After Mu'umu'u Heaven, Deb Mascia's Hana Hou

Nadine Kam photos
At Deb Mascia’s Kailua boutique, Hana Hou Vintage, Nanhee Oliva models a 1950s cocktail dress ($40).

Fans of Deb Mascia’s retro boho spirit were saddened to hear she closed Mu’umu’u Heaven back in March due to rent inflation, but now they have two places to shop her upcycled apparel and vintage pieces.

After closing her boutique, she refused to answer her phone, which was inundated with calls from concerned clients and nosy reporters. When she finally did check back in, she found one particularly interesting phone call. T Galleria Hawaii by DFS, which had already run successful collaborations with the University of Hawaii at Manoa Department of Apparel Product Design & Merchandising and POW WOW Hawai‘i, was interested in bringing her line of new and upcycled apparel fashioned from vintage mu‘umu‘u fabric and aloha wear, to its Waikiki clientele.

This globe ($850) is one of the furnishings available at Hana Hou Vintage. It’s real job is to make a barfly look like a brainiac. Open it up and …

 

Her first inclination was to say no, but she agreed to a meeting. By that time, she’d already opened another Kailua shop, Hana Hou Vintage, focused on sharing her vast collection of vintage apparel.

At T Galleria, she said, “I met the whole team, and everyone was so nice, I thought ‘Why not?’ ”

Then she head out to St. Martin for two weeks, and by the time she got home, she found the designers had already gone shopping at Re-Use Hawaii to construct the Mu‘uMu‘u Heaven popup and showed her plans for an installation that captured the lighthearted energy of her brand.

“They understood my concept and made it very easy to say yes,” she said. The pop-up is slated to be in place through the end of June.

Hippie floral pins at Hana Hou Vintage.

Meanwhile, Hana Hou Vintage in Kailua is home to her “untouchables,” a collection of vintage apparel she deemed too good to cut up for her upcycled Mu’umu’u Heaven original designs.

She grew up shopping thrift stores in Melbourne, Australia, and admits to dressing like an “old lady” as a pre-teen, developing her individual style as she went along.

Now, she’s thinking about writing a book to create more mindfulness about the value of reuse and recyling, and encourage fans of fast fashion to think about the repurcussions of consuming cheap, wear-once-and-throw-away fashion, with its detrimental cost to the planet.

Deb Mascia shows one of the throw pillows fashioned from vintage Hawaiiana fabric, carried at the Mu’umu’u Heaven pop-up inside T Galleria by DFS.


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Natural beauty from Tata Harper

 

Nadine Kam photos
A clean-faced Meleana Estes posed for a photo with Tata Harper, right, after the natural beauty expert’s skincare workshop.

Tata Harper was in town Wednesday to visit Neiman Marcus and introduce the latest additions to her line of all-natural skincare products, made at her Vermont farm. She also conducted a master class for NM clientele, during which she shared her philosophy of healthy living, a journey that, for her, began when her father-in-law fell ill with cancer.

That was when she began to see the way we fill our lives, bathroom counters and medicine cabinets with synthetic ingredients that can have health consequences.


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She’s been busy since I interviewed her three years ago, adding makeup basics in the form of sheer Lip Treatments and natural-looking and delicious Volumizing Lip and Cheek Tints. I bought the Very Sweet Volumizing Lip and Cheek Tint in a shimmering peach color, that tastes like candy. Everyone left with rosy, glowing skin.

Since the last time I interviewed Tata, she’s come up with a basic line of skin-nourishing color products, the sheer lip treatments and Volumizing Lip and Cheek Tints, shown here.

Participants in her skincare workshop tried no fewer than 10 face products, two bodycare treatments and portable rollerball aromatherapy treatments aimed at reducing stress and irritability. She even has a “Love Potion” geared toward inducing calmness, positivity and happiness, that makes a woman more appealing to men.

I was already a big fan of her Hydrating floral essence, which hydrates skin before applying moisturizer, as well as her Repairative Moisturizer. But she also offers anti-aging serums, and I just have to figure out which one I need most. The treatment options are: Rejuvenating (anti-aging collagen treatment), Boosted Contouring (lifting and firming), Concentrated Brightening (tone correcting), or Elixir Vitae (wrinkle solution).

Also new from Tata Harper: Take-it-with-you aromatherapy rollerball treatments addressing “Irritability,” “Bedtime” relaxation and “Stress.” There’s also a “Love Potion,” essential oils for mood enhancement said to make a woman more attractive to men.

I feel there’s a universal consumer sentiment that 100 percent natural cannot possibly be as effective as manmade chemicals, but so far, Tata Harper’s products seem to work really well for me. The caveat is that everyone’s skin is different, but the brand is growing because more and more people are concerned about the chemicals we use in everyday life, and the smart choice seems to be going the natural route.

It was this notion that set Harper on her journey. After her father-in-law became ill with cancer, she started thinking about the products we use daily, that can be harmful, and, noting a lack of healthful retail options, she simply decided to make her own products, and her skin is flawless.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Season offers bouquet of rose scents and beauty

Photos courtesy Neiman Marcus
Chantecaille Rose Face Oil ($185).

If you’re thinking flowers for Mother’s Day, remember that flowers wilt, so you may want to add something with a little more permanence to that thought.

Everything’s coming up roses in the beauty department, and here are a few options available at Neiman Marcus, where a Spring Scent Event continues through May 10. During the event, those who make a purchase of $100 or more in Cosmetics or Fragrance will receive an bag filled with beauty samples.

Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Nourishing Oil ($62) and Infusing de Rose Nourishing Cream ($68).

Fresh Rose Face Mask ($62).

Natura Bisse limited edition Diamond Experience Rose Oil ($65).
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Hawaii Jewelers Association names 2015 design winners

Denny Wong was named Jewelry Designer of the Year, collecting the highest points for his jewelry designs during the Hawaii Jewelers Association annual design competition, with winners announced during the groups annual banquet May 2 at Honolulu Country Club. Here are the winners in three categories:

JEWELRY UNDER $3,500

First place: “Jali” ring by Jason Dow. This eternity ring design captures the mysterious ephemeral transparency of intricate jali screens seen in prized Indian architecture. In 18 karat rose gold, framed in black diamonds.

Second place: “Waterfall” by Carrie Nottage Smith, Na Hoku. This elegant
opal inlay and diamond pendant expresses the hues and movement of Hawaii’s waterfalls.

Third place: “Fire and Ice” necklace, Denny Wong Designs. An icy blue apatite and fiery pink sapphire are the gems featured in this dramatic white gold pendant.

People’s choice: “Waterfall,” Na Hoku

JEWELRY OVER $3,500

First place: “Ocean Tides” ring, Maui Divers design team. This ring features a perfect example of Hawaii’s state gem, black coral, surrounded by waves of diamonds.

Second place: “Royal Bliss” ring, by Dona Wong, Keoni Collections. A stunning royal blue tanzanite is the centerpiece of this pendant, with a diamond crown set atop a rich, diamond-decorated lotus design base. Craftsmanship fit for a monarch in white and yellow gold.

Third place: “Koala” pendant, Tiara Pearl International. The cute and cuddly koala is a perfect expression for this impressive baroque Australian South Seas pearl. Delicate and imaginative use of white gold, diamonds, black rhodium and even a stick of wood completes this sculpted design of Australia’s iconic, irresistible living teddy bear.

People’s choice: “Snowflake” by Moshe Hakemolo, Diamond Guy Hawaii. The design of this engagement and wedding ring set is as delicate as a snowflake and packs a blizzard of brilliance. Set in 18 karat white gold it features a 3.5 carat round diamond that is surrounded by custom-cut fancy shaped diamonds.

HAWAIIAN-THEMED JEWELRY

First place: “Kilauea” necklace, Denny Wong Designs. The flickering of red emitted from the unique rose-cut red garnet featured in this 18 karat gold pendant represents Kilauea’s fiery cauldron. The black tourmaline necklace it is dangling from represents the black basalt rock that is Kilauea. Every aspect of this garnet, diamond and tanzanite pendant evokes fire.

Second place: ”Treasured Waters” by Dona Wong, Keoni Collections. Featuring a natural shape precious red coral and flowing diamond studded gold, this pendant expresses the dreamy romantic beauty of Hawaii’s waters. It completes its water motif design with a delightful raindrop filigree pattern on the back.

Third place: “Plumeria Scroll,” gold and diamond pendant, Maui Divers. This pendant features a delicate sculpted plumeria with flowing, diamond accented royal scrolling. A jewelry wardrobe staple for locals and a prize for visitors who might want to bring home a memento of their stay.

People’s choice: “He’e (Octopus)” by Donna Shimazu, Na Hoku. The power and grace of
the Hawaiian octopus is wonderfully expressed in this powerful slide pendant. With a gold body and Tahitian black pearl head and diamonds for the eyes this beautiful piece would be the perfect possession for those with the he’e as their aumakua.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage is in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.