acacia swimwear: belle nomad collection

tribal

more often than not, a find that delights on screen tends to underwhelm when you meet in person. not so acacia swimwear which i finally had a chance to preview during an impromptu shop scout while home over the winter. i am happy to report that the gorgeous fabrics feel fancy and luxurious in real life while the pretty linings which charmed me from afar proved even more striking during our in-store introduction.

all those little details add up to a lot of love for the two-year-old label with devoted fans around the globe and a moment in this year's sports illustrated swimsuit issue. naomi and lyndie, the designers behind the homegrown line, debuted their belle nomad collection just before the holidays mixing vibrant patterns (zig zags! ikat!) with breathtaking bohemian details for their becoming bikini beauties.

my wishlist fell in love with so many pieces before realizing that the 2012 lineup is welcoming effortless coverups crafted of silk and tencel . . . simple but oh so pretty and quite well-timed considering my preference for more sustainable textiles.

more to adore after the jump!

cantik * choctaw

capri

hanalei * goa

are you swooning too?

happy news if, like me, you shied away from the very flirty bottoms and resigned yourself to adoring acacia from the sidelines. requests for a more demure bottom have been heeded so peek the newest silhouettes (hossegor & vienna) if you have been coveting a tad more coverage.

alas, no official online shop at the moment but island & mainland stockists abound while vida serene offers online ordering for the entire belle nomad collection.

island crush: mix master

haleiwa designer cassandra rull, whose clothing you may have spotted in roam hawaii's style caravan selling locally made pretties by the roadside, woos lovelies on the lookout for carefree threads ready to savor sunny island days.

the collection of breezy asymmetrical tanks, refreshed when the designer's fabric stash welcomes new yardage, features an artful mix of patterns and color and is, i hope you will agree, a refreshing antidote to a plain tee.

and, happy news, scoop one up for your spring adventures and score free shipping in the official etsy shop through tomorrow! (secret code: alohaapril; expires: fri, apr 6th.)

$48 online.

shop toast: bunny kokeshi

something sweet for easter baskets in search of handmade cuteness . . . shop toast's new bunny kokeshi! the delightful facade, crafted of aspen wood, opens up to hide away a few favorite spring treats then tucks inside a matching fabric bag for instant gift giving.

find online or at shop toast's kaimuki studio.

p.s. the wedding café at ward warehouse now hosts a mini shop toast stocked year-round with favors and delights.

misa jewelry sea shells collection

puka ring * oyster ring

hello hello! i must confess to feeling less than inspired to edit photos and compose just the right words about my latest discoveries despite the ballooning list of possibilities hidden away in my notes. then an unexpected update from jewelry designer misa hamamoto about the online debut of her sea shells collection instantly shook away my winter doldrums. (just in time for spring's arrival . . . hooray!)

my first glimpse actually happened when lisa from bungalow 9 shared a shop update before the holidays. an instant swoon is always a good sign a feature is in the stars, but a little patience was required since i prefer to share goods when they can be acquired in a few clicks.

wandering through the new collection reveals misa's handmade love note to her island home from a delicate yet mysterious interpretation of the puka ring to the intricate composition of a turtle shell and the simplicity of a spiraling cone shell cast in metal. i suspect the sweet shout-outs of modern ocean adornment will connect with all of us who savor moments searching through the sand for tiny souvenirs to remember a happy day spent at the beach.

more to adore after the jump!

turtle earrings

cone necklace & cuff

are you just as smitten now?

the online shop is filled with gold and silver offerings or click over to the stockist list as quite a few boutiques have joined misa's fan club since last summer's update.

oh, and l.a. lovelies simply must pop by stacia's santa monica boutique which carries misa jewelry, gypsy lingerie, and artwork by heather brown alongside designer stacy johnson's gorgeous eco knits!

island pride roundup

most of my blog time of late has been spent behind-the-scenes in an attempt to organize the random collections of possibilities stashed in my online and paper notes. happily, one such scribble prompted me to gather up a few pretty finds so you can wear your island pride with lovely abandon.

let's embark on an impromptu island hop, shall we?

1 - s.o.y. jewelry coaxes golden wire into simple and embellished pairs of b.i.g. earrings.

2 - kris nations charms with recycled metal meticulously cut to help you embrace your state pride.

3 - a single diamond marks your favorite surf break in maya brenner's golden outline of the hawaiian islands.

4 - island sparkle by kai ea can be customized to represent your hometown with a perfectly placed gem.

more to adore after the jump!

5 - oahu represents the 808 with rachael sudlow's handcut sterling silver pendant.

6 - graphic designer ashley johnston mingles typography and cartography with delightful totes and prints mapping out kaua'i and maui neighborhoods.

7 - souvenirs and sundries will be kept tidy when a hawaii maptote is kept in your carryon.

8 - tiffany chou's understated island charms are made to linger around your neck or wrist.

p.s. select styles may be offered in other islands so do ask the maker if you covet a design.