bradley & lily

the long awaited launch of bradley & lily, the boutique letterpresserie known for its contemporary couture wedding stationery, has finally arrived! having been on letterpress watch for quite some time, i was delighted to finally take a peek at designer stacey nomura's gorgeous invites which have been stunning local brides with its artful take on traditional wedding announcements since the very first cards rolled out of its antique printing press.

one look and you can spot how mother nature, architectural motifs, and other design details, often captured by stacey's camera for future inspiration, have been translated from rolling waves, swaying palm trees or koi fish into finely crafted paper goods.

more peeks below:

old hawaii

digital printing is another option for budget crunched brides & grooms who refuse to skimp on the design possibilities offered by their big day. and, letterpress fans take note, bradley & lily's minimalist aloha & mahalo note cards are hot off the presses and can now be found both à la carte and in boxed sets at soha living who will also offer b&l's demi-couture invites in-store later this summer.

to celebrate bradley & lily's online debut, stacey is offering 15% off all demi-couture and couture stationery to readers who mention h|h before june 30th.

p.s. for brides short on time, b&l also offers a gift concierge service featuring elegant favors and other delightful offerings for your guest list with delivery available around the islands and to northern california.

{photo credit: kelly + fergus, visionari}

all about umee

oahu designer deena white may have only arrived in the islands a few years ago, but she knows all too well the dilemma of standing in front of the closet without a thing to wear for a tailor-made day in paradise.

last summer, the designer-to-be began drafting her style wish list of pieces that would complement her biz-y lifestyle, and in only a year's time the umee label (named after her japanese grandmother) went from a simple sketch to a stylish start-up.

the recently debuted capsule collection is comprised of classic silhouettes with just a hint of pleats, ruffles, and other feminine flourishes inspired by hawaii. pieces have been thoughtfully designed to transition from work to after hours fun with little fuss which is sure to be a happy find for readers who fancy a polished look for the office still pretty enough to go on a pau hana play date.

deena has even given the lbd an island makeover with the introduction of umee's little black muu muu (shown above) which i suspect will become both a style staple for homesick kama'aina and a favorite island holiday souvenir.

more peeks below . . .

ruffle strap + strapless dress

pearly plumeria + little black muu muu

since deena was once an island bride herself, a bridal collection is currently in the works with the possibility of made-to-order frocks on the drawing board to help brides-to-be coordinate the look of their wedding party.

and, in other news, keeping production local was a priority and i am happy to report that the entire umee lineup is made in hawaii!

currently, the online shop is the only click you need to know to add a little umee to your wardrobe (with free shipping on all orders at the moment), however you can be among the label's first patrons during this weekend's mom and you trunk show hosted by hifi:

• when: sat, may 9th - 2p to 4p
• where: the contemporary museum, café lawn
• fyi: enjoy a pre-sale tea for two at the café (reservations recommended)

the missing wink

word is that purchases of little indulgences are, at least for now, recession-proof as people seek comfort in fancy chocolates, lip gloss, and other affordable treats. if your peepers have been yearning for a pretty pick me up then you may want to investigate the latest product launch from maleana cosmetics.

biolash promises lush lashes with a blend of 100% natural algae complex, plant-based phytohormones, and bio-informed ginger root extract infused in an olive oil and jojoba oil base while being free of parabens and synthetic hormones. at $59, this lash wonder may be considered an indulgent splurge unless your one and only wish whenever blowing on an eyelash is for an abundance of flirty lashes without the assistance of mascara or falsies.

in other news, the honolulu-based beauty parlor has gone web 2.0 and is now offering destination brides complimentary skype consultations so you no longer have to hop on a plane and hit the streets to book your makeup match.

you can pick up a tube of biolash and shop maleana's spring/summer 2009 color collection at the line's studio in kaimuki (phone/email orders are also welcome):

• where: 3405 waialae avenue, suite 203
• studio hours: mon to fri, 9a to 6p

new peeks: kinohi designs

tropical tryst

the iffy economy is putting a squeeze on many budgets including pricey wedding celebrations for both island and destination brides & grooms. as someone who planned every single detail of my big day without a hired gun by my side, i know firsthand that it is possible to throw a lovely bash complete with fancy gown, hard to book photographers, and gourmet eats for a fraction of the cost, and, most important, without going into debt so long as you know how to allocate your funds wisely.

if invites are the area where you choose to scrimp, you will want to take note of the latest offerings from kinohi designs. since partnering with wedding paper divas and its sister company tiny prints, honolulu designer jennifer tanabe's contemporary paper goods line continues to mark life's happy moments sans the boutique price tag.

many designs hint of kinohi's island home to the delight of modern tropical style connoissiers, however my current favorite is certain to be frowned upon by the etiquette set - the cheeky blank you design with its playful twist on the traditional thank you note which is sure to be the saving grace for anyone who forgets to acknowledge gifts in a timely manner.

blank you

summer style

hello baby

and, while the stylish stationery has been perfected for weddings, birthdays, and other big announcements, savvy shoppers can put their own spin on many designs with a few quick clicks.

take a peek at kinohi designs' entire lovely lineup over at tiny prints and wedding paper divas.

sugar cane sweetie

anyone who has planned a wedding in recent years is familiar with the gift bag bestowed on guests who make the journey to celebrate your big day. it's a fun way to share your favorite hometown finds with out of town pals - in fact, i still remember strolling the aisles of costco & local shops scooping up hawaiian style goodies days before our first wave of guests arrived in the islands.

if you are short on time but big on budget, you may want to click over to sugar cane sweetie, a new gifting service based on maui. partners jen martin and liz mcgain started their company to offer corporate events a fresh take on the tropical welcome basket trading standard issue mac nuts and sweets for gourmet goodies, luxe spa treats, and other delights evocative of paradise.

many h|h favorites made the cut including letarte coverups, malie kauai potions & maui beach sheets plus your picks can be gifted in a simple lauhala basket or a stylish meleana tote bag.

jen and liz are happy to work with weddings and private parties (minimum quantity required - contact scs for details) and offer an à la carte selection for those who prefer to customize gift options. delivery is available on maui and the neighbor islands plus gifts can also be dispatched to the mainland to set the mood for your guests' upcoming tropical getaway.

click over to the website to take a peek at the sugar cane sweetie selection (price tag is $40 and up).

{update | feb 2010: sugar cane sweetie has closed its website}