florencia arias summer 2012

stella * lucille

the flourishing chinatown arts district has become the neighborhood that often woos me for an afternoon of indie shopping when i hop home for a visit. during my winter holiday, i popped into florencia arias's flagship boutique and was delighted to find the softspoken argentinean designer tending to shop tasks behind the counter.

florencia was happy to share more on the making of her shop, which opened its doors last fall (lots of tlc including the most gorgeous cursive sign handmade by her architect hubby), and her design process revealing that longer hemlines were on the way in response to repeated requests by island lovelies (who, quelle surprise!, are a bit more modest than their south american counterparts).

and so, while summer 2012 continues to mix solids and patterns in a flirty yet wearable way, you can expect to find a convertible maxi skirt featured among the color-blocked dresses, pleated pops of color, and fresh editions of last summer's crush.

more to adore after the jump (including tardy spring 2012 peeks)!

daisy

dahlia * tulip

a peek inside the shop . . .

florencia remains committed to producing her label in hawaii (hooray!) so please do pop by the shop and say hello. the sun-drenched space is also stocked with local & argentina pretties from handmade jewelry to posh pua bikinis.

summer 2012 looks will be arriving next week at the flagship boutique, your neighborhood stockist, and the online shop. spring 2012 offerings are beginning to dwindle so hele over now for a peek of remaining styles.

• where: 1161 nu'uanu avenue, chinatown (just around the corner from marks garage)
• shop hours: wed to sat, 11a to 5p (open til 6p on thu & fri)

p.s. tomorrow's first friday fun (5p to 10p) includes 10-to-50% off florencia arias designs, 20% off jewelry, and an additional discount for purchases tallying over $100.

dream weaver

the stacks by my bedside have become overwhelmed with books on energy medicine delving into the chakras, reiki, and acupuncture with a few pages on quantum physics thrown in for good measure. with the turn of every page, my high school crush on mystical gemstones becomes ever more reignited so it should come as no surprise that vega jewelry's fatty leather wrapped crystal has become quite coveted on my wishlist.

(perhaps the zen-like tranquility of a quartz paired with wooden beads is calling your name?)

design inspiration kisses victoria kray, the maui-slash-nyc alchemist behind the collection, while wandering beneath the stars, in the waves, and across the desert. i just love how each piece balances energy with edginess . . . . channeling ancient notions and mingling in modern elements to woo lovelies who coexist in both worlds.

and, what should i discover while peeking the official facebook page? a weeklong 40% off sale on leather sparkle which kicked off only hours ago! (secret code: leather2012)

kismet seems to be smiling down upon me today.

island air

kauai boogie boarders

have you ever gazed upon the mediterranean seaside snapshots by massimo vitali and wished for a hawaii edition? luckily, la-based photographer gray malin started the new year by booking a helicopter to fly over poipu beach where he captured aerial shots of the island's turquoise blue waters dotted with happy beachgoers.

while the à la plage, à la piscine series can be found in the official online shop, for the next few days you can scoop up flash sale priced photographs on one king's lane. (fyi: you do need to register for a okl account to access the sale which ends fri, may 25th @ 5a hst.)

let's hope waikiki beach (or makaha!) is next up on gray's shot list.

shop toast: festive flags

an island graduation is an iconic rite of passage from friends and family showering the newly minted graduate with lovely lei and party invites booking summer social calendars with carport celebrations, beach picnics, and resort receptions.

if you still have a few weeks before the big party, our friends at shop toast recently introduced candy-filled festive flag favors in school colors to cheer on your grad's scholarly accomplishments.

with cap & gown season already upon us, do hele if you hope to festoon your festivities with tiny banners since a custom design (starring your grad's photo perhaps?) requires a three week turnaround. you are welcome to send along your own artwork or hire shop toast to whip up something special to make your grad smile (for an additional fee, natch).

order online or pop by the kaimuki studio for more details.

a so'mace summer

ocean collection

our friends at so'mace have had quite a year so far between the local design house's debut at the ny int'l gift fair, welcoming pretty pacific-inspired tableware to the collection, and a spring move to a new showroom space.

if you adore designer kaypee soh's modern take on island style, the whimsical laminated linen trays and bowls will surely find a place in your home. the smallest sizes are perfect for keeping little pretties tidy while their larger mates make for carefree displays and will certainly charm guests when pressed into service.

the new rug collection caught my fancy as soon as the lovely isla (who pens the official so'mace blog) first shared sneak peeks last year. the designs are already making me sigh from afar and while preparing this post i discovered my favorite motifs (chevrons! sea urchins! fish scales!) will say hello in the summer 2012 flat-weave collection. hooray!

urchins * scales

asymmetric chevrons

be still my heart . . . and offered in the exact colorways of our future bedroom makeover. hand-knotted rugs made of wool &/or silk can also be yours (including my beloved fan coral first featured in kaypee's pillow collection) in custom colors and sizes. and, so'mace rugs score extra credit for earning goodweave certification which ensures that no child labor is involved during the production process (an exploitative practice to remember should you be wooed by bargain price tags).

say hello to the so'mace 'ohana over at kilohana square (neighbors include rainforest and south coast paperie, the paper goods boutique opened by bradley & lily) or send a love note to inquire about mail orders.

• where: 1016 kapahulu avenue, suite 100
• shop hours: mon to fri, 10a to 6p & sat, 10a to 3p