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.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Escada Ala Moana store manager Mariese Montano-Smith, in brown, welcomed, from left, Kerry Maese, Candes Gentry and Audra Stevenson.

Escada hosted a party Thursday night to honor patrons of the arts, with 10 percent of sales that evening benefiting the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

There was informal modeling of current styles, and if there wasn’t a model near you, party-goers were perfectly willing to step in to show off the goods.

On my way out the door, I stopped to enlist one of the male models at the door for future HI Luxury photo ops. There’s a dearth of male models here who can wear skinny European brands. Everyone works out too much! Unfortunately, he was just passing through, but if you know any good-looking, tall but compact, manly not boyish guys, a lot of modeling agencies would probably love hearing from them.

Kristen Chan, left, and Annemarie Jones try on a couple of Escada bracelets/armor.

Soon-to-be-wed former Miss Hawaii USA Jennifer Fairbank slips on a pair of Escada shades and purse. She’s with Roycen Dehmer.

Rochelle Ovitt as a manikin. The homegrown model/actress has been crisscrossing the country modeling for Escada. Her next stop is New York. You can also look for her in an upcoming episode of “Nip/Tuck.”

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By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Bessie Fujioka, Junior League of Honolulu president Chris Lau and Debbie Lau got into a tug of war with this Cole Haan purse. Janice Choate-Zavakos joined the fray seconds later.

People can go crazy when there’s a sale. The situation was a little more civil when the polite women of The Junior League of Honolulu hosted the 5th annual Sacs in the City fundraiser April 4, but you could feel anxiety in the air when it was near closing time for the silent auctions.

Dior
Marion Cotillard with a Lady Dior in Dior’s ad campaign.

“It’s gonna get bloody for the Dior,” said Emmy Kasten, who outbid me on said Lady Dior. I made the starting bid for The Lady Dior, at $680 for a purse that retails at $1,950. The one shown was black, which would not have tempted me, but the offer was to choose your own color. The Dior has been on my want list for at least two years.

Emmy was also bidding on a Gucci tote and had Noreen Kam (no relation) guard the bidding sheet while she waited near the Dior, though she called it quits after bidding went over $1,000.

Sacs is all about love of the handbag. There were dozens of luxury and casual purses, totes and clutches up for bid during the silent auction, most starting at a third to a quarter of retail price. Funds raised will benefit the JLH community projects: My Story to help adolescent girls, Kids in the Kitchen to promote nutrition, the HerStory women’s issues conference, and Impact Honolulu short-term projects geared toward children and families.

Balenciaga

I had scooped up my grail bag at Neiman a couple of weeks ago, a Balenciaga City bag like the one above, except in the Mandarin orange color, so even though purses are my weak spot—to me they’re like portable, practical works of art—I felt pretty certain I wouldn’t be tempted to bid on anything. The first thing I spied upon entering the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom was a Cartier evening bag I had admired in the store, at $1,680, offered at a starting bid of $585. Hmmm. At the time I had decided I’d rather save for the Love bangle. That was before the stock market crash when I actually had some spare change. So I kept moving.

A little while later, I ran into Denise Nakano, who was already carrying a very nice Miu Miu, yet pleaded, “Don’t outbid me.”

“I don’t even know what you’re bidding on,” I said. I couldn’t make any promises until I knew what we were talking about, and it just so happened hers was the only bid, thus far, on the Cartier. She must be psychic.

I don’t know if she won, but it did pick up more bids later. It’s tough to compete with the purchasing power of Junior League members and some of the dynastic names in the crowd, like Wo and Watamull.

The Cartier.

Manuheali’i models on the runway during the fashion show segment.

Here’s some video:

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By Nadine Kam

www.glamhawaii.com
G.L.A.M.’s Baby Love necklaces for mother and baby.

Cottage-by-the-Sea, at Ward Warehouse is hosting a model search and trunk show featuring the G.L.A.M. Hawaii jewelry design team of Genevive Marquez, Lisa Kehmeier, Amanda Dela Cruz and Michelle Cendana, who, after launching just a year ago, have already been featured in Audrey, Uproar and marthastewart.com, and worn by “The Hill’s” actress Lauren Conrad and celeb DJ and tokidoki model DJ Mia.

They will be introducing their spring line, “Splendor in the Grass,” nature-inspired pieces handmade with sterling silver or 14K gold wiring adorned with semi-precious gems, available exclusively in Hawaii at Cottage-by-the-Sea, or online at www.glamhawaii.com.

During the trunk show, which continues through Sunday, March 29, three winners will be chosen in drawings to receive a piece from the new collection, and shoppers will get a 15 percent discount on G.L.A.M. jewelry.

While there, the G.L.A.M. team will be on the lookout for two women to be Glam Gals to serve as models on their Web site and upcoming catalog, winning prizes and a yearlong modeling contract with the team.

By Nadine Kam

Doh! I missed a Saturday email, so sorry if I’m letting you size 6 shoe fiends down, but the Stuart Weitzman Ala Moana boutique has a current season sample sale going on, starting today, of sizes 6 M only for $109.

For those who can’t afford to pay $400 or more, there are about 250 pairs of evening, fashion, everyday shoes and sandals available, and about 100 pairs of boots.

Shoes are THE accessory for spring 2009.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
After the Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show, Gail Shiraishi, left, and Melissa Chang show the gift bags women received for attending.

Nordstrom hosted its first Beauty Trend Event Saturday morning, which had hundreds of women waking up early on the weekend for a live 7:30 a.m. QVC-like introduction to some of the newest beauty products on the market.

The lineup was nowhere as crazy as last year’s grand opening tailgate event, just because seating was limited to the first who paid $15 to attend, but there were still a lot of women in the house, who made their way to the third floor through a gauntlet of cheering Nordstrom employees.

There were a few pieces of clothing by BCBG Max Azria, Laundry by Shelli Segal, Sue Wong, Radio Fiji and Trina Turk shown during the event, but the focus was on the face, with presentations divided into three segments of videos and live information sessions on Beauty Trends, Beauty Secrets and Beauty Values. A show of hands revealed only a few of those in the house had ever attended one of Nordstrom’s beauty events on the mainland.

Midweek style editor Yu Shing Ting is in the chair talking with Jamie O’Banion, president and co-creator of the Organicare line of organic skin care.

There were about a dozen presenters delivering quick, exuberant pitches and giving away various kits and sets that would be available for purchase on the sales floor immediately following the presentations. About 24 brands, from Chanel to Dr. Zein Obagi’s Z.O. Skin Health, were offering gifts with purchase. A lot of the new textures and blendability factor of new products are amazing, making the intro of sheer color to one’s look virtually dummy proof.

Two views of model Connor Lane, at Nordstrom Saturday, and at right, in a Bravo photo from “Project Runway.” I worked with him on a photo shoot for the February-March edition of HI Luxury magazine. You can pick up the magazine on newsstands; the photos go online in April.

Model Connor Lane was tasked with delivering the prizes to the winners, while dressed in clothing from Nordstrom’s men’s department. Those with a sharp eye and good memory might have seen Connor in the Season 4 “Project Runway” (Christian Siriano’s season) episode featuring Tiki Barber and a menswear competition. Connor was dressed by Elisa Jimenez in an ochre velveteen vest with dark-gray pants and brown long-sleeved shirt. The rest of us know Elisa only as the crazy “spit girl,” but Connor said she was fine to work with. It’s just another case of reality TV hyping overemphasizing one strange incident.

Makeup stylist RC Stephens of NARS and Hank Hoffman, National Artistry Trainer for Smashbox Cosmetics, delivered high-energy presentations worthy of their runway ready brands. Hoffman was the last to work the runway, so it was a little harder to get the crowd revved up. I’d say most women were tired, getting hungry and were probably feeling fuzzy minded by then. But their energy quickly returned with his call to check out the Smashbox beauty value kits that were being offered exclusively at Nordstrom: the company’s Smashbox’s Fashion Week Glam Box Pro Kit ($68) and Complexion Kit ($48) of season must-haves. Rushing downstairs, I saw dozens of women with the Glam Boxes in hand, as well as other kits mentioned during the event.

I returned the next day, when it was saner, for a chat with Hank Hoffman about what’s coming up at Smashbox. He’s pictured with Nordstrom’s Heather Olsen.

I shot some video of Hank for some general lessons on applying eyeliner and achieving a smoky eye, made easy with a combination of Smashbox’s gel liner and creaseless shadow. You can go to www.smashbox.com (go to “Get the Look,” then “Videos”) for pro videos of him demonstrating how to achieve different looks, along with step-by-step guides to tools and color products used.

Laila — The Essence of Norway creator Geir Ness gives Jen Yamane a hand massage with his lightly scented hand cream. Where there are hand massages, there’s always a line.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Adore owners Tasha Matsubara, left, and Mayumi Villiatora welcomed fashion fans at the balloon-festooned boutique entrance.

Adore marked its one-year anniversary at Kahala Mall Saturday afternoon with an in-store celebration and launch of its private label girls’ line Adore Me, plus the opportunity to meet Allison Izu Song of Allison Izu Premium Petite Denim, Traci Morinaga of Midori Jewelry, and Marco Saheb of European Image Consulting.

Shoppers could also nibble on souffle truffles from Godiva Chocolatier and mini red velvet cupcakes from Hokulani Bake Shop.

Style consultant Trevor Yamamoto with Allison Izu, who was offering personal fittings and 25 percent off her skinny petite denim line, plus one of her free signature petite-themed tank tops with purchase. I can vouch for the fit of the tank tops, which look “normal” but are cut shorter from shoulder to armpit for a better fit on petite bodies. And her dark denim of course, that can be dressed up or down, and her pencil skirt, which also goes with so many tops.

Along with new collections, there were a lot of sales items including steals on Lyric Culture T-shirts at $9.97, marked down from about $80. At that price I didn’t even have to try on the “Super Freak” T-shirt, printed with the lyrics of the Rick James song. Also picked up a dress, for less than $20, with a print and weight similar to a vintage Lanvin shirtdress I have. It was the last one though.

Lyric Culture’s Super Freak shirt over my manikin instead of on it since my b.f. has adopted it as his jacket rack. I was looking for a striped T-shirt. Yay!