PARIS, Sep 12, 2002/ --- Judging by the latest cruise collection from Celine, it is evident that designer Michael Kors has been bitten by the "Pearl Harbor" bug.

Inspired by the same organic glamour that has audiences around the world swooning, Kors paid homage to 1940's Hawaii with seashells and hibiscus flowers in the collection of cruise wear and accessories unveiled Tuesday in Paris.

The team at Celine also honored the past in their presentation of the cruise collection. Instead of exhibiting it to the press in a showroom, the entire collection was displayed in the recently revamped St. Germain boutique, which had just reopened on Saturday.

The house emptied every shelf of the current season's collection and closed the store to the public for this private showing of Aloha chic.

"We're pioneers in France with this approach," explained Celine president Jean Marc Loubier. "When it opened in 1956, this store was the first luxury goods boutique in St. Germain and we wanted to retain something of its history, while radically modernizing it."

For his part, Kors succeeded in making the cruise line more complete. In his Pacific mood, shoes were glamorous and dainty, some adorned with a tropical flower motif, others with beads carved from seashells. The hibiscus appeared on bags, blouses and even a portable telephone strap - a big trend in Japan.

The collection also includes Celine's trademark luxe cashmere sportswear and understated, elegant evening wear, as well as a range of accessories such as handbags, weekend bags, tennis ball and racket bags.

So while we can't all jet down to Hawaii and exude tropical glamour like Kate and Ben, Celine's latest cruise collection, at the very least, gives us a taste of what it must be like.

Sandals by Celine at the new Paris Celine store showcasing teh Celine Cruise 2000 Collection in st. Germain District, Paris France, June 12, 2001.

Celine Cruise 2001

Celine Cruise 2001

Celine Cruise 2001

Celine Cruise 2001