the life aquatic

bracelet

you may have noticed i slipped away unannounced last week to enjoy my fella's short but sweet hiatus. in between visiting friends and a quick getaway to san diego, life stood blissfully still for a few days filled with all the little things in life that sometimes pass by unnoticed.

while i reacquaint myself with the real world, enjoy this peek at the work of kaua'i artist carol bennett and her series depicting quiet moments floating just below the surface of the sea. honolulu magazine selected carol as one of their artists to watch earlier this year which served as a timely reminder that a show and tell of her paintings was long overdue. 

after studying fine arts at the art center college of design, carol went on to become a scenic artist in hollywood and her work on movie sets (and the huge backdrops that stand in for a location) certainly helped her to imagine life on a grander scale. she eventually ditched los angeles for a quieter life on kaua'i which has served as her muse since her arrival 25 years ago.

 

leash

girl

carol's artwork ranges from intimate portraits (leash, shown above, is just under 11-inches square) to supersized commissions incorporating a mix of mediums that you just may have walked past at the honolulu airport, hawaii convention center, or one of the many islands resorts that are fans of her work.

alas, no exhibits are on the horizon, however carol's artwork can be viewed at fine art associates (by appointment only), timespace gallery on kaua'i, and online at elisa tucci contemporary art.

out of the past

vintage enamel bird * mod thermoset * lucite confetti

one of the most repeated fashion no-no's is if you wore a trend the first time around . . . well, it may be a good idea to sit out the style sequel (ahem, the polite way of stating that "[insert trend] part II" may no longer be age appropriate). no doubt there are others out there who share my amusement that 80's style has returned with a vengeance: leggings - check. deconstructed denim mini skirts - check. leggings under mini - check, check.

if you really want to go all in 80's style, it may be time to graduate your look and mix in a little vintage bling à la 80's icon molly ringwald in pretty in pink (hold the scary diy prom dress, please).

skip the dusty thrift shops and simply click over to the etsy shop of miss cece's jewels which is stocked with all the retro flair required to add just the right eclectic touch to those brand new recreations stuffed in your
closet. the mysterious proprietor scouts secret shopping nooks around maui and culls vintage costume gems from bygone eras to help you go from mad men saucy secretary to mtv pop tart in a snap.

the price tags on miss cece's finds are gentle on the wallet and, of course, buying vintage is always tops when it comes to doing sustainable style right.

click over to miss cece's etsy shop to take a peek at her most recent acquisitions.

fighting eel fall/holiday 2008

mica

h|h reader sara happened to notice that fighting eel recently posted a preview of their fall 08 and holiday 08 collections online. i dashed off a note to fe co-designer lan chung who revealed that fans can expect subtle details, earthy colorways, and a stunning mandala pattern designed by fe partner-in-crime rona bennett in the upcoming season.

voom mandala nico

ziggysun

lan also sent along word that fe's long awaited online shop is now open for business! the shop is currently stocked with styles from the summer 08 collection, and, in happy news, all online orders receive complimentary shipping. to celebrate the grand opening, the first 100 customers will also score a free puffy tube top with purchase.

and, of course, you are always welcome to stop by fe's chinatown hq which is open to the public every thu to sat.

• where: 47 north hotel street
• shop hours: thu to sat, 10a to 5p

{mahalo sara & lan!}

pau hana clicks

• fashion tribe shares a peek of the styles that went down the runway during dan weaver's fashion show last week.

• stop searching for coins hiding in your sofa and click over to the state of hawaii's unclaimed property website which may have a few dollars waiting for you from long lost bank accounts and uncashed pay days (google "unclaimed property" + your state to locate the other 49 offices).

• on week eight of sytycd mark kanemura dances a romantic viennese waltz, a little burlesque jazz, and a solo.

have a happy weekend!

weekly sales sheet

sweet blossoms * 'oiwi kohala bikini

designer toby portner, known for her mix of simple silhouettes and pretty patterns, is having a back to school sale.

p.s. teachers score a little extra credit ($10 off a $50 purchase) when you flash your school id.

• when: sat, aug 2nd - 10a to 1p
• where: 1465 mokuna place, kaimuki

surprise your favorite manoa resident with a bouquet from sweet blossoms hawaii which is offering complimentary delivery on orders to manoa addresses this weekend.

• when: sun, aug 3rd
• fyi: contact the shop for more details

and, 'oiwi's kohala print swimwear, a pattern exclusive to athleta, is now on sale in the online shop.