gidget goes glam

the ever expanding offerings of swimwear designed in the islands seems to have a style for almost every look - sporty, luxe, sexy, sweet, and, with the introduction of 1979, retro pinup silhouettes with a vintage twist. with a fondness for a bygone era that slipped away as more people discovered paradise, designer suzanna kuhlemann jumped into the family business (sister pia helms soozou) to bring back a more demure sensibility to the islands' beaches.

no longer loved mu'umu'us and aloha shirts are rescued from closets to be transformed by suzanna and local seamstresses into 1979's vintage line which offers limited edition suits (only two or three are made per garment) that highlight curves like it was done way back when. the styles are sweet yet wearable and a happy find for anyone wistful for bikinis designed to leave a little something to the imagination.

for those not inclined to rock a vintage look on the sand, suzanna has followed up with two more collections after finding the challenge of designing with only a slip of fabric too irresistible. the signature lineup translates retro styles with textiles more readily available, while the focus of the nylon collection nips in curves with a higher waist silhouette and utilizes modern stretch fabric for more support.

more peeks below . . .

vintage looks

retro meets modern looks

a peek inside etown

1979 swimsuits are currently offered in sizes small, medium and large with xs and xl options expected shortly. custom swimwear orders are also welcome, and, happy news, you are invited to recycle your own vintage aloha wear into a new-to-you suit.

the vintage collection ($120) is available exclusively at mu'umu'u heaven's kailua flagship, and the signature ($149) and nylon ($129) lines will be making their debut at the opening of etown (shown above), the chinatown studio space shared by suzanna and pia, which will be welcoming one and all on first friday.

jewelry from meesah will also be in studio as will photography from deaja fallas and ethan boone.

• when: fri, sep 4th - 6p
• where: 1164 smith street, chinatown
• shop hours: tbd; check website for details

p.s. suzanna will be passing out 15% off coupons during the opening party so hele down and say hello!

show & tell: stix flix

temple of blue : mariko merritt

alas, the stix flix show hosted by chinatown boardroom last month has left the gallery walls, but i was delighted to discover prints for sale on the cb blog. the scoop behind the show is that invited local and international artists were asked to put their spin on the iconic surf movie poster and the offerings are printed perfection for any surf shack.

more peeks below . . .

on the crest of the wave : yusuke hanai

beyond beyond : rona bennett

in full trim : heather brown

price tags range from $30 to $650 with a portion of the proceeds donated to accessurf hawaii which helps kama'ainas with disabilities enjoy a fun-filled day in the ocean (btw, the honolulu non-profit needs your kokua to raise $25k by the end of august in hopes of receiving a dollar for dollar match by the pierre and pamela omidyar fund).

most of the above limited and open edition prints (exception: mariko's lovely temple of blue which has sold out) can be purchased on the chinatown boardroom blog as well as stix flix designs by christie shinn, rich richardson & manny pangilinan.

or, hele down to chinatown boardroom and say hello:

• where: 1160 nu'uanu avenue
• gallery hours: tue to sat, 11a to 4p

{mahalo jackie!}

introducing posh pua

floral bikini + monokini

posh pua, the new handmade clothing line created by maui designer julie stone, is further evidence that the islands' emerging style scene is inspiring more kama'ainas to take the plunge into fashion design. upon moving to maui a few years ago, julie took notice of the success of homegrown labels tamara catz and letarte which eventually prompted the kailua-raised designer to turn her sewing hobby into an indie biz.

this past spring, posh pua quietly launched its debut collection which features a handful of patterns designed for flirty days on the sand and simple coverups that easily transition from the beach to the streets. what sets posh pua apart is julie's commitment to creating a sustainable swimwear/resort line by incorporating eco-friendly fibers like bamboo and organic cotton plus the occasional vintage textile appearance.

plaid bikini

a gathering dress * pua o papaete romper * beach bloomers

all designs are made to order in julie's upcountry studio and custom requests are also welcome should you require a little assistance to find the perfect fit.

preview the collection on the official website and then click over to the etsy shop to scoop up the latest offerings.

you can also find posh pua at beauty & the beach's online emporium and sassy 2nds, a new to you consignment boutique that julie and her sister-in-law recently opened in paia.

letarte at hautelook

this just in! the luxe resort looks from letarte can be had for over 50% off during the maui-based label's latest appearance at hautelook. you'll have to register at the online sample sale's website to take a peek at all the goods which range from past season swimwear, coverups, and a super cute aloha rashguard.

• sale ends: fri, jun 5th - 11p pst
• fyi: all sales final

roberta oaks summer sale

it seems while i was in between computers, roberta oaks revealed her summer 09 collection filled with more sweet and sexy fairly-made frocks designed for island living. for a limited time, all styles past and present, currently stocked in the online shop have been marked down 40 percent!

and, if you are in the market for a new bikini, click over to take your pick of roberta's inaugural swim collection which made a splashy debut earlier this year. all mix & match sets are just $50 during the sale.

styles are flying off the rack so hele over to the online shop to scoop up a few pieces on your wishlist.

• expires: wed, jun 10th
• fyi: no code needed