By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Lisa Schienle, left, creates bridal and formal wear that
Melissa Ann Short, Miss Hawaii1996, models here.
Designer fashions fantasies
By Nadine Kam
Assistant Features Editor
Star-BulletinFOR little girls, playing dress up with Barbie is a given. Dressing up the family poodle -- in a sailor suit, no less -- is a bit out there. But Lisa Schienle was born with a sense of whimsy that had her designing doll and dog couture before she was 12. Since then, she's turned her design attention to brides and her work will be presented at the 49th annual Narcissus Fashion Show Sunday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Divided into three segments, the show -- also featuring garments and accessories by Burberry's and The Coach Store -- will open with a resort collection, move on to a London showcase, and take flight to Paris with a display of evening and fantasy wear.
Guest models will include Hawaii first lady Vicky Cayetano, Ramona Harris, TV personality Pamela Young and Norma Chang, wife of current Narcissus Festival chairman Randall Chang.
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Melissa Ann Short, Miss Hawaii1996,
models for Schienle.
"I love the fantasy and illusion of bridal wear, the Cinderella sort of story," Schienle said. "For women, their wedding day is one of the most important days of their lives and I love being a part of it, creating the dress they've dreamed of all their lives."In addition to dressing hundreds of brides over the past five years, Schienle has often been called to provide formal wear for Cayetano and Harris, and some of her designs were worn by 1997 Miss Hawaii Erika Kauffman at the Miss America Scholarship Pageant.
Schienle's early fashion forays, however, didn't encourage her to pursue it as a career when she graduated from Punahou in 1982. She ended up "not doing so well" as a business major at Pepperdine University until a summer trip to Europe reawakened the fashion muse.
She was accepted by the American College in London, where she discovered her knack for fantasy wear. Her final collection won the school's top honor, the draper's award for design.
While in London, she honed her skills as an apprentice to bridal designer Andrea Wilkin. Schienle started her own company, MonaLisa Designs Inc., five years ago, working out of her home at first.
Last year, she opened her salon at 3660 Waialae Ave., where a steady procession of brides-to-be, their bridesmaids and family members fill her suite. It always looks like there's a party going on long before the real events, with photo albums to peruse, accessories and veils to try on, and lengths of satin and lace being draped here and there.
"My main focus is custom dressing for the person who can't find exactly what she wants and needs the help of a designer to pick the right fabric and come up with a style that suits her body type and fits the theme of the wedding."
Schienle's designs are also popular with mothers of the brides. "They don't want to look old or frumpy, and they don't go for beaded looks. They want to look elegant, classy, sleek and young."
The designer employs simple lines, often with overlays of luxurious, textured fabrics. "They're not big and pouffy like so many of the ready-made gowns," she said.
Prom-goers also seek Schienle out and she said she is working on a prom collection for Liberty House. Last month, Saks 5th Avenue picked up her designs for its Beverly Hills and South Coast Plaza, Calif., stores.
Prices for Schienle's bride's gowns range from $700 to $1,000, depending on fabric and style. Bridesmaids and prom dresses run about $200, and flower girls can be dressed for about $100.
By far, the best part about being a bridal designer is being able to create the dress for one's own big day and Schienle got to do that 5-1/2 years ago when she married Rob, a pilot for Aloha Airlines.
For her own wedding, she created a short dress with off-the-shoulder chiffon sleeves.
"I just wanted it to be different and fun. Plus, I have great legs," she said, true to her philosophy of letting the bride put her best features forward.
Fete with flair
What: Narcissus Fashion Show and Luncheon, presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce
