letarte 2010 collection

starfish bikini

hope everyone had a lovely weekend and took a moment to take a tour of the new website (this would mean you, mr. & ms. email or rss subscriber!). while i was away tinkering on h|h's makeover, the letarte 'ohana sent over news of the maui-based label's ten year collection which scored quite a few snaps in the latest edition of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue.

letarte can always be counted on for girly glam - fun and flirty beach-inspired looks accompanied by either a dash of boho, a hint of rocker edge, or a cheeky combination of the two (hello skull toile!). i continue to swoon for letarte's pretty, playful prints including the gorgeous abstract feather design introduced this season and the aloha guitar's cheery repeat which was inspired by hawaii's own slack key guitar and ukulele (be sure to take a peek at the coordinating tunic with little aloha's embroidered along the hem).

and, of course, no letarte collection would be complete without a proper coverup which is offered in an endless variation be they bardot-inspired nautical stripes, sweet peasant details, or luxe embellishments.

more peeks below . . .

feathers bikini with leather straps

aloha guitar

pink sand tunic

pineapple juice maxi

2010 styles have already landed in letarte's online shop (which offers complimentary shipping to the upper 48) and the flagship boutique in paia.

• where: 24 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: mon to sat, 9a to 6p & sun, 10a to 6p

take a peek at the collection and remember to report back and share your favorite looks!

letarte sale at hautelook!

swooned for letarte's 2009 resort collection when it was featured on h|h? hele over to hautelook which just kicked off a huge sale this morning. a quick peek revealed over 100 styles from saucy swimwear to letarte's lovely tunics for 55% off!

if you are not a member, simply register at hautelook to access the sale. alas, no returns are allowed so click over to letarte's size chart to help you select the best fit while shopping.

• sale dates: now to sat, feb 6th @ 8:59a pst

roberta oaks fall/holiday 2009

joe + sal

oahu designer roberta oaks' fall 09 collection completely skipped past my radar and, lo and behold, holiday 09 looks have already arrived online. this time around traditional plaid gets a playful, punk rock update in cotton flannel (love the happy turquoise!) which promises to keep you toasty when winter storms roll in while adding a little indie spirit to all your merrymaking.

roberta continues to stay true to her eco roots with organic cotton and bamboo/soy jerseys her go to textiles for day dresses made for everyday fun and flirty gowns destined for holiday romancing. and, a bohemian mix of animal prints and tie dye have found their way into the swim collection designed to make a bold splash at the beach.

marcela + kate

mod + lola

grey cat + tie dye

select fall 09 styles are currently on sale in the online shop where you can scoop up all of the looks featured above, or click over to the stockist list to locate neighborhood boutiques who also swoon for the honolulu-based label.

in other news, roberta will be welcoming friends and fans to her new studio space in chinatown on first friday with a grand opening bash!

• when: fri, dec 4th - 5:30p to 10p
• where: 19 north pauahi street, chinatown

p.s. a handful of looks have been marked down 40% (including the currently sold out revere dress in espresso) on 80's purple.

new peeks: cirque fall/winter 2009

6-in-1 rosette belt

the other day i happened upon cirque's fall/winter 09 lineup and instantly found myself besotted with the exceptionally versatile 6-in-1 rosette belt.

behold just a few of the ways this lovely leather bloom can add a hint of ooh-la-la to your look away from your waistline:

look 2: glam band

look 3: tango-esque choker

look 4: modern corsage

playful brides-to-be might also consider tying one on to add a sweet surprise while stepping down the aisle (in which case something blue can be yours . . . although the wedding day hue seems a bit elusive in the online shop's color palette).

{a quick recap for those tardy to the cirque party: honolulu designer alfonsina ladogana sources all the leather from argentina (her childhood home) and remains committed to eco-friendly production methods while supporting artisans in her homeland who carefully construct each piece in the collection.}

the rosette belt ($55) and other offerings from f/w 09 can be found in cirque's online shop as well as at your favorite neighborhood stockist.

allison izu fall 2009

allison izu's fall 09 collection will be making its official debut this weekend complete with six styles designed especially for petite denim connoisseurs. dark washes, stitched details, and signature pocket linings mingle with premium denim sourced from the finest mills in the usa, japan and italy.

this season a few well-placed exposed zippers add a hint of glamorous rocker chic while the everyday paniolo-lo panio low rider bootcut has been reissued with a few updates. there's a sexy mini in the mix and the anti-leggings crowd on the hunt for a skintight alternative will want to take a look at the super slim uk zipped with just enough stretch to maintain a sleek waistline.

and, readers born and raised in the 808 will surely share my amusement over the wink-wink innuendo of slipping into a pair cheekily tagged hotel street.

hotel st * panio low rider * uk zipped

sizes range from 000 to 10 with all the jeans available in two inseam lengths (27-inches & 31-inches) so ladies up to 5'6" can wear a pair straight out of the shopping bag without worrying about the additional time &/or expense of alterations. happy news!

the fall collection just arrived in the online shop (free shipping over $100) and allison will also be showing off the new fall looks starting with the first stop this weekend:

• when: sat, oct 17th - 11a to 2p
• where: split obsession, ala moana
• fyi: score 20% off the top of your choice with your ai fall 09 purchase & save 50% on spring 09 styles