roberta oaks fall/holiday 2009

joe + sal

oahu designer roberta oaks' fall 09 collection completely skipped past my radar and, lo and behold, holiday 09 looks have already arrived online. this time around traditional plaid gets a playful, punk rock update in cotton flannel (love the happy turquoise!) which promises to keep you toasty when winter storms roll in while adding a little indie spirit to all your merrymaking.

roberta continues to stay true to her eco roots with organic cotton and bamboo/soy jerseys her go to textiles for day dresses made for everyday fun and flirty gowns destined for holiday romancing. and, a bohemian mix of animal prints and tie dye have found their way into the swim collection designed to make a bold splash at the beach.

marcela + kate

mod + lola

grey cat + tie dye

select fall 09 styles are currently on sale in the online shop where you can scoop up all of the looks featured above, or click over to the stockist list to locate neighborhood boutiques who also swoon for the honolulu-based label.

in other news, roberta will be welcoming friends and fans to her new studio space in chinatown on first friday with a grand opening bash!

• when: fri, dec 4th - 5:30p to 10p
• where: 19 north pauahi street, chinatown

p.s. a handful of looks have been marked down 40% (including the currently sold out revere dress in espresso) on 80's purple.

gidget goes glam

the ever expanding offerings of swimwear designed in the islands seems to have a style for almost every look - sporty, luxe, sexy, sweet, and, with the introduction of 1979, retro pinup silhouettes with a vintage twist. with a fondness for a bygone era that slipped away as more people discovered paradise, designer suzanna kuhlemann jumped into the family business (sister pia helms soozou) to bring back a more demure sensibility to the islands' beaches.

no longer loved mu'umu'us and aloha shirts are rescued from closets to be transformed by suzanna and local seamstresses into 1979's vintage line which offers limited edition suits (only two or three are made per garment) that highlight curves like it was done way back when. the styles are sweet yet wearable and a happy find for anyone wistful for bikinis designed to leave a little something to the imagination.

for those not inclined to rock a vintage look on the sand, suzanna has followed up with two more collections after finding the challenge of designing with only a slip of fabric too irresistible. the signature lineup translates retro styles with textiles more readily available, while the focus of the nylon collection nips in curves with a higher waist silhouette and utilizes modern stretch fabric for more support.

more peeks below . . .

vintage looks

retro meets modern looks

a peek inside etown

1979 swimsuits are currently offered in sizes small, medium and large with xs and xl options expected shortly. custom swimwear orders are also welcome, and, happy news, you are invited to recycle your own vintage aloha wear into a new-to-you suit.

the vintage collection ($120) is available exclusively at mu'umu'u heaven's kailua flagship, and the signature ($149) and nylon ($129) lines will be making their debut at the opening of etown (shown above), the chinatown studio space shared by suzanna and pia, which will be welcoming one and all on first friday.

jewelry from meesah will also be in studio as will photography from deaja fallas and ethan boone.

• when: fri, sep 4th - 6p
• where: 1164 smith street, chinatown
• shop hours: tbd; check website for details

p.s. suzanna will be passing out 15% off coupons during the opening party so hele down and say hello!

introducing posh pua

floral bikini + monokini

posh pua, the new handmade clothing line created by maui designer julie stone, is further evidence that the islands' emerging style scene is inspiring more kama'ainas to take the plunge into fashion design. upon moving to maui a few years ago, julie took notice of the success of homegrown labels tamara catz and letarte which eventually prompted the kailua-raised designer to turn her sewing hobby into an indie biz.

this past spring, posh pua quietly launched its debut collection which features a handful of patterns designed for flirty days on the sand and simple coverups that easily transition from the beach to the streets. what sets posh pua apart is julie's commitment to creating a sustainable swimwear/resort line by incorporating eco-friendly fibers like bamboo and organic cotton plus the occasional vintage textile appearance.

plaid bikini

a gathering dress * pua o papaete romper * beach bloomers

all designs are made to order in julie's upcountry studio and custom requests are also welcome should you require a little assistance to find the perfect fit.

preview the collection on the official website and then click over to the etsy shop to scoop up the latest offerings.

you can also find posh pua at beauty & the beach's online emporium and sassy 2nds, a new to you consignment boutique that julie and her sister-in-law recently opened in paia.

roberta oaks summer sale

it seems while i was in between computers, roberta oaks revealed her summer 09 collection filled with more sweet and sexy fairly-made frocks designed for island living. for a limited time, all styles past and present, currently stocked in the online shop have been marked down 40 percent!

and, if you are in the market for a new bikini, click over to take your pick of roberta's inaugural swim collection which made a splashy debut earlier this year. all mix & match sets are just $50 during the sale.

styles are flying off the rack so hele over to the online shop to scoop up a few pieces on your wishlist.

• expires: wed, jun 10th
• fyi: no code needed

malia mills swim 2009

pucker strawberry fields

whether your beach body issue is coverage or curves, ny-based swimwear architect malia mills (who may be the first hawaii-born designer to be inducted into the cfda) has a suit designed to flatter no matter your shape or size. the new collection recently hit the online shop with looks ranging from urban sophisticate with a minimum of fuss to pinup glamour complete with flirty shirring and cinches.

since malia was last featured, the eponymous label has expanded its seasonless offerings with a swoon-worthy selection of frocks for readers who covet city girl coverups. plus, a girls swim line also made its debut with the option to rock a matching mother & daughter set (phone order only).

more peeks below . . .

pleated flirt & majorette

dreamboat

diana * marais * tie me up

in happy news, the coconut wire sent along word that malia mills is returning to los angeles this week with the opening of an outpost at the brentwood country mart. 'tis the closest shop to the islands, so next time you find yourself in lala-land, hele over for a personalized fitting and the chance to scoop up jewelry from bliss lau, yet another local girl designer based back east.

• where: 225 26th street, santa monica
• shop hours: mon to sun, 11a to 6p

you can, of course, shop online or click over to the stockist list to locate a brick and mortar shop near you.

p.s. the bittersweet brown colorway is being retired so if you splurge on a new suit you can score one in b.brown for 50% off. click here for more details.

{update | feb 13th: the malia mills 'ohana sent over an exclusive $50 coupon just for h|h readers. enjoy the extra savings by mon, aug 31st.}