first peeks: one stone jewelry

gray diamond & herkimer ring

today's post will be short and sweet since my mister finally has some downtime after a grueling season, and this is our chance to spend some time together before a new production woos all his attention.

i happened upon the simply gorgeous jewelry of one stone after a mention on pacific bride guide. designer shane yamane grew up in the islands and is now based in nyc where he handcrafts the most lovely adornment out of 100% recycled metal, conflict-free diamonds, and ethically sourced gemstones. if that's not enough to make you instantly smitten, one stone's glowing organic shapes, especially the subdued gray diamonds, seem absolutely modern all while being meticulously produced piece by piece in the age-old style of an artisan jeweler.

wave stacking ring

curved cuff

rough diamond earrings

sapphire pendant trio

a few of the featured pieces are from the style archives, however custom orders are welcome so be sure to inquire if a design is no longer stocked.

the online shop is still under construction so click over to one stone's etsy shop for a peek at current offerings from shane's atelier.

p.s. you can discover more about shane in his featured seller interview on etsy.

stacia fall/winter 2010

cowl neck tunic

i have been meaning to share peeks of stacia's fall/winter 2010 collection, but when the southland began to sizzle (over 100 degrees here by the beach on monday) all my cozy plans for autumn were pushed to the backburner. a sale announcement from ideeli on this much cooler morning was just the incentive needed to gather up my favorite f/w looks along with the inspired idea to share similar styles available today only at flash sale prices (up to 60% off!).

designer stacy johnson, who grew up in the islands but is now based in los angeles, specializes in effortless ecoknits incorporating bamboo and tencel fibers. perfect for hawaii's tropical climate and mild winters. a few new silhouettes are in the mix featuring warm, earthy palettes including one which found its way into the collection via a watercolor made by one of stacy's keiki.

empire wrap dress

cool cardi

tab cardi

ideeli looks for less

ideeli's sale runs through tomorrow morning (official end time: thu, sep 30th @ 5a 9p hst), however you do need to have an account to access all the deals (here's an invite from me to you if you need one). there are seven styles offered in various colorways with prices starting at $79.

you can find this season's fall/winter looks in stacia's online shop or, when in l.a., inquire about stopping by the studio for some one on one shopping time.

• where: 1307 ½ pico blvd, santa monica
• fyi: by appointment only

p.s. oahu fans can now scoop up stacia at becca beach (located at the kahala) which became the one and only stockist on island a few months ago. the full stockist list can be found here.

project runway recap: race to the finish

andy south couture & rtw

finally squeezed in a viewing of last week's episode of project runway! the challenge was to whip up a couture fashion look to accompany a makeup palette finish from show sponsor l'oreal. except the producers decided to throw in a last minute, complementary ready-to-wear design that also needed to walk the runway the very next day. a bit unfair to the designers, if you ask me. did anyone else wish one well-made style had been presented rather than half-done couture and slapped together rtw?

after last week's brutal runway crit, andy south rose to the challenge and sent out head-to-toe warrior chic separates rocking muted metallic accents accompanied by a sexy little black dress with a subtle dose of shimmer. on the other end of the rainbow, ivy higa opted for bright and whipped up a gown and cocktail dress translating hawaii's gorgeous ocean waters into chiffon waves.

more peeks, links & a spoiler (fair warning!) after the jump below.

ivy higa couture & rtw

designers' sketchbook

andy: make it work! | judgement day | video diary

ivy: make it work! | judgement day | naeem kahn's take | nina garcia's take | video diary

the designers dish is a little less dish-y since only two were deemed safe enough to skip the judging in this round.

do you think it was time for ivy to be auf'd? or would you have sent home another designer in her place?

{photo credit: barbara nitke, lifetime television}

aloha friday scoop

facebook & twitter friends got the word this a.m. about letarte's surprise one day 20% off storewide sale at the paia boutique so hele over if you live nearby!

• when: fri, sep 24th - now to 8p
• where: 24 baldwin avenue, paia

kailua readers still have a few more hours to pop into kai and scoop up your favorite wishlist items for 10 to 20% off.

• when: fri, sep 24th - now to 5p
• where: 776 kailua road, kailua (above kimo's surf hut)

on saturday, kealopiko is co-hosting an end of summer sale filled with the latest goodness including the new pareu collection.

• when: sat, sep 25th - 10a to 3p
• where: bess press warehouse, 3565 harding avenue, kaimuki
• fyi: parking in the municipal lot across the street

Click to read more ...

and the winners are . . .

eileen from vallejo, lehua from waimea & merissa from honolulu! malie organics' pikake body polish will be on its way to all three lucky ladies to bliss out over the sweetly scented spa treat.

mahalo to all who tried their luck and for all the delightful notes that accompanied your entries. since pikake is beloved by so many, i thought i would post a glimpse of the full pikake collection so you can preview all the possibilities for your malie wishlist.

on that note, you can find the collection online (priced from $28 to $69) and at malie's flagship boutique on kaua'i and its california outpost in the lovely seaside town of san clemente.

• kaua'i shop: 2-2560 kaumuali'i hwy, kalaheo
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat, 9a to 2p

• cali shop: 1448 north el camino real, san clemente
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 5p

and, of course, at malie's extensive network of island, mainland and international stockists. japan friends also have their very own online shop.

congratulations eileen, lehua & merissa!

p.s. the star-advertiser just shared tips on growing pikake in this week's garden section. not only was pikake princess kaiulani's favorite flower, it is also drought-resistant and ideal for leeward gardens just in case you have a nice, sunny spot to plant the petite blossoms.

{mahalo dana, lindsey & the malie 'ohana!}