fashion forward: alfred shaheen

the hawaiiana fashion house alfred shaheen has been enjoying a bit of a revival over the past few years with reissues of their vintage textiles making the home decor rounds. isla from soh inspired! recently shared the news that indoor and outdoor spaces wistfully waiting for lovely yet resilient island style can now be prettified with patterns from the designer's surf 'n sand label. duralee welcomed more alfred shaheen goodness last month with the introduction of the copacabana collection (loving the sophisticated motifs which remain quite modern!), and i spied a few tropical delights hiding in the abbey road and big sur offerings.

while admiring the fabric swatches, i noticed that the archives have also been opened to seascape lamps where you can illuminate your nest with a selection of shaheen shades. do have a peek if your home loves a retro luau look! since not everyone is well versed in mid-century aloha wear, i whipped up a fun diversion to capture the essence of the iconic honolulu label with a vintage outfit vs. modern design goods faceoff!

peek a few of my favorite fashion and design twins after the jump.

mini mum garden

the three tier mini mum garden ($290) meets its a-line doppleganger in this strapless lovely ($300).

kona tapa

love the handdrawn nature of the kona tapa design ($210). and the graphic sensibility of this darling surf 'n sand playsuit ($105) remains au courant with rompers all the rage these days.

regina asian blossoms

jackpot! i discovered the ladylike regina asian blossoms lamp ($210) has a deadringer in this très jolie cocktail dress ($69.95).

hooray for etsy where i truly lucked out sourcing coordinating vintage looks. the prices some styles are fetching are certainly incentive to go hunting through the closets of your fashionable mamas and aunties!

and, stay on the lookout for hawaii's alfred shaheen: fabric to fashion, a traveling retrospective which the star-advertiser reported is expected to stop in maui this fall.

p.s. surf & sand fabric sources include johnny mango at the gentry design center and housefabric.com which woos with discounted yardage (but beware high shipping charges to the islands).

{update: hancock's of paducah seems to be a better bet for online orders to hawaii. although a smaller selection of surf 'n sand patterns is offered, half yard orders can be placed & shipping via usps is an option.}

and the winners are . . .

kara from ka'a'awa and marisa from fountain valley who will be the happy recipients of shop toast's cheery fabric koi wraps!

although there were only two koi to share with everyone, mahalo to all my lovely readers who tried their luck this time around. if you wish to surprise your favorite girls and boys next week, shop toast's 2011 children's day lineup is priced from $8 to $12 and be found online and at their kaimuki storefront:

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

happy congratulations to kara & marisa!

{warm mahalos to jeremy and michelle, the delightful designers behind shop toast!}

kokua japan - take two

while the world delights in the royal wedding today, a smaller celebration is taking place at greenroom hawaii which is marking the first anniversary of their surf art gallery-slash-boutique with a love for japan silent auction this weekend (more details in today's scoop). some of our favorite island artists have donated artwork including oahu illustrator kat reeder who created an especially lovely poster which embodies our islands' aloha for japan with quiet sweetness.

if venturing to waikiki on saturday night is not in the stars, kat's online shop just stocked up on her aloha for japan print ($25) which benefits the red cross's relief efforts in japan.

since the first kokua japan roundup, kinohi designs has released more love for japan plus our friends at owens & co., so'mace, and the wedding café have made cute new tote bags to help the cause. peek all the new designs after the jump!

love & hope by kinohi designs

if you have been waiting for the next round of help heal japan goodness by kinohi designs, two new offerings have joined designer jennifer tanabe's heal button. the hope design will benefit unicef while proceeds from the love tee will also help the red cross. an etsy shop will be launching soon, but in the meantime send jen a note to place an order.

{$20 online}

help heal japan tote

occasionally, there is a silver lining to being cursed with procrastinating ways. first the wedding café 'ohana sent over a peek the other day of their new help heal japan tote bag mixing sister shop eden in love's birdie motif with japan's rising sun. understated in the most delightful way with 100% of tote proceeds donated to the american red cross.

{$20 eden in love + the wedding café}

then a note from isla at so'mace arrived yesterday with news of a design fundraiser with missy at owens & co. (chinatown's lovely new design & home goods shop). the graphic collaboration is printed on recycled cotton and available in two cheery hues with proceeds benefiting direct relief international. add $5 for shipping if you wish to rock an aqua or bright pink tote on the neighbor islands or mainland.

{$30 owens & co. + so'mace}

have you happened across any new local prettiness to help our friends in japan?

shop toast koi giveaway

monday skipped by before i had a chance to post the shop toast surprise which will be treating two readers to the darling handkerchief koi just released for children's day celebrations! this year's edition is made to cheer in bright new colors (loving the turquoise!) which can be reused after the wrap is unbundled and the tomoe ame rice candy tucked inside has been enjoyed.

happily, one koi has been set aside for an oahu reader willing to pencil in a pickup at toast's kaimuki studio while a second koi is destined to be with a reader with a mainland mailbox.

feeling lucky? carefully read and heed all the fine print posted after the jump.

Click to read more ...

shop toast spring peeks

how happy would your little one's easter basket be with the addition of shop toast's adorable new cheeky chickies? an empty egg is hidden inside the fabric peeps waiting to be filled with your favorite petite treats. 'tis just one dollar a piece although, due to tiny parts, not intended for keiki under age 8.

and, toast fans will be swooning over all the delightful new offerings for springtime including fresh favor designs, more custom goodness to dress up your party invites, and a boy's day edition of the always popular heartstump.

jeremy and michelle's continuing collaboration with joie studio is about to welcome a wedding paper collection designed to coordinate with toast's favor line. TOAST to JOIE's official introduction happens next month when tina makes her national stationery show debut, but she kindly shared a sneak peek with me to share with you.

find the entire lineup of spring projects from kaimuki's favorite design duo after the jump!

the perfect pair

orders for the TOAST to JOIE wedding collection will be accepted later this spring at joie studio, shop toast, and select retailers. and, say hello to the sweet trio of kokesHE which just arrived online and in shop toast's storefront:

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

p.s. mark your calendar for next monday & another shop toast children's day cutie!