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!

summertime show & tell

it's no surprise that summer is high time for hawaiian style as evidenced by the the many, many catalogs arriving in the post. i confess to being a former kitschy hawaiiana lover (reborn to adore all things modern, natch), still most anything vintage, or barkcloth, or, well, could be found at bailey's still catches my eye.

exhibit 1 - hidden in the soft surroundings catalog, retro fabulousness in the form of embellished south seas pillows and, to pamper man's best friend, the oh so tropical leilani dog bed.

exhibit 2 - something about the quaint floral patterns found on the cabana quilts (with matching pillow covers) at garnet hill reminds me of the lightweight blankets that were draped over my aunty's bed back in the day.

exhibit 3 - and, finally, if nosy neighbors prevent you from enjoying your outdoor space, why not create some much needed privacy with grandin road's teak window shades that harken back to a more genteel time.

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

ink & paper navigation

honolulu, circa 1934

i have been enamored with the idea of decorating my space with vintage maps ever since spying the idea in more than a few shelter magazines. an enlarged copy would serve a dual purpose - filling up the blank wall in the living room and acting as a sort of touchstone to home from across the pacific.

so it seemed like serendipity to discover lahaina printsellers, just days after reading yet another feature about decorating with maps, while flipping through the pages of hawaiian style magazine. the maui company got its start selling antique maps from the days when cartographers, not google maps, helped people find their way around the world.

now that the prices of antique maps have skyrocketed, they also trade in reproductions of vintage maps of the hawaiian islands (some dating back to the 18th century) for those of us who have better ways to spend $30k.

if you fancy yourself a map to call your own, take a peek at the online inventory which is stocked with maps of the hawaiian chain created upon its "discovery", detailed island survey maps from the days of king kalakaua, even colorful fun maps for tourists who would have arrived by steamer.

when on maui, stop by one of their galleries to soak up the old school world of cartography in person.

last minute sales sheet

my computer decided to get cranky this weekend, so my apologies for this very belated sales sheet.

on to the good stuff . . .

heather anne nelson, the big island jewelry designer that has become a favorite of h|h readers, recently sent over news about a little sale happening at her etsy shop. patient souls who are willing to wait for heather's return from her summer holiday to receive their order will save a sweet 20% off everything (including those cute cocktail rings featured a few months ago).

• expires: sat, july 28th

get clean and save some green! the bubble shack is clearing out their inventory so click over to stock up on lather bars created in honor of the castaways of lost. take a peek at the clearance section to score 30% off favorites from the shack's original soapy lineup before they are retired.

• expires: sun, aug 5th