prep school resort

since the announcement of j.crew's resort collection popped into my inbox last week, i've been going back and forth on whether to post the new designs which were obviously influenced by hawaii. a conspiracy theorist might think that the island inspired looks were created to coincide with the recent opening of the ala moana shop, but, having been a j.crew girl since my college days, i know better and can tell you that j.crew resort has always offered up a modern, if preppy, take on tropical style.

the oahu tee seems to be the 2008 followup to last year's big island design (up next: kaho'olawe!) and then there is the curiously named nanakuli button up in this year's mix (oh, how i wish i was a fly on the wall to hear that discussion).

alas, my new shopper's manifesto* means i am sitting this one out in an attempt to ween myself off my j.crew habit since more of my shopping dollars are being devoted to products that are made in the usa, fair trade, &/or organic (if i ever find all three in one product i will have hit the trifecta!).

of course, my guess is that h|h readers probably have not limited themselves in such a way so off you go to enjoy the latest looks before they sell out. and, while some may find it odd that a resort collection designed far from the islands sells like hotcakes, consider this a cue for local designers that there definitely is a market outside hawaii for retro island style designed for the modern girl.

*[just trying to be a better world citizen by being a more conscious consumer because i do believe that after voting our best hope to transform this capitalist economy of ours into one that is more sustainable is from
the ground up at checkout. my new motto compliments of ghandi - be the change you wish to see in the world!]