Nina Thai, owner of Angels by the Sea Hawaii boutiques in Waikiki, loves anything that reflects the ocean and sky, which provide inspiration for her feminine and flowy “Boho beach” designs and sea-glass jewelry.
She can often be found at Lanikai Beach snapping photos of sunrises, sunsets and the ocean. Thai, who was born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, prefers pieces that can be worn at the beach and easily dressed up with a few accessories for a night on the town.
“My concept is to create pieces that everybody can wear,” she said. “I like to make people happy.”
The former French-Vietnamese model and beauty queen (Ms. Waikiki 2012) became an entrepreneur and fashion designer after moving to Honolulu in 2005. She dresses mostly in her own designs, of course, but enjoys shopping for accessories from a mix of both high- and low-end retailers, including Target and Ross. She has a penchant for Salvatore Ferragamo shoes.
NINA THAI
>> Age: 35
>> Residence: Waikiki
>> Occupation: Owner and designer, Angels by the Sea Hawaii
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE
“I like to wear clothes that are comfortable yet beautiful, inspired by Hawaiian culture and nature.”
DRESSING FOR COMFORT
“The best thing about being a clothing designer is that I can design outfits that are perfect for myself and incorporate design elements that I want in a piece of clothing. On any given day, I like to wear my Angels by the Sea tunic that is made out of material soft on the skin with a comfortable fit. It is so comfortable and flexible for any occasion that I wear it everywhere — to the office, to the beach for a photo shoot, and on my days off at home. I pair that with Island Slippers and I can walk/work all day in comfort.”
PARTY ATTIRE
“For parties I wear my maxi long dress. It’s great for any kind of occasion such as birthdays, concerts and even weddings. I pair that with my favorite Ferragamo shoes.”
MUST-HAVE ACCESSORIES
“The most important accessory is my watch to keep me on schedule during my hectic workday! I always wear my heart-shaped necklace, which was a special gift, and I layer it with necklaces designed by local designers that I carry in my stores.”
FAVORITE BEAUTY PRODUCTS
“Indigenous (Soap Co.) handmade soap from the North Shore of Oahu. My go-to facial skin care products are from Shiseido. L’Occitane body butter for dry skin. Jo Malone perfume — I’m so in love with their fragrance.”
FAVORITE SHOP
“Sugarfina (at the International Market Place). I feel like a kid again when I go into the store and see all those gummy treats.”
“Island Lookbook” is a weekly feature of the Star-Advertiser Sunday Magazine that spotlights local trendsetters. Email features@staradvertiser.com.
