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.

By Nadine Kam

Roberto Coin photo
The beauty of sea life is presented in a collection of diamond pendants by Roberto Coin, sales of which will benefit Friends of Waikiki Aquarium.

Elle Couture Jewellers hosted the launch of the Roberto Coin marine-life jewelry collection last Thursday, an opportunity for jewelry and ocean lovers to check out the dainty diamond-studded, white gold pendants in shapes of starfish, seahorses, angelfish, lobsters, and more.

Through the end of the year, the jewelry store will be donating 10 percent ofsales of the sea-life collection to Friends of Waikiki Aquarium. FOWA members will also enjoy a 10 percent discount off their purchases of the pendants, which start at $620.

Each pendant also features the Italian designer’s signature small ruby set inside, in a hidden position, as a secret gift of good wishes to every woman who wears one of his creations.

It was fun trying them on, as well as other pieces in the boutique. I love starfish, but I already have a Tiffany and dozens of vintage brooches, so I tried on the lobster for fun, as well as the nautilus, which was the hit of the evening.

You can check out the pieces firsthand at 909 Kapiolani Boulevard, Suite A. Call 591-8080.

To mark the occasion, Menehune Mac created these chocolates with the ocean theme in mind.

Midweek Style Editor Yu Shing Ting tries on a ring to match her top, while elle Couture’s Adrienne Baley fastens a matching pendant around her neck.

By Nadine Kam

I’m stuck at the office today, but if you’re lucky enough to have an early start on the Fourth of July weekend, you might want to check out the summer sales, as just about every store clears the way for fall lines:

Nadine Kam photo
At the blessing of the Michael Kors boutique Thursday morning, some of the designer’s fall dresses were on display, worn by, from left, district manager Suzanne Sellek, director of retail operations Tiza Tjokroadisumarto, store manager Sharleen Perreira, and store supervisor Victoria Tavares.

One of the newest places to shop at Ala Moana Center is at the Michael Kors boutique, which opened on Thursday, the second. It features all three of the designer’s labels, Michael Kors, KORS Michael Kors and MICHAEL Michael Kors.

In addition to Kors’ summer collections, the store is the first in the nation, by three weeks, to introduce the designer’s fall clothing and accessory collections.

Cari and Transformers photos

>> Shasa Emporium is hosting its first sale in its new location, across from Nine West at Kahala Mall. Through the 5th, enjoy 50 percent off select designer denim collections, and 10 percent off all regular priced items.
Some restrictions apply. For celeb emulators, Shasa will also be offering the Cari necklace seen on Megan Fox in “Transformers 2,” for $50, discounted from its regular retail price of $95. The hand-sculpted sterling silver Teeny Tiny Disc can be hand-stamped with any initial. The 3/8″ wide disc is accented with a quartz briolette stone, and and hangs on a 20-inch adjustable link chain with lobster-claw clasp. Call 735.5122 for more details.

>> Alliway, at Ward Warehouse, is hosting a 4th of July weekend sale through the 5th, with 20 percent off any regularly priced merchandise.

The Butik photo

>> The Butik has a 4th of July sale going on through Sunday, with a 25 percent discount throughout the store (excludes sale items), with all sales final. The shop is at 1067 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite A-3. Call 593-4484.

Fighting Eel

>> Fighting Eel is also hosting a 4th of July sale, with an additional 25 percent discount off all print items, and additional markdowns on sale items. Have a glass of wine to celebrate the holiday on First Friday, through 8 p.m. Shop from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Note, the discounts apply at the company’s headquarters at 47 North Hotel St. only. For more information, email info@fightingeel.com or call 524-1472.

Louis Vuitton photo

>> Louis Vuitton is hosting a product personalization event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today through Sunday at its Ala Moana store. You can have your current or newly purchased Louis Vuitton bags and leather accessories personalized with a hot-stamped monogram. The service is complimentary. Call the store for more details, at 973-0580.

By Nadine Kam

Size 6 only

The Stuart Weitzman Ala Moana boutique just received 300 pairs of size 6 M sample shoes they will be offering beginning tomorrow, June 27, at $109 per pair. The selection was good last time they hosted a sale like this, and I know a few people who picked up three to four pairs which they justified as the price of one pair of Weitzmans at regular price.

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Good things come in threes

If you’re a fan of kimchee, hummus or jewelry, you can get your fill of all three during a jewelry sale at 928 Wailupe Place. Details above. Up for grabs will be jewelry created by Fighting Eel’s Rona Bennett, who is back to work after journeying Down Under, where she was lucky enough to hug a koala. How cool is that? That’s one more animal to hug. Someday I’d like to go to the Wolong Panda Reserve to hug one of its furry residents.

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Surf sale’s up!

Blue Hawaii Surf is hosting a tent sale featuring surf/casual apparel from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 28, at Eighty Four Kalihi, 1216 Kaumualii St., with up to 50 percent off brand name skate, surf and fashion apparel, footwear and accessories. Check out the brands and details in coupon above. Or check out the blog: http://bluehawaiisurfhome.blogspot.com/

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.