(From FrolicHawaii.com 2/28/2014) – Amanda Stevens

A year ago, Hawaii native Kyle Kagamida was zipping up actress Jennifer Lawrence in her strapless Dior gown, a few hours before she accepted her Academy Award for Best Actress. During that time, he fulfilled one of his bucket list wishes — to meet, let alone work for, celebrity stylist and designer Rachel Zoe. I knew that someday I’d be starting a sentence with, “I knew Kyle when…” No, but really, I knew Kyle when I produced my first big fashion show and he styled his first high profile model, Anya, from “America’s Next Top Model.” This was back in 2010 when he wasn’t even old enough to drink a martini. Fast forward to 2013, when he graduates from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles and catapults to the top of the fashion stylist food chain.

With the Oscar’s happening this Sunday, there’s almost as much anticipation about the red carpet as there is about the actual awards. We caught up with Kyle as he ramps up for his second Oscars.

When did you first fall in love with fashion?

I don’t think I can trace my ‘falling in love’ to any particular point in time. I fell in love with it little by little. I actually was ambivalent about fashion because I never really understood it. Now that I’m immersed in it and working regularly in the field, I can honestly say that I cannot see myself doing anything but this.

What stylists have you worked for since you moved to Los Angeles? Who are you with now?

Since moving to LA, I’ve worked with Nicole Chavez, Ashley Avignone, Brad Goreski and Rachel Zoe. I am currently working with Petra Flannery and Tara Swennen.

What celebs are you styling for the Oscars on Sunday?

I am working with Amy Adams, Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield for the Oscars.

Who are the actresses/actors that you love working with?

Emma Stone is probably the nicest person I’ve ever met. She’s down to earth, funny and super entertaining. I did the Revlon commercial with her that shot in Hawaii in October.

Who is your current style icon?

Emma would be my style icon. Petra does amazingly well with her and they both have such great style, and I usually love everything that they do together.

What actress or actor would you love to style?

An actress that I would love to style is Cate Blanchett. She already has amazing style, so I wouldn’t really want to interfere with that, but I would just love to look at her in person, haha.

What’s next for Kyle Kagamida?

I’ve been styling clients of my own such as Diogo Morgado, who is in the upcoming epic movie, ‘Son of God,’ along with Growing Pains actress Candace Cameron, Keegan Allen from ‘Pretty Little Liars,’ and Edy Ganem from ‘Devious Maids.’ I’ve learned a lot as an assistant to the amazing stylists I’ve worked with, but I’d love to continue to do things on my own and become a big stylist in my own right.

Photo above by Daniela Voicescu. See Kyle’s work at kagamidastyling.com

Kyle Kagamida: Stylist for the stars

BY: AMANDA STEVENS FEB 1, 2014

Honolulu Fashion Week, a mega fashion convergence between Honolulu Magazine and Japan Fashion Week, was announced Friday night at the Pagoda Hotel, with representatives in fashion, media and government in attendance.

The centerpiece of the two-day event — scheduled for Nov. 7-8, 2014 — will be a pop-up shop featuring international fashion designers and both established and up-and-coming fashion designers and artists in Hawaii. Designers Maison Kitsune from Paris, Saturdays Surf NYC, in New York, Corto Moltedo of Milan, and Mr. Gentleman from Tokyo will collaborate with local designers Heather Brown, Kaypee Soh and Sig Zane.

At Friday’s event, after Honolulu Magazine Publisher Alyson Helwagen announced the partnership, Akiko Shinoda, Director of International Affairs for Japan Fashion Week, described each capsule collection, along with the branding, food presentations, installation and architecture that are planned.

“One of the things that we wanted to accomplish by bringing the international designers to Hawaii and introducing them to Hawaii designers was to create a megaphone effect,” Helwagen says. “We could sort of shout from the mountaintop about the Hawaii fashion community and the renaissance that’s going on here. There are so many Hawaii designers doing amazing and successful things. We thought that by bringing in some very high profile international designers to Hawaii who could collaborate with some of our artists and designers here, that it would amplify the message and story about the incredible design talent and potential that is here in Hawaii. We really want the world to take notice.”

Honolulu Fashion Week will be a new component of November’s Hawaii Fashion Month. The inaugural Hawaii Fashion Month was co-created last year by the Hawaii Fashion Incubator and the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

Here are scenes from last night’s event:

Honolulu Fashion Week

BY: AMANDA STEVENS JAN 28, 2014

At Sunday’s Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, it was clear the new unconferenced format added a fresh element. The game was more defensive than in recent years with nine sacks and eight turnovers. No one scored in the third quarter, but the excitement picked up in the fourth. In fact, Deion Sanders was being interviewed with minutes left, about how it felt to be winning. Then, with 41 seconds left in the game, Dallas running back DeMarco Murray caught a 20-yard touchdown pass and clinched it with Carolina running back Mike Tolbert’s two-point conversion. The final score: Team Jerry Rice 22, Team Deion Sanders 21.

So now, the question is, will there be another NFL Pro Bowl, and if so, will it remain in Hawaii? The NFL hasn’t yet committed to either question. But in a national ESPN radio interview, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “You have to admit, it was very competitive. It was exciting, fun. The players played much harder, it was real football.”

The Pro Bowl has been here in Hawaii 34 of the last 35 years. Fingers crossed.

(From FrolicHawaii.com 9/26/2013) – Amanda Stevens

Goodwill Goes GLAM! presented by Bank of Hawaii came to a close this past Sunday at Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. The event included a three-day sale open to the public where bargain hunters had a chance to select from more than 40,000 items, including vintage clothing, luxury items and popular brands. Although thousands came to shop over the event week, only 700 people were invited to the private gala and fashion show, the Timelessness of Goodwill, hosted by Ward Centers this past Thursday.

I had the honor of producing this year’s show. The production team included fashion pro Rene as Runway Coordinator and Amy Azada as Assistant Producer. The show paid tribute to the stylist within us all, noting the interesting spectrum of choices you can find when you mix classic and vintage pieces with the innovative designers of today.

The runaway show was divided in two segments: The Timelessness of Goodwill (Hollywood Icons, Classic and Contemporary) and Fashion ForWARD (a 2014/2015 fashion forecast, as featured in Las Vegas Magic Market, the epicenter for fashion students, bloggers, writers and industry professionals).

The trends include Prepster/Urban Hipster (Spring/Summer 2014) — a color pallet of rust, denim blue and mustard. Light layering is a key element, and materials are monochromatic with elements of plaid.

Boudoir (Fall/Winter 2014/2015) — satin, brushed silk, lace, chartreuse, cashmere, jacquard, and colored leather. Materials include silk tie prints, delicate chains, lace and soft ginghams. Shapes can be 1950s with fit and flare skirts and boxy jackets.

Folklore/Nomadic (Spring/Summer 2014) — a blending of vibrant embellishments, embroidery and metallics. For women, it has Indian and Moroccan influences with handwork and a color palette of nudes and brights. Patterns are tribal and Indian, with graphic prints and dye effects.

’60s Geometric (Spring/Summer 2014) — This trend is an expression of retro 1960s influences with simple shapes. Color pairings include bright multi-colored pieces driven by simple shapes, and the second focuses on a strong palette of black and white with a mix of prints such as dots, stripes, and checks

Rocker (Fall/Winter 2014/2015) — flannel, mesh, mohair, mixed media, sheer knits, vintage denim, chiffon, leather, vinyl, colored fur, and patchwork denim. Key items are the sheer maxi skirt, modified biker jacket and mixed media pant.

Americana/Prairie (Spring/Summer 2014) — an updated American Sweetheart look with nautical themes, floras, stripes, fruit prints, soft plaids, eyelet, and gingham prints. Red is a key color in this trend. Materials include: raw denim, eyelet, ticking stripes, white linen, and chambray.

Goodwill’s Glamorous Week

 

(From FrolicHawaii.com 5/14/2013) – Amanda Stevens

Nonstop contributor Tyson Joines will be styling and producing Saturday’s Honolulu Night Market fashion show, aptly titled, La Dernière Mode (the latest fashion). The show starts at the main stage at 8 p.m.; Night Market runs from 6-11 p.m. I had a chance to talk with Tyson to get a preview of the show:

What’s the inspiration and theme of your fashion show?

My inspiration is coming directly from Alexander Wang’s Spring/Summer 2013 fashion show. The collection was so effortlessly trendy, yet dramatically complicated. His attention to detail in my opinion was unmatched that season. From the cut outs, to the mesh, to the sheer overlay on clothes, there is definitely a refined chic sexiness to the show. I was so moved by his passion for his craft, that I hope my show does his half the justice it deserves.

Tell us about the designers/clothing lines that are represented in the show?

I’m highlighting three local boutiques in the show, including I AM, Bamboo Sky and Basique Threads. I’m also throwing several surprise pieces directly from my inspiration that will hopefully tie the whole show together. The boutiques I’m utilizing I feel all have a similar esthetic. I wanted the whole show’s color scheme to be black and white, and my one accent color would be splashes of bright neon yellow.

What do you hope the audience takes away from the show?

I hope the audience really pays attention to not just the clothes that the models are wearing, but the overall production element of the show. My first goal when I started planning this months ago, was to give people a show that they’ll remember. How I intend on doing that is by raising the bar in regards to production. I made a conscious effort to use standard mainland and European runway height girls (5-foot-9 and above), and by featuring an amount of looks comparable to something you would see at a particular fashion week. This show, for instance, is featuring 20 models showcasing 40 different looks.

How does it feel to be both the fashion show producer and the wardrobe stylist for this production?

Being given the opportunity to produce and style a show is a blessing and a curse all wrapped in one. On one hand, you have complete control over everything. From the music, to the staging, to the clothes, to the models, to the hair and make-up, you have a say in everything. On the other side, being both a producer and stylist can also wear you down completely, regarding the amount of time and effort that goes into the show. There are no excuses if your show doesn’t go the way you want it to. The stylist can’t blame the production, and the production team can’t blame the stylist because you wear both hats.

The Night Market buzz and audience seems to be increasing. How has the fashion scene impacted or enhanced the Night Market experience?

I think Night Market has impacted the local fashion industry in a huge way. These monthly fashion shows give us stylists a chance to showcase our work and what we love doing. It puts relatively unknown designers on the map, and if you are so lucky enough to have a vendor booth at Night Market, this one particular night of sales can really be the added bonus your business needs to get to the next level.

Check back on Sunday for the wrap-up of the La Dernière Mode fashion show.

Night Market fashion show

(From FrolicHawaii.com- 4/26/2013) – Amanda Stevens

This past Tuesday, Hawaii’s Duncan Kamakana performed in the battle rounds of NBC’s “The Voice” against the season’s top contender, Sarah Simmons. Kamakana and Simmons of Team Adam gave stellar performances singing Lady Antebellum’s “Wanted You More,” but it was Simmons who won over coach Adam Levine and moved on to the knock-out rounds.

Although Kamakana was ousted from the competition, he at least had the chance to showcase the unique tone and texture of his voice. Earlier in the season, during the blind auditions, viewers were given just a five-second glimpse of his performance. After the show aired, we were able to catch-up with Kamakana for another interview:

What are some things you’ve learned during your time on “The Voice” that you feel will help your career in the music industry?

I think it’s the connections more than anything that will help me moving forward. The relationships created with the other artists, and many of the people we’ve worked with will be the most meaningful now that my career, as I see it, is really just beginning.

Who do you think will go all the way this season on “The Voice?”

I’d like to think that my battle partner Sarah Simmons will be standing on top when this is all over. It’s going to be hard to count out Judith though. I think we have a lot to look forward to from both of them.

What advice do you have for youth in Hawaii who would like to follow in your footsteps and pursue a career in music?

The most important thing is to keep at it, and to be yourself. There are a lot of carbon copy entertainers out there, and it’s key to find your own voice. What I tell a lot of people is everyone has an audience somewhere, you just have to find yours. Don’t worry about sounding too much like anyone else, in this industry that actually hurts you. Just be you.

Clearly, you have many fans throughout the country – #teamDuncan was definitely trending after your performance Tuesday night. When will your fans in Hawaii get to see you perform again?

I’m back home now getting the band together and making sure that when we hit that stage you see and hear nothing but the best. Keep a look out these next couple weeks for show announcements on duncankamakana.com and on my Facebook fan page at facebook.com/duncankamakana.

Here’s another chance to see Duncan Kamakana’s battle round duet with Sarah Simmons:

Duncan Kamakana on ‘The Voice’

(From FrolicHawaii.com 4/22/2013) – Amanda Stevens

Either Monday or Tuesday evening, Hawaii’s Duncan Kamakana will compete in the battle rounds of NBC’s reality show, “The Voice,” performing alongside a fellow member of Team Adam (Maroon 5’s Adam Levine). The singer Levine chooses will move on to the next round, while the other competitor, if not “Stolen” by another judge, will go home.

We recently had a chance to chat with Kamakana, son of Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Jon Osorio, over the phone about his experience on the popular show:

Tell us about your experience with the blind auditions, something our readers might not know from watching the show.

The process leading up to it was long, but once it was my turn, it all moved quickly. Leading up to it, I wasn’t that nervous because performing in front of an audience is not new to me. But right before I went on stage, the nerves kicked in and it went so fast. I don’t remember many details about my performance, I was on auto-pilot. But I can say, I remember the audience was great, they got to their feet and seemed to get into it.

Performing is not new to you. As a singer, musician and song writer, has that experience helped you through this process?

Having my guitar with me has been good, something I am familiar with. But if I move on in this process, I think I will perform with out it sometimes. Performing has been a part of my life for so long. I remember going with my dad when he performs — being used to and comfortable in front of an audience at a young age. But what makes this process different is the aspect of being judged, by actual judges.

Do you have a message for your fans in Hawaii?

The fans in Hawaii are great. I can’t say enough about how thankful I am for their support. They really only got to see me for about five seconds on screen so far, but their support and excitement means a lot to me.

How has your experience been with the other contestants, have you made many friends?

Going into this experience, I wasn’t sure how it would be. I thought it might be like some other reality shows, a dog-eat-dog kind of experience. But not at all. The people on Team Adam are talented and help each other out, and yes, I have made friends with people on the show.

Lastly, what are you looking forward to most, working with Adam Levine?

Adam is an incredible coach with great insight. He notices the little things, and has an incredible ear. He knows so much about pop music, and I am glad he’s my coach.

“The Voice” airs Monday and Tuesday at 7 p.m. Follow #TeamDuncan

Photo by Russell Tanoue

(from NonstopHonolulu.com 1/28/13 -by Amanda Stevens)

All eyes were on the entertainment factor of Sunday’s 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. Fans, sports commentators and NFL officials were all looking for a strong game to secure future Pro Bowls, and consensus from those we talked to at the Aloha Stadium on Sunday was that the players gave us a good game with more intensity than in years past. Although the final score 62-35, with the NFC blowing out the AFC, most of the crowd stayed until the end of the game.

Train performed opening event festivities, while Natalie Ai Kamauu amazed the audience singing “Hawai’i Pono’i” and Brian McKnight wowed the crowd with his rendition of the national anthem. Also, Henry Kapono gave a touching performance in support of our troops during half-time, and Steve Aoki fans were thrilled to have him at the DJ table during parts of the game.

(From FrolcHawaii.com 12/24/2012) – Amanda Stevens

Back to basics — fluid, deliberate, yet not over-structured; that’s the essence of Matt Bruening’s 2013 Holiday collection, BLVQ. Assisted by stylists Lindsay Higa, Geremy Campos and Reise Kochi, Bruening debuted his collection at a holiday fashion show at The Republik on Friday. The event was Super CW’s Last Ever birthday celebration and fundraiser for Pow Wow Hawaii.

The well-organized runway show, produced by Dayna Kalakau, complemented the collection. The décor, music, styling, hair and make-up were fresh, luxe and refined with a boho-urban edge.

We interviewed Bruening after the show. “There is so much going on in the world today that it seems a classic, timeless wardrobe can still speak for itself for the times we face ahead, whether good or bad,” he said. “I wanted to showcase a more luxe and refined side to my aesthetic, while still keeping it fresh, boho-urban and edgy.”

Describe the woman you pictured when you designed this collection?
MB: The woman I pictured is my ideal woman: Sexy, confident and edgy. She’s sexy because she reveals my favorite parts of a woman’s body — back and legs — but never giving it all away at once. Confident because she takes risks in styling choices and never wants to fit in. Edgy because she’s always ahead of the cusp.

Tell us about your choice of colors and shades?

MB: The choice of colors and shades I chose were based on the foundation of black and establishing army green and blush as the new “neutrals” amongst our black, greys, nudes and whites. Basics was the name of the game and I wanted it to be very complimentary but with a minor palette to soften it up.

What is one thing you want people to know about you as a designer and artist?

MB: One thing I think people should know about me as a designer is that I’m not the typical cookie-cutter designer. I’ve decided at a later age that I wanted to design and took a shot at it, after wanting to own my own men’s store. But I learned the basics of it and found a hidden passion and definitely a different outlet of how to express my art. I grew up thinking I would be a professional baseball player or a forensics scientist doing field or lab work, and here I am melding seams and dressing beautiful women around the world. I mean, it’s obviously not a bad thing. What better career and life could I ask for?

Ryan of Ryan Jacobie Salon shares: “I’ve been working with Matt since he was at the APDM program at UH Manoa. Since then, our styles have become more polished and clean. For this collection, the movement of the hair, the texture and styling complements the garments. Some of the fantastic make-up artists who worked with us on this show were Kecia Littman, Holly Tomita, Kimmy Stephens, Risa Hoshino and Bailee Nakaahiki..”