island crush: painted ladies

glimpses of old waikiki have become ever elusive as the years go by so i am swooning over kat reeder's dreamy illustration of the royal hawaiian hotel commissioned by starwood for its 2012 calendar. the matted print makes the most delightful souvenir if you have ever wandered along the lush garden path to be romanced by the breathtaking spanish-moorish architecture of the iconic pink palace.

why, you can almost smell the perfume of the plumerias and hear the gentle strums of a ukulele floating up from the mai tai bar.

$40 online. (fyi: additional sizes available by request.)

p.s. order by sun, nov 20th and score a complimentary trip to your mailbox with secret code freeshipping.

fighting eel fall/resort 2011

parker * harper

i have been feeling a bit style deprived so let's spend the week admiring fall looks from a few of our favorite designers! last winter, fighting eel's fishie tote caught my eye so you can imagine my delight upon finding the whimsical pattern revived for lan & rona's resort 2011 collection. mixed in are vibrant tie-dyes issued in flowy tops and versatile tube dresses-slash-skirts along with gorgeous structured sheaths (dress camryn earns a special mention for its thoughtfully placed stripes) that promise to transition easily from 9-to-5 to date night.

since a fall 2011 peek is overdue, a few favorites have also been rounded up for your viewing pleasure. i can't quite decide between the bright pops of emerald or the elegant cream colored silhouettes . . . so sophisticated!

more to adore after the jump . . . plus details on this weekend's sample sale.

alexa * summer

camryn * tatum

moon x dara * irie x charlie * ti

moon x willow * anya * eryn

most fall & resort 2011 styles can be purchased in the online shop, at your neighborhood stockist, or hele down to fighting eel headquarters to shop the complete collection:

• where: 1133 bethel street, chinatown
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 6p

p.s. scoop up past season styles at this saturday's sample sale. there are two entry times with all ticket proceeds benefitting the hawaii food bank. only 50 earlybird tickets are being offered which grants you an extra hour and a half to shop before the rush.

• when: sat, nov 12th - 9a & 10:30a
• where: the manifest, 32 north hotel street, chinatown
• tix: $20/early entry + $5/general admission (available at fe hq - see above for address)
• fyi: cash only so hit the atm before the sale; all sales final

island crush: koa sunnies

once upon a time, i cracked open my birthday piggy bank to splurge on a pair of iconic wayfarers.

these are much nicer.

kicks hawaii gathered up koa remnants from local woodworkers and island tree farms to be upcycled into stylish sunglasses by shwood, a portland maker who crafted 200 limited edition pairs of its canby design to celebrate the honolulu shop's tenth anniversary.

the love & aloha etched inside the frame (font by sig zane!) is an especially sweet reminder of home.

$180 in-store + online.

p.s. peek the manufacturing process which is made in the usa from frame to finish here.

island crush: tree hugger sparkle

the first day of fall has officially arrived which is happy news if you happen to be a scorpio who adores cozy cardigans, endless mugs of hot chocolate, and the technicolor show starring the changing of the leaves (if only from afar).

which makes me just a little sweet for the tree hugger design by lily lotus. i especially love the tiny heart hidden amongst the sparkle.

a lovely reminder to set aside a moment to find your balance as we settle into autumn.

$54 online + in-store.

shop toast: custom heart stumps

jeremy and michelle from shop toast unveiled a shiny new website last month, and i am happy to report that one of their sweetest favors can now be custom ordered. the petite heart stumps are even cuter when personalized and i can already imagine all the party possibilities (and delighted smiles) from happy birthdays to anniversary celebrations.

definitely something to remember when you have 25 peeps on your guest list and a 4 week turnaround time.

online orders welcome or stop by the studio for more details:

• where: 3434 waialae avenue, suite 3, kaimuki
• shop hours: m / w / f / sat - 12p to 6p

p.s. meet the makers with a charming peek behind-the-scenes filled with all the little things which make them smile.