By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
At Pearl were, from left, Crystal Pancipanci, Alyssa Fung and Alicia Michioka.

Fashionista’s Market invited “Twilight” fans to join Team Edward or Team Jacob for a girl’s night out party for 500 that started at Pearl for food and drinks, and ended at Ward Consolidated for the screening of “New Moon,” the second film in the slow-moving vampire romance saga.

I haven’t read the books and hadn’t seen the film when asked to pick sides. I went with Edward only because he’s the lead, Robert Pattinson was cute as Cedric in one of the “Harry Potter” films, and I tend to like brooding men IRL, but after seeing the first “Twilight” on DVD a few days before the screening, I thought Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is much cuter on film — when you can see his bright smile and easygoing charm — than in still shots.

I don’t know. Years of journalism indoctrination trains you to avoid picking sides, choosing teams, being a joiner, to avoid perceptions of being biased. And I’ve made enough mistakes in my personal life to know that any guy who would have you force a choice is probably the wrong guy.

Donna Kooiman dressed the back of her shirt with a heart, sequins and a transfer photo of her beloved Edward Cullen.

As Fashionista’s Market owner Alyssa Fung was handing me my Team Edward T-shirt, she said, “You can cut it up to make it cuter,” and I was thinking, “How bad is this thing anyway.” It was a thick, boxy cut T-shirt with Team Edward emblazoned in pink on the front and a New Moon logo on the back. I didn’t have time for braiding or sewing, so I just did the basics of lopping off half the sleeves, the neckline and the hem.

Of course Alyssa had one of the cutest shirts of all, with the sleeves tied up with pink ribbon, pink ribbon lacing up the sides and a blinged crescent moon in the back!

Kaiya Clark, winner of the Team Jacob T-shirt contest, punked out her shirt sleeves with safety pins and ruched the back.

“Cutening” the shirt was one of the contests at Pearl, with Lena Hanson winning the Team Edward portion, and Kaiya Clark winning from Team Jacob. The funniest event was watching women from both teams dancing to win lifesize cardboard figures of their two heroes, while dancing in front of/with the cutouts. They were asked to keep it clean for the kids in the house — “Twilight” is, after all, a multigenerational female phenomenon — but there were some pretty risque moves out there!

On Team Edward, from left, Britta Davis, Arlene Villegas and Jessica McAlpin.

As far as cheering volume, Team Jacob, though seemingly fewer in number, could outscream the Team Edward wahine. Maybe there’s just a different type of woman who favors one true love scenario involving the tortured romantic vs. the ones who subscribe to  the boy next door or “love the one you’re with” philosophy.

What was really painful, though, was the howling contest, in which contestants had to howl like a werewolf. Oh those high-pitched yelps! Oh, my ears! Far worse than any self-inflicted injuries I’ve accumulated from playing drums or singing in front of them in bands.

It was when we got to the theaters that things got a bit ugly with a struggle to find parking and a seat that was not up against the screen. Some of the group had to be accommodated in other theaters.

At Pearl, Crystal Pancipanci with Bernadette Baraquio Hamada and Tess Baraquio—who were on opposing teams—and Christina Low.

But the mood lifted with the start of the film and it was hilarious to listen to the running commentary, the shouts to “Kiss him!” whenever Bella got in close range with Edward or Jacob. And just as Bella was cozying up to Jacob, the cries of, “What about Edward, bitch!” while another spouted her motto, “Get over one guy, get under another!”

There was much buzz before the film about Taylor’s bulked up body and shirtless scenes throughout the movie. The first one came after Bella’s motorcycle fall. Before you know it, he whips off his shirt to wipe away the blood, when really, a sleeve or bottom of the hem would have sufficed. One woman goes, “Oh no, why’d he have to do that?” at the gratuitous scene, while proceeding to yell for him to take off his shirt whenever he appeared in a T-shirt!

Outside the theater, in front of the line, were Mona Kim, Jenny Park, Alicia Cabo and Jessica Kim.

“Twilight” is really not my thing, and one of my friends accuses me of being more like a man in expecting more action in a film. It’s definitely more fun in numbers, but I just can’t fathom why a 200-year-old vampire would choose to go back to high school. That’s the last place I’d be.

Kiowa Gordon

In the end, I hope I don’t incur the wrath of Jacob or Edward lovers, but I would choose neither of the leading men, having zeroed in on of the wolf pack, Kiowa Gordon, a Native American Indian or First Nation Descendant of the Hualapai Nation, who has a snarky intelligence in his demeanor.

By Nadine Kam

Emiri Miyasaka’s take on the national costume of Japan, presented last week in Tokyo.

Another pageant, another beauty queen; YAWN!

But Miss Japan Universe 2009 Emiri Miyasaka has stirred up more interest than usual in the Miss Universe 2009 pageant coming up Aug. 23 in the Bahamas, thanks to her national costume that is one part kimono (the top half) and one part Lolita (bottom half).

You can read a little bit more about it on VoyForums, the Philippine Pageant message board. Critics call the costume slutty and say the costume shows disrespect for the kimono.

But then, if you check out the contestant roster at www.missuniverse.com, you’ll see that Emiri is way down in the polls, so she’ll need attention if she wants to bring the crown back to Japan again.

The garter belt, stocking and panties are risque for the pageant, but it’s not as if we haven’t already seen similar in prime time during those Victoria Secret runway shows, and it’s not as if the Miss Universe pageant makes any pretense at scholarship and intellect.

The thing that prevents it from being 100 percent slutty is the cleverness in showing that duality in Japanese culture, the mix of conservatism and appetite for sexual content in media. Hmm, that sounds a lot like the U.S. puritan/porn ethos, which confuses the heck out of conservatives. Which is why we uncover so many stories of hypocrites preaching family values while breaking any and all vows they claim to uphold. That is a lot more offensive than a stage costume.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Ashley Layfield is the Spanish jellyfish in “Atlantika.”

Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre presented its splashy fundraiser “Atlantika” Saturday night at the Kahala Hotel & Resort, an event guests won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

Guests followed a procession of mermen, draped in blue veils, into the pool area where they were greeted by the spectacle of dancers reimagined as sea creatures, from a mermaid and feathery anemone at the entrance, to a towering sea dragon on stilts and covered with yards of streaming fabric. This may be one of Iona’s most elaborate events ever, the vision of creative director Cheryl Flaharty.

Among the guests was Henry Ian Cusick (that’s Desmond to non-”Losties”). Many of the guests dressed in blues, greens and other aqua tones to suit the night’s theme, so it didn’t surprise me that some of those I photographed at the beginning of the event ended up in the pool at the end of the night. I was just praying I didn’t end up in the pool by accident while running around the pool to shoot video. I was only sorry that I didn’t capture the moment the guests made their running leap into the pool. I had overheard them plotting, but thought they’d wait until after dessert.

Among those who ended up in the pool was Kenwei Chong, who also tried to get Cheryl into the pool. Dressed in white, she wisely ran for shelter.

Others inched closed to the pool and its warm water when presented with windup toys, that swam away, sometimes too far for them to reclaim, causing much sadness among the big “kids.”At a typical event, I might shoot 20 video clips, but because of the costumes and because the dancers move so well, I ended up with 66, a lot to go through.We were treated to s sound track of bubbly and psychedelic music of the ’60s by DJ Julien Palmarini. Hair, including Summer Partlon’s towering Octopussy beehive, was by Dack Quigley. Meanwhile, the part of the Ethereal Jellyfish, in white in the video, was played by the Star-Bulletin’s Michelle Poppler, who I totally didn’t recognize while shooting the video, even though she was an inch away from my face!

Rain arrived with dinner, sending some guests running for cover, which was weird, this being a water-themed event and all, but I had no doubt that in sunny Kahala, it would pass quickly, and it did, just a light blessing.

Food — such as sea critter fritters (baccalao) and pan-roasted kampachi with sea foam, mussels and clams — was rather slow to arrive and Cheryl said later, while toasting marshmallows beachside, that they had trouble getting started because no one seemed to want to sit down. Everyone was too busy strolling around, admiring the dancers and their extravagant costumes, photographing and videotaping all that was happening.

It was great fun an you can read the who’s and why’s about the event in my earlier story at http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/08/21/features/story01.html

And original blog post at: http://blogs.starbulletin.com/fashiontribe

The living fountain, Robyn Franklin. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam video

Diehard shopaholics lined up as early as 6:30 a.m. to be the first in the door when Nordstrom opened Friday morning.

I had the feeling people put off their purchases in anticipation of the store opening. I overheard one woman say, “I want to buy five pairs of shoes.”

I thought I would just shoot a little video and post as soon as I got back to the office, but there was so much going on, I felt compelled to videotape many aspects, and well, it got out of hand. Plus, this ain’t TV news, so don’t mind the editing, as with a crowd shot that may have gone on too long. I really wanted to show the stream of people coming through the doors.

That was such a crazy day. I got there at a sane 8:30 a.m., enough time to see the frenzy of the Cosmetics Tailgate Party. So funny how little I see of reality when shooting video. Fellow SB’er Nina Wu passed in front of the camera several times and I didn’t see her until starting to edit. I guess it involves different parts of the brain. So to tell you the truth, I used to think photographers were a little dense because I’d ask them to give me certain pictures I knew they’d taken, and they’d be, like, “Huh?” as if they’d never seen it. Now I realize they were composing shots, but not seeing, if that makes sense.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Easter colors on the runway at Nordstrom.

New faces on the runway. All but two of the 40 models were flown in for the fashion show. Guests were asking why there was a need to import models. Height plays a part, but it’s also all about the walk, which has become more apparent to me while attempting to shoot video and photographs. These models look good with every step.

Still recovering from the fun of the Nordstrom fashion show gala last night. Amazing! About 2,500 people paid $150 to be at the event, which raised $400,000 to benefit Hawaii Theatre Center, Bishop Museum and HUGS.

Guests had the run of all three levels of the store, with performances by Amy Hanaiali’i and Matt Catingub, Jimmy Borges and Mihana Souza centered around the First Floor piano, with attendees dancing when the mood struck. Food and dessert stations, with selections by Chai Chaowasaree, Elua’s Donato Loperfido and Philippe Padovani, and JJ Pastry, were set up all around the store, and cash register counters and makeup counters were turned into makeshift bars.

Guests rode the escalator from floor to floor to see all the store had to offer.

I could tell who reads this blog because they were the ones who came up to me and seeing I was wearing a black (after all) Alice + Olivia dress, told me, “Hey, you’re not wearing what you said you were going to wear!”

Yeah, well, there are always last-minute snafus. I got there close to 8, though I had planned to be there at 7.

For me, the runway show on the third floor was the highlight, and I rushed into the tent for the first show at 8 p.m. When I was told earlier that the show would repeat at 9 p.m., I didn’t understand the rationale, but as large as the venue was—almost as big as many of the New York Fashion Week Bryant Park shows—it would not have been able to contain all the guests, many of whom missed in show in favor of shopping, flirting, noshing, getting foot massages, etc., etc. Those who missed the show said they’d wait for my video. Ooh, the pressure! (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Media filled the front row of the Indashio fashion show at the Honolulu Design Center Saturday. Smart magazine’s Sarah Honda snaps a photo.

Designer Indashio had promised to bring a bit of New York to Hawaii with his “Viva Las Vegas” fashion show, and that he did. The energy and decibel level was definitely higher than any local show thus far. It was HOT!The noise, the crowd, the security detail, the photographer’s gallery was pure New York Fashion Week, and I couldn’t believe how seating in the tiny Cupola Theatre was configured to accommodate the number of people there, while giving everyone a great view of the runway. But anyone who’s lived and worked in New York is probably accustomed used to making the most of small spaces.

Indashio hams it up for the cameras after the show with Vivalicious, left, and Didi.

The spectacle of barely clad “showgirls” reminded me of a typical Heatherette show, and Indashio finished with a dance down the runway carrying our company’s magazine HI Luxury, which sponsored the first major fashion event of the New Year. I think we’re appropriately warmed up.

The video here shows part of the show.

By Nadine Kam

Nadine Kam photos
Leah Evans’ playful glam romper is cheeky fun!

The Urban Pacific Fashion Event gets better and better with each season, putting on a show with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a show in the Big Apple.

Showing this year on Oct. 11 at Next Door were La Pistil, Allisonizu, Cut ‘n Sewn by Dan Weaver, Leah Evans and Shanelle Dragomanovich, debuting her new Manovich line called “Painted Threads.” Her garments featured bold graffiti and tattoo-inspired artwork created by her friends Koak and Newkon. I was already impressed by her work when she presented her senior-year collection at Honolulu Community College in April. The girl is fearless and follows no one, so it’s great to see her execute beyond the classroom.

Dan Weaver continues to show his win as one of the Star-Bulletin’s picks for most promising designers at last year’s FACE of Nuuanu event was no fluke. His mini collection showed his great skill with line, structure and tailoring.

La Pistil’s Ashley Ishii paired her casual dresses with boots, prompting New York-based couture designer Michael Kaye to remark, with a smile, “Snow envy.”

Almost topless during Allisonizu’s denim segment, showing the designer must have learned a thing or two about getting attention during her stint in New York. Let’s hope viewers’ eyes were in the right place! Video coming up. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Yay, Allison Izu Nagato is coming up with a petite denim line for all the shorties in Hawaii and beyond. We just have to wait about 3 months ’til it hits the stores. It’s kind of hard to wait, but given today’s instant communications, we can’t help but see things months ahead of time. Just think of something and it seems the word gets out.

The word is definitely out about the “notorious” photo session involving a topless Maggie Beach and Rita Blais, as photographed by Russell Tanoue. (more…)

By Nadine Kam

Y and Kei’s Spring/Summer 2008 collection embraces the urban hippie.

Eased my way into Fashion Week, away from the tents and into the sedate setting of the New York Public Library Celeste Bartos Forum, where Y and Kei Water the Earth hosted a presentation of its Spring 2008 Collection. It’s a little jarring to be thinking about spring just when the fall collections have moved into the stores, but it seems fall’s cocoons, sheaths and chemises will still be with us at least for another eight months.

The presentation had 17 models arranged in a circle on a circular mirror with a sculptural arrangement of ladder-like pieces of blond wood behind them. Photographers, fashion writers and editors circled, studied, took notes, then stood by to watch everyone else do the same. The designs by Hanii Y and Gene Kei offer a modern interpretation of the carefree hippie girl who embraces love, peace and freedom, and just a trace of rebellion to make life interesting.

Tiah wears a gray-blue variegated jacquard
dolman-sleeve chemise with drawstring neckline.
Check out their Y & Kei shoes with bunchy hose.

Below, Lucyna wears a silver metallic cotton dress with
hand-cut and applique chiffon feather scallops.

(more…)

By Nadine Kam

Some excitement last night at about 1 a.m. While I was blogging away, I heard something like a bomb down the street. I was a little nervous because the last time I heard a sound like that was last spring when I was here in New York, staying on the Upper East Side. There were manhole explosions earlier this year, so I thought that could be it too. Even so, I decided to shut off the computer and move away from the window.

It turns out it was a pipe bombing outside the storefront studio owned by “The Sopranos” Michael Imperioli, a couple buildings away from where I’m staying. I even passed by that place yesterday, thinking I should check it out when it’s open. Here’s an excerpt from a story from the CBS affiliate here:

“(CBS) NEW YORK A small explosive device — that has been described to CBS 2 News as a pipe bomb — detonated in front of an acting studio and apartment building in midtown Manhattan early Tuesday morning, causing damage to a van parked outside and forcing the evacuation of residents.
Incredibly, the building and the studio, named “Studio Dante,” located at West 29th Street and 8th Avenue, sustained no damaged after the device blew up at about 1:30 a.m., police said. No one was injured in the blast.
CBS 2 News has learned that “Sopranos” actor Michael Imperioli owns the building. The NYPD said they did not know whether there was any connection to the incident and the actor, who owns Studio Dante. Imperioli and his wife Victoria visited the studio later Tuesday morning and appeared a bit shaken up by the mess.
Imperioli played Christopher Moltisanti, Tony Soprano’s nephew, on the popular HBO television show.”

A couple of days after the blast, Michael Imperioli’s building
looked fine after they cleared debris from a car that was destroyed.

My neighbor asked if I had heard about the bombing. I said I had actually heard it and he said it was so weird because this is such a safe quiet place.

It was sort of the reason I chose the area. Being so close to the 9/11 anniversary, I figured it would be safest to stay away from major areas like Times Square or the Chrysler building. I didn’t tell him the same thing happened last time I was here. That bomb went off three blocks from where I was staying and did a lot more damage.

That’s New York, I guess.

Didn’t stop me from pursuing more shopping today, this time a matter of taking a bus to Woodbury Common where 200 shops awaited. I thought I could get there at 10 a.m. and leave by 2:30 p.m. Finally got there at 11, but by 1:30 p.m. had only hit about 20 shops. Yike! Of course I could skip over anyplace selling children’s clothes, athletic shoes or sunglasses. Not in the market for anything like that.

First stop was Neiman Marcus Last Call but after Labor Day sales, I could pretty much figure anything good would be gone. Tried on a Cynthia Vincent 12th Avenue black blouse. It was a small size 6 but I’m a 2 so, with some sadness, I put it back.. The only other thing worthwhile in my eyes was a Reem Acra evening dress, but I believe it was $4,000, so I left.

There are a lot of high-end designer outlets (Chanel, Celine, Emilio Pucci, Fendi, Versace, Valentino) here, so buying is not necessarily the goal. Sometimes it’s simply worthwhile to see some of these garments and the details that go into them. I saw some of the most fantastic clothes at Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, spent a lot of time at Dolce & Gabbana studying a dress with a black sequin bodice and black silk chiffon handkerchief skirt with lace insets and covered in micro floral embroidery, a work of art at $8,000, marked down from $15,000.

Prada skirt jewel detail that covered a front panel from waist to hem.
At Space I tried on a Miu Miu dress ($440 sale but wrong color) with a Prada jacket ($1,500), but what I really wanted was a Prada skirt ($440 sale) tried on, with some amazing jeweled detailing on a front panel. I left it behind because I had 160 more shops to go. Of course now that I’m writing this, I’m having regrets that I didn’t get that skirt.

The hit-and-miss nature of outlet shopping make them dangerous. During regular season at boutiques you’re faced with collections intended to match. This is great for those with no fashion sense because they can rely on one designer’s vision and look totally put together. At the outlets, you’re on your own. You could find yourself buying pieces that don’t match up with anything in your closet. It’s good to know where the gaps in your wardrobe so you can start with a game plan.

It also helps to stick with the lines you typically buy, because you know their fit and can easily determine whether pieces are a bargain or not. For instance, I went to one boutique and the price tag on one top I already own was $120. Well, I bought it on sale at NM in June for $60.

I finally left at 5:30 p.m. with a DKNY top and Catherine Malandrino skirt. It took some restraint to walk away from a Salvatore Ferragamo purple purse.