COURTESY PHOTO Eric Chandler took 20 yards of silk to create this creation worn by Aureana Tseu.

Spirit & style

The fifth annual Hawai'i Woman Expo taking place this weekend at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall will be a celebration of "Spirit, Wellness & Style," highlighted by a 2Couture fashion show to set spirits soaring.

The event is being billed as "a great girls day out," with entertainment by Kristian Lei, Danny Couch, and "Destination: Groove Dance Hawaii"; chef demonstrations; seminars; makeovers; and shopping at more than 150 booths from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Designers Takeo and Eric Eugene Kamakahia'ai Chandler took a break from planning Hawaii's Fashion Week and the F.A.C.E. of Nuuanu events in October to create elaborate couture creations to be presented twice daily, at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

COURTESY PHOTO Chanel Wise in Eric Chandler’s silk blouse with pencil skirt and gold-leaf leather belt.

Chandler, inspired by the voluminous silhouette of past epochs, brings romance into the present with yards and yards of silk fabric used to dramatic effect.

The designs will be worn by celebrity models and the contestants from the Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Teen Hawaii USA pageants.

There will also be a "Celebrities and their Pets" fashion show, and a "Don't be Shy" fashion show presented by the University of Hawaii Apparel Product Design and Merchandising program.

Admission is $5. A $2 discount coupon is available at the Web site www.hawaiiwomanexpo.com.

COURTESY PHOTO Cathy Roberts in "Momoji" by Takeo. The silk blouse carries the color of autumn.

COURTESY PHOTO Chanel Wise in a French silk organza couture gown by Takeo. The French lace is hand beaded with numerous layers of leaves embellishing the hemline.