aloha rag spring/summer 2011

w's m65 jacket * baker cargo pants

with fashion week in full swing, it seemed only appropriate to gather up a few looks from aloha rag's spring/summer 2011 collection. tatsuga yoda, aloha rag founder and creative director of the house label, tailor made each piece for happy-go-lucky days in the sun and sand complete with vintage americana details like a whimsical jacket lining constructed of the iconic paisley bandana.

you may notice that a few styles overlap in the m's and w's collections, but the unisex looks have been carefully refitted to compliment a feminine silhouette. and happy news! this season the ladies score their very own edition of the popular m65 military jacket with playful custom designed pink zippers.

isn't it lovely?

more mellow memories after the jump . . .

crewneck sweatshirt * hooded parka

m's seersucker jacket

paisley buttondown & arhi tee

aloha rag's denim line also debuted this past winter and features classic silhouettes made in the always coveted japanese denim.

all styles are made in japan with the price tag for ss11 starting at $215. and, if you fancy high style for less, most fall 2010 looks are currently on sale.

hit the online shop for the complete 411 on the new m's & w's collections, or hele down to the honolulu and nyc storefronts:

• hnl: 1221 kapiolani blvd, suite 115
• shop hours: mon to sat, 11a to 8p & sun, 11a to 6p

• nyc: 505 greenwich street, soho
• shop hours: mon to thu & sat 11a to 7p | fri 11a to 8p | sun 12p to 6:30p

do you have any pieces from aloha rag tucked inside your closet?

new peeks: malia mills rtw 2010

mui ne

i have been feeling a bit besieged by the online web lately (hooray for path, the new anti-social network. be still my heart), yet, despite intermittent twitter checks, a malia mills sales tweet somehow found me through all the a.m. noise. the new ready-to-wear styles have been languishing on my virtual inspiration board so to make amends for my tardiness, a few of my favorite styles have been gathered up for your viewing pleasure!

asymmetrical hemlines, handy pockets, snaps and ties. further study is required to notice the small yet welcome details incorporated by the island raised, nyc-based designer who turns simple silhouettes into versatile frocks to slip over your swimsuit then styled as you please to explore the city.

who wants to see more?

my woman from tokyo

isabella

hello 40% off!

bianca . . . very bond girl!

getaway bag

with holiday travel upon us, don't you just want to stuff all your carry-on essentials into the generously sized getaway bag?

and, hooray for all the garments being made in the usa. (a detail always noted when saving something to my wishlist. if more peeps made purchases by recognizing american produced goods equals more jobs for fellow citizens perhaps our economy would be in less dire straits.)

oh yes, the sale. 40% off on a handful of past season ready-to-wear styles scattered between the dress and pants departments. email or call to place your order. offer ends sun, dec 5th.

malia's mini style empire can be found in nyc, the hamptons, and along the california coast. island readers are still out of luck but there's always the online shop and the promise of sizing assistance by the in-house fit specialist.

p.s. the official blog has become a favorite read if only for peeks of the company dress code. enjoy!

new peeks: bliss lau jewelry

killjoy vest

it's been quite some time since bliss lau was featured so, with the new season of project runway debuting tomorrow night, it seems most appropriate to revisit one of h|h's favorite parsons alums from hawaii. when i last checked in with bliss two years ago, she had just introduced the debut pieces from her provocative jewelry collection, and the handbag line that first launched her eponymous label went on hiatus while she focused on expanding her lineup of edgy links.

while my everyday rarely, if ever, presents moments to rock such fabulous style moxie, i continue to be besotted with the collection's glamorous versatility (many pieces can be styled in various ways) and love how each piece elevates jewelry from a lovely afterthought to artfully elegant armor adding a little mystery to the most humble of outfits.

behind-the-scenes, bliss approaches every design (many unisex) intent on balancing gravity, weight and proportion into a piece made to draw the eye and decorate oft-forgotten body parts like the nape of your neck, shoulders or waistline. nappa leather, vintage swarovski crystals, or black diamonds accent carefully constructed chains to become a fetching take on modern adornment referencing muses as diverse as african tribal design, the medieval chainwork of the knights templar, and the art deco razzle dazzle of jazz age beauties.

art deco cage dress

art deco ziegfield

templar

wright * hugmetight

{design notes}

how has growing up in hawaii influenced your designs?
i think that being from hawaii in general will forever influence my perspective on the world and life, sharing and living. natural materials, when i was young, my mom cathryn lau who is an art teacher at punahou, used to soak the husks of our palm trees and we would make baskets with them. my aunties taught me to make haku leis and feather hat bands. some of these skills come out in my daily work when i make jewelry.

what is your definition of good design?
good design solves a design problem simply, easily and with sophistication. a very hard thing to do.

little moments of bliss that recharge your soul?
i ride my bike everyday. i braid my hair everyday and buy fresh flowers from the market to pin in my hair (okay so maybe the hawaii never left me!) . . . all of those things recharge my soul.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
oh wow.... the beach in new york? i'd like you to show me anyone from the islands who would even bother!

pay it forward with a few words of wisdom that were passed on to you:
always be true to yourself!

mahalo bliss!

alas, no hawaii stockists yet so hele over to the online shop to peek and purchase bliss's latest collection. the price tag ranges from $132 to over $600 depending on the complexity of the design, and all jewelry is made-to-order in bliss's nyc atelier with a six week turnaround.

and, happy news for handbag fans! bliss reports that she has a few upcoming collaborations including a limited edition jewelry line debuting in france this fall and a new leather goods collection with dakota collective launching later this year.

p.s. click back tomorrow for a peek of the two designers representing hawaii on project runway!

aloha rag pre-fall 2010 collection

w's military blouson

hello again! i meant to share aloha rag's debut in-house collection last week but had too much fun exploring portland with my sweetie and found myself delighted to be unplugged from the interweb during our wanderings. now that i am back online, let's enjoy a peek at the honolulu boutique's capsule line designed by shop proprietor tatsugo yoda.

pre-fall 2010 features an edited offering of staples for men and women updating iconic silhouettes from a flannel interpretation of the chanel jacket to revisiting the preppy cardigan via a collaboration with thakoon (a favorite of the first lady). little details like heart and skull patches referencing the shop logo and unexpected zippers add a sweet surprise to the minimalist designs. the military blouson jacket remains my favorite . . . although i suspect the bubble backside may not be the most flattering for curvy hips.

aloha rag x thakoon m's cardigan

denim dress * oversized tee * woven jacket

m's military jacket

the garments are mostly made in japan and the price tag ranges from $80 for a tee to $785 for a leather motorcycle jacket. even if the line is out of your budget, it is still a fun browse if you swoon for fashion.

the collection has been in-store for awhile now but is newly available to online friends who can now shop the m's and w's pre-fall 2010 lookbook. or, find your way to aloha rag's honolulu flagship or nyc outpost:

• hnl: 1221 kapiolani blvd, suite 115
• shop hours: mon to sat, 11a to 8p & sun, 11a to 6p

• nyc: 505 greenwich street, soho
• shop hours: mon to sat, 11a to 7p & sun, 12p to 6:30p

aloha rag x jil sander

first kicks/hi and sig zane collaborated with converse and earlier today aloha rag released a limited edition sneaker created in cahoots with designer jil sander. the design is best described as space age minimalist meets haute hipster which means the countdown clock is ticking if you covet one of the 55 pairs that are up for grabs.

alas, the fancy kicks do not seem to be stocked at the honolulu boutique so plan to hele over to the online shop or the nyc outpost to purchase a pair.

[update: sneakers are now available at both the honolulu and nyc outposts plus the online shop. many mahalos to the aloha rag staff for the scoop!]

• hnl shop: 1121 kapiolani boulevard
• shop hours: mon to sat, 11a to 8p & sun, 11a to 6p

• nyc shop: 505 greenwich street
• shop hours: mon to sat, 11a to 7p & sun, 12p to 6p