The new Cocktails & Couture Night plans to draw attention to the boutiques, stylists, designers and others who are helping drive the Big Island’s laid-back fashion scene. Besides casting the spotlight on the participating retail companies, organizers hope the 13-week event brings the community together in a refreshingly unique and fun way while also encouraging attendees to support area small businesses.
Organizers realize the event’s name doesn’t meet the true definition of couture, which technically means sewing. Still, Cocktails & Couture Night, which begins tonight, promises to be a chic party, where fashionistas and hometown heroes can hobnob over fashion, drinks, pupu and entertainment by the band Girls Nite Out. So far, the featured retail companies are Handmade Life, Sugar MoMo, Savvy Boutique, Zaia, Buddhi Om, Lush Hair & Boutique, Lucky Cat, Pueo Boutique and Ohana Spray Paint Artists.
Cocktails & Couture Night will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. every Friday at the Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse showroom and Laverne’s Sports Bar, located in the Coconut Grove Marketplace on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona. Afterward, there will be a dance party, with DJ Boss Cutz blasting new mixes and crowd favorites, for patrons ages 21 and over until 2 a.m. There is no cover charge to attend.
However, tickets will be sold for the finale on Aug. 29, when a fashion show, featuring styles from various participating boutiques, will be held. Proceeds will go to an area nonprofit, yet to be determined, that assists women with financial literacy, as well as personal and professional development, said Jamie Borromeo, promotions and special events manager for Humpy’s and Laverne’s. The goal would be to raise between $500 and $1,000, she added.
More boutiques, designers and fashion-related partners are welcomed. In particular, Humpy’s and Laverne’s are still looking for equipment, including lights, for a runway show. Anyone interested in donating or getting involved can email Jamie@humpyskona.com.
Cocktails & Couture Night is one of several initiatives to give back to the community led by Humpy’s and Laverne’s. These restaurants have made it a point to get involved with various organizations over the years and help in meaningful ways. Past beneficiaries include Special Olympics West Hawaii, Wounded Warrior Project and the Greg Cameron Firefighter Fund, Borromeo said.
“Both Laverne’s and Humpy’s are more than just food and entertainment,” she said. “It’s about becoming an integral part of our community. It is the community that has helped us stay around as long as we have, and we feel it’s our duty to help where we can. We’re setting the bar for what it means to run a successful enterprise while giving back and supporting the local community. That’s what aloha is about.”
Besides these restaurants, Cocktails & Couture Night is possible because of a partnership with The Wave 92FM, Grey Goose Melon and Bacardi Mango. For more information, visit laverneskona.com or humpys.com/kona.