contest. At left is huynh2u’s Juicy Tote, and at right is Charmed by Coach by rachellenicole.
OK designers, time to put your skills to work again. This time, Coach and Brickfish.com have teamed up for a contest for those who want to try designing a Coach tote.
These contests really show the kind of concerns that designers deal with every day. As consumers, it’s easy for us to vote on designs with our wallets, as we decide what works for us and what doesn’t. But when you’re looking at a blank piece of canvas, well, where do you begin? Do you start with traditional Coach iconography of its logo horse and carriage, scarf prints and purse charms? Do you use the platform to send a personal message of peace, love or hope? Or do you start from scratch with your own style? Given the strength of the brand, it probably wouldn’t be wise to veer too far astray from its iconography, but coming up with an original twist is the trick. (Think Louis Vuitton, still the leader in this regard.)
Last I checked, the Classic B&W submitted by jlmullinax was the No. 1 vote getter from the million who have checked out the design entries. At right is Pink Lilies by mellistsa, a nod to breast cancer awareness.
You can check out the 1,200 or so entries by going to:
Nadine Kam photos Rie Nomura, left, and Harumi Yoshizumi showed up at the opening with their own Anteprima Plastiq purses, purchased 2 and 5 years ago respectively. The plastic wire-mesh purses hold up over time and are great for travel because you can toss them around with little harm done.
Went to the opening of the Anteprima Plastiq boutique at Ala Moana Center Friday morning to see what shiny new purses they’re carrying. I have to admit I didn’t understand the appeal of the knitted wire bags as little as four months ago, but they really grow on a person like a lot of what’s new in fashion.
Who doesn’t love a pony?
Designer Izumi Ogino, who started the Milan-based line, is so creative and adds all kinds of whimsical details to the basic bag forms. Since last season, she’s added a lot of sequin and bead work to her collection. People with more classic tastes were pointing out their favorite bags and asking mine. I’m such a Jekyll/Hyde person that I can veer from the very classic to the goofiest stuff out there, so of course I was drawn to one purse with orange duckies all over, and another Western-style purse with plastic ponies sewn on.
Also checked out the grand opening Hawaii exclusive, a green wire tote with four-leaf clover embellishment. This might be one for the Vegas addicts. Crystals from the clover, interspersed with charms in the shape of horseshoes and lucky 7s. At $690, a purchaser’s gotta be pretty lucky to begin with.
Video over the cash register showed Ogino’s clothing designs. I wish those would come here too. Her garments are simple and pretty with a lot of ease. Perfect for Hawaii.
Next up for Anteprima Plastiq is expansion to Guam, and figures, Las Vegas.
Heading out later, passed by J. Crew, where I saw this cute dress on the manikin. A stylist recently told me she was sorry J. Crew opened here because everyone would discover her little secret as far as finding stylish clothes at relatively affordable prices. I can see why. This metal jacquard Zoey dress is $198, but the way prices have headed, this would easily be $400 to $600 elsewhere.
J. Crew Zoey dress. It’s pinned in the back, so fuller than it appears.
Nadine Kam photos
A detail of an Eli Baxter installation.
From time to time the way other people dress can inspire me to bust out my camera. So it was when I spent Friday afternoon at The Contemporary Museum during a walk-through of the TCM Biennial of Hawaii artists featuring site-specific installations of Eli Baxter, Vincent Goudreau, Javier Martinez, Yida Wang, Cade Roster, Wayne Zebzda and Meidor Hu.
I enjoyed walking around Wang’s exploration of breast cancer with an installation of hanging Latex breasts, Cade Roster’s series of manga-inspired Plush Gaiden, and Eli Baxter’s sculptures of recycled, polished bicycle tires, inner tubes and molded wax, somehow reminiscent of Alexander McQueen fashion designs.
While there, I ran into TCM’s PR officer Pualana Lemelle and took a photo of her in the museum shop next to the Art-O-Mat, which dispenses miniature pieces of art, whether jewelry, collage or a small sculpture for, last time I checked, $5.
Pualana Lemelle wears an Express wrap dress and gold Western boots from Catherine’s Closet in Manoa.
That reminded me I had a couple of photos of Neiman Marcus’ Contemporary Sportswear/Theory Specialist Alen Ajed. I’m in that department a lot, most of the time just looking, and he’s typically wearing designer, top to bottom, though in his own colorful style. I like that he’s not afraid to wear color and have fun with clothes.
Alen Ajed at the recent Hip Event wearing an Etro shirt with a watercolor-wash print, D&G jacket, Cicinnelli pink pant, Prada belt and Paul Smith tie. His favorite part of the ensemble are his Paul Smith floral design shoes.
On another occasion, I took Alen’s photo (below) with Donna Walden, who also caught my eye because she was wearing this season’s flora-, insect- and fantasy-inspired Prada shoe. Shoes that beautiful have to be uncomfortable, I thought, but Donna said they’re really comfortable.
Alen wears an Etro jacket over a heart-print Prada shirt with a Gianni Versace tie. I cut off the toe of Donna’s shoe, so below are details from Prada’s ad campaign.
When I highlight some of these pieces, I get emails or on Twitter, tweets along the lines of, “What is that supposed to mean?”
Well, to most people, nothing. I don’t want people to walk around looking like fashion clones or slaves. These are just the things I find particularly beautiful and enjoy seeing because they bring an element of beauty into daily existence. It serves the same function as a flower arrangement in an office or lobby, or, if so inclined, a Precious Moments figurine on your desktop. I don’t intend to encourage people to go out and consume, but I am inviting people to train their eyes to see more and to see the ordinary elevated through art.
Was walking through the new Waikiki over the weekend. With so many new luxe boutiques opening at Royal Hawaiian Center, it’s beginning to look like Ala Moana Jr.
It was fun checking out Kate Spade, White House/Black Market and handbags at Furla. I was disturbed to find employees using a dressing room as a nap room at Juicy Couture. Wanted to try on but was somewhat grossed out. If they want to sleep they should go to the 3rd floor where nothing seems to be happening right now.
After running away from there I was strolling past Prada when I remembered I wanted to check out the purses they’ve been featuring in their advertisements. There’s already a waiting list for an $1,805 Cervo Lux Faeries print bag by L.A. artist James Jean. The print is beautiful, full of flesh-eating flowers and insects. It reminds me of “Pan’s Labyrinth.”
You can catch an animated film, “Trembled Blossoms,” based on Jean’s work at www.prada.com.
What I can’t believe is all the art sites talking about the artist as being a sell-out for allowing Prada to use his work. Isn’t the aim of art to communicate with as many people as possible?
The criticism just sounds like sour grapes from artists who I’m certain would not be ashamed to put a price on their own work if there were any interest in what they’re doing.
Reminds me of the “New Media Douchebags” video by Kelstew2 sent by one of my Pownce/Twitter pals:
Some others have focused on the wastefulness of luxury. The extravagance of what these companies create does make them an easy target but I think the bigger problem is the cheap goods market that over 60 years has turned clothing into disposable items. With fine goods, you have to think long about whether or not to buy. But how many times have you gone to a sale, spotted a top or jacket you like, not love, and told yourself, “I have dozens of these, but why not, it’s so cheap!”I know I’ve been carried away at H&M, picking up five things at once, that haven’t lasted more than two months, fading or getting pill-y. Clothes like that get trashed, fast, whereas Pradas tend to stay in closets a long time.
And let’s face it, for most people, luxury exists as an ideal of the ultimate beauty man can create. We don’t have to own it to enjoy looking at the pictures and being inspired, or not.
Dior hosted an informal party Dec. 27 to welcome the house’s 400-page 60th anniversary tome, “Dior,” which recounts the history of its creator Christian Dior, whose name became synonymous with the post-war New Look.
The book is beautiful to flip through, with page after page of photos capturing the ambience of 1950s Paris, the couturiers who succeeded him, and Dior models from past to present, immortalized in iconic photos by Irving Penn to Nick Knight. Printed on heavy coated stock, it requires some heavy lifting to bring home. The books are $150.
Nadine Kam photos Marisa Gey, front, and Branka Knezevic model current Dior designs.
The event also featured informal modeling of current Dior designs and was a little more sedate than usual because a lot of people are out of town or a bit worn by the holidays. Kristin Chan, just back from roughing it during trip to the Grand Canyon admitted, “I forgot how to dress.”
Me too. I wore a 3.1 Phillip Lim dress but forgot my Dior purse at home. Those sharp-eyed fashionphiles can recognize a brand a mile away. I thought my necklace was nondescript enough, but it caused some of the globe trotters to ask if it was from Rome. Pretty close. Picked it up in Kailua at Balcony Gallery, but it’s by artist Antonio Greco, who’s from Italy. The necklace features charms bearing scaled down images of his paintings, which I love for their exuberance.
Kristen Chan is flanked by models Marisa and Branka.
But it appeared she got her act together minutes before the event. While I’ve usually seen her wearing Gucci and Pucci, she’s an equal-opportunity shopper who turned up in a BCBG dress, with a fur from the Max Nugus boutique at the Kahala Hotel, Manolo Blahnik suede boots and Dior purse.
Pualana Lemelle of The Contemporary Museum showed up in a Rebecca Taylor dress with vintage faux fur, while Hiro Soma chose to dress in threads from Dior designer John Galliano’s own line. His jacket, T-shirt and underwear were Galliano’s, worn with Armani jeans.The glasses were Alexander McQueen’s and his belt and shoes are by Gucci.(more…)
Nadine Kam photo Eric Eugene Kamakahai’ai Chandler shows two of his designs, a 1980 ballgown and kimono-inspired wedding dress.
Honolulu’s first Fashion Week opened with a reception at Pegge Hopper Gallery for another first, a temporary Hawaii Fashion Museum.
On view through the week will be designs spanning the 1940s to the present, with two garments apiece from designers that included Jayne Miho, Tori Richard, Nake’u Awai, Amos Kotomori, and Fashion Week originators Takeo and Eric Eugene Kamakahia’ai Chandler.
Nadine Kam photo Leilani Keough was at the opening hoping to see Nake’u Awai, who made the dress she is wearing. Leilani’s purse is by Hollywood designer Gina Alexander, who used a photo of Leilani and her husband Ed, taken by publicist Elissa Josephssohn. On the flip side is a photo taken by the SB’s John Berger, of Leilani, a former Miss Hawaii chaperone, and a trio of beauty queens.(more…)
Thanks for all your postings this morning. The Luxe Links will go to first responders Fran Orian who posted to the wrong page but nevertheless was first, Glenn, Rochelle, Pat Abear, Corey R, Alice, Jane Harvey, and as I mentioned earlier, SuperCW. Congratulations and I will be contacting the winnners.
