Roberta Oaks Power makes vintage slips and scarves into bright skirts, camisoles, and dresses.

Fashion in the 50th State

It might come as a surprise to anyone who has ever seen an Elvis movie, but style in the Aloha State has long meant more than grass skirts, muumuus, and leis. Today, the island fashion scene is thriving more than ever, with chic boutiques and young designers popping up everywhere. The latest looks have more edge and glamour than traditional Hawaiian attire but are still infused with tropical attributes. The big trends du jour? Eco-friendly clothes, pieces made of recycled materials, items that you can dress up with heels for the evening or bust out while barefoot on the beach. Here are some Hawaiian designers to look out for whether or not you plan to head to the beaches anytime soon.

A muumuu-inspired dress by Fighting Eel.

The latest looks have more edge and glamour than traditional Hawaiian attire.

Tamara Catz Maui designer Tamara Catz, formerly of Buenos Aires and New York City, represents the ultimate in sophisticated beachwear. With vibrant colors, ethnic attributes, and jeweled embellishments, her line infuses a sexy beach lifestyle with elegance - a perfect combination of the cultures Catz has experienced in her world travels. "Because I've spent half of my life in [cities]," she says, "there's a sense of elegance. And the other elements, [being] free and spontaneous, come from Maui." Although Catz's line has found worldwide success in more than 300 stores, her own boutique resides in the tiny Maui town of Paia.

Ginger 13 Wildly popular in Hawaiian boutiques, Ginger 13 is a line of funky, one-of-a-kind jewelry that's handmade on Oahu. Designer Cindy Yokoyama combines island accents such as shells, Kukui nuts and coconut wood with cool, chunky beads, and delicate chains. "I really try to incorporate the local flavors and ingredients of our island culture," says Yokoyama. Edgy charms such as miniature handcuffs, guns, and dice give an unexpected twist to these tropical baubles.

Fighting Eel Fighting Eel is the comfortable yet undeniably sexy clothing label from designers Rona Bennett and Lan Chung. This versatile line is making it big on the mainland - it's sold at Barney's - but it definitely maintains an island vibe. Their beautiful dresses, which are available online at RafaelHawaii.com, are perfect for both nightwear and beachwear . . . just make sure to shake the sand out of your hair before you head to dinner.

Oaks Hawaii Using only recycled materials, designer Roberta Oaks Power turns vintage slips and scarves into bright, patchy skirts, cute camisoles, and flirty dresses. The ribbon and lace embellishments make this line playful and feminine, perfect for the relaxed beach babe.

Muumuu Heaven Okay, so the muumuu has made an appearance on this list. But it's not what you think - no puffy sleeves or shapeless forms here. Designer Deb Mascia transforms vintage muumuus into gorgeous, flattering skirts, tees, and tanks. She finds all of the fabric herself by scouring yard sales and thrift shops and says her Kaneohe home boasts an ever-increasing pile of used aloha attire. "I can't stop myself!" she says, laughing. A-List celebrities are sporting these skirts around Hollywood, says Mascia, but she's still able to "keep it real," as they say: A percentage of every sale goes to charities supporting Hawaii's coral reefs.

Wings Hawaii Any surfer girl (or surfer girl at heart) will love this casual-yet-chic clothing and jewelry line from Maui. Designer Samantha Howard screenprints her own designs (mermaids, turtles, flowers, and more) onto comfy yoga pants, underwear, hoodies, and tanks, with the help of three other twenty-somethings with whom Howard went to school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Wings Hawaii also has a line of earrings and necklaces that incorporate sterling silver with coconut wood, starfish, and puka shells. They're perfect for the "I'll be lounging at my Maui beach house all day" look, which is just what Howard is going for. "My clothing is all very island-inspired," she says. "It's beachy and comfortable and easy to wear."

Akane Clothing For the not-so-beachy girl, there's this line of "original gear, threaded and thrashed in Honolulu" by designer Zana Tsutakawa. A master of deconstructing and reconstructing, Tsutakawa creates unique, fashion-forward streetwear from recycled materials. Picture lots of black and heavy stitching. Not your idea of aloha-wear? Not to worry: She makes a shredded "I Love Hawaii" shirt (wear it back home and tell everyone that it got its used-look when you wore it to tear up some waves).

Posted on July 31, 2006