Therapy marks two years at Kahala Mall

Nadine Kam photos
From right, Therapy boutique owner Tina Wary, Julie Waters and Umee Honolulu's Deena White Tearney, who was one of five featured designers at the first of Therapy boutique's second anniversary events Nov. 5 at Kahala Mall. The week two celebration takes place 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, with six designers and a performance by Chase Dean.

Two years deserves two weeks of celebrations, and Therapy boutique owner Tina Wary will be hosting Week Two from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 12, showcasing designs by local brands and designers Angry Lady Bug, Organik, La'akea Designs, Roberta Oaks, HI State of Mind, and Val Loh Designs.

The first celebration took place Nov. 5 at the Kahala Mall boutique, when Tina welcomed Moopiland's Keiko Knudson, ccdoodle's Christy Chung, Gem Parfait's Allison Fujita, Ecolicious' Dexter Doi and Carol D'Angelo, and Umee Honolulu's Deena White Tearney. Bangles by Erin were also featured, though the designer couldn't be there. There were pre-holiday discounts on merchandise offered by the featured designers.

Those who attended were also treated to a fabulous food spread created by Tina's husband Ed, he of Auntie Pasto's and Dixie Grill fame. There was enough of a spread to have made it onto my food blog, but I thought I'd keep it all here. Wonder if he'll top himself at this coming Saturday's event?

Moopiland designer Keiko Knudson shows one of her latest dresses, made with Hawaiian-style print fabric from Japan.

ccdoodle's Christy Chung showed her fabric clutches as well as her fabric sashes.

Creations by Gem Parfait's Allison Fujita, below, attorney by day and jewelry designer by night.

Ecolicious' Dexter Doi and Carol D'Angelo showed their latest tees and tanks.

Salty Girl Jewelry's Amber Chesebro with her mom Wendy Olsen, who inspired her daughter's jewelry making by teaching her how to create macrame as a child, and who always kept beads and findings around the house for her own projects.

The food spreads are generally light at fashion parties, where everyone's trying to be thin, but hey, when you're a boutique owner married to a restaurateur, as in Auntie Pasto's and Dixie Grill's Ed Wary, you've got a built-in caterer who wants to make an impression. More food follows! ...

American Girl entries put judges to test

Nadine Kam photos
Mi Cielo's Kayo Master looks over a batch of our American Girl contest entries.

We knew that the first American Girl doll from Hawaii, specifically Kauai, would be popular, but we didn't expect such a flood of entries to our contest to design an outfit for the doll, named Kanani Akina.

Our contest had young girls color in a garment for Kanani, and older girls drawing a garment. We received more than 600 entries in the contest, with the doll as prize. It's really tough to judge because the girls have done such a fantastic job with their entries, with many going beyond drawing the dress to putting thought into detailed accessories, many of which we wish we could have ourselves!

Helping us to narrow the field were guest judges Mi Cielo's Kayo Master and Moopiland's Keiko Knudson, both of whom's exuberant and fun childrens' wear designs have led to them to expand to adults due to popular demand.

They both did a great job and the results will be seen in next Thursday's Style section.

Thanks Kayo and Keiko!

Keiko Knudson, right, helps in the judging, along with editorial page editor Lucy Young-Oda.