Opening day for Club Monaco
By Nadine Kam
Nadine Kam photos
A look at Club Monaco style in mostly black and white, with seasonal color accents.
Club Monaco opened its doors July 11 and I think I was the second customer, which caused Joline Tang and Desiree Yamamoto of PacRim Marketing and Crystal Yamasaki and Char Chang of the Bennet Group to make fun of me. Yeah, we all know shopping is an occupational hazard from working in the vicinity of all these boutiques.
I can look impulsive but I’m not a frivolous spender. I tend to study everything available before making a single purchase. Being no richie, not even close, I look for what will deliver the most in terms of versatility, longevity and wow factor, as well as pairing with what I already own. It’s the Club Monaco philosophy as well, so I’m naturally drawn to their “blank slate” designs. You can do anything you want with them in terms of mixing them into your own wardrobe without looking “branded.” These points were lost on some Hollister-branded kids who came in to make fun of the clothes.
Melissa Paekukui, one of Club Monaco’s resident stylists, tries on the Fleur de Lys necklace I eventually bought.
One of my purchases was a black corset belt for $95. I’ve wanted one ever since I went to New York and saw one in a boutique next door to Ivanka Trump’s 5th Avenue jewerly store. The corset belt there was $295, but that seemed high, so I walked … and have thought about it ever since. I can’t think of anything more versatile for its ability to transform the look of tops, jackets, dresses and skirts. I even thought of calling over to the boutique to ship me one, but I couldn’t remember the name and thought they might think it rude at Ivanka’s to call and ask for the name and number of the shop next door.
Club Monaco staff and VIPs, dress in the brand’s classic black and white, wait to enter the store after its blessing Friday.
In New York I also saw a stellar, beautiful pale blue vintage snake clutch at the Hell’s Kitchen Swap Meet for $40. (Yup, I always remember the ones that got away.) The sun was bothering me so I had to leave, and regretted it immediately. I never found that vendor again. So now I have Club Monaco’s bright red faux-snake clutch to compensate. I considered the equally eye-catching yellow clutch, but decided that’s a one-season color, unless you really, really love yellow. And hey, it’s bound to come back, maybe as soon as next summer.
Lastly, I had to try on a chunky Fleur de Lys necklace from the retailer’s limited-edition collection that debuted with the opening. I was sold. I didn’t care for the wrinkly grosgrain ribbon that came with the display necklace so I asked if they had another one. Unfortunately, it was the only one available, so I just bought it. It’s not like I can’t swap out the ribbon myself.
The line for the new Apple iPhone snaked around to the opposite side of the Ala Moana Center. The little Apple sign on the far left. This photo was taken near Ilori.
While I was there, I strolled over to the Dunhill store to take a photo for our HI Luxury magazine and also got a photo of the line to the Apple store for the new iPhone 3G. Kind of the same idea. I wanted to be the only one in Hawaii to have the Fleur de Lys necklace; hundreds wanted to be among the first to have the phone. Priorities. Mine was cheaper. I already have a Blackberry Pearl that I’ll use ’til it dies.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
im luvin your purchases! everything seems so versatile and stylish. i think i need to check it out!
July 14th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
i love the yellow thing. that is so funny. i already want to get rid of all these “spring” colors that i foolishly would look cool on a body so meant for black, white, grey and sometimes brown. i mean, we all know the only non-seasonal color for a clutch is animal print right! er, or is it only me that thinks that.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Good observations at Club Monaco. I went in the next day and was ‘over-helped’ by all 5 of the employees. They seemed a little too eager and if they were paying attention, they would have noticed I didn’t need any help after all. The clothes were a tad boring, looked like WhiteHouseBlackMarket meets Express meets Bebe to me! Wait for the whole store to be on Sale, it’s the only way they will survive.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
And metallic! … at least until we get tired of it!
July 15th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
The clothes are what you make it. The right pairings can make it super-chic. I’ll be picking up more stuff later.
But yeah, the attempts to help was the part annoying to me. The newly trained staff tries to advise people on how to wear the pieces, but it’s like PUH-leez, I think I know how to dress myself.
I know they’re trying to be helpful, but people who are or who consider themselves stylish will resent the unsolicited advice of recruits who have undergone a crash course in “style” without it being innate, having learned it organically or lived it.
I think the people on the floor have to do a better job at sizing up the individual when they come in, as to who is confident in their selections and who is uncertain and willing to listen. For someone without an eye for style, it will be hard to sort.
July 16th, 2008 at 2:41 am
I went their with my mom this past weekend because she wanted to check it out. We both didn’t get anything, but I really liked their stuff! I loved the shape of the clutch you got and the black foldover one. I also like the dark jeans, the strapless romper and a simple dress that had tucks at the waist. I didn’t even want to try it on because I was scared I would like it too much and buy it! I’m trying not to buy anything until after I find a job, but I might give in this weekend at the Nordstrom sale!
July 16th, 2008 at 2:44 am
Oh, and did the some of the stuff look like Proenza Schouler to you? Like the safari dresses, a line skirts and that yellow color from spring?
July 16th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Yeah, there’s always “something in the air.” Proenza Schouler has come a long way. When they first appeared, I was like, why is Anna Wintour backing these guys beyond the fact that they’re young and cute. Sometimes it takes a while to see what they’re about.