The inaugural Hawaii Fashion and Beauty Expo will take place this weekend at the Neal Blaisdell Center, with dozens of beauty and fashion vendors, daily fashion shows, makeup demonstrations and more, highlighted by a Hawaii Top Model competition and “Operation Runway,” with local designers competing to be named “Operation Runway Designer of the Year.”

The event opens 4 to 9 p.m. tomorrow, continuing 11 a.m. to

9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Introduction of Hawaii’s Top Model contestants will take place 6:30 p.m. tomorrow and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, with challenges taking place at 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, and the start of “Operation Runway” at 2 p.m. Saturday. The top five model contestants will be named at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, with the designer finalists selecting the models for their final challenge. Both competitions will continue from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, when the two winners are named.

Onstage demonstrations include a beauty seminar with makeup artist Liz Dahl at 7 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday; cosmetic seminar by Dr. Gregory Herbich at 5:30 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday; health and fitness seminar with Matt and Alicia Jones at 1 p.m. Saturday and 11:15 a.m. Sunday; hair seminar with Etch Salon’s Richie Miao at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday; and fashion and styling seminar with L.A.-based freelance stylist Lyndzi Trang at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $7 daily; free for ages 5 and younger. For more information, visit www.hawaiifashionandbeautyexpo.com.

Designer South premieres collection

Ala Moana Center’s Shop A Le‘a continues with fashion shows today through Saturday on Centerstage.

Today: World premiere of the South by Andy South Fall/Winter 2011 collection at 7 p.m. After-party at the Hawaii Fashion Incubator Pop-up Incubator on lower level, between Hilo Hattie and Sam Goody.

Tomorrow: 1979 designer Suzanna Kuhlemann presents her Summer 2011 collection at 2 p.m.

Saturday: Ala Moana magazine Spring Runway Show features all the season’s trends at 6:30 p.m., repeating at 7:30 p.m. The shows will be preceded by a 6 p.m. presentation with New York-based fashion show producer Lynne Hanzawa O’Neill talking about the “Rules of the Runway.”

For full details and special offers, visit www.alamoanacenter.com.

Claire’s new website is great prom date

Accessories retailer Claire’s, which specializes in jewelry

for teens, tweens and girls, has launched an interactive website for prom season, clairespromstyle.com. The site aims to help young fashionistas find the perfect prom look based on their

personal style in nine categories, from “Hollywood Starlet”

to “Urban Princess” to “Bohemian Babe.” The categories

will lead to jewelry selections in appropriate colors

and styles.

Participants will also have the opportunity to win one of six $1,000 prize packages to make their prom experience truly unforgettable, a private screening of Disney’s “Prom” movie opening on April 29 for 100 friends, or a walk-on role in a new Disney movie.

WHAT’S IN STORE

Jewelry combines Isle theme, rising sun

Philip Rickard Honolulu has unveiled an “Aloha for Japan” pendant, with a portion of proceeds from each sale going to the American Red Cross to fund relief efforts in Japan.

Rickard said the recent tragic events in Japan struck close to home for the company, which has offices in Tokyo and caters to clientele from Japan. The design, the first in a collection to symbolize the bond between Hawaii and Japan, blends traditional Hawaiian design elements, including the designer’s signature “Aloha Oe” script, with the Japanese hinomaru, or rising sun, motif. It’s available in a choice of 14K white gold ($599) or 14K yellow gold ($499). Each piece is handmade from heavy-weight gold and enameled with vitreous glass enamel.

Visit www.philiprickard.com or call 800-548-2616.

Custom necklace proceeds to aid Japan

Maui-raised, New York City-based jewelry designer Tiffany Chou is auctioning a custom designed “Conched Out” necklace on eBay, with all proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan and the Pacific.

The pendant was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition 2011, worn by model Alyssa Miller.

The necklace features a 14K gold-plated conch shell pendant on a 24-inch gold-filled chain, valued at $65. To participate in the auction, visit www.tiffanychou.com/pages/coral-reef-alliance and click on the link “Bid Now.” Bidding ends at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

Chou said she was raised with the belief that “it’s important to always be grateful for what you have and to give back when possible.”

For more information, visit www.TiffanyChou.com.

Antique wares on display at Blaisdell

The Vintage Collectibles and Hawaiiana Show returns to the Blaisdell Center Hawaii Suites Sunday with a Wiki Wiki One Day event showcasing antique, vintage and collectible items 20 years or older, including aloha shirts, kitchenware, textiles, toys, jewelry and more.

The event runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with general admission $4. Early entry at 9 a.m. is $15.

For details, visit www.ukulele.com/wikiwiki.

Awards honor impact on aina

Patagonia’s Honolulu and Haleiwa stores are dishing out $5,000 to deserving groups during the Patagonia “Voice Your Choice” campaign.

The stores have each selected three local environmental groups that have done something extraordinary to help restore and protect the environment. Through March 31, community members can drop into either store to learn more and vote for the organization they feel has made the most impact. The first-place winner will receive $2,500, second place wins $1,500 and the third-place winner will be awarded $1,000.

The Honolulu store’s nominated groups are Kakoo Oiwi, Paepae Heeia and Kai Makana. In Haleiwa, vote for the Hawaii Wildlife Fund, Friends of Kaena or Save Haleiwa Beach Park Coalition.