The postcard from Valerie Joseph speaks for itself. Call  942-5258 for more information.

If you want to beat the Black Friday crowds, better start your holiday shopping early. Here are some spots to check out:

Things Japanese Sale:
At Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays through Dec. 5. Find all things Japanese, including kimono and obi for display or wear, ningyō (dolls), antique tea and dish sets that were made in Japan, and vintage accessories that were donated for this annual sale. Cultural Center members who can wait will receive 50 percent off selected items from Dec. 1 through 5. Funds raised will go toward educational programs and cultural activities presented throughout the year. Admission is free.

Play.savvycircle.com
If you’re looking for deals on meals and entertainment, this site offers restaurant and spa vouchers and entertainment tickets at a discount. The way it works is that a certain amount of vouchers/tickets are offered, with a minimum number of people needed to sign up to get the deal. If the minimum is met, everyone who signs up before and thereafter get the deal. If not, no one gets it. The site has currently reserved 500 of the best seats in Hawaii Theatre for the New Year’s Eve show of “STOMP,” at 40 percent off. A minimum of 50 need to sign up to get the deal. The $55 tickets are being offered for $33.

Pearlridge
If you haven’t been to the shopping center in a while, Blazin’ Steaks offers one more place to sit down for lunch or dinner in the Downtown, third level, and three retail tenants opened in November, offering seasonal merchandise:

Calendar Club (Downtown, second level). Temporary holiday store in the former Rave location features calendars and related 2010 seasonal merchandise.

My Pillow Pets (Uptown, first level) opened near the American Savings Bank Convenience Center. The kiosk features 38 plush animals that combine the comfort of a chenille pillow with the cuddliness of a high-quality stuffed animal. My Pillow Pets are safe for little ones and have won Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Product award, iParenting Hot Award and the Mr. Dad Seal of Approval.

Santa’s Pen (Downtown, second level) opened as a temporary holiday store in the former Hobby Company space. The holiday specialist features personalized Christmas ornaments and other gift items, holiday stockings and stocking stuffers, island-style ornaments and other home accessories.

Ki-ele jewelry personalized with initials.

Shasa Emporium
The Kahala Mall boutique is hosting the Ki-ele Holiday 2009 collection designed by Marylea Conrad, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 21. Customers can personalize one of the necklace designs with an initial, for themselves or as a gift for someone special. Call 735-5122 for more information.

Shop Toast
Among other things, the little shop is offering Envirosax designer eco-totes that can be used to bag your gifts to eco-conscious friends and family. The bags, in pouch, measure 4-by-1.5 inches. Unrolled, they open to 19.5-by-16.5 inches and have a capacity for holding 44 pounds. There are several designs to choose from, at $10. Neat, eh? Shop Toast is at 3434 Waialae Ave. #3, open noon to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays or by appointment at 447-9233. Or look for them at Season’s Best Craft & Gift Fair at Aliiolani School Dec. 5; Hawaii’s “Bigger & Better” Gift & Craft Fair at the TOPA Financial Center, Fort Street Mall, Dec. 9 and 10; or Moanalua High School Winter Craft Fair Dec. 12. Click on this link and go to the bottom of the page for a coupon for a free tote with $50 purchase, good through Dec. 31, 2009, while supplies last: http://www.hsblinks.com/1cv

So Good Jewelry:

AR Collection
Pieces from Aloha Rag’s first collection will range from about $200 to $400, except for leather motorcycle jackets like the one below, which will run higher.

Here’s a look at a few more of the samples from Aloha Rag’s inaugural AR Collection set to hit the boutique’s sales floor in early 2010. Not all the images could fit the print edition of my story today: http://www.hsblinks.com/1ca

The story had a long genesis, perhaps dating about 10 years back when I first started shopping at Tatsugo Yoda’s Kapiolani Boulevard store. I loved the store because, predating Neiman Marcus’s entry into the marketplace, Yoda was a pioneer in bringing in small designer brands we could otherwise only read about. There wasn’t much of a market here for mid-range ($400 to $600) designer apparel in those days, so traffic at the boutique was slow and I was intrigued when one of the salespeople there told me Yoda didn’t care if pieces sold. He just bought what he liked and hoped someone else would be able to relate to his spare, evolved aesthetic. I liked the idea that he seemed to envision himself as more of a connoisseur or curator of clothing than marketer.

I kept thinking I would love to sit down and talk to him. But once his merchandise mix hit the $1,000 mark, I couldn’t afford to visit very often. If I did drop in, it was usually during a sale or because I was heading for dinner at nearby Gyu-Kaku.

I finally caught up with Yoda in New York, where I just happened to walk past his boutique during a stroll after dinner at Flor del Sol. (At the restaurant I spied about a half dozen blondes dining with a group of a half dozen brunettes, with all the dark-haired women lined up on one side of the table, and the blondes on the other. I wanted to snap a photo, but my b.f. said that would be rude. So now the moment is lost to the eye.)

I made a note of the address, at 505 Greenwich St., and returned the next day because I had read so much of the NY press that said how much his New York (downtown) merchandise mix differs from the Hawaii (uptown) store. It seemed weird that he would have to reinvent Aloha Rag for NY, but it all makes sense when you read my story (see link above).

Yoda was at the shop unpacking boxes when I arrived on a rainy day after the Erin Fetherston show. So we made plans to meet up again in Honolulu when he returned last month, though his visit here was shorter than expected due to his need to continue working on his line.

Alexander Wang Fall 2009 top, pictured at Style.com.

At his boutique, still under the influence of the spring shows, I bought a white Alexander Wang top from the designer’s Fall 2009 collection. Apparently, Wang was a season ahead of everyone else in doing whites and cutouts, so the top will work fine into the new year.

Wang recently picked up another accolade, having won the 2009 juried Swiss Textiles Award on Nov. 13, with a prize of 100,000 euros, or $147,000 toward producing and marketing a future collection, partially incorporating Swiss fabric. Rodarte’s Kate and Laura Mulleavy were the 2008 winners.

I really like Wang’s Resort 2010 collection. I wish his clothes weren’t so darned pricey, though. Michael Kors better be looking over his shoulder because if Wang wanted to claim the “great American sportswear designer” title, it’s his as far as I’m concerned. Not that I believe he’d ever want to box himself in with such a label.

The hero shot from Alexander Wang’s Fall 2009 collection.

Love Alexander Wang’s 2010 Resort collection for its marriage of structure and ease. Looks like he’s also trying to bring back light denim, and in one case, the overall bib!

DailyCandy

DailyCandy is about to enter the e-commerce world with the BETA launch of Swirl, Sample Sales by DailyCandy tomorrow, featuring cashmere sweaters by Alisha Levine. (The official hard launch of the members-only site will take place on Feb. 1, 2010, but who can wait that long?)

When it does launch, you’ll see their editors’ hand-selected picks of clothing and accessories from up-and coming buzz artists toestablished brands, at up to 80 percent off.

For now, 100 early members get a chance to win a $100 Swirl gift cards too. Visit www.Swirl.com to sign up now.

Hmm, I wonder what’s in the gift bag. It might be worthwhile to stop by Custo Barcelona at Ala Moana Center store to find out. Who doesn’t like a surprise?

Nadine Kam photos
Nars is presenting 15 iconic looks on some of his fashionable friends to celebrate its 15th anniversary and the launch of a limited-edition book, “NARS 15X15,” of 15 celebrity portraits inspired by one of his products. Here, model Dayle Haddon is made up to look like Elizabeth Taylor. I enjoyed seeing all the images at the Nars counter.

The Cosmetics Trend Event, a makeup road show, returned to Nordstrom on Saturday. This time, I slept through the 8 a.m. event, figuring I’d just head in later to see what’s new on the floor.

Gotta give the visiting makeup artists a lot of credit for always waking up early to put on energetic and entertaining shows to introduce the new season, no matter how jet lagged they might feel.

Here are a couple of videos with Smahsbox’s Hank Hoffman, and ZO Skin Health’s Dr. Zein Obagi. Obagi had a lot of startling things to say, such as challenging the wisdom of using moisturizer, and that it can be better to no nothing than do the wrong thing.

After Hoffman’s presentation, a woman lamented that she—meaning older women and women without classically beautiful features—could never look as good as the model.

That must be frustrating for any makeup artist to hear, because they repeat themselves over and over, and all the information is out there in newspapers, magazines and online, but women still have misconceptions about what makeup can and cannot do.

True, if you didn’t win the genetic lottery, you will never have classically beautiful features without surgical chiseling, and for older women less is more, but the point is to work with what you have and learn to play up your best features to put your best face forward. That’s all. If women don’t want to wear makeup, they shouldn’t have to, but no one should use the excuse that there’s no point in doing so because she’ll never look like a model. Few people do, but most still want to try to look their best.

M.A.C’s holiday palette

This was the gift tote with sample goodies for those who paid $15 (applicable toward the cost of cosmetics purchased that day) to attend the event. I couldn’t wake up before 8 a.m. on a Saturday, so missed out.

The cosmetics department happens to be right next door to the women’s shoe department, so I found myself wandering over there after spotting the season’s thigh-high boots. Wonder who will be the first to wear them. Not me. I’d be swallowed up by those.

The first window display of the season’s boots was in New York in September, with a showing of Louis Vuitton footwear at Sak’s Fifth Avenue. I thought I had taken a photo, but I guess I only photographed the shoes, coming up later in this post.

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Luxury Row’s high-end boutiques became home to art lovers Thursday night with the opening of the “Hawaii’s Modern Masters” exhibition, presented by Cedar Street Galleries, that continues through the end of November.

Nine artists were paired with seven boutiques, with Chanel hosting the largest exhibition marking a reunion of artists Satoru Abe, Harry Tsuchidana and Robert Kobayashi, friends who studied and worked in New York in the 1950s. Abe and Tsuchidana returned home to continue their careers, while Kobayashi remained in New York. So this show also marks the largest display of Kobayashi’s works in his hometown.

At Chanel, I ran into next-generation artist Kamea Hadar, who has his own show of oils on canvas, “Voluptuous Lines” up at Pacific Guardian Center on Bishop Street through January 2010. He put me on the spot by asking which of the works was my favorite, which he said he likes to do because the answers can be so revealing. He got that right. That would be getting inside someone’s head in a way much more revealing than words and clothing could ever be. Words and the way you dress, if you’re aware of their connotations, can be controlled. Gut reactions to art can’t, revealing levels of education, intellect, visual sophistication, temperament and other aspects of personality. While thinking all these thoughts, I promptly forgot to ask him what HIS favorite piece was, or maybe I did and he coyly evaded the question.

Meanwhile, Harry, Sandy Pohl and I talked about staging a drawing show together next year. I can’t draw that well so it’ll be interesting. My art philosophy anyway is to get back to the point of being as fearless as a child unfettered by rules of technically sound drawing. Given that mindset, I gravitated to Daven Hee’s cheerful, exuberant, and rather voluptuous yellow ceramic submarines over at Hugo Boss, below.

From Chanel, I worked my way back to Tiffany, where Rick Mills showed his glass and mixed media sculptures, and guests sipped blue martinis served with Tiffany blue paper parasols.

At Coach, Ron Smith’s wood and metal sculptures stood amidst a colorful collection of sequined and feathered handbag for the holidays. Scott Fitzel’s paintings looked at home in Gucci, while Tod’s showcased wood sculptures by Aaron Padilla, and at YSL, artist Jaisy Hanlon was looking so chic that people thought she was employed there. I thought she was a YSL manager as well, until I figured out she had a circle of admirers because she was the artist.

Her work is an intriguing blend of yin and yang, with soft pastels that serve as a backdrop to dark metal silhouettes, which has to make you wonder what’s going on in her head. She grew up in Idaho and moved to New York before getting tired of the cold and moving to Maui, where she also teaches at Hui Noeau. The New York connection might explain her fashion sense, because artists there are some of the best-dressed people. Check out Robert Kobayashi in the photo below, in classic black and white.

That’s one thing I don’t understand about Hawaii artists. Very few of them ever dress up. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it seems that people with an innate visual sense would want to put in as much effort in presenting themselves as they would a canvas. The Luxury Row art opening drew the fashion set, but the typical art reception would be so much more interesting if people dressed. Maybe the artists just don’t want to compete with their canvases.

The artists, from left, Harry Tsuchidana, Robert Kobayashi and Satoru Abe in front of one of Tsuchidana’s paintings.

Aaron Padilla showed his wood sculptures at Tod’s. He’s sitting behind a piece entitled “Little Sense.”

Artist Jaisy Hanlon, in black, with Masako Nashimoto, who was admiring her mixed media, “Animal Vegetable Mineral #2.”

I noticed Jaisy’s bold and unusual jewelry right away, and it turns out her metalsmithing isn’t restricted to walls. She made her ring with epoxy and minerals on metal.

At Gucci, I spotted denim designer Allison Izu with Julie Aragaki and Stacey Makiya, in front of one of Scott Fitzel’s paintings.
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Tori Richard
The lovely Michelle Vawer on the cover of the Tori Richard holiday/resort catalog in a Kalena dress from the Sprinkles group set to arrive in the boutiques Nov. 17.

Backtracking all the way back to Sept. 25, I was at the Tori Richard fashion show previewing the holiday/resort and spring 2010 collections at the Honolulu Academy of Arts ARTS after DARK event.

I missed a lot of what was going on here while I was in New York, though I kept up with emails and when I was invited to the show, that took place the same day I was set to return home, I just said I’d be there, figuring I’d return home the same way I arrived in NY, hitting the ground running. My bf thought I was crazy. He said, “What? You’re going to get off the plane and go to a fashion show?”

My answer to that is “Why not?”

Of course, it always goes better in my head than in reality and I didn’t realize how long it would take to catch up, but here we are in November and it turns out to be timely as the first pieces of the holiday collection are arriving in the Tori Richard boutiques, with dresses running from about $98 to $198, and tops about $62 to $118. You can also find lookbooks and designs online at www.toririchard.com.

For both of the collections, designer Tamar Hassing Wong went into the company’s vast archives to bring back prints from the 1960s and ’70s to compliment the relaxed, leisure styles.

The bold prints fit perfectly with today’s strong graphic sensibilities. My favorite, though, was one of the newer prints, on cotton/silk voile, that’s inspired by centuries-old ikat weaving. The monstera leaf is a longstanding graphic design but this one brings back some of the lush ambience of 1940s and ’50s design, while the white-and-purple Iris color combination bring it up to date. Can’t wait for that one, coming up in spring.

Melody jersey knit dress from the Blooming group.

Island Ikat Tea Time dress in Iris color, from the Tori Richard Spring 2010 collection.

Coconut camisole in Jewel Box (1973) archive print, in Carnation color, also from the spring 2010 collection.

Nadine Kam photos
Renee Nobriga, in lei, posed with judges after her win in the Most Beautiful Leggs contest at Pearl Oct. 22. From left are Ron Nagasawa, Leilani Keough and Yu Shing Ting.

It didn’t surprise me that Renee Nobriga was named Miss Hawaii USA 2010 Monday night.

The Kahuku High School graduate also won “The Most Beautiful Leggs” (why there are two g’s I don’t know) contest at Pearl a few weeks ago, on Oct. 22. Her competition comprised fellow Miss Hawaii USA contestants who agreed to participate in the event as a fund raiser for The Samoa Relief Fund.

I was one of four judges at the Leggs contest, and the choice was easy and unanimous.

Renee’s next target is the Miss USA pageant, where the winner will move on to compete for the Miss Universe title. Hawaii has won the Miss USA title four times: Macee Wilson (1962), Tanya Wilson (1972), Judy Anderson (1978) and Brook Lee (1997). Brook also went on to win the Miss Universe competition.

Shaesby
Shaesby Scott’s bridal jewelry collection is on view at Neiman Marcus.

Jewelry designer Shaesby Scott is in Hawaii to introduce his first bridal collection, already an award winner in the Bridal Boutique category of the Platinum Guild International Couture Style Challenge.

The designer was at Neiman Marcus last night, and will be in the store until 5 p.m. today to help customers with their selections.

He said his clients have long requested bridal pieces, but he took his time coming up with the collection to create pieces that would be simultaneously contemporary, classic and timeless.

Nadine Kam photos
Shaesby Scott at Neiman Marcus, where, in the background, women examine his jewelry.

Pieces on view feature Shaesby’s signature satin texture, marquis diamonds and organic lines, reflecting an Art Deco sensibility. Each band is handcrafted in Shaesby’s Austin studio so that no two are alike, and they can be customized with the option of 18k yellow gold or platinum with rubies, sapphires and black or yellow diamonds in addition to the traditional white diamonds.

Shaesby’s pieces possess a delicate beauty. 

Rings are designed to be stackable for combinations unique to every bride, so that even if they are meant to be worn for eternity, they can be arranged and recombined to look different from day to day.

I was told that those who spend $500 or more today on Shaesby’s jewelry on an NM card during the Be Jeweled event will receive a NM gift card, a choice of a Shaesby gift necklace or earrings, and a Roxanne Assoulin for Lee Angel necklace.

The Be Jeweled Event continues through Sunday with gift card offers and the Lee Angel gift necklace available with purchases from other Designer and Precious Jewelry collections as well.

Lee Angel necklace that is a gift with a purchase of $500 or more.

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Trying on the Elizabeth & James leather jacket. Love the red but it’s still pretty hot outside.

While I was there, the store was offering a 40 percent sale on most of the Contemporary Women’s apparel, so of course I had to check it out. The thing is, I look at sale offers from online marketers like Shopittome and Gilt Group all the time and never want anything so I feel immune to most clothes with standard shapes. Things have to be a little “out there” to catch my eye.

I gravitated toward a red leather jacket from Elizabeth & James, then two things that were not on sale.

I told Neiman Marcus’ Contemporary Sportswear Specialist Alen Ajed that “just for fun” I wanted to try on a 3.1 Phillip Lim jacket (hanging and on a model, above), and without skipping a beat, he just said, “I know which one,” and OMG he can read my mind! He came back with the correct sequined cardigan. I LOVED it, but at about $900, I think I have to wait til I finish paying off my trip.

Last piece I wanted was this hat, also not on sale. Please don’t try to imagine the hat and cardigan worn together.

Neiman Marcus has a one-day sale going on today, Nov. 11, with about 25 brands offering 20 percent discounts.

Participating brands include Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Clinique,YSL, Armani Beaute, Sisley, Kiehl’s, Kate Somerville, Cle de Peau, Shu Uemura, Lancome, Natura Bisse, ReVive, and more.

There are also discounts on men’s apparel and contemporary women’s wear at 20 to 40 percent off.

Don’t run me over getting there.