J.Lo tops People’s list of pretty people

People magazine is naming Jennifer Lopez the World’s Most Beautiful Woman. The singer, actress and “American Idol” judge tops the magazine’s annual list of “the World’s Most Beautiful” in a special double issue on newsstands tomorrow. Lopez is joined on this honor roll by such lovelies as Hawaii’s Maggie Q, Halle Berry, Jennifer Garner and Beyonce Knowles. Commenting on her lofty title, the 41-year-old Lopez says, “I feel happy and proud. Proud that I’m not 25!” The magazine also named Hawaii’s Bruno Mars one of 25 Beauties (and Hotties) at 25.

WHAT’S IN STORE

‘Slippahpalooza’ heralds new site

The Island Slipper Store will celebrate its move to larger quarters at the Ewa end of Ward Warehouse with a grand-reopening “Slippahpalooza” 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Shoppers will be able to browse while enjoying performances by Makana, Jeff Peterson, Puamana and Ernie Cruz Jr. throughout the day.

The store is easily double the size of its old quarters and houses more than 80 styles of men’s and women’s casual, dressy and deck slippers, all still made in Hawaii, just as when Takizo and Misao Motonaga started the company in 1946.

Anyone who grew up through the 1950s to 1970s might be familiar with slippers designed by the Motonagas’ son Eddy, each bearing the company’s signature floral motif. The slippers were widely carried by almost every large island retailer. At the time, the market wasn’t stratified the way it is today, so shoppers could find them at such diverse retailers as Liberty House, Sears, J.C. Penney and Arakawa’s.

With a Hawaii fashion renaissance under way, Island Slipper has gone international, with a large following in Japan, and according to owner John Carpenter, men’s styles in unique prints and utilizing upscale materials such as leather and pony hair will likely be seen on Paris runways this summer.

For more information, visit www.islandslipper.com.

Crazed Kitty fans can meet designer

Hello Kitty fans will have the opportunity to meet her designer, Yuko Yamaguchi, who will be at Sephora Ala Moana from 6 to 8 p.m. next Thursday to help introduce Hello Kitty Beauty.

During the “Hello Pretty” event, fans will be able to enjoy makeovers featuring Hello Kitty Beauty looks, and Yamaguchi will sign cosmetics and accessories from the whimsical line, at one item per person.

The first 125 people who make a $50 Hello Kitty purchase at Sephora Ala Moana between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. that day will receive a wristband ensuring a meeting with Yamaguchi, who created the iconic kitty 36 years ago.

For more information, call 944-9797.

Correction: The first 125 people who make a $50 Hello Kitty purchase will receive wristbands. An earlier verson of this story incorrectly said that the first 200 people who make a $35 purchase would receive the wristbands.

Catherine’s Closet goes abroad

A pop-up shop featuring apparel from Catherine’s Closet is slated to open within Barney’s Tokyo store on April 23 and continue for three weeks.

Barney’s Tokyo executives flew a buyer to Honolulu to drop in on Catherine Fong’s 125 Merchant St. boutique after a Japanese travel show featured the vintage boutique. The buyer was particularly smitten by 1970s pieces and bought several dozen maxi dresses, feather hats and 30 Panama hats for resale in the pop-up boutique.

Fong also had another brush with fame when a friend of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez — together known as the designers behind Proenza Schouler — discovered the boutique with a little help from a Facebook query.

The designers ended up going home with 1960s and 1970s pieces, including a maxi dress, a purse and three short dresses. Would it be safe to assume we might find a bit of vintage Hawaii inspiration on their next runway?

Catherine’s Closet will celebrate its birthday April 29, and 10 percent of sales at the boutique throughout this month will go toward Japan relief efforts.

The boutique is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Call 521-0772.

STYLE FILE

Fundraiser brings out artists, crafters and lovers of textiles

“Bolts of Fabric and Fun,” a fundraiser for TEMARI, Center for Asian and Pacific Arts, returns to the Honpa Hongwanji Social Hall on Pali Highway from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

More than 30 collectors, artists and hoarders have cleared their closets of fabrics, remnants, sewing and crafting notions for this annual event geared toward like-minded textile lovers and crafters in search of the unusual. Included are buttons, threads, beads, interior designers’ samples, laces, fabric inks, cording and new creations made by artists, including alpaca fur toy animals.

There will also be demonstrations on transforming old kimono into Western-style wearables.

Admission and parking are free. Call 536-4566.

TEMARI, Center for Asian and Pacific Arts, is a 32-year-old nonprofit group formed to perpetuate traditional Asian-Pacific folk arts.

Spring boutique sale to feature new tops by Wendy Kim-Messier

Nui Mono and girlfriends will be hosting a spring boutique sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Palolo Honpa Hongwanji for those eager to get a head start on Mother’s Day shopping.

Up for grabs will be new tops by Wendy Kim-Messier as well as new designs in clothing, jewelry and housewares from Nui Mono, Tutuvi, Wabi Sabi, Kim Kono, Cora Yee, Sherrie Rupert, Pitacus, Teru, Bev Seki, Debbie Kaneshiro and Linda Hoshide, along with cookies, energy bars and other sweet treats made from all-natural ingredients by Sweet Charlotte.

The hongwanji is at 1641 Palolo Ave. Look for the yellow balloons marking the spot. Call 946-7407.

HCC’s fashion ‘TRANSITOPIA’ brings in ‘Project Runway’ stars

The celebrity roster for Honolulu Community College’s student fashion show, "TRANSITOPIA," keeps growing.

Joining the students and “Project Runway” alumni Andy South, Casanova, Mondo Guerra and Michael Drummond for the show taking place taking place at 7 p.m. April 23 will be fellow Season 8 contestant Christopher Collins.

The fashion show will be staged at the HCC Automotive Department at 445 Kokea St. Tickets are $25, available by calling 845-9203.

Fans can meet the designers in advance at 11 a.m. April 21, when they will be attending an HCC Fashion Lab in the school’s Fashion Technology Department.

The designers will talk with the students about their design experiences at “Project Runway” and in real life, and each will bring one garment that they used audition for the TV fashion design competition.