florencia arias summer 2012

stella * lucille

the flourishing chinatown arts district has become the neighborhood that often woos me for an afternoon of indie shopping when i hop home for a visit. during my winter holiday, i popped into florencia arias's flagship boutique and was delighted to find the softspoken argentinean designer tending to shop tasks behind the counter.

florencia was happy to share more on the making of her shop, which opened its doors last fall (lots of tlc including the most gorgeous cursive sign handmade by her architect hubby), and her design process revealing that longer hemlines were on the way in response to repeated requests by island lovelies (who, quelle surprise!, are a bit more modest than their south american counterparts).

and so, while summer 2012 continues to mix solids and patterns in a flirty yet wearable way, you can expect to find a convertible maxi skirt featured among the color-blocked dresses, pleated pops of color, and fresh editions of last summer's crush.

more to adore after the jump (including tardy spring 2012 peeks)!

daisy

dahlia * tulip

a peek inside the shop . . .

florencia remains committed to producing her label in hawaii (hooray!) so please do pop by the shop and say hello. the sun-drenched space is also stocked with local & argentina pretties from handmade jewelry to posh pua bikinis.

summer 2012 looks will be arriving next week at the flagship boutique, your neighborhood stockist, and the online shop. spring 2012 offerings are beginning to dwindle so hele over now for a peek of remaining styles.

• where: 1161 nu'uanu avenue, chinatown (just around the corner from marks garage)
• shop hours: wed to sat, 11a to 5p (open til 6p on thu & fri)

p.s. tomorrow's first friday fun (5p to 10p) includes 10-to-50% off florencia arias designs, 20% off jewelry, and an additional discount for purchases tallying over $100.

acacia swimwear: belle nomad collection

tribal

more often than not, a find that delights on screen tends to underwhelm when you meet in person. not so acacia swimwear which i finally had a chance to preview during an impromptu shop scout while home over the winter. i am happy to report that the gorgeous fabrics feel fancy and luxurious in real life while the pretty linings which charmed me from afar proved even more striking during our in-store introduction.

all those little details add up to a lot of love for the two-year-old label with devoted fans around the globe and a moment in this year's sports illustrated swimsuit issue. naomi and lyndie, the designers behind the homegrown line, debuted their belle nomad collection just before the holidays mixing vibrant patterns (zig zags! ikat!) with breathtaking bohemian details for their becoming bikini beauties.

my wishlist fell in love with so many pieces before realizing that the 2012 lineup is welcoming effortless coverups crafted of silk and tencel . . . simple but oh so pretty and quite well-timed considering my preference for more sustainable textiles.

more to adore after the jump!

cantik * choctaw

capri

hanalei * goa

are you swooning too?

happy news if, like me, you shied away from the very flirty bottoms and resigned yourself to adoring acacia from the sidelines. requests for a more demure bottom have been heeded so peek the newest silhouettes (hossegor & vienna) if you have been coveting a tad more coverage.

alas, no official online shop at the moment but island & mainland stockists abound while vida serene offers online ordering for the entire belle nomad collection.

island crush: mix master

haleiwa designer cassandra rull, whose clothing you may have spotted in roam hawaii's style caravan selling locally made pretties by the roadside, woos lovelies on the lookout for carefree threads ready to savor sunny island days.

the collection of breezy asymmetrical tanks, refreshed when the designer's fabric stash welcomes new yardage, features an artful mix of patterns and color and is, i hope you will agree, a refreshing antidote to a plain tee.

and, happy news, scoop one up for your spring adventures and score free shipping in the official etsy shop through tomorrow! (secret code: alohaapril; expires: fri, apr 6th.)

$48 online.

island pride roundup

most of my blog time of late has been spent behind-the-scenes in an attempt to organize the random collections of possibilities stashed in my online and paper notes. happily, one such scribble prompted me to gather up a few pretty finds so you can wear your island pride with lovely abandon.

let's embark on an impromptu island hop, shall we?

1 - s.o.y. jewelry coaxes golden wire into simple and embellished pairs of b.i.g. earrings.

2 - kris nations charms with recycled metal meticulously cut to help you embrace your state pride.

3 - a single diamond marks your favorite surf break in maya brenner's golden outline of the hawaiian islands.

4 - island sparkle by kai ea can be customized to represent your hometown with a perfectly placed gem.

more to adore after the jump!

5 - oahu represents the 808 with rachael sudlow's handcut sterling silver pendant.

6 - graphic designer ashley johnston mingles typography and cartography with delightful totes and prints mapping out kaua'i and maui neighborhoods.

7 - souvenirs and sundries will be kept tidy when a hawaii maptote is kept in your carryon.

8 - tiffany chou's understated island charms are made to linger around your neck or wrist.

p.s. select styles may be offered in other islands so do ask the maker if you covet a design.

new peeks: olukai w's mauka collection

holo lio * kaona * o laila

even though winter has been quite mild this year, a pair of cozy boots has become one of my favorite acquisitions (hooray for summer clearance sales!) every time storm clouds roll in and the mercury dips.

if you happen to be on the lookout for your perfect pair, last fall olukai introduced toasty designs to their w's mauka collection ranging from ankle skimming to knee-high. alas, the ladies must do without the polynesian flair which made an appearance in the m's footwear featured last summer, but the w's lineup still found inspiration in upcountry living while mixing in a dash of town bound style in each silhouette.

especially loving the gorgeous gray offerings!

shop online or find your neighborhood stockist here. (fyi: with the weather warming up, boot bargains are beginning to pop up.)

do you have a favorite pair of go to boots hiding in your closet?