sugarhigh + lovestoned

i have barely touched on my spring getaway to maui yet find myself still daydreaming about the one that got away: the organic thunderbird tee by maui label sugarhigh + lovestoned which seemed intent to woo me in all its hippie bohemian charm while scouting upcountry boutiques from paia to makawao.

upon returning to the mainland, i discovered that paia designers chloe chippendale and tami snodgrass (co-founder of beauty & the beach) look to free spirit fashionistas (hello kate moss!) and schoolgirl crushes as their muse and have composed a capsule collection with a cheeky and irreverent nod to the 70's. their debut collaboration is filled with a handful of carefree tops rocking tami's illustrations befitting penny lane and her band-aides alongside glamorous studded minis and underpinnings artfully bedazzled by chloe.

and, attention to little details like contrast side stitching and gorgeous designs that continue around back are further proof that organic style can be flirty and fun.

the price tag for sugarhigh + lovestoned begins at $55 for a tee and climbs to just under $100 for a studded mini. alas, the stockist list is not posted so your best bet to scoop up most of the featured looks is to click over to the online shop.

p.s. follow the hijinks of the sugarhigh + lovestoned crew over on the official blog.

{photo credit: daeja fallas}

photo.phile: firebird photography

happy monday! i am so excited to introduce you to firebird photography today! my first glimpse of makiki photographer cheyne gallarde's work was via an editorial of 1979's collection for innov8 last year. in an instant, it took me back to flipping through family photo albums filled with faded technicolor pictures of my mom, aunties and grandmother perfectly turned out and posing in front of a brownie camera.

facebook friends who happened to catch the 1940's video of waikiki posted last month know that vintage hawaii will always make me swoon, and cheyne captures the era with the most charming compositions that are absolutely cinematic in its loveliness. one look and you will want slip into something retro, put on your face and smile for the camera.

don't you love it? although, with apologies to the cute milkman, the little design geek in me could not help but become besotted with the charming turquoise bungalow and its delightful scallop awning.

{photo.phile notes}

what inspired you to pick up a camera and start clicking?
i've always been a shutterbug, but i didn't start taking photography seriously until i took a hiatus from filmmaking. during the hiatus, i realized a lot of my theatre friends didn't have current headshots, so i offered to shoot it for them. it was then i enjoyed photographing people and capturing their personality.

photography muses that spark your imagination?
i don't really follow photographers so much since most of my inspiration comes from fashion. although i will say that niche photographers like aaron ruell and creative commercial photographers like david lachapelle definitely inspire me.

favorite island moment caught on "film"?
tough call, but i'd have to say shooting my friends in on the spot improv. i've shot all their pr photos for the last two years (and recently went on a mainland tour with them) so when we work together, it's like a family reunion. their shows are also niche and creative, so i enjoy the challenge of it all. plus it helps that they're all great people that always manage to lift my spirits!

any simple tricks to share on how to capture a vintage looking photograph?
it's all done outside of the camera. hair, clothing and location are what make the perfect vintage photo. pay attention to those details and you're 75% of the way there. this is why i include styling with all my portrait packages since i study and specialize in retro fashion. in addition, i work with a talented hair & makeup artist, mish of beauty by mish, who specializes in vintage glam & pin-up hairstyles.

which camera stays close by for everyday shooting?
the best camera really is the one you have with you, so i'd have to say my iphone! from vintage portraits using the hipstamatic app to panoramic shots using pano, everyday moments are captured on my mobile phone. for all my photoshoots, i shoot with my very basic canon rebel xti. you don't need bells & whistles when you've got imagination & creativity!

pay it forward with the best photography advice shared with you:
if you use a napkin to cover your camera flash, you'll diffuse the light. it takes some practice, but the result will be evenly-lit photos as opposed to the harsh on-camera flash.

local delights that are a must in your beach picnic basket?
vitamin water, protein bars, spam musubi and cookies!

mahalo cheyne!

as i hinted earlier, oahu lovelies will have a chance to get a little flirty and embrace your inner dita von teese during next weekend's pin-up queen workshop. pair it with a burlesque lesson from the ladies of cherry blossom cabaret or, if the idea makes you blush, simply book a pin-up photo session with cheyne.

• when: sun, jun 27th - 10a to 5p
• where: mercury bar, 1154 fort street mall, suite 10, chinatown
• price tag: $200/$215 (includes burly-q basics)
• fyi: $25 non-refundable deposit to reserve a spot

p.s. enjoy first peeks of cheyne's most recent developments over on the firebird blog.

aloha friday scoop

happy aloha friday! everybody seems to be enjoying summer so today's edition is short and sweet.

celebrate your pops and share the life lessons passed down to you via one of the many community projects happening during live aloha day.

• when: sat, jun 19th
• where: around the islands

harvest time! sweet blossoms will knock 15% off in-store flower and lei purchases in exchange for your mangos.

• when: now to mon, jun 21st
• where: 1014 kapahulu avenue, suite 210
• shop hours: mon - sat, 8a to 6p & sun, 10a to 2p

slow art friday returns to chinatown tonight. dine under the stars and leisurely wander neighborhood galleries while music plays and acrobats entertain.

• when: fri, jun 18th - 5p to 9p
• where: chintown arts district

Click to read more ...

new peeks: allison izu

kinky links * love it or leaf it

before the launch of her eponymous petite denim line, honolulu designer allison izu song constructed one of a kind tees during her reincarnation days. with a wink to the past, hawaii's favorite lady of denim recently added a few styles to top off your favorite pair of jeans ranging from the playfully abstract kinky links glamming up the standard tank to cheeky offerings designed especially for readers who embrace their petite-ness.

speaking of denim, spring and fall 2009 silhouettes (designed for frames 5'6" and under) can still be scooped up and will have to tide you over until the next collection debuts in spring 2011. and, if you need more convincing, fall 09 has been reduced to $59 while earlier seasons can be yours for $49. plus, with two inseams to choose from (27-inch and 31-inch), you'll save cash &/or time on hemming to your exact specifications.

your best shopping bet is the online shop where the new tops are priced between $19 and $29. plus, june orders that tally up to $99 will also receive an ai logo tank (while supplies last & pending no returns), and hawaii and mainland orders over $100 receive complimentary shipping!

do you have a pair of allison izu denim hanging in your closet?

roberta oaks spring/summer 2010

millie

my cousin's wedding invite just arrived in the mail which means it's time to start the official hunt for the perfect party dress for her summer i do's. preferably not too short, not too long, not too fussy for a morning ceremony yet not too casual for an evening reception, and - here's the kicker - sustainably made with a reasonable price tag.

sigh.

until then, i am content to browse the interweb and wistfully gaze at all the lovely frocks that do not quite fit my stringent list of requirements. one recent discovery are the new styles featured in oahu designer roberta oaks's spring/summer 2010 collection. the fabulously flirty millie is hard to resist with tiers of gorgeous ruffles rocking mini polka dots while the katherine maxi brings back bold florals in a modern mu'umu'u channeling little house on the prairie with a few artfully placed contrasting inserts.

katherine

birdie

also in the mix: updated colorways of customer favorites like the quaint and skipper along with a new jewelry line constructed of vintage car insignias upcycled into "grease monkey glam".

all of the featured looks are currently stocked in the online shop or click over to the website to locate your neighborhood stockist. and, oahu readers are invited to stop in and say hello when the doors are open at roberta's chinatown studio:

• where: 19 north pauahi street, chinatown
• shop hours: thu & fri, 11a to 6p

have you discovered a new favorite dress for summertime?