By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Anteprima tree trimmed with the company’s shimmery wire handbags.

Anteprima hosted a party Saturday night to benefit Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children while marking the company’s second anniversary in the islands and showcasing some of its designs straight from Italy.

It would be great if the boutiques carried the designs in Honolulu, but this marked the only time — for now — that we could inspect the garments up close. They are very fine, with some that look like draped threads. There was one dress with scalloped, shirred detail at the rear, such that a woman would have to have those buns of steel and a whole lot of self-confidence to walk into a room, and even more importantly, walk out, leaving little to the imagination.

Keao Crabbe, left, and Kelsey Campbell, model Anteprima dresses and purses.

The event took place on the fourth floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center, where the boutique has a home on the ground floor in the passageway leading to the Sheraton Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The Anteprima Plastiq boutique is small, so I was confused as to how this large party would take place there. I thought it would spill over to the courtyard, but fortunately, employees were able to direct me upstairs where one of the first things I saw was the shimmering gold Christmas tree comprising dozens of Anteprima’s signature knit PVC wire handbags.

The stage for the Anteprima show on the video, as well as some of the camera angles, reminded me of introductory scenes from Second Life. Click on the image to view the entire video.

Viewers watched a video of Anteprima’s Spring-Summer 2009 presentation before seeing six of the designs modeled by local beauty queens. At one point in the video, a model tripped, causing the audience to gasp as if it were live. There’s a lot of editing in the video, so I’m just wondering why they left that in there unless they wanted that dramatic moment.

Anteprima photo
How do they hold these threads together? The company also showed many skirts made like this top.

Guests feasted on sushi from Suntory, dim sum from Beijing (the restaurant, not the city), desserts by Satura Cakes, as well as fun food for keiki from Senor Frog, tho’ I missed that part. It’s not often a grownup party makes a place for little ones, but considering the beneficiary of the event, it was fitting to have balloons, clowns and face painting. For grownups, there was music by Pili’oha.

Kim Gennaula, who only recently left KGMB, is already doing her part as director of philanthropy for the Kapiolani Health Foundation, tasked with raising funds for the center. The foundation also gained a natural emcee in Gennaula, partnered at the podium by husband Guy Hagi. In the end, Virgo USA, Inc., dba Anteprima Foundation, presented its check for $10,000 made out to the center.

Six designs made it to Hawaii. It looks like the models are wearing pink stockings, but that’s due to the slide projection over their bodies.

Anteprima/Virgo USA, Inc., chairman and CEO Tak Munemura, left, with Maki Munemura. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
New Vuitton tote in logo neoprene.

After a peek into Express Friday night, it was on to Louis Vuitton with its invitation to experience a “Winter Holiday in Paris” while introducing some of its Resort collection, including quilted handbags and a particularly eye-catching hot pink neoprene handbag.

The invitation welcomed guests to experience a winter holiday in Paris, and the little girl at right was enamored by Pierre Grill’s music evoking the city.

Some joked that it may be the next beach bag, neoprene being so surf, sun and sand resilient and all, but, somehow I don’t think anyone will be plopping this baby down at the beach.

We also saw some of the clothing collection, also in sweet pinks and sky blues.

Louis Vuitton photo

What I’m really waiting to see next year are the new LV diamonds, cut in the shapes of their logo flowers. Definitely for the person who has everything, but I am just amazed they were able to achieve this feat.

Among the guests were, from left, Julie Ann and Keith Aragaki, and Lesli-Ann Yano.

Also there were, from left, Joni Caminos, Kama Kinimaka and Lucilia Lu.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Before setting foot in the new store, from left, Kahu Kordell Kekoa, Monica Salmaso, Prada area manager Joseph Incao, Candace Konievic and Janet Hagino greeted employees and guests.

Prada dedicated its new Ala Moana store early Friday morning, starting with a blessing by Kahu Kordell Kekoa, whose words, comparing the company’s voyage to that of a Hawaiian sailing canoe crew, brought tears to the eyes of a few.

They were great words applicable to many aspects of life in that, while there is always need for a strong leader/navigator, the vessel is only as great as the sum of its parts and the many crew members who must take equal responsibility for the canoe’s progress.

In addition to purses studded with jewels or covered with paillettes, there are shoes with equal sparkle. The necklace shown is $560, the earrings at lower right are $310. The purple purse is about $850.

Once inside, a small handful of guests were able to check out some pieces from Prada’s resort collection, including shimmering jeweled evening bags in metallic greens, golds and deep violet, as well as purses that sparkle like jewels, with light bouncing off hundreds of tiny, delicate paillettes.

The new store, now on the mall level next to Chanel, is bright and airy. If it looks bigger than the former space, it’s because they also took over the space that formerly housed Loewe.

At top is a display of men’s soft leather goods. At the front of the store is an eye-catching life-size steamer trunk display of handbags.

As for Prada’s former space upstairs, don’t worry, they’re not giving it up. The good news for those not quite ready for Prada, is that come spring, you can look forward to the company’s trendier line Miu Miu, opening in that spot.

Study up:

Prada

Miu Miu

By Nadine Kam

By Nadine Kam

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:

http://www.coach.com/CoachClique/
www.brickfish.com

Top prize for the winner is a party at Coach, a $2,500 Coach shopping spree, and $500 scholarship or cash prize.

A runner up will win a $1,500 Coach online shopping spree and $250 cash or scholarship.

By Nadine Kam

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.

By Nadine Kam

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.

By Nadine Kam

Prada

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.

By Nadine Kam

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. Kristen 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…)

By Nadine Kam

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…)