It’s my…

{ Architecture of an Outfit / OOTD } YesStyle.com Striped Short Shorts and Neon Green Yellow

Aloha kakahakiaka kakou! ~ Good morning, guys!

Found this shirt at Forever21 and couldn’t really help myself. I’ve been seeing neon green yellow everywhere, and have inexplicably gravitated toward it. I paired it with my YesStyle.com draped stripe short shorts and my clear Jean Paul Gaultier x Melissa stiletto sandals to give my legs a miles-longer appearance than their true stubbiness.

Petites can always utilize clear or neutral heels and vertical stripes to look taller.

Wore this to the beach with my gold accessories, and all the local bruddahs and sistas looked at me like, “what the f*ck is this high maka-maka bitch doing here?” I felt so awkward!

OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE / DETAILS
TOP: Neon green yellow button down, Forever21
SHORTS: Drape striped short shorts, YesStyle.com
BELT: Snakeskin skinny belt, Banana Republic
HEELS: Clear stiletto sandals, Melissa x Jean Paul Gaultier
NECKLACE: Gold chain necklace, Banana Republic
EARRINGS: capiz shell earrings, H&M
WATCH: Gold heart locket watch, Marc by Marc Jacobs
RINGS: Gold XO rings, JewelMint
BANGLES: Vintage, Alex and Ani, Etsy

ALTERNATIVES / WHERE TO BUY
TOP: Pussybow blouse (yellow available); neon silk blouse
SHORTS: Alice + Olivia striped shorts, draped striped shorts (silhouette + stripes),
BELT: Snakeskin skinny belt
HEELS: Jean Paul Gaultier x Melissa Clear Stiletto Sandals (endless.com)
NECKLACE: Chain Necklace, (high street) Gold color Rope Chain Necklace
EARRINGS: shell drop hoop earrings; gold shell earrings
WATCH: similar Peugeot heart bracelet watch, gold; Betsey Johnson gold heart bracelet watch
RINGS: JewelMint XO Rings (exact)
BANGLES: Alex and Ani gold bangles, vintage bangles — similar: Gold Bangles, Gold arrow bangle

And this is what happens when my husband takes the photos…

…he makes fun of me, and I end up getting a little flustered. Wouldn’t you?

Honi, me ke aloha ~ XO, with love,
Mae Lu

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January Photo a Day 6, 7 & 8: Things that make me smile, some of my favorite things, and the sky where I am

Things that make me smile

• A cute Wheaten Terrier Bear[dog] curling up like a little shrimp with the cutest face ever.
• Vintage candle holders and a vintage tea cup jewelry organization.
• New Mexican Sugar Skull ornament.
• Our 7 Year Anniversary A (of the first email) dinner at Zia’s Caffé, Kailua.
• Some of our home decor details.

Some Latest Favorites

• New favorite Rings: JewelMint XO Rings and the JewelMint New Wave (armor) Ring.
• My new favorite ways of manicuring my nails.
• Theyskens Theory ankle wedge knock offs, Aldo Ugland suede ankle wedge heels

My Sky

• Oahu beaches, mountains, waves…
• …and the sunsets.

Did any of these things make you smile? Or drool?

Yeah. Me, too.

Honi, me ke aloha ~ XO, with love,
Mae Lu

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Architecture of an Outfit: Hawaiian Street Style — Striped Micro Mini Dress in Hawaii Kai

Stripes are my life. But you already know that.

Hawaii Kai‘s Marina is also a turquoise lagoon. A bit murky, but still azure just the same. If we ever had to leave the Windward Side (East Shore, where we live) and go over the Ko’olaus, I’d entertain the idea of living in Hawaii Kai. It’s still far away enough from town and tourists to be livable. Except for the rent prices.

Max-Bear seems to like it there.

This mini dress is unique (even though I got it at Forever21) because of the puff sleeves. And the short length is perfect for Hawaii’s warm weather, esp if we’re going into town, because town (Honolulu) is always hotter than Waiahole side where we live. Now that I’m losing my muffin top, I’m finally confident enough to wear this body hugging thing again.

OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE
DRESS: Striped mini dress, Forever 21
SHOES: Imitation leather gladiator wedge sandal, Forever 21
BAG: Tan leather satchel, Audrey Brooke Satchel via DSW (exact)
SUNNIES: Hadron

WHERE TO BUY / ALTERNATIVES
DRESS: Striped mini dress, ASOS; stripe mini sweater dress, Revolve Cloting (for winter! ; Stripe Mini Dress with flared skirt, River Island
SHOES: Ankle gladiator sandal, Manolos (high option!); ankle gladiator sandal, Endless.com
BAG: Marc Jacobs Paradise Rio leather satchel (high),
Juicy woven leather Brogue satchel (mid),
ASOS leather snake print satchel (low)
SUNNIES: Hadron The Extras sunglasses (exact same!)

I love being 40 min away from Honolulu, near the beach and surrounded by lush, rain forest-y valleys and farms. At heart, I’m a county girl trapped in a Townie’s body, with a Townie’s wardrobe.

If you were me, would you rather live over the mountains, or near the city?

Honi, me ke aloha ~ XO, with love,
Mae Lu

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It’s my…

Architecture of an Outfit: #JanPhotoADay Day 5, Something I Wore.

Aloha au‘ina la kakou! ~ Good afternoon, guys!

I went thrifting in the rich “haole” (foreigner/non-Hawaiian) town of Kailua the other day. I scored a few items for house organization which will feature in another post, but I managed to mortify myself by shooting pictures of myself in the fitting room, not remembering to have turned my phone to vibrate mode. Talk about feeling silly. I didn’t haul any actual furniture, but I did find a couple project clothes, a gold and silver bunch of bracelets to increase my bracelet collection to an actual arm party, and a strong desire to thrift. It’s probably the most extensive clothing display in any thrift store I’ve ever seen.

I’m quickly adapting my own sense of Hawaiian Fashion, as the winters here (yes, it is winter here) can often be as blustery, overcast, rainy and humid as early fall in Michigan, when it is still warm, but windy enough to require a sweater and sticky enough to call for breezy fabrics and shorts. Sheer fabrics that breathe well are required. And with all the walking I’ve been doing while running errands to get the house outfitted, stylish shoes okay enough for walking are necessary. While I won’t always wear slippers (or, flipflops as they’re generally called), I found “dressy slippers” to run errands in style. I still look Hawaiian, but still chic enough to stand out as more dressed up than the normal jean shorts and tanks clad locals.

Plus this skirt is unique and the “gills” make me look like I have an ass.

Win.

*Photos taken with Hipstamatic and posted in Instagram. If you’re on IG, follow me. Username: maeluu. Hope to see you there!

~~

OUTFIT ARCHITECTURE / DETAILS
TOP: nautical bold stripe sheer cotton wide tee, H&M
SKIRT: yellow green sateen cotton pencil skirt with “fins” detail, Shop Ruche
SHOES: woven natural dressy sandals, Aldo
NECKLACE: gold and silver mixed metal fringe necklace, Madewell via ShopBop
EARRINGS: capiz shell earrings, H&M (dollar bin)
WATCH: heart locket watch, Marc by Marc Jacobs

ALTERNATIVES / WHERE TO BUY
TOP: sheer stripe tee
SKIRT: tulip skirt / same silhouette: French Connection woven tulip skirt; same silhouette Vivienne Westwood Anglomania tulip skirt; yellow tulip skirt.
SHOES: exact same: Zicafoose thong woven sandal; Woven dress sandal (endless.com); woven ankle sandal (all black, endless.com)
NECKLACE: Mixed metal fringe necklace; Express fringe chain necklace
EARRINGS: shell drop hoop earrings; hammered gold shell earrings (high, high option)
WATCH: similar Peugeot heart bracelet watch, gold; Betsey Johnson gold heart bracelet watch

Words of Wisdom
Despite the affiliate links and clothing details I list here… I have to emphasize that…
If there is any lesson I have learned from moving to a land of paradise, where the cost of living is insane and the people work extremely hard to have what they have and maintain a modest living in heaven on earth… it is not about the clothes you wear, but the person they clothe. Remember to vest yourself internally with golden warmth and gratitude. It is not about our raiment, our baubles, our decorations, how much we paid for them, what country it was made in, whose name is scribbled on its label. It is the pride we take in our lives, our loves, our bodies and our souls that we need to focus on. If the external is a reflection of the internal, rather than an external adornment to hide the darkness within, then our lives are worth living.

Having pretty, shiny things is all and good, but if your life is lived with the intent of only acquiring more, you will find at your end, a life that is a fruitless, goal-less shell of the glory of what it could have been. Remember that you are blessed, a beautiful being with a brilliant, wonderful heart, and it is focusing on that that brings your beauty shining through, imbuing your appearance, demeanor and, most importantly, words and actions.

Thank you for showing me your beauty, every single day.

Aloha, with love.
~Mae

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#janphotoaday day 4, Letterbox

Anyway, we’re home. I’m so excited.

At first, I thought the challenge was to post a photo of anything, with a Letterbox Format–you know, the photography format with two thick black bands on the top and bottom of the photo, like the widescreen format in film? So I posted this:

This morning we stopped here for a bathroom break and short walk on our way to pick up The Bear. I never knew Waimanalo Beach Park was so incredibly picturesque. Brilliant azure waters lap onto stunning white sands under sleepy, drooping Pacific pines. There are the usual willfully homeless native Hawaiians here and there in tents and camping in their cars, but that this is their choice only adds to the beauty.

It wasn’t until I logged into Instagram that I noticed that “letterbox” actually meant “mailbox.” To whoever wrote the challenge, you need to realize that letterbox is not a term used in the States. Post box, Mail box or something would’ve been more clear.

So here’s our “letterbox”:

Our home in Kahalu’u, under the Koolau mountain range. The peak in the background is one often seen in scenes of LOST. Coincidentally, I was sick the WHOLE TWO WEEKS with a cold and terrible knee and back pains, and most of the pain stopped the night we landed back in O’ahu! I’m telling you, this Island is magic.

Here are some other scenes of what we’ve been up to lately (some were taken a few day before we left for the Mainland, and some were taken today). Click on the thumbnails to see the larger photo. (some repeats, since WP is really limited on gallery settings.)

How’ve you been?

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2011 was a year of tremendous style growth for me, as the year also charted some landmark and some not so immediately manifest changes in my personal life. These are my favorite outfits of the second half of the year, over the course of which I believe I transformed most.

July

August

September

October

November

(From here, the cut-out sweater, the leopard button down and the asymmetrical chiffon top pretty got non-stop play–I’m still living out of the same suitcase I packed in early November.)

December

And those are my favorite outfits of the year! (Which were your favorites?) I changed a lot, personally, stylistically, emotionally… and I can’t wait to see what changes and growth are in store for me in 2012. I’m pretty excited.

Mahalo to all of you for helping drive me to be my best, to push the envelope and challenge me to embrace fashion I’d never imagine wearing, mix prints I never thought would work, for inspiring me to take pride in things I took for granted, for supporting my writing, for cheering me up when I was discouraged. I know I am so lucky to have all of you.

Tomorrow, more best of. Best poses, best photographs, best writing, best moments… Ahh, it’s good to celebrate good things, isn’t it?

A hui hou kakou. ~ Peace out, y’all!

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