roberta oaks fall 2007

quaint + skipper

the fall 07 collection from roberta oaks recently made its debut with an announcement that bamboo jersey has been incorporated into the eco minded designer's textile mix. if you've not yet hopped aboard the green bandwagon, there are reasons a plenty to love bamboo such as its silky soft texture and super breathable / moisture wicking / anti-bacterial properties. and, since bamboo (which is also biodegradable) can grow up to a foot a day, it just happens to be one of the most renewable & sustainable fibers on the planet.

back to the collection. with the exception of a vote tee, this fall it is all about the little dress. while there may only be a subtle shift of the seasons in the islands (imperceptible to the outside world but there nonetheless), if autumn is your favorite time of year you will love how the fall collection embraces colors like a ripe tomato orange or a pop of citrus and mixes it with luscious chocolate brown and other versatile neutrals along with punchy stripes and hand sewn embellishments to warm up your wardrobe.

shop online or hit the stockist list.

alliway grand opening

mop star * lotus drop * monsteria love * lariat

oahu-based jewelry line alliway is expanding its growing mini-empire with the opening of the company's first boutique at ward warehouse this week. the shop doors opened yesterday and you can expect to find a treasure trove of the colorful concoctions that have made alliway a favorite of everyone from local style glossie smart to the much adored ny indie design shop rare device.

the collection features a mix of simple flourishes in a rainbow of sparkles inspired by designer allison kim-cherzniak's globe trotting travels to the philippines, thailand, tahiti and the yucatan. if you love to accessorize with a pop of color, this is definitely one to bookmark since many of alliway's designs are available in a pretty and diverse palette accented with semi precious stones and sweet charms.

alli recently sent along the scoop on saturday evening's grand opening celebration at her new ward shop:

• when: sat, sep 22nd - 5p to 10p
• gift bag for the first 40 guests
• raffle drawings (est. prize value: $100 retail)
• 10% off everything + 30% off 1 alliway piece over $50

plus, free pupus and drinks. all are welcome so no rsvp is necessary to join the fun.

if you can't make it to the brick & mortar shop in honolulu, take a peek at alliway's online shop or the stockist list to find a boutique near you.

field of greens

nalo farms

it's been quite some time since the last saturday travel post, but today's pick is one sure to pique the interest of kama'aina and visiting foodies. nalo greens have become a staple on local menus whether it's served up on a plate lunch or presented with your gourmet dinner.

now you can actually walk the famous fields of waimanaolo's nalo farms for a behind the scenes tour of how your greens get from farm to table. the 45 minute tour sounds like a delicious diversion for foodie fans who want to peek inside the operations of one of the earliest purveyors of hawaii's resurgent slow food movement.

farm fresh greens & herbs are also in abundance at nalo's booth at the weekly farmers markets in kailua and at kcc.

tour details:

• ten person minimum per group
• reservations required (ring 808.259.7698 for more info)

{via hawaii magazine}

a peek inside the crafty playground

during small kid days, i was the little girl who always rocked the pigtails and, upon entering the fifth grade, the oh so sophisticated ponytail. every. single. day. my friends would wonder what i would look like if my hair ever had the opportunity to escape their elastic constraints. the one constant of both styles were those little plastic goody ponytail holders that, upon a quick release, had a tendency to crack your knuckles hard like one of my cousin's weapons of pain so essential to his quest of becoming the next bruce lee.

if these adorable hair accessories from tasha's bags & baby had been around, no doubt i would have wanted to trade up for a little more cuteness (bonus: no more bruised fingers!). tasha grew up on oahu and spent many hours in her grandfather's picture framing shop crafting to her heart's delight. now that she's tending to her own little one, spare moments are spent whipping up sweet creations with charming japanese textiles her father discovers and posts to hawaii.

in addition to hair goodies, stop by tasha's etsy shop to pick up handmade zip bags, totes, and other accessories sure to brighten your day (i am loving the hedgehog apron). if you are planning on hitting oahu's holiday craft show circuit, look out for her booth which will be stocked with all the goodness you see here.

enchantment under the sea

makabibi shell necklace + mop hibiscus earrings

although rockabella jewels creator kristel bandisch started making jewelry six years ago, it was her stint as a shopgirl at the tamara catz boutique that shined the spotlight on her up and coming collection. customers instantly became besotted with the handmade designs she wore to work which led to kristel being named head jewelry designer for the maui-based clothing line.

kristel recently joined forces with co-worker/jewelry designer selina kokotovich of raven's ruby (my, they certainly are a talented bunch!) to expand upon rockabella's laid back meets glamorous vibe to conjure up the island bride collection to compliment tamara catz's recent foray into the world of white weddings.

mop teardrops + sand dollar necklace

even if exchanging vows is not on your to do list, one look and you will want to succumb to the siren song of these curated offerings from the ocean. whether you choose glistening pearl accents or an abundance of delicate shells designed by mother nature herself, the designers', who are both self taught and do all the silversmithing and hand carving themselves, proximity to the sea has certainly influenced their collaboration.

although neither designer has an official website yet, you can scoop up rockabella's latest treasures at tamara catz (both online and at the paia boutique) and at pink by nature in makawao.