Mention Rose Tam-Hoy, 86, of Kaimuki, to anyone who knows her and you are guaranteed a broad smile. That's how she affects people.

"From the top of her head to her fabulous shoes, she has always dressed beautifully. She's of an era we just don't see anymore," said Puanani Higgins of St. Louis Heights.

"She's an endearing Auntie Mame. Her hats are quite over-the-top," said fashion designer Nake'u Awai, whose studio and shop are in Kalihi.

"She shows a lot of class and style," said June Mulhall, owner of C. June Shoes and a longtime friend of Tam-Hoy.

Tam-Hoy wouldn't think of stepping outside without putting thought and style into her outfit. A broad-brimmed hat, a mu'umu'u and statement shoes are de rigeur.

She adopted her signature look when she was teaching Hawaiian quilting in Waikiki hotels, at YWCAs and in public libraries.

"I thought, 'I have to dress like a tutu now,' " she said with a laugh.

Her mother, who was half Hawaiian, always wore a hat. "And she would tip it, just so," Tam-Hoy said with a tip of her own hat.

She's especially fond of broad-brimmed hats because they are decorative while providing protection from the sun. As a member of the Red Hat Society, she owns several festive red and purple hats, as part of a collection that totals more than 100.

Tam-Hoy has dozens of pairs of shoes, many with lots of bling. She even has crystal-studded cowgirl boots she loves to wear with a red suit or denim skirt.

Her favorite places to shop: