letarte 2010 collection

starfish bikini

hope everyone had a lovely weekend and took a moment to take a tour of the new website (this would mean you, mr. & ms. email or rss subscriber!). while i was away tinkering on h|h's makeover, the letarte 'ohana sent over news of the maui-based label's ten year collection which scored quite a few snaps in the latest edition of the sports illustrated swimsuit issue.

letarte can always be counted on for girly glam - fun and flirty beach-inspired looks accompanied by either a dash of boho, a hint of rocker edge, or a cheeky combination of the two (hello skull toile!). i continue to swoon for letarte's pretty, playful prints including the gorgeous abstract feather design introduced this season and the aloha guitar's cheery repeat which was inspired by hawaii's own slack key guitar and ukulele (be sure to take a peek at the coordinating tunic with little aloha's embroidered along the hem).

and, of course, no letarte collection would be complete without a proper coverup which is offered in an endless variation be they bardot-inspired nautical stripes, sweet peasant details, or luxe embellishments.

more peeks below . . .

feathers bikini with leather straps

aloha guitar

pink sand tunic

pineapple juice maxi

2010 styles have already landed in letarte's online shop (which offers complimentary shipping to the upper 48) and the flagship boutique in paia.

• where: 24 baldwin avenue, paia
• shop hours: mon to sat, 9a to 6p & sun, 10a to 6p

take a peek at the collection and remember to report back and share your favorite looks!

letarte sale at hautelook!

swooned for letarte's 2009 resort collection when it was featured on h|h? hele over to hautelook which just kicked off a huge sale this morning. a quick peek revealed over 100 styles from saucy swimwear to letarte's lovely tunics for 55% off!

if you are not a member, simply register at hautelook to access the sale. alas, no returns are allowed so click over to letarte's size chart to help you select the best fit while shopping.

• sale dates: now to sat, feb 6th @ 8:59a pst

happy hale*days 09: gifting edition

little wonders

hopefully, everyone has been busy with their holiday preparations and failed to notice my unintended absence this week. alas, between tending to a lovely new project, nursing the mister back to health over the weekend, and hurriedly finishing up all the little holiday details, this year's gifting guide got pushed (and pushed) to the back burner.

anyhoo, please enjoy this tardy roundup of last minute stocking stuffers scouted around the islands and beyond!

for the play date: the delightfully handcrafted emma the alien. ($45 | cuddle with aloha)

for the sumo baby: a wee onesie in sizes from 3m to 18m. ($15 | sweet dumplings)

for the keiki: adorable teddies and stockings made with fabric remnants. (mu'umu'u heaven; in-store only)

for the future picasso: sketch away with mini twig pencils in a rainbow of colors. ($8/dozen | available at toast).

for the tidy tot: handmade art roll featuring a fab orla kiely pattern. ($17 | tasha bags & baby)

design geek loveliness

for the frugalista: help her save her pennies with a pretty piggy bank. ($26 | not neutral)

for the not-so-green thumb: water-sipping succulents blossom in a living vase. (1st look exteriors)

for the office mate: rock that return address with a custom peacock rubber stamp. ($21.95 | for yoo)

for the saimin connoisseur: slurping ramen is tastier in a kitschy ceramic noodle cup. ($12.99 | available at think geek)

for the coffee lover: enjoy each sip with the blue flora coffee service. ($64 | not neutral)

for the front door: modernist mainlanders will appreciate an understated remove shoes plaque. ($32 | rae dunn)

beachy goodness

for the teacher: ecolicious canvas totes featuring waves, butterflies, flowers and fishes. ($24 | ecolicious)

for the treehugger: tread lighter on the 'aina with eco-friendly slippers made from natural rubber. ($30 | organik)

for the armchair adventurer: slip under the waves with the shorebreak art of clark little coffee table book. ($100 | clark little)

for the surfing 'ohana : a custom surfboard sign for the hale. ($40 | three ladybugz)

style makeover

for the indie spirit: wearables for the entire 'ohana (w's pom circles shown above) plus new arkotyke goods for the little hipster. ($22 | arkotec)

for the beauty queen: sweet solid scents made to linger with a blend of shea butter, vanilla bean extract, and essential oils. ($22 - $9 off and free shipping with secret code birthday | maoli perfumes)

for the surfer girl: handpainted star pendants add a little whimsy to the waves. ($30 | christie shinn)

for the water warrior: paddle in style with a lovely tiare jersey. ($40 | 'oiwi ocean gear)

for the mister: represent the 808 with an embroidered tiki crew sweatshirt. ($70 | kicks hawaii)

for the ironman: triathlon and honolulu marathon-inspired charms. ($50 | fly jewelry)

for the local boy: limited edition hi life warrior cap. ($40 | available at butigroove)

p.s. be back on friday with the final sales sheet before santa lands on your rooftop!

roberta oaks fall/holiday 2009

joe + sal

oahu designer roberta oaks' fall 09 collection completely skipped past my radar and, lo and behold, holiday 09 looks have already arrived online. this time around traditional plaid gets a playful, punk rock update in cotton flannel (love the happy turquoise!) which promises to keep you toasty when winter storms roll in while adding a little indie spirit to all your merrymaking.

roberta continues to stay true to her eco roots with organic cotton and bamboo/soy jerseys her go to textiles for day dresses made for everyday fun and flirty gowns destined for holiday romancing. and, a bohemian mix of animal prints and tie dye have found their way into the swim collection designed to make a bold splash at the beach.

marcela + kate

mod + lola

grey cat + tie dye

select fall 09 styles are currently on sale in the online shop where you can scoop up all of the looks featured above, or click over to the stockist list to locate neighborhood boutiques who also swoon for the honolulu-based label.

in other news, roberta will be welcoming friends and fans to her new studio space in chinatown on first friday with a grand opening bash!

• when: fri, dec 4th - 5:30p to 10p
• where: 19 north pauahi street, chinatown

p.s. a handful of looks have been marked down 40% (including the currently sold out revere dress in espresso) on 80's purple.

new peeks: heather brown

sakura * heather * no. 296 * gallery peeps

this will be short and sweet due to many, many distractions in h|h-land, but i just wanted to check in with the tardy news of heather brown's charming little gallery that opened this past spring in japan.

it's not too surprising to discover our japanese friends have fallen for heather's artwork which has since gotten some love from elle japan and other publications upon the gallery's tokyo debut. just peeking at her latest offerings is an instant pick-me-up between those cheerful little birds (6x6 originals now available!) and the translucent rolling waves that have become a hb signature.

between racking up the frequent flier miles traveling back and forth across the pacific, heather has also found her way to kaua'i for quiet country living that is paying off with new vistas and surf breaks to capture with her paint brush.

more peeks below . . .

kauai surf

surf boat

single fins & feathers * pink ginger

juicy sunset

of course, this means a bit more competition for the handful of originals for sale in the online shops located stateside & in japan. both websites also stock giclées and less spendy prints of artwork that have already found a wall to call home.

also, take note that heather just returned from a series of shows in japan and will be one of the local artists featured during the triple crown surf art show's opening reception this weekend.

• when: sat, nov 21st - 6p
• where: wyland galleries, 66-250 kam hwy, haleiwa

p.s. you can follow heather's adventures (featuring her adorable pup) on her blog, or, if your written japanese is good, click over to the staff blog for gallery updates dispatched from japan.