By Nadine Kam

Christian Siriano

When I watched the spring/summer shows in New York, it was hard to imagine the final form in which the designs would reach consumers. The shows are not always about what’s wearable, but about impressions, mood and image setting.

Well, we didn’t have to wait long to see Christian Siriano’s runway to realway interpretations. The designer introduced today a limited-edition and affordable capsule collection of signature silhouettes and print from his Spring/Summer 2010 runway collection shown a month ago during New York Fashion Week.

Oceanic print blouse, $19o, worn with silk charmeuse pencil skirt, $139. A blouse detail, below:

The capsule selection includes a dress and blouse in silk charmeuse and metallic pencil skirt, as a knit tee, scarf and blouse in Siriano’s blue Oceanic print.

Prices range from $98 to $220, and the pieces are available exclusively on www.christianvsiriano.com.

Here’s a link to my coverage of his show:  http://www.hsblinks.com/16o

And a photo of one of his key runway designs:

Getty Images

His runway collection is currently distributed at Saks Fifth Avenue and boutiques including 4510, Helen Yi and Wynn in North America and Alothman in the Middle East.

Siriano will appear as a guest on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” today, featuring a showcase of his Spring 2010 evening gowns and Payless runway collection shoes well as his recently released book, “Fierce Style: How to be Your Most Fabulous Self.”

By Nadine Kam

It’s been rather hot and sticky lately, not ideal for clothes shopping, but for those who believe every holiday just means more time to shop, Split Obsession is offering a discount of 10 to 30 percent off regular-priced clothing and accessories, and 70 percent off the sales rack at both Ala Moana Center and Koko Marina locations through Monday.

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If you’re on the other side of the island, Waikele Premium Outlets has extended its hours over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. Shop to 9 p.m. today and tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12.

Some sample promotions:

A|X Armani Exchange: Earlybirds can take an additional 20 percent off all merchandise from 8 to 10 a.m. through

Michael Kors: Enjoy additional savings of 25 percent off select apparel, outerwear, handbags and more. (Restrictions.)

Nine West: Take 30 percent off selects styles of boots. (Not included in Buy One Get One 50 percent off promotion.)

Perfumania: Take extra 20 percent off on select items storewide, including Burberry men and women’s fragrances; take an extra 25 percent off Cerruti fragrances.

Tommy Bahama: Get 50 percent off, excluding fragrance, CD and clearance items.

Tommy Hilfiger: Save 40 percent off original company store prices on select outerwear through Oct. 13.

True Religion: Shop for $99.99 denim and down jackets, and $79.99 down vests while supplies last.

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And, for those whose sense of style extends to their desk and writing instruments, Bittner is hosting a Cross trunk show from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 11 at its Waikiki store.

Among designs to shown are the Cross Affinity Collection, Cross Sentiment Shoppers and the Cross Townsend Obama pen engraved with President Barack Obama’s signature on the barrel, and adorned with the Presidential Coat of Arms.

The official Presidential Townsend Rolling Ball Pens will be used to sign a series of inaugural documents, as well as The Obama Transition team commissioned Cross to create a customized pen for the president and newly named Nobel Peace Prize winner’s official use.

Shoppers that day will receive a leather pen case with purchase, and guests will be eligible to win a Cross pen.

The boutique is at 2170 Kalia Road at the corner of Kalia Road and Beach Walk. Call 924-8828.
Validated parking is offered at Embassy Suites.

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

Nadine Kam photos
Among things I brought home from New York were a cropped sequin top from a flea market, a black sequin skirt from Loehmann’s and black sequin vest from H&M. I plan to wear them all together. Just kidding.

Packing for New York was easy. Figuring it would be good to represent Hawaii I brought along six Fighting Eel dresses, a Maggie Coulombe black wrap dress and cocoon wrap from Maggie Coulombe, a wool wrap from Jeanie Chun, Allisonizu denim pencil skirt and shorts, and hand-painted purple fish scale tote/clutch by Hazel Lee, keeping company with other items by Phillip Lim, DVF, Missoni, Rebecca Taylor and jewelry by Marni.

The trip was going to be pricey so I didn’t want to go there and feel like I needed a bunch of clothes, so my aim was to bring things so beautiful I wouldn’t be tempted to go overboard shopping.

Just before I left, though, I was struck by this nagging notion that I should have sequins and pulled from my closet the silver shrug, colorful bolero jacket and black tube top, below, that could be worn with casual basics. It was crazy because I only travel with one small carry-on suitcase and didn’t want to bring anything extraneous. In the end, I just brought the bolero jacket that I had cut down from a thrift-store dress, figuring I could wear it with jeans and a tank top.

I don’t usually wear these things at home because Hawaii sunlight being what it is, you’d end up looking like a disco ball walking down the street. To my delight, sequins were everywhere during Fashion Week, worn on jackets and vests of attendees, as well as on the runways, where touches of silver sparkle were everywhere. On the streets, the black sequins added a touch of gloss to matte black, just the antidote to breathe life into a city palette of neutral gray concrete and cement, as well as cloudy skies. It rained early during the events, and though temperatures averaged about 70 degrees, it did dip to 49 degrees a couple of days.

During Fashion Week, there was little time to shop, or eat, and when it was over, it had been seven days since I’d shopped. The first stop was Century 21, where I didn’t see much. I bought a dress and sweater top that I immediately wanted to return, but never had a chance to go back. After that, it was H&M where I saw fall’s green mini skirt that I absolutely had to have. Only problem was they were out of small sizes. I tried two other H&Ms in SoHo, and finally asked a sales person if there would be anymore. He said the display had already been out two weeks, so they were probably all gone. Two weeks! If there’s a retailer doing well, it’s H&M due to their combination of low prices (mostly $34.95 and under) and more-than-decent quality for the cost.

This is the green skirt that almost got away at H&M. You can dress the model with the Fashion Studio feature at www.hm.com/us. I just used it to also show one of the faux fur vests that were flying out the door; a bit impractical for us in Hawaii.

I also checked out Zara, which was showing heavier winter garb, so that was easy to resist when remembering that I would be coming home to 80- or 90-degree weather.

Sequin layering in a TopShop image.

After that, I tried two more H&Ms on the Upper East Side, thinking there’s probably less traffic there. But no, there were none there either. I was growing desperate because time was running out, so I had a salesperson try calling another store. Just then, a girl was returning a green skirt, which she said fit too tight at a size 10 and there was no way she was going to go up to a size 12. (The sizing of the Euro brand is unforgiving when it comes to American vanity sizing; their 6 is equivalent to our size 0 or 2, and 8 is a 4.) That was too big for me, but I tried it on anyway. I had to hold out for a 6 or 8 and eventually found an 8 in one of three busy Midtown branches, where I also found the small version of the black oversize top with animal pattern in gold sequins, below.

I also came home with this gold sequin top from H&M.

I ended up buying a whole lot of sequins and not much else, though I did find the one thing I wanted to get, a black jacket ($59.95 at H&M.) The two other things I bought were a black dress shirt and purple skirt from Uniqlo. And the last thing I was looking for before leaving was a sequined beret, but I figure I can find that anywhere.

The one piece that got away was a lightweight matte silver retro jacket from Topshop. Where other pieces I found were all less than $40, the jacket was $270. I had to think about it. I’m still thinking about it now that I’m home, and don’t see it online. Bummer. I really like it, but I’m still non-commital. I can’t imagine getting that much wear out of it. I have a partial picture of it below, on the left hanging in the TopShop dressing room while I also tried on a gold scalloped beaded jacket I don’t need. It’s always fun to try on, though.

In the dressing room at Topshop.

It was kind of sad to be going straight from Fashion Week to H&M, but it’s a problem designers and retailers face in the current economic climate. To even it up a bit, I did pay $300 for an Alexander Wang top at Aloha Rag, of all places, and that was due to seeing all the whites and cut-out designs on the runways, and the fact there is nothing similar available this fall, but for the new frugalistas, H&M has the prized combination of style and practicality that makes them hard to beat. Especially when you’re not quite sure you need one more sequined top.

By Nadine Kam

Photos by Nadine Kam
After Norma Kamali’s presentation in the Apple store in SoHo, everyone followed the designer onto the street to see her pieces available now at NormaKamaliCollection.com, NormaKamaliBay.com and in Wal*Mart stores. She believes technology is democratizing the distribution and availability of fashion, and that consumers are no longer willing to follow designers’ and retailers’ traditional schedules

Only one event today, Norma Kamali’s “democratization of Fashion” presentation at the Apple store in Soho. I’m anxious to hear what she has to say because she is a swimwear pioneer and legend who is now blazing a trail in the place where technology and fashion meet. I’m interested in all aspects of technology because it is changing the way we live so radically and the things we do or don’t do now will impact quality of life in the future.

She held onto her white iPhone throughout the event and proclaimed her love for the device. I picked up one two days before leaving home — it’s a long story — and it has been a life saver, not only for email, Internet and phone contact, but providing me with maps and compass so I didn’t waste much time getting lost.

She started her tech track only a year ago, when retailers slumped on their buys. She decided to test sales direct to the public at wholesale prices and she said that made up the shortfall.

Now, this is the part that may change the rest of the fashion world. Technology has made communication instant. In Hawaii, we should know better than anyone, because the diss to Hawaii has always been that it takes a year before trends arrive to the masses. No more. We get the information the same time as everyone else thanks to the Internet, increasing visibility and desire so that more people are dressing up.

So, what she has done, rather than give knock-off artists time to beat collections to stores, is put everything shown up on eBay the day of her presentation in light rain on a SoHo street, knowing people will want what they see now, and not have to wait until six months from now. Maybe that’s why I was in Topshop afterward, trying on a pale pink feather skirt (feather idea Jason Wu, color story Erin Fetherston).

I was also shopping for things that will carry over to spring, such as tny silver sequins and a white cut-out sleeve top from Alexander Wang that I found at Aloha Rag.

The pace of retail, in light of technology may be too slow for consumers, so what happens next? Her presentation gave us something to think about at the close of Fashion Week. Exciting times.

Norma Kamali’s models show designs being sold at Wal*Mart and on eBay through the NormaKamaliBay.com app. All pieces are wholesale priced at $250 and under. It was about 60 degrees in the rain. One of the other swimwear models had chicken skin.

Kamali faces the press and her fans.

By Nadine Kam

Note to new readers: If you found me through InsidetheTents.com, my New York Fashion Week coverage starts Sept. 10 when I touch ground. Until then, I am in sunny Hawaii.

GINGER13 photos

Hawaii jewelry designer GINGER13 is making it easy to shop during the Labor Day weekend, with an online sale at www.ginger13.com today through Monday, Sept. 7.

Use the coupon code LABORDAY09 when checking out to save 25 percent on your entire online store order.

Wishing Bridge photos

Also, head to Bamboo Sky at 401 Kamakee St., where Lauryn Chun of Wishing Bridge will be presenting her Fall 2009 jewelry collection with 25 percent off selected designs and markdowns of discontinued items. Her Labor Day weekend event will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Monday, and you can meet the designer Saturday and Monday.

By Nadine Kam

Stop by LUSH Cosmetics to 1 p.m. today and you’ll see staff members and customers ceremoniously washing their hands of palm oil at the window display.

The event calls attention to the increased use of palm oil, which is leading to the destruction of Malaysian and Indonesian rain forests. Palm oil is a key ingredient in foods, bio fuels and cosmetics, and LUSH has made the commitment to become a palm oil-free company.

Having reformulated its soap to eliminate use of palm oil, the company has also started a letter-writing campaign urging such companies as Procter & Gamble, Unilever and Nestle to follow suit. If any of these companies decide to wash their hands of palm oil, LUSH will supply their headquarters with a year’s supply of soap.

To reinforce the message, the company created a limited-edition vegan soap in the shape of a tree, called “Jungle.” One hundred percent of sales of the $5.95 Jungle bar will be donated to the Rainforest Foundation, which works with indigenous people to protect their forest homes from expanding palm oil plantations.

The window display will be up through Aug. 28, and customers can add their palm prints in green paint before receiving a free soap sample.

By Nadine Kam

Polyvore.com collage built around 3.1 Philip Lim’s draped neck T-shirt. Click on the box to be directed toward the items.

Let’s say you’ve had to slash your spending to pay off past bills. There is a way to shop around without spending, and get almost as much satisfaction.

I’ve been watching Polyvore.com for a while, but was too busy to try it out. Well, a run through Neiman Marcus last week gave me incentive to try it out.

During the Last Call presale I noticed a Marni flower necklace I had admired since spring was still available. I actually wanted the pink, but that was gone, so I had to settle for the blue — it’s more versatile after all — at a third off its original $695 price tag. Yay!

But it’s always one of those restrictive deals. That meant I would have to postpone any current season buys, so bye-bye 3.1 Phillip Lim black-and-gray striped T-shirt. I notice a lot of designers have been addressing the economy by offering more affordable creations, affordable for Philip being $195.

Polyvore.com allows you to put your artistry at work, creating collages of things you want but can’t afford. It’s also a fun way of putting your styling skills to work on paper, in building fantasy collections. It’s the contemporary equivalent of playing with collage or paper dolls and will help build your artistic skills as well.

My boyfriend took a look at my first collage, and when I told him, I can’t afford any of this, he said, “That’s good,” because it was a little to rock ‘n’ roll costumey for his taste. Not that I’d wear it public, but it’s fun to imagine. I think any collage I put together will always have high heels, for instance, but I avoid them in real life. Too painful. I long ago crossed over the threshold from where people believe you must suffer for fashion. I like being comfortable.

I built my second collection around the Philip Lim shirt. Polyvore allows you to pull images off shopping Web sites across the Internet. They also provide a few essentials in various categores: bags, shirts, dresses, jeans, accessories, etc., for those who don’t have time to go searching all over. The idea being, if you like something you see, clicking on the object will take you to the home site where you can make your purchase.

Unfortunately, the T-shirt was the least expensive item in my collection, so I can only gaze at the Lanvin purse and Fendi platform shoes. But at least I can see how they might go together.

By Nadine Kam

Here’s a rundown of sales events this weekend:

Split Obsession: Stock up on your favorite artist-designed T-shirts while they’re priced at 15 percent off retail, with select items marked down to 50 percent off. Today through July 26 at the Koko Marina Shopping Center and new Ala Moana location. The new store is in the former Rangersport store between Pipe Dreams and Trade Secret on the bottom floor. Call 951-8480.

Urban Nomad: Sidewalk sale of $5 goods in secondhand merchandise. Noon to 6 p.m. July 25 at 1023 Smith St.

Valerie Joseph: Sidewalk sale today through July 26, with a free Connie Gayle beauty product offered with a $50 purchase. Call 942.5258.

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When you’re ready to play, there’s:

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Also, for planning ahead, Waikele Premium Outlets will start its Back-to-School & Fall Preview Sale July 30, through Aug. 3, with 50 stores to choose from. Find out more at www.premiumoutlets.com/waikele

In-store promotions (subject to change) include:

Anne Klein
July 30 to Aug. 3
Sandals: $19.99 to $29.99, select styles .
Watches: Take $10 off select styles.
Jewelry: 50 percent off select styles.
Suits: $99.99 select styles.
Dresses: $99.99 select styles.
Sportswear: 60% off select styles.

Banana Republic Factory Store
Through Aug. 6
50 percent off on select styles.

Calvin Klein
July 23 to Aug. 26
All denim, $39.99.

Through July 28
Clearance, 70 percent off select styles.
Polos: $15.99
Tees: $16.99
Shorts: $24.99, select styles.
Men’s & Women’s Underwear: 25 percent off select styles.

Nine West
July 30 through Aug. 3
Buy One Get One 50 percent off on select styles.

Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store
July 30 through Aug. 26
Early Fall Sale with savings on fall collections for men, women, children and home.

Tommy Bahama
July 30 through Aug. 3
Take 30 to 50 percent off entire store, excluding fragrances and CDs.

Tommy Hilfiger
Today through Sept. 7
Receive 30 to 50 percent off original company store’s price. Valid on select items.

Zales Outlet
Aug. 6 through 9
Storewide savings along with a designer item offer of $29.99 during Preferred Customer Savings event. Some exclusions apply.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Susan Todani, left, and Marilyn Chong shake the popcorn boxes to see if there are any surprises at the bottom.

Jewelry designer Nikolai Tsang has been jetting around the world to share her work at international jewelry shows, and was back in town briefly for Sunday’s blessing and opening of her new Jade by Nikolai showroom in the Kukui Plaza at 1255 Nuuanu Ave.

Finishing touches were relayed from the road, so she was just as surprised as friends and family to see the finished space, with silver-white wall paper that gleamed as brightly as any of her white gold jewelry.

Guests were invited for a peek and for a popcorn tasting, with many a jeweled surprise hidden at the bottom of the boxes, from jade charms and rings to pearls.

There were about a dozen popcorn flavors to choose from, and Nikolai admitted to staying up late at night tasting and throwing out combos that didn’t work. All were based on some of her favorite foods, so with pizza popcorn topped with pepperoni and a “Dreamtime” ode to chocolate-covered bananas, with banana chips, dark chocolate shavings and bits of shredded coconut. It seems that Nikolai could have easily found a place in the food biz if the jewelry biz hadn’t worked out!

Her shop is open by appointment only, but you won’t find her there this week. She’s off for New York, to take part in the JA International Jewelry summer show.

Nikolai at the front of the showroom.

A wall of corded bracelets and necklaces greet visitors to Jade by Nikolai.

Pam Schroer, husband Richard, a co-producer and assistant director on “Lost,” discovered Nikolai three or four years ago and have been following her ever since. Pam says Richard has just as many pieces as she does, and that she left a few of those she normally wears at home.

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Nikolai’s Tokyo Fun Girl popcorn included arare and wasabi-coated peas.

Tanya Mau spotted Nikolai’s jade-and-white gold link bracelet and necklace four or five years ago and had to have them.

Tara Chang shows one of Nikolai’s newest creations, a headband accented with a jade butterfly.

Nikolai’s jade mah jongg tile bracelet.