Fashionable Boutique Managers
Leading Ladies: Boutique managers, by nature, have killer wardrobing skills and some of the best personal style around. Here, three local shop girls give us the skinny on their summer must-haves and favorite off-duty shopping spots.
Owner Emilie Fuji and her pup Nacho.
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With her tousled bob, mile-long pins and penchant for mixing vintage with modern, Emilie Fuji exudes an Alexa Chung-like, cool-girl sensibility. A former ESL teacher, the owner-slash-manager of the newly opened Homecoming boutique always found herself drawn to fashion, opening an online store in L.A. in 2010 as a hobby. Fuji’s move to Honolulu inspired her to set up shop full-time. Think distressed UNIF rocker tees, flirty tops from Australian label Mink Pink and curve-hugging Motel dresses, not to mention a drool-worthy shoe wall flush with the latest from Dolce Vita and Jeffrey Campbell. Her buying philosophy? “We try not to limit our thinking to, This is Hawaii, we could never sell that,” says Fuji. “It’s more like, Let’s try it and see what happens!”
From Her Shop:
“The Motel Rocks Bustier comes in great, summer-perfect patterns.” $25 each, Homecoming, 1191 Bethel St., 536-6000.
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Off-Duty Picks:
“I try to keep my fashion splurging to a minimum, but I’ve been stalking the Alexander Wang Diego bag for months.” $825, Aloha Rag, 1221 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 115, 589-2050.
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“Every time I go into Barrio Vintage I walk away with a stack of good finds. The prices are really reasonable.” Overall dress, $16, 1109 Maunakea St., Suite 208, 674-7156.
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“Owens & Co. is Honolulu’s answer to Anthropologie. It carries my favorite soap, and has a lot of cute napkins and coasters.” Rock Scissor Paper coasters, $12 for a set of 12, 1152 Nuuanu Ave., 531-4300.
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“I love to cook, so Executive Chef is my wonderland. They have tiny Le Creuset stoneware dishes that you can bake mini pies in and gift to someone you love.” $13.95, Ward Centers, 596-2433.
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Style pros Jane Moon (left) and Natassha Pablo.
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Impeccably dressed, flawlessly made up and always poised, Escada’s general manager Jane Moon and selling manager Natassha Pablo are bigwigs of the local style scene. Heading up the Hawaii branch of one of the most influential fashion brands in sleekly tailored suits and shape-defining dresses, the head-turning duo deserves glamour cred for being two of Honolulu’s best dressed. Their wardrobes do, however, go beyond the ooh-la-la of Escada’s lavish, luxe world. In fact, when it comes to their days off, the ladies’ choices are surprisingly low-key. “Style isn’t about how much you can spend, it’s a way to express who you are and to have fun,” says Moon. And, judging from their eclectic mix of must-haves, you know these women like to untuck and unwind.
From Their Shop:
“I love the feathers and sequins on this coat. It’s a very over-the-top statement piece and I like to make an entrance!” – N.P. Coat, $6,995, Escada, Ala Moana Center, 973-3738.
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Off-Duty Picks:
“Olive Boutique in Kailua is one of my favorite places to shop, especially for locally designed jewelry.” – N.P. Indi Oceans link earrings, $75, 43 Kihapai St., 263-9919.
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“Stussy is a hidden gem for women’s clothing. I can always count on finding great summer pieces that won’t break the bank.” – J.M. Sunglass tank, $28, 1288 Ala Moana Blvd. #106, 591-6546.
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“I don’t always have time between clients to reapply lip color. This one lasts for hours and you can find it at any drugstore.” – J.M. COVERGIRL Outlast Lipstain, $8.49, Longs Drugs, 1088 Bishop St. #113, 536-4551.
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“I first spotted K. Jacques’ strappy sandals at Opening Ceremony in L.A., but you can find them here at Aloha Rag.” – J.M. Golden Goose x K. Jacques sandals, $590, Aloha Rag, 1221 Kapiolani Blvd. #116, 589-2050.
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