new peeks: maui thing summer 2010

m's islands

while i await a few remaining details for today's featured oahu shop, let's take a little detour to the valley isle which is the home base of maui thing. i finally had a chance to pop into the flagship store while strolling through charming downtown wailuku during my springtime holiday, and found myself instantly cheered by the bright interior and racks of wearables rocking an assortment of prints designed by local artists.

the label just celebrated its anniversary so i gathered up a few favorites from the summer collection filled with the small yet timeless thrills of island life, from a simple shave ice design to a graphic cascade of gentle waves, in honor of maui thing reaching the two year mark.

free 2 b * wailuku town

bottle crop * henna

shave ice * hawaiian alphabet

happy happy congratulations to the mt 'ohana!

discover your own favorites in the online shop or at maui thing's wailuku boutique:

• where: 7 north market street, wailuku
• shop hours: mon to fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 10a to 4p

tamara catz spring/summer 2010

coral loveliness

i have finally shaken off my wretched monday night malaise and am relieved to return to the land of the living. in between pages of breaking dawn, the past few days were spent peeking into the online storefronts of island designers when i realized that it has been far too long since the glamorous upcountry looks designed by maui's tamara catz appeared on h|h.

some of the most fetching styles are tamara's silky coral frocks which are simply too gorgeois not to share with you. the pattern pops up throughout the collection and is offered in whispers of color and a mix of silhouettes making the design wearable for anyone with a soft spot for the intricately woven seaside pattern. the coral is quite a becoming backdrop and i am finding myself hard pressed to pick a favorite.

other new patterns to woo you include a rainbow repeat and a fun abstract animal print. whimsical embellishments continue to add delightful boho charm especially in the playfully hand embroidered bird and tree shift, delicate crocheted necklines, and dazzling beaded accents. the wedding collection has also expanded its offerings of romantic gowns with layers of chiffon, draped bodices, and grecian details perfected for the beach goddess bride.

rainbow print * tree & bird

seahorse tote

almost all of the featured designs are stocked in the online shop, but if you find yourself in paia definitely stop by tamara's lovely boutique to browse the racks and say hello!

• where: 83 hana hwy, paia
• shop hours: sun to thu, 10a to 6p & fri/sat, 10a to 7:30p

letarte 2010 collection

starfish bikini

hope everyone had a lovely weekend and took a moment to take a tour of the new website (this would mean you, mr. & ms. email or rss subscriber!). while i was away tinkering on h|h's makeover, the letarte 'ohana sent over news of the maui-based label's ten year collection which scored quite a few snaps in the latest edition of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue.

letarte can always be counted on for girly glam - fun and flirty beach-inspired looks accompanied by either a dash of boho, a hint of rocker edge, or a cheeky combination of the two (hello skull toile!). i continue to swoon for letarte's pretty, playful prints including the gorgeous abstract feather design introduced this season and the aloha guitar's cheery repeat which was inspired by hawaii's own slack key guitar and ukulele (be sure to take a peek at the coordinating tunic with little aloha's embroidered along the hem).

and, of course, no letarte collection would be complete without a proper coverup which is offered in an endless variation be they bardot-inspired nautical stripes, sweet peasant details, or luxe embellishments.

more peeks below . . .

feathers bikini with leather straps

aloha guitar

pink sand tunic

pineapple juice maxi

2010 styles have already landed in letarte's online shop (which offers complimentary shipping to the upper 48) and the flagship boutique in paia.

• where: 24 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: mon to sat, 9a to 6p & sun, 10a to 6p

take a peek at the collection and remember to report back and share your favorite looks!

letarte sale at hautelook!

swooned for letarte's 2009 resort collection when it was featured on h|h? hele over to hautelook which just kicked off a huge sale this morning. a quick peek revealed over 100 styles from saucy swimwear to letarte's lovely tunics for 55% off!

if you are not a member, simply register at hautelook to access the sale. alas, no returns are allowed so click over to letarte's size chart to help you select the best fit while shopping.

• sale dates: now to sat, feb 6th @ 8:59a pst

weekly sales sheet

hui no'eau * toast * jools

ali'i kula lavender stops by the kcc farmers market offering one last chance to scoop up delights from their maui farm before the holidays.

• when: sat, dec 12th - 7:30a to 11a
• where: kcc, 4303 diamond head road (parking lot c)

enjoy first peeks of katrina cordova's holiday collection during tomorrow's trunk show and knock 20% off all the new looks plus scoop up cheap thrills priced from $20 to $40 for last minute stocking stuffers.

p.s. early birds save 25% off the new looks between 12p to 2p!

• when: sat, dec 12th - 12p to 5p
• where: shasa emporium, kahala mall

then meet misa hamamoto, the lovely creator of misa jewelry, when she stops by riches kahala to help you gift the perfect sparkle from her gorgeous and celestial vega collection.

p.s. save 10% off all misa designs during saturday's appearance!

• when: sat, dec 12th - 11a to 2p
• where: riches hawaii, kahala mall

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