the owls are not what they seem

m's pueo tee + straw trucker hat

david from 'oiwi ocean gear sent me a sneak peek of their new designs a few months ago and i am happy to report that they are now up on their website. i love love love the pueo tee and am seriously considering making an exception to my fella's no more new t-shirts rule (he is always on the hunt for cool tees when we go home and hence the dresser drawer is about to burst).

there are also some new threads for the ladies like the kahala jersey which will add a little flower power to your paddle/surf sessions plus 'oiwi had added fresh swimwear styles like the haleiwa bikini and the pretty 'oiwi pattern which is now available in new colorways just in time for spring.

fyi - 'oiwi also does custom work so give them a buzz if your team wants to paddle in style.

map it!

glamour girl

maile fern maillot + rainbow abstract kaftan

time to dish about the newest swimwear line from the islands which made its debut at the women's closet last weekend. melia conrad mixes old hollywood glamour with modern sophistication to create a collection for those who prefer to be a bit more demure yet still turn a few heads when they hit the beach.

designer marylea conrad grew up in australia and upon arriving in the islands noticed a distinct difference on hawaii's beaches from her homeland: coverage. and so melia conrad, a collection of stylish swimwear with slightly more modest silhouettes, was born (quite literally as the line is named after her baby daughter).

there is something for everyone from flirty bikinis, pin up worthy one pieces, and glamorous cover ups that can easily go from the sand to out on the town. one of the most thoughtful features are bikini tops with removable straps which means no more tricky maneuvering to avoid the dreaded strappy tan line.

the collection is expected to arrive in april or may and will be stocked at the butik, rafael and split obsession.

learn more here and here.

cleaning out the closet

ginger13 lacey filigree earrings + eagle charm bracelet

with the return of the women's closet sale on sunday, it seems like a good time to see what's new with a few of the designers who will be featured at the event. birds have been spotted all around the design world for quite some time (here and here to name a few) and our little feathered friends happen to be a recurring theme in the spring collection from ginger 13.

ginger 13 will be clearing out inventory from past seasons which means accessorizing your new outfits can be done for as little as $5. roberta oaks will also be there to show off her embellished and screenprinted designs as will a number of other up and coming island designers.

roberta oaks jj tee

fyi - the women's closet is your chance to score style from local designers at up to 75% off all while doing a little good for the community. proceeds from the door will benefit the ywca's dress for success program so do make space in your closet for all those new goodies and bring gently worn clothing to donate to the cause.

details:

• when: sun, mar 25th - 10a to 3p
• where: the o lounge
• tix: $5 donation
• fyi: rsvp to score early bird entry - info [at] theolounge [dot] com

blissful philanthropy

my life has been completely consumed these past few days by taxes and, of all things, learning how to knit (and i haven't even picked up sticks yet . . . who knew knitting was so darn complicated?). anyhoo, i'll be back sometime tomorrow with new finds but wanted to mention that the mini version of bliss lau's pleat handbag (featured in jan) just happens to be one of lucky magazine's do good while you shop picks for march.

so if you were already planning on throwing down some serious money on a new handbag, just know that 30% of the purchase price of mini pleat orders placed by mar 31st will be contributed to donors choose. and, considering the price tag, that is a hefty chunk of change that will go to help fill the wish lists of public school teachers struggling to fund projects to educate their students.

olukai spring 2007

w's ama

the spring/summer 2007 collection from olukai is now posted on their website. for those who are not familiar with olukai, the premium footwear line made its debut last year and the company's focus is on constructing a super comfortable slipper (one of the founders, who was born in hawaii, previously worked at nike) without sacrificing style. even better, olukai is committed to being environmentally responsible during the manufacturing process and is keeping the kokua spirit alive by partnering with the rabbit kekai foundation.

m's kula

click here to find the nearest olukai dealer or hit zappos which usually has the best selection of olukai online (a quick check revealed that only a few of the new styles are currently available but more are scheduled to arrive in the next month or so). like many, i was a bit leery about ordering shoes online however, after placing my first zappos order last month during a desperate search for new shoes before i went home, i am officially a convert.

my experience was very pleasant since the customer reviews helped me determine if a shoe would be a good match and zappos offers free shipping on orders & returns (my package arrived the very next day). the best perk, aside from not having to trudge from store to store searching in vain for the right style/size/color, was being able to test my choices at home with my closet only a few steps away. viva zappos!