An incredible home fashion show-and-tell

When I was asked to do a mini-workshop at Macy’s, I knew right away what I was going to teach. How I was going to teach it was another matter!

The topic of the evening would be shopping with focus, and how you can easily transform a bedroom, a bathroom, even a living room space on any budget. The exciting part was that the workshop would be on a special stage next to Macy’s Ala Moana’s fourth floor home department. What a dream come true for a local girl!

But that was exactly the challenge as well—I’d be right in the middle of the department store, meaning no PowerPoint images to illustrate my points as I would normally have. It was also theater seating—no tables, which make it easier for people to take notes.

I knew I had to do something completely different. Macy’s is known for fashion, so how about a fashion show for the home? Instead of models changing clothes, how about switching out onstage props? By changing clothes—whoops! I mean changing colors, textures and styles with bedding or towels or accessories, I’d change the look of three rooms!

About 100 people came on a Thursday night, and culinary students in chef’s whites circulated through the crowd with trays of fantastic pupus and non-alcoholic drinks. I felt bad that lots of people had to stand, but people were so nice and even gave up seats for each other.

I started out with bedrooms. ICI Paints was nice enough to paint 6x4’ poster boards in different colors to serve as my “walls.” Against purple and lavender shades called Pinot Noir and Wildflower, I showed how to create a beautiful plum-and-silver space in three different price points by changing bedding, pillows, lamps and accessories. And yes, I did use Bed in a Bag (but not just any Bed in a Bag—this was Martha Stewart’s line!).

Then I moved on to the bathroom. The point there was even if you’re stuck with white walls, you can create a spa-like bathroom or even an over-the-top diva glam bathroom by changing out textures and accessories like towels and soap holders.

I topped off the evening by transforming a living room from an island to a contemporary to an Asian look, all in five minutes, by changing paint colors and accessories.

Phew! I’m exhausted just thinking about it. It was fun, fast and furious. When it was over, I thanked Macy’s Deena Nichols, who had invited me, for the opportunity. She made one of my childhood dreams come true—being part of a fashion show at Macy’s! All of this was not only fun, it was for a great cause. It was a free workshop, and we also raised some money for the American Heart Association.

And I have to give a high five to our fabulous crew, who came through as usual. Thank you to everybody who stopped in on a Thursday evening! Thank you, Macy’s! We had a ball!

Macy’s, here we come!

Oops, I gave it away in the headline! I’ve been dying to share this with you for weeks, but everything was hush-hush while we worked out preliminary arrangements. Now I can tell you the BIG NEWS: Macy’s has invited us to put on a mini-workshop!

My first reaction was, are you kidding? Right in the middle of Macy’s Ala Moana?! That’s exactly how Deena Nichols, senior vice president of Macy’s West, suggested it, and let me tell you, there have been lots of excited little dances at our office since then!

So here’s the scoop: We’re having a free mini-workshop on the fourth floor, to the right of the home department, just off the escalator. They’re going to clear out some of the women’s apparel, build an 18x12-foot stage with backdrop, and set up 100 chairs for the audience. There’ll even be light refreshments!

I’ll be sharing tips on how to put together and layer colors and textures for a bedroom, a bathroom and yes, even a living room, all in the span of one hour. Those of you who know me know I can talk fast, and will actually cover all this. And of course it’s going to be fun!

Posters should be going up in the store by early next week. Macy’s has been incredible to work with, and we’re already talking about doing these sorts of events on a more regular basis.

Today was our first logistics meeting. Lissa, Kara, Melissa, Mel and I went over to scope things out with special events director Lavina Wong and say hello to Deena (in the red dress)

It just so happens that Macy’s is the platinum sponsor of the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Ball, and February is of course Heart Month. Since this mini-workshop is two days before the Heart Ball, I thought, why not make it a benefit for the American Heart Association? So anyone who makes a donation to AHA that evening will receive a free gift from RSVPstyle and Macy’s while supplies last.

The girls and I scoped out where the stage is going to be, figured out the logistics and then headed down to the Pineapple Room on the third floor for a yummy lunch, over which we continued brainstorming. Being creative always makes me hungry!

Lissa and I ordered the same thing (great minds think alike) the furikake ahi sandwich. It was sooo good! The ahi simply melted in your mouth, and the sauce—even though I’m not a big sauce-on-sandwich person—really complemented the furikake ahi. I opted for the fries; Lissa went for the wasabi potato salad. The salad was good, but I’ve gotta have fries with my sandwich—I’m a salty-crunchy girl all the way!

Mel chose the specialty burger, and both Kara and Melissa had the kim chee Reuben. As much as I’m a Reuben fan, I have to say my ahi sandwich was still better. Kara, however, couldn’t quite decide.

After lunch we went back for more logistics planning, and we’re not done yet. There’s a lot to plan for, and it’s going to be an exciting event, a lot of fun for a good cause, and even in an hour, I believe we will get people started in training their eye for design. Hope you can join us!

What: Learn to Shop with Focus: A FREE Mini-Workshop with RSVPstyle
Where: Macy’s Ala Moana, Fourth Floor Home Department
Date: Thursday, February 19
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.