When faced with an invitation to a costume party or gala, many Island folks panic. Yikes! Who will I be? What will I wear? Eh, I'm just gonna make shame. So they come up with an excuse not to go, even though, deep down, they would love the opportunity to dress up and be somebody else for an evening.

There's a gala coming up this weekend that affords attendees the opportunity to shine on a red carpet by dressing like their favorite movie star. It's a benefit for Alzheimer's Association — Aloha Chapter, and its theme is "Hollywood Stars."

Shelley Wilson of Makiki, who is chairing the event, and her husband, Kelvin Bloom, is getting a kick out of being "the spouse." Wilson and Bloom are one of those power couples that almost seem too good to be real. She's a gorgeous blonde; he's a handsome hapa. She's president and CEO of Wilson Homecare; he's president of Resort Quest Hawai'i. They are both fit and happy and nearly newlyweds, having met on a blind date and married just a year ago.

As chair of the event, Wilson had to decide which Hollywood star she wanted to emulate. She couldn't make up her mind, so she decided to try out two diverse looks: Marilyn Monroe and Cher. Bloom had played Elvis to an appreciative audience of his peers, so Elvis was easy. Sonny was, of course, a given.

They sought help from Greg Howell, a makeup artist with Paul Brown Salon & Spa in Ward Centre who also helps Manoa Valley Theatre with makeup, hair and sometimes even costumes for productions.

Wilson is an Internet shopper. "I just don't have time to shop for specialized items. I need to shop online and have it delivered to me," she said. She found her Marilyn Monroe gown on eBay for $50; it was a pageant dress owned by a former Mrs. South Carolina. She also found her gloves and rhinestone bling on eBay to complete the "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" ensemble.

Wilson's makeup a la Marilyn is simple and clean, Howell explained. He put white eye shadow over her entire lid, contoured the outer brow bone and applied black eyeliner across her entire lid, bringing it to a point at the corners of her eyes. When applying false eyelashes, Howell recommends cutting off half of the lashes and using only the inner (shorter) half, applying it to the outer eye. Using the entire eyelash can create "an awning effect" and feel uncomfortable. Her lips are full in a medium red, and of course Howell gave her the requisite beauty mark.

Howell borrowed Bloom's Elvis costume and gold platform shoes from Keoki Kerr of KITV News, who is also a talented singer performing around Honolulu in various venues. He found the wig (complete with sideburns, $30) at Shangri La Hair Center in 'Aiea, where he also found Wilson's Marilyn Monroe wig ($35). The copious chest hair? It's a fake beard, turned upside down.

Howell is one of those people who can often find just what he wants at places like Savers, Goodwill and the Salvation Army. He walked right up to a rack at Goodwill on Beretania Street and picked out a mini dress embellished with pink pailettes ($7), very Cher indeed, and exactly Wilson's size (yeah, like, a 2 or so, sigh). Wilson found her Cher-like fishnet tights for $2 at Wal-Mart and shopped her own closet for boots. Howell found the brunette Cher wig for $49 at Shangri La. He said the versatile center-parted wig comes in a plethora of colors and he has bought the same style before in gray, styling it in a bun to create a granny look. For the Cher makeup, Howell added lavender eye shadow, dark eyebrows, spiky lashes and pale shimmery lips.

Bloom bought his neon-bright '70s-style Sonny outfit — complete with red platform shoes and peace pendant — at Marilyn Keller Costumes, an appointment-only business in Waikiki.

Tickets to the gala are still available, but don't dress as John Wayne, Ingrid Bergman, Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn or Elvis. Those stars are already in the constellation of attendees. And, hey, no star wants to see herself (or himself) coming and going.

An alternative, Wilson said, is to simply come as yourself, but a glammed-up, red carpet-ready version of yourself.