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

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

new peeks: sig zane

lihiwai * mikioi

goodness, it's been quite some time since the last sig zane roundup and so many new designs have arrived in the past year that i had a difficult time editing down all the sz goodness.

here's a quick recap - eco style is now available with the addition of bamboo fabric aloha shirts and the introduction of the w's organic mohala tee. m's board shorts are now offered in more patterns and the collaboration with the waikiki aquarium is now online. you can style up your kitchen with quilted mikioi hot pads while hawaiian style minimalists will want to take a peek at the new lihiwai canvas bag with a cheery solid exterior lined in the big island designer's lovely fabric.

one of my favorite new patterns is the hilo one which interprets the town map into a wearable design. definitely a great find for anyone whose heart remains on the big island.

and, reiko from the sz 'ohana posted peeks of fujitsu's limited edition aloha express netbook rocking sig's 'ulu pattern. it is, alas, available exclusively in japan but the gorgeous design makes me wish sz offered a macbook skin. lucky japan!

hilo one * welo * waiuli

w's organic mohala tees

aloha express in 'uluwehi keaukaha

select styles are available in the online shop or hele over to the sz flagship in downtown hilo:

• where: 122 kamehameha avenue, hilo
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9:30a to 5p & sat, 9a to 4p

sugarhigh + lovestoned

i have barely touched on my spring getaway to maui yet find myself still daydreaming about the one that got away: the organic thunderbird tee by maui label sugarhigh + lovestoned which seemed intent to woo me in all its hippie bohemian charm while scouting upcountry boutiques from paia to makawao.

upon returning to the mainland, i discovered that paia designers chloe chippendale and tami snodgrass (co-founder of beauty & the beach) look to free spirit fashionistas (hello kate moss!) and schoolgirl crushes as their muse and have composed a capsule collection with a cheeky and irreverent nod to the 70's. their debut collaboration is filled with a handful of carefree tops rocking tami's illustrations befitting penny lane and her band-aides alongside glamorous studded minis and underpinnings artfully bedazzled by chloe.

and, attention to little details like contrast side stitching and gorgeous designs that continue around back are further proof that organic style can be flirty and fun.

the price tag for sugarhigh + lovestoned begins at $55 for a tee and climbs to just under $100 for a studded mini. alas, the stockist list is not posted so your best bet to scoop up most of the featured looks is to click over to the online shop.

p.s. follow the hijinks of the sugarhigh + lovestoned crew over on the official blog.

{photo credit: daeja fallas}

new peeks: allison izu

kinky links * love it or leaf it

before the launch of her eponymous petite denim line, honolulu designer allison izu song constructed one of a kind tees during her reincarnation days. with a wink to the past, hawaii's favorite lady of denim recently added a few styles to top off your favorite pair of jeans ranging from the playfully abstract kinky links glamming up the standard tank to cheeky offerings designed especially for readers who embrace their petite-ness.

speaking of denim, spring and fall 2009 silhouettes (designed for frames 5'6" and under) can still be scooped up and will have to tide you over until the next collection debuts in spring 2011. and, if you need more convincing, fall 09 has been reduced to $59 while earlier seasons can be yours for $49. plus, with two inseams to choose from (27-inch and 31-inch), you'll save cash &/or time on hemming to your exact specifications.

your best shopping bet is the online shop where the new tops are priced between $19 and $29. plus, june orders that tally up to $99 will also receive an ai logo tank (while supplies last & pending no returns), and hawaii and mainland orders over $100 receive complimentary shipping!

do you have a pair of allison izu denim hanging in your closet?