Where is Paula Rath?

Paula at Chic in City

Fashion and fitness writer Paula Rath ruled with her articles in the now defunct Honolulu Advertiser for 15 years, covering every style story in Hawaii and making a name for herself in the business. But when the venerable newspaper folded, she was not picked up by the competing Honolulu Star-Bulletin (now Honolulu Star-Advertiser). Left in the cold were many avid followers wondering what would be next for her.

That was in June 2010. Paula considered taking time out to “cool it and figure out what came next,” but her husband, retired orthopedic surgeon Jerry Mayfield, merely laughed.
Used to a lively pace, within a week she was crawling up the walls.

Like so many of the newly retired, she considered writing a memoir for her son. “I wanted the freedom of working for myself and being there for Jerry,’ says Paula. But never one to sit still, Paula began planning a new direction. She started a blog. She had it designed by a professional, went out and found advertisers, and picked up where she left off. You can follow her at www.paularath.com.

We have always loved Paula at PLACE for her enthusiasm and support. She is always at the forefront of style trends and has been consistently supportive.

Paula was nervous about blogging about her travels with Jerry, thinking that her followers only wanted to hear about fashion. She soon realized that she was reporting not just on what fashionable people wore, but where they traveled, what their homes looked like and where they ate. It opened up a new world.

Her own career is pretty glamorous in itself, starting with a gig at CBS News in Hong Kong during the Vietnam War, followed by a newspaper in Botswana and magazine in Nigeria. She even once lived on a small Greek Island before it was discovered and overrun by tourists.

When her son left home for school 15 years ago, she suffered such separation anxiety she knew she had to get to work. This led to a series of jobs in public relations and advertising, and even a stint on local television.

She finally landed as a student in the fashion program at Honolulu Community College, learning everything about fashion from the inside out – draping, tailoring, grading, sketching and pattern creation. Upon graduation, while still keeping her PR day job, she opened her own fashion house in Kakaako making one-of-a-kind creations.

This eventually led to the job at the Honolulu Advertiser. She encourages young people today to learn the basics before they try to launch their own careers.

But fashion is her passion (shared today by painting). When asked about fashion trends, Paula says that while she follows them, she rarely adapts them in their entirety for herself. Each season she will select only one or two that suit her own look and body type.

“Long skirts are back. I think leggings under a short dress are timeless, and tunics will definitely continue.”



We have devoted an entire room to tunics at PLACE



As far as color, cobalt and royal blue are very happening. She loves the shibori-based prints that have replaced some of the Indian block patterns in popularity.

Cobalt and royal blue are very happening

  “It’s about layering in texture. It makes your clothes versatile and it’s been around for several seasons. Layering adds interest and doesn’t necessarily have to ad heat.”

Slim legged pants and jeans work for most body types, she thinks. Even for older fashionistas.



Paula says that lightweight scarves are very big right now, but is sad they’ve never really caught on in Hawaii.

Scarves may not have caught on all over Hawaii,
but we LOVE them and stock them at PLACE

She adds that there is a direction connection between wearable fashion and home accessories. “The colors and textures follow each other,” she says, noting that it all starts in the fabric mills where colors and textures for bedding, pillows and sofas begin at least a year in advance of anything hitting the stores.

Her new fashion jewelry favorites? Watch for the chunky, bold, gold-toned jewelry of Jose and Maria Barrera. You can also catch her writing on the Neiman Marcus blog, www.neimanmarcus.com.



Say yes to chunky bold gold-toned jewelry
like these Sandy Simonian bangles
featured at PLACE

We salute you, Paula!