all about umee

oahu designer deena white may have only arrived in the islands a few years ago, but she knows all too well the dilemma of standing in front of the closet without a thing to wear for a tailor-made day in paradise.

last summer, the designer-to-be began drafting her style wish list of pieces that would complement her biz-y lifestyle, and in only a year's time the umee label (named after her japanese grandmother) went from a simple sketch to a stylish start-up.

the recently debuted capsule collection is comprised of classic silhouettes with just a hint of pleats, ruffles, and other feminine flourishes inspired by hawaii. pieces have been thoughtfully designed to transition from work to after hours fun with little fuss which is sure to be a happy find for readers who fancy a polished look for the office still pretty enough to go on a pau hana play date.

deena has even given the lbd an island makeover with the introduction of umee's little black muu muu (shown above) which i suspect will become both a style staple for homesick kama'aina and a favorite island holiday souvenir.

more peeks below . . .

ruffle strap + strapless dress

pearly plumeria + little black muu muu

since deena was once an island bride herself, a bridal collection is currently in the works with the possibility of made-to-order frocks on the drawing board to help brides-to-be coordinate the look of their wedding party.

and, in other news, keeping production local was a priority and i am happy to report that the entire umee lineup is made in hawaii!

currently, the online shop is the only click you need to know to add a little umee to your wardrobe (with free shipping on all orders at the moment), however you can be among the label's first patrons during this weekend's mom and you trunk show hosted by hifi:

• when: sat, may 9th - 2p to 4p
• where: the contemporary museum, café lawn
• fyi: enjoy a pre-sale tea for two at the café (reservations recommended)