Let's Sparkle!

Chic party-season finds will put a shine on Kahala Mall's holiday fashion show

Get ready to see some sparkle as Kahala Mall's Center Court turns into a runway beginning at 12:30 p.m. Sunday during a free fashion show featuring the latest in holiday designs.

The "Sparkle! Holiday '06 Fashion Show" will open with a treat for the eyes as viewers are transported to the world of "The Nutcracker" by Ballet Hawaii performers adorned in costumes designed by Anne Namba. The performance also serves as an introduction to a minipreview of Namba's Winter Collection.

Then bust out a notebook for jotting down your own list of holiday trends, styles, accessories and gift items, whether to pass on to loved ones eager to fulfill your dreams, or for your own inevitable post-show shopping spree.

Models from ADR and the Rebecca Stewart Agency will show designs from Banana Republic, Blush, Calista by Cotton Cargo, Macy's, Ohelo Road, Reflections of the Heart, Reyn's, Sunglass Hut, T&C Surf Designs, VUE Hawaii and Wet Seal. Marsha Nadalin Salon & Spa will be adding a glamorous touch to holiday makeup and hairstyles.

Just don't expect to see all that glitters. Although holiday tradition generally calls for such dress-up colors as black and red, and such plush materials as silks, velvets and crystals, merchants say just about anything goes.

Chalk it up, for starters, on this fall's seemingly endless summer. No one wants to be uncomfortable in their finery, especially when partying through the end of the year generally means heading to uncle's house for a garage potluck. So, for the most part, holiday dressing is just a step above daily wear, according to Shasa Emporium manager Janet Kwak and Ohelo Road owner Pam Ross.

"We're not pushing any one style," said Kwak. "Individual style is important to our customers who want to stay with a basic style that they know works best for them. For holidays it's just a matter of taking a basic style and adding glamour. Something like a simple black dress can be dressed up with the right accessories.

"Jeans and a cute top paired with spiky heels or boots are accepted anywhere. How you want to dress is up to you."

THERE ARE practical reasons for not going overboard on holiday looks. For the money spent, many women want to get mileage from garments that go beyond a single season.

At Ohelo Road, Ross said that women accustomed to a stylish-casual approach to daily dressing often want to express the same carefree spirit by night and on special occasions.

"That's what our customers like. They don't go into full holiday," she said. "At the most they'll pair a fancy skirt with a Michael Stars top, and that's it."

Stars is known for basic tank tops and T-shirts with an exceptional fit, and his solid-color tops are best-sellers at the boutique, where customers come in for multiples.

General holiday trends include big, blousy romantic looks, including sheer and feminine 1920s looks with glass beading and other vintage details.

"One thing big this year is color," Ross said, but rather than thinking red, green or black, the It colors are cobalt and navy blue.

"It came from the Milan runway and now seems to be everywhere," Ross said. "Tom Cruise just wore a cobalt blue tuxedo for his wedding.

"Think about it: cobalt blue with silver. It's a real Christmasy combination."

AMONG THE "Sparkle" offerings will be Kashwere sports jackets and children's robes being offered by Blush. The lounging apparel is among Oprah's favorite things for the holiday season.

Made of plush, soft, breathable microfibers, the robes are washable and fade-resistant, keeping wearers warm and cozy. They're priced at $46 for kids and $46 to $88 for adults, in gelato colors ranging from mint to lavender, with blacks, browns and grays for macho types who nevertheless could use a little snuggling now and then.

Throws and blankets are also available from $145 to $250.

Capturing the spirit of "Sparkle" will be jewelry presented by Reflections of the Heart. For holidays, as well as the rest of the year, diamonds are a girl's best friend, and Reflections has those, including hoop earrings lined with fine diamonds inside and out, at $3,700.

For those who are generally afraid to walk into jewelry stores, Reflections owner Kulani Fernandez assures she offers a mix of items ranging from an affordable $20 to thousands of dollars. Among them are pieces by designers for "Desperate Housewives" (Susan Kalan) and "Mean Girls" (Kamofe).

One important look that's sure to continue through 2007 is that of textured gold jewelry with a mixture of finishes and treatments, intended for layering.

"Whatever's happening in fashion is happening in jewelry. You can layer just about anything," said Fernandez. "You can mix pearls with gold chains. Anything goes. It's whatever suits your personality and how you want to feel on a particular day. Do you want to be flirty or more sedate?

"Clothes carry you only so far. Jewelry is the finishing touch," Fernandez said. "You can take a basic black dress, pair it with a gold necklace and earrings and have it look classic, feminine and tailored. Then imagine it with colorful jewelry that expresses personality, and you've transformed it."