By Nadine Kam

Note: This offer has been extended through Oct. 18. (Added 10/17)

G.L.A.M. Hawaii photos
Love ring, $25.

G.L.A.M. Hawaii has started a Secret VIP Sale offering 40 percent off purchases today. Visit glamhawaii.com to place your order and punch in the word “secret” during checkout to get the discount.

The sale event introduces the brand’s fall line, Dojin: Way of Love collection.

G.L.A.M. Hawaii jewelry is made in Hawaii and the women behind the brand offer the timely reminder that Christmas is around the corner. This is one way to shop at a discount, without the fuss of parking and shoving your way past other frantic shoppers. Unless, of course, you enjoy shopping as contact sport.

14K gold-filled Om bak or Buddha necklace ($55), features an aquamarine for healing or clarity.

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

Tiffany.com

Tiffany hosted a party last Friday focusing on the art of layering jewelry, a showcase for a special collection of diamond fine jewelry that will be on view through Aug. 27, as well as a full selection of Tiffany Keys, based on archive designs.

The keys start at $100 in silver, and $250 for a small key in 18K gold. The most popular is the small silver key with Tiffany blue heart design ($100). I love the quatrefoil four-diamond pendant in 18k gold (shown above). Chains are sold separately to customize your look, and the different sizes, weights and lengths of chains can be layered to create interest.

I spied other things I liked, like bangles in Tiffany blue and the Paloma Picasso 20-carat pendants, but I need to wait and see how much damage New York Fashion Week brings to my credit card.

Photos by Nadine Kam
Tiffany Hilton wears Tiffany’s fine diamond jewelry. She was up early the next morning too, where she was helping the Hawaii Foodbank with the Can-struction event at Pearlridge Center and I was the only non-architect judge judging the creations.

Natsuko Nobeyama shows how the Tiffany Keys can be layered. She’s wearing a necklace of multiple strands of tourmalines valued at $52,000.

The invite, with artwork by Ruben Toledo.

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

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin was there to mark the grand opening of Ala Moana Center and original tenant Foodland, and were all still here today to mark the 50th anniversary of the mall and grocery.

Ala Moana Center celebrates its landmark 50th anniversary tomorrow through Aug. 31, so you’ll want to be at Centerstage tomorrow from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. for the ceremonies, after which 1,959 chocolate bars will be distributed.

Chocolate is usually a reward in itself, but five of the oversized bars will contain Golden Tickets that can be redeemed for a $250 Ala Moana gift card. Hope I win!

Elsewhere in the center, there will be exclusive products, gifts with purchases and special offers from retailers. Here’s the list that couldn’t fit in the print edition that comes out tomorrow:

>> Aloha Hobby Shop Kiosk: Receive 25 percent off any item.

>> Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa: Spend $50 and receive a special gift.

>> Bare Escentuals: Join the BE Bonus Program and receive $10 off a purchase of $120 or more.

>> bebe: View the newest bebe collection, launching during Ala Moana Center’s 50th anniversary celebration.

>> Ben Bridge Jewelers: View the “Festival of Gems” trunk show featuring colored gemstone jewelry on Aug. 24.

>> Brontibay Paris: Receive 50 percent off cotton tote bags with any in-store purchase.

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By Nadine Kam

Rhea Lana photos
Shop for back-to-school threads at Rhea Lana Children’s Consignment Event this week and next.

For parents, it’s back-to-school shopping time, and the budget crunch isn’t helping. But this weekend, Rhea Lana Children’s Consignment Event aims to make it easier to dress young ones.

The event takes place July 25 and 26 at The Nimitz Business Center, 1130 N. Nimitz Highway, on the second level above New Eagle Cafe. It repeats as a half-price sale Aug. 1 and 2.

Rhea Lana’s Children Consignments Events is a community event that allows families to unload clothing, baby equipment, maternity and junior clothing, toys and household furniture, while purchasing others’ quality, unwanted items. On offer will be more than 5,000 items listed by more than 100 Hawaii consignors. Admission is free.

The event aims to do good on so many levels, by helping consignors to make money from their unwanted items, recycling, and helping others pick up affordable clothing and home goods. Check out www.rhealana.com

Hours are noon to 9 p.m. on the 25th, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 26th.

Admission to a pre-sale event for consignors is 8 to 11 a.m. Aug. 1, with public invited in from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and final day hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Rhea Lana Children’s Consignment Event was started in 1997 by Rhea Lana
Riner in Conway, Arkansas. It has spread to eight states and has become the one-
stop shopping spot for moms, grandmothers, and moms-to-be for the best bargains on
children’s merchandise. For more information about this or future events, email
Terrence Iwamoto at terrence@rhealana.com.

If you missed out on the consigning this time around, the group aims to host three events annually in Honolulu.

Baby carriers, strollers and bouncers will be available to moms to be.

Parents can shop for clothes that other kids have outgrown.

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

Nadine Kam photos
From left, Alexandrina Cambra and Zandrina Cambra, with Elizabeth Kampher, picked pieces of jewelry, including a small tiara.

So Good Jewelry owners Alen Kaneshiro and Christopher Otto celebrated the store’s second anniversary in Hawaii at Waikiki Trade Center May 29 with an ’80s-themed party that included generous discounts on its accessories and costume jewelry in every style imaginable.

The amount of the discounts was a mystery unveiled at the cash registers, when shoppers drew pieces of Starburst candy for discounts of anything from 40 to 75 percent off. A pink wrapper was worth a 50 percent discount to me, which I used on a batch of headbands I need for hair control. (It’s summer, it’s growing out.)

With the discounts, it was like a shopping spree as guests loaded up their trays with pieces for themselves and gifts for friends.

Happy anniversary!

From left, Camia Frank, Jeremy Banta and Kasey Stephensonpino in colorful ’80s mode, though Jeremy says those are his normal clothes; he wears color all the time. A brave man.

Owners Christopher Otto and Alen Kaneshiro welcomed Alan Urie, left, Raylynn Mendes and Dean Park, right.

Reiko Tokushige Rogers and Shiho Komura show floral and star pieces they like. For those who like drama, there were plenty of playful statement rings available.

These cell-phone leashes are $12.99.

The Mother Lode of feathered headbands.

By Nadine Kam

Fighting Eel photo of Dress Oz
Fifty percent of people who read this blog live out of state, so sales mentions aren’t usually helpful to them, but this time around, Fighting Eel is making it possible for out-of-towners to enjoy discounts as well.

Shop May 9 to receive 25 percent off any one item, whether for mom or yourself. Head to the Fighting Eel headquarters at 47 N. Hotel St., upstairs, or shop online with the promotional code MOTHERSDAY09 to receive 15% off your entire online purchase.

This deal cannot be combined with other discounts or applied to prior purchases. All sales are final and there’s a limit one discount per customer.

The boutique will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 808-524-1472 for more info.

By Nadine Kam

You may not be able to slip your toes into $2 million heels, but you can imagine it a little better when ogling a pair of $2 million tanzanite-and-diamond evening sandals on view at The Wedding Ring Shop from May 3 to 5.

More than 185 carats of tanzanites and 28 carats of diamonds went into the sandal, which made its debut at the New York Public Library in January 2007 as the winner in the “Fashion Accessories” category of the Tanzanite Foundation’s “Celebration of Life Jewelry Design Awards” for 2006. Take a look at other winning designs here.

The design is a partnership between award-winning fine jewelry designer Eddie LeVian and Stuart Weitzman, shoe designer and founder of Stuart Weitzman, Inc.
The Wedding Ring shop is at 1181 Kapiolani Boulevard. Call 945-7766.

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If you’re looking for something to do right now, check out the Rock Shop @ The Loft, 115 N. Hotel. The First Friday event continues to 8 p.m., offering wares by Anné, Meesha, Shop Blaine Ashley, Sola B, Dork and Cloth.

Also this weekend, just about every store will be offering sales in anticipation of Mother’s Day. May 10 is the big day so better get busy.

Celine: Drop by the Ala Moana boutique at 2 p.m. May 2 for a peek at its new soft, summer Pillow bag.

Cottage by the Sea: Hosts a summer trunk show featuring Velvet clothing (15 to 50 percent off) and Gabbybella jewelry (15 percent off), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 2 and 3. Also, enter to win a $200 shopping spree all weekend long, with no purchase necessary. The boutique is at Ward Warehouse. Call 591-9811.

The Place: Hosts a Mother’s Day trunk show of handmade jewelry by Ann Sandhu, and handpainted silks by Keiki Fujita, as well as 15 percent off the shop’s entire stock from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2. Place, A Design Atelier by Philpotts, is at 40 S. School St. Call 275-3075.

Shasa Emporium: In Thursday’s print ed. I mentioned the Jewelry by Cari Mother’s Day trunk show going on from noon to 4 p.m. May 2, with 20 percent off the designer’s sterling silver and 14K gold jewelry. But while you’re there, you can also check out new arrivals, including ki-ele jewelry by Marylea Conrad. You’ll get a free shell ring with every $30 purchase while supplies last. Also, buy $50 of Moopiland stuff through May 3 and you’ll get a free mousepad. The boutique is at Kahala Mall. Call 735-5122.

Split Obsession: Buy two T-shirts and get one free from 10 to 7 p.m. May 2, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 3. The offer is valid for men’s, women’s and children’s tees. The free T-shirt must be of equal or lesser value than purchased shirts, and all sales are final. (Promotion excludes some brands, including Moopiland, Super Good and Martin Hsu.) The shop is in the Koko Marina Shopping Center.

Macy’s Ala Moana: Remind mom to Fi(GH)t for the Cure with a complimentary fitting in a Wacoal or b.tempt’d bra. For every woman who participates, Wacoal will donate $2 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast cancer research and community health programs. Wacoal will also donate an additional $2 for every Wacoal bra, shapewear piece or b.tempt’d bra purchased between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. May 2.

And don’t forget to check out these new limited-edition tees by Anna Sui and Koi Suwannagate. Sales of the $60 shirts will benefit OCA’s scholarship programs serving Asian Pacific Americans. The collaboration was done in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.