Nadine Kam photos
Island Slipper owner John Carpenter is surrounded by some of his employees, next to Dorothy Kohashi in mu'umu'u. She is the daughter of Island Slipper founders Takizo and Misao Motonaga .

May 10 was a holiday for employees of Island Slipper, whose only obligation to the company that day was to show up in time for a bus ride to the grand opening of the company's new store at the Royal Hawaiian Center, before heading to lunch courtesy of boss John Carpenter, at Tsukiji Fish Market and Restaurant at Ala Moana Center.

The new store was designed in the nostalgic spirit of the beach homes that existed before the concrete and hotels that now line Waikiki. Located on the center's second floor, the shop's exterior stands out in its seafoam color, with warm wood interior.

Where most slipper shops are crammed into a small footprint, with wares simply lined wall to wall, Island Slipper has the luxury of 2,000 square feet, with lots of open space and retro displays paying homage to the company's 67-year history.

"We had to bring our game up because Waikiki is a different market," Carpenter said, adding, "Our desire was to create a fun place to shop where our customers feel at home."

Showcased are Island Slipper's signature floral-designed footwear, as well as women's designs incorporating beads, raffia and pyramid studs, and men's designs in leather and suede.

I was a little late to the opening, and walked in to find a surprise waiting for me. In 2011, I'd attended the grand reopening of Island Slipper's Ward Warehouse store and was impressed enough to write a feature story about the company. I happen to have Cinderella size feet, so the slippers didn't fit me. So I suggested to John that he add children's styles so I might be able to fit. He explained it wasn't that simple, so I figured the time wasn't right.

Children's slippers have yet to materialize, but in the meantime, he searched the globe for a smaller women's last and created a prototype size 4 for li'l ole me me, and, it fit! Oh happy day, it is so hard to find size 4s, much less my actual size, a 3! So I will be wearing my new white floral slippers around, and definitely will be kicking around New York streets in my Island Slippers in a few weeks!

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Island Slipper stores are at Ward Warehouse (593-8229) and Royal Hawaiian Center Buiding A, Level 2 (923-2222).
Online: www.islandslipper.com

The exterior of Island Slipper recreates the ambience of a beach house.

A pune'e adds to the beach house feel.

Vintage Island Slippers on display.

Featured from left are recent collaboration designs created for J. Crew,  Japan fashion designer Tsumori Chisato, and Barney's New York.

Additional accessories capture Island Slippers island style.

One of many posters inviting shoppers to consider their sense of island lifestyle.

The Male'ana collection of honeymooner slippers, with examples above and below, allow couples to match without being matchy-matchy.

As company owner, John Carpenter can do what he wants and created the only existing pair of studded white "Elvis" slippers just for himself. (more...)

If I were ordering a Vara, I'd probably choose this neutral Bisque with a pop of Ruby, but they don't have my size.

With customization in the zeitgeist, Salvatore Ferragamo is marking the 35th anniversary of its Vara shoe by giving clients the opportunity to design their own pair of Vara or Varina shoes by choosing the material, color, grosgrain bow and hardware. There are 63 possible combinations, and the offer will be available for a year, with new color introductions to accompany each new season.

The original Vara is a midheel shoe with grosgrain bow. The Varina is a ballet flat version of the shoe introduced in 2007.

The cost of the shoes, including a metal plate on the bottom bearing the wearer's initials, and shipping anywhere in the United States, is $550.

Visit www.ferragamo.com to try your hand at design. To see how some tastemakers wear their Varas and Varinas, visit icona.ferragamo.com, which will post photographer Claiborne Swanson Frank's portraits of 21 women over 21 days this month.

Of course, it's hard to pick just one pair, so this Powder Blue with Oxford Blue bow and heel, would balance the Bisque and Ruby.

Nadine Kam photos
Trouser fabric samples from Salvatore Ambrosi of Ambrosi Napoli, at Leather Soul Downtown.

Leather Soul Downtown teamed up with Hong Kong haberdashery The Armoury to bring bespoke tailoring by Orazio Luciano of Naples, Italy, to Hono­lulu on April 2 for an exclusive made-to-measure event, also featuring third-generation trouser specialist Salvatore Ambrosi of Ambrosi Napoli.

The clothiers were in Honolulu  to introduce fine Neapolitan tailoring, noted for unpadded construction and lines that make them lighter to wear than their English and American counterparts, according to Leather Soul owner Tom Park.

The Armoury partners Ethan Newton and Alan See were on hand, with Newton performing fittings that took about an hour, not because it takes that long be measured, but because it generally takes clients that long to pick their fabric.Made-to-measure jackets start at $3,100, trousers at $700, and at those prices, no one wants to change their mind later.

As one client, Reid Takamoto said, he'll be watching what he's eating from now on, lest he outgrow his pants. Newton said it's never a good idea to get into the habit of adding some "give" to the waistband. Not only is the object of bespoke tailoring about the perfect fit, but if you give yourself room to expand, you will.

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One of Leather Soul's clients meets with, from left, Ethan Newton of the Armoury, trouser maker Salvatore Ambrosi, and Alan See, also of The Armoury.

The new length of pants, with wide cuffs, the better to show off footwear from Leather Soul!

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...)

Nadine Kam photos
Quiss DJs Heria, Yuria and Qp will perform at the FLAG-J grand opening party beginning 10 p.m. Dec. 21 at The Ginza, 1240 Kona St., for 21 and older. There will be free giveaways, and a FLAG-J footwear showcase.

The Tokyo-based shoe boutique FLAG-J opened its doors Dec. 20 at Ala Moana Center, on the lower level, mauka side of the mall. To find my way, I just looked for the crowd of well-wishers outside the door, halfway between Lupicia and the post office.

The eye-catching brand, which gained its following in trendy Shibuya, the heart of Tokyo's fashion district, is geared toward fashionable women, 18 to 35, seeking the latest styles at affordable prices. Right now, there are platforms, slippers and sandals on sale in front of the store for $39.99, while regular prices run about $129 for a range of styles, including pretty in pink and pastel kitten heels, low boots, pumps, ballerina flats and platforms. For fall, many of the styles incorporate an ultrasuede-like fabric.

FLAG-J is a trademark of the Akakura Corp., which also has plans to open a higher-end Akakura boutique on Beachwalk Avenue in April 2013.

Company president Futoshi Yamamoto went to great lengths to write down his thoughts in English, and read them to a crowd of media and friends at the grand opening. Later, he told me that he has been visiting Hawaii for more than 30 years, having first set foot in the isles as a teen-ager.

He said he's been told one should only open a business in places one loves, and he said he loves everything about Hawaii, and wants to do his part to help the economy by one day also opening a manufacturing company here to offer jobs to local people.

It may take a while to get accustomed to Japanese sizing however. As a fairly homogeneous culture, where most people are of similar size, their footwear comes in sizes small, medium and large, about 6 to 8 in U.S. sizes. Check it out.

Akakura president Futoshi Yamamoto read from his notes in English. Surrounded by hearts, he said that he learned long ago that one must love the place one chooses to do business, and he has loved Hawaii for many years, which is why he chose to be here.

Yamamoto with  Angela Maki Vernon, left, and Miss Hawaii Bo Tanaka, in FLAG-J footwear.

Some serious platforms.

Kick up your heels in red for the holidays.

Casual footwear.

Woven plus animal patterns.

FLAG-J manager Risako Moribe in her knee-high Flag-J boots.

A toast to Ala Moana Center's newest addition.

At the opening, there was some fabulous food from Taormina restaurant including this seared ahi; grilled calamari and shrimp; and salmon, caper and onion risotto.

Also yum, Taormina's salmon with shrimp and avocado bruschetta. We left with desserts from Shirokiya's Kulu Kulu Cake.

The decor is so girly and pretty, and you'll be fitted for shoes on heart-shaped ottomans, below.

A view from the entrance, where it looks like you're entering a tunnel of love.