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.

nina kuna designs

the lovely nina kuna recently dropped me a note about her new jewelry collection, and, after a peek, i was pleasantly surprised to discover that the self-taught designer only launched her line last winter.

originally based in nyc and sf, nina now calls maui home where, in between assignments as a freelance photographer, she composes her glamorous line of adornments featuring hand hammered shapes, interlinking strands of gold filled wire, and an array of findings from swarovski crystals to delicate sea shells.

nina's background in painting and drawing combined with her stint at parsons to study photography definitely brings an artist's eye to her designs which effortlessly balance color, shape and symmetry. the freshman collection has already caught the attention of macy's buyers and the editors of modern luxury hawai'i who have been captivated by the line's big city sophistication meets beach chic style.

lemon drop * heavy metal * crystal blue coral

the online shop is now open for business or stop by your neighborhood stockist to take a peek at the collection in person.

p.s. go on location with nina over at her blog.

wings hawaii summer 2008

the lazy days of summer are just perfect for all the pretty things made by wings hawaii. the loop terry hoodie is a cute lightweight coverup for early mornings at the beach and to keep the chill off when the sun sets.

alas, it appear to be sold out online but a stock check with designer samantha howard revealed that the shop has hoodies in the following colorways - brown/mermaid print & white/fern print. contact the shop to inquire about size availability. (running shorts & tank are available online)

and, a wings show and tell would not be complete without a peek of the latest handcrafted accessories:

1 - the sunwing belt is already on my wishlist and features wing's signature design on the brass buckle. belts are made to order so send along your pant size for a perfect fit.

2 - wing's lucky line of island amulets will be an instant hit with all your friends waiting for a wish to come true.

3 - puka teardrop earrings put a tropical twist on a classic design.

4 - make like a mermaid and adorn yourself with the simple yet stunning sunrise shell bangle.

shop online or when on maui take a trip upcountry and hit the wings showroom:

• where: 375 west kuiaha road, haiku
• shop hours: mon to fri, 9a to 4p & sat/sun, 9a to 1p

{update | may 2011: wings moved its flagship shop to lovely little paia town last year and can now be found at 71 baldwin avenue}

house call: noelani designs

aubrey * kanio * myra

audrey hepburn may have had to stroll over to tiffany's for a wistful glimpse of the jewels she coveted, but you simply need to ring up designer noelani love for an in-house show of her fetching accessories inspired by the islands. gather up your girlfriends for a few hours of shopping sans traffic, crowds and 1-800 numbers surrounded by all the comforts of home.

all the pieces in the noelani designs collection are handcrafted into organic shapes with sprinkles of semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls and other offerings from the sea.

a minimum of 10 guests is preferred and a few weeks notice is all it takes to book your favorite date. and, a few inside tips from noelani - each design is named after the customer who purchases the very first piece (a little extra incentive to call dibs when you spot something you fancy) and the lucky hostess scores 20% of party sales in free jewelry.

click over to the website to request more details.

ginger 13 summer 2008

hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! if you didn't make it to the sample sale last friday, at least you can console yourself with peeks from ginger 13's summer 08 collection. jewelry designer cindy yokoyama always brings the unexpected to her work and continues to reimagine island inspired materials into whimsical but wearable designs.

follow the lead of the official summer 08 look which dares you to layer pieces and rock a gypsy pirate look à la stevie nicks this season. too bold? simply pick your favorite design to add a more subdued bohemian element to your wardrobe.

a few pieces for your consideration:

large leaf * royalty fan * sliced limpet * hemp eagle

sliced limpet butterfly * single stone * rock candy * crossweave skull

take a peek at the entire collection over in the online shop or click over to the stockist list to locate one of the many neighborhood boutiques popping up from hawaii to nyc.