out of the past

vintage enamel bird * mod thermoset * lucite confetti

one of the most repeated fashion no-no's is if you wore a trend the first time around . . . well, it may be a good idea to sit out the style sequel (ahem, the polite way of stating that "[insert trend] part II" may no longer be age appropriate). no doubt there are others out there who share my amusement that 80's style has returned with a vengeance: leggings - check. deconstructed denim mini skirts - check. leggings under mini - check, check.

if you really want to go all in 80's style, it may be time to graduate your look and mix in a little vintage bling à la 80's icon molly ringwald in pretty in pink (hold the scary diy prom dress, please).

skip the dusty thrift shops and simply click over to the etsy shop of miss cece's jewels which is stocked with all the retro flair required to add just the right eclectic touch to those brand new recreations stuffed in your
closet. the mysterious proprietor scouts secret shopping nooks around maui and culls vintage costume gems from bygone eras to help you go from mad men saucy secretary to mtv pop tart in a snap.

the price tags on miss cece's finds are gentle on the wallet and, of course, buying vintage is always tops when it comes to doing sustainable style right.

click over to miss cece's etsy shop to take a peek at her most recent acquisitions.

fighting eel fall/holiday 2008

mica

h|h reader sara happened to notice that fighting eel recently posted a preview of their fall 08 and holiday 08 collections online. i dashed off a note to fe co-designer lan chung who revealed that fans can expect subtle details, earthy colorways, and a stunning mandala pattern designed by fe partner-in-crime rona bennett in the upcoming season.

voom mandala nico

ziggysun

lan also sent along word that fe's long awaited online shop is now open for business! the shop is currently stocked with styles from the summer 08 collection, and, in happy news, all online orders receive complimentary shipping. to celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 customers will also score a free puffy tube top with purchase.

and, of course, you are always welcome to stop by fe's chinatown hq which is open to the public every thu to sat.

• where: 47 north hotel street
• shop hours: thu to sat, 10a to 5p

{mahalo sara & lan!}

on the town with meleana

chinatown laifong

handbag designer meleana has added a design made for city living to her eponymous collection which is known for repurposing vintage fabric into ladylike accessories. aptly named after honolulu's vibrant chinatown neighborhood, the new design mixes vintage patterns with your pick of leather (brown or green) or, if you are feeling a bit more country, sturdy canvas fabric.

and, while the silhouettes may stay the same from season to season, there's only so much vintage yardage to go around making each meleana bag one of a limited edition.

chinatown canvas

holoholo

shop online or take a peek at the stockist list.

wings hawaii summer 2008

the lazy days of summer are just perfect for all the pretty things made by wings hawaii. the loop terry hoodie is a cute lightweight coverup for early mornings at the beach and to keep the chill off when the sun sets.

alas, it appear to be sold out online but a stock check with designer samantha howard revealed that the shop has hoodies in the following colorways - brown/mermaid print & white/fern print. contact the shop to inquire about size availability. (running shorts & tank are available online)

and, a wings show and tell would not be complete without a peek of the latest handcrafted accessories:

1 - the sunwing belt is already on my wishlist and features wing's signature design on the brass buckle. belts are made to order so send along your pant size for a perfect fit.

2 - wing's lucky line of island amulets will be an instant hit with all your friends waiting for a wish to come true.

3 - puka teardrop earrings put a tropical twist on a classic design.

4 - make like a mermaid and adorn yourself with the simple yet stunning sunrise shell bangle.

shop online or when on maui take a trip upcountry and hit the wings showroom:

• where: 375 west kuiaha road, haiku
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat/sun, 9a to 1p

{update | may 2011: wings moved its flagship shop to lovely little paia town last year and can now be found at 71 baldwin avenue}

frequent flier style

vintage seashell collection

something about the vintage textiles featured in the debut collection of jumpseat bags reminds me of flying the friendly skies around the islands as a kid. my déjà-vu moment was unshakable until a little digging turned up the little nugget that the company behind the bags is utilizing dead stock from a shuttered miami carrier.

oh well, even if someone else buckled up into airline seats covered in the retro tropical sunset pattern, i still love how seat belts have been repurposed into the handles for jumpseat's handcrafted line which certainly breaths new life into forgotten fabric.

alas, this fusion of new and vintage does not come cheap, but something for the wish list for anyone who wants to bring a hint of glamour from flying's bygone era on-board their next flight.