'Project Runway' projects into the future

Lifetime photos
Hawaii designer Kini Zamora at the cutting board. On the wall are photos of the designers as they looked 20 years ago, reflecting the time travel nature of this week’s design challenge.

‘PROJECT RUNWAY’ SEASON 13
Episode 3: Welcome to the Future


This week, the designers were tasked with coming up with a look that might fit the pages of Marie Claire magazine—currently celebrating its 20th anniversary—20 years into the future.

Hawaii designer Kini Zamora expresses his excitement about going fabric shopping at Mood to pick their own fabric for the first time since the challenges began. His design for the one-day challenge is ambitious, comprising a blouse, skinny jeans and cape-style houndstooth jacket.

Zamora’s three-piece ensemble.

As I tried to imagine what we might see in the future, I think we will be doing more covering up with jackets. I have a pretty dim view of future and breakdown of society made more violent by scarcity of basic resources such as water, so I imagine some cross between “Mad Max” and “Barbarella” with a mix of clothing that protects us from ever more lethal elements such as increased radiation, pollution and perhaps the stray bullet, combined with tech fabrics that might provide temperature control and basic computer processes.

Zamora’s design shows off his technical skills and how quickly he is able to work, and once again he ends up safely in the middle of the pack.

I love Emily Payne’s hoodie ensemble that also has judge Zac Posen dancing in his seat, but Sandhya Garg emerges as the winner the second time for a gimmicky piece with elevated, jet pack-like detail that looks more cheap, homemade Halloween costume than futuristic. Even so, the judges appreciate the originality and color.

Sandhya's pieces may be entertaining the judges for now, but I don’t see her winning the competition because her taste level is so low and in the end, no woman wants to dress like a clown.

I liked Emily jumpsuit and “Ewok” hoodie that also wowed the judges, but it didn’t push the envelope far enough for the win.

Sandhya’s winning look. The “Star Wars” makeup likely helped a lot.

Angela Sum was finally auf’ed for her ragged stewardess-look uniform.
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Louis Vuitton fine jewelry, watches on tour

Louis Vuitton photo
LV's Tropical Island Ring is a plumeria handcrafted in 18-karat white gold with one LV flower-cut diamond and color accents of tourmaline, sapphire, beryl, aquamarine and chalcedony.

Louis Vuitton Ala Moana welcomed a caravan of archival and new fine jewelry and timepieces yesterday. Honolulu is the only American city to receive the exclusive collection, which will be on view through Aug. 17 at the store.

The 71-piece collection includes jeweled timepieces for men and women, and necklaces inspired by new creative designer Nicolas Ghesquière’s Petite-Malle handbag, which harkens back to LV’s roots and fabled monogram trunks, or malles.

I fell in love at first sight with the purse itself, a structured mini trunk that can be worn as a crossbody or clutch.

Nadine Kam photos

Kelsey Campbell is adorned in a Louis Vuitton Haute Joaillerie diamond headband, monogram flower earrings and timepiece.

During a preview of the collection on Aug. 6, models were draped in diamonds, precious stones and timepieces, and for those trying on the pieces, there was many a wow moment

Louis Vuitton photo

Tambour Monogram Tourbillon in white gold, featuring a discreet monogram pattern on a mother-of-pearl dial with diamonds.

Eri Aihara wears Louis Vuitton’s padlock pendant in 18K white gold with diamonds, $23,900. The white gold chain is chain is $3,650.

There were also yellow gold necklaces inspired by LV’s new creative director Nicolas Ghesquière’s Petite-Malle handbag. I LOVE this! The mini trunk design can be used with strap or as a clutch, and in turn was inspired by French banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn, who, in 1909—the dawn of the photographic era—launched an ambitious project, “The Archives of the Planet,” dispatching photographers to 50 countries to document human tribes around the globe. The work continued until he was ruined by the Great Depression. The work speaks to LV’s history and aesthetic, and association with travel and the arts.

I also loved, loved, loved the strong geometry of Louis Vuitton’s Haute Joaillerie amethyst Emprise pieces on Courtney Coleman, including long tassel necklace ($14,600), earrings and ring. Nine amethysts form the pendant design. A better look, from LV, below:

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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Paul Brown Salons still evolving after 43 years

Nadine Kam photos
Über stylist Paul Brown is surrounded by loyal staffers, friends, family and patrons during a blessing of his renovated salon and spa at Ward Centre.

Marking 43 years in business, Paul Brown companies continues to grow and evolve with its original founder at the helm.

To mark the occasion, Brown hosted a gathering of friends and family Aug. 6 to celebrate the renovation of the Paul Brown Salon & Spa at Ward Centre.

After a four-month, $300,000-plus renovation project, the 2,300 square-foot flagship location now includes European shampoo units, four new hairstyling stations, granite countertops and custom cabinetry throughout, and a stainless steel receptionist desk.

It was too crowded to get a close look at all the new stations, but you couldn’t miss the photo collections, including Brown’s “Galactica Warrior,” which will be included in Queen International, a high-end Italian fashion, culture and current affairs magazine.

It was a little difficult to focus on the new salon stations with photos like these on the walls, celebrating Brown’s past and current work. A friend saw me documenting this image and could only ask, “Really?” Please, what caught my eye was his hair. Really.

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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

'Project Runway' goes to the movies

Lifetime photos
“Project Runway” judges Nina Garcia, Zac Posen and Heidi Klum prepared for movie night.

‘Project Runway’ Season 13
Episode 2: Unconventional Movie Nite

The designers wake up to popcorn and start imagining what that might entail. They’re thinking movies or red carpet, but it is a double whammy: their first unconventional materials challenge … and even more dreaded team challenge. Already, there is the feeling among the designers that Angela Sum and Sandhya Garg are the weakest among them so the focus is on their teams.

Hawaii designer Kini Zamora is safely a part of the purple team that includes Mitchell Perry and Char Glover.

The materials are things you would find in a movie theater, from tickets to concession straws, and the challenge is for the three-person teams to create a cohesive collection of three garments.

I haven’t really been wowed by the designers to date, and due to the nature of the materials, most of the creations have a crafty feel to them. The exception is Sean Kelly’s “Cruella de Vil”-inspired coat of white straws. I thought it was easily the best garment of the night.

Zamora’s team opts to create blue cocktail dresses. It doesn’t sound promising when, during mentor Tim Gunn’s critique session, he asks Zamora of his design, “Is it going to be a big braiding pupu platter?”

Kini Zamora’s bulky design looked like a school project.

In the end, Amanda Valentine wins by default. After announcing the winning and losing teams, judge and co-host Heidi Klum tell Angela that her team—with Kelly and Fäde zu Grau—could have been the winning team, but her design brought them down.

She had layered flowers of cut paper over a shift, like a third-grade project, that had nothing to do with the movie villains theme her teammates had chosen. She also had the audacity to tell Sean, who had offered to help her cut flowers, that it wouldn’t help because the “hand” would be different, as if her crude flowers were distinctive.

The judges did like the energy, variation of materials and styles, color and cohesiveness of Valentine’s team, that also includes Korina Emmerich and Kristine Guico.

As for Garg’s losing team, judges said that hers was the worst look that brought her team down, but because of her previous week’s win, she could not be eliminated. Either Carrie Sleutskaya or Hernan Lander would go. After much whining from Sleutskaya, judges decide immaturity is her downfall as a designer and human being, so bye bye.

Amanda Valentine’s winning retro/futuristic “Barbarella”-inspired dress.

Carrie Sleutskaya’s simple and ill-fitting celluloid creation got her voted out.

Keep up with episodes via the Lifetime website: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway

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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

tokidoki + LeSportsac = happiness

You’re invited!

In celebration of LeSportsac’s 40th anniversary, the iconic bag retailer has announced a new capsule collaboration with pop-culture brand, tokidoki.

The 19-piece tokidoki for LeSportsac collection will launch internationally in August.

As one of the brand’s top markets, Hawaii will welcome tokidoki designer Simone Legno, who—just as in past events here—will be meeting and signing autographs for fans from 2 to 6 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Ala Moana Center store.

On his last two visits, there were lines out the door to meet with the gracious artist, who took time to draw some of his favorite characters for delighted fans.

tokidoki is returning to LeSportsac with a collaboration celebrating LeSportsac’s 40th anniversary. tokidoki designer Simone Legno will also be back and town for a meet-and-greet signing event with fans from 2 to 6 p.m. Aug. 16.

The launch marks the debut of new styles and fabrications for LeSportsac, and the introduction of a new tokidoki character, Palette. Dressed in a floral-spotted white coat, Palette’s spots change color with her mood.

Palette can be found in both the tokidopoli and tulipets prints, and accompanies every bag by transforming into a charm. On printed bags. the charm will come in black, and on black bags the charm will come in the tokidopoli print. All bags are lined in solid turquoise or boysenberry.

New bear-eared character Palette is featured as a purse charm.

Here are a couple of videos from his 2007 signing and interview, to give you an idea of what to expect. Thankfully, my video editing has improved since then, LOL!:


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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

Kini Zamora is in during 'Project Runway' Season 13 premiere

 Lifetime photos
Hawaii designer Kini Zamora, bottom row right, made it through the premiere episode of “Project Runway” Season 13.

Project Runway Season 13
Episode 1: “The Judges Decide”

The beginning of the 13th season of Lifetime’s “Project Runway” featured the designer’s final presentations before the judges last cast cut. The show started with 19 designers, but three would be cut before the first competition started.

In the audition segment, Hawaii designer Kini Zamora wins several “I love it!’s” from Nina for his collection that included an elaborately constructed fitted denim dress. His technical skills are unquestioned, and it’s no surprise that he is one of the lucky 16 who make it onto the show.

For the first competition each designer is assigned a trunk full of fabric, all different. They are allowed to beg or borrow from each other to get the fabric they want to create an outfit suitable for a spring collection.

Kini is given very little air time, which, if you’re familiar with “Project Runway,” is a good thing. Most of the air time tends to be devoted to the competition’s winners and losers.

Kini Zamora’s creation was very safe, but in opening rounds, the middle ground almost guarantees a designer will return the following week.

During the less than stellar runway show, Kini sends down a classic fitted sleeveless dress and jacket. Very safe, but well sewn. It easily puts him in the middle if the pack.

Judges determine the best looks to be by returning designer Amanda Valentine, Char Glover and Sandhya Garg. No one gets Sandhya’s design. When it came down the runway I thought it was hideous. But to the designers’ shock, the judges love it!!??

When they inspect it later, they find it is full of intricate hidden details that those of us watching on tiny screens can’t see. They love her creativity because it is something they’ve never seen before (because no one would wear it!) Actually, as they show the details and I see the torn details of the sleeve, I would be intrigued enough to try it on if I saw it on a rack. I like details and deconstruction.

Char Glover’s design was beautiful and well-constructed.

I think Char should have won. The decision came down to perfection or creativity, and the judges chose Sandhy as the winner. The other contestants are baffled.

As for the designer sent home, Jefferson Musanda’s ensemble was the clear-cut loser of the bunch. He showed a disproportionate crop top, and high-waisted shorts that looked like a diaper.

Keep watching to see how Kini fares. During previous season auditions, he’s been consistently told to edit, edit, edit. If he can keep his fantastical impulses in check, his technical skills may take him far.

Sandhya Garg had the winning look, which shocked the other designers. It looked sloppy, poorly constructed, and just plain weird.

Jefferson Musanda was rightly sent home for this heinous crime against womankind.

Keep up with episodes: http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway
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Nadine Kam is Style Editor and staff restaurant critic at the Honolulu Star-Advertiser; her coverage in print on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact her via email at nkam@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Rebel Mouse.

White haute Dîner en Blanc Honolulu

Nadine Kam photos
It was amazing to see every arrival to Honolulu’s inaugural Dîner en Blanc, dressed in cool, clean summer whites.

Given the name Dîner en Blanc, you would think the global event that took place for the first time in Honolulu on Saturday would be all about food.

But I think food took a backseat to the fashion, an ethereal sea of white that easily transported guests to the more mannered time as befitting the secret site that turned out to be ‘Iolani Palace.

Well of course it didn’t last. After dinner, champagne and wine, crazy dancing ensued and a little drizzle in advance of the weekend’s pending storm didn’t dampen spirits.

Here is the way we wore to attend this special inaugural event:

Before arriving at the designated spot, participants waited at bus rendezvous points throughout Honolulu. At Waterfront Plaza (the former Restaurant Row), John Garcia and Avy Chan waited for their ride.

Shay Fukayama ties a mask on Aline Tran.

Traci Randolph followed the rules of Dîner en Blanc, bringing a picnic basket to suit the evening’s white theme. She’s with Leschon Serrano.

Jade by Nikolai designer Nikolai Tsang, no stranger to staging events, tried to keep the white theme going down to the food on her table, which included homemade white pasta, cauliflower, goat cheese salad, chicken breast and coconut cake. She’s with Scott Mellon.

Co-host Maleko McDonnell, left, posed for photos with guests.

Melissa Rivera and Emiko Miyazawa enjoy the moment.

Evan and Risa Beer play with fans provided by Curate Decor + Design for the Aloha table.

Linh and Mark Owen. Linh wore a Super Citizen strapless dress in anticipation of the day's humidity, with a lace headband from H&M, and feather boa and accents from Ben Franklin.

W Salon’s Jake Acedo, left, and Jason Agbayani. They wore C.C. Exclusive hats and Etro pants. Under Jake's boa is a J. Crew classic shirt and Gucci sweater, while Jason wore a Hypercrush tee, Love Stitch shirt and sheer cardigan.

Cori Okabayashi and Nick Segum.

Vanessa and Jaime Rodriguez.

From left, Gabriel Yanagihara, Olga Brandao, Daria Roud, Simons Winstone and Irma Klebanov.

Russell and Donna Pascua found their light-up glasses and bow tie on Amazon a few weeks before the event.

The Pascuas with Sandy and La Sarmiento, Beverly Santos and Peter Pascua.

Dancing the night away.

For the background story and video of the event, check out my Take a Bite blog post.