allison izu fall 2008

paniolo + honolulu

it's been over a year since honolulu got its first peek at designer allison izu song's premium petite denim line which will finally go on sale to the public at next week's official launch party. the new collection just may be the first denim collection catering to customers 5'4" and under who, until now, have had to rely on a host of tricks and trips to the tailor when shopping straight off the rack.

there are five styles in the opening collection (including a flirty pencil skirt) in silhouettes cut to show off shapes from size 00 to 10. a uniform dark wash elongates the legs and careful consideration was given to details like the proper placement of knee breaks while keeping distracting embellishments to a minimum. even better, two inseams are offered (27-inches & 31-inches) to help petites of all sizes find their perfect fit.

previews of allison's eponymous fall 08 collection are currently posted on the official website and the entire lineup is expected to be available online at izushop and in-store at local stockists in mid-november.

h|h readers are also invited to meet the designer and shop the collection during the launch party:

• when: thu, nov 6th - 6p to 8p
• where: pearl, ala moana
• fyi: email rsvp [at] allisonizu [dot] com to get on the list

p.s. click rewind to take a peek at past collections.

grumpy girl goes green

hawaiian home

grumpy girl's latest designs are a timely take on current events and i am loving the new hawaiian home tee which is a spot on description for so many of us who have homeowner on their wish list. if you are not familiar with the grumpy girl line, think of her as the cantankerous cousin of debbie downer who freely shares her tart observations of and with the world around her.

since grumpy girl was last featured, creator allison takeshita has added a few organic pieces to her collection which are perfect for those days when you prefer to let your tee do all the treehugging talk for you. and, if billionaire bailouts make you, well, grumpy there are designs hot off the presses just for you too.

designs are available in w's and keiki sizes with a small selection of past season styles stocked in the sale section.

take a peek at the collection over in the online shop or click over to the stockist list to find your nearest neighborhood retailer.

night market & threads of hope

emails are both a blessing and a curse . . . the 24/7 coconut wire may be an instant way to keep tabs on what is happening in the world but the hundreds of messages piling up in my inbox can seem overwhelming at times. anyhoo, i suspect the delete button will be getting lots of love while i click through my mail over the the next few days so remember to check in while i play catch up and post any newsworthy notes of interest that catch my fancy.

first up on the list is the kick off of hifi & hawaii red magazine's night market at aloha tower tonight. skip rush hour and enjoy wine tasting and live jazz while scooping up the latest looks from martinique, meesah, soozou & tobyp in the pop-up boutique and island grown produce at the farmers market.

• when: tonight, oct 22nd - 5p to 8p
• where: waterfront at aloha tower
• fyi: validated parking available
• rsvp: info [at] hawaiiredmagazine [dot] com

tomorrow night, hifi returns to aloha tower for the theads of hope gala which doubles as a fundraiser to find a permanent home for the uh costume collection (currently 20,000 garments and counting). you'll be the first to preview the art of fashion exhibit filled with multimedia entries from local designers and artists while nibbling pupus, sipping cocktails mixed by ocean vodka, and bidding on the silent art auction.

• when: thu, oct 23rd - 6p to 10p
• where: aloha tower marketplace, second floor
• tix: $10

lily lotus fall/winter 2008

mandala tunic & pant

lily lotus has been tempting fans with glimpses of its fall/winter 08 collection which i am happy to report has just arrived in the online shop. this time around, the honolulu-based yoga line has added a few flirty yet functional tunics to its collection of stylish zen separates designed to bring a bit of balance to your life whether you are practicing your asanas or running about town.

tara kaftan

shop the collection online (score free shipping on u.s. orders over $100), via your neighborhood stockist (which has gone international - congrats momi!), or stop by the lily lotus flagship in kaimuki:

• where: 1127 12th avenue, kaimuki
• shop hours: daily, 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}

roberta oaks fall/winter 2008

bertie + meilin

now that the official fashion weeks have come and gone, it seems like a good time to kick off our own local edition starting with the queen of green style - roberta oaks!

the fall 08 collection was actually introduced during the hot days of summer and i must confess that the show & tell was put on the back burner until my favorite piece was stocked in the online shop. turns out, the ruffled delight called bertie (shown above in sterling), is part of the winter 08 line which has finally found its way to the website.

each season features four distinct styles available in a mix of colorways and patterns ranging from effortless neutrals to warm jewel tones. sustainable fibers like bamboo and organic cotton continue to dominate each handmade collection which is punctuated by delicate embellishments and dainty details.

mady + adrian

shop the fall/winter lookbook online or click over to the stockist list to find your nearest neighborhood boutique.