Nadine Kam photos
Jewelry designer Sheryl Lowe dropped into Neiman Marcus for a Mother's Day trunk show.

For all the gem lovers who turned up at Neiman Marcus May 4, jewelry from Sheryl Lowe Designs was just one of the main attractions for Mother's Day shopping. The other was the chance opportunity of also meeting Sheryl's husband, actor Rob Lowe.

Sheryl was slated to be on the jewelry floor from noon, though Rob was flying in that day and wasn't due at the store until about 2 p.m. I didn't arrive until about 2:30 because I was working on a feature on Gatsby-style hair to coincide with the opening of Baz Luhrmann's "The Greaty Gatsby," and creating the look is not a quick process.

By then, the Lowes had headed to lunch, which meant I had some time to check out Sheryl's designs before they were due back.

Sheryl has been a Hollywood makeup artist for more than 20 years, and married to Rob just as long.

Sheryl's multi-colored, multi-textured collections are versatile enough to be mixed, matched, worn singly or stacked.

In 2007, inspired by her world travels—and years of acquiring treasures from the Seychelles, North Africa, India and the Middle East—she created jewelry for a small group of friends. Due to the enthusiastic response and advice from longtime friend Maria Shriver, she formalized her jewelry line, Sheryl Lowe Designs, donating a portion of sales to women's and children's charities.

On her return from her lunch break, Sheryl said she loves the idea of mixing metals with earth, "the texturing, the layering, the mixing of color with metal. I just love the mix."

There is such a wide range of materials incorporated into her designs, that at first, it's overwhelming to see an array of Yemen black coral beads, next to displays of rose-cut diamonds from India, sandalwood beads, baroque pearls, and even bracelets and necklaces strung with discs of upcycled, colored vinyl records.

And yet, as a busy woman herself, she said the pieces are designed to be versatile and stackable, so a woman can buy one piece this year, add a totally different piece next year, wear them day or evening, together or separately, and have them mesh well.

In person, Kami Jennings, one of Sheryl's assistants dressed in her jewelry, is a ringer for Jennifer Lawrence, which she hears all the time.

"It's all one story," she said, though for her, the story is more involved.

"The jewelry remind me of where I went, of the topography of the land, the colors and what women wore. When I think of Sardinia, I think of the blues, the corals and greens. In London, gray, and in Paris, the golds."

Prior to starting her business, the beads sat at home in bowls around the house, and Sheryl said it was never a problem because Rob also appreciated them. Among her collections is a men's line simply called Rob. All her collections are named after her friends.

"He loves that I'm passionate about creating. He wears my designs all the time and he has a great eye. He especially loves the sandalwood and Yemen coral."

Although Rob didn't go back to the jewelry counter, some people insisted I go and stalk him in the men's department, where he was doing some shopping. As it happened, he was coming down the escalator while I was going up, so he graciously agreed to a photo. He's holding a batch of his wife's jewelry, from the Rob collection created for men, but just as easily worn by women.

Antique Yemen black coral beads, studded with silver inlays, can pair with many a contemporary outfit.

These colorful bracelet discs are cut from old vinyl records.

Cameron Diaz owns one of Sheryl Lowe's ohm meditative necklaces.

One of Sheryl's collaborations is the Her collection of leather bracelets incorporating leather from Hermès.

Nadine Kam photos
Models in KiniZamora designs.

Kini Zamora goes street casual? The designer is best known for extravagant, over-the-top runway presentations since he graduated from Honolulu Community College's Fashion Technology program in 2005, and not even the "Project Runway" audition judges' advice to tone it down could deter him from drama.

But, there comes a time in a young designers' life when it becomes apparent that survival means capturing the attention of the mainstream. It doesn't necessarily mean dumbing down or selling out, but designing to be worn instead of designing to be photographed.

Meanwhile, Waru's Dean Satta had design ambitions without the technical know-how, so the two collaborated, and the standing ovation at the end of the Waru and KiniZamora KiRu fashion show said it all.

Satta sent down a line of detailed, stylish, yet wearable men's collection, in military hues with dashes of yellow and red providing more dramatic colorways. Zamora matched the military inspiration with camouflage-print capes and jumpsuit, olive drab separates, simple tops and sexy oversize sweater tops. I particularly liked some of his shapely cigarette pants. Of course, the drama didn't disappear completely as he demonstrated with a kabuki warrior style finale.

The event took place April 12 at TheVilla at Aloha Tower Marketplace, opening with a show of retro designs created from vintage fabric by Kini's aunt Delilah Patoc, who specializes in custom gowns and mentored the designer while he was growing up

Items from the KiRu show will be available to order in three weeks, and will be available online at KiniZamora.com and waruhawaii.com. Prices range from: KiniZamora $35 to $80 and Waru $20 to $80.

On a side note, in the course of working on this story for print, I was able to work again with Dylan Peckenpaugh, a classmate of Satta's at Kauai High School, who I met in New York when he was working for Dior Homme and I was in town for fashion week. These days, he's happy to have traded his suits for more casual wear, and helping his old friend launch his line. Together, they're definitely going places.

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Kini Zamora, left, and Waru's Dean Satta, right, welcomed celeb designer Ariyaphon Southiphong.

Minnie Han and Ron Kayano, who was a classmate of Kini's at HCC. He says he now designs crepes as an owner of three Aloha Crepes shops, though after seeing the show says he misses fashion "a little bit."

Paul Mitchell stylists.

Jim Ascuncion and Mailene Malana were among the fashion show guests.

The $10 SRO admission got attendees pupu such as kalua pork sandwiches and lomilomi salmon, and below, spiced garlicky soybeans, meatballs and more.

Nadine Kam photos
Nordstrom shoppers were invited to "Mix and Mingle with Rebecca Minkoff" on March 26.

Rebecca Minkoff fans don't know how close they came to missing her work because the designer almost gave up on her design dream in 2005.

Minkoff was at Nordstrom Honolulu—one of only four stores she'd visit on this trip (the others are in California and Chicago)—on March 26 to introduce her Spring/Summer 2013 collection of clothing and handbag designs, and I had 10 minutes to get her to tell all.

She got her start designing clothing, but considering she's best known for her handbags, so I asked whether she was surprised to discover her affinity for designing bags and how quickly her career took off because of it.

"It shocked me, because I was about to give up when it caught on and I said, 'Omigod, there is a God,' " she said. "Really, I was trying to do everything by myself all the time, I had run out of money and didn't know what to do next. To me it was a sign to keep going."

The “Morning After Bag,” or the “M.A.B.” ignited Rebecca’s career in 2005 and inspired the “downtown romantic” designs that now define her work.

From left, Nordstrom's Maria Bernardo, Rebecca Minkoff and stylist Crystal Pancipanci.

Although she said she tries to keep her own needs in mind when designing bags, she really thinks about her clients and has created a niche by thinking about life's firsts, from a girl's first date, to first love, her first job and first experience with motherhood.

I see her Craig Camera crossbody bag ($195) in my future after spotting it on the Nordstrom floor, with cool lines and the depth of a hard leather vintage camera case. She explained the crossbody came about from her observation of bloggers and how they're constantly fumbling with cameras in their hands and notetaking. "I thought I'd give them a place to put their camera, that's also stylish."

Nordstrom.com
Rebecca Minkoff's Craig crossbody camera bag.

After four years of designing statement-making handbags and accessories with her trademark leathers, studs and edgy hardware, Rebecca returned to her roots and introduced her first ready-to-wear collection in 2009.

Nordstrom is carrying her Spring 2013 collection, inspired by the photographer Slim Aarons, known for his glamorous and iconic 1960s and '70s photographs of socialites, jet-setters and celebrities as they lounged poolside.

Minkoff’s latest collection that evokes that same carefree, beach-like spirit, and looking at the ombre floral print of Minkoff's silk jumpsuit or Couric top, it's easy to imagine a bit of Hawaii in the ease of wear and color combinations,

It turns out that Rebecca has fond childhood memories of vacationing in Kona since she was 2 years old, when her father brought the family to the islands to stay while he competed in Ironman triathlons.

Hawaii remains a special place to her family. Her brother got married in Kailua in 2005. She had considered marrying here as well, but said, "When your brother does something, you have to do something different." So she held her wedding in Italy in 2009.

Although she said she always loved fashion and received her first Vogue subscription at 8 years old, because she grew up in an athletic family, wearing her brother's hand-me-down clothing, she still considers herself a tomboy and defines her style as "sexy tomboy," which resonates with the attitude and active lifestyles of women today.

Fans wait in line to meet Rebecca Minkoff, near a display of her classic M.A.C. shoulder bags and M.A.B. leather totes.

Minkoff in her own Spring 2013 silk floral print jumpsuit, with Ki-ele jewelry designer Marylea Conrad.

Minkoff eyewear on display.

Savannah Tatreau tries on a pair of the designer's new Carmine sunglasses with blonde tortoise finish, $220.

Near the store's cosmetic department entrance, a display of Minkoff apparel and handbags.

Nadine Kam photos
Dylan Lauren was in town with Chocolate the Easter Bunny, in a timely visit to share post-Lent treats.

Dylan Lauren, founder of Dylan's Candy Bar was in town at Neiman Marcus, sharing Easter treats with fans who came to visit with her and Chocolate the bunny on March 23.

The daughter of designer Ralph Lauren grew up different and sensitive, so much so that while the other kids nibbled on chocolate bunny ears, legs and tails on Easter morning, she felt sorry for the bunnies and refused to eat them. Instead, she collected them to admire their beauty.

Well, we've all heard how resisting temptation pays off, and all those years about thinking different about candy resulted in big business.

And, she's living proof that perhaps candy makes a person sweeter. It's hard to believe how upbeat and cheerful she can be in strained situations. During my phone interview with her about a week ago, she had been on a train from D.C. to New York, and we had a hard time connecting en route, so were texting back and forth about what time she might arrive at the station, and I figured I could pick up food while waiting, but would have to do the interview from my car (parked). Even so, she had a hard time hearing me, while dealing with collecting her bags and hailing a cab, but was cheerful throughout and so apologetic about the time snafus. And it all worked out.

The NM third-floor Epicure department is now host to a Dylan's Candy Bar store-within-a-store, stocked with Easter goodies for now, and other seasonal edibles later. It's a colorful sight to behold, and people seem elated by the sight of all the colorful sweets.

Dylan's giant lollipops.

Dylan was signing copies of her book, "Dylan's Candy Bar: Unwrap Your Sweet Life."

Stuffed bunnies in Dylan's logo T-shirts.

Among the treats, candy packed into rubbah slippah tins, for $18.

Nadine Kam photos
Junior League of Honolulu president Jennifer Li Dotson, in green, went through a couple of dress changes during the Sacs in the City event that took place March 16 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. She's with her daughter Jade Dotson, Lisa Yamada (left), and Tiffany Huynh.

The Junior League of Honolulu presented its 9th annual Sacs in the City event, "Passage to Paradise," on March 16, 2013, at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

Once again, the event invited handbag enthusiasts to browse and bid on a selection of handbags, accessories and other fashion items. This year I have my dream bag, the Valentino
Nuage Lacca tote in what a friend calls a "pig pink" color. Even so, it was hard to avoid temptation, especially when it came to a Max & Co. envelope clutch which would make a nice addition to my handbag family.

The event was also highlighted by a couple of fashion shows. The first was a preview of designs by students from the University of Hawaii APDM program, in advance of the students April 28, 2013, fashion show, as well as 2013 spring collections from DFS Galleria. In between, Junior League "celebs" graced the runway, including keiki models in Ralph Lauren and Marie Chantal, and grownups in a mix of Marc by Marc Jacobs, Ermenegildo Zegna, Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, and more.

The UH-DFS collaboration has proven to be fruitful over the past couple of years, with the students creating fashion to highlight some of DFS's vast handbag selection, showing that fashion doesn't exist in a vacuum and designers have to be aware of how their work dovetails with general trends.

The Kauai and Maui ballrooms were packed, so I had to park on the very top of the Sheraton garage, which meant I saw everyone on the way down, including Valerie Jospeh's Valerie Ragasa-Miao. Loved her bright yellow Porsche and license plate reading God-dss!

For those who would like to see more from the students, the 47th annual UH Manoa Fashion Show, "Zeitgeist: Spirit of the Time," will take place at 6 p.m. April 29 at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Kona Moku Ballroom, 2552 Kalakaua Ave. There will be a silent auction from 4:30 p.m.

This year's show will feature collections by seven senior designers and 13 junior designers. Tickets are $50 for VIP seating and $25 for general admission. For tickets, email
clouie@hawaii.edu, Jam99@hawaii.edu or carakuro@hawaii.edu

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Among purses awaiting Sacs bids were this Michael Kors Hamilton satchel and Gucci Crystal Joy Princy Tote.

Vince Camuto colorblocked Julia satchel, valued at $248.

I was mostly in the market for an envelope clutch, and was admiring this Alida clutch from Max & Co., valued at $314 with a starting bid of $145.

Bags were not the only items available in the silent auction. Here's a pretty pair of bright, look-at-me sandals from Kate Spade.

Combo packages were also available. Some were drawn to pairings of sacs and gas cards (so practical!) I was looking at this "Taste of the Orient" $200 value package from P.F. Chang, offering a combination of dinner, and some dressy items for going out, with a box purse, earrings and lipstick case.

Tables were dressed with paper lanterns in the season's pastels.

UH APDM student designer Mari Nakamura with her model Katt Kitchen in a striking city look. (more...)