Silver belles

Fighting Eel is becoming a fixture on Stylescoop.net and in magazines such as Life&Style and Us Weekly. Its dresses are closet staples of young Hollywood and tabloid stars such as Hayden Panettiere, Paris Hilton, Eva Longoria, Lindsay Lohan and Kristin Cavallari.

Chances are, more designs from the local company helmed by Lan Chung and Rona Bennett will be popping up on style sites in coming months now that its Holiday 2007 collection is hitting boutiques at prices from about $128 to $176.

Featured is more of the softly draped, fitted ease that is Fighting Eel's signature. Unfussy dresses in light-catching, shimmery gold and silver metallics make it possible to make a grand entrance and look gorgeous all night (or day), while enjoying eating and dancing the night away. Dresses and tops allow comfortable movement with no worries about messy straps, shifting shoulders or overly revealing necklines when you bend over.

Look for dresses and tops at The Butik, Koko Cabana, Pineapple County, Madison & Co., Mary Z's, Shasa Emporium, Silver Moon Emporium and Second Skin at Ward Warehouse.

Making her debut in Fighting Eel's Holiday 2007 catalog is Shealyn Freitas, winner of the Star-Bulletin and Fighting Eel model search contest held earlier this year.

She was to have made her debut in the Spring 2008 catalog, but, why wait?

When it comes to model searches, most designers would not be able to describe what they're looking for, but recognize that "It" factor when they see it.

In Fighting Eel's case, Lan and Rona were looking for someone who could convey the spirit of youthful energy, fun and independence embodied by their line.

Freitas, who's 5-foot-7, was born and raised on Kauai, and follows other Fighting Eel models Brielle Birkholm, who earlier this year signed with Wilhelmina Models in Los Angeles, and Johnelle Anderson and Courtney Arndt, who both recently returned from a summer stint modeling in Japan.

Thanks to all who sent in photos and congratulations to Shealyn, who won a $700 FE wardrobe.