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Entries in dressing room (580)

Friday
Jun172011

misa jewelry azteca collection

bar

my day always becomes a little brighter upon receiving a sweet note from la-based jewelry designer misa hamamoto who recently wrote to share the happy news of the launch of her azteca collection. longtime readers know my appreciation for misa jewelry goes back to the very first collection, and misa continues to look to cultures near to her heart before refining her current inspiration into shimmering beauties.

for azteca, misa balances two design moments: the breathtaking symmetry of the ancient aztecs and the glamorous elegance of art deco. the discovery of misa's influences allows you to notice the collection's references to stacked pyramids and grand skyscrapers with every long ago flourish thoughtfully reduced for modern lovelies who prefer to wrap themselves in more minimal ornamentation.

the simplicity of the azteca bar reminds me of a delightful secret shared by only the most observant design enthusiasts while the striking translation of the azteca arrow is an edgy possibility for style archeologists. i also love the parallel of the aztecs' reverence for craftsmanship with misa's small jewelry atelier handmaking adornment sparked by its source.

meet me after the jump for more peeks and details!

large pyramid
small pyramid
arrow

if you share my swoon, azteca's price tag starts at $120 and the nine-piece collection can be peeked on the official website where you can also fill your cart with your favorite designs. and, while the burnished glow of gold captures my fancy, just know most pieces can also be yours in sterling silver.

if you prefer to shop local, hit the stockist list or save yourself the click and find selections from azteca at bungalow 9 on kaua'i and riches hawaii at kahala mall.

Thursday
Jun162011

island crush: indian summer

although i have yet to make it to the monthly art & flea in kaka'ako, the other day i discovered one of its indie vendors on etsy. amongst soul sparrow vintage's thrifted treasures, my eye was immediately drawn to the indian summer bag constructed of lucky fabric finds which whisper of sunshine and summertime in faraway lands.

quite the steal for such a fetching carryall!

$25 online.

Wednesday
Jun152011

aloha gillia!

while paging through the june issue of lucky, i was intrigued to find a summer getaway packing guide including a cheat sheet for hawai'i. all the expected fixings were featured . . . with the exception of any lucky love for local designers. to be fair, the suggestions were so travelers arrive at their destination with something suitable to wear, but my feathers remain slightly ruffled that faraway fashion editors continue to overlook all the style goodness being created in the islands.

one peek at gillia's lookbook may change their perception. every gorgeous offering is made with the pacific in mind with flirty silhouettes bound for your daily runway of playdates in the city and bonfires on the beach. style after style had me at hello courtesy of gillia's simple confections mingling bohemian details, breathtaking patterns, and a blush of color.

a stint at a waikiki boutique brought the ladies behind the label together who recently reunited when head designer saori suzuki returned from japan and reconnected with gillia co-founder mayo kawamura to launch the line. with design help from saori's sister yuko, the influence of the siblings' home country can be found throughout the restrained offerings which embrace the laidback lifestyle of the islands with a carefree cast of tropical must-haves.

get ready to sigh after the jump!

amengena robe
luxor halter dress
amengena romper
golden sands ruffle dress

in-the-know island lovelies started flocking to gillia since before its official june launch so online shop selections are a bit spare at the moment.

price tag falls between $116 for a tie-dye beauty to $238 for a slinky silk frock. if you covet a pacific pretty, your best bet is to hele over to your neighborhood stockist (including becca beach, guava shop & olive boutique). mayo tipped me off that summer 2011 deliveries are making their way around the islands this week and styles are expected to sell out as quickly as they arrive on the racks.

picking just one favorite look seems impossible at the moment . . . are you most smitten with the billowy gowns, cute rompers, or fetching tunics?

Tuesday
Jun142011

island crush: kama'aina kicks

kama'aina * lokahi * moloa hulu

this past winter, my mister insisted on rocking his slippers most weekends despite the chilly and rainy days blowing through the cali coast. slightly exasperated, i hunted down a pair of olukai's cozy shearling moloa hulu slip-ons to woo him on the occasional date when the weather gods (i.e. me) insist covered shoes would be more practical.

between the minimalist silhouettes and polynesian motifs, i found lots to love in the m's mauka collection which has been filled with stylish leather kicks for everyday since we last took a peek.

a little late for winter but perhaps something to consider for kama'aina papas this father's day?

$130 to $175 online + in-store. (fyi: my mister's moloa hulus were scooped up for 40% off here.)

p.s. since i have a tendency to run on hawaiian time, say aloha to the morning island crush which will allow my little finds to be shared in the p.m. too!

Friday
Jun102011

final boarding: sig zane x ito


. . . pop-up by interisland terminal . . .

hopefully, you are one of the lucky locals who met the sig zane 'ohana during their weeklong waikiki appearance talking story about how art, design, travel and the islands combine to influence the family of makers. if you call oahu home, the interisland travelwrights pop-up shop closes on sunday and with it your chance to scoop up limited edition offerings and other goodness (hello kites!) by the hilo label.

although distance is keeping me away (alas!), the story behind the ponoholo print debuting at ito makes me hopeful that it will become a permanent part of the collection. the starry skies that guided the native hawaiians during their navigations across the pacific are intertwined with a woven motif representing the ties that bind . . . from the canoes on which those long ago journeys were made to the connection of the zane 'ohana to their hometown.

happily, the interweb is filled with ito peeks so i gathered up a few to tempt you down to waikiki this weekend!

ito tee
hilo one duffle
ponoholo printing process

i love how screenprinting transforms a plain piece of fabric, and was delighted to discover interisland terminal posted a fascinating peek of the made in hawaii production process.

tonight, find out what sparked the creation of kuhao's art installation (6p to 8p), and remember a portion of sales from the ponoholo design benefit interisland terminal!

  • when: now to sun, jun 12th
  • where: waikiki parc hotel, 2233 helumoa road
  • pop-up shop hours: daily, 11a to 7p
  • fyi: free validated parking at hotel (valet only)

{photo credit: 1/2 - sig zane + 3/interisland terminal}