roberta oaks spring/swim 2009

kahala

oahu designer roberta oaks shares a glimpse of what to expect when the weather warms up with her pre-spring 09 collection. fans will be happy to find updates on the label's signature silhouettes while hand screened details and sustainable textiles (organic cotton and bamboo jersey are favorites) make their mark on the latest offerings.

the new year also brings a splashy dip into the world of swimwear with a debut collection filled with mix and match sets designed with a flair for the unexpected. bold solids mingle with animal prints and vintage florals
for a bohemian look styled on flirty halters and ooh-la-la brazilian cuts.

moana + quaint

click over to the official website to shop the entire collection or to find your neighborhood stockist.

p.s. the fall & winter 08 collections are now on sale (up to 60% off) in the online shop.

beauty & the beach

since my remaining weeks of 2008 and opening weeks of january were a bit of a holiday/traveling whirlwind, the next few weeks will be spent playing catch up on the sidelined features that have patiently waited until my return. also making an appearance: all the fab finds from my trip home plus peeks of the latest looks from hi's favorite designers . . . and a few surprises!

katie wilson and tami snodgrass, the maui-based roomies/creators behind beauty & the beach,
launched their new swimwear collection late last year to add a retro meets romantic point of view to the growing number of ocean style offerings from the islands.

if anthropologie sold swimsuits year round, i imagine they would stock styles reminiscent of beauty & the beach which dishes up sweet bohemian looks ranging from a revival of vintage crochet designs to embracing a more modern turn complete with flirty flourishes in the dfly line.

two tone bikini + crochet one piece

plum bow + fru fru

malea crochet beanie * jules' jewels seaglass & opi'i necklace

and, while not all of us can rock the more revealing beach looks, the online storefront offers one stop shopping of an edited selection of maui goodness from the likes of ginger 13, malea, jules' jewels (shown above), pompei beach & wings hawaii. welcome news for off-island fans searching for ways to reduce shipping charges while stocking up on their favorite valley island designers.

p.s. katie and tami are on the lookout for up & coming island talent so drop them a note to learn how to get your label stocked in the b&b online shop.

shop letarte opening

the once sleepy beach town of paia has been abuzz with the opening of letarte's flagship boutique earlier this week. the letarte 'ohana (lisa designs the luxe swimwear line while sister michele handles all the behind-the-scenes business) designed the shop with an eye on sustainability including eco-friendly paint and lighting while offering packaging made from post-consumer recycled materials to tote your purchases home.

ana from letarte was kind enough to send along peeks from the 2009 collection which is already on the rack in the new shop. does anyone else think letarte's modern take of gorgeous island inspired patterns would be equally lovely at home?

peacock bikini

kenneth jay lane for letarte

handblock fish print one-piece

maya tunic

letarte surfboard

lisa & michele

the paia shop also stocks keiki line petite letarte, alora ambiance home fragrance, claus porto soaps, golden child jewelry, in2 design lariats, t-luxury & more.

• where: 24 baldwin avenue, paia
• fyi: 10% of purchases during opening week will be donated to surfrider's maui chapter.

p.s. off-island fans can scoop up select styles from the 09 collection in the newly relaunched online shop.

pualani 2008 collection

key lime

in only a few short years, the fit of pualani hawaii bikinis has become legendary among waterwomen (and movie stars) who prefer to focus on the waves and not readjusting their swimsuit every few minutes. the secret is a four-way stretch fabric imported from europe that allows pualani swimwear to move with you yet still retain its shape.

the 08 collection is now out in a tempting mix of solids and patterns as well as the introduction of a chic reversible design that is sure to win new fans for its appealing versatility.  

reversible black & creme * convertible top * tattoo

safari cat

the mix and match pieces are available in a variety of cuts allowing you to minimize or maximize coverage as you please. since pualani was last featured, a keiki collection has been added and last year designer iwalani isbell opened the doors to pualani's flagship boutique on the gold coast of waikiki.

shop online, click over to the stockist list, or stop by pualani's waikiki outpost:

• where: 2863 kalakaua avenue, suite 2 (at the new otani kaimana beach hotel)
• shop hours: mon to sun, 10a to 7p

maui girl beach peeks

maui beach sheets

maui girl & co. recently opened up an online storefront stocked with the same exclusive swimwear styles that have made the pa'ia shop a favorite of locals and visiting celebrities (gwen stefani is said to be a fan).

it's also the only place online to find the fabulous maui beach sheets, a super size cotton cloth rocking a bold polynesian print in a mix of cheery colorways. two sizes are available - the original is a pretty and packable alternative to the bulky beach towel (and at 60x90 it's just asking for a crafty transformation) while the sarong size is a sweet beach coverup.

twist + leaf tribal

beaded chevron stripe tote

the online shop is stocked with an array of swimwear from mix & match separates to maui girl's boutique line of handmade swimsuits. you can also make like a supermodel and sashay along the sandy shoreline in the very provocative beach glam bikinis custom made for the pages of the sports illustrated

swimsuit issue.

• where: 12 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: 9a to 6p everyday

{update | 2012: if you are looking to purchase maui beach sheets, please click over to tiare style to contact the designer directly.}