WSJ notes Hawaiian inspiration

WSJ
The Wall Street Journal offered a handful of styling tips to make Hawaiian wear look modern.

In an article entitled "Endless Summer," that appeared Jan. 14, the Wall Street Journal hailed "the wonders of Hawaii" in fashion.

Last year, I called 2011 the year of the Hawaiian comeback due to the resurgence of Hawaiian prints and styles on European and New York runways, and it's looking like designers have yet to tire of the motifs.

The continuation was helped, in part, by Proenza Schouler's Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez's trip here last spring, when I helped send them on a mission to scour vintage shops for pieces of old Hawaii. One of the places on the list I sent over was Catherine's Closet, the vintage shop at 125 Merchant St. run by Catherine Fong. In a blog post last April, I posed the rhetorical question, "Could it be safe to guess we may find a bit of vintage Hawaii inspiration on their next runway?"

Sure enough, WSJ writer Alexa Brazilian described their spring collection as "a veritable luau of pareu skirts, hibiscus blooms and tiki imagery."

Brazilian reports that Hernandez said, "We found ourselves fascinated and drawn toward relics of midcentury tiki culture after an extended trip to Hawaii. Primitive things at a time of concurrent obsessions with everything futuristic was interesting."

Brazilian also noted that others falling under Hawaii's spell include Richard Chai, Mark Fast, Givenchy's Riccardo Tisci and Joseph Altuzarra.

Hopefully, local designers will be able to capitalize on the moment as well.

Proenza Schouler duo drop into Catherine's Closet

Nadine Kam photos
Capes will be big come fall, and Catherine Fong of Catherine's Closet wears a vintage piece while showing a 1970s suede version.

Catherine Fong of Catherine's Closet hosted a 1970s celebration April 1 at her new location at 125 Merchant St.

The 1970s theme was inspired by Barneys Japan's premiere of the Catherine's Closet Collection, a popup shop within the Tokyo store, which will open April 23 and continue for approximately three weeks.

After a feature on the vintage boutique appeared on Japanese television, Barney's Tokyo executives flew a buyer out to Catherine's to seek out pieces worthy of the high-end retailer. The buyer was particularly smitten by 1970s pieces and bought several dozen maxi dresses, feather hats and 30 Panama hats for resale in the popup boutique, as well as a red cape for her own use.

The boutique also had another brush with fame when a friend of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez—together known as the designers behind Proenza Schouler—contacted me via Facebook regarding the best places for vintage shopping in Hawaii. There's not many with the quality vintage enthusiasts expect, but I was able to share a short list that included Catherine's Closet.

The designers were apparently thrilled and went home with 1960s and 1970s pieces, including a maxi dress, a purse and three short dresses. They were especially happy to find something Catherine could only describe as a "hair dress." She didn't get the term they used. But, could it be safe to guess we may find a bit of vintage Hawaii inspiration on their next runway?

Catherine's Closet will celebrate it's birthday on April 29, and 10 percent of sales at the boutique throughout this month will go toward Japan relief efforts.

The boutique is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Call 521-0772.

Kimberly Mitsuoka wears a 1970s jumpsuit next to a Catherine's Closet display of more '70s apparel.

Greta Gallardo spotted this vintage dress, tried it on and bought it on the spot. She has a great figure for vintage clothes, made at times when people were skinny and a 22-inch waist for women wasn't considered drug- or anorexia-related.

Another dress Greta tried on.

Catherine's Closet is known for its selection of vintage hats. She has a lot of white styles in stock, as well as feathered pieces, noting that Prince William's and Kate Middleton's royal wedding is coming up, and contemporary as she is, Kate tends to favor smaller feather pieces in lieu of hats. Below, Catherine wears a feathered clip by local "seamster" Sandra Ipo Bunnell.

Kellie Phyu already has a couple of vintage gold Whiting & Davis mesh purses, but was trying to decide which of these two to pick up next.