fighting eel fall 2007

aimee

c'est fini! all the distractions of summer are but a fond memory now that both the tour de france and my fella's hiatus have said goodbye for the season. to my delight, while i attempt to get back into the swing of things (very sloowly), it seems that fighting eel is in the midst of previewing their gorgeous fall 07 collection.

come autumn, fe's signature tropical colorways and provocative silhouettes will be joined by muted hues and demure necklines. even the pieces with abbreviated hemlines, paired with leggings, can be worn by those who prefer to avoid scandalizing passersby à la britney.

and i am loving the bohemian vibe which recalls paris in the 50's . . . very audrey hepburn, very ooh la la.

halle

elle

the fall collection is not yet in stores, but typically rafael hawaii & active endeavors offer the best selection of fe online.

{update | aug 1st: p.s. just stumbled across a 50% off sale of fe at the queen bee boutique!

just breathe

homegrown yoga line lily lotus has a number of new designs for summertime evoking many of the symbols found in the practice of yoga. and kudos to owner/designer laurie momi chee for partnering with lanakila's vocational program which helps individuals with disabilities integrate into the workforce. it's like a double bonus by supporting a part of the community that is often forgotten while allowing lily lotus to keep the manufacturing end of their business in the islands.

bargain hunters (especially those with little ones) should click over to the sale section to score 50% and more off discontinued styles. remember online orders over $100 receive free shipping!

also, head to kaimuki's coffee talk cafe this weekend for a lily lotus trunk show filled with deals on yogawear and a sneak peek of lily lotus' fall collection. alliway jewelry and miuartworks will also be joining the fun.

• when: sun, july 29th - 10a to 2p
• where: 3601 waialae avenue

little dragon girls

a few years ago, the three friends who started little dragon girls decided the time was right for a collection to empower asian-american girls. their inspired idea was to flip the western stereotype of the dragon lady on its head and redefine it for a younger generation.

take the iconic dragon, ditch the tired imagery of the exotic seductress with an opium pipe, add a shot of style with a dash of sass, mix with a message to inspire modern day girls, shake and enjoy!

the company, which is split between hawaii and l.a., started out selling baby tees emblazoned with the ldg manifesto at local craft fairs, and the response was so good that they eventually expanded their line to cheeky stationary, a keiki collection for the littlest dragon girls, and have even more goodness planned for the future.

take a peek at the full line on their website however, for now, orders are old school and must be sent in by snail mail. island stockists include shirokiya as well as ecosystems at kahala mall.

summertime at stacia

amalfi babydoll + cabana bikini

since i last wrote about stacia, designer stacy johnson's new summer collection and a behind-the-scenes blog made its debut. i am loving the fresh silhouette of the amalfi babydoll dress which channels a modern day audrey hepburn and would make a perfect traveling companion this summer.

and, if you have yearned to sport something a little more daring while soaking up the sun, get ready to rock stacia's cabana bikini which features the spanking new chevron stripe pattern in her signature spacedye fabric.

shop online or hit the stockist list for a boutique near you. get the scoop on stacy's latest creations via her blog fashion flock.

more reasons to love muumuu heaven

kailua's small town atmosphere is reason enough for a day trip, but there is so much good stuff happening at muumuu heaven here are a few more reasons why it's time to head over the ko'olau range.

• bamboo! muumuu heaven designer deb mascia will be revealing the latest additions to her bamboo collection tomorrow night (details below). one touch of the new tops, tees & dresses made of this eco & tropic friendly fiber and you'll understand why its become a favorite of green fashionistas everywhere. 

• summertime cuts. vintage muumuus have been transformed into the season's must have voluminous baby doll top (perfectly paired with jeans & shorts). 

• free bag! online orders over $50 score an extra treat in the form of the farmers market tote bags made of remnant aloha fabric that have been a shopper's favorite at the boutique. keep one in your car to have handy when it's time to run a few errands and tote your purchases in style (plastic bags are so last century). 

• girl's night out. champagne shopping parties can now be booked at muumuu heaven. the shop is also welcoming mom's groups or anyone else who is looking for a meet up spot for their peeps. email events [at] muumuuheaven [dot] com for more details. 

• and, calling all artists! muumuu heaven opens its doors during kailua's second sunday art walk and is looking for local artists who need a home to showcase their work. email love [at] muumuuheaven [dot] com for info.

in addition to denise tjarks handbags, the boutique now stocks accessories from meleana, pua jewelry & more. and don't forget to take a peek at muumuu heaven's very own delightfully retro notebooks made of vintage album covers.

party in heaven details:

• when: thu, june 28th - 5p to 8p
• where: muumuu heaven's kailua shop
• etc: enjoy pupus while you discover bamboo