fighting eel fall 2009 - take two

lily

clicked over to fighting eel today and what should i find but the second round of fall goodness!

while i am one who finds herself grumbling about retailers pushing xmas goods before halloween trick-or-treaters have come a-knocking, i can't help but crush over the cheery and festive stripes popping up throughout the collection. with its playful modern spin on a holiday outfit, the multicolored sweetness reminds me of zooey deschanel singing and strolling her way through elf's winter wonderland.

fe's fall extension also continues to rework the 80's via geo's edgy and punky strappy back while a repeated wave pattern, which first appeared in designer rona bennett's art prints before being reappropriated into a textile, creates a flowy abstract graphic made to woo the stylish girls who surf set.

more peeks below . . .

milly

vida

geo

word is that many fall 2 styles are already selling out so hele over to the butik (co-owned by fe designer lan chung) for first picks, or click over to the stockist list to locate your favorite neighborhood boutique. of course, you can continue to shop past season styles at the fe showroom:

• where: 47 north hotel street
• shop hours: mon to sat, 10a to 5p
• fyi: cash or credit only

p.s. the latest fall looks will arrive in fe's online shop in the next few weeks, however select styles from round one of fall 2009 can now be scooped up!

new peeks: stacia fall/holiday 2009

low-slung cardi

september may still be sweltering in hawaii and the west coast but fortunately more temperate weather is only a page flip away on the calendar. happy news for those of us who swoon for cozy knits! while the rest of the world may think hawaii is only about beach side playdates, readers who have ventured up to a chilly cliffside lookout, big island mountain town (hello volcano!) or upcountry maui know every island wardrobe needs a stylish cover to keep the chicken skin at bay.

i've written before of la-based label stacia designed by oahu girl stacy johnson and, after all this time, we finally had a chance to meet up during edwin ushiro's opening reception a few weeks ago (along with the lovely misa hamamoto who designs a gorgeous eponymous jewelry collection). we dished about the hawaii fashion scene and growing up in the islands while stacy and misa clued me in on the designer's take on bringing their collections to market.

with autumn approaching, it seems like a fine time to share stacia's fall/holiday 09 collection which is composed of luxe-y knitwear designed to complement warmer climates. stacy employs variations of lightweight jersey knits in an ever changing palette of multicolored space dye to flatter every figure. new for the season are stacia's ecoknits which blend bamboo and soybean (which she considers a cashmere substitute) sure to delight fashionistas on the elusive hunt for sophisticated and sustainable style.

more peeks below . . .

buttoned cowl * cocoon

willow

a peek inside the studio

island fans crushing on the new designs will have to click over to the online shop for more peeks at stacia's autumn offerings since, alas, only one hawaii boutique is currently posted on stacia's extensive stockist list. select styles are currently on sale so enjoy that little tidbit of consolation while you wonder when island shopkeepers will come a-calling.

fortunately for la la land residents, this past summer stacy opened the doors to her santa monica studio where customers are welcome to stop by and shop the latest looks. sign-up for the mailing list to be notified of in-house trunk shows and sample sales where you can scoop up past season designs at a deep discount.

• where: 1307 ½ pico blvd, santa monica
• fyi: by appointment only

p.s. stacy also maintains one of the best designer blogs around sharing her inspirations and insights on the evolution of a collection from color forecasting to the sketch pad to posting behind-the-scenes adventures from stacia photo shoots.

new peeks: lily lotus fall 2009

dragon v-neck

momi from lily lotus kindly sent along peeks of the yoga lifestyle label's gorgeous fall 09 collection recently. the honolulu line's mantra continues to keep the wearer's well-being in mind blending style with comfort so you can go from the studio to the street without any fuss.

this time around there's an abundance of goodness from the always popular karmic bling to cheeky new graphics and a sweet mendhi design in a charming nod to yoga's roots. for those who prefer to practice their asanas wrapped in more simplicity, autumn offerings also include stylish tanks and wraps cut from bamboo knit (naturally anti-bacterial) in a cozy palette perfect for autumn's approaching cool down.

more peeks below . . .

buddha is my omboy + gigi mendhi

bamboo racerback

bamboo wrap

in addition to bamboo, many of the designs are offered in eco-friendly 100% organic jersey and everything continues to be made in the usa.

fall 09 styles can be found in the online shop (u.s. orders over $100 receive complimentary shipping) as well as at one of the many neighborhood stockists. or hele over to the lily lotus boutique and say hello!

• where: 1127 12th avenue, kaimuki
• shop hours: mon to sun, 10a to 5p

{update | 2011: lily lotus has relocated over the ko'olaus and can now be found at kailua town center, 609 kailua road, suite 102}

the bella project

autumn is being spent decluttering my space and finding new homes for no longer loved goods so news that the bella project will be spending saturdays at alliway for a month long dress donation drive means a match has finally been made for a cocktail dress too pretty to be dispatched to goodwill.

the oahu non-profit collects gently worn party frocks, accessories, and cosmetics (brand new, please) year-round and opens a fully stocked pop-up shop every spring. local high school students are invited to enjoy a boutique experience complete with personal shopper for a prom princess makeover no matter their family budget.

donation guidelines request dresses be on trend, in good condition, and fresh from the cleaners. nothing to share? volunteers are also needed to staff events, be bella boutique personal shoppers, and donated salon services to assist with prom day primping are also welcome.

in exchange for your donation, alliway will gift you with a 20% off coupon so you can treat yourself to a new lovely.

• when: sat @ 1p to 4p - sep 19/26 & oct 3/10/17/24
• where: alliway, ward warehouse

p.s. off-island? mail-in donations are also appreciated. click here for more details.

etsy scout: studio five-0

today's etsy find is handmade in the o.c. by studio five-0 designer anna marie who, after a frustrating search for island home goods with a more modern spin turned up empty, set about designing her own line. an interior design degree from fidm came in handy followed by a move to oahu to study architecture at u.h. where the principles of good design championed by one mentor became especially influential in her work.

it was upon returning to the mainland (with her maui-born hubby) when anna marie realized that affordable modern island decor was practically non-existent. with that discovery, the architect turned designer spent the past two years researching textile design, experimenting with screen printing, and perfecting samples for the launch of studio five-0.

plumeria + torch ginger coasters

while only a handful of designs are currently on offer, the first round from studio five-0 consists of totes and small accessories in addition to lovely reversible coasters ($12/set) printed with water-based inks in a fresh mix of tropical botanicals.

happily, pillows, linens and other home goods plus the introduction of more eco-friendly textiles are also on the drawing board.

until then, click over to studio five-0's etsy shop to take a peek at the debut collection!