'International dress' invites touch of exotic

Advertiser Staff

•	'An International Affair' 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom Business attire or international dress Tickets: $150 per person Tables: $1,500, $3,000, $5,000 and $10,000 Information: 944-7105 Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit student scholarships to the East-West Center.

Dress for the event is business attire or international. What do you wear when international attire is called for?

Joan Bickson, community leader and one of Honolulu's best-dressed women, has some suggestions. Bickson, who serves as dinner co-chairwoman, will be wearing a one-of-a-kind ensemble, a wine-colored jacket made from Indian fabric embellished with embroidered flowers with silver threads, paired with a long skirt made from Thai silk.

"When the attire is international dress, it allows women to be creative and daring and gives them the freedom to wear something a little exotic, what they normally wouldn't wear everyday," she says. "One dramatic accessory or piece of clothing can dress up an outfit. The look will be original." Her tips:

• A terno, a Filipino top with large "butterfly" sleeves, over a long dress.
• A Chinese silk jacket paired with tapered black silk pants.
• A cheongsam, a Chinese, fitted one-piece dress, or any outfit with a Mandarin collar.
• An Asian-inspired vest, jacket or dress made from antique kimonos or obis.
• A shawl or scarf made from Chinese, Thai or Indian fabric can dress up a long black slip dress.
• A long sarong topped with a tailored, long-sleeved blouse.

What are some of the stores to look for ethnic-inspired clothing? Anne Namba or Montsuki for clothing created from kimonos and obis, Shanghai Tang for traditional Chinese clothing, Tapestries by Hauoli for other Asia-inspired clothing, Mandalay Imports for apparel made from Thai silks and cottons, or Artlines for a stunning piece of ethnic jewelry.