H&M coming to Waikiki in 2014

H&M photos

H&M, Hennes & Mauritz, the global retailer known for fashion-forward apparel and modern basics at reasonable prices, has announced plans to open its first Hawaii store at the Waikiki Business Plaza in early 2014.

A release from the company calls it the "most-anticipated" U.S. H&M opening since to company introduced its first U.S. store opening on New York's Fifth Avenue in 2000. I don't know if they're referring to their own anticipation, or ours, but the announcement caused a bit of a stir when I broke the news on Twitter. Of course, that was followed by daydreaming about the other retailers we want here, but H&M has been at the top of the wish list for years!

The tri-level H&M flagship store, at 31,000 square feet will house collections for women and men, with separate “store within store” sections for accessories, lingerie, maternity and sports apparel.

The United States has been one of H&M’s most important markets, now with 269 locations across the country. Internationally, H&M has more than 2,800 stores in 48 markets.

Not everyone is 100 percent elated. Over the years avid travelers have told me they love shopping H&M on their trips, and coming home with pieces no one else has. Now everyone will be in on their "secret."

The solution: Style, style, style to create a look all your own.

Beauty Spot: Go green beyond St. Paddy's day

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The partnership of Sephora and Pantone is a no-brainer. With Pantone already setting the tone for color in everything from fashion to cars to the home, the color we wear on our faces is a logical step. Last year, Sephora + Pantone Universe launched a Color of the Year collection built around Tangerine Tango. This year, it's Emerald's turn.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says the rationale for the soothing, life-affirming green is because, “Symbolically, emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation," which she notes is important in today’s complex world.

The color also evokes power and possibility, two things women should feel when they wear makeup. For those who fear the bold green, it's possible to wear just a suggestion of color with eye liner, or go bold with a switch from a gray or violet smoky eye, to one utilizing Emerald and Crown Blue, a navy color.

The collection is available a la carte, or go green with the Color of the Year Collection ($68), that includes:
1 Color Grid Eye Shadow Block in BIONIC
1 Color Code Prismatic Shadow
1 Color Cube Lid Liner Stain
1 Lightspeed Glitter Dust
1 Graphic Sculpt Waterproof Jumbo Eyeliner
1 Color Watt Highlighting Mascara

At any rate, this also means easily avoiding getting pinched on St. Patrick's Day.

Sephora + Pantone Universe "Bionic" Color Grid Shadow Block, $26.

Sephora +Pantone Universe Graphic Lift Liquid Eyeliner, $17.

Vivienne Westwood boutique opens in Waikiki

Nadine Kam photos
Vivienne Westwood Waikiki store manager Stacie Dickinson in Anglomania line spring collection floral pant ($576) and top ($376), with Melissa shoe ($206), shown in detail below.

By Nadine Kam

March 6 marked the grand opening of the Vivienne Westwood boutique at the Moana Surfrider in Waikiki.

During an early morning store blessing, someone asked me if the designer is still alive.

Yes quite! In fact, the grand dame of British punk is still making waves, most recently with the showing of her Autumn/Winter 2013-'14 "Climate Revolution" collection. The designer doesn't mince words when she says the culture wars are "no longer between the classes or between rich and poor but between the idiots and the eco-conscious."

The redheaded provocateur rose to prominence as the designer for Malcolm McLaren's King's Road. It started as Let it Rock in the '70s, before becoming more famously known as 'SEX'. Their mashup of clothing, music and rebellion shaped the rising 1970s British punk scene and image of McLaren's band, the Sex Pistols.

I am so, so happy the boutique is here. I've been obsessed with British designers for decades, because of that whole dichotomy between punk and impeccable Savile Row tailoring, and of course, the taste for the theatrical as exhibited by Westwood, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. I guess now it's because they helped me feel normal in my attraction to both ends of the fashion spectrum. (I'm also obsessed with the Italians for their sense of color and familial heritage.)

Given Westwood's penchant to shock and the drama of her runway shows, it was so surprising to find the clothing in the boutique to be so beautiful and wearable! Items start at about $300 for shorts and $400 for tops, with T-shirts from $112.

Anne and Ed Schultz, with partners in Guam, brought the boutique to Honolulu, after opening in Guam and finding a welcome audience of both residents and visitors.

Anne said she believed Westwood's style, "With gorgeous products that are so wearable, whether all together or by incorporating single pieces into your wardrobe, would translate well in Hawaii."

Many of the designs carried at the boutique are casual, and can be dressed up or down. They're also high quality, made in London and Italy.

Anne said, "It's a wonderful season to present to Hawaii because of all the bright colors and floral patterns."

Available at the boutique are the Anglomania and Red Label collections, along with mens, footwear and accessories collections.

The Melissa shoe, $206, topped with a pretty pink bow.

Boutique owners Ed and Cathy Schultz.

One of Vivienne Westwood's signature Orb necklaces.

The Orb detail shows up on items from belts and scarves, and small leather goods, to handbag hardware.

Patent skull loafers, $346.

Men's apparel.

Candy-colored knuckle dusters.

Strappy, buckled Pirate boots, $1,002.

Maiko Nakano shows one of her favorite pieces in the store, a Red Label heart sweater, $570, or jumper if you're a Brit.

Pretty in pink on Girls Day

Nadine Kam photos
Guests at the Kahala Hotel Veranda's Girls Day Tea showed up in their Sunday best.

By Nadine Kam

It was all about the young and fashionable set when the Kahala Hotel's Veranda hosted a Girls Day Tea and informal fashion show featuring designs from its keiki boutique L'ill Nell's, styled by Cora Spearman, creator of Coradorables. True to her diva style, she delivered a picture-perfect finale, with all the girl models dressed in hot pink wigs and frothy tutus that had some of them twirling like prima ballerina.

Little girls in the crowd came dressed to impress, causing one adult to remark, "I feel so shame, kids today dress better than I do."

Guests were greeted by a buffet of tea sandwiches and sweets, lots of sweets, so much so that the children in the audience were bouncing off the walls, and it took a while to corral some of them for a group photo. In between shots they were running around, dancing, and yes, fighting when one of the girls popped in front of the others for a diva-like turn front and center, was called out and duly outcast, before the swirling began again seconds later.

Ah, Girl World. So glad I was never part of it, choosing instead to observe from a safe distance while doing my own thing.

Boys were given equal opportunity in the show, showing up in crisp aloha shirts by Coradorables and grownup-quality knits from Masala Baby.

The event also marked the launch of HI Tea Shop's Keiki Haute Tea for Coradorables, a fruity caffeine-free blend of lilikoi, mango, orange and marigold in green Rooibos.

For those of us merely enjoying the show and setting, it was a pleasant and relaxing way to spend an afternoon. I do enjoy being a girl!

Event coordinator and Coradorables creator Cora Spearman with her family, hubby Chris Chang and daughter Izzabelle.

Raspberry truffle pops were among the sweet treats awaiting kids of all ages.

There was also pink mochi to mark Girls Day.

A very pink finale with wigs and candy colored crinoline pettiskirts.

Kiyomi liked her Coradorables dress so much, she danced her way around the Veranda.

Dozens of Coradorables dresses and separates are available at the Kahala's L'ill Nell's boutique, which opened last fall to make it convenient for vacationing parents to shop for resort apparel for their kids.

Two more Hawaii-style looks from Coradorables.

More styles reflecting Cora's vision.

Kiyomi in a Juicy Couture swimsuit, with mom Tracie Asayama.

This Juicy Couture swimsuit was so adorable, but the model was actually having a meltdown. Which I don't really understand. When you're a kid, life is all fun, new and carefree. I never had meltdowns or threw tantrums until I became an adult.

Courtesy photo
Brandon Maxwell in a Masala Baby ensemble.

Watching the show was Chloe with mom Thea Schwartz Johnson. Chloe is in her own Twills and Twigs jumpsuit with leopard flats. Mom is in Trina Turk.

Kahala Mall handing out keys to unlock your style

By Nadine Kam

Kahala Mall will be starting the spring season by giving away special keys that will unlock exclusive prizes and offers throughout the mall during the “Unlock Your Style” event beginning at noon Saturday.

The keys will be distributed to the first 250 fashionistas arriving at Center Court beginning at noon. Keyholders will be able to unlock deals, gain access to a VIP lounge, and have the chance to win more than 30 prizes at a giveaway event at 3 p.m. at Center Court.

The tech savvy can also win prizes before the event officially starts by participating in the Instagram contest #UnlockStyle. Take a photo of anything you consider Spring Style, use the hashtag #UnlockStyle and tag photos of your favorite Kahala mall purchase, your outfit, accessory, color trend ... anything on trend this spring. The more photos you tag, the better your chances are of winning. Kahala Mall will announce the winners on March 7 via Instagram.

It's a continuing joke that I can't remember my Instagram password (for those who have tried to be my friend on Foursquare, I'm not being snobby but I can't remember that password either). Looks like I'd better figure it all out fast!

On that day, the public is also welcome to attend 20-minute Trend Sessions at Center Court between 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., during which fashion professionals from M.A.C., Honolulu magazine, Marsha Nadalin Salon and Spa, and local stylist Tyson Joines and others will share the latest in hair and makeup, and ways to incorporate the season’s trends into one’s wardrobe. Audience members will be able to win prizes and consult with stylists for individualized wardrobe tips.

While there, enter to win a roundtrip for two to the West Coast on Hawaiian Airlines. In addition, those who spend $75 or more at any store, restaurant or theater at Kahala Mall will receive quadruple HawaiianMiles, four miles for every dollar spent that day.

Visit www.KahalaMallCenter.com for more information.

Urban Decay's 'Great and Powerful' Oz palettes

Disney photos

By Nadine Kam

Coinciding with the opening of the film, “Oz: The Great and Powerful” tomorrow, Urban Decay has come up with two beautiful limited-edition eye palettes inspired by the witches in the Disney film.

While the company named the palettes after Glinda, played by Michelle Williams in the film, and Theodora, played by Mila Kunis, fans have already been referring to the palettes as being for the good girl, and the bad girl, respectively.

Urban Decay refers to the Theodora palette of muted browns and greens as being for the “fiery, strong-willed and spell-binding” woman, while the Glinda palette of glittery silver and gold, with touches of pink, peach and violet as being for the “graceful, fearless and bewitching.”

The palettes are $49 each at Macy’s and Sephora, though those embracing their inner saint and sinner might want to pick up both.

I could have used the Glinda palette when "Wicked" was in town. My friends and I regretted not sparkling for the event, and the Glinda palette delivers. The silver and gold is really too much for most occasions, but just the thing when you want to stand out from the crowd.

Urban Decay photos

Cotton's 24-hour lifestyle

Cotton looks by Gypsy05, among the brands offering cotton apparel at 24 percent off to mark Cotton Incorporated's 24 Hour Runway Show.

Cotton Incorporated is hosting a 24 Hour Runway Show demonstrating the versatility of cotton through 1,440 different looks — one per minute — inspired by regional trends from across the U.S.

Judging from the brands being shown, it seems as if Hawaii designers and Hawaii as a site would have been a perfect fit for a show like this because cotton is so breathable and comfortable to wear.

The curious can view the show, taking place in South Beach, Fla., beginning 3 p.m. today and ending the same time tomorrow, via computer or mobile device at http://cotton24hours.thefabricofourlives.com

Those who visit the site can also visit links to dozens of designers—including Tommy Hilfger, Cosabella, Cubavera, Denim Habit and French Connection—who are offering cotton apparel and accessory items at 24 percent off.

The fashion show will be hosted by Giuliana Rancic of E! News and E!'s Fashion Police and Bill Rancic, and feature special appearances by actress Camilla Belle, who appears in Cotton's "The Fabric of Our Lives" advertising campaign; and more.

A look from Cubavera.