Yes, it’s still a new year!
By Nadine Kam
Nadine Kam photos
A model wears one of Monique Zhang’s creations at the C.S. Wo Chinese New Year celebration.
C.S. Wo welcomed the Year of the Rat Feb. 16 with another of their grand celebrations combining food, drink, fireworks, cultural and fashion displays.
On view were the colorful couture garments of Monique Zhang, of San Francisco’s Cicada boutique, presented during a fashion show that preceded the evening’s lion dance. Several lions were needed to bless guests scattered throughout two floors.
Among those who came to see Zhang’s work were local designers Jeanne Chun, Bill Chow and Bernard Foong, who is currently working on Maui but has plans to set up shop in Honolulu. He wore an elegant Mandarin-style robe of his own design.
Monique Zhang, center, with Gloria Untermann, left, and Ethel Oyang.
Also showing her new creations was jewelry designer Julie Wong, who works with semi-precious and precious stones. I was particularly taken by one pair of multiple-strand dangling earrings and realized why when informed the stones on them were black diamonds. Very nice. Colored sapphires were also sparkling charmers. I ran away before becoming too enamored.
Bill Chow dressed for the party in a Moschino jacket with Versace trousers and belt, Paul Smith 100-button tie and a shirt of his own design.
Midweek style editor Yu Shing Ting and Travin Makinano brought 4-month-old Koen Kaimalieokalani Makinano to the party. Yu Shing showed me his urban-style booties, and she’ll probably see to it that he’s wearing the latest gear until he’s old enough to dress himself.
During her stay in Honolulu, Monique fitted several women, like Winona Machado, in her designs. She’ll have a lot of custom work to do once she returns home.
